A name so glorious as by burying
A brother？ so my townsmen all would say；
Where they not gagged by terror； Manifold
A king's prerogatives； and not the least
That all his acts and all his words are law。
CREON
Of all these Thebans none so deems but thou。
ANTIGONE
These think as I； but bate their breath to thee。
CREON
Hast thou no shame to differ from all these？
ANTIGONE
To reverence kith and kin can bring no shame。
CREON
Was his dead foeman not thy kinsman too？
ANTIGONE
One mother bare them and the self…same sire。
CREON
Why cast a slur on one by honoring one？
ANTIGONE
The dead man will not bear thee out in this。
CREON
Surely； if good and evil fare alive。
ANTIGONE
The slain man was no villain but a brother。
CREON
The patriot perished by the outlaw's brand。
ANTIGONE
Nathless the realms below these rites require。
CREON
Not that the base should fare as do the brave。
ANTIGONE
Who knows if this world's crimes are virtues there？
CREON
Not even death can make a foe a friend。
ANTIGONE
My nature is for mutual love； not hate。
CREON
Die then； and love the dead if thou must；
No woman shall be the master while I live。
＇Enter ISMENE＇
CHORUS
Lo from out the palace gate；
Weeping o'er her sister's fate；
Comes Ismene； see her brow；
Once serene； beclouded now；
See her beauteous face o'erspread
With a flush of angry red。
CREON
Woman； who like a viper unperceived
Didst harbor in my house and drain my blood；
Two plagues I nurtured blindly； so it proved；
To sap my throne。 Say； didst thou too abet
This crime； or dost abjure all privity？
ISMENE
I did the deed； if she will have it so；
And with my sister claim to share the guilt。
ANTIGONE
That were unjust。 Thou would'st not act with me
At first； and I refused thy partnership。
ISMENE
But now thy bark is stranded； I am bold
To claim my share as partner in the loss。
ANTIGONE
Who did the deed the under…world knows well：
A friend in word is never friend of mine。
ISMENE
O sister； scorn me not； let me but share
Thy work of piety； and with thee die。
ANTIGONE
Claim not a work in which thou hadst no hand；
One death sufficeth。 Wherefore should'st thou die？
ISMENE
What would life profit me bereft of thee？
ANTIGONE
Ask Creon； he's thy kinsman and best friend。
ISMENE
Why taunt me？ Find'st thou pleasure in these gibes？
ANTIGONE
'Tis a sad mockery； if indeed I mock。
ISMENE
O say if I can help thee even now。
ANTIGONE
No； save thyself； I grudge not thy escape。
ISMENE
Is e'en this boon denied； to share thy lot？
ANTIGONE
Yea； for thou chosed'st life； and I to die。
ISMENE
Thou canst not say that I did not protest。
ANTIGONE
Well； some approved thy wisdom； others mine。
ISMENE
But now we stand convicted； both alike。
ANTIGONE
Fear not； thou livest； I died long ago
Then when I gave my life to save the dead。
CREON
Both maids； methinks； are crazed。 One suddenly
Has lost her wits； the other was born mad。
ISMENE
Yea； so it falls； sire； when misfortune comes；
The wisest even lose their mother wit。
CREON
I' faith thy wit forsook thee when thou mad'st
Thy choice with evil…doers to do ill。
ISMENE
What life for me without my sister here？
CREON
Say not thy sister _here_： thy sister's dead。
ISMENE
What； wilt thou slay thy own son's plighted bride？
CREON
Aye； let him raise him seed from other fields。
ISMENE
No new espousal can be like the old。
CREON
A plague on trulls who court and woo our sons。
ANTIGONE
O Haemon； how thy sire dishonors thee！
CREON
A plague on thee and thy accursed bride！
CHORUS
What； wilt thou rob thine own son of his bride？
CREON
'Tis death that bars this marriage； not his sire。
CHORUS
So her death…warrant； it would seem； is sealed。
CREON
By you； as first by me； off with them； guards；
And keep them close。 Henceforward let them learn
To live as women use； not roam at large。
For e'en the bravest spirits run away
When they perceive death pressing on life's heels。
CHORUS
（Str。 1）
Thrice blest are they who never tasted pain！
If once the curse of Heaven attaint a race；
The infection lingers on and speeds apace；
Age after age； and each the cup must drain。
So when Etesian blasts from Thrace downpour
Sweep o'er the blackening main and whirl to land
From Ocean's cavernous depths his ooze and sand；
Billow on billow thunders on the shore。
（Ant。 1）
On the Labdacidae I see descending
Woe upon woe； from days of old some god
Laid on the race a malison； and his rod
Scourges each age with sorrows never ending。
The light that dawned upon its last born son
Is vanished； and the bloody axe of Fate
Has felled the goodly tree that blossomed late。
O Oedipus； by reckless pride undone！
（Str。 2）
Thy might； O Zeus； what mortal power can quell？
Not sleep that lays all else beneath its spell；
Nor moons that never tier： untouched by Time；
Throned in the dazzling light
That crowns Olympus' height；
Thou reignest King； omnipotent； sublime。
Past； present； and to be；
