KREON

Daſs Hüter nun ihr dessen seid, was ich gesagt!

CHOR

Der Jüngern einem lege dies zu tragen auf.

KREON

Zur Hut des Leichnams stehn die Wächter schon bereit.

CHOR

Was trägst du denn noch einem andern dieses auf?

KREON

Daſs nicht ihr nachseht denen, die dawider thun.

215

CHOR

Niemand ist also thöricht, daſs er sterben will.

KREON

Und traun der Lohn ist dieser: aber manchem ja

gab schon die Hoffnung auf Gewinn den Untergang.

WÄCHTER

Herr, sagen will ich eben nicht, vor Eiligkeit

käm' athemlos ich auf behend erhobnem Fufs;

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denn vieler Sorg' Anstände fand ich unterwegs,

und oft zur Rückkehr dreht' ich mich im Kreis herum.

Denn meine Seele sprach zu mir gar vielerlei:

Elender, dorthin willst du wo dir's Strafe giebt?

Armsel'ger, bleibst du? und erfährt dies Kreon dann

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von einem andern? Wie bekäme das dir schlecht!

In solchem Überlegen ging ich zaudernd schnell,

und so geräth denn auch ein kurzes Ende lang.

Zuletzt da siegte der Gedank' hierher zu gehn,

zu dir: so gut wie nichts dir sagend sag' ich's doch.

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Denn an der einen Hoffnung klammre fest ich mich,

nichts könn' ich sonst erleiden als bestimmtes Loos.

Creonte

¿Cómo, pues, vigilaréis ahora por el cumplimiento de mis órdenes?

Coro

Eso, encárgalo a otro más joven.

Creonte

Pues dispuestos están ya los que han de vigilar el cadáver.

Coro

¿Qué otra cosa quieres aún encargarnos?

Creonte

Que no condescendáis con los que desobedezcan la orden.

Coro

No hay nadie tan necio que desee morir.

Creonte

Ése, en efecto, será el pago; pero la esperanza del lucro pierde muchas veces a los hombres.

El Centinela

¡Rey!, no diré que llego sin aliento por venir de prisa y a todo correr, porque con frecuencia me he parado a pensar, dando vueltas por el camino, si me volvería atrás. Mi corazón me decía muchas veces aconsejándome : «¡Infeliz!, ¿por qué vas adonde la pagarás así que llegues? ¡Desgraciado!, ¿persistes aún? Y si Creonte se enterase de esto por otro hombre, ¿cómo tú no lo habías de sentir?» Revolviendo tales pensamientos venia venía lenta y pausadamente; de modo que un camino breve me ha resultado largo. Al fin me decidi decidí a llegar a tu presencia; y aunque nada te pueda aclarar, hablaré, sin embargo; pues vengo fortalecido con la esperanza de que no me podrá pasar nada fuera de lo que me tenga reservado el destino.

Creonte

Creon

Vos igitur adtendite, ut edictum observetur.

Chorus

Iuniori alicui hoc munus manda.

Creon

At iam constituti sunt cadaveris custodes.

Chorus

Quid igitur aliud praeter hoc iubeas?

Creon

Ne permittatis, si qui minus obtemperent.

Chorus

Nemo est amens adeo, ut mori cupiat.

Creon

Est sane proposita haec merces: sed homines saepe lucri spes perdidit.

Custos

Haud equidem, o rex, dixero, anhelantem me esse, quod citato gressu celeriterque venerim: moras enim solicitudinum multas inveni, in via subinde me ipsum circumagens, ut referrem pedem. Anima enim saepius me alloquebatur: Miser, cur tendis eo, ubi poenas dabis, simul ac veneris? at enim resistes, miser? haec etiamsi ex quopiam alio resciverit Creon, quinam, sodes, malum effugies? Talia volutans animo, tardo iter confeci, quamvis alioqui celer, sicque longa fit brevis via. Tandem tamen consultissimum visum est huc venire: dicam autem, tametsi nihili sit, quod proferam: hac enim spe fretus venio, nihil me aliud passurum esse, nisi quod fatale sit.

Creon

CR

Then be ye watchful to maintain my word.

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CH

Young strength for such a burden were more meet.

CR

Already there be watchers of the dead.

CH

What charge then wouldst thou further lay on us?

CR

Not to give place to those that disobey.

CH

Who is so fond, to be in love with death?

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CR

Such, truly, is the meed. But hope of gain

Full oft ere now hath been the ruin of men.

WATCHMAN

().

My lord, I am out of breath, but not with speed.

