CLASSICAL GREEK TRAGEDY ANTIGONESOPHOCLES (4967-406 BC.) Aatigone An English Version by Duley Fits and Robert Piegerald Person Represented "ANTIGONE, ISMENE BURYDICE CREON HAIMON TEIRESIAS ASENTRY ‘AMESSENGER ‘cuorus SCENE: Before the Palace of Creon, King of Thebes. A central double door, and two lateral doors. plasform extends the length ofthe facade, and from tis platform tree steps lead down into the “orchestra, or chorusground. TIME: Dai ofthe dhy after the repulse ofthe Argive army from the asset on Thebes PROLOGUE [ANTIGONE and ISMENE enter from the central door ofthe Palace] ANTIGONE: Ismene, dear sister, ‘You would think that we had sleady suffered enough For the curse on Oedipus Teannot imagine any gre That you and I have not gone trough. And now — 5 Have they told you of the new decree of our King Creon? ISMENE: have heard nothing: I know ‘That wo sisters lost wo brothers, a double death Ia sagle hour, and T know that he give army ied in the might but beyond this, noshing ® ANTIGONE: ‘ought so. And that ie why I warted you To come out hee with me, Tete x someting we must do nates teatd eae tam eerie is mm meas Secon eae om eteISMENE: ‘Why do you speaks strangely? ANTIGONE: Listen, ment Greon buried or brother Bicol ‘With military honors, gave hima soldier's funeral, ‘Aon it was right that he sould; bur Plyneicés, They ought as bravely and ied as miserably, ‘Thay say thal Crem has sworn "No one shall burry him, no one mourn for hin, ‘But this body must ei the fields, a sweet treasure For ean bind o find as they sare for food ‘This what they say, and our ood Creon it coming here ‘Toannounce it publicly and the penalty — ‘Stoning to deth Ihe publi squarel There itis, ‘And now you can prove what you ae ‘Avoue sister, ora Yair to your family ISMENE: "Antigone, you ate mal! What could 1 posi iy do? ANTIGONE: ‘You must decide wheter you wil help me or not ISMENE: 1 donot understand you, Help you in what? ANTIGONE: Ismene, Iam going to bury hm, Wil you come? ISMENE: "Bury him! You have just sid she new law forbid it ANTIGONE: eis my brother. And he is your broth, 00. ISMENE: ‘ut thik ofthe danger! Think what Creon wil do! ANTIGONE: (Creo snot enough to stand in my way. ISMENE: Ab sister! ‘Oedipus died, everyone hating bmFor what his own search brought 0 light, his eyes Ripped out by his own hand; an Toast ded. ‘smother and wife at once’ she twisted the cords “Tha stangled ber life; and our two broters ded, ach killed by the other's sword. And we are lf Butoh, Antigone, ‘Think how much more terrible than these ‘Our ow death would be f we sould go against Creon ‘And do what he hes forbidden’ We ae only women, ‘We eanot fight with men, Antigone! “The law is tong, we mst give in othe aw Inthis thing, and in worse. beg the Dead To forgive me, but Lam belples: Lust yield Tothose in autbority. And think itis dangerous business ‘Tobe always medling ANTIGONE: hats what you think, 1 should not want you, even Ifyou asked ta come. ‘You have made your choice, you can be what you want tobe. ‘But wll bury hi and fT most 1 say tha this ime is holy: I shall Hi down ‘With him in death, and shall be as dea ‘Tohim ae hetoms tis the dead [Notsho living, who make she longest demands Wei forever. ‘You may goa you lke Since apparenly the laws ofthe god mean nothing you ISMENE: “They meana great del fo me, but! have no strength ‘Tobreak laws tat were made forthe public good ANTIGONE: ‘That must be you excuse, suppose. But as forme, 1 wil buy the braher Tove ISMENE: Antigone, am so aad for you! ANTIGONE: You need not be! ‘You have yoursel'o consider, ae alISMENE: ‘But no one must hear of this, you must tll no oe! wil keep ita secret, I promise! ANTIGONE: (tlt Tell everyone “Think how they'll hate you when itll comes out 0 ‘they lear tha you knew abou ial he ise! ISMENE: ‘So fiery! You shouldbe cold with fea ANTIGONE: Pethsps ut Tat doing only what T mus. ISMENE: ‘But can you do it say that you eannot ANTIGONE ‘Very wel: when my strength gives ou, shall dono more. ISMENE: Impossible things should not be tried at al ANTIGONE: Go away, Ismene: 1 shall be hating you soon, and the dead wil 00, For your words are hatef Leave me my foliah plan: | am not alfaid ofthe danger: if it means eat, w wll ot be the worst of deaths death without honor ISMENE: ‘Gio then if yu fee ha you mast ‘You are unwise, Buta loyal end indeed to those who love you. (Est no the Palace: ANTIGONE goes of L. Enter the CHORUS.) PARODOS cuoRvs: "Now the long blade of he sn, ying [Stophe 1) 4s Level eas to west, touches with glory Thcbes ofthe Seven Gates. Open, unidded Eye of golden day! marching ight ‘Acros the edly and rash of Drees stream, ‘Striking the white shields of de enemy 0 ‘Thrown headlong backward from the blaze of moming! Fine soot a)cuoracos:’ Polyneies their commander ‘Rose them with windy phrase, He the wild eagle searing Insults above ou lend, His wings their shies of snow, is crest their matshaled helms Honus: Lanisirophe 1) ‘Against our seven gates a yeing ring ‘The famished spears came onward inthe night, ‘But before hs jaws were sted with our bod, Orpine fire took the garland of our towers, vas thrown back and a e turned, great Thebes — [No tender vsti fr his noisy power— Rose lke a dragon behind him, shouting war. ‘cHoRAGoS: For Gd hates utetly ‘The bray of bragging tongues; ‘And when he betel thet smiling, ‘Thee swagger