Sophocles, Antigone, Robert Potter (Translator), 7

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Creon
ANTIS. 1. STRO. 2. ANTIS. 2. 162

Devote the night to festive dance;

To every god at every shrine,

To Bacchus chief, pay rites divine 1.

Let Bacchus lead the frolic train,

And swell through Thebes the joyful strain.
165

But see the royal Creon, whose new sway
165

The sons of Thebes must now obey,

The gods assigning him this glorious fate,

To council comes in awful state;

And here, by heralds warn'd, we stand,

The sages of the realm, to hear his high command.

Since now, ye men of Thebes, the gods, who shook
170

With many a surging wave this sinking state

Again have raised it from the storm secure,

You by my heralds to attend me here

Selected I have summon'd; for I know

How highly you revered the throne and pow'r

Of Laius; and again when Edipus
175

Was king; and, after his disastrous fate,
175

I saw how firm, how loyal to his sons

Your zeal remain'd; but now, since they are fallen,

Each by the other's hand, in the same day,

By mutual wounds and mutual guilt, the crown

And regal pow'r by right devolve on me!

As nearest to the slain by blood allied.
180

But who can penetrate man's secret thought,

The quality and temper of his soul,

Till by high office put to frequent proof,

And execution of the laws? To me

The Sovereign of a state, who weak of soul

Adheres not to the sagest counsels firm,
185

But suffers fear to close his lips, appears
185

Most base and abject; such I deem him now,

And always deem'd: and him, who dearer holds

A private friendship than the secret ties

Which bind him to his country, I esteem

A weak slight man. But I (all-seeing Jove,

Be thou my witness!) ne'er will close my lips
190

In silence, to my people if I see

A threatening danger, or approaching ill:

And never will I hold that man my friend,

Who to my country bears an hostile mind;

Well knowing that on her we all depend

For safety: whilst that bark securely ploughs
195

A tranquil sea, we, as we sail, make friends.
195

I by such rules will raise the Theban state

To higher glory; and allied to these

My edict through the city is proclaim'd

Touching the sons of Edipus: the youth,

Who fighting for his country greatly died,

In arms illustrious, honour'd in the tomb
200

I bade them lay, with all the hallow'd rites

Paid to the noblest of the dead below.

But Polynices, who from exile came

Back to his country and his country's gods,

Eager to gorge himself with kindred blood,

And lead these hence as slaves, it is proclaim'd
205

That none with solemn obsequies entomb,
205

That none lament; unburied let him lie,

And let his mangled carcase be devour'd

By dogs and birds of prey. Such is my will.

For never to the base will I allow

The honours to the virtuous only due:

But he, who loves my country, shall by me
210
211cont2

Alike be honour'd, let him live or die.
215

Antigone. Sophocles. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1820.

Current edition Experimental

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Robert Potter, 1788))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 7 focus

καὶ νῦν ¹ τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασὶ πανδήμῳ πόλει

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 7 focus

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασὶ πανδήμῳ πόλει

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 7 focus

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασὶ πανδήμῳ πόλει

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 7 focus

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασι πανδήμῳ πόλει

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 7 focus

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασι πανδήμῳ πόλει

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 7.mvp-line-7 focus

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ’ αὖ φασι πανδήμῳ πόλει

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 7 focus

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασι πανδήμωι πόλει

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 7 focus

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασὶ πανδήμῳ πόλει

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 7 focus

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασὶ πανδήμῳ πόλει

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 7.mvp-line-7 focus

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασι πανδήμῳ πόλει

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 7 focus

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτʼ αὖ φασι πανδήμῳ πόλει

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 7 focus

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασι πανδήμωι πόλει

Translations (10)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 7 focus

ISMENE

Was mag ich, o Unsel'ge, wenn dies also liegt,

uns, lösend oder bindend, noch zum Frommen thun?
40

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 7 focus

Antígona

Si me acompañarás y me ayudarás, es lo que has de pensar.

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 7 focus

Antigone

an operam sis collatura, meque adiutura, vide.

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 7 focus

ANT

Wilt thou share

The danger and the labour? Make thy choice.

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1 focus

Ismene, traute Schwester, vielgeliebtes Haupt,¹
1

Weißt du von einem Leide, das vom Vater her

Zeus nicht an uns vollendet, die wir leben noch?

Denn keinen Jammer gibt es, nichts Entsezliches,

Nichts Arges, nichts Schmachvolles, das ich nicht bereits
5

In deiner Noth gesehen und in meiner Noth.

Und welche Botschaft, heißt es, ließ jezt eben erst

Der Herrscher wieder allem Volk verkündigen?

Weißt du's, vernahmst du's, oder blieb dir unbekannt,

Daß unsern Lieben Böses naht von Feindesmacht?
10

Ismene.

Zu mir gelangte keine Kund', Antigone,

Von unsern Lieben, frohe nicht noch traurige,

Seitdem das Paar der Brüder uns entrissen ward,

Die Eines Tages fielen durch zwiefachen Mord.

Und seit in dieser jüngsten Nacht sich Argos' Heer
15

Zur Flucht gewendet, wurde mir nichts weiter kund,

Nicht, ob mir mehr des Glückes, ob des Leides ward.

Antigone.

Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus

Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene.

Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Antigone.

Hat Kreon nicht dem Einen Bruder nur gegönnt

Des Grabes Ehre, jenem sie schmachvoll versagt?

Den Eteokles hat er, wie man sagt, gerecht

Gerechter Ordnung huldigend, in der Erde Schooß

Geborgen, daß ihm Ehre sei im Todtenreich;²
25

Doch Polyneikes' jammervoll entseelten Leib

Verbot er, heißt es, allem Volk durch lauten Ruf

Im Grab zu bergen und um ihn zu klagen; nein,

Daliegen soll er unbeweint, grablos, ein Mahl

Den Vögeln, die zum süßen Raube niederschau'n.
30

Und solches, sagt man, ließ der edle Kreon dir

Und mir, ich sage mir sogar, verkündigen;

Er komme selbst, es deutlich Allen kundzuthun,

Die nicht davon vernommen, und er achte nicht

Für Nichts die Sache; sondern wer deß Eines thut,
35

Den trifft an offner Stätte Tod durch Steinigung.

So ward's von ihm beschlossen, und du zeigst sofort,

Ob edel, ob unedel du von Edlen stammst.

Ismene.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 7 focus

Ismene

What daring deed

Wouldst thou attempt? What is it? Speak !