I will not say my foot was fleet. My thoughts

Cried halt unto me ever as I came

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And wheeled me to return. My mind discoursed

Most volubly within my breast, and said—

Fond wretch! why go where thou wilt find thy bane?

Unhappy wight! say, wilt thou bide aloof?

Then if the king shall hear this from another,

How shalt thou ’scape for ’t? Winding thus about

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I hasted, but I could not speed, and so

Made a long journey of a little way.

At last ‘yes’ carried it, that I should come

To thee; and tell thee I must needs; and shall,

Though it be nothing that I have to tell.

For I came hither, holding fast by this—

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Nought that is not my fate can happen to me.

CR

Kreon.

Seid ihr die Hüter dessen nun, was ich gebot!

215

Der Chor.

Der Jüngern Einem lege dies zu tragen auf.

Kreon.

Die, so den Leichnam hüten, steh'n ja schon bereit.

Der Chor.

Warum denn einem Andern noch gebeutst du dies?

Kreon.

Daß Keinem Nachsicht werde, der dawider thut.

Der Chor.

Wer ist so thöricht, daß er sich zu sterben sehnt?

220

Kreon.

Und dieses wäre, traun, der Lohn; doch Vielen ja

Hat schon die Hoffnung auf Gewinn den Tod gebracht.

Ein Wächter. Die Voriger.

Der Wächter.

Herr, ich will nicht sagen, daß ich athemlos

Vor Eile komme mit behend erhob'nem Fuß;

Denn viel Bedenken schus mir manchen Aufenthalt,

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Und oft zur Rückkehr wandt' ich unterwegs mich um.

Denn meine Seele sprach zu mir und warnte viel:

„Was willst du dorthin, Armer, wo dir Strafe droht?

Elender, säumst du? Doch erfährt es Kreon dann

Von einem Andern, würde dir's nicht schlimm ergeh'n?"

230

In solchem Grübeln ging ich langsam schnell voran,

Und also streckt sich lange hin der kurze Weg.

Doch siegt' am Ende der Entschluß, hieher zu geh'n,

Zu dir; und sag' ich dir auch Nichts, ich sag' es doch.

Denn an die Hoffnung klammr' ich unverrückt mich an,

235

Nichts könne sonst mich treffen, als bestimmtes Loos.

Kreon.

Creon

Be careful then my orders are obeyed.

215

Chorus

Chorus

What then remains for us ?

Creon

To see that none

By your connivance violate the law.

Chorus

Scarce will the man be found so fond of death

220

As to attempt it.

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Creon

Death is the reward

Of him who dares it j but oftimes by hope

Of sordid gain are men betrayed to ruin.

SCBNS II.

Messenger

Creon, Chorus.

Messenger

O king ! I cannot boast that hither sent

I came with speed, for oft my troubled thoughts

Have driven me back ; oft to myself I said,

Why dost thou seek destruction ? Yet again

If thou report it not, from other tongues

Creon must hear the tale, and thou wilt sutier.

230

With doubts like these oppressed, slowly I came,

And the short way seemed like a tedious journey ;

At length I come, resolved to tell thee all :

Whate'er the event, 1 must submit to fate.

Creon

CHOR

Dir dünket difs, o Sohn Menökeus, Kreon,

Des Feindes wegen und des Freunds der Stadt,

220

Und das Gesez gebrauchst du überall,

Der Todten wegen und der Lebenden.

KREON

Tragt ihr die Aufsicht nun in dem Besagten!

CHOR

Beseze du mit Jungen derley Posten!

KREON

Nicht das. Die Wach’ ist schon für den Entleibten draufsen,

225

CHOR

Du nehmestaber auch noch in die Pflicht uns andre.

KREON

Ja. Weils gewisse giebt, bei denen dieses mifsfällt.

CHOR

Hier ist kein solcher Thor, der gerne stirbet.

KREON

Diefs ist der Lohn. Doch hat mit Hoffnungen

Oft der Gewinn den Mann zu Grund gerichtet.

230

Dritte Scene KREON. DER CHOR EIN BOTE.

DER BOTE

Mein König, difsmal plaudr’ ich nicht, wie mich

Die othemlose Schnelle bring’, und wie

Sich leicht gehoben mir der Fuls. Denn öfters

Hielt mich die Sorg’ und wendet auf dem Wege

Mich um zur Rükkehr. Denn die Seele sang

235

Mir träumend viel. Wo gehst du hin, du Armer!

Wohin gelangt, giebst du die Rechenschaft ?

Bleibst du zurük, Unglüklicher ? so aber

Wird Kreon es von einem andern hören.

Wie kümmerst du defswegen denn dich nicht?

240

Derlei bedenkend, gieng ich müfsig langsam,

Und so wird auch ein kurzer Weg zum weiten.

