Sófocles, Antigone, 49

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Creonte

Calla, antes de que me llenes de cólera con tu discurso; no descubras que eres mentecato y viejo a la vez. Porque dices lo que no se puede aguantar, al indicar que los dioses tengan cuidado de lo que a ese cadáver se refiere. ¿Cómo ellos, honrándolo como a un benemérito, pueden haber sepultado al mismo que venia a incendiar sus templos asentados sobre columnas, y sus ofrendas, y a destruir su país y su culto? ¿Has visto jamás que los dioses honren a los malvados? No es posible; sino que algunos ciudadanos, que hace ya tiempo llevan esto a mal, murmuran de mí; y sacudiendo en secreto la cabeza, no tienen a bien sujetar su cerviz al yugo para complacerme. Por ésos, lo sé muy bien, inducidos otros por los premios que les han ofrecido, han hecho esto. No ha habido entre los hombres invención más funesta que la del dinero : ella devasta las ciudades, ella saca a los hombres de su casa, ella los industria y pervierte sus buenos sentimientos, disponiéndolos para todo hecho punible; ella enseñó a los hombres a valerse de todos los medios y a ingeniarse para cometer toda clase de impiedad. Pero los que dejándose corromper por el dinero han perpetrado esto, lo han hecho de manera que con el tiempo pagarán su culpa. Porque tan cierto como Júpiter obtiene todavía mi veneración — fijate fíjate bien en esto; te lo digo con juramento —, si al autor de ese enterramiento no me descubrís y presentáis ante mis ojos, la sola muerte no será bastante para vosotros, que seréis colgados vivos hasta que me denunciéis al culpable; para que, advertidos, saquéis provecho en adelante de donde sea lícito sacarlo, y aprendáis que no debe uno querer lucrar en todo negocio. [Pues por mor de ilícitas ganancias, más hombres verás perdidos que salvados.]

Antigone. Sófocles. Madrid. 1921.

Current edition Experimental

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) (Spanish) (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι, φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 49 focus

οἵ μοι, φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 49.mvp-line-49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 49.mvp-line-49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 49 focus

οἴμοι. φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 49 focus

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

Translations (10)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 49 focus

WÄCHTER

Weifs nicht. Es war dort weder eines Beiles Hieb
245

zu sehn noch einer Hacke Wurf; der Boden fest

und trocken, undurchbrochen, auch mit Rädern nicht

befahren; spurlos blieb es, wer der Thäter war.

Und wie es uns der erste Tageswächter zeigt,

erschien es allen unbegreiflich wunderbar.
250

Denn jener war verschwunden, nicht begraben zwar:

nur dünn, wie Fluch zu meiden, lag darauf der Staub.

Nicht eines Raubthiers Zeichen fand sich, keines Hunds,

der hergekommen und an ihm herumgezerrt.

Schimpfworte rauschten wechselseitig unter uns;
255

der Wächter zieh den Wächter, und es gab zuletzt

wohl gar noch Schläge; keiner war zu wehren da.

Denn jeder war der Thäter dieser Frevelthat,

und keiner klar doch, sondern jeder stritt es ab.

An bot sich jeder glühend Eisen mit der Hand
260

zu fassen, und durch Feuer durchzugehn, und Eid

zu schwören bei den Göttern, daſs er's nicht gethan,

mitwissend nicht Anstiftern oder Thätern sei.

Zuletzt, wie alles Forschen nichts uns fruchtete,

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 49 focus

Creon

Desine dicere, priusquam tua loquela in iram me*concites, ne insipiens simul ac senex deprehendaris: dicis enim non toleranda,quum dicis,deos huius mortui curam gerere. An nimis honorantes sepultura eum affecerunt, ut bene meritum, qui fulta olumnis templa cum donariis crematurus venit, terramque eorum et cultum disiecturus? Num deos vides honore malos prosequi? Non est; sed et haec aegre ferentes cives dudum obmurmurabant mihi, clam capita, quassantes, neque sub iugo cervicem, ut decet, habebant, ut imperio meo acquiescerent. Ab illis hos probe scio mercede inductos haec perpetrasse; nullus enim hominibus damnosior mos invaluit, quam uti argento ; hoc et urbes devastat, hoc viros submovet domibus, hoc edocet et bonas pervertit mentes hominum, ut ad. turpia facta se applicent, dolosque monstravit. hominibus nectere, et quodvis impium facinus admittere. At qui spe praemii haec perpetrarunt, hoc adepti sunt, ut aliquando daturi sint poenas. Verum, si quid apud me valet Iovis reverentia, pro certo hoc scias (iuratus autem ibi dico), nisi ipsum auctorem huius sepulturae inventum produxeritis ob oculos me- 0s, non una morte satis dabitis supplicii, sed vivi pendentes hanc indicabitis iniuriam, ut, edocti lucrum unde petendum, in posterum inde rapiatis, et discatis, noh qualibet ex re quaestum comparandum esse: namque ex turpibus lucris plures malo mactatos videas, quam servatos.