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 7 focus

ANTÍGONA

Ve si quieres cooperar conmigo y ayudarme en mi propósito.

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 7 focus

ANTIGONAE

Ob mitthun du, mithelfen wollest, forsche!

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 7 focus

Antigone

Consider if thou wilt share the toil and the deed.

English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb2, 1904)) — 1-98 focus

Antigone

Ismene, my sister, true child of my own mother, do you know any evil out of all the evils bequeathed by Oedipus that Zeus will not fulfil for the two of us in our lifetime? There is nothing—no pain, no ruin,
1

no shame, nor dishonor—that I have not seen in your sufferings and mine. And now what is this new edict that they say the general has just decreed to all the city? Do you know anything? Have you heard? Or does it escape you that
5

evils from our enemies are on the march against our friends?
10

Ismene

To me no word of our friends, Antigone, either bringing joy or bringing pain has come since we two were robbed of our two brothers who died in one day by a double blow.

And since the Argive army has fled during this night, I have learned nothing further, whether better fortune is mine, or further ruin.
15

Antigone

I knew it well, so I was trying to bring you outside the courtyard gates to this end, that you alone might hear.

Ismene

Hear what? It is clear that you are brooding on some dark news.
20

Antigone

Why not? Has not Creon destined our brothers, the one to honored burial, the other to unburied shame? Eteocles, they say, with due observance of right and custom, he has laid in the earth

for his honor among the dead below. As for the poor corpse of Polyneices, however, they say that an edict has been published to the townsmen that no one shall bury him or mourn him, but instead leave him unwept, unentombed, for the birds a pleasing store
25

as they look to satisfy their hunger. Such, it is said, is the edict that the good Creon has laid down for you and for me—yes, for me—and it is said that he is coming here to proclaim it for the certain knowledge of those who do not already know. They say that he does not conduct this business lightly,
30

but whoever performs any of these rites, for him the fate appointed is death by public stoning among the entire city. This is how things stand for you, and so you will soon show your nature, whether you are noble-minded, or the corrupt daughter of a noble line.
35

Ismene

Poor sister, if things have come to this, what would I

profit by loosening or tightening this knot?
40

Antigone

Consider whether you will share the toil and the task.

Ismene

What are you hazarding? What do you intend?

Antigone

Will you join your hand to mine in order to lift his corpse?

Ismene

You plan to bury him—when it is forbidden to the city?

Antigone

Yes, he is my brother, and yours too, even if you wish it otherwise. I will never be convicted of betraying him.
45

Ismene

Hard girl! Even when Creon has forbidden it?

Antigone

No, he has no right to keep me from my own.

Ismene

Ah, no! Think, sister, how our father

perished in hatred and infamy, when, because of the crimes that he himself detected, he smashed both his eyes with self-blinding hand; then his mother-wife, two names in one, with a twisted noose destroyed her life;
50

lastly, our two brothers in a single day, both unhappy murderers of their own flesh and blood, worked with mutual hands their common doom. And now we, in turn—we two who have been left all alone—consider how much more miserably we will be destroyed, if in defiance of the law
55

we transgress against an autocrat’s decree or his powers. No, we must remember, first, that ours is a woman’s nature, and accordingly not suited to battles against men; and next, that we are ruled by the more powerful, so that we must obey in these things and in things even more stinging.
60

I, therefore, will ask those below for pardon, since I am forced to this, and will obey those who have come to authority. It is foolish to do what is fruitless.
65

Antigone

I would not encourage you—no, nor, even if you were willing later,

would I welcome you as my partner in this action. No, be the sort that pleases you. I will bury him—it would honor me to die while doing that. I shall rest with him, loved one with loved one, a pious criminal. For the time is greater
70

that I must serve the dead than the living, since in that world I will rest forever. But if you so choose, continue to dishonor what the gods in honor have established.
75

Ismene

I do them no dishonor. But to act in violation of the citizens’ will—of that I am by nature incapable.

Antigone

You can make that your pretext! Regardless, I will go now to heap a tomb over the brother I love.
80

Ismene

Oh no, unhappy sister! I fear for you!

Antigone

Do not tremble for me. Straighten out your own destiny.

Ismene

Then at least disclose the deed to no one before you do it.

Conceal it, instead, in secrecy—and so, too, will I.
85

Antigone

Go on! Denounce it! You will be far more hated for your silence, if you fail to proclaim these things to everyone.

Ismene

You have a hot heart for chilling deeds.

Antigone

I know that I please those whom I am most bound to please.

Ismene

Yes, if you will also have the power. But you crave the impossible.
90

Antigone

Why then, when my strength fails, I will have finished.

Ismene

An impossible hunt should not be tried in the first place.

Antigone

If you mean that, you will have my hatred, and you will be subject to punishment as the enemy of the dead.

But leave me and the foolish plan I have authored to suffer this terrible thing, for I will not suffer anything so terrible that my death will lack honor.
95

Ismene

Go, then, if you so decide. And of this be sure: though your path is foolish, to your loved ones your love is straight and true. Exit Antigone on the spectators’ left. Ismene exits into the palace.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-84-1 ἑπτὰ λοχαγοί ¹

mvp-comment-84-2 ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ²

mvp-comment-84-3 Ζηνὶ τροπαίῳ ³

mvp-comment-84-4 πάγχαλκα τέλη ⁴

mvp-comment-84-5 It was the ordinary practice to set up a

τρόπαιον

(old

αττ.τροπαῖον

) after a victory, on the spot where it had been won, or, in the case of a sea-fight, on the nearest land ( Thuc. 2.92 ). Such a trophy ordinarily consisted of shields, helmets, and weapons, conspicuously displayed on wooden supports, and dedicated, with an inscription, to a deity. Cp. Eur. Phoen. 1473 (of the Thebans after the victory)

οἱ μὲν Διὸς τροπαῖον ἵστασαν βρέτας

(i.e. a wooden image of

Ζεὺς Τροπαῖος

), |

οἱ δ’ ἀσπίδας συλῶντες Ἀργείων νεκρῶν | σκυλεύματ’ εἴσω τειχέων ἐπέμπομεν

. Part of the armour would be affixed to the walls of Theban temples (cp. Aesch. Ag. 577 , Th. 276 ).

