CHOR.

Der Mann, o Herr, ging grauenvoll weissagend fort.

Wir wissen, niemals, seit mir dieses weiſse Haar,

aus schwarzgelocktem umgewandelt, kränzt das Haupt,

hat falschen Spruch er dieser Stadt verkündiget.

KREON.

Ich weifs weiß es selbst auch, und den Sinn verwirrt es mir.

1050

Denn schmerzlich ist zu weichen; doch der Widerstand

fügt leicht des Unheils Schläge noch zum Schmerzlichen.

CHOR.

O Sohn Menökeus' Menökeus’ Kreon, noth thut weiser Rath.

KREON.

Was soll ich thun? Sprich; gerne werd' werd’ ich folgen dir.

CHOR.

Geh hin, entlafs entlaß sie aus dem unterirdischen

1055

Gemach, und jenem Hingeworfnen weih' ein Grab.

KREON.

Und dieses räthst du? meinest, dafs daß ich weichen soll?

CHOR.

O eiligst, Herr; rasch schneiden die schnellfüſsigen schnellfüßigen

Unglücksdämonen irren Sinnen ab den Weg.

KREON.

Weh! Kaum vermag ich's ich’s; doch ich breche mir das Herz:

1060

ich thu' thu’ es; Schicksals Fügung wird umsonst bekämpft.

CHOR.

So geh' geh’ und thu' thu’ es: überlaſs überlaß es andern nicht.

KREON.

So wie ich bin, geh' hin ich: ihr, die Diener, auf,

die hier, die fern sind, nehmet Axt und Beil zur Hand,

und eilt dem Orte, den wir vor uns sehen, zu;

1065

ich aber, weil sich mein Entschlufs Entschluß dahin gewandt,

band ich sie selber, löse nun auch selber sie.

Denn sehr befürcht' befürcht’ ich, dafs daß das Beste dieses sei,

bestehend Recht zu wahren bis ans Lebensziel.

(ab.)

Creon

Novi et ipse, ideoque perturbor animum: cedere enim, ignavi et timidi est; reluctato vero Original from animus ne calamitate feriatur, timendum est.

Chorus

Bono consilio opus est, fili Menoecei Creon.

Creon

Quid igitur facere oportet? fare; ego autem parebo.

Chorus

Abi, ac puellam quidem defosso e specu dimitte, insepultutn autem cadaver tumulo conde.

Creon

Et ista probas, hisque obsequi me debere censes?

Chorus

Immo, rex, quam citissime: celeri enim pede malesanos adsequitur deorum vindicta.

Creon

Hei mihi? Vix quidem muto, muto tamen sententiam, hoc ut faciam. Necessitati frustra obluctandum non est.

Chorus

Abi ergo, ut haec facias, neque aliis committe.

Creon

Protinus ibo. Vos vero ministri, quique adestis, quique abestis, secures manibus capientes properate celsum ad locum: ego autem, quandoquidem sententiam eo converti , ut ipse ligavi, ita et ipse praesens exsolvam; metuo enim, ut statas leges optimum sit servantem vivere.

Chorus

CR

I know it, and it shakes me to the core.

1095

To yield is dreadful: but resistingly

To face the blow of fate, is full of dread.

CH

The time calls loud on wisdom, good my lord.

CR

What must I do? Advise me. I will obey.

CH

Go and release the maiden from the vault,

1100

And make a grave for the unburied dead.

CR

Is that your counsel? Think you I will yield?

CH

With all the speed thou mayest: swift harms from heaven

With instant doom o’erwhelm the froward man.

CR

Oh! it is hard. But I am forced to this

1105

Against myself. I cannot fight with Destiny.

CH

Go now to do it. Trust no second hand.

CR

Even as I am, I go. Come, come, my people.

Here or not here, with mattocks in your hands

Set forth immediately to yonder hill!

1110

And, since I have ta’en this sudden turn, myself,

Who tied the knot, will hasten to unloose it.

For now the fear comes over me, ’tis best

To pass one’s life in the accustomed round.

CHORUS

CHORUS.

Kreon.

Ich weiß es selbst auch, und den Sinn erschüttert's mir.

1070

Schwer ist es nachzugeben, und bei Widerstand

Zerschellt an schwerem Schlage leicht der kecke Muth.

Der Chor.

O Sohn Menökeus', hier bedarf es weisen Rath.

Kreon.

Was soll ich also? Rede du, ich folge dir.

Der Chor.

Geh hin, entlaß sie aus dem unterirdischen

1075

Gemach und gib dem hingeworfnen Mann ein Grab.

Kreon.

Und dieses räthst du, wähnest, daß ich weichen soll?

Der Chor.

So schnell, o Fürst, als möglich; denn mit raschem Schritt

Ereilt der Götter Strafgericht den Unverstand.