of golden helms, ‘The fown of is thunder blasted “Thee fiest man from our walle Horus. [Sirophe 2) ‘We hard his shout of triumph high nthe ir ‘Turmto. scream fr out na flaming are ‘He fll with his wendy tore, andthe ect truck im. ‘And ater storming in fury oles than bis ound shock of death inthe dusty joy of atl ‘cHORAGOS: ‘Seven capa t seven guts ‘ielded their clanging ams tothe god ‘Tha bends the battleline an break it ‘Thase two oaly, reer in blood, Face to face in matchless “Mizoring each the other's death, (Cashed in long combat cuoaus: Lanaistrophe 2) ‘Bat now in the besutifl morning of victory [Let Thebes ofthe many chariots sng To 0s! ‘With hearts or dancing we'll ake leave of wat ‘Our temples sal be woot with hymns of praise‘And he long night shall echo with our chor. SCENE cHoracus: ‘Bat now a ast our new Kings coming: (Creon of Thees, Meaoikeus sn In this auspicious dawn of is eign 20 ‘What ae the new completes ‘That shifting Fate bas woven for bi? ‘What she counsel? Why has he summoned “The old mn to hea ist? [Binter CREON from the Palace, He adareses the CHORUS, Irom the top step REON: Gentlemen: Ihave the honor to inform you that our Ship of| Sate, which recent stormy have testened to destroy, has come Safely to harbor at lst, guidd by the merifl wisdom of Heaven. have summoned you here this morning because 1 know that | can depend upon your your devotion to King Laios was absolute; you rover hesitated in Your duty t ous late ruler Ocdipus, and when Gcdipas died, your loyally was vansfered to. bis children. Unfortunately, as you know, his two sons, the princes Hteoces and Polyneces, have killed each other in bale, and I, asthe next in ‘blood, ave succeded othe fl power of the done ‘Tam eware, of couse, that no Ruler can expect complete loyalty from his’ subjects unl he has been tested in office. Nevertheless, I say to you atthe very outet that I have nothing bel contempe for the kindof Govenor who i aad, fr whatever teason, to follow the course that he knows i est forthe State; and ae for the rman who ses private findship above the public welfare, 1 have to use for him either. [all God to witnes hat fT saw my country beaded for rai, I should not be afraid to epeak out plainly and T aced hardy remind you that 1 would never have any dealings wth an enemy of the people. No one valesfendship mare highly thn I but we must remember that frends made at the cisk of wrecking out Ship are at real cosa These are my principles, at any cate, and that is why I have rade the following decision concerning the sons of Oct teoees, who died a aman should di, fighting fr his Coury, ts 10 be bared wit ul military honors, wit al the ceremony tat is usual sven the greatest herocs dis but his brthcr Polyneices, who Broke his exile wo come back with fie and sword against is naive ity and the shrines of his fathers” gods, whose ane idea was to spill the blood of his blood and sll is own people ino slaery— Polyneices 1s, 'sto have no burial: no man iso touch him or say the last prayer fr Mshim: fhe shall tie on the plan, unburied: and the birds and the avenging dogs can do with him whatever they Tk, ‘This my command, and you ea se the wisdom behind it As Jong a Tam King, no ator is going tobe honored withthe foyal 175 ‘man, But whoever shows by word and ded that he is on the side of the Stte-—he shall have my respect whe he is living and my reverence when he is deed cHoRAGos: tbat is your wil, Creon son of Menoikeus, ‘You have the ight to enforce it we are Yours 0 REON: “That is my will, Take cae thal you do your part cHoracos: Were old men: let the younger ones cary it out CREON: 1 donot mean that: the sents have been appointed cHoracos: ‘Then what stat you would have us do? CREON: ‘You wil give no support to whoover breaks this aw: vs cHoracos: ‘Only crazy mani in lve with death! CREON: ‘And death itis; yet money talks, andthe wisest Have sometimes been known a count few coins too many (Enter SENTRY from 1} SENTRY; 1’ not sy that I'm out of breath from running, King, because every te I stopped o think about what | ave to tll you 1 fl ike going, — (90 back. And all the time a voice kept saying “Yeu fool, don't you know you're walking straight into trouble"; and then acter vote: “Yes, bu if you let somebody else got the news to Cre fst i will be even worse tha tat for you" But good sense won out, fleas 1 hope it was good sense, and here I am with a story that makes 20 sense at all but I'l tell it anyhow, because, as they sy, what's going to happens going to happen, and—CREON: ‘Come othe pont, What have you to sy? SENTRY: 1 didnot it id not see wi did it. You must not punish me for what someone clas has done, CREON: ‘A comprehensive defense! More effective, perhaps, FT knew its purpose, Come: what it? SENTRY: ‘Areal thing... n't know how to pu it CREON: ‘Out with it SENTRY, Well then; “The dead man Polyneices— (Pause. The SENTRY i overcome, fumbles for words, CREON waits impassivey:] ot there— ‘new dust on the slimy flesh! [Pause. No sign from CREON.] ‘Someone ha given it burl tat way, end Gone [Long pause. CREON finaly speaks wit deadly conto} REON: ‘And the man who dared do this? SENTRY: owes 210 Do not know! You must believe me! Liste: ‘The ground was dy, nota sign of digging. no, [Not whee tack inthe dist no trace of anyone was when they rlioved us this moming! and one of them, ‘The compra, pointed