Sophocles, Antigone, 1278

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ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

Κρέων

Antigone. Sophocles. Leipzig. 1979.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Tufts University.

Current edition Experimental

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (11)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 1278 focus

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε ¹ φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.

Κρέων

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 1278 focus

Ἐξάγγελος

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις
1220

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 1278 focus

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὅσσ᾽ ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος

ἔοικας ἥκων κ᾽ ἐνθάδ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά!

Κρέων

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1278 focus

ὦ δέσποθ', ὡς, ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾿ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

Κρέων

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 1278 focus

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

Κρέων

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 1278 focus

ὦ δέσποθ’, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ’ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ’ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

Κρέων

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 1278 focus

ὦ δέσποθ᾽ , ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1265

Κρέων

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 1278 focus

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

Κρέων

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 1278 focus

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρειν, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκων καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

Κρέων

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 1278 focus

Ἐξάγγελος

ὦ δέσποθʼ, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δʼ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχʼ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 1278 focus

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

Κρέων

Translations (11)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 1278 focus

HAUSDIENER.
(tritt auf)

O Herr, wie einer, der so recht im Erbbesitz

der Übel wäre, trägst du dieses hier im Arm,
1220

und kommst, im Hause gleich zu schaun das andere.

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 1278 focus

¡Ah, señor! ¡Cómo teniendo y sintiendo la desgracia que llevas en tus manos, tienes otra en casa, que pronto verás!

CREONTE

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 1278 focus

O here, qualibus mactatum afflictumque malis, qualia etiam advenientem hic videre te oportet !

Creon

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1278 focus

My lord and master. Thou art master here

Of nought but sorrows. One within thine arms

Thou bear’st with thee, and in thy palace hall

Thou hast possession of another grief,

Which soon thou shalt behold.
1280

CR

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1278 focus

Als wärst du recht im Vollbesize jedes Leids,

Herr, trägst du dies im Arme: das im Hause weilt,

Das andre Leiden wirst du bald mit Augen sehn.
1245

Kreon.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1278 focus

Thus oppressed, my lord,

With bitterest misfortune, more aliliction

Awaits thee still, which thou Avilt find within.
1280

Creon

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 1278 focus

¡Señor! gran cúmulo de males caen sobre tí: tienes ante tus ojos este espectáculo doloroso, y te esperan además otras desgracias en tu Palacio.

CREONTE

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 1278 focus

BOTE

O Herr! wie hast du schon und wie empfängst du.

Das in den Händen trägst du, das. Unddasim Haufs’
1335

Auch das Unglük znsehen musst du kommen.

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 1278 focus

Sire, thou hast come, methinks, as one whose hands are not empty, but who hath store laid up besides; thou bearest yonder burden with thee; and thou 1280 art soon to look upon the woes within thy house.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1284 focus

These are my unblest counsels! Omy son,

My son! Untimely is thy fate, cut off

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 1261-1345 focus

Creon

Ah, the blunders of an unthinking mind, blunders of rigidity, yielding death! Oh, you witnesses of the killers and the killed, both of one family!

What misery arises from my reasonings! Haemon, you have died after a young life, youngest and last of my sons! O God! You have departed not by your foolishness, but by my own!
1265

1270

Chorus

Ah, how late you seem to see the right!
1270

Creon

God, I have mastered the bitter lesson! But then, then, I think, some god struck me on my head with a crushing weight, and drove me into savage paths,

—ah!—and overthrew my joy to be trampled on! Ah, the labors men must toil through!
1275

1278 Enter the Messenger from the house.

Messenger

My master, you have come, I think, like one whose hands are not empty, but who has a ready store: first, you carry that burden visible in your arms;

second, you will soon look upon further sufferings inside your house.
1280

1281

Creon

What worse suffering is still to follow upon these sufferings?

Messenger

Your wife is dead, true mother of that corpse, poor lady, by wounds newly cut.

1284

Creon

O harbor of Hades, hard to purify!

Why, why do you ruin me? Herald of evil, of grief, what word do you say? Ah, you have done in a dead man anew! What are you saying, boy? What is this you report to me
1285

God no!—what new slaughter, my wife’s doom, is heaped upon this ruin?
1290

1293 The doors of the palace are opened, and the corpse of Eurydice is disclosed.

Chorus

The sight is at hand. It is no longer hidden inside.