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 49 focus

CR

Cease, ere thou quite enrage me, and appear
280

Foolish as thou art old. Talk not to me

Of Gods who have taken thought for this dead man!

Say, was it for his benefits to them

They hid his corse, and honoured him so highly,

Who came to set on fire their pillared shrines,
285

With all the riches of their offerings,

And to make nothing of their land and laws?

Or, hast thou seen them honouring villany?

That cannot be. Long time the cause of this

Hath come to me in secret murmurings
290

From malcontents of Thebes, who under yoke

Turned restive, and would not accept my sway.

Well know I, these have bribed the watchmen here

To do this for some fee. For nought hath grown

Current among mankind so mischievous
295

As money. This brings cities to their fall:

This drives men homeless, and moves honest minds

To base contrivings. This hath taught mankind

The use of wickedness, and how to give

An impious turn to every kind of act.
300

But whosoe’er hath done this for reward

Hath found his way at length to punishment.

If Zeus have still my worship, be assured

Of that which here on oath I say to thee—

Unless ye find the man who made this grave
305

And bring him bodily before mine eye,

Death shall not be enough, till ye have hung

Alive for an example of your guilt,

That henceforth in your rapine ye may know

Whence gain is to be gotten, and may learn
310

Pelf from all quarters is not to be loved.

For in base getting, ’tis a common proof,

More find disaster than deliverance.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 39 focus

Was kann ich, wenn dies also steht, Unselige,¹

Hier, lösend oder bindend, uns zum Frommen thun?
40

Antigone.

Sieh, ob du helfen, ob die Mühe theilen wirst

Ismene.

Bei welchem Unterfangen? Wo geräthst du hin?

Antigone.

Ob du den Todten, mir gesellt, aufnehmen willst!

Ismene.

Ihn denn bestatten willst du, dem Verbot zum Troz?

Antigone.

Ja, meinen Bruder und den deinen, wenn auch du
45

Nicht willst; denn niemals soll man mich Verrathes zeih'n!²

Ismene.

Tollkühne, während Kreon's Wort es dir verwehrt?

Antigone.

Fern halten darf mich dieser nie von meiner Pflicht.

Ismene.

Weh mir! Bedenk', o Schwester, wie der Vater uns,

Mit Haß und Hohn belastet, ruhmlos unterging,
50

Nachdem er selbst um Gräuel, die er selbst enthüllt,

Der Augen Sterne sich zerriß mit eigner Hand;

Wie dann die Mutter, Mutter ihm und Weib zugleich,

Schmachvoll mit frevlem Strange sich das Leben nahm;

Zum dritten, wie die Brüder beid' an Einem Tag
55

Im Wechselmord sich ein gemeinsam Todesloos,

Die Armen, schufen, Einer durch des Andern Hand!

Wir sind allein jezt übrig; du bedenke denn,

Wie schmählich wir verdürben, wenn wir wider Necht

Der Herrscher Ausspruch und Gewalt mißachteten.
60

Wohl mußt du doch erwägen, daß wir Frauen sind,

Und nicht geschaffen, Männern kühn im Kampf zu steh'n,

Dann aber, daß wir, weil beherrscht von Stärkeren,

Hier folgen müssen und sogar in Härterem.

Drum will ich jene, die der Erde Schooß verbirgt,³
65

Anfleh'n um Nachsicht, weil Gewalt mich bindet hier,

Und ihm gehorchen, dem die Macht geworden ist;

Denn Unverstand ist's, über seine Kraft zu thun.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 49 focus

Creon

Knowst thou not

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 49 focus

CREONTE

¿Qué dices? ¿Quién ha osado cometer tal crimen?

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 49 focus

KREON

Lafs das! damit du nicht zum Zorngericht auch mich noch

Beredest, und ein Narr erfunden seyst und Alter.

