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Wert thou to proffer what I do not ask— <
Thy poor assistance — I would scorn it now.
Let me perform but that, and death is welcome :
70
I'll do the pious deed, and lay me down
By my dear brother. Loving and beloved
We'll rest together ; to the powers below
'Tis fit we pay obedience ; longer there
We must remain than we can breathe on earth.
75
There I shall dwell for ever; thou, meantime,
What the gods hold most precious mayst despise.
Wert thou to proffer what I do not ask— <
Thy poor assistance — I would scorn it now.
Let me perform but that, and death is welcome :
70
I'll do the pious deed, and lay me down
By my dear brother. Loving and beloved
We'll rest together ; to the powers below
'Tis fit we pay obedience ; longer there
We must remain than we can breathe on earth.
75
There I shall dwell for ever; thou, meantime,
What the gods hold most precious mayst despise.
Ismene
Act as thou wilt ; I'll bury him myself ;
I reverence the gods ; but, in defiance
Of laws, and unassisted to do this,
Tt were most dangerous.
I reverence the gods ; but, in defiance
Of laws, and unassisted to do this,
Tt were most dangerous.
Antigone
That be thy excuse,
80
Whilst I prepare the funeral pile.
That be thy excuse,
80
Whilst I prepare the funeral pile.
Ismene
Alas !
I tremble for thee.
Alas !
I tremble for thee.
Antigone
Tremble for thyself,
And not for me.
Isii. Oh ! do not tell thy purpose,
I beg thee, do not . T shall ne'er betray thee.
Tremble for thyself,
And not for me.
Isii. Oh ! do not tell thy purpose,
I beg thee, do not . T shall ne'er betray thee.
Antigone
I'd have it known ; and 1 shall hat-e thee
more
^or thy concealment, than, if loud to all,
Thou wouldst proclaim the deed.
I'd have it known ; and 1 shall hat-e thee
more
^or thy concealment, than, if loud to all,
Thou wouldst proclaim the deed.
Ismene
Thou hast a heart
Too daring, and ill-suited to thy fate.
Thou hast a heart
Too daring, and ill-suited to thy fate.
Antigone
I know my duty, and I'll pay it there
Where 'twill be best accepted.
I know my duty, and I'll pay it there
Where 'twill be best accepted.
Ismene
Couldst thou do it !
90
But 'tis not in thy power.
90
Couldst thou do it !
90
But 'tis not in thy power.
90
Antigone
When I know that
It will be time enough to quit my purpose.
When I know that
It will be time enough to quit my purpose.
Ismene
It cannot be ; 'tis folly to attempt it.
It cannot be ; 'tis folly to attempt it.
Antigone
Go on, and I shall hate thee ! Our dead brother,
He too shall hate thee as his bitterest foe ;
Go, leave me here to suffer for my rashness ;
95
Whate'er befalls, it cannot be so dreadful
As not to die with honour.
Go on, and I shall hate thee ! Our dead brother,
He too shall hate thee as his bitterest foe ;
Go, leave me here to suffer for my rashness ;
95
Whate'er befalls, it cannot be so dreadful
As not to die with honour.
Ismene
Then farewell,
Since thou wilt have it so ; and know, Ismene
Pities thy weakness, but admires thy virtue. [Exeunt.
By Diice's sweetly-flowing stream,
Ne'er did the golden eye of day
On Thfcbes with fairer lustre beam,
Or shine with more auspicious ray.
See the proud Argive, with his silver shield
And glittering armour, quits the hostile plain;
No longer dares maintain the luckless field,
But vanquished flies, nor checks the loosened rein.
With dreadful clangour, like the bird of Jove,
On snowy wings descending from above,
His vaunted powers to this devoted land,
In bitterest wrath did Polynices lead,
With crested helmets, and a numerous band
He came, and fondly hoped that Thebes sl^puld
bleed. ,
High on the lofty tower he stood,
And viewed th' encircled gates below,
With spears that thirsted for our blood,
And seemed to scorn th' unequal foe ;
But, fraught with vengeance^ ere the rising flame
Could waste our bulwarks, or our walls surround,
Mars to assist the fiery serpent came,
And brought the towering eagle to the ground.