1294

Creon

Ah, misery!

There I see a new, a second evil! What destiny, ah, what, can still await me? I have just now taken my son in my arms, and now I see another corpse before me!
1295

Oh, tormented mother! Oh, my son!
1300

Messenger

By the altar, with a sharp-whetted sword, she struck until her eyes went slack and dark. Before that she bewailed the noble fate of Megareus who died earlier, and then the fate of this boy, and also, with her last breath,

she called down evil fortune upon you, the slayer of her sons.
1305

1306

Creon

Ah, no! I tremble with fear. Why does no one strike me full on my chest with a two-edged sword?

I am miserable—ah—and bathed in miserable anguish!
1310

Messenger

Yes, because you were accused of responsibility for both this son’s death, and the other’s, by her whose corpse you see.

Creon

What was the manner of the violent deed by which she departed?

Messenger

Her own hand struck her to the heart upon learning her son’s sharply-lamented fate.
1315

1317

Creon

Ah this guilt can never be fastened onto any other mortal so as to remove my own! It was I, yes, I, who killed you, I the wretch.

I admit the truth. Lead me away, my servants, lead me from here with all haste, who am no more than a dead man!
1320

Chorus

The course you recommend is to your gain, if there can be gain amidst evil. What is briefest is best, when trouble lies at your feet.
1325

1328

Creon

Let it come, let it appear, that fairest of fates for me, that brings my final day,

the fate supreme! Oh, let it come, so that I may never see tomorrow’s light!
1330

1334

Chorus

These things are in the future. We must see to present affairs.

Fulfillment of these things rests in the hands where it should rest.
1335

Creon

All that I crave was summed in that prayer.

Chorus

Then pray no more; for mortals have no release from destined misfortune.

1339

Creon

Lead me away, I beg you, a rash, useless man.

I have murdered you, son, unwittingly, and you, too, my wife—the misery! I do not know which way I should look, or where I should seek support. All is
1340

amiss that is in my hands, and, again, a crushing fate has leapt upon my head.
1345

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-772-1 ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος ¹ ἔχων ² κεκτημένος ³

mvp-comment-773-1 πρὸ χειρῶν ⁴

mvp-comment-773-2 τάδε ⁵

mvp-comment-773-3 τὰ δ’ ἐν δόμοις ⁶ τὰ μὲν … φέρων ⁷ ἔοικας ἥκειν ⁸ καὶ τάχ’ ὄψεσθαι ⁹

mvp-comment-773-4 Since τὰ δ’ ἐν δόμοις ¹⁰ ἥκειν καὶ ¹¹

mvp-comment-773-5 (

καὶ στᾶθι καὶ

)

εἴσιδε

. Others, indeed, take καὶ τάχα ¹²

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

1280. mvp-comment-716-1 By an attraction from ἔοικας, ἥκειν ὀψόμενος, or ἥκων ὄψεσθαι, is changed to ἥκειν καὶ ὄψεσθαι. Cp. Ο. Τ. 413.

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ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος, τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά. 1280

Κρέων

Current edition Experimental

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος, τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε 1 φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.

Κρέων

Ἐξάγγελος ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος, τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις 1220 ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὅσσ᾽ ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος ἔοικας ἥκων κ᾽ ἐνθάδ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά!

Κρέων

ὦ δέσποθ', ὡς, ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος, τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾿ ὄψεσθαι κακά. 1280

Κρέων

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος, τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά. 1280

Κρέων

ὦ δέσποθ’, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος, τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ’ ἐν δόμοις ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ’ ὄψεσθαι κακά. 1280

Κρέων

ὦ δέσποθ᾽ , ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος, τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά. 1265

Κρέων

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος, τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά. 1280

Κρέων

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος, τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρειν, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις ἔοικας ἥκων καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά. 1280

Κρέων

Ἐξάγγελος ὦ δέσποθʼ, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος, τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δʼ ἐν δόμοις ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχʼ ὄψεσθαι κακά. 1280

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος, τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά. 1280

Κρέων

HAUSDIENER. (tritt auf) O Herr, wie einer, der so recht im Erbbesitz der Übel wäre, trägst du dieses hier im Arm, 1220 und kommst, im Hause gleich zu schaun das andere.