mvp-comment-85-1 πλὴν τ. στυγεροῖν ⁵ πατρός ⁶

mvp-comment-85-2 καθ’ αὑτοῖν ⁷

mvp-comment-85-3 δικρατεῖς λόγχας ⁸

mvp-comment-85-4 στήσαντε ⁹

mvp-comment-86-1 ἀλλὰ γάρ ¹⁰ γάρ ¹¹ γάρ ¹²

mvp-comment-86-2 μεγαλώνυμος ¹³

mvp-comment-86-3 πολυαρμάτῳ ¹⁴

mvp-comment-86-4 ἀντιχαρεῖσα ¹⁵

mvp-comment-87-1 ἐκ...πολέμων τῶν νῦν ¹⁶ ἐκ ¹⁷ νῦν ¹⁸

mvp-comment-87-2 θέσθαι ¹⁹ θέσθε ²⁰ παννυχίοις ²¹

mvp-comment-87-3 ὁ Θήβας ²² ἐλελίχθων ²³

mvp-comment-87-4 Βάκχιος ²⁴

mvp-comment-87-5 ἄρχοι ²⁵

mvp-comment-88-1 ἀλλὰ … γάρ ²⁶ Κρέων ²⁷

mvp-comment-88-2 Μενοικέως ²⁸

mvp-comment-88-3 νεοχμὸς νεαραῖσι ²⁹

mvp-comment-88-4 their equivalents. See Appendix I prefer the first of these views. An anapaest or spondee, meaning ‘ruler,’ has probably dropped out before νεοχμός ³⁰ κρείων ³¹ ἄρχων ³² ταγός ³³

mvp-comment-88-5 θεῶν … συντυχίαις ³⁴ ἐπί ³⁵

mvp-comment-89-1 μῆτιν ἐρέσσων ³⁶

mvp-comment-89-2 σύγκλητον ³⁷

mvp-comment-89-3 προὔθετο ³⁸ λέσχην ³⁹

mvp-comment-89-4 not the meeting, but the discussion which is to take place there: thus the poet's phrase, true to Attic usage, corresponds with

γνώμας προθεῖναι

rather than with

ἐκκλησίαν προθεῖναι

. Herod. uses

λέσχη

of a public discussion (9. 71): cp. O. C. 167 . The midd. προὔθετο ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-89-5 κοινῷ κ. πέμψας ⁴¹

mvp-comment-91-1 There is a general dramatic analogy between this speech and that of Oedipus in O. T. 216 —275. In each case a Theban king addresses Theban elders, announcing a stern decree, adopted in reliance on his own wisdom, and promulgated with haughty consciousness of power; the elders receive the decree with a submissive deference under which we can perceive traces of misgiving; and as the drama proceeds, the elders become spectators of calamities occasioned by the decree, while its author turns to them for comfort.

mvp-comment-91-2 τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος . . ὑμᾶς δ’ ⁴²

mvp-comment-91-3 πόλεος ⁴³ πολλῷ σάλῳ σείσαντες ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-91-4 The image of the State as a ship dates in Greek literature from Alcaeus (whom Horace copied, Carm. 1. 14 ), fr. 18. The ship of Alcaeus is labouring in the trough of a wild sea,—water is coming in,—the sail is torn,—the anchor will not hold:

νᾶϊ φορήμεθα σὺν μελαίνᾳ | χείμωνι μοχθεῦντες μεγάλῳ μάλα, κ.τ.λ.

It is only through Heracleides Alleg. Homer. 5 that we know the meaning of Alcaeus to have been figurative and political. Aesch. often uses the image ( Aesch. Th. 2 , Aesch. Th. 62 , Aesch. Th. 208 etc.). Creon returns to it at 189. It is peculiarly well suited to his point,—the unity of the public interest.

mvp-comment-91-5 ὤρθωσαν ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-92-1 ἐκ πάντων ⁴⁶ δίχα ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-92-2 ἔστειλ’ ἱκέσθαι ⁴⁸ τοῦτο μέν ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-92-3 σέβοντας ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-92-4 θρόνων . . κράτη ⁵¹

mvp-comment-93-1 ἡνίκ’ Οἰδίπους ⁵² κείνων ⁵³ κείνων παῖδας ⁵⁴ ἡνίκ’ . . ὤρθου πόλιν ⁵⁵ ἐπεὶ διώλετο ⁵⁶ τοῦτο μέν . . τοῦτ’ αὖθις ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-93-2 καί ⁵⁸ καί ⁵⁹

mvp-comment-93-3 ἐμπέδοις φρονήμασιν ⁶⁰ ἐμπέδους ⁶¹ ἐμπέδοις ⁶²

mvp-comment-94-1 ὅτε ⁶³

mvp-comment-94-2 πρὸς διπλῆς μ. ⁶⁴ διπλῆς . . μίαν ⁶⁵

mvp-comment-94-3 παίσαντες . . πληγέντες ⁶⁶

mvp-comment-94-4 αὐτόχειρι … μιάσματι ⁶⁷

mvp-comment-95-1 ἐγὼ . . δή ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-95-2 κράτη ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-95-3 γένους κατ’ ἀγχιστεῖα τῶν ὀλ. ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-96-1 ἀμήχανον δέ ⁷¹ δέ ⁷² δέ ⁷³

mvp-comment-96-2 Demosthenes, in his speech on the Embassy (343 B.C.), quotes this passage (vv. 175—190) as illustrating maxims

mvp-comment-96-3 which Aeschines had violated, though, accustomed as he had been to play tritagonists' parts, he ought to have known them by heart (or. 19 § 247).

mvp-comment-97-1 ψυχήν ⁷⁴ φρόνημα ⁷⁵ γνώμην ⁷⁶

mvp-comment-98-1 ἀρχαῖς ⁷⁷ νόμοισιν ⁷⁸

mvp-comment-98-2 ἐντριβής ⁷⁹

mvp-comment-98-3 φανῇ ⁸⁰

mvp-comment-99-1 ἐμοὶ γάρ ⁸¹ γάρ ⁸² πᾶσαν … πόλιν ⁸³

mvp-comment-99-2 μὴ … ἅπτεται ⁸⁴ ὅστις μὴ ἅπτεται ⁸⁵

mvp-comment-99-3 ἐκ φ. του ⁸⁶

mvp-comment-99-4 ἐγκλῄσας ἔχει ⁸⁷

mvp-comment-99-5 νῦν τε καὶ πάλαι ⁸⁸

mvp-comment-100-1 μείζον’ ⁸⁹ ἀντὶ τῆς...πάτρας ⁹⁰ ἤ ⁹¹ μεῖζον ⁹²

mvp-comment-100-2 οὐδαμοῦ λέγω ⁹³

mvp-comment-101-1 ἐγὼ γάρ ⁹⁴ γάρ ⁹⁵ τοῦτο γιγνώσκων ⁹⁶ ἴστω ⁹⁷

mvp-comment-102-1 οὔτ’ ἂν σιωπήσαιμι ⁹⁸

mvp-comment-103-1 στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς ⁹⁹ ὁμοῦ ¹⁰⁰