That god who hates the boastings of the proud
Saw the rude violence of th' exulting crowd ;
Already now the triumph was prepared.
The wreath of victory and the festal song,
When Jove the clash of golden armour heard.
And hurled his thunder on the guilty throng.
Then Capaneus, elate with pride,
Fierce as the rapid whirlwind came,
Eager he seemed on every side
To spread the all- devouring flame ;
But soon he felt the winged lightning's blast,
By angry heaven with speedy vengeance sent —
Down from the lofty turrets headlong cast.
For his foul crimes he met the punishment.
Each at his gate, long time the leaders strove,
Then fled, and left their arms to conquering Jove ;
Save the unhappy death-devoted pair,
The wretched brethren, who unconquered stood.
With rancorous hate inspired, and fell despair.
They reeked their vengeance in each other's blood.
And lo ! with smiles propitious see
To Thebes, for numerous cars renowned,
The goddess comes, fair Victory,
Witli fame and endless glory crowned !
Henceforth, no longer vexed by war's alarms,
Let all our sorrows, all our labours cease ;
Come, let us quit the din of rattling arms,
And fill our temples with the songs of peace.
The god of Thebes shall guide our steps aright,
And crown with many a lay the festive night.
But see, still anxious for his native land,
Our king, Menfeceus' valiant son, appear ;
With some fair omen by the gods' command
He comes to met his aged council here. [Exeunt.
Then farewell,
Since thou wilt have it so ; and know, Ismene
Pities thy weakness, but admires thy virtue. [Exeunt.
By Diice's sweetly-flowing stream,
Ne'er did the golden eye of day
On Thfcbes with fairer lustre beam,
Or shine with more auspicious ray.
See the proud Argive, with his silver shield
And glittering armour, quits the hostile plain;
No longer dares maintain the luckless field,
But vanquished flies, nor checks the loosened rein.
With dreadful clangour, like the bird of Jove,
On snowy wings descending from above,
His vaunted powers to this devoted land,
In bitterest wrath did Polynices lead,
With crested helmets, and a numerous band
He came, and fondly hoped that Thebes sl^puld
bleed. ,
High on the lofty tower he stood,
And viewed th' encircled gates below,
With spears that thirsted for our blood,
And seemed to scorn th' unequal foe ;
But, fraught with vengeance^ ere the rising flame
Could waste our bulwarks, or our walls surround,
Mars to assist the fiery serpent came,
And brought the towering eagle to the ground.
That god who hates the boastings of the proud
Saw the rude violence of th' exulting crowd ;
Already now the triumph was prepared.
The wreath of victory and the festal song,
When Jove the clash of golden armour heard.
And hurled his thunder on the guilty throng.
Then Capaneus, elate with pride,
Fierce as the rapid whirlwind came,
Eager he seemed on every side
To spread the all- devouring flame ;
But soon he felt the winged lightning's blast,
By angry heaven with speedy vengeance sent —
Down from the lofty turrets headlong cast.
For his foul crimes he met the punishment.
Each at his gate, long time the leaders strove,
Then fled, and left their arms to conquering Jove ;
Save the unhappy death-devoted pair,
The wretched brethren, who unconquered stood.
With rancorous hate inspired, and fell despair.
They reeked their vengeance in each other's blood.
And lo ! with smiles propitious see
To Thebes, for numerous cars renowned,
The goddess comes, fair Victory,
Witli fame and endless glory crowned !
Henceforth, no longer vexed by war's alarms,
Let all our sorrows, all our labours cease ;
Come, let us quit the din of rattling arms,
And fill our temples with the songs of peace.
The god of Thebes shall guide our steps aright,
And crown with many a lay the festive night.
But see, still anxious for his native land,
Our king, Menfeceus' valiant son, appear ;
With some fair omen by the gods' command
He comes to met his aged council here. [Exeunt.
Creon
Scene II.
Strophe i.
Antistro'phe, i.
Stro2yhe 2.
AntistropJie 2.
ACT II.
Scene I.
Antigone. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.