CREONTE

Creon

My lord and master. Thou art master here Of nought but sorrows. One within thine arms Thou bear’st with thee, and in thy palace hall Thou hast possession of another grief, Which soon thou shalt behold. 1280

CR

Als wärst du recht im Vollbesize jedes Leids, Herr, trägst du dies im Arme: das im Hause weilt, Das andre Leiden wirst du bald mit Augen sehn. 1245

Kreon.

Thus oppressed, my lord, With bitterest misfortune, more aliliction Awaits thee still, which thou Avilt find within. 1280

Creon

CREONTE

BOTE O Herr! wie hast du schon und wie empfängst du. Das in den Händen trägst du, das. Unddasim Haufs’ 1335 Auch das Unglük znsehen musst du kommen.

These are my unblest counsels! Omy son, My son! Untimely is thy fate, cut off

Chorus Ah, how late you seem to see the right! 1270

Creon God, I have mastered the bitter lesson! But then, then, I think, some god struck me on my head with a crushing weight, and drove me into savage paths, —ah!—and overthrew my joy to be trampled on! Ah, the labors men must toil through! 1275

Messenger My master, you have come, I think, like one whose hands are not empty, but who has a ready store: first, you carry that burden visible in your arms; second, you will soon look upon further sufferings inside your house. 1280

Creon What worse suffering is still to follow upon these sufferings?

Messenger Your wife is dead, true mother of that corpse, poor lady, by wounds newly cut.

Creon O harbor of Hades, hard to purify! Why, why do you ruin me? Herald of evil, of grief, what word do you say? Ah, you have done in a dead man anew! What are you saying, boy? What is this you report to me 1285 God no!—what new slaughter, my wife’s doom, is heaped upon this ruin? 1290

Chorus The sight is at hand. It is no longer hidden inside.

Creon Ah, misery! There I see a new, a second evil! What destiny, ah, what, can still await me? I have just now taken my son in my arms, and now I see another corpse before me! 1295 Oh, tormented mother! Oh, my son! 1300

Messenger By the altar, with a sharp-whetted sword, she struck until her eyes went slack and dark. Before that she bewailed the noble fate of Megareus who died earlier, and then the fate of this boy, and also, with her last breath, she called down evil fortune upon you, the slayer of her sons. 1305

Creon Ah, no! I tremble with fear. Why does no one strike me full on my chest with a two-edged sword? I am miserable—ah—and bathed in miserable anguish! 1310

Messenger Yes, because you were accused of responsibility for both this son’s death, and the other’s, by her whose corpse you see.

Creon What was the manner of the violent deed by which she departed?

Messenger Her own hand struck her to the heart upon learning her son’s sharply-lamented fate. 1315

Creon Ah this guilt can never be fastened onto any other mortal so as to remove my own! It was I, yes, I, who killed you, I the wretch. I admit the truth. Lead me away, my servants, lead me from here with all haste, who am no more than a dead man! 1320

Chorus The course you recommend is to your gain, if there can be gain amidst evil. What is briefest is best, when trouble lies at your feet. 1325

Creon Let it come, let it appear, that fairest of fates for me, that brings my final day, the fate supreme! Oh, let it come, so that I may never see tomorrow’s light! 1330

Chorus These things are in the future. We must see to present affairs. Fulfillment of these things rests in the hands where it should rest. 1335

Creon All that I crave was summed in that prayer.

Chorus Then pray no more; for mortals have no release from destined misfortune.

Creon Lead me away, I beg you, a rash, useless man. I have murdered you, son, unwittingly, and you, too, my wife—the misery! I do not know which way I should look, or where I should seek support. All is 1340 amiss that is in my hands, and, again, a crushing fate has leapt upon my head. 1345

Commentary

Stable identifiers

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε ¹ φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.

Ἐξάγγελος

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις
1220

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὅσσ᾽ ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος

ἔοικας ἥκων κ᾽ ἐνθάδ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά!

