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[1] Scene:—The same as in the Oedipus Tyrannus,—viz., an open space before the royal palace (once that of Oedipus) at Thebes. The back-scene represents the front of the palace, with three doors, of which the central and largest (the

βασίλειος θύρα

) is that which in v. 18 is called

αὔλειοι πύλαι

, as being the principal entrance to the

αὐλή

of the house.

1-99

Prologue. At daybreak ( v. 100 ) on the morning after the fall of the two brothers and the flight of the Argives, Antigone calls Ismene forth from the house, in order to speak with her apart. She tells her that Creon has forbidden the burial of Polyneices, and declares her resolve to perform it herself. Ismene declines to assist, and endeavours to dissuade her. Antigone then goes alone to the task.

The words κοινὸν (kindred) αὐτάδελφον (very sister) form a single emphatic expression (‘my sister, mine own sister’), not a climax (‘kinswoman, and sister’)—

κοινόν

strengthening

αὐτάδελφον

much as in O. C. 535

κοιναί γε πατρὸς ἀδελφεαί

('yea, very sisters of their sire').

κοινόν

refers simply to birth from the same parents ( cp. 202 ): it will not bear the added moral sense, ‘having common interests and feelings’: that is only implied, in so far as it may be a result of kinship.

αὐτάδελφος

(subst. below, , ) is merely a poetical strengthening of

ἀδελφός

, and does not necessarily imply (as it might here) what prose expresses by

ἀδελφὸς ὁμοπάτριος καὶ ὁμομήτριος

(Lys. or. 32 § 4) : thus Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto, can address Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia, as

αὐτάδελφον αἶμα καὶ κοινοῦ πατρός

( Aesch. Eum. 89 ).

κάρα : the periphrasis (as with

κεφαλή

) usu. implies respect, affection, or both (cp. Horace's

tam cari capitis

Odes 1.24.2 ).—The pathetic emphasis of this first line gives the key-note of the drama. The origin which connects the sisters also isolates them. If Ismene is not with her, Antigone stands alone.

ἆρ’ οἶσθ’ … τελεῖ ; For the various interpretations and emendations, see Appendix. The soundness of the text is doubtful, but no proposed correction is probable. I read ὅ τι , pron., not ὅτι , conjunction, and supply

ἐστί

. In the direct question,

τί ὁποῖον οὐ τελεῖ

; we understand

ἐστί

with

τί

. In the indirect form, it is simplest to say

οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅ τι οὐ τελεῖ

: and we certainly could not say,

οὐκ οἶδ’ ὅ τι [ἐστὶν] ὁποῖον οὐ τελεῖ

, if

ὅ τι

came immediately before

ὁποῖον

. Here, however, the separation of

ὅ τι

from

ὁποῖον

Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

makes a vital difference. The sentence begins as if it were to be,

ἆρ’ οἶσθ’ ὅ τι Ζεὺς οὐ τελεῖ

; But when, after an interval,

ὁποῖον

comes in, the Greek hearer would think of the direct form,

τί ὁποῖον οὐ τελεῖ

; and so his ear would not be offended. This, too, suggests the answer to the objection that

Ζεύς

ought to follow

ὁποῖον

. Certainly Eur. I. A. 525,

οὐκ ἔστ’ Ὀδυσσεὺς ὅ τι σὲ κἀμὲ πημανεῖ

, would be parallel only if here we had

ἆρ’ οἶσθα, Ζεύς

(without

ὅ τι

). Nor could we have (e.g.)

ἆρ’ οἶσθ’ ἥτις Ζεὺς τῶν νόσων ὁποίαν οὐ τελεῖ

; But, since ὅ τι might be acc.,

Ζεύς

seems to follow it naturally; and when, afterwards, the sentence takes a shape which makes

ὅ τι

nom., the ear does not return on

Ζεύς

as on a misplaced word, because the whole is felt as=

τί Ζεὺς ὁποῖον οὐ τελεῖ

;—The main objection to reading ὅτι , and taking

ὁποῖον

as substituted for the direct

ποῖον

(‘that he fulfils—what not?’) is the shortness of the sentence.

τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδ. κακῶν , the ills derived from Oed. (cp. Ph. 1088

λύπας τᾶς ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ

): i.e. the curse upon the Labdacidae (594) which he had inherited, and which he bequeathed to his children in a form intensified by his own acts,—the parricide, the incest, the imprecation upon his sons. That imprecation finds a further fulfilment in Creon's edict. ἔτι ζώσαιν does not mean, ‘living wearily on,’ but simply, ‘still living’ (not yet dead), so that ἔτι is almost pleonastic, as in 750

ἔτι ζῶσαν

, and so Tr. 305 . Sometimes, indeed, the use of

ἔτι

with

ζῆν

is more emphatic, as in Ai. 990

ἔτι ζῶν...ἐφίετο

(while yet alive), Eur. Bacch. 8

πυρὸς ἔτι ζῶσαν φλόγα

( still smouldering).

4-6

Paley ( Journ. Ph. 10. 16) regards these three verses as interpolated, because (1) Antigone, like Ismene, should have only seven verses: (2) the words only repeat vv. 2, 3: (3) the double negative offends. But we have no warrant for requiring such a correspondence; and this is not repetition, but development. On (3), see below.

