KREON.

(der kurz vorher aufgetreten)

Creon

CR

Enter CREON .

Kreon.

Creon

Scene V.

Antigone, Chorus,

Creon

ANTIGONAE

Unbeweinet und ohne Freund’ und ehlos

Werd’ ich Trübsinnige geführet

Diesen bereiteten Weg. Mir ists nicht

Gebrauch ınehr , dieser Leuchte heiliges Auge

910

Zu sehn, mir Armen. Und diess

Mein Geschik , das thränenlose,

Betrauert, liebet niemand.

Dritte Scene KREON. ANTIGONAE. DER CHOR.

Creon

Chorus

Creon

Do you not know that dirges and wailing before death would never be given up, if it were allowed to make them freely?

Take her away—now! And when you have enshrouded her, as I proclaimed, in her covered tomb, leave her alone, deserted—let her decide whether she wishes to die or to live entombed in such a home. It makes no difference, since our hands are clean so far as regards this girl.

885

But no matter what, she will be stripped of her home here above.

890

Antigone

Tomb, bridal-chamber, deep-dug eternal prison where I go to find my own, whom in the greatest numbers destruction has seized and Persephone has welcomed among the dead!

Last of them all and in by far the most shameful circumstances, I will descend, even before the fated term of my life is spent. But I cherish strong hopes that I will arrive welcome to my father, and pleasant to you, Mother, and welcome, dear brother, to you.

895

For, when each of you died, with my own hands I washed and dressed you and poured drink-offerings at your graves. But now, Polyneices, it is for tending your corpse that I win such reward as this. And yet I honored you rightly, as the wise understand.

900

Never, if I had been a mother of children, or if a husband had been rotting after death, would I have taken that burden upon myself in violation of the citizens’ will. For the sake of what law, you ask, do I say that? A husband lost, another might have been found,

905

and if bereft of a child, there could be a second from some other man. But when father and mother are hidden in Hades, no brother could ever bloom for me again. Such was the law whereby I held you first in honor, but for that Creon judged me guilty of wrongdoing

910

and of dreadful outrage, dear brother! And now he leads me thus in his hands’ strong grasp, when I have enjoyed no marriage bed or bridal song and have not received any portion of marriage or the nurture of children. But deserted by friends,

915

in misery I go living to the hollow graves of the dead. What law of the gods have I transgressed? Why should I look to the gods anymore? What ally should I call out to, when by my reverence I have earned a name for irreverence?

920

Well, then, if these events please the gods, once I have suffered my doom I will come to know my guilt. But if the guilt lies with my judges, I could wish for them no greater evils than they inflict unjustly on me.

925