i. There twas, as ‘The srangest— Look “The body, just mounded over with ight dust: you sec? [Not buried really, butas if they'd covered itJust enough forthe ghos's peace. And o sign ‘Of dogs or any wid animal that had ben thee 20 ‘And then whats seen there was! Every man of us ‘Accusing the othe: we all proved the other man did it, ‘Wesll bad proof that we could not have done i We were ready to take hot on i our hands, ‘Walkthrough ire, swear by al the gods was not ns 1 do not know who it 99s, but twas not I TCREON's rage has Been mounting teas, bur the SENTRY {sto intent upon hs story to noice it] ‘And then, when tis came to nothing, someone sid ‘A thing tht silenced us and made us sire Dow athe ground: you had to he told the news, ‘And one of us had te doit! We threw the dice, 0 ‘And he bad luck fell to me. So here Lam, [No happier to be hee than you tet have me [Nobody likes the maa who bring bad news, cHORAGOS: ‘Thave been wondering, King: cn tbe thatthe gods have done his? 255 REON: (Pariouty.) ‘Stop! ‘Must you doddring wrecks (Go out of your heads entirely? “The gods! Intolerable! ‘The gods favor this compte? Why’? How hae served them? a0 “Tried to Tot their temples, um their images, ‘Yes atid the wiole Stat, and it awe with Isityour senile opinion thatthe gods love to honor bad men? A pious thought! — No, fom the every begining “There have boon those who bave whispered togsther, as ‘Saifnecked anarchists, puting their heads together, ‘Scheing against me in alleys, These are the ten, ‘And they baveibed my ow guard to do this thing. Money! {Sententous} ‘There's nothing inthe word o demoralizing as mane 0 ind tht man, bring him here to me, o your death be the leas of your problems: sting you up ‘Alive and there wil be certain ways o make you Discover your employer before you de ‘Ad the process may teach youe lesson youscem tohavemissed 260 The dearest profit is sometimes al to dear“That depend onthe source. Do you understand ms? ‘A Tore won is olen misfortane, SENTRY: ‘King, may I speak? CREON: ‘Your very voice dstesses me SENTRY: “Ate you sure that its my voice, and not your conscience? 2s CREON: ‘By God, he wants to analyze me no! SENTRY Wis not what I sy, but what hasbeen don, that huts you. CREON: ‘You talk too much, SENTRY, “Maybe; but I've done nothing CREON: Sold your soul fr somes J: that’s al you've done. SENTRY; ‘lows deel itis when he right jade judges wrong! 20 CREON: Your figures of speech ‘May enterain you now; but unless you Bring me he man, ‘You wil gt itl profi ftom them nthe end. [Enter CREON ino the Palace) Pd like nothing beter han bringing him the man? ns [Bt bring him or not, you have seen the las of me ers, ‘Aveny rte, Tam ste [est SENTRY.) over cHoRus: [Sirophe 1) "Numbsless ate the word's wonders, but none ‘More wonderful than man; the stormy sea Yes this prows, th huge cress bear him high; 20ath, holy and inexhaustible, s graven With shining Forrows where his plows hve gone ‘Year afer yea, he ieles labor of salons LAmaistrope 1) ‘Th lightboned btds and beasts that cling to cover, ms ‘The ihe Fish lighting thee eaches of dim water, Allare taken, tamed i the net of his mind; The lon on the il the wid horse windy-mane, Resign oi, and isnt yoke as broken ‘The sultry shoulders ofthe mountain ball (Sirophe 2) ‘Words also ant thought a rapid a ir, 20 He fashions to his good use, sisterat sis ‘And isthe sul tht delet the arrows of now, ‘The spears of winter rin: from every wind ee has made himself ecure—fom al bul one Inthe late wind of death he cannot sand LUniserophe 2) 0 clear inttigence, free beyond all measure! e (0 fate of man, working bth good and evil! ‘When the las are kept, how proudly his city tends! ‘When the laws are broken what of is iy then? [Never may the stare man find est at my hearth, [Never bet said that my thoughts are his though m0 SCENE IL [Re-enter SENTRY leading ANTIGONE,] ‘cHORAGoS: ‘What docs his mean? Surely this captive woman Isthe Princess, Antigone. Why should se be fake? SENTRY, Het isthe one who dit! We caught het Inthe very act of burying him. —Where is Creon? cHoracos: Just coming from the house. [Enter CREON, C3} CREON: What has happened? es ‘Why have you come back s soon?SENTRY; King ‘A man should never be too sure of anything would have sworn ‘Tha you's not sce me here agin: your anger Frightened me so, andthe things you threatened me with; a0 But how could tll then ‘That'd be abet solve the case 50 s000? [No dice-throwing this ime: Iwas only to gla to come! Here is this woman, Shee the guy one We found her tying o bury bi, as ‘Take her, then; guention her jadge her as you will Tam dough with the whole thing now, and glad of CREON: ‘But hiss Antigone! Why have you brought her bere? SENTRY: ‘She ws burying him, el you! CREON: [Severely Is hie the tut? SENTRY, 1 saw her with my own eyes. Can say more? 0 CREON: “The dels: com, tell me quickly! SENTRY; as ke this: ‘After hose tril threats of yours King. ‘We went back and brused the dist away fom the body. ‘The flesh was sof by now, and stinking, Sowesaton ail o windward and kep guard "No napping happened ual the whit round sun Whirled inthe center of the rund sky over us ‘Then, suddenly, [A storm of dust rated up from the earth nd the sky a0 ‘Went ou the pais vanished wi al its tees Inthe stinging dar. We closed our eyes and endured it “The whirkwind lasted lang time, bai