Denn allzuschwer fällt dieses, dass du sagst,
295

Die Geister aus jenseitigem Lande können

Nachdenklich seyn um dieses Todten willen.

So zärtlich ehren sollten sie, unıschatten einen,

Der doch die Gruppen ihrer Tempelsäulen

Und Opfer zu verbrennen kam, ihr Land
300

Und ihr Gesez zu sprengen ; oder siehest du,

Dafs Schlimme von den Himmlischen sind geehrt?

Mit nichten. Doch es nehmen einige

Von sonst her mir diess übel in der Stadt,

Und murren ingeheim die Häupter schüttelnd,
305

Und im Geschirre biegen diese mir

Den Naken so nicht ein, dass Menschlichs kommen könnte.

Von diesen sind Geschenke worden diesen,

Das weiss ich wohl, dass sie derlei gestiftet.

Denn unter allem, was gestempelt ist,
310

Ist schlimm nichts, wie das Silber. Ganze Städte

Verführet diess, reizt Männer aus den Häufsern.

Verbilden und verwandeln kanns aufrichtige Sinne,

Dafs sie der Sterblichen ihr schändlich Werk erkennen.

Und viel Geschäft den Menschen weist es an,
315

Und jeder That Gottlosigkeit zu wissen.

So viele diess gethan, durch Lohn bewegt,

Sie thatens in der Zeit, zu Rechenschaft.

Wenn aber Leben hat der Erde Herr, in mir auch,

So weißs ich diess, und, dargestellt zum Eide,
320

Sag’ ich dir diess: den Thäter müfst ihr liefern,

Der hakt die Todten, den vors Auge mülst ihr

Mir schaffen, oder leben erst, ans Kreuz gehängt,

Das üppige Beginnen mir verrathen,

Dann könnet ihr gefafst seyn auf die Hölle.
325

Da schaut ihr dann, woher man den Gewinn hohlt,

Vermacht die Plünderung einander, und erfahrt,

Dafs alles nicht gemacht ist zum Erwerbe.

Das weifst du gut, durch schlimmen Vortheil sind

Betrogen mehrere, denn wohlbehalten.
330

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 49 focus

Creon

Cease, ere thy words fill me utterly with wrath, lest thou be found at once an old man and foolish. For thou sayest what is not to be borne, in saying that the gods have care for this corpse. Was it for high reward of trusty service that they sought-to hide his nakedness, who came to burn their pillared\shrines and sacred treasures, to burn their land, and scatter its laws to the winds? Or dost thou behold the gods honouring the wicked? It cannot be. No! From the first there were 290 ago certain in the town that muttered against me, chafing at this edict, wagging their heads in secret; and kept not their necks duly under the yoke, like men contented with my sway.

'Tis by them, well I know, that these have been beguiled and bribed to do this deed. Nothing so evil as money ever grew to be current among men. This lays cities low, this drives men from their homes, this trains and warps honest souls till they set themselves to works 300 of shame; this still teaches folk to practise villanies, and to know every godless deed. But all the men who wrought this thing for hire have made it sure that, soon or late, they shall pay the price. Now, as Zeus still hath my reverence, know this— I tell it thee on my oath :—If ye find not the very author of this burial, and produce him before mine eyes, death alone shall not be enough for you, till first, hung up alive, ye have revealed this outrage,—that henceforth 310 ye may thieve with better knowledge whence lucre should be won, and learn that it is not well to love gain from every source. For thou wilt find that ill-gotten pelf brings more men to ruin than to weal.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 49 focus

Antigone

Wou’dst thou do more than kill me now so caught?

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 1-98 focus

Antigone

Ismene, my sister, true child of my own mother, do you know any evil out of all the evils bequeathed by Oedipus that Zeus will not fulfil for the two of us in our lifetime? There is nothing—no pain, no ruin,
1

no shame, nor dishonor—that I have not seen in your sufferings and mine. And now what is this new edict that they say the general has just decreed to all the city? Do you know anything? Have you heard? Or does it escape you that
5

evils from our enemies are on the march against our friends?
10

Ismene

To me no word of our friends, Antigone, either bringing joy or bringing pain has come since we two were robbed of our two brothers who died in one day by a double blow.