mvp-comment-103-2 ἀντὶ τῆς σωτηρίας ¹⁰¹ τῆς ¹⁰²

mvp-comment-104-1 ἄνδρα δυσμενῆ χθονός ¹⁰³

mvp-comment-104-2 ἐμαυτῷ ¹⁰⁴ φίλον ¹⁰⁵ θείμην ¹⁰⁶

mvp-comment-105-1 ἡ σῴζουσα ¹⁰⁷

mvp-comment-105-2 ταύτης ¹⁰⁸ ὀρθῆς ¹⁰⁹

mvp-comment-105-3 τοὺς φίλους ποιούμεθα ¹¹⁰

mvp-comment-105-4

εὐτυχούσῃ πολλῷ μᾶλλον διασῴζεται

. ‘Pericles Thucydidis 11. 60 Sophoclem videtur respexisse, vel eum Sophocles,’ is Dobree's remark ( Adv. 2. 37 ); but there is no adequate ground for such a view. The verbal coincidence of

ὀρθῆς

with

ὀρθουμένην

may well have been accidental. What is really common to poet and historian is the general sentiment of Periclean Athens. For another example of this, cp. O. C. 116 n.

mvp-comment-106-1 νόμοισι ¹¹¹

mvp-comment-106-2 αὔξω ¹¹²

mvp-comment-107-1 ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε ¹¹³

mvp-comment-107-2 τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδίπου ¹¹⁴

mvp-comment-108-1 δορί ¹¹⁵ δόρει ¹¹⁶

mvp-comment-109-1 τὰ πάντ’ ἐφαγνίσαι ¹¹⁷ ἐπί ¹¹⁸ ἐφαγνίσαι ¹¹⁹ ἀφαγνίσαι ¹²⁰ ἀπό ¹²¹

mvp-comment-110-1 τοῖς ἀρίστοις ¹²²

mvp-comment-110-2 ἔρχεται κάτω ¹²³

mvp-comment-111-1 L has Πολυνείκην ¹²⁴

mvp-comment-111-2 λέγω ¹²⁵

mvp-comment-112-1 γτ=ν πατρῴαν . . καὶ θεοὺς . . πρῆσαι ¹²⁶

mvp-comment-112-2 θ. τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς ¹²⁷

mvp-comment-112-3 κατελθών ¹²⁸

mvp-comment-112-4 γ)θέλησε μέν … ἠθέλ. δέ ¹²⁹ ἠθέλησε μὲν ¹³⁰

mvp-comment-112-5 πρῆσαι ¹³¹

mvp-comment-112-6 κατ’ ἄκρας ¹³²

mvp-comment-112-7 αἵματος κ. πάσασθαι ¹³³

mvp-comment-112-8 τοὺς δὲ … ἄγειν ¹³⁴

mvp-comment-113-1 The traditional ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τάφῳ ¹³⁵ ἐκκεκήρυκται τάφῳ ¹³⁶ ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι λέγω ¹³⁷ τάφῳ ¹³⁸ κτερίζειν ¹³⁹ τάφῳ ¹⁴⁰ κτερίζειν ¹⁴¹ μήτε ¹⁴² κωκῦσαι ¹⁴³ τάφῳ ¹⁴⁴ λέγω ¹⁴⁵ τάφῳ ¹⁴⁶ ἐκκεκ ¹⁴⁷

mvp-comment-114-1 ἐᾶν δ ¹⁴⁸ ἄθαπτον, αἰκισθέντ’ ἰδεῖν ¹⁴⁹ δέμας καὶ πρὸς οἰωνῶν καὶ πρὸς κυνῶν ἐδεστόν ¹⁵⁰ αἰκισθέντ ¹⁵¹ αἰκισθέντ ¹⁵² ἐδεστόν ¹⁵³ αἰκισθέν τ’, δέμας ¹⁵⁴

mvp-comment-114-2 δέμας ¹⁵⁵

mvp-comment-114-3 ἰδεῖν ¹⁵⁶

mvp-comment-115-1 φρόνημα ¹⁵⁷

mvp-comment-115-2 ἔκ γ’ ἐμοῦ ¹⁵⁸

mvp-comment-116-1 The MSS. have τιμὴν προέξουσ’ ..τῶν ἐνδ. ¹⁵⁹ τιμήν ¹⁶⁰ τιμῆ ¹⁶¹ προσέξους ¹⁶²

mvp-comment-117-1 τιμήσεται ¹⁶³

mvp-comment-118-1 I print Dindorf's κἀς ¹⁶⁴ καὶ ¹⁶⁵ σοὶ ταῦτ’ ἀρέσκει ¹⁶⁶ Κρέον ¹⁶⁷ ταὔτ ¹⁶⁸ ταῦτ’ ¹⁶⁹

mvp-comment-119-1 In παντί πού γ’ ¹⁷⁰ σοί γ’ … που ¹⁷¹ ἔνεστι ¹⁷² χὡπόσοι ζῶμεν ¹⁷³ πέρι ¹⁷⁴

mvp-comment-120-1 ὡς ἂν … ἦτε ¹⁷⁵ πῶς ἂν … εἶτε ¹⁷⁶

mvp-comment-120-2 σκοποί ¹⁷⁷

mvp-comment-120-3 νυν ¹⁷⁸ νῦν ¹⁷⁹

mvp-comment-120-4 τῶν εἰρ ¹⁸⁰

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

141. mvp-comment-86-1 Capaneus, who is one of the seven adversaries, is already disposed of. But the general description in 141-143, is only preparatory to the chief statement, 144-147, from which, however, the chorus pass quickly, as they approach it with aversion. What is of the best omen must be kept to the front. For ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους, cp. Hdt. 9. 49, ἴσοι πρὸς ἴσους ἄριθμον μαχεσόμεθα.

142-143. mvp-comment-87-1 'Left the tribute of their brazen panoplies to Zeus, who turns the battle.'