passed, ‘And then we loked, and here was Ansigone! Thave seca ns ‘A mother bind come back to stripped net, heardHer crying bitterly a broken note or #0 For the young ones stolen. Just so, when tis git Found the bar corpse anda het love's work wasted, ‘She wep, and cried on heave to dam the hands a “Tha bad done thie thing And hen she brought more dst ‘Ad sine wine thre ies for he rather’ host ‘Weran and took erat once. She was not afd, [Not even whea we charge her wit what she had done She denied nothing Andthis was acomforttome, 345 ‘And some uneasinst or it sa good thing ‘Tocscape fom death, but it ism great pleasure ‘Tobring doth wo friend Yer Labwayssay “Ther is nothing to comfortable as your own tafe skin! CREON: (Slow, dangerous] ‘And you, Amigone, a0 ‘You with your heed hanging—do you confess tis thing? ANTIGONE: do. deny nothing. CREON: [To SENTRY?) You may go. {sit SENTRY. To ANTIGONE:] ‘Tellme, tell me brie ad you heard my proclamation touching this mater? ANTIGONE: wae public. Could help besrng i? ass CREON: ‘And yet you dared defy the lw ANTIGONE: I dared. vas not Gods proclamation. That ial Justice ‘That res the world below makes no such as, ‘Your edit, King, was strong, ‘Butall your strength s weakness itself painst 0 “The immertal unrecorded laws of God ‘Thay remot merely now they were, and shall be, ‘Operative forever, beyond man ute‘new must die, ven without your decree: am only mortal And if must die Now, before tis my time to de, ‘Surely this mo hardship: can atyons Living 35 live, with ev all about me, “Think Death less than a frend? This death of mine Is of importance; but f Thad lett my brother x0 ‘Lying in death unburied, should have suffered, Now I dono ‘You smile st me. Ab Creon, ‘Think me a foo, if you ike; butt may well be “That fool convict me of folly ‘cHoRacos: Like father, lke daughter: bath headstone, deaf reason! ns ‘She has never eared to yield. ‘She has much lear, ‘The inexile heat breaks fst, the woughet eon Ceacks first, andthe wildest horses bend thir necks ‘tthe pull ofthe sallest curb Pride? Inaslve? “This gic i git ofa double inslenes, 0 ‘Breaking the given laws and boasting oF ‘Who isthe man here, ‘Shoot if this rime goes unpunished?” Sis hid, more tha sister's child, (Or closer yet in blood —she and her sister as ‘Win biter death Fortis! [To servants] Go, some af you, ‘Arrest Ismene, I accuse er eau. Bring her: you wil ind her srifling in the house there Her mind's teitor crimes kept inthe dar 0 (Cy fright, and the guardian brain shudders: ‘Bt now much wore than thie Is brazen boasting of baefaced anarchy! ANTIGONE: Creon, what mote do you want han my death? CREON: Nothing “That gives me everything ANTIGONE: Then beg you kil me.“This alkng i a great weariness: your words Bs ‘Are dstaseflt me, ana Lam sare that mine ‘Sem so 10 you. And ye they should not sem so 1 should have praise abd hovor for what have dove. Allthese men hee would praise me ‘Were therlips not fazen shut wit ear of you, 0 (ein Ab he good fortune of kings, Licensed to say and do whatever hey plese! CREON: ‘You ae alone herein that opinion, ANTIGONE: Noy they ate with me. But they kee the tongues in leash, REON: ‘Maybe, Bu you ae guilty, and they ANTIGONE: “There is no pul in reverence forthe dad CREON: ‘But Eteocles—was he not your broth 00? ANTIGONE: ‘My brother to, CREON: ‘And you insult his memory? ANTIGON®: (Sof) “The dead man would not say that insu it CREON: le would: for you honor tritor as mach shim, a0 ANTIGONE: is ow brother, traitor or nt, an equ in blood, CREON, “He made war on his county. Htcocles defended it ANTIGONE: "Nevertheless, there ate honors du al the dead CREON:But not the same forthe wicked a8 fr the jut ANTIGONE: ‘Ab Creon, Creo, as ‘Which of us can Say what the gods old wicked? CREON: “An enemy isan enemy, even dead. ANTIGONE: 3s may nate to join in ove, not hate CREON: (nail losing patience} Go join them, then; if you must have your love, ind iin 20 cHoRAGoS: ‘Bur eo, mene comes [Emer ISMENE, garded | “Those tors are istry the cloud “That shadows her eyes rains down gentle sorrow. CREON: Youtoo, mene, ‘Sake in my ordered hous, sucking my blood a ‘Stclhily-~and all the ime I never knew “That hee wo sister wore aiming at my trons! Inmene, Do you confess your share in therm, or deny if? ‘Answer me ISMENE: ‘Yes ish wil let me say s, Lam pul. 0 ANTIGONE: {cold} No, lsmene. You ave no right to sy so. ‘You would not help me, aT wil no have you help me ISMENE: ‘But now I know what you meant and Tam here ‘To join You, to take my share of punishment ANTIGONE: “The dead man and the gods who rule the dead as Know whose at his was. Words ae not endsISMENE: ‘Do you refuse me, Antigone? I want to de with you ‘too havea duty that | ust discharge tothe des ANTIGONE: ‘You shall not lessen my death by sharing i ISMENE: ‘What do I care fr life when you are dead? 0 ANTIGONE: ‘Ask Creon. You're always hanging on his opinions ISMENF: "You are laughing at me. Why, Antigone? ANTIGONE: sa joyles laughter, Tene, ISMENE: ‘But ean [do nothing? ANTIGONE: Yes. Save yourself I shal ot envy you ‘There are those who wil praise your sal have honor, to, “ ISMENE: ut we are equally ity! ANTIGONE: ‘No mor, lsmene. ‘Yow ate alive, but | belong o Death CREON: {To the CHORUS] ‘Gentlemen, Ibeg you to observe these gis: ‘One has jas 0W Tost her mind; the the, seem, has ever bad a mind a al 40 