And since the Argive army has fled during this night, I have learned nothing further, whether better fortune is mine, or further ruin.
15

Antigone

I knew it well, so I was trying to bring you outside the courtyard gates to this end, that you alone might hear.

Ismene

Hear what? It is clear that you are brooding on some dark news.
20

Antigone

Why not? Has not Creon destined our brothers, the one to honored burial, the other to unburied shame? Eteocles, they say, with due observance of right and custom, he has laid in the earth

for his honor among the dead below. As for the poor corpse of Polyneices, however, they say that an edict has been published to the townsmen that no one shall bury him or mourn him, but instead leave him unwept, unentombed, for the birds a pleasing store
25

as they look to satisfy their hunger. Such, it is said, is the edict that the good Creon has laid down for you and for me—yes, for me—and it is said that he is coming here to proclaim it for the certain knowledge of those who do not already know. They say that he does not conduct this business lightly,
30

but whoever performs any of these rites, for him the fate appointed is death by public stoning among the entire city. This is how things stand for you, and so you will soon show your nature, whether you are noble-minded, or the corrupt daughter of a noble line.
35

Ismene

Poor sister, if things have come to this, what would I

profit by loosening or tightening this knot?
40

Antigone

Consider whether you will share the toil and the task.

Ismene

What are you hazarding? What do you intend?

Antigone

Will you join your hand to mine in order to lift his corpse?

Ismene

You plan to bury him—when it is forbidden to the city?

Antigone

Yes, he is my brother, and yours too, even if you wish it otherwise. I will never be convicted of betraying him.
45

Ismene

Hard girl! Even when Creon has forbidden it?

Antigone

No, he has no right to keep me from my own.

Ismene

Ah, no! Think, sister, how our father

perished in hatred and infamy, when, because of the crimes that he himself detected, he smashed both his eyes with self-blinding hand; then his mother-wife, two names in one, with a twisted noose destroyed her life;
50

lastly, our two brothers in a single day, both unhappy murderers of their own flesh and blood, worked with mutual hands their common doom. And now we, in turn—we two who have been left all alone—consider how much more miserably we will be destroyed, if in defiance of the law
55

we transgress against an autocrat’s decree or his powers. No, we must remember, first, that ours is a woman’s nature, and accordingly not suited to battles against men; and next, that we are ruled by the more powerful, so that we must obey in these things and in things even more stinging.
60

I, therefore, will ask those below for pardon, since I am forced to this, and will obey those who have come to authority. It is foolish to do what is fruitless.
65

Antigone

I would not encourage you—no, nor, even if you were willing later,

would I welcome you as my partner in this action. No, be the sort that pleases you. I will bury him—it would honor me to die while doing that. I shall rest with him, loved one with loved one, a pious criminal. For the time is greater
70

that I must serve the dead than the living, since in that world I will rest forever. But if you so choose, continue to dishonor what the gods in honor have established.
75

Ismene

I do them no dishonor. But to act in violation of the citizens’ will—of that I am by nature incapable.

Antigone

You can make that your pretext! Regardless, I will go now to heap a tomb over the brother I love.
80

Ismene

Oh no, unhappy sister! I fear for you!

Antigone

Do not tremble for me. Straighten out your own destiny.

Ismene

Then at least disclose the deed to no one before you do it.

Conceal it, instead, in secrecy—and so, too, will I.
85

Antigone

Go on! Denounce it! You will be far more hated for your silence, if you fail to proclaim these things to everyone.

Ismene

You have a hot heart for chilling deeds.

Antigone

I know that I please those whom I am most bound to please.

Ismene

Yes, if you will also have the power. But you crave the impossible.
90

Antigone

Why then, when my strength fails, I will have finished.

Ismene

An impossible hunt should not be tried in the first place.

Antigone

If you mean that, you will have my hatred, and you will be subject to punishment as the enemy of the dead.

But leave me and the foolish plan I have authored to suffer this terrible thing, for I will not suffer anything so terrible that my death will lack honor.
95

Ismene

Go, then, if you so decide. And of this be sure: though your path is foolish, to your loved ones your love is straight and true. Exit Antigone on the spectators’ left. Ismene exits into the palace.

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-117-1 τιμήσεται ¹

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

209-210. mvp-comment-129-1 θανών | καὶ ζῶν In death as well as in life. The first word is the more emphatic. Essay on Language p. 78.

Sófocles Antigone 49

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

Was kann ich, wenn dies also steht, Unselige,¹

Hier, lösend oder bindend, uns zum Frommen thun?
40

Antigone.