Zulezt hat freilich diess gesiegt, ich soll

Hieher, und wenn mein Sorgen auch für nichts ist,

So sprech’ ich doch. Denn in der Hoffnung komm’ ich,

245

Es folge nur, dem, wasich that, was noth ist.

Creon

See, then, that ye be guardians of the mandate.

Chorus

Lay the burden of this task on some younger man.

Creon

Nay, watchers of the corpse have been found.

Chorus

What, then, is this further charge that: thou wouldst give?

Creon

That ye side not with the breakers of these commands. 220

Chorus

No man is so foolish that he is enamoured of death.

Creon

In sooth, that is the meed; yet lucre hath oft ruined men through their hopes. Enter GUARD.

Guard

liege, I will not say that I come breathless from speed, or that I have plied a nimble foot ; for often did my thoughts make me pause, and wheel round in my path, to return. My mind was holding large discourse with me; ‘Fool, why goest thou to thy certain doom ?’ ‘Wretch, tarrying again? And if Creon hears this from 230 another, must not thou smart for it?’ So debating, I went on my way with lagging steps, and thus. a short road was made long. At last, however, it carried the day that I should come hither—to thee; and, though my tale be nought, yet will I tell it; for_I_come with C a good grip on one hope,—that I can suffer nothing but ate what is my fate.

Creon

Creon

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

Chorus

CREON, CHORUS.

If towards the foe and towards the friend of Thebes

Son of Menæceus, such thy royal will,

To give each law its force, both on the dead

And us, whoe'er are living here, is thine.

See that my edict be obey'd.

That charge

Give to more vigorous youth.

Creon

Guards are assign'd.

Chorus

To watch the dead

What more wou'dst thou command?

Creon

Not to show grace to those who disobey.

Chorus

None is so mad to be in love with death.

220

Creon

Creon

My fellow citizens! First, the gods, after tossing the fate of our city on wild waves, have once more righted it. Second, I have ordered you through my messengers to come here

apart from all the rest, because I knew, first of all, how constant was your reverence for the power of the throne of Laius; how, again, you were reverent, when Oedipus was guiding our city; and lastly, how, when he was dead, you still maintained loyal thoughts towards his children.

165

Since, then, these latter have fallen in one day by a twofold doom—each striking, each struck, both with the stain of a brother’s murder—I now possess all the power and the throne according to my kinship with the dead.

170

Now, it is impossible to know fully any man’s character, will, or judgment, until he has been proved by the test of rule and law-giving. For if anyone who directs the entire city does not cling to the best and wisest plans,

175

but because of some fear keeps his lips locked, then, in my judgment, he is and has long been the most cowardly traitor. And if any man thinks a friend more important than his fatherland, that man, I say, is of no account. Zeus, god who sees all things always, be my witness—

180

I would not be silent if I saw ruin, instead of safety, marching upon the citizens. Nor would I ever make a man who is hostile to my country a friend to myself, because I know this, that our country is the ship that bears us safe, and that only when

185

we sail her on a straight course can we make true friends. Such are the rules by which I strengthen this city. Akin to these is the edict which I have now published to the citizenry concerning the sons of Oedipus: Eteocles, who fell fighting

190

in behalf of our city and who excelled all in battle, they shall entomb and heap up every sacred offering that descends to the noblest of the dead below. But as for his brother, Polyneices, I mean, who on his return from exile wanted to burn to the ground

195

the city of his fathers and his race’s gods, and wanted to feed on kindred blood and lead the remnant into slavery—it has been proclaimed to the city that no one shall give him funeral honors or lamentation,

200

but all must leave him unburied and a sight of shame, with his body there for birds and dogs to eat. This is my will, and never will I allow the traitor to stand in honor before the just. But whoever has good will to Thebes ,

205

he shall be honored by me in death as in life.

210

Chorus

That is your will, Creon, towards this city’s enemy and its friend. And the power is yours, I believe, to make use of every law whatsoever, both concerning the dead and all us who live.

Creon

See, then, that you be guardians of my commands.

215

Chorus

Lay the weight of this task on some younger man.

Creon

That is not what I meant—the guards for the corpse are already in place.

Chorus

Then what is this other command that you would give?

Creon

That you not give way to the breakers of my commands.

Chorus

There is no one so foolish as to crave death.

220

Creon

I assure you, that is the wage for disobedience. Yet by just the hope of it, money has many times corrupted men.

Guard

My king, I will not say that I arrive breathless because of speed, or from the action of a swift foot.