οὔτ’ ἄτης ἄτερ . I translate as if

οὔτ’ ἄτην ἄγον

(or the like) stood in the text, since there can be no doubt that such was the general sense; but I leave the traditional words,

οὔτ’ ἄτης ἄτερ

, thinking no emendation sufficiently probable to be admitted. A discussion will be found in the Appendix. Here, the following points may be noted. (1) This seems to have been the only reading known to Didymus of Alexandria, circ. 30 B.C. (2) It certainly does not yield any tolerable sense. (3) But the phrase ἄτης ἄτερ is not, in itself, at all suspicious: cp. Tr. 48

πημονῆς ἄτερ

: Aesch. Suppl. 377

βλάβης ἄτερ

, 703

ἄτερ πημάτων

: Ag. 1148

κλαυμάτων ἄτερ

: Th. 683

αἰσχύνης ἄτερ

: Ch. 338

τί δ’ ἄτερ κακῶν

; Eur. Her. 841

οὐκ ἄτερ πόνων

. (4) The gentlest remedy would be οὐδ’ for the second οὔτ’ : ‘nothing painful and not-free from calamity’ (=nothing painful and calamitous). The mental pain was accompanied by ruin to their fortunes. I think this possible, but not quite satisfactory. (5) One word, instead of

ἄτης ἄτερ

, might seem desirable: I had thought of

ἀτηφόρον

(cp.

δικηφόρος

). (6) Donaldson's

ἄτην ἄγον

can be supported by fr. 325

ὅτῳ δ’ ὄλεθρον δεινὸν ἁλήθεῑ ἄγει

, and fr. 856. 5

ἐν κείνῃ τὸ πᾶν, | σπουδαῖον, ἡσυχαῖον, ἐς βίαν ἄγον

. (7) But no emendation has yet been made which, while giving a fit sense, also accounts palaeographically for

ἄτης ἄτερ

being so old. We cannot assume marginal glosses (as

ἀτηρ\\

) in MSS. of 30 B.C.

αἰσχρόν , shocking the moral sense: ἄτιμον , attended by outward marks of dishonour,—as Oedipus imagines his daughters exposed to slights at the public festivals ( O. T. 1489 ff.). Thus

αἰσχρόν

in a manner balances the subjective

ἀλγεινόν

, as the external

ἀτιμία

corresponds with the

ἄτη

. Cp. O. T. 1283 ff.

ὁποῖον οὐ … οὐκ ὄπωπα . The repetition of the negative is warranted by the emphasis: cp. Ph. 416

οὐχ ὁ Τυδέως γόνος, | οὐδ’ οὑμπολητὸς Σισύφου Λαερτίῳ, | οὐ μὴ θάνωσι

: Tr. 1014

οὐ πῦρ, οὐκ ἔγχος τις ὀνήσιμον οὐκ ἐπιτρέψει

; Aesch. Ag. 1634

ὃς οὐκ, ἐπειδὴ τῷδ’ ἐβούλευσας μόρον, | δρᾶσαι τόδ’ ἔργον οὐκ ἔτλης αὐτοκτόνως

: and so oft. after

οὐ μά

, as El. 626 . We need not, then, change

οὐ

(in v. 5) to

ὂν

, with Blaydes, nor

οὐκ ὄπωπ’

εἰσόπωπ’

with Todt.

τῶν … κακῶν , sc.

ὄν

, possessive (or ‘partitive’) gen. with ὄπωπα ,—‘which I have not seen as belonging to, being in the number of,’ our woes. For the omission of

ὄν

cp. O. C. 694

ἔστιν δ’ οἷον ἐγὼ γᾶς Ἀσίας οὐκ ἐπακούω

αὖ is oft. thus joined with the interrogative

τίς

(‘what new thing?’): cp. 1172 , 1281 : O. C. 357

νῦν δ’ αὖ τίν’ ἥκεις μῦθον... | φέρουσα … ;

ib. 1507

τί δ’ ἐστίν ...νέορτον αὖ;

πανδήμῳ πόλει , the whole body of the citizens: so 1141, El. 982 :

πανδήμου στρατοῦ

Ai. 844 . For the adj. compounded with a noun cognate in sense to the subst., cp.

βίος μακραίων

( O.T. 518),

εὐήρετμος πλάτα

( O. C. 716 n.).

θεῖναι , not

θέσθαι.

τίθημι νόμον

denotes simply the legislative act as such; hence it is fitting when the lawgiver is supreme or absolute; as Athena says,

θεσμὸν...θήσω

( Aesch. Eum. 484 ).

τίθεμαι νόμον

further implies the legislator's personal concern in the law; hence it is said of legislative assemblies ( Ar. Pol. 4. 1. 9 ): but it can be said also of the despot, if his interest is implied: Plat. Rep. 338E

τίθεται δέ γε τοὺς νόμους ἑκάστη ἡ ἀρχὴ πρὸς τὸ αὑτῇ ξυμφέρον, δημοκρατία μὲν δημοκρατικούς, τυραννὶς δὲ τυραννικούς.

τὸν στρατηγόν . Creon is already

βασιλεὺς χώρας

(155), having become so by the fact of Eteocles falling (173). She calls him

στρατηγός

because that was the special capacity in which, as king, he had first to act; but the title serves also to suggest rigour. The poets sometimes speak of the

δῆμος

στρατός

( Pind. P. 2. 87 , Aesch. Eum. 566 ).

ἔχεις , cognitum habes: Tr. 318

οὐδ’ ὄνομα πρός του τῶν ξυνεμπόρων ἔχεις;

κεἰσήκουσας , simply ‘heard’ (not, ‘given heed to’), as O. C. 1645 , Ai. 318 , Tr. 351 , 424.

τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά , ‘that evils belonging to (proper for) our enemies are coming upon our friends’; i.e. that our brother Polyneices is to share the doom of the Argive dead, by being left unburied. As appears from vv. 1081 ff., Soph. supposes that burial was denied to the slain foemen generally, and not to Polyneices alone. No legend was more familiar at Athens than that of Theseus recovering the Argive corpses from Creon ( Suppl. ). Cp. 1162 , where, as here,

ἐχθρῶν

are the Argives,—the

πολέμιοι

in their relation to individuals. Ismene, too, seems to understand the Argives; in her reply verses 11—14 refer to

φίλους

, and vv. 15—17 to

ἐχθρῶν

. It is rare that

ἐχθρῶν

should have the art., while

κακά

has none; but cp. 365 : O. T. 1530

τέρμα τοῦ βίου

.—We might take

τῶν ὲχθρῶν κακά

as ‘evils planned by our foes’ (i.e. by Creon): cp. Ph. 422

τά γε | κείνων κάκ’ ἐξήρυκε

: ib. 512

τὸ κείνων κακόν

. So schol.,

τὰ τῶν ἐχθρῶν μηχανήματα ἐπὶ τοὺς φίλους ἰόντα

. But ( a) the authorship of the decree having been already named, we now expect a hint of its purport: and ( b)

ἐχθροί

being the natural persons to hurt

φίλοι

, the antithesis loses point. Some join

στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν

, ‘coming from foes’; which is open to the objections just mentioned, and also to this, that, after such a verb as

στείχειν

, the simple gen. ought to denote place ( O. T. 152

Πυθῶνος ἔβας

), not agent.

μέν does not answer to the

δέ

in 15, but merely gives a slight emphasis to ἐμοί ; cp. Xen. Cyr. 1.4.12

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ οἶδα

(though others may know).

Ἀντιγόνη , placed as in O. C. 1 n., 1415; while once ( O. C. 507 ) the anapaest is in the 4th place.

φίλων , objective gen. with μῦθος , tidings about them: cp. Ai. 221

ἀνδρὸς αἴθονος ἀγγελίαν

: ib. 998

ὀξεῖα γάρ σου βάξις

. In O. C. 1161 f.

σοῦ...μῦθον

(where the gen. is objective) = ‘speech with thee.’

ἐξ ὅτου , referring to a definite time, as 1092, O. C. 345 , Tr. 326 , Ph. 493 , like

ἐξ οὖ

( O. T. 1201 , Tr. 38 , Ai. 661 , 1337). It refers to an indefinite time below, 457. The brothers had fallen on the preceding day.

δυοῖν … δύο . The addition of δύο would have more point if two pairs were in question, each consisting of one brother and one sister (as, e.g., one might say, ‘the two husbands were taken from the two wives’): yet it is not pointless, since it helps to suggest the isolation of the sisters. As Greek (esp. tragic) idiom loves to mark reciprocity by a repeated word (73

φίλη...φίλου

, Ai. 267

κοινὸς ἐν κοινοῖσι

), so it also loves to mark coincidence or contrast of number, whether this is, or is not, especially relevant ( cp. 14 , 55, 141).

θανόντοιν is clearly required here, though our MSS. have

θανόντων

. So in El. 1297 , where

νῷν ἐπελθόντοιν

is certainly right, L has

ἐπελθόντων

(with

οι

written over

as a correction). A plur. noun can stand with

δύο

( Od. 12.73 ), and in Il. 16.428 we have

αἰγυπιοὶ γαμψώνυχες ...κλάζοντε

. But I have been able to find only one proper parallel for such a combination as

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν θανόντων

, viz., a verse of an unknown poet, fr. adesp. 153 in Nauck Trag. Frag. p. 679

Αἴαντε δ’ ὁρμήσαντες ἐκ συνωρίδος

: and this has survived because Herodian cited it as a solecism ( Anecd. Boiss. 3. 244):

ἔδει γὰρ ἐπενεχθῆναι δυϊκῷ δυϊκόν

. In that verse, too, the license had an obvious metrical motive, which did not exist here. Cp. 55 f.

ἀδελφὼ δύο...αὐτοκτονοῦντε;

λελειμμένα

; 62

μαχουμένα

διπλῇ χερί , i.e. each by the other's right hand (as in O. C. 1425

θάνατον ἐξ ἀμφοῖν =ἐξ ἀλλήλοιν

): so 170

διπλῆς μοίρας

, a doom given by each to the other. Cp. El. 206

θανάτους...διδύμαιν χειροῖν

, a murder done by two right hands (that of Clytaemnestra and that of Aegisthus). Distinguish the use of the plur.

διπλοῖ

for

δύο

, as 51, 1233.

ἐπεί , temporal, ‘since’ (like

ἐξ οὗ

), as oft. in Her.and the poets. So also

ὅτε

( Thuc. 1.13

ἔτη δ’ ἐστὶ...τριακόσια...ὅτε...ἧλθε

ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν , last night: so

νυκτὸς τῆσδε

Ai. 21 (cp. ib. 209 ):

νυκτὶ τῇδε

El. 644 : while ‘tonight’ is

τῆς ἐπιούσης νυκτός

( Plat. Crito 46A ). The Argives, having on the preceding day lost all their leaders except Adrastus, fled shortly before dawn ( cp. 100 ).

ὑπέρτερον here simply =

πλέον

(cp. nihil supra).

οἶδ’ εὐτυχοῦσα = οἶδ’ ὅτι εὐτυχῶ

, so the participles εὐτυχοῦσα and ἀτωμένη are epexegetic of

οὐδὲν ὑπέρτερον

, =

οὔθ’ ὅτι εὐτυχῶ οὔθ’ ὅτι ἀτῶμαι

. Of

ἀτᾶσθαι

we find only this pres. part. (below, 314 , Ai. 384 , Eur. Suppl. 182 ) and

ἀτώμεσθα

Ai. 269 .