144-147. mvp-comment-88-1 Neither could despoil the other, since both were slain. And the citizens could not dedicate to Zeus arms polluted with kindred blood.

145. mvp-comment-89-1 αὑτοῖν i. e. ἀλλήλοιν: ἑαυτούς, ἀλλήλους. Hesych.

146. mvp-comment-90-1 δικρατεῖς λόγχας στήσαντε Having pointed their two spears, of which either was victorious. The spears are not hurled, as commonly in the Iliad, but held firmly as the combatants rush at each other. Cp. Hom. Il. 4. 307 (quoted by Donaldson), ὃς δέ κ᾿ ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ ὧν ὀχέων ἕτερ᾽ ἅρμαθ' ἵκηται | ἔγχει ὀρεξάσθω, ἐπεὶ ἢ πολὺ φέρτερον οὕτως.

147. mvp-comment-91-1 'Both have their portion in mutual death: i.e. Each strove for sole inheritance, but they share equally-in a death;' which each has given and each has received. See on l. 57. The spirit of the words is the same as those of Aesch. S. c. T. 726 ff.: O. C. 790.

149. mvp-comment-92-1 ἀντιχαρεῖσα Exchanging looks of joy. Cp. χαίρειν γέλωτι, Χen. Cyr. 8.1.33.

149. mvp-comment-92-2 Θήβη, as in Pindar, is the personification of Θήβαι, for which it is used consistently throughout this play. Cp. Od. 7. 80, εὐρυάγυιαν Ἀθήνην.

150. mvp-comment-93-1 ἐκ μὲν δὴ πολέμων .. λησμοσύvav Turning from the present wars, appoint ye forgetfulness of them. For the pleonastic use of ἐκ, see Essay on Language § 19. p. 27. The reading θέσθαι, which has good MS. authority and preserves the metrical correspondence with l. 137, is retained by some editors as an infinitive for imperative. Cp. infr. 1142, μολεῖν. For the expression, cp. Eur. Phoen. 1584,5, ὡς ὥρα τάφου | μνήμην τίθεσθαι.

153. mvp-comment-94-1 παννυχίοις Cp. Ο. Τ. 1090: Aesch. Ag. 23, 24. καὶ χορῶν κατάστασιν | πολλῶν ἐν Ἄργει τῆσδε συμφορᾶς χάριν.

153. mvp-comment-94-2 ὁ Θήβας δ'. . ἄρχοι And let Bacchus, Thebe's God. who shakes the earth (with revelry), lead on the dance. Schol. ὁ Θήβας Βακχεῖος, ὁ Θηβαγενὴς Διόνυσος, ὁ τῆς Θήβης πολίτης, ὁ ἐλελίχθων, ἄρχοι τῆς χορείας. See Essay on Language § 9. p. 11.

156. mvp-comment-95-1 The metre requires either the addition of one (or three) anapaests or the omission of νεοχμός. Dindorf's supposition that νεοχμός νεαραῖσι has grown in some way out of νεοχμοῖσι is in itself probable enough, but the omission of some word like *ἄρχων after βασιλεύς is equally so. The spectator is thus reminded that Creon is young in power.

157-158. mvp-comment-96-1 νεαραῖσι .. συντυχίαις In consequence of the recent god-sent fortune. These words are to be joined with the whole sentence, though chiefly with ἐρέσσων. Creon's accession, his coming, and the counsel which he brings, all follow closely on the events of the war. The question is, what is that counsel?

159. mvp-comment-97-1 τίνα δή This is preferable to τινὰ δή, which Aldus printed from Ven. 467 (V3).

159. mvp-comment-97-2 On ἐρέσσων = Moving, Advancing. see Essay on Language p. 87, and cp. Aj. 251, τοίας ἐρέσσουσιν ἀπειλάς.

160-161. mvp-comment-98-1 ὅτι. προὔθετο That he hath appointed. ὅτι gives the reason of the question.

160. mvp-comment-99-1 σύγκλητον Specially convened. The word is used, after the analogy of the σύγκλητος ἐκκλησία at Athens, for an assembly specially summoned by the στρατηγός. λέσχη is less formal than βουλή. Cp. Ο. C. 166.

161. mvp-comment-100-1 προὔθετο The middle voice implies that Creon had summoned the elders of his own motion. So καλέσσατο of Achilles in Il. 1. 54.

162. mvp-comment-101-1 κοινῷ κηρύγματι πέμψας Having cited us by a message sent to us all.

162. mvp-comment-101-2 κοινῷ = Inclusive. πέμψας] i. e. στείλας πομποῖσιν, as Creon expresses himself in ll. 164-165. 162-210. Creon's first error is not mere self-will, but an excessive zeal for the honour of the state, to which all private feelings must give way (183-184, 187-190). His spirit of self-assertion is however already felt, esp. in ll. 173, 191, 207-10. And the unconsciousness of one young in power is shown in the self-inculpating words in ll. 175-177. He characteristically dwells on the virtue of loyalty (165-169, 209-210) and the crime of rebellion (199-202): and his passionate nature is betrayed by the exaggerated expression in l. 208. Cp. O. T. 216 ff. and note. The frequent occurrence of the Ist personal pronoun is a significant feature of both these speeches.

162. mvp-comment-101-3 τὰ μὲν δὴ πόλεος As for the state. This form of expression suits the introduction of a subject before the form of sentence is determined. πόλιν, rather than τὰ πόλεος, is the object of σείσαντες and ὤρθωσαν.

162. mvp-comment-101-4 ἀσφαλῶς Unharmed, = ἄνεν τοῦ σφαλῆναι,

163. mvp-comment-102-1 ὥρθωσαν Have righted the vessel of the state.

165-166. mvp-comment-103-1 τὰ Λαΐου. κράτη Knowing that you ever duly reverenced the enthroned authority of Laius. Λαΐου is governed by θρόνων κράτη taken as one word, θρόνων being added to supplement κράτη. σέβοντας and μένοντας, infr. 166, 169, are imperfects = ὅτι ἐσέβετε .. ἐμένετε,

167. mvp-comment-104-1 ὤρθου Kept on a safe course: i. e. Governed prosperously. The word recalls the happiness of the first period of Oedipus' rule. Cp. Plat. Men. P. 99 C, ᾗ οἱ πολιτικοὶ ἄνδρες χρώμενοι τὰς πόλεις ὀρθοῦσιν : Phaedr. 244 B. 168-169. ἀμφὶ .. φρονήμασιν]. Ye still remained loyal to their issue with unshaken minds. ἀμφί, Surrounding, as ready to defend. The apodosis is made to suit the latter protasis, ἐπεὶ διώλετο, and that of the former protasis, ἡνίκ' . . πόλιν (viz. ἐκείνῳ ὁμοίως πειθομένους οι the like), is thus absorbed.