Kreon.

Weh! Kaum vermag ich's; doch ich breche meinen Sinn:

1080

Der Noth gehorchend, lass' ich ab von eitlem Kampf.

Der Chor.

Auf, thu' es eilend, bürd' es nicht auf Andere.

Kreon.

So wie ich hier bin, geh' ich: auf, ihr Diener, auf,

Ihr, die ihr nah seid oder fern, nehmt Axt und Beil

Zur Hand und eilt dem weitgesch'nen Orte zu! ¹

1085

Ich aber, mun sich mein Entschluß hierher gewandt,

Selbst hab' ich sie gebunden, und selbst lös' ich sie.

Denn bange zweifl' ich, ob es nicht das Beste sei,

Besteh'ndes Recht zu schirmen all sein Leben lang.

(Kreon mit den Begleitern ab. Der Chor bleibt allein zurüď.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Creon

I know there hath not, and am troubled

1095

much

1095

For the event ; 'tis grating to submit.

And yet the mind spite of itself must yield

In such distress.

Chorus

Son of Menaeceus, now

Thou needst most counsel.

Creon

What wouldst thou advise ?

I will obey thee.

Chorus

Set the virgin free,

1100

And let a tomb be raised for Polynices.

Creon

And dost thou counsel thus ? — and must I

yield?

Chorus

Immediately, O king ! for vengeance falls

With hasty footsteps on the guilty head.

Creon

I cannot — yet I must reverse the sentence ;

1105

There is no struggling with necessity.

Chorus

Do it thyself, nor trust another hand.

Creon

I will ; and you my servants, be prepared ;

Each with his axe quick hasten to the place ;

Myself — for thus I have resolved — will go,

And the same hand that bound shall set her free ;

For, oh ! I fear 'tis wisest still through life

To keep our ancient laws, and follow virtue.

Bacchus, by vaiious names to mortals known,

Fair Semele's illustrious son,

Offspring of thunder-bearing Jove,

Who honourst famed Italia with thy love I

Who dwellst where erst the dragon's teeth were

strewed,

1110

Or where Ismenus pours his gentle flood ;

1110

Who dost o'er Ceres' hallowed rites preside,

1110

And at thy native Thebes propitious still reside.

1110

Where famed Parnassus' forked hills uprise.

1110

To thee ascends the sacritice ;

Corycia's nymphs attend below,

Whilst from Castalia's fount fresh waters flow :

O'er Nysa's mountains wreaths of ivy twine,

And mix their tendrils with the clustering vine :

Around their master crowd the virgin throng,

And praise the god of Thebes in never-dying song.

Happiest of cities, Thebes ! above the rest

By Semele and Bacchus blest !

Oh ! ^dsit now thy once beloved abode,

Oh ! heal our woes, thou kind protecting god !

From steep Parnassus, or th' Euboean sea.

With smiles auspicious come, and bring with thee

Health, joy, and peace, and fair prosperity.

Immortal leader of the maddening choir,

Whose torches blaze with unextinguished fire.

Great son of Jove, who guidst the tuneful throng,

Thou, who presidest o'er the nightly song.

Come with thy Naxian maids, a festive train,

Who, wild with joy, and raging o'er the plain,

For thee the dance prepare, to thee devote the strain.

Messenger

Scene III. Strophe i. Antistrophe i. Strophe 2. Antistrophe 2. \ExQiint. ACT V. Scene I.

CREONTE

También yo lo reconozco... Mi espiritu se turba... Me es ingrato ceder;... pero si resisto veré también ingratamente castigada mi resistencia con la desgracia.

EL CORO

La prudencia es necesaria, hijo de Menecco.

CREONTE

¿Y qué es lo que debo hacer? Habla, estoy dispuesto á obedecer.

EL CORO

Marcha, pues, y saca á esa joven de su prisión subterránea: y después eleva una tumba al que tienes privado de ella.

CREONTE

¿Opinas de ese modo? ¿Crées que debo ceder? RL CORO Ciertamente, principe, y sin perder un solo momento: que los castigos del cielo contra los culpables vienen con rapidez y por el más corto camino.

CREONTE

¡Ay!... con cuánto pesar desisto de mi intención; pero no se puede luchar contra la fatalidad ( ἀνάγκη).

EL CORO

Apresúrate á ejecutar eso por tí mismo; no comisiones para ello a nadie.

CREONTE

Parto sin dilación. ¡Vosotros, siervos que estáis presentes y los que están ausentes, todos, coged vuestras hachas y corred á lo alto de la montaña! donde yace Polynico. ... ...

En cuanto á mi, puesto que he cambiado de resolución, puesto que yo la aprisioné, yo mismo voy á ponerla en libertad... Me temo que no sea el partido más prudente el aferrarme á la ley establecida. Márchase con sus criados.

