the phoenissae-第12章
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unburied beyond our frontiers。 To all the race of Cadmus shall this be
proclaimed； that whosoe'er is caught decking his corpse with wreaths
or giving it burial； shall be requited with death； unwept； unburied
let him lie； a prey to birds。 As for thee； Antigone； leave thy
mourning for these lifeless three and betake thyself indoors to
abide there in maiden state until to…morrow； when Haemon waits to
wed thee。
ANTIGONE
O father； in what cruel misery are we plunged！ For thee I mourn
more than for the dead； for in thy woes there is no opposite to
trouble； but universal sorrow is thy lot。 As for thee； thou new…made
king； why； I ask； dost thou mock my father thus with banishment？ Why
start making laws over a helpless corpse？
CREON
This was what Eteocles； not I； resolved。
ANTIGONE
A foolish thought； and foolish art thou for entertaining it！
CREON
What！ ought I not to carry out his behests？
ANTIGONE
No； not if they are wrong and ill…advised。
CREON
Why； is it not just for that other to be given to the dogs？
ANTIGONE
Nay； the vengeance ye are exacting is no lawful one。
CREON
It is； for he was his country's foe； though not a foeman born。
ANTIGONE
Well； to fate he rendered up his destinies。
CREON
Let him now pay forfeit in his burial too。
ANTIGONE
What crime did he commit in coming to claim his heritage？
CREON
Be very sure of this； yon man shall have no burial。
ANTIGONE
I will bury him； although the state forbids。
CREON
Do so； and thou wilt be making thy own grave by his。
ANTIGONE
A noble end； for two so near and dear to be laid side by side！
CREON （to his servants）
Ho！ seize and bear her within the palace。
ANTIGONE
Never！ for I will not loose my hold upon this corpse。
CREON
Heaven's decrees； girl； fit not thy fancies。
ANTIGONE
Decrees！ here is another； 〃No insult to the dead。〃
CREON
Be sure that none shall sprinkle over the corpse the moistened
dust。
ANTIGONE
O Creon； by my mother's corpse； by Jocasta； I implore thee！
CREON
'Tis but lost labour； thou wilt not gain thy prayer。
ANTIGONE
Let me but bathe the dead body…
CREON
Nay； that would be part of what the city is forbidden。
ANTIGONE
At least let me bandage the gaping wounds。
CREON
No； thou shalt never pay honour to this corpse。
ANTIGONE
O my darling！ one kiss at least will I print upon thy lips。
CREON
Do not let this mourning bring disaster on thy marriage。
ANTIGONE
Marriage！ dost think I will live to wed thy son？
CREON
Most certainly thou must； how wilt thou escape his bed？
ANTIGONE
Then if I must； our wedding…night will find another Danaid bride
in me。
CREON （turning to OEDIPUS）
Dost witness how boldly she reproached me？
ANTIGONE
Witness this steel； the sword by which I swear！
CREON
Why art so bent on being released from this marriage？
ANTIGONE
I mean to share my hapless father's exile。
CREON
A noble spirit thine but somewhat touched with folly。
ANTIGONE
Likewise will I share his death； I tell thee further。
CREON
Go； leave the land； thou shalt not murder son of mine。
（CREON goes out； followed by his attendants who carry with them
the body Of MENOECEUS。）
OEDIPUS
Daughter； for this loyal spirit I thank thee。
ANTIGONE
Were I to wed； then thou； my father； wouldst be alone in thy
exile。
OEDIPUS
Abide here and be happy； I will bear my own load of sorrow。
ANTIGONE
And who shall tend thee in thy blindness； father？
OEDIPUS
Where fate appoints； there will I lay me down upon the ground。
ANTIGONE
Where is now the famous Oedipus； where that famous riddle？
OEDIPUS
Lost for ever！ one day made； and one day marred my fortune。
ANTIGONE
May not I too share thy sorrows？
OEDIPUS
To wander with her blinded sire were shame unto his child。
ANTIGONE
Not so； father； but glory rather； if she be a maid discreet。
OEDIPUS
Lead me nigh that I may touch thy mother's corpse。
ANTIGONE
So！ embrace the aged form so dear to thee。
OEDIPUS
Woe is thee； thy motherhood； thy marriage most unblest！
ANTIGONE
A piteous corpse； a prey to every ill at once！
OEDIPUS
Where lies the corpse of Eteocles； and of Polyneices； where？
ANTIGONE
Both lie stretched before thee； side by side。
OEDIPUS
Lay the blind man's hand upon his poor sons' brows。
ANTIGONE
There then！ touch the dead； thy children。
OEDIPUS
Woe for you！ dear fallen sons； sad offspring of a sire as sad！
ANTIGONE
O my brother Polyneices； name most dear to me！
OEDIPUS
Now is the oracle of Loxias being fulfilled； my child。
ANTIGONE
What oracle was that？ canst thou have further woes to tell？
OEDIPUS
That I should die in glorious Athens after a life of wandering。
ANTIGONE
Where？ what fenced town in Attica will take thee in？
OEDIPUS
Hallowed Colonus； home of the god of steeds。 Come then； attend
on thy blind father； since thou art minded to share his exile。
（OEDIPUS and ANTIGONE chant their remaining lines as they slowly
depart。）
ANTIGONE
To wretched exile go thy way； stretch forth thy hand； my aged
sire； taking me to guide thee； like a breeze that speedeth barques。
OEDIPUS
See； daughter； I am advancing； be thou my guide； poor child。
ANTIGONE
Ah； poor indeed！ the saddest maid of all in Thebes。
OEDIPUS
Where am I planting my aged step？ Bring my staff； child。
ANTIGONE
This way； this way； father mine！ plant thy footsteps here； like
dream for all the strength thou hast。
OEDIPUS
Woe unto thee that art driving my aged limbs in grievous exile
from their land！ Ah me！ the sorrows I endure！
ANTIGONE
〃Endure〃！ why speak of enduring？ Justice regardeth not the
sinner and requiteth not men's follies。
OEDIPUS
I am he whose name passed into high songs of victory because I
guessed the maiden's baffling riddle。
ANTIGONE
Thou art bringing up again the reproach of the Sphinx。 Talk no
more of past success。 This misery was in store for thee all the while；
to become an exile from thy country and die thou knowest not where；
while I； bequeathing to my girlish friends tears of sad regret； must
go forth from my native land； roaming as no maiden ought。
Ah！ this dutiful resolve will crown me with glory in respect of my
father's sufferings。 Woe is me for the insults heaped on thee and on
my brother whose dead body is cast forth from the palace unburied；
poor boy！ I will yet bury him secretly； though I have to die for it；
father。
OEDIPUS
To thy companions show thyself。
ANTIGONE
My own laments suffice。
OEDIPUS
Go pray then at the altars。
ANTIGONE
They are weary of my piteous tale。
OEDIPUS
At least go seek the Bromian god in his hallowed haunt amongst the
Maenads' hills。
ANTIGONE
Offering homage that is no homage in Heaven's eyes to him in whose
honour I once fringed my dress with the Theban fawn…skin and led the
dance upon the hills for the holy choir of Semele？
OEDIPUS
My noble fellow…countrymen； behold me； I am Oedipus； who solved
the famous riddle； and once was first of men； I who alone cut short
the murderous Sphinx's tyranny am now myself expelled the land in
shame and misery。 Go to； why make this moan and bootless
lamentation？ Weak mortal as I am； I must endure the fate that God
decrees。
CHORUS （chanting）
Hail majestic Victory！ keep thou my life nor ever cease to crown
my song！ …THE END…
。