167. mvp-comment-104-2 κείνων . . παῖδας i. e. Sons of Oedipus and grandsons of Laius.

172. mvp-comment-105-1 αὐτόχειρι Fratricidal. See Essay on Language p. 91.

174. mvp-comment-106-1 γένους κατ᾿ ἀγχιστεῖα By privilege of being nearest in kindred (ὡς ἀγχιστεύων) to the dead. Cp. πρωτεία, etc.

175. mvp-comment-107-1 παντὸς ἀνδρός Of any man, and therefore of me.

176. mvp-comment-108-1 ψυχήν. . φρόνημα.. γνώμην As observed in the Essay on Language pp. 91-3, the opposition between these words is chiefly formal. So far as there is any difference between them, ψυχήν is mind, or nature, φρόνημα, spirit, or way of thinking, (cp. infr. 207), and γνώμην, judgment or meaning.

176-177. mvp-comment-109-1 πρὶν ἂν ἀρχαῖς.. φανῇ “Until he be seen in his true colours through being tried in office and administration.' According to the saying of Bias, ἀρχὴ τὸν ἄνδρα δείξει (Arist. Eth. Nic. 5. 1. 16). There is an allusion to the detection of spurious coin through wear. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 390-392, κακοῦ δὲ χαλκοῦ τρόπον | τρίβῳτε καὶ προσβολαῖς | μελαμπαγὴς πέλει | δικαιωθείς (where Herm. says, 'Vereor autem ne non de lapide Lydio loquatur poeta, sed aes adulterinum dicat, quod usu tritum amisso falso splendore cognoscitur'): Hdt. 7. 10, ὥσπερ τὸν χρυσὸν τὸν ἀκήρατον, αὐτὸν μὲν ἐπ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ οὐ διαγινώσκομεν, ἐπεὰν δὲ

178. mvp-comment-110-1 ἐμοὶ γάρ The connection is not strictly logical. γάρ explains not the difficulty of discerning the difference between rulers, but the essential point on which the difference turns. In setting forth this, Creon also declares the spirit of his own policy. He is feeling his way with the elders, of whose submission he is not perfectly sure, and beats about the bush before coming to the point with them. Hence he repeats the same thought in different words.

178-183. mvp-comment-111-1 The sentiment of these lines is closely parallel to Plat. Legg. 9. 856 B, ὃς ἂν ἄγων εἰς ἀρχὴν ἄνθρωπον δουλῶται μὲν τοὺς νόμους, ἑταιρείας δὲ τὴν πόλιν ὑπήκοον ποιῇ, καὶ βιαίως δὲ πᾶν τοῦτο πράττων καὶ στάσιν ἐγείρων παρανομῇ· τοῦτον δὴ διανοεῖσθαι δεῖ πάντων πολεμιώτατον ὅλῃ τῇ πόλει, τὸν δὲ κοινωνοῦντα μὲν τῶν τοιούτων μηδενί, τῶν μεγίστων δὲ μετέχοντα ἀρχῶν ἐν τῇ πόλει, λεληθότα τε ταῦτα αὐτὸν ἢ μὴ λεληθότα, δειλίᾳ δ᾽ ὑπὲρ πατρίδος αὑτοῦ μὴ τιμωρούμενον, δεῖ δεύτερον ἡγεῖσθαι τὸν τοιοῦτον πολίτην κακῇ.

180. mvp-comment-112-1 ἐγκλείσας Locked up. Cp. Shakespeare, Richard II, 1. 3,

Within my mouth you have engaoled my tongue, | Doubly portcullised with my teeth and lips.

Infr. 505, εἰ μὴ γλῶσσαν ἐγκλείσαι φόβος.

182. mvp-comment-113-1 μείζον᾽.. ἀντί Essay on Language § 19. p. 27. Cp. Od. 7. 216, στυγερῇ ἐπὶ γαστέρι κύντερον.

183. mvp-comment-114-1 οὐδαμοῦ λέγω Plat. Gorg. 456 C, οὐδαμοῦ ἂν φανῆναι, supr. 32. 184 ff. Having shown what makes the good and bad ruler, Creon declares his own intentions, first generally, and then (192 ff.) with reference to Eteocles and Polynices. γάρ implies that his opinion will be proved by his acts. In both statements (178-183, 184-190) the stress is laid on the duty of renouncing friendship with the public enemy (182-183, 187-188), which is the ground of the present edict, Polynices being presumably Creon's private friend: supr. 174.

186. mvp-comment-115-1 στείχουσαν ἀστοῖς Menacing my people. Cp. supr. l. 10: Aesch. Prom. 1089-1090, τοιάδ᾽ ἐπ᾿ ἐμοὶ ῥιπὴ Διόθεν, | τεύχουσα φόβον, στείχει φανερῶς. For the dative, Essay on Language § 12. p. 18.

187. mvp-comment-116-1 δυσμενή χθονός Who is my country's foe. The genitive avoids the awkwardness of two datives, χθονί and ἐμαυτῷ, coming close together.

189-190. mvp-comment-117-1 She it is who preserves us, and we make friends only while she carries us in the course of public safety; i. e. The friendship that is made against the interest of the state is hollow and insecure. Cp. Thuc. 2. 60: (Pericles loq.) ἐγὼ γὰρ ἡγοῦμαι πόλιν πλείω ξύμπασαν ὀρθουμένην ὠφελεῖν τοὺς ἰδιώτας, ἢ καθ᾿ ἕκαστον τῶν πολιτῶν εὐπραγοῦσαν, ἀθρόαν δὲ σφαλλομένην, κ.τ.λ.: Zaleuc. ap. Stob. (Mullach, p. 543), πόλις γὰρ εὖ ἀγομένη μεγίστη ὄρθωσίς ἐστι, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ πάντα ἔνι, καὶ τούτου σωζομένου πάντα σώζεται καὶ τούτου φθειρομένου πάντα διαφθείρεται: Shakespeare. King John, 3. 1, Pand.

All form is formless, order orderless, | Save what is opposite to England's love.

On the change of pronouns (ἥδε.. ταύτης), see Essay on Language § 22. p. 32. The article in τοὺς φίλους points the reference to ll. 182-183.

