Antigone’s devotion.
Then a proclamation was issued, that, if any dared bury the body of the fallen prince, he would incur the penalty of being buried alive. Heedless of this injunction and Ismene’s prayers to refrain from endangering her own life, Antigone dug a grave for her brother’s remains, and, unaided, fulfilled the various customary funeral rites. Her task was almost completed, when the guards discovered her, and dragged her into the presence of Creon, who, although she was a relative and the promised wife of his son Hæmon, condemned her to death.
“Let her be carried instant to the cave,
And leave her there alone, to live, or die;
Her blood rests not on us: but she no longer
Shall breathe on earth.”
Sophocles (Francklin’s tr.).
Antigone and Hæmon.
Hæmon pleaded passionately for her life; but, when he saw his prayers were vain, he ran to the place where Antigone was confined, sprang into her narrow cell, wound his arms closely around her, and refused to leave her. There they were walled in; Antigone’s sufferings were cut mercifully short by asphyxiation; and, when Hæmon saw she was no more, he, in utter despair, thrust his dagger into his side, and perished too.
ANTIGONE AND ISMENE.—Teschendorf.
“On himself bent all his wrath,
Full in his side the weapon fix’d, but still,
Whilst life remain’d, on the soft bosom hung
Of the dear maid, and his last spirit breath’d
O’er her pale cheek, discolor’d with his blood.
Thus lay the wretched pair in death united,
And celebrate their nuptials in the tomb.”
Sophocles (Francklin’s tr.).