ISMENE: ‘Gre teaches the steadiest minds to waver, King. CREON: ‘Yours cerainly did, when you assumed guid withthe eit! ISMENE: ‘But how could I goon living without her?CREON: You srs, ‘She is aeeady den. ISMENE: But your own son's ride! CREON: There are places enough for him to push his plow a5 | wat no wieked women for my sons! ISMENE: (0 dearest Hain how your father wrong you! CREON: ‘Tvead enough of your chilis alk of mariage! ‘cHoRAGoS: ‘Do you really intend to sel this gil fom your su? CREON: ‘No; Death will do hat for me ‘cHoRAGos: ‘Then she must die? “0 CREON: loroneaty.1 ‘You daze me But enough ofthis tlt [Toe quarDs:) ‘You, ther, take them away and guard them well: For they are but women, and even brave mea un ‘When they see Death coming [Exeunt ISMENE, ANTIGONE, and GUARDS] ove cuorvs: [Siraphe 1) Fortunate the man who his never tasted Go's vengeance! as ‘Where once the ange of heaven has stuck, that house i shaken For ever dannation ies behind each child Like a wave eresting out ofthe black northeast, ‘When the long darkness unde ea roars up ‘And burs drumming death upon the windwhipped sand a0[ansisrophe 1) have seen this gathering sorow from time long pas, ‘Loom upon Oedipus” children: generation from generation “Taker te compulsive rage ofthe enemy god. So ately ths lst flower of Oedipus" ne Drank the slight but now a patsionals word as ‘And a handful of dust have closed up al ts beauty What moral arogaace (Sirophe 2) Tranicends the wrath of Zeus? ‘Steep cannot albino the efforts lng months (Othe tmess gods but hei young for ever, “0 ‘And his house i the shining day of high Olympos ‘All hat is and shal be, ‘And all the past, isis. No pride om eath ice of the curse of heaven The saying dreams af men [anus ‘May bring them ghosts of joy But as they drow, the waking embers burn thems (Or they walk with fixed eyes a8 lind men walk, ‘But the ancient wisdom speaks for our own tne Fate works mot for woe 0 ith Polly's fairest show. Man's litle pleasure ithe spring of sorrow SCENE Ut ‘cuoRacios: ‘But here is Haimon, King, the las ofall your sons. Isit grief for Antigone, that brings him here, ‘And bitemess at being robbed of his bide? os [Enter HAIMON) CREON: ‘We shall soon se, and no need of dviners — You have heard my final judgment on that gi: Have you come hers hating me, or have you come ‘With deference and with love, whatever do? HAIMON: 1am your son, father. You are my guide seo ‘You make things clear for me, an | obey You [No marrage means more to me than your continuing wisdom, REON:Good, Thats the way to behave: subordinate Everything else, my son, to your father's will This is what aman prays fr that he may get Sons atlenive and dutiful it his house, Each one hating his father’s enemies, Honoring his father's fend. Bu i his ons Fail him, ithey tun out unposiably, ‘What has he fathered but trouble for himeeié And emisement forthe malcios? So you are ight ‘otto lose you head ove this womas, ‘Your pleasure with her would soon, grow col, Haimon, And then you'd have ahllat in bed and elsewhere ether find her husband i Hell! OF the people in hist, aly she as had contempt for my aw and broken it Do you want meo show myself weak before the people? (Oto break my swors word? No, and I will ot The woman dice. I suppose shel plead “family tes." Well et he, IT permit my own family 1 rebel, ow shal Team the worlds obodionce? ‘Sow me the man who keeps his house in hand, e's ft for public authority it have no dealings ‘With lw-boakers, erties ofthe government Whoever is chosen to govern shouldbe obeyed — Mate obeyed in al things, great and smal, Justand unjust! © Haimon, ‘The man who knows how to obey, and that man only, Knows how fo give commands sven the time comes, ‘You ean depend an im, no mater how fst. ‘The spous come: he's a good soir, he'l stick it out, Anarchy, anarey! Show me a greater evil! “This is why elties tumble ad the yreat houses ain down, This is what caters armies! No, nr good ives are made so by dssptine, ‘We kexp the laws then, andthe lawmakers, [And no woman shall soiice us. If we mus oe, Lets lose toa man, test! Is 2 woman stronger than we? cHoracos: Unless time has std my wits ‘What you say, King, is sad ith point and dignityHAIMON: (Boyishly earnest.) Father Reason is Gods crowing git to man, and you are right To warn me agaist losing mine. Teunsotsay— {hope that I ahall never want to sy!—that you Have reasoned badly, Yer there ae ober men Who can reason os and thet opinions might be help You ae notin pasion to know everyhing That people say o= do, or what they fee: Your temper terifies them everyone ‘Will il you only what you ke teat ‘But at any rate, cn listen; and 1 bave heard thera Mattrng and wiisperng inthe dark but this gi They sano worn has ever, so unreasonably, Died so shameful «death for a generous act *She covered he brother's body Is this indecent? ‘She kep him from dogs and ltrs, Ishi a rime? Death? —She should have al the honor that we can pve he!” This isthe way they talk out here inthe city ‘You must believe me: [Nothing i closer tome than your happiness ‘What could be loser? Most not any son Valse his father’s fortune a his father does his? "eg you, do not be unchangeable: Do ot believe that you alone canbe right The man who thinks that, ‘The man whe maintains that only he bas the power To reason correctly, the gif speak, to soul ‘Aman like