ANTIGONE.
Dear Haemon, how thy father slights thy love.
CREON.
Thou and thy marriage are a weariness.
ISMENE.
Wilt thou bereave thy child of his betrothed?
CREON.
Hades it is that shall these nuptials bar.
ISMENE.
It is resolved, it seems, that she shall die.
CREON.
There I agree with thee. No more delay.
Slaves, take her in, and henceforth let these maids
Be women, and no more be left at large.
The stoutest hearts are apt to think of flight,
When they perceive that death is drawing near.
* * * * *
THE CONTEST BETWEEN LOVE AND FILIAL DUTY.
LINES 631-780.
CREON.
Soon shall we know, my son, past prophecy
Whether, apprised of that our fixed decree,
Thou com'st in wrath upon thy bride's account
Or all we do is pleasing unto thee.
HAEMON.
My father, I am thine; thy wisdom guides
My steps aright and I will follow it;
No marriage can be dearer to my heart
Than is the blessing of thy governance.
CREON.
Be this, my son, implanted in thy breast,
Still to thy father's judgment to defer.
This is the reason for which men desire
To rear obedient offspring in their homes,
Who may confront their father's enemy,
And with him render service to his friends.
The father of unprofitable sons—
What does he else but for himself beget
Trouble and exultation for his foes?
Never, my Haemon, for a woman's love
Let go thy better judgment. Thou must know
That cold and comfortless is the embrace
Of a bad partner in the marriage bed.
What sore is worse than ill-requited love?
Then cast away this maiden from thy heart,
And let her nuptial bower in Hades be,
Since I have openly convicted her
Of breaking law, by all beside obeyed.
My public act I will not falsify,
The maid shall die; howe'er she may descant
On sacred kinship. If at home I give
Disorder license, where will order reign?
Whoever governs his own house aright
Will be a worthy member of the State.
The bold transgressor that defies the law,
Or thinks to override authority,
Need look for no encouragement from me
The lawful ruler's word must be obeyed,
Just or unjust, in great things and in small.
Who does this, I will warrant him a man
Fit to command alike and to obey,
And one who in the battle's storm will stand
Bravely and staunchly at his comrade's side.
There is no greater curse than anarchy;
It works the overthrow of commonwealths,
Lays homes in ruin, in the battle-field
Puts armies to the rout, while victory
And safety are the meed of discipline.
So must we stand by that which is decreed,
And not to an usurping woman yield.
Fall if we must, a man shall deal the blow:
'Twere shame to think a woman vanquished us.
CHORUS.
If age our judgment dims not, thou hast dealt
Rightly with all things which thy speech concerns.
HAEMON.
Father, the favour of the gods bestows
Wisdom, most precious of all precious gifts.
That thou hast not the right upon thy side
I cannot, if I could I would not, show.
Yet may another's argument be fair.
Nature hath set me to keep watch for thee
Over the words, acts, censures of the world.
The common man, awed by thy presence, shrinks
From uttering what he knows will please thee not.
I hear beneath the cloud of secrecy
How the whole city for this maiden mourns.
She, who the least deserves it, dies, they say,
A cruel death for a most noble deed,
The rescue of her brother's mangled corpse
From being left unburied on the field,
A prey to ravening dogs and carrion birds.
Has she not merited a crown of gold?
Such murmurs darkling spread among the crowd.
Father, I hold no treasure half so dear
As thy well-being; greater joy or pride
Is none than sons have in an honoured sire,
Or than a sire has in an honoured son.
Keep not one changeless temper in thy breast,
Nor fancy that thou art infallible.
Whoever dreams that he alone is wise,
Or is in speech or spirit singular,
Will, when unmasked, betray his emptiness.
Wise though a man may be, it is no shame
To have an open mind and flexible.
Thou seest by the winter torrent's side
The trees that bend go with their limbs unscathed,
While those that bend not perish root and branch.
And so the sailor who keeps taut the sheet,
And stiffly battles with the tempest's force,
Is apt thenceforth to float keel uppermost.
Bend, then, and give thy spirit room to change.