For often I brought myself to a stop because of my thoughts, and wheeled round in my path to return. My mind was telling me many things: Fool, why do you go to where your arrival will mean your punishment? Idiot, are you dallying again? If Creon learns it from another, must you not suffer for it?

225

So debating, I made my way unhurriedly, slow, and thus a short road was made long. At last, however, the view prevailed that I should come here—to you. Even if my report brings no good, still will I tell you,

230

since I come with a good grip on one hope, that I can suffer nothing except what is my fate.

235

Creon

And what is it that so disheartens you?

Guard

I want to tell you first about myself—I did not do the deed, nor did I see the doer,

so it would be wrong that I should come to any harm.

240

Creon

Like a bowman you aim well at your target from a distance, and all around you hedge yourself off well from the deed. It is clear that you have some unheard-of thing to tell.

Guard

That I do, for terrible news imposes great hesitation.

Creon

Then tell it, will you, and so unburdened go away?

Guard

Well, here it is. The corpse—some one has just given it burial and disappeared after sprinkling thirsty dust on the flesh and performing the other rites that piety demands.

245

Creon

What are you saying? What man dared do this?

Guard

I do not know. For there was no scar of a pickax to be seen there,

no earth thrown up by a mattock. The ground was hard and dry, unbroken, not rolled over by wheels. The doer was someone who left no trace. When the first day-watchman showed it to us, a discomforting amazement fell on us all.

250

The dead man was veiled from us—not shut within a tomb, but a light cover of dust was on him, as if put there by the hand of one who shunned a curse. And no sign was visible that any beast of prey or any dog had approached or torn him. Then evil words flew thick and loud among us,

255

guard accusing guard. It would even have come to blows in the end, nor was there anyone there to prevent it: every man was the culprit, and no one was plainly guilty, while all disclaimed knowledge of the act. We were ready to take red-hot iron in our hands,

260

to walk through fire and to swear oaths by the gods that we had neither done the deed, nor shared knowledge of the planning or the doing. At last, when our investigating got us nowhere, someone spoke up and made us all bend our faces

265

in fear towards the earth. For we did not know how we could argue with him, nor yet prosper, if we did what he said. His argument was that the deed must be reported to you and not hidden. This view prevailed, and so it was that

270

the lot doomed miserable me to win this prize. So here I stand, as unwelcome to you as I am unwilling, I well know. For no man delights in the bearer of bad news.

275

Chorus

My king, my thoughts have long been deliberating whether this deed is somehow the work of gods?

Creon

Quiet, before your words truly fill me with rage, so that you not be found at the same time foolish as well as old. You say what is intolerable when you claim that the gods have concern for that corpse. Was it in high esteem for his benefactions

280

that they sought to hide him, when he had come to burn their columned shrines, their sacred treasures and their land, and scatter its laws to the winds? Or do you see the gods honoring the wicked? It cannot be. No! From the very first

285

certain men of the city were chafing at this edict and muttering against me, tossing their heads in secret, and they did not keep their necks duly under the yoke in submission to me. By those men, I am certain, they were led astray and bribed to do this deed.

290

Nothing so evil as money ever grew to be current among men. This destroys cities, this drives men from their homes, this trains and warps honest minds to set themselves to works of shame,

295

this teaches people to practise villainies, and to know every act of unholiness. But all the men who did this job for hire have made sure that, sooner or later, they shall suffer the punishment. Now, as Zeus still has my reverence, know this well—

300

I tell you on my oath. If you do not find the very hand that made this burial, and reveal him before my eyes, mere death shall not suffice for you, not before, hung up alive, you have made this outrage plain,

305

so that hereafter you may thieve with better knowledge of where your money should be received from, and learn that it is best not to be fond of money-making from any and every source. For you will find that ill-gotten gains bring more men to ruin than to safety.

310

Guard

Will you allow me to speak? Or shall I just turn and go?

315

Creon

Do you not know even now how much your voice sickens me?

Guard

Is the pain in your ears, or in your soul?

Creon

And why would you define the seat of my pain?

Guard

He who did it hurts your heart, but I, your ears.

Creon

God! How plain it is that you are a born babbler.

320

Guard

Perhaps, but never the author of this action.

Creon

Yes, and what is more, you sold your life for silver.

Guard

Ah! It is truly sad when the judge judges wrong .

Creon

Expound on judgment as you will. But, if you fail to

show me the perpetrators of these crimes, you will avow that money basely earned wreaks sorrows. Exit Creon.

325

Guard

Well, may the man be found! That would be best. But, whether he be caught or not—for fortune must decide that—I assure you that you will not see me come here again.

Saved just now beyond hope and belief, I owe the gods great thanks. Exit the Guard.

330