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Creon
Do not let this mourning bring disaster on your marriage.
Do not let this mourning bring disaster on your marriage.
Antigone
Marriage! Do you think I will marry your son while I am alive?
Marriage! Do you think I will marry your son while I am alive?
Creon
Indeed you must; how will you escape the match?
Indeed you must; how will you escape the match?
Antigone
Then that night will find in me another Danaid bride!
1675
Then that night will find in me another Danaid bride!
1675
Creon
turning to Oedipus
Do you see how boldly she reproaches me?
Do you see how boldly she reproaches me?
Antigone
Let the steel know, the sword be my witness!
Let the steel know, the sword be my witness!
Creon
Why are you so eager to be released from this marriage?
Why are you so eager to be released from this marriage?
Antigone
I mean to share my hapless father’s exile.
I mean to share my hapless father’s exile.
Creon
A noble spirit yours but there is some folly in it.
1680
A noble spirit yours but there is some folly in it.
1680
Antigone
And I will share his death, I tell you further.
And I will share his death, I tell you further.
Creon
Go, leave the land; you will not murder my son.
Exit Creon.
Go, leave the land; you will not murder my son.
Exit Creon.
Oedipus
Daughter, for this loyal spirit I thank you.
Daughter, for this loyal spirit I thank you.
Antigone
How could I marry, while you went into exile alone, father?
How could I marry, while you went into exile alone, father?
Oedipus
Stay here and be happy; I will bear my own load of sorrow.
1685
Stay here and be happy; I will bear my own load of sorrow.
1685
Antigone
And who will tend you in your blindness, father?
And who will tend you in your blindness, father?
Oedipus
Where fate appoints, there I will fall and lie down upon the ground.
Where fate appoints, there I will fall and lie down upon the ground.
Antigone
Where is Oedipus, and that famous riddle?
Where is Oedipus, and that famous riddle?
Oedipus
Lost! One day blessed me, one destroyed me.
Lost! One day blessed me, one destroyed me.
Antigone
May I not also share your sorrows?
1690
May I not also share your sorrows?
1690
Oedipus
To wander with her blinded father would be shameful for his daughter.
To wander with her blinded father would be shameful for his daughter.
Antigone
Not so, father, but glory, if she is discreet.
Not so, father, but glory, if she is discreet.
Oedipus
Lead me near, so that I may touch your mother’s corpse.
Lead me near, so that I may touch your mother’s corpse.
Antigone
There, embrace the aged form so dear to you.
There, embrace the aged form so dear to you.
Oedipus
O mother, o most wretched wife!
1695
O mother, o most wretched wife!
1695
Antigone
Pitiably she lies, who suffered every evil at once.
Pitiably she lies, who suffered every evil at once.
Oedipus
Where are the corpses of Eteocles, and of Polyneices?
Where are the corpses of Eteocles, and of Polyneices?
Antigone
Here they both lie, stretched out side by side.
Here they both lie, stretched out side by side.
Oedipus
Lay my blind hand upon their poor faces.
Lay my blind hand upon their poor faces.
Antigone
There, touch the dead, your children.
1700
There, touch the dead, your children.
1700
Oedipus
O dear fallen sons, sad offspring of a sad father!
O dear fallen sons, sad offspring of a sad father!
Antigone
O my brother Polyneices, name most dear to me!
O my brother Polyneices, name most dear to me!
Oedipus
Now the oracle of Loxias is being fulfilled, my child.
Now the oracle of Loxias is being fulfilled, my child.
Antigone
What oracle? Do you have further woes to tell?
What oracle? Do you have further woes to tell?
Oedipus
That I should die in
Athens
after a life of wandering.
1705
That I should die in
Athens
after a life of wandering.
1705
Antigone
Where? What fenced town in
Attica
will take you in?
Where? What fenced town in
Attica
will take you in?
Oedipus
Hallowed
Colonus
, home of the god of horses. Come then, attend on your blind father, since you are eager to share his exile.
Hallowed
Colonus
, home of the god of horses. Come then, attend on your blind father, since you are eager to share his exile.
The Phoenician Women. Euripides. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1891.
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Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.