191. mvp-comment-118-1 τοιοίσδε νόμοισι By such principles as these. Cp. infr. 908, τίνος νόμου δὴ ταῦτα πρὸς χάριν λέγω;

192. mvp-comment-119-1 ἀδελφὰ τῶνδε i. e. In full accord with them. Cp. Plat. Rep. 4. 421 C, ἆρ᾽ οὖν .. καὶ τὸ τούτου ἀδελφὸν δύξω σοι μετρίως λέγειν; Lys. 2. 64, ἀδελφὰ τὰ βουλεύματα τοῖς ἔργοις : Ο. C. 1262, ἀδελφὰ . . τούτοισιν.

193. mvp-comment-120-1 τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οιδίπου For the pleo- 190 195 200 nastic use of the preposition, see above 150, 182, and notes.

195. mvp-comment-121-1 πάντ᾿ ἀριστεύσας δορί After proving himself in all ways the bravest in the war. For the aor., cp. Hdt. 9. 74, alib.

196. mvp-comment-122-1 τὰ πάντ᾽ ἐφαγνίσαι ‘Το add all sacred offerings.'

199. mvp-comment-123-1 θεοὺς τοὺς ἐγγενεῖς The gods of his race; i. e. Those honoured by the Cadmeans. The gods of the race also include the ancestors of the race. Infr. 938, θεοὶ προγενεῖς.

201. mvp-comment-124-1 πρῆσαι κατάκρας The city (γῆν = πόλιν) is thought of as the main object of the verb.

201. mvp-comment-124-2 ἠθέλησε δ' The correspondence of clauses (with μέν and δέ) is not perfect, the antithesis being due to afterthought.

201. mvp-comment-124-3 αἵματος .. πάσασθαι ‘Το repast him with blood of his own kin.' The expression suits the Epic colouring of the whole speech.

202. mvp-comment-125-1 τοὺς δέ The rest; i. e. Those not slain, as implied in the opposition το αἵματος κοινοῦ πάσασθαι. 203.

202. mvp-comment-125-2 ἐκκεκήρυκται Musgrave's correction has been generally adopted, lopted, and is probably right. The impersonal verb gives absoluteness to the expression. Wolff construes the inf. with λέγω in 198 (deleting the comma after τοῦδε), and Wecklein reads λέγω for τάφῳ. The slight corruption is probably due to a reminiscence of supr. 27.

205. mvp-comment-126-1 δέμας is accusative of limitation, and ἄθαπτον and ἐδεστόν are masculine. To leave him unburied, to have his flesh consumed by birds and dogs.

206. mvp-comment-127-1 αἰκισθέντ᾿ ἰδεῖν A spectacle of indignity. Lit. Outraged to behold. The infinitive is added after the participle, which is masculine.

207. mvp-comment-128-1 Cp. 176, ψυχήν τε καὶ φρόνημα καὶ γνώμην.

209-210. mvp-comment-129-1 θανών | καὶ ζῶν In death as well as in life. The first word is the more emphatic. Essay on Language p. 78.

211-212. mvp-comment-130-1 For the construction of the accusatives τὸν .. δύσνουν. . τὸν εὐμενῆ, after σοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀρέσκει as = οὕτω τάσσεις, or the like, cр. О. С. 1120, τέκν᾽ εἰ φανέντ᾽ ἄελπτα μηκύνω λόγον, and see Essay on Language § 16. p. 22. No emendation is necessary.

213. mvp-comment-131-1 παντί πού γ᾽ ἔνεστί σοι γε has been thought a useless insertion, and Dindorf reads πάντι που πάρεστί σοι. But δέ γε is not unsuitable to the connection, introducing the second premiss of an implied argument. The words of the chorus express the barest acquiescence in the will of the ruler. Cp. infr. 509, σοὶ δ᾽ ὑπίλλουσι στόμα. They hide their disapproval, and that is all. Cp. Richard III, 4. 2, 21, Buck. Your grace may do your pleasure.

215. mvp-comment-132-1 ὡς ἂν.. εἰρημένων Sc. οὕτω πράσσετε. The subjunctive with ὡς ἄν follows the implied imperative. Act, then, so as to see my words obeyed. Cp. Ο. Τ. 325, ὡς οὖν μηδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταὐτὸν πάθω : Plat. Phaedo 59 Ε, παραγγέλλουσιν, ὅπως ἂν τῇδε τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τελευτήσῃ. The ellipse is idiomatic. It is not to be supposed either that Creon hesitates, or that the elders interrupt him.

Sophocles Antigone 7

Robert Potter (Translator)

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Current edition Experimental

ISMENE

Was mag ich, o Unsel'ge, wenn dies also liegt,

uns, lösend oder bindend, noch zum Frommen thun?
40

Antígona

Si me acompañarás y me ayudarás, es lo que has de pensar.

Antigone

an operam sis collatura, meque adiutura, vide.

ANT

Wilt thou share

The danger and the labour? Make thy choice.

Antigone.

Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus

Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene.

Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Ismene.

Ismene

What daring deed

Wouldst thou attempt? What is it? Speak !

ANTÍGONA

Ve si quieres cooperar conmigo y ayudarme en mi propósito.

ANTIGONAE

Ob mitthun du, mithelfen wollest, forsche!

Antigone

Consider if thou wilt share the toil and the deed.

Antigone

I knew it well, so I was trying to bring you outside the courtyard gates to this end, that you alone might hear.

Ismene

Hear what? It is clear that you are brooding on some dark news.
20

Ismene

Poor sister, if things have come to this, what would I

profit by loosening or tightening this knot?
40

Antigone

Consider whether you will share the toil and the task.

Ismene

What are you hazarding? What do you intend?

Antigone

Will you join your hand to mine in order to lift his corpse?

Ismene

You plan to bury him—when it is forbidden to the city?

Antigone

Yes, he is my brother, and yours too, even if you wish it otherwise. I will never be convicted of betraying him.
45

Ismene

Hard girl! Even when Creon has forbidden it?

Antigone

No, he has no right to keep me from my own.

Ismene

I do them no dishonor. But to act in violation of the citizens’ will—of that I am by nature incapable.

Antigone

You can make that your pretext! Regardless, I will go now to heap a tomb over the brother I love.
80

Ismene

Oh no, unhappy sister! I fear for you!

Antigone

Do not tremble for me. Straighten out your own destiny.