ᾔδη : see on O. T. 1525 . καλῶς has a slightly ironical tone ( O. T. 1008 ), glancing at Ismene's apathy.

αὐλείων πυλῶν , the outer door (or gate) of the court-yard, the

αὔλειοι

(or

αὐλῆς

)

θύραι

of the Homeric house ( Od. 18.239 ), in distinction from the

θύραι μεγάρου

, or inner door from the court into the men's hall. This was the

αὔλειος θύρα

, or front door, of the later Greek house, in distinction from the

μέταυλος θύρα

leading from the court to the inner part. The tragedians commonly use the more stately word

πύλαι

, rather than

θύραι

, for these outer doors of the palace: cp. Eur. Helen 431

πύλας τε σεμνὰς ἀνδρὸς ὀλβίου τινὸς | προσῆλθον

: ib. 438

πρὸς αὐλείοισιν ἑστηκὼς πύλαις.

ἐξέπεμπον , ‘sought to bring thee forth’: the act., since she had herself fetched or called Ismene; the midd. meaning to summon by a messenger, O. T. 951

τί μ’ ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων

; cp. on 161, 165. The imperf., because she speaks of the motive present to her mind while the act was being done: cp. O. C. 770

τότ’ ἐξεώθεις κἀξέβαλλες

, n.

τί δ’ ἔστι ; marking surprise ( O. T. 319 n.). δηλοῖς is not intransitive, the thing shown being expressed by the partic. in the nomin., just as below, 242 (cp. on 471), Thuc. 1.21

ὁ πόλεμος οὗτος ...δηλώσει...μείζων γεγενημένος

. There is a really intransitive use of

δηλόω

in [Andoc. ] or. 4 § 12

δηλώσει δὲ ἡ τῶν συμμάχων ἔχθρα πρῶτον

, etc., unless

δηλώσεται

should be read there; but the speech is a work of the later rhetoric (see Attic Orators, 1. 137). Not one of the few instances adduced from classical Greek requires

δηλόω

to be intransitive: Her. 2.117 (subject

τόδε

): 5. 78 (

ἡ ἰσηγορίη

): Plat. Gorg. 483D (

ἡ φύσις

). In Her. 9.68

δηλοῖ τέ μοι ὅτι πάντα... ἤρτητο..., εἰ καὶ τότε...ἔφευγον

, the real subject is the clause with

εἰ

(the fact of their flight shows me).

καλχαίνουσ’ ἔπος τι (for the enclitic

τις

placed before its noun, see on O. C. 280 f. ), ‘that thou art troubled by some tidings.’ The verb is intrans.,

ἔπος

being the ‘internal,’ or cognate, accus. ( Ph. 1326

νοσεῖς τόδ’ ἄλγος

): for its sense cp. O. C. 302

τίς δ’ ἔσθ’ ὁ κείνῳ τοῦτο τοὔπος ἀγγελῶν;

From

κάλχη

, the purple limpet (perh. connected with

κόχλος, κόγχη

), comes

καλχαίνω

, to make, or to be, purple: then fig., to be darkly troubled in mind: Eur. Her. 40

ἀμφὶ τοῖσδε καλχαίνων τέκνοις

. Hence perh.

Κάλχας

, the seer who darkly broods on the future. The descent of this metaphor is curious.

φυρ

, the root of

πορ‐φύρ‐ω

, signified ‘to be agitated,’—like heaving water, for instance (Skt. bhur, Lat. ferv-ere, Curt. § 415). In Il. 14.16 ff. a man's troubled hesitation is likened to the trouble of the sea just before a storm, while as yet the waves are not driven either way:

ὡς δ’ ὅτε πορφύρῃ πέλαγος μέγα κύματι κωφῷ

(not yet breaking in foam)...

ὣς ὁ γέρων ὥρμαινε δαϊζόμενος κατὰ θυμόν

. The Homeric image is thus subtler than that of a storm in the soul (

Volvere curarum tristes in pectore fluctus,

Lucr. 6. 34 ). (2) Then

πορφύρω

is said of the mind itself: Il. 21.551

ἔστη, πολλὰ δέ οἱ κραδίη πόρφυρε μένοντι

, ‘was troubled.’ (3) From

πορφύρω

, as=‘to be turbid,’ came

πορφύρα

as=simply ‘ the dark’ (purple-fish and dye): and then in later Greek the verb took on the specific sense, ‘to be purple.’ (4)

κάλχη = πορφύρα

: and hence

καλχαίνω

is figuratively used like the Homeric

πορφύρω

. In

πορφύρω

the idea of trouble precedes that of colour: in

καλχαίνω

, vice versa.

οὐ γάρ , ‘what, has not,’ etc., introducing an indignant question, as Ai. 1348 , Ph. 249 .

τὼ κασιγνήτω … τὸν μὲν … τὸν δέ , partitive apposition (

σχῆμα καθ’ ὅλον καὶ μέρος

), the whole, which should be in the genitive, being put in the same case as the part,—a constr. freq. in nom., but rare in accus.: cp. 561 : Thuc. 2.92

δύο ὑποσχέσεις τὴν μὲν βουλόμενος ἀναπρᾶξαι, τὴν δὲ αὐτὸς ἀποδοῦναι

The place of τάφου before

τὼ κασιγνήτω

shows the first thought to have been,— ‘ of a tomb, he has deemed our two brothers, the one worthy, the other unworthy’: but προτίσας , which has taken the place of a word in the sense of

ἀξιώσας

, substitutes the idea of preferring one brother to the other. Thus τάφου is left belonging, in strict grammar, to ἀτιμάσας only; for the genit. with which, cp. O. C. 49 .