that, when you know him, turns out empty. eis mot reason never o yield to reason! In flood time you can see how some tces bend ‘And because they Bend even thee wis are ste, ‘While stubborn tees are torn up, roots and ll, And the same thing happens in salling “Make your shee fast, never slackea —and over you g0, ead over eel nd under and there's your voyage Forget you are angry! Let yourself be moved! "now Tam young; bu plese le me say tis: The ideal contin ‘Would be, admit that men shouldbe right by istnes; But since we areal oo likely to go astray, The reasonable hing iso Teara fom those who can teach, ‘10cuoracos: ‘You will do well listen to him, King what he says is sensible. And You, Haimon, “Mast listen o your father. Boh speak well CREON: "You consider it right for aman of my yeas and experience ‘To go school o aboy? HAIMON: isnot ight 11am wrong. But if | am young, and righ, ‘What does my age matter? CREON: ‘You think it rght to stand up for an anarchist? HAIMON, [Not tall. pay no spout eriminals, CREON: ‘Then shes nota criminal? HAIMON: The City proposes to each me how i ale? CREON: ‘And the City proposes to teach me how to rule? HAIMON, ‘Ah, Who sit tha’ talking like a boy now? CREON: “My voice isthe one voce giving order inthis City! HAIMON: eis no City it takes orders from ane voice CREON: The State tthe King! HAIMON: ‘You if the State ise dese, [Pause] CREON: This boy it seems, has sold out tow woman,HAIMON: yoe ares woman: my concern i only for you. ‘00 CREON: ‘So? Your “concern? Ina public brawl with your fthe! HAIMON, How about you, ina public brawl with justice? CREON: ‘With justice, when ll hat doi within my rights? HAIMON: ‘You have no right 1 tarple on God's right CREON: [Complerety ou of contro.) ool, adolescent fol! Taken in by a woman’ 0s HAIMON: ‘You'll never sce me taken in by anything vile CREON: Every word you say is for hee! AIMON: (Quien, dary.) And for you ‘And forme And forthe gods under the ea CREON: ‘You'll never marry her while shelves, HAIMON: Then she mast de, —But her death will cause anotber 0 CREON: ‘Another? Have you lost your senses? Is this an open threat? HAIMON: ‘There is no threat in speaking to emptiness CREON: swear you'l egret this superior tone of yours! ‘You are the emply one! HAIMON: you were not my fier, as1Pd.ay you were perverse CREON: ‘You gitlsruck foo, don't play at words with me! HAIMON, Tam sorry. You peter silence CREON: Now, by God—! 1 swear, by all the gods in heaven ebave us, ‘You'll watch I swear you shall (To the SERVANTS] Bring her out! oa Bring the woman out! Let her die before his eyes! ere, this instant, with her bridegroom beside her! HAIMON, Not hore; she will not die hore, King ‘And you wil never see my face agin. Go on raving 28 long a you've rend to endure you es [Eu HAIMON] cuoracos: Gone, gone Cron, young man na rages dangerous! CREON: Lethim do, or dream to do, more than a man can, estall no save these gir om death cHoRaGos: These girs? ‘You have sentenced them bath? CREON: No, you are right 0 1 wil at kl the one whose bands ar eles cuoracos: ‘But Antigone? CREON: [Somberty.) 1 leary her far away ‘ut herein the wikerness, ack ber Living i a vault of stone. She shall bave food, [A the custom ito absolve the State of er death as ‘And thee lt he pray fo the gos of bel:‘They ar her only gods: Perhaps they will show her an escape from death, Orshe may Tear, though te, ‘That piety shown the deeds pity in vain oo [Ext CREON)) ope mt Horus. Love, unconquerabe [Sirophe] Watter of rch men, kesper (Ot warm lights and all-night vg In theso face of gi Sea-wandorer foresevisitor! [Even the pure Immortals cannot escape you, ‘And mortal man, his one days das, ‘Teembles before your gly Surely you swerve upon min LAnistrpe) The jst man’s consenting hea, 60 Ashere you have made bright anger Strike Between fier td xon— ‘And none has conquered but Love! ‘Agi’ lance working the will oTheaven Pleasureto her ale ho meck us, oss Merciless Aphrodite” SCENEIV ‘cHORAGOS: [as ANTIGONE enter guarded] But [ean no longer standin awe ofthis, Nor, secig whet Ios, kecp back my tears, Here is Antigone, passing to that chamber ‘Where al find slept ast 7 ANTIGONE: ‘Look upon me, tends and pity me [Sirophe 1) Taming back tthe night's edge to say {Good-by othe sun that shines forme no longer Now sleepy Death Summon me down to Acheron, tht cold shore ws ‘There is na bridesong there nor any music, Sian SSRIS ya tecuoRvs: Yet nt unprased not without a kind of honor, ‘You walla lat int the underworld Untouched by scknes, broken by no sword ‘What woman has ever found your way to deh? co ANTIGONE: Amiserophe 1) ow often Ihave beard the store of Niobe.