Ismene

Then at least disclose the deed to no one before you do it.

Conceal it, instead, in secrecy—and so, too, will I.
85

Antigone

Go on! Denounce it! You will be far more hated for your silence, if you fail to proclaim these things to everyone.

Ismene

You have a hot heart for chilling deeds.

Antigone

I know that I please those whom I am most bound to please.

Ismene

Yes, if you will also have the power. But you crave the impossible.
90

Antigone

Why then, when my strength fails, I will have finished.

Ismene

An impossible hunt should not be tried in the first place.

Antigone

If you mean that, you will have my hatred, and you will be subject to punishment as the enemy of the dead.

But leave me and the foolish plan I have authored to suffer this terrible thing, for I will not suffer anything so terrible that my death will lack honor.
95

Ismene

Go, then, if you so decide. And of this be sure: though your path is foolish, to your loved ones your love is straight and true. Exit Antigone on the spectators’ left. Ismene exits into the palace.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

ISMENE Was mag ich, o Unsel'ge, wenn dies also liegt, uns, lösend oder bindend, noch zum Frommen thun? 40

Antígona Si me acompañarás y me ayudarás, es lo que has de pensar.

Antigone an operam sis collatura, meque adiutura, vide.

ANT Wilt thou share The danger and the labour? Make thy choice.

Antigone. Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene. Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort. 20

Ismene.

Ismene What daring deed Wouldst thou attempt? What is it? Speak !

ANTÍGONA Ve si quieres cooperar conmigo y ayudarme en mi propósito.

ANTIGONAE Ob mitthun du, mithelfen wollest, forsche!

Antigone Consider if thou wilt share the toil and the deed.

Antigone I knew it well, so I was trying to bring you outside the courtyard gates to this end, that you alone might hear.

Ismene Hear what? It is clear that you are brooding on some dark news. 20

Ismene Poor sister, if things have come to this, what would I profit by loosening or tightening this knot? 40

Antigone Consider whether you will share the toil and the task.

Ismene What are you hazarding? What do you intend?

Antigone Will you join your hand to mine in order to lift his corpse?

Ismene You plan to bury him—when it is forbidden to the city?

Antigone Yes, he is my brother, and yours too, even if you wish it otherwise. I will never be convicted of betraying him. 45

Ismene Hard girl! Even when Creon has forbidden it?

Antigone No, he has no right to keep me from my own.

Ismene I do them no dishonor. But to act in violation of the citizens’ will—of that I am by nature incapable.

Antigone You can make that your pretext! Regardless, I will go now to heap a tomb over the brother I love. 80

Ismene Oh no, unhappy sister! I fear for you!

Antigone Do not tremble for me. Straighten out your own destiny.

Ismene Then at least disclose the deed to no one before you do it. Conceal it, instead, in secrecy—and so, too, will I. 85

Antigone Go on! Denounce it! You will be far more hated for your silence, if you fail to proclaim these things to everyone.

Ismene You have a hot heart for chilling deeds.

Antigone I know that I please those whom I am most bound to please.

Ismene Yes, if you will also have the power. But you crave the impossible. 90

Antigone Why then, when my strength fails, I will have finished.

Ismene An impossible hunt should not be tried in the first place.

Antigone If you mean that, you will have my hatred, and you will be subject to punishment as the enemy of the dead. But leave me and the foolish plan I have authored to suffer this terrible thing, for I will not suffer anything so terrible that my death will lack honor. 95

Ismene Go, then, if you so decide. And of this be sure: though your path is foolish, to your loved ones your love is straight and true. Exit Antigone on the spectators’ left. Ismene exits into the palace.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

ISMENE

Was mag ich, o Unsel'ge, wenn dies also liegt,

uns, lösend oder bindend, noch zum Frommen thun?
40

Antígona

Si me acompañarás y me ayudarás, es lo que has de pensar.

Antigone

an operam sis collatura, meque adiutura, vide.

ANT

Wilt thou share

The danger and the labour? Make thy choice.

Antigone.

Wohl wußt' ich das, und führte deßhalb dich heraus

Zum Thor des Hofes, dir allein es kundzuthun.

Ismene.

Was hast du? Sichtbar wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

Ismene

What daring deed

Wouldst thou attempt? What is it? Speak !

ANTÍGONA

Ve si quieres cooperar conmigo y ayudarme en mi propósito.

ANTIGONAE

Ob mitthun du, mithelfen wollest, forsche!

Antigone

Consider if thou wilt share the toil and the deed.

Antigone

I knew it well, so I was trying to bring you outside the courtyard gates to this end, that you alone might hear.

Ismene

Hear what? It is clear that you are brooding on some dark news.
20

Ismene

Poor sister, if things have come to this, what would I

profit by loosening or tightening this knot?
40

Antigone

Consider whether you will share the toil and the task.

Ismene

What are you hazarding? What do you intend?

Antigone

Will you join your hand to mine in order to lift his corpse?

Ismene

You plan to bury him—when it is forbidden to the city?

Antigone

Yes, he is my brother, and yours too, even if you wish it otherwise. I will never be convicted of betraying him.
45

Ismene

Hard girl! Even when Creon has forbidden it?

Antigone

No, he has no right to keep me from my own.

Ismene

I do them no dishonor. But to act in violation of the citizens’ will—of that I am by nature incapable.

Antigone

You can make that your pretext! Regardless, I will go now to heap a tomb over the brother I love.
80

Ismene

Oh no, unhappy sister! I fear for you!

Antigone

Do not tremble for me. Straighten out your own destiny.

Ismene

Then at least disclose the deed to no one before you do it.

Conceal it, instead, in secrecy—and so, too, will I.
85

Antigone

Go on! Denounce it! You will be far more hated for your silence, if you fail to proclaim these things to everyone.

Ismene

You have a hot heart for chilling deeds.

Antigone

I know that I please those whom I am most bound to please.

Ismene

Yes, if you will also have the power. But you crave the impossible.
90

Antigone

Why then, when my strength fails, I will have finished.

Ismene

An impossible hunt should not be tried in the first place.

Antigone

If you mean that, you will have my hatred, and you will be subject to punishment as the enemy of the dead.

But leave me and the foolish plan I have authored to suffer this terrible thing, for I will not suffer anything so terrible that my death will lack honor.
95

Ismene

Go, then, if you so decide. And of this be sure: though your path is foolish, to your loved ones your love is straight and true. Exit Antigone on the spectators’ left. Ismene exits into the palace.