ἀτιμάσας ἔχει =a perfect, O. T. 577 .

σὺν δίκῃ | χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ , the reading of our MSS., was a clumsy attempt to mend a corrupt text, in the sense: ‘having treated (him) in accordance with righteous judgment and usage.’ The lateness of the corruption is shown by χρησθεὶς as=

χρησάμενος

, since in classical Greek

χρησθῆναι

is always pass., Her. 7.144

¹οὐκ ἐχρήσθησαν

, Dem. or. 21 § 16

ἕως ἂν χρησθῇ

(

ἡ ἐσθής

); of oracles being delivered, O. T. 604 , O. C. 355 : in Polyb. 2. 32

ἐβούλοντο συγχρῆσθαι ταῖς...δυνάμεσι, συγχρησθῆναι

is found, indeed, in some MSS., but is manifestly corrupt. Several conjectures are discussed in the Appendix. It is most improbable that vv. 23, 24 have grown out of one verse, either by the interpolation of v. 24, or by the expansion of v. 23. For it is evidently essential to the contrast with vv. 26—30 that the honours paid to Eteocles should be described with emphasis. Were v. 23 immediately followed by v. 25, the effect would be too bald and curt. I read σὺν δίκης | χρήσει δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμου , ‘with righteous observance of justice and usage’ [

νόμῳ

could be retained, but would be harsh; and the corruption of

δίκης

would have caused that of

νόμου

]. δίκης , following σύν , was changed to δίκῃ , and then χρήσει became χρησθείς , in an attempt to mend the sense.

σὺν χρήσει δικαίᾳ δίκης καὶ νόμου = δίκῃ καὶ νόμῳ δικαίως χρώμενος

. For the latter, cp. Antiphon or. 5 § 87

χρῆσθαι τῇ δίκῃ καὶ τῷ νόμῳ

. Eur. I. A. 316

οὐδὲν τῇ δίκῃ χρῆσθαι θέλει

. The substantival periphrasis (

σὺν χρήσει τινός

for

χρώμενός τινι

) is of a common kind; e.g. Thuc. 2.39

διὰ...τὴν ἐν τῇ γῇ ἐπὶ πολλὰ ἡμῶν αὐτῶν ἐπίπεμψιν

: 5. 8

ἄνευ προόψεως...αὐτῶν

εἰ μὴ προΐδοιεν αὐτούς

).—Schütz (1876, Jahr. f. kl. Phil. p. 176) proposed χρῆσθαι δικαιῶν , ‘deeming it right to treat (him) in accordance with justice,’ etc.: where, however, to supply

αὐτῷ

is most awkward: I should prefer

τῷ

(instead of

καὶ

)

νόμῳ

. O. T. 1526 is an instance in which

καὶ

seems to have supplanted an article (

ταῖς

) after the sense had become obscured. But

χρῆσθαι δικαιῶν τῷ νόμῳ

appears somewhat too prosaic and cold, and, in so lucid a phrase, would

δικαιῶν

have been likely to become

δικαίᾳ

νόμου , of funeral rites, cp. 519 : so

νόμιμα

( Thuc. 3.58 ),

τὰ νομιζόμενα ποιεῖν

( iusta facere): Plut. Sull. 38

κηδείας τῆς νενομισμένης

, the usual obsequies.

τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς , ethic dat., in their sight ( O. T. 8 πᾶσι κλεινός , cp. O. C. 1446 ). The dead repelled the spirit of the unburied from their converse: Il. 23.71 (the shade of the unburied Patroclus to Achilles)

θάπτε με ὅττι τάχιστα, πύλας Ἀΐδαο περήσω. | τῆλέ με εἴργουσι ψυχαί, εἴδωλα καμόντων, | οὐδέ μέ πω μίσγεσθαι ὑπὲρ ποταμοῖο ἐῶσιν

θανόντα … Πολυνείκους νέκυν , by enallage for

θανόντος

, but also with a reminiscence of the Homeric

νεκύων κατατεθνηώτων

: cp. 515

ὁ κατθανὼν νέκυς

ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι = προκεκηρῦχθαι, as in 203. The compound with

ἐκ

usu. = ‘to banish by proclamation’ ( O. C. 430 n.).

τὸ μὴ … καλύψαι , instead of the ordinary

μὴ καλύψαι

: cp. 443 : O. C. 1739

ἀπέφυγε... | ...τὸ μὴ πίτνειν κακῶς

. Though

τὸ μὴ καλύψαι

might be viewed as subject to

ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι

, the latter was probably felt as an impersonal pass. The addition of the art. to the infin. is freq. in drama: cp. 78 , and O. C. 47 n.