CHOR

Der Mann, mein König, gieng viel prophezeiend,

Wir wissen aber, seit wir mit dem weissen

Das schwarze Haar vertauschet, wie du siehst,

Dafs nie er Lügen in der Stadt gebrauchet.

1140

KREON

Ich weiß es selbst, und bin verwirrt im Sinn ;

Denn weichen, ist ein Grofses. Doch wenn einer

Mit Wahn mir aufden Muthtritt, wird dasschwierig.

CHOR

Es brauchet guten Rath, Kreon, Menökeus Sohn!

KREON

Was ist zuthun? Sag’ es, ich will dir folgen.

1145

CHOR

Komm, lafs die Jungfrau aus dem Felsenhaufse,

Und schaff ein Grab, dem, welcher draussen liegt.

KREON

Du lobest diess und scheinst es gutzuheilsen.

CHOR

So schnell, mein König, als es möglich ist,

Denn in die Kürze falst den Schlimmgesinnten

1150

Die schnellgefüfste Züchtigung der Götter.

KREON

O mir. Kaum mag ich, denn mir fehlt das Herz

Dazu, doch mit der Noth ist nicht zu streiten.

CHOR

Thu nun diess, Komm. Komm nun nicht mehr auf anders.

KREON

So wie ich bin, will ich hinweggehn. Diener!

1155

Abwesend, gegenwärtig! nimmt zur Hand

Die Beil’ und eilt zum Orte, den ihr sehet.

Ich aber, weil für die sich kehrt die Meinung,

Und ich sie selbst band, will auch selbst sie lösen.

Ich fürcht’, es ist am besten, zu erhalten

1160

Bestehendes Gesez und so zu enden.

Fünfter Act CHOR der Thebanischen Alten

Creon

I, too, know it well, and am troubled in soul. 'Tis dire to yield ; but, by resistance, to smite my pride with ruin--this, too, is a dire choice.

Chorus

Son of Menoeceus, it behoves thee to take wise: counsel.

Creon

What should I do, then? Speak, and I will obey. 1110

Chorus

Go thou, and free the maiden from her rocky chamber, and make a tomb for the unburied dead.

Creon

And this is thy counsel? Thou wouldst have me yield?

Chorus

Yea, King, and with all speed; for swift harms from the gods cut short the folly of men.

Creon

Ah me, ’tis hard, but I resign my cherished resolve,—I obey. We must not wage a vain war with destiny.

Chorus

Go, thou, and do these things; leave them not to others.

Creon

Even as I am I'll go:—on, on, my servants, each and all of you,—take axes in your hands, and 1110 hasten to the ground that ye see yonder! Since our judgment hath taken this turn, I will be present to unloose her, as I myself bound her. My heart misgives me, ’tis best to keep the established laws, even to life’s end.

Chorus

1

Creon

ANTIS. 1. STRO. 2. ANTIS. 2. TIR.

1. See where the savage stepdame stands,

1095

The pointed shuttle arms her bloody hands.

1095

Wasting in their dreary cel¹

1095

(The hope of nuptial joys no more)

1095

With woe and darkness doom'd to dwell,

1095

Their mother's miseries they deplore;

1095

Yet her pure and noble blood

1095

Rich from the high-born Erecthidæ flow'd;

1095

And where the rock its winding caverns forms,

1095

Nurtured amidst her father's storms,

1095

Swift as the courser's rapid flight

1095

The virgin bounded o'er the mountain's height:

1095

But fate with aged step and slow

1095

O'ertook her speed, and chain'd her down to woe.

1095

Ye rulers of the Theban state, we come

1095

As is our wont, both seeing with the eyes

1095

Of one: the blind some leading hand require.

1095

Aged Tiresias, what of import high

1095

Hath now arisen ?

1095

That I will impart :

1095

And thou ob ey the Seer.

1095

Did I e'er slight;

1095

The wisdom of thy mind?

1095

The realms of Thebes

1095

Through dangers therefore safely hast thou steer'd.

1095

To thy sage counsels much indeed I owe.

1095

Be counsell'd now: fate hangs upon this hour.

1095

What may this be? I tremble at thy words.

1095

Hear what my skill hath mark'd, and thou wilt know

1095

Placed on my ancient seat of augury,

Whence all my auspices I draw, the voice

Of birds I hear; unknown the sound; their screams

Were wild and strange, of ill presage; and fierce

With bloody talons each the other rent.

I knew this; for the clashing of their wings

Gave not dark signs: I trembled, and explored

The hallow'd fires that on the altars burn.