If from the lips of a young counsellor
Wisdom can come, I say it were far best
If we could all be born omniscient,
But as omniscience is not given to man,
'Tis well to good advisers to give ear.
CHORUS.
Prince, it beseems ye both, if either says
Aught apt, to listen; both have argued well.
CREON.
And shall our hoary hairs be put to school,
And shall we take instruction from this boy?
HAEMON.
In naught that is not right. Young as I am,
Thou shouldst my reasons weigh, not count my years.
CREON.
Does reason bid thee second anarchy?
HAEMON.
I would not ask e'en justice for the bad.
CREON.
Is not yon maiden sick of that disease?
HAEMON.
Not so avers the common voice of Thebes.
CREON.
Shall I my duty from the commons learn?
HAEMON.
Seest thou how youthful is that sentiment?
CREON.
Am I to govern by another's will?
HAEMON.
That is no state which owns one man for lord.
CREON.
Is not the state the ruler's property?
HAEMON.
Thou wouldst reign well over a desert land.
CREON.
The boy, it seems, will fight for yonder maid.
HAEMON.
If thou'rt the maid; it is for thee I care.
CREON.
Villain, why art thou wrangling with thy sire?
HAEMON.
Because thou errest from the path of right.
CREON.
Err I in claiming reverence for my state?
HAEMON
Reverence upon religion tramples not.
CREON.
O caitiff soul, thrall of a woman's face!
HAEMON
Thou wilt not see me by aught base enthralled.
CREON.
Yet is thy whole discourse a plea for her.
HAEMON.
For thee and me, and for the gods below.
CREON.
This maid shall never be thy living bride.
HAEMON.
Then will she die, and will not die alone.
CREON.
Hast thou the effrontery thus to threaten me?
HAEMON.
To gainsay folly, call'st thou that a threat?
CREON.
Thou'lt rue thy preaching, void thyself of sense.
HAEMON.
I'd say thou dotest, wert thou not my sire.
CREON.
Slave of a woman, do not gird at me!
HAEMON.
Wouldst thou have all the talking to thyself?
CREON.
Indeed! By heaven above, thou shalt repent!
Thus censuring first and then reviling me.
Bring out that hateful thing that she may die
Forthwith, and here before her lover's eyes.
HAEMON.
Never before my eyes, believe it not;
A witness of her death I will not be,
Nor shalt thou look upon my face again.
Rave at the friends who will thy raving brook.
(Exit HAEMON.)
CHORUS.
O Prince, the youth has rushed away in wrath,
And at his years anguish is violent.
CREON.
Let him go vent his overweening pride;
These maidens twain shall not escape from death.
CHORUS.
What? Is it thy resolve that both shall die?
CREON.
Not she that took no part. Thou hast well said.
CHORUS.
What is to be the manner of her death?
CREON.
I will convey her to a lonely place,
And shut her in a rock-hewn prison-house,
With food sufficient, for religion's sake,
Whereby we from pollution save the State.
There unto Hades, her sole deity,
Pattering her prayers, she will drive death away,
Or at the last be taught how vain it is
To spend devotion on the shades below.
* * * * *
THE POWER OF LOVE.
LINES 781-800.
CHORUS.
Unconquered love, against whose might
Wealth's golden mansion hath no ward,
That in the maiden's dimpled cheek by night
Keepest thy guard;
The ocean wave to bear thy tread is taught;
The rural homestead, gods, and men are brought
Alike thy power to own; who feels it is distraught.
'Tis thou that upright hearts and pure dost lead
From virtue's ways to ways of sin.
'Tis thou whose influence in our Thebes does breed
Strife among kin.
O'er all prevails the charm of beauty's eyes,
Charm that with Law Supreme in empire vies,
For Aphrodite's power all rebel force defies.
* * * * *
ANTIGONE IS SENT TO HER DEATH.
LINES 882-928.
CREON.
Be sure, of wails and dirges before death,
If leave were given, we ne'er should have an end.
Lead her away and in the rocky vault
Forthwith immure her, as my order was.
There leave her by herself, either to die,
Or linger on in that sepulchral cell.
We of this maiden's blood are clear, and yet
She will no longer dwell with those above.