Sieh, ob du helfen, ob die Mühe theilen wirst

Ismene.

Bei welchem Unterfangen? Wo geräthst du hin?

Antigone.

Ob du den Todten, mir gesellt, aufnehmen willst!

Ismene.

Ihn denn bestatten willst du, dem Verbot zum Troz?

Antigone.

Ja, meinen Bruder und den deinen, wenn auch du
45

Nicht willst; denn niemals soll man mich Verrathes zeih'n!²

Ismene.

Tollkühne, während Kreon's Wort es dir verwehrt?

Antigone.

Fern halten darf mich dieser nie von meiner Pflicht.

Creon

Knowst thou not

CREONTE

¿Qué dices? ¿Quién ha osado cometer tal crimen?

Antigone

Wou’dst thou do more than kill me now so caught?

Antigone

I knew it well, so I was trying to bring you outside the courtyard gates to this end, that you alone might hear.

Ismene

Hear what? It is clear that you are brooding on some dark news.
20

Ismene

Poor sister, if things have come to this, what would I

profit by loosening or tightening this knot?
40

Antigone

Consider whether you will share the toil and the task.

Ismene

What are you hazarding? What do you intend?

Antigone

Will you join your hand to mine in order to lift his corpse?

Ismene

You plan to bury him—when it is forbidden to the city?

Antigone

Yes, he is my brother, and yours too, even if you wish it otherwise. I will never be convicted of betraying him.
45

Ismene

Hard girl! Even when Creon has forbidden it?

Antigone

No, he has no right to keep me from my own.

Ismene

I do them no dishonor. But to act in violation of the citizens’ will—of that I am by nature incapable.

Antigone

You can make that your pretext! Regardless, I will go now to heap a tomb over the brother I love.
80

Ismene

Oh no, unhappy sister! I fear for you!

Antigone

Do not tremble for me. Straighten out your own destiny.

Ismene

Then at least disclose the deed to no one before you do it.

Conceal it, instead, in secrecy—and so, too, will I.
85

Antigone

Go on! Denounce it! You will be far more hated for your silence, if you fail to proclaim these things to everyone.

Ismene

You have a hot heart for chilling deeds.

Antigone

I know that I please those whom I am most bound to please.

Ismene

Yes, if you will also have the power. But you crave the impossible.
90

Antigone

Why then, when my strength fails, I will have finished.

Ismene

An impossible hunt should not be tried in the first place.

Antigone

If you mean that, you will have my hatred, and you will be subject to punishment as the enemy of the dead.

But leave me and the foolish plan I have authored to suffer this terrible thing, for I will not suffer anything so terrible that my death will lack honor.
95

Ismene

Go, then, if you so decide. And of this be sure: though your path is foolish, to your loved ones your love is straight and true. Exit Antigone on the spectators’ left. Ismene exits into the palace.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

Was kann ich, wenn dies also steht, Unselige, 1 Hier, lösend oder bindend, uns zum Frommen thun? 40

Antigone. Sieh, ob du helfen, ob die Mühe theilen wirst

Ismene. Bei welchem Unterfangen? Wo geräthst du hin?

Antigone. Ob du den Todten, mir gesellt, aufnehmen willst!

Ismene. Ihn denn bestatten willst du, dem Verbot zum Troz?

Antigone. Ja, meinen Bruder und den deinen, wenn auch du 45 Nicht willst; denn niemals soll man mich Verrathes zeih'n! 2

Ismene. Tollkühne, während Kreon's Wort es dir verwehrt?

Antigone. Fern halten darf mich dieser nie von meiner Pflicht.

Creon Knowst thou not

CREONTE ¿Qué dices? ¿Quién ha osado cometer tal crimen?

Antigone Wou’dst thou do more than kill me now so caught?

Antigone I knew it well, so I was trying to bring you outside the courtyard gates to this end, that you alone might hear.

Ismene Hear what? It is clear that you are brooding on some dark news. 20

Ismene Poor sister, if things have come to this, what would I profit by loosening or tightening this knot? 40

Antigone Consider whether you will share the toil and the task.

Ismene What are you hazarding? What do you intend?

Antigone Will you join your hand to mine in order to lift his corpse?

Ismene You plan to bury him—when it is forbidden to the city?