ἐᾶν δ’ . Since

τινά

can mean

πάντα τινά

, it is not necessary to supply

πάντας

as subject for

ἐᾶν

, though in O. T. 238 ff. we have

μήτ’ ἐσδέχεσθαι μήτε προσφωνεῖν τινα,...ὠθεῖν δ’ ἀπ’ οἴκων πάντας

.—L has ἄταφον ἄκλαυτον . For this order it may be said, that a tribrach contained in one word forms the second foot in Ph. 1235

πότερα

, ib. 1314

πατέρα

, Aesch. Ch. 1

χθόνιε

. Also,

ἄταφον

thus gains a certain abrupt force, and the order corresponds with

καλύψαι...κωκῦσαι

. But against it we may urge:—(1) The other order was the usual one: Il. 22.386

κεῖται πὰρ νήεσσι νέκυς ἄκλαυτος ἄθαπτος

: Eur. Hec. 30 |

ἄκλαυτος, ἄταφος

. (2) On such a question of order no great weight belongs to L, in which wrong transpositions of words certainly occur; e.g. Ph. 156 , Ph. 1332 : O. C. 1088 . Here some MSS. give

ἄκλαυστον ἄταφον

. There is no ground for distinguishing

ἄκλαυστος

, as ‘not to be wept,’ from

ἄκλαυτος

, ‘not wept’ (see O. T. 361 note in Appendix on

γνωτός

and

γνωστός

). L gives the form without sigma here, as below, 847, 876, and in O. C. 1708 ; but the sigmatic form in El. 912 .

θησαυρόν : schol.

ἕρμαιον, εὕρημα

, taking it as merely ‘treasure trove’; but here ‘treasure’ evidently implies ‘store’ (cp. Ph. 37

θησαύρισμα

); the carrion-birds can return again and again to their feast.

εἰσορῶσι , when they look down upon it from the air. There is no ground for saying that

εἰσορᾶν

was specially ‘to eye with desire’: in Xen. Cyr. 5.1.15

οὔτε πυρὸς ἅπτομαι οὔτε τοὺς καλοὺς εἰσορῶ

, it is simply ‘look at.’ The conjecture εἰσορμῶσι , to be taken with

πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς

, ‘ swooping to the joy of the feast,’ is not only needless, but bad. Far finer is the picture of the birds pausing in their flight at the moment when they first descry the corpse below.

Take πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς with

γλυκὺν θησαυρόν

, not with

εἰσορῶσι

: lit., a welcome store to the birds, when they look upon it, with a view to pleasure in feeding. For the sensual use of

χάρις

cp. Phaedr. 254 A

τῆς τῶν ἀφροδισίων χάριτος.

πρὸς χάριν is used either adverbially or with a genitive. (1) As an adverb, it means literally, ‘with a view to gratification’: hence ( a) when the

χάρις

is one's own, ‘ at pleasure,’ as Philoctetes calls the birds ( Ph. 1156 )

κορέσαι στόμα πρὸς χάριν

, to glut their beaks on him ‘as they will’: ( b) when the

χάρις

is another's, ‘so as to give pleasure,’ ‘ graciously,’ as O. T. 1152

σὺ πρὸς χάριν μὲν οὐκ ἐρεῖς

. (2) A genitive after

πρὸς χάριν

can denote ( a) that in which the

χάρις

consists, as

βορᾶς

here: or ( b) the person or thing whose the

χάρις

is, as below, 908,

τίνος νόμου...πρὸς χάριν

; ‘in deference to what law?’ Eur. Med. 538

νόμοις τε χρῆσθαι μὴ πρὸς ἰσχύος χάριν

, ‘not at the pleasure of force,’— i.e. not so that force can do what it pleases. Here,

πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς

differs from a simple

χάριν βορᾶς

by implying the same notion as the adverbial

πρὸς χάριν

in Ph. 1156 quoted above: ‘to feast on at their pleasure.’—Eustathius on Il. 8.379 (p. 719. 9) defines carrion-birds as

τοῖς πρὸς χάριν ὁρῶσι βορᾶς τῆς ἀπὸ τῶν σαρκῶν

. It cannot be doubted that he was thinking of our passage, and that his text, like ours, had

εἰσορῶσι

: but, using the simple

ὁρῶσι

, he has made a new phrase, ‘ looking to pleasure in food,’ and his words afford no argument for joining

πρὸς χάριν

with

εἰσορῶσι

here.

σοί , like κἀμοί , depends on κηρύξαντ’ ἔχειν (for which see 22). Creon's edict, addressed to all Thebans, touches the sisters first, since, as the nearest relatives of the dead, they were most concerned to see that he received burial. Antigone speaks with burning indignation. She says, in effect:—‘Thus hath Creon forbidden thee and me to render the last offices to our brother.’ The parenthesis

λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ

is prompted by the intense consciousness of a resolve. To her, who knows her own heart, it seems wonderful that Creon should even have imagined her capable of obeying such an edict. It is a fine psychological touch, and one of the most pathetic in the play.

τὸν ἀγαθόν , ironical, as O. T. 385

Κρέων ὁ πιστός

, Ph. 873

ἁγαθοὶ στρατηλάται.

λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ (instead of

κἀμοί

), a constr. most freq. when the acc. is a proper name, as Dem. or. 24 § 6

προσέκρουσ’ ἀνθρώπῳ πονηρῷ...Ἀνδροτίωνα λέγω

. So Tr. 9 , Ph. 1261 , Aesch. Th. 609 , Eur. Her. 642 . On the other hand cp. Dem. or. 8 § 24

παρ’ ὧν ἂν ἕκαστοι δύνωνται, τούτων τῶν τὴν Ἀσίαν ἐνοικούντων λέγω, χρήματα λαμβάνουσιν

: Aesch. fr. 169

ἀλλ’ Ἀντικλείας ἆσσον ἦλθε Σίσυφος, | τῆς σῆς λέγω τοι μητρός

. In Ai. 569 where L has

Ἐριβοία

( sic)

λέγω

, most edd. now give the dat.