All bow to thy decree；
All that exceeds the mean by Fate
Is punished； Love or Hate。
（Ant。 2）
Hope flits about never…wearying wings；
Profit to some； to some light loves she brings；
But no man knoweth how her gifts may turn；
Till 'neath his feet the treacherous ashes burn。
Sure 'twas a sage inspired that spake this word；
_If_evil_good_appear_
_To_any； _Fate_is_near_；
And brief the respite from her flaming sword。
Hither comes in angry mood
Haemon； latest of thy brood；
Is it for his bride he's grieved；
Or her marriage…bed deceived；
Doth he make his mourn for thee；
Maid forlorn； Antigone？
＇Enter HAEMON＇
CREON
Soon shall we know； better than seer can tell。
Learning may fixed decree anent thy bride；
Thou mean'st not； son； to rave against thy sire？
Know'st not whate'er we do is done in love？
HAEMON
O father； I am thine； and I will take
Thy wisdom as the helm to steer withal。
Therefore no wedlock shall by me be held
More precious than thy loving goverance。
CREON
Well spoken： so right…minded sons should feel；
In all deferring to a father's will。
For 'tis the hope of parents they may rear
A brood of sons submissive； keen to avenge
Their father's wrongs； and count his friends their own。
But who begets unprofitable sons；
He verily breeds trouble for himself；
And for his foes much laughter。 Son； be warned
And let no woman fool away thy wits。
Ill fares the husband mated with a shrew；
And her embraces very soon wax cold。
For what can wound so surely to the quick
As a false friend？ So spue and cast her off；
Bid her go find a husband with the dead。
For since I caught her openly rebelling；
Of all my subjects the one malcontent；
I will not prove a traitor to the State。
She surely dies。 Go； let her； if she will；
Appeal to Zeus the God of Kindred； for
If thus I nurse rebellion in my house；
Shall not I foster mutiny without？
For whoso rules his household worthily；
Will prove in civic matters no less wise。
But he who overbears the laws； or thinks
To overrule his rulers； such as one
I never will allow。 Whome'er the State
Appoints must be obeyed in everything；
But small and great； just and unjust alike。
I warrant such a one in either case
Would shine； as King or subject； such a man
Would in the storm of battle stand his ground；
A comrade leal and true； but Anarchy
What evils are not wrought by Anarchy！
She ruins States； and overthrows the home；
She dissipates and routs the embattled host；
While discipline preserves the ordered ranks。
Therefore we must maintain authority
And yield to title to a woman's will。
Better； if needs be； men should cast us out
Than hear it said； a woman proved his match。
CHORUS
To me； unless old age have dulled wits；
Thy words appear both reasonable and wise。
HAEMON
Father； the gods implant in mortal men
Reason； the choicest gift bestowed by heaven。
'Tis not for me to say thou errest； nor
Would I arraign thy wisdom； if I could；
And yet wise thoughts may come to other men
And； as thy son； it falls to me to mark
The acts； the words； the comments of the crowd。
The commons stand in terror of thy frown；
And dare not utter aught that might offend；
But I can overhear their muttered plaints；
Know how the people mourn this maiden doomed
For noblest deeds to die the worst of deaths。
When her own brother slain in battle lay
Unsepulchered； she suffered not his corse
To lie for carrion birds and dogs to maul：
Should not her name （they cry） be writ in gold？
Such the low murmurings that reach my ear。
O father； nothing is by me more prized
Than thy well…being； for what higher good
Can children covet than their sire's fair fame；
As fathers too take pride in glorious sons？
Therefore； my father； cling not to one mood；
And deemed not thou art right； all others wrong。
For whoso thinks that wisdom dwells with him；
That he alone can speak or think aright；
Such oracles are empty breath when tried。
The wisest man will let himself be swayed
By others' wisdom and relax in time。
See how the trees beside a stream in flood
Save； if they yield to force； each spray unharmed；
But by resisting perish root and branch。
The mariner who keeps his mainsheet taut；
And will not slacken in the gale； is like
To sail with thwarts reversed； keel uppermost。
Relent then and repent thee of thy wrath；
For； if one young in years may claim some sense；
I'll say 'tis best of all to be endowed
With absolute wisdom； but； if that's denied；
（And nature takes not readily that ply）
Next wise is he who lists to sage advice。
CHORUS
If he says aught in season； heed him； King。
（To HAEMON）
Heed thou thy sire too； both have spoken well。
CREON
What； would you have us at our age be schooled；
Lessoned in prudence by a beardless boy？
HAEMON
I plead for justice； father； nothing more。
Weigh me upon my merit； not my years。
CREON
Strange merit this to sanction lawlessness！
HAEMON
For evil…doers I would urge no plea。