But suffer me on yon lone hills to dwell,

Where stands Cithæron, chosen as my tomb

While still I lived, by mother and by sire,

That I may die by those who sought to kill.

And for my boys, O Creon, lay no charge

Of them upon me. They are grown, nor need,

Where’er they be, feel lack of means to live.

But for my two poor girls, all desolate,

To whom their table never brought a meal

Without my presence, but whate’er I touched