Antigone Yes, he is my brother, and yours too, even if you wish it otherwise. I will never be convicted of betraying him. 45

Ismene Hard girl! Even when Creon has forbidden it?

Antigone No, he has no right to keep me from my own.

Ismene I do them no dishonor. But to act in violation of the citizens’ will—of that I am by nature incapable.

Antigone You can make that your pretext! Regardless, I will go now to heap a tomb over the brother I love. 80

Ismene Oh no, unhappy sister! I fear for you!

Antigone Do not tremble for me. Straighten out your own destiny.

Ismene Then at least disclose the deed to no one before you do it. Conceal it, instead, in secrecy—and so, too, will I. 85

Antigone Go on! Denounce it! You will be far more hated for your silence, if you fail to proclaim these things to everyone.

Ismene You have a hot heart for chilling deeds.

Antigone I know that I please those whom I am most bound to please.

Ismene Yes, if you will also have the power. But you crave the impossible. 90

Antigone Why then, when my strength fails, I will have finished.

Ismene An impossible hunt should not be tried in the first place.

Antigone If you mean that, you will have my hatred, and you will be subject to punishment as the enemy of the dead. But leave me and the foolish plan I have authored to suffer this terrible thing, for I will not suffer anything so terrible that my death will lack honor. 95

Ismene Go, then, if you so decide. And of this be sure: though your path is foolish, to your loved ones your love is straight and true. Exit Antigone on the spectators’ left. Ismene exits into the palace.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Was kann ich, wenn dies also steht, Unselige,¹

Hier, lösend oder bindend, uns zum Frommen thun?
40

Antigone.

Sieh, ob du helfen, ob die Mühe theilen wirst

Ismene.

Bei welchem Unterfangen? Wo geräthst du hin?

Antigone.

Ob du den Todten, mir gesellt, aufnehmen willst!

Ismene.

Ihn denn bestatten willst du, dem Verbot zum Troz?

Antigone.

Ja, meinen Bruder und den deinen, wenn auch du
45

Nicht willst; denn niemals soll man mich Verrathes zeih'n!²

Ismene.

Tollkühne, während Kreon's Wort es dir verwehrt?

Antigone.

Fern halten darf mich dieser nie von meiner Pflicht.

Creon

Knowst thou not

CREONTE

¿Qué dices? ¿Quién ha osado cometer tal crimen?

Antigone

Wou’dst thou do more than kill me now so caught?

Antigone

I knew it well, so I was trying to bring you outside the courtyard gates to this end, that you alone might hear.

Ismene

Hear what? It is clear that you are brooding on some dark news.
20

Ismene

Poor sister, if things have come to this, what would I

profit by loosening or tightening this knot?
40

Antigone

Consider whether you will share the toil and the task.

Ismene

What are you hazarding? What do you intend?

Antigone

Will you join your hand to mine in order to lift his corpse?

Ismene

You plan to bury him—when it is forbidden to the city?

Antigone

Yes, he is my brother, and yours too, even if you wish it otherwise. I will never be convicted of betraying him.
45

Ismene

Hard girl! Even when Creon has forbidden it?

Antigone

No, he has no right to keep me from my own.

Ismene

I do them no dishonor. But to act in violation of the citizens’ will—of that I am by nature incapable.

Antigone

You can make that your pretext! Regardless, I will go now to heap a tomb over the brother I love.
80

Ismene

Oh no, unhappy sister! I fear for you!

Antigone

Do not tremble for me. Straighten out your own destiny.

Ismene

Then at least disclose the deed to no one before you do it.

Conceal it, instead, in secrecy—and so, too, will I.
85

Antigone

Go on! Denounce it! You will be far more hated for your silence, if you fail to proclaim these things to everyone.

Ismene

You have a hot heart for chilling deeds.

Antigone

I know that I please those whom I am most bound to please.

Ismene

Yes, if you will also have the power. But you crave the impossible.
90

Antigone

Why then, when my strength fails, I will have finished.

Ismene

An impossible hunt should not be tried in the first place.

Antigone

If you mean that, you will have my hatred, and you will be subject to punishment as the enemy of the dead.

But leave me and the foolish plan I have authored to suffer this terrible thing, for I will not suffer anything so terrible that my death will lack honor.
95

Ismene

Go, then, if you so decide. And of this be sure: though your path is foolish, to your loved ones your love is straight and true. Exit Antigone on the spectators’ left. Ismene exits into the palace.