But from the sacrifice no flame shone bright,

Nor vapour from the humid flesh arose;

It wasted on the ashes, and roll'd low

A dull black smoke, exsuding on the fire; a

The entrails swell'd and burst; the melting thighs,

Shrunk from th' involving crawls, lay bare. These signs

Of dark and dangerous import from my boy

I learn'd; to me he shows them, and my voice

Explains to others. From thy harsh resolves

These omens threat the state; the birds of prey,

And dogs, whose ravenous hunger hath devour'd

The hapless Polynices slain in war,

Pollute our public altars: for this cause

Our pray'rs, our victims the offended gods

Accept no more; no hallow'd flames ascend;

No more are heard th' auspicious notes of birds

Gorged now with human flesh. Weigh these things well,

My son; to all of mortal race to err

Is common; but that man is not unblest,

Nor unadvised, who having err'd, and felt

The ill awaiting error, heals the wound,..

Nor perseveres unmoved: th' obdurate mind

Pays dear for its perverseness. To the slain.

Be then appeased: why woud'st thou wound a corse?

A brave man wars not with the dead. With thought

To thee benevolent I well advise.

Most pleasant is instruction when it comes,..

And with it comes advantage, from the wise.

I am your mark, old man; and all your shafts

At me are aim'd: nor are the prophet's arts

'Gainst me unpractised: by this venal race

I as a slave am sold, and led away.

Pursue your traffic; be the precious ore

Of Sardis, and the Indian gold, your gain;

Him in the earth you never shall entomb..

No; would the eagles of almighty Jove

Bear to their sovereign's throne his mangled flesh,

I would not, dreading that pollution, yield

To lay him in the tomb; for well I know

That mortals never can pollute the gods.

Yet there are men, thou aged Seer, held high

For various excellence, who basely fall,

By sordid lucre when allured they speak

The words of baseness urged in honour's style.

Is there a man that knows, is there a man

That comprehends.......

What wou'dst thou? To us all

Is this address'd?

With what high excellence

Wisdom transcends all treasures?

This he knows,

Who knows that folly is our greatest bane.

Heavy on thee hangs that disease.

Reproach

I would not harshly on the Seer retort.

Thou dost reproach me, when thou say'st my voice

Announces falsehoods.

You are fond of gold,

All the prophetic tribe.

The tyrant loves

Treasures by baseness gain'd.

Know'st thou thy words

Are to a king address'd?

I know it well;

For o'er a kingdom saved by me thy reign

Thou holdest.

As a Seer I deem thee wise,

But as a man unjust.

The dark decrees

Of fate, which in my breast I would have kept

Conceal'd thou wilt compel me to disclose.

Disclose them then, but not through hopes of gain.

Respecting thee I have no hope of gain.

But know, my purpose never shall be sold.

And know thou well that ere the rapid wheels

Of the sun's chariot many circles roll,

One sprung from thee, thy offspring, thou shalt pay

Dead for the dead a recompense, for those

Whom from the light of life to the dark realms

Thou hast sent down dishonour'd, and entomb'd

In the rock's dreary cavern; and for those

Whom of the honours to the gods below,

Of solemn obsequies, and hallow'd rites

Thou hast deprived; a deed, that nor to thee

Belongs, nor to the gods above; a deed

Of tyrant force: the slow-avenging pow'rs,

The Furies of th' infernal gods, for this

In ambush wait to seize thee, and in ills

Like these will plunge thee. Go now, see if gold

Hath bribed the prophet's mercenary voice :

Pass a few moments, the laments of men,

The shrieks of women through thy house shall sound.

Indignant all the hostile states are roused,

Whose mangled dead the dogs or beasts of prey

Have in these plains polluted, or the birds

Of obscene wing, bearing th' unhallow'd stench

E'en to the sacred altars of the gods.

These are the shafts (for thou hast moved my soul

To anger) which at thee I aim: their force

Strikes deep, nor shalt thou shun the burning wound.

Boy, lead me hence; and let him vent his rage

On those of fresher years; or curb his tongue

With modesty, and learn to train his mind

To gentler thoughts than those which now it bears.

Chorus

TIRESIAS, CREON, CHORUS. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR, TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. TIR. CREON, CHORUS.

The Seer is gone, O king, and hath foretold

Things dreadful: never from my earliest youth

To these grey hairs now scatter'd o'er my head,

Knew I his voice prophetic to the state

Aught false, or faithless in th' event pronounce.

I know it; and distraction rends my mind.

To yield, would wound me deep; but to oppose,

With keener agonies would pierce my soul.

Chorus

Son of Menæceus, prudence is required.

1100

What must I do? Thy counsel shall prevail.

Chorus

Go, from the rock's dark cave the virgin raise,

And for the outcast dead erect a tomb.

Creon

Dost thou approve this? Wou'dst thou that I yield?

Chorus

And instantly, Oʻking: malignant minds

The vengeance of the gods with speed o'ertakes.

Creon

.. My heart reluctant yields to thy advice;........

But with Necessity we may not strive.

Chorus