ὦ δέσποθ', ὡς, ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾿ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

ὦ δέσποθ’, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ’ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ’ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

ὦ δέσποθ᾽ , ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1265

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρειν, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκων καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

Ἐξάγγελος

ὦ δέσποθʼ, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δʼ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχʼ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

ὦ δέσποθ᾽, ὡς ἔχων τε καὶ κεκτημένος,

τὰ μὲν πρὸ χειρῶν τάδε φέρων, τὰ δ᾽ ἐν δόμοις

ἔοικας ἥκειν καὶ τάχ᾽ ὄψεσθαι κακά.
1280

HAUSDIENER.
(tritt auf)

O Herr, wie einer, der so recht im Erbbesitz

der Übel wäre, trägst du dieses hier im Arm,
1220

und kommst, im Hause gleich zu schaun das andere.

My lord and master. Thou art master here

Of nought but sorrows. One within thine arms

Thou bear’st with thee, and in thy palace hall

Thou hast possession of another grief,

Which soon thou shalt behold.
1280

Als wärst du recht im Vollbesize jedes Leids,

Herr, trägst du dies im Arme: das im Hause weilt,

Das andre Leiden wirst du bald mit Augen sehn.
1245

Thus oppressed, my lord,

With bitterest misfortune, more aliliction

Awaits thee still, which thou Avilt find within.
1280

BOTE

O Herr! wie hast du schon und wie empfängst du.

Das in den Händen trägst du, das. Unddasim Haufs’
1335

Auch das Unglük znsehen musst du kommen.

These are my unblest counsels! Omy son,

My son! Untimely is thy fate, cut off

Chorus

Ah, how late you seem to see the right!
1270

Creon

God, I have mastered the bitter lesson! But then, then, I think, some god struck me on my head with a crushing weight, and drove me into savage paths,

—ah!—and overthrew my joy to be trampled on! Ah, the labors men must toil through!
1275

Messenger

My master, you have come, I think, like one whose hands are not empty, but who has a ready store: first, you carry that burden visible in your arms;

second, you will soon look upon further sufferings inside your house.
1280

Creon

What worse suffering is still to follow upon these sufferings?

Messenger

Your wife is dead, true mother of that corpse, poor lady, by wounds newly cut.

Creon

O harbor of Hades, hard to purify!

Why, why do you ruin me? Herald of evil, of grief, what word do you say? Ah, you have done in a dead man anew! What are you saying, boy? What is this you report to me
1285

God no!—what new slaughter, my wife’s doom, is heaped upon this ruin?
1290

Chorus

The sight is at hand. It is no longer hidden inside.

Creon

Ah, misery!

There I see a new, a second evil! What destiny, ah, what, can still await me? I have just now taken my son in my arms, and now I see another corpse before me!
1295

Oh, tormented mother! Oh, my son!
1300

Creon

Ah, no! I tremble with fear. Why does no one strike me full on my chest with a two-edged sword?

I am miserable—ah—and bathed in miserable anguish!
1310

Messenger

Yes, because you were accused of responsibility for both this son’s death, and the other’s, by her whose corpse you see.

Creon

What was the manner of the violent deed by which she departed?

Messenger

Her own hand struck her to the heart upon learning her son’s sharply-lamented fate.
1315

Creon

Ah this guilt can never be fastened onto any other mortal so as to remove my own! It was I, yes, I, who killed you, I the wretch.

I admit the truth. Lead me away, my servants, lead me from here with all haste, who am no more than a dead man!
1320

Chorus

The course you recommend is to your gain, if there can be gain amidst evil. What is briefest is best, when trouble lies at your feet.
1325

Creon

Let it come, let it appear, that fairest of fates for me, that brings my final day,

the fate supreme! Oh, let it come, so that I may never see tomorrow’s light!
1330

Chorus

These things are in the future. We must see to present affairs.

Fulfillment of these things rests in the hands where it should rest.
1335

Creon

All that I crave was summed in that prayer.

Chorus

Then pray no more; for mortals have no release from destined misfortune.

Creon

Lead me away, I beg you, a rash, useless man.

I have murdered you, son, unwittingly, and you, too, my wife—the misery! I do not know which way I should look, or where I should seek support. All is
1340

amiss that is in my hands, and, again, a crushing fate has leapt upon my head.
1345