Two other explanations may be noticed. Both make σοι enclitic. (1) Taking σοι as ethic dat. with τοιαῦτα : ‘There is the good Creon's proclamation for you,—aye, and for me too, for I count myself also amongst those forbidden’ (Campbell). Thus κἀμοί is not, like σοι , a mere ethic dat., but rather a dat. of interest. Such a transition seems hardly possible. (2) Taking σοι as ethic dat. with ἀγαθόν : ‘your good Creon, aye and mine, for I own I too thought him so’ (Kennedy). But Antigone is too much occupied with the edict itself to dwell with such emphasis at such a moment on the disappointment which she has experienced as to Creon's amiability.

νεῖσθαι pres. ( Od. 5.88 ): Eur. has

νεῖσθε

( Eur. Alc. 737 ) and

νεόμενος

(in lyr. El. 723 ): otherwise the word is not tragic.

τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν , synizesis, as 263 , 535 , O. C. 1155

ὡς μὴ εἰδότ’ αὐτόν

, Tr. 321

καὶ ξυμφορά τοι μὴ εἰδέναι

παρ’ οὐδέν : cp. 466 : O. T. 983

ταῦθ’ ὅτῳ | παρ’ οὐδέν ἐστι

. The addition of ὡς serves to mark Creon's point of view more strongly: cp. O. C. 732

ἥκω γὰρ οὐχ ὡς δρᾶν τι βουληθείς

, n.

ὃς ἂν … δρᾷ , the antecedent

τούτῳ

being suppressed,=a dat.,

τῷ δρῶντι

: cp. Isocr. or. 18 § 37

προσήκει βοηθεῖν ὑμᾶς οὐχ οἵτινες ἂν δυστυχεστάτους σφᾶς αὑτοὺς ἀποδείξωσιν ἀλλ’ οἵτινες ἂν δικαιότερα λέγοντες φαίνωνται

. That such a relative clause was felt as practically equivalent to a noun-case may be seen from Thuc. 2.62 , where it is co-ordinated with a dative:

αὔχημα μὲν...καὶ δειλῷ τινὶ ἐγγίγνεται, καταφρόνησις δέ, ὃς ἂν καὶ γνώμῃ πιστεύῃ

. Thuc. uses this constr. esp. in definitions, as 6. 14,

τὸ καλῶς ἄρξαι τοῦτ’ εἶναι, ὃς ἂν τὴν πατρίδα ὠφελήσῃ

προκεῖσθαι : cp. 481 : O. T. 865

νόμοι πρόκεινται.

δημόλευστον = λευσθέντα ὑπὸ τοῦ δήμου, the epith. of the victim being transferred to the doom: Tr. 357

ὁ ῥιπτὸς Ἰφίτου μόρος

. Cp. Aesch. Ag. 1616

δημορριφεῖς...λευσίμους ἀράς

. Death by public stoning would mean that the transgressor was execrated as a traitor to the commonweal: see n. on O. C. 435 .

σοι ethic dat.: so O. C. 62 and El. 761

τοιαῦτά σοι ταῦτ’ ἐστίν.

ἐσθλῶν , gen. of origin with

πέφυκας

, from a good stock: O. T. 1062

ἐὰν τρίτης ἐγὼ | μητρὸς φανῶ τρίδουλος

n. Cp. fr. 601 (race cannot be relied upon, since often)

πέλεται | οὔτ’ ἀπ’ εὐγενέων ἐσθλὸς οὔτ’ ἀχρείων | τὸ λίαν κακός

ὦ ταλαῖφρον , ‘my poor sister’: cp.

ἄνολβος

(1026),

δύσποτμος

( O. T. 888 ),

μέλεος

, etc.

εἰ τάδ’ ἐν τούτοις : cp. O.C. 1443

ταῦτα... | ...τῇδε φῦναι

. The plur. ἐν τούτοις means either (1) ‘in these circumstances,’ as here, and Plat. Phaedo 101C : or (2) ‘meanwhile,’ inter haec, as Plat. Symp. 220B . The sing.

ἐν τούτῳ

usually=‘meanwhile’; more rarely ‘in this case’ ( Thuc. 1.37 ), or ‘at this point’ (id. 2. 8).

λύουσ’ … ἢ ’φάπτουσα , ‘by seeking to loose or to tighten the knot,’—a phrase, perhaps proverbial, for ‘meddling in any way.’ She can do no good by touching the tangled skein. The Greek love of antithesis naturally tended to expressions like our ‘by hook or by crook,’ ‘by fair means or foul,’ ‘for love or money,’ ‘good or bad,’ etc. Cp. 1109

οἵ τ’ ὄντες οἵ τ’ ἀπόντες

(n.): Eur. Bacch. 800

ἀπόρῳ γε τῷδε συμπεπλέγμεθα ξένῳ, | ὃς οὔτε πάσχων οὔτε δρῶν σιγήσεται

, which is plainly colloquial,—meaning ‘who will not hold his peace on any terms’; for though

πάσχων

suits the recent imprisonment of Dionysus,

δρῶν

could not mean definitely, ‘as a free agent.’ Similarly we may suppose that some such phrase as

οὔτε λύων οὔτε ἅπτων

( Plat. Crat. 417E

τὸ δὲ ἅπτειν καὶ δεῖν ταὐτόν ἐστι

) was familiar as=‘by no possible means.’ If

ἐφάπτουσα

is sound, the poet has refined a colloquialism by modifying

ἅπτουσα

into

ἐφάπτουσα

, just as

τί δρῶν ἢ τί λέγων

(cp. Aesch. PV 660 ) appears in O. T. 71 as

ὅ τι | δρῶν ἢ τί φωνῶν

. Some find a reference to weaving;—‘by loosening the web, or fastening a new thread’; but, though the phrase may have been first suggested by the loom, it was probably used without any such conscious allusion. Quite different from our passage is Ai. 1317

εἰ μὴ ξυνάψων ἀλλὰ συλλύσων πάρει

, ‘not to embroil the feud, but to help in solving it’: cp. Eur. Hipp. 670

τίνας νῦν τέχνας ἔχομεν ἢλόγους | σφαλεῖσαι κάθαμμα λύειν λόγου

; ‘to loose the knot of controversy.’ —Another view makes the phrase refer to Creon's edict: ‘seeking to undo it, or to tighten it,’—i.e. to break it, or to make it more stringent than it already is (schol.