* Tantalos'wrehed daughter, how the stone Clung fst about he, ey-close and hey say The ain ill endlesly And rifting soft snow; her ears are never done, os fel the loneliness of her death in mie cuoavs: Bu she was bor of heaven, and you ‘Ate woman, woman.or. Teer death is yours, ‘A moral woman's, this aot for you Glory in our word and inthe world beyond? so ANTIGONE: ‘You laugh atm. Ab, ends, ends, [Sirephe2] (Can you not wai ntl Lam dead? © Thebes, (Omen many-charioed in foe with Fortune, Dea spring of Dies, saeved Theban grove, Be witnesses forme, denied all pity as Unity jdge! ad think» wor of love For er whose path tums Under dank cart, where there are no move tears cous: ‘You have pased beyond human daring nd come at ast. Into place of stone where ste sits 0 ann tell ‘What shape of your father’s guilt appears inthis ANTIGONE: [nnstrophe 2) ‘You have touched it a as that bridal ed Unspediabl, boror of son an mother mingling: os Their vie, infection ofall ou fay! (0 Oedipus, father and brother ‘Your mariage stikes from the grave to mutder mine "Thaveboon a stranger ere in my own lat: Renata semen iy mgt ey hm ii Sp aacAlly life Te blasphemy of my bith has followed me, 200 cuoaus: Reverence is vir, bt strength [ves in extablished a: hat st preva ‘You have maée your chee, ‘Your death she doing of your conscious hand, ANTIGONE: {podey ‘Then Ietme go, since all your words are biter, ros And the very ight ofthe sun i old me. [Lead me to my vigil were [must have Neither love no lamentation; no song, bt silence. [CREON interrps impatient.) (CREON: [f dzges and planned lamentations could pu of death, “Men would be singing for ever (To the SERVANTS] ‘Take ber, go! a0 ‘You know your order: take her tothe vault And eave her lone there. she ives odes, That’ er aff, not urs ou hands are clean, ANTIGONE: ‘tomb, vaulted brie-bein eternal rock, Soom I shal be with my ows sain as ‘Where Persephone * welcome the thin ghost underground: ‘And shall see my father again, and you, mothe, ‘And dearest Polyneices— dearest inde ‘Tome, since it was my hand ‘That washed him clean and poured the vtual wine: mm ‘And my reward is death before my tie! ‘And yet, as men's heats know, Thave done no wrong, have not sinned before God, Ori have, I shal know the teh in death, But the guilt Lies upon Crean who judged me, hen, pay, ns “May his punishment equal my own, cHoRAGoS: © passionate hea, Unyilding, tormented sil bythe same winds! atteCREON: er guards shall have good enus to regret ther delaying ANTIGONE: ‘Ah! That voice you no reason think voice of death! CREON: an give you no reason to think you are mistaken m0 ANTIGONE: Thebes and you my fhe" gods, And rulers of Thebes, you see me now, the lst Unhappy daughter of line of kings, ‘Your king, led away to deat, You wll remember ‘What things I suffer, and at what men's hands, ns Because I would not transgres the laws of heaven (To the GUARDS, simpy) Come: lot s wait no longer. [Eu ANTIGONE, guarded] ovew cuorus: All Dana's beauty was ocked aay (Sirophe 1) Ina brazen cell wher the sunlight could not come ‘Asnal room, sll as any grave, cnelosod ee oa Yet she was a princes oo, [And Zeus in a rai of gold poured love upon her. O child bil, No owt in wealth or war (tough seabackened ships us (Can prevail aginst untiring Desig! : {Anstrophe ‘And Dryas’ son also, that frious king, Bore the god's prisoning anger for his pide: Sealed up by Dionysos in dea ton His madnes died among echoes, 10 Sot the Inst he Iamed what deed power Tis tongue ad mocked Fore had profaned the revels, [And fice the wrath ofthe nine Implacable Sisters” that love the sound ofthe fate 15 Tipe garam apo mt) ‘ia a[siraphe 2] And old men lls haltremembered tale Cromer dove wheres dark ledge splits the ea [And e double srt beats onthe gay shore: How a king's new woman, "sick ‘With hatred forthe queens id imprisoned, 60 Ripped ou is two son's eyes wit her bloody hands While grinning Ares" watched the shut plunge our times four blind wounds xying for revenge [annisirophe 2) Crying ters end blood mingled, —Pitcously bor, ‘Thoce sons whose mother was of heavenly bith! 1s Her father was the god ofthe Novis Wind And she was era by gles, She raced with young cots othe glitering ils [And walked untrammled inthe open ligt: [Bu inher marrage detless Fate found means m0 To build tomb ike yours for al her oy SCENE [Enter bind TEIRESIAS, led by a boy. The opening speeches of TEIRESIAS, ‘should bein singsong conthast tothe realitelnes of CREON TTEIRESIAS: “This the way the Blind man comes, Princes, Princes, Lckestep, two heads lt ty the eves of ons, CREON: ‘What now thing have you tus, old Tezsis? TEIRESIAS: have mach to el you: stent the prophet, Crean ns CREON: admit my debt to you. But what hve you to sy? TTEIRESIAS: Listen, Croom was siing ia my ear of augry, the place ‘Where the bids pater about me, They were all -chater, [Avis theirbabt, wen sedge Theard [A strange note in thes angling, a sear, a ms Seatimny Saltcteectintor tm emencasame eereay™ meme None‘Whining fry; Line tha they wore iting Teaving each other, dying Ina whiwind of wings clashing, And I was afd Tegan the rites of bumt-offering ate alta, But Hephaistos" aied me instead of bright fame, ‘Tere was only the sputtering slime of he al highs Meling: the eta solved in gray snake, ‘Tae bare Bone burst fom he weter. And no blaze! ‘This was» sgn ftom heaven, My boy described it, Seeing forme as se for ates. Liell you, Crean, you yoursefhave brought This now calamity upon us. ur hearts snd ars ‘Ae stained withthe comuption of dogs and cain birds ‘That ght themselves onthe copes of Ossi” £0, The gods ate dea when we pry them, thir fre Recoil from our afering, thi bids of omen Have no cry of comfort, fo they are gorged ‘With the thick blood ofthe dead Oy son, ‘These are no tiles! Tink; all men make mistakes, Buta good man yields when he knows his couse is wrong, [And repairs he evi Tae only ere is pri. Give in tothe dsad man, the; do no fight wit a corpse ‘What glory sit ll man whois dead? Think, beg you leis foryour own good that | speak a do, ‘You should be able to yield for your own goo. REON: Ie sems that prophets have made me thet especial province Allimy lifelong have boon a kindof but fr dull rows (OF doiering fortune-tellers! No, Ties: your bids ifthe great eagles of God himselt ‘SFould carry him stinking bit by bit heaven, would no yield am not aid of polation ‘Noman ca defile the gods, Do what you wil Go into busines, make money, speculate In nia god or that synthetic gold from Sais Get sch otherwise than by my consent o bury him, Teiresas, itis a sory thing When a Wise manSells his wisdom, les out his words for hte! TTEIRESIAS: ‘Al Creo! Ie there no man left he workd— ns CREON: To do what? —Come, let's have she aphorisa! TEIRESIAS: "Noman who knows tht wisdom outweighs any wealth? CREO: ‘As surely as bribes are baser than any basen. ‘TEIRESIAS: "You ae ck, Crean! You are dethy sick! CREON: [AS you say: it is mt my place to challeage a prophet. 0 ‘TEIRESIAS: "Yat you have suid my prophecy is for sal REON: ‘The ganeraton of prophets as always loved gold TTEIRESIAS: The generation of kings has always loved bras, CREON: ‘You forget yourself! You ae speokng to your King. TTEIRESIAS: Thnow it You ae aking because of me. ns CREON: ‘You havea cotain sil but you have sold out TTEIRESIAS: King, you will drive me to word that— CREON: ay them, say them! Only remember: Iwill not pay you for them ‘TEIRESIAS: ‘No, you will ind them to cosy.No doubt, Speak Whatever you sy, you wll not change my will, TTEIRESIAS: ‘Then take this, and ake it to heart! ‘The ime sna fa off when you sal ay back Corse for corpse, flesh of your own flesh, ‘You ave thrust the cid of this world int living night, You have kept tom the gods below the eh that isthe: Ms ‘The one ona grave before her death, the oer, Dead, nied the gave. This is you vine: [And the Furies and he dark gods of Hel ‘Are swift wit ible punishment for you ‘Do you want to buy me now, Creoa? Not many days, 10 And your house will e fll of men and women Weeping, ‘And curses wl be hurled st you fom fr Cities grieving fr sons unburied, lef trot Hefore the walls of Thebes, ‘These are my arrows, Creo: they ae all for you ts [ToBoy] But come, cil ead me home. Lethim waste his fine ager upon younger men, “Maybe e wil eam at ast To contol a wiser tongue in a bttr head [st TEIRESIAS)) cuoRacos: The old man has gone, King, but his words 60 Remain to plague ws, am a, oo, ‘But cannot remember that he was ever false CREON: That tue... Iwoubles me (itis hard o given! bur itis worse Tork everyting for stubbom pride, ss ‘cHoRAGos: eon: ake my advice CREON: Wht salcHoracos: Go quickly: fee Antigone from her vault ‘And build tomb forthe body of Polyneices, CREON: ‘You would have me do this? cHoracos: Creon, yes! And it must be done at once: Go movet Swily to cancel the fly of stubborn men. CREON: Teis hard to deny the heat! Buti ‘Wil doi Twill not Fight with destiny cHORAGOS: ‘You must go youre, you cannot leave ito others. CREON: Til 2, —Bring axe, servants ‘Come with me tothe tomb. 1 Buried he, Will set her free, Ob quickly! My mind misgivee— The laws ofthe gods are mighty, anda man must serve them othe last day of his ite! [Ent CREON) AEN” ‘cHORAGOS: God of many names [Sirophe 1) cuioRUs: O tacchos of Kadmeian Semele (born ofthe Thunder! Gatdian ofthe West Regent of Hlesis’ pain 0 Prince of maenad Thebes "tym hadnt a cos (ho le anys) Ti iter wa ous hs mehr mas Sema Sapir of Kedar lec’ mehgpertnree Massa, wey ma Eb ke [ion nt)andthe Dragon Field by rippling Ismenos:* is cHoracos: God of many names Anastrophe 1) cHoRUs: the flame of torches flares on our bills the nymphs of lacchos dance at the spring of Cesta: fiom the vineslose mountain ‘ome ah come in vy Bvohe eve! Sings through the srets of Thebes 0 cHoracos: God of many names [siraphe 2) conus: Icchos af Thebes heavenly Child ‘of Semele bride ofthe Thundere! “The shadow of plague is upon us th clement fest ‘oh come from Parnasos down te Yong slopes cross the lamenting water ws cHORAGoS: [nastrophe 2) Io ire! Chorstr of the throbbing sas! ( purest among the voces of he nih! “Thou son of God, blaze for us! cuoaus: Come with cori rapture of cielng Maenad’s ‘Who ery To lacehe!| no God of many names! xODOS [Enter MESSENGER, L.] Se aay Pomerening net Peden pn (te)MESSENGER: “Men othe line of Kadmos "you who live Neat Amphions citadel: ant ay Of eny condition of human fe “This is fixed, This is clearly good, or ba." Fate ates up, ‘And Fue cass dow the happy and unhappy alike as ‘No man can foretell his Fat, Take the cate of Creom Cheon was happy once, a count happiness Vistorius in bat, sole governor of te land, ornate father of children ay bor And now it has all gone fom him! Who can say a0 Thats man sil live when is ies oy als? He is walking dead man. Grant hima ch Leth ive like a king in his great house his pleasures gone s would nt give So mich asthe shadow of smoke fo al he vs as cHORAGOS: "Your words hint at sortow: whats your news for us? MESSENGER: They are deed, The living are guilt oftheir death cHoRacos: ‘Who is guily? Whois dead? Speak? MESSENGER: Haimon som is dead: andthe land that killed him Isis own hand cHoracos: is father's o his own? 0 MESSENGER: is own, driven mad by the murder his father had done cHoracos: Teiresas, Teiresas, how clearly you saw ital! “MESSENGER: This is my news: you must draw what conclusions you can fom it ‘eae ge ap td a Ane ty ie teh rea