λύουσα τὸν νόμον, ἢ βεβαιοῦσα αὐτόν

). But, though Antigone has not yet revealed her purpose, too great callousness is ascribed to Ismene if she is supposed to doubt whether her sympathy is invited against or for such an edict.—The act.

ἐφάπτειν

is rare: Tr. 933

τοὔργον ὡς ἐφάψειεν

, that he had imposed the deed on her (by his fierce reproaches): Pind. O. 9. 60

μὴ καθέλοι νιν αἰὼν πότμον ἐφάψαις | ὀρφανὸν γενεᾶς

. Was Porson right in conjecturing εἵθ’ ἅπτουσα ? For it, we may observe:—(1) An opposition of the simple

λύειν

and

ἅπτειν

suits a proverbial phrase: (2)

ἤ

and

εἰ

are elsewhere confused, as O. C. 80 (n.): (3) the single

εἴτε

is found in O. T. 517

λόγοισιν εἴτ’ ἔργοισιν

, Tr. 236

πατρῴας εἴτε βαρβάρου

; Against the conjecture is the fact that

εἴθ’ ἅπτουσα

would have been much less likely to generate the

ἢ θάπτουσα

of our MSS., since the intermediate

εἰ θάπτουσα

, being obviously unmeaning, would have been likely to cure itself.

προσθείμην : cp. O. C. 767

προσθέσθαι χάριν

, n.

πλέον , ‘for thine advantage’: O. T. 37

οὐδὲν ἐξειδὼς πλέον

, n.

ξυμπονήσεις is the more general word,—‘co-operate’; ξυνεργάσει , the more explicit,—‘help to accomplish the deed.’

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα , cognate acc. to the verbs in 41: cp. O. C. 344

κακὰ | ὑπερπονεῖτον

, n.

Read

ποῦ γνώμης...εἶ

(from

εἶναι

): cp. El. 390

ποῦ ποτ’ εἶ φρενῶν

. The question between ποῦ and ποῖ here is one of sense, not of idiom.

ποῖ γνώμης ...εἶ

(from

ἰέναι

) would mean, ‘to what thought will you have recourse?’ Cp. O. C. 170

ποῖ τις φροντίδος ἔλθῃ

; (n.), Tr. 705

οὐκ ἔχω...ποῖ γνώμης πέσω

. But the meaning here is, ‘what can you be thinking of?’

εἰ sc.

σκόπει

.—Join ξὺν τῇδε χερί : she lifts her hand.

κουφιεῖς , take up for burial: cp. Ai. 1410

πλευρὰς σὺν ἐμοὶ | τάσδ’ ἐπικούφιζ

' (the dead Ajax): and the common phrase

ἀναιρεῖσθαι νεκρούς.

ἦ γὰρ marks surprise ( O. C. 64 ). The absence of caesura in the first three feet allows each of the two important words (

νοεῖς θάπτειν

) to fall slowly from the astonished speaker's lips.

σφε = αὐτόν, as 516, 1226.

σφε

can be s. or pl., m. or f.:

νιν

, s. or pl., m., f. or n.

ἀπόρρητον , acc. neut. in appos. with

θάπτειν σφε

: Plat. Gorg. 507E

ἐπιθυμίας...πληροῦν, ἀνήνυτον κακόν.

πόλει , ‘to’ or ‘for’ (dat. of interest), not ‘by’ (dat. of agent), though the latter might be supported by Eur. Phoen. 1657

ἐγώ σφε θάψω, κἂν ἀπεννέπῃ πόλις

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν κ.τ.λ. To the question—‘Do you really mean to bury him?’—the simple answer would have been,

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν ἀδελφόν

, ‘I certainly mean to bury my own brother.’ But the word ἐμόν —reminding her that he is equally Ismene's brother—prompts the insertion of the reproachful clause, καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς . Thus the contrast between τὸν ἐμόν and τὸν σόν anticipates the emphasis on the word ἀδελφόν . The whole thought is,—‘I will certainly do my duty,—and thine, if thou wilt not,—to a brother.’ Since

ὁ ἐμός

is the same person as

ὁ σός

, this thought can be poetically expressed by saying, ‘I will certainly bury my brother,—and thine, if thou wilt not’: for the tribute rendered to him by one sister represents the tribute due from both. Remark that γοῦν often emphasises a pers. or possessive pron. (as here

ἐμόν

): 565

σοὶ γοῦν

: Ai. 527

πρὸς γοῦν ἐμοῦ

: O. T. 626

τὸ γοῦν ἐμόν

: El. 1499

τὰ γοῦν ς

'.— Two other versions are possible, but less good. (1) Taking τὸν … ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν as=‘him who is my brother and thine,’ and

ἢν

as=‘ even if.’ But for this we should expect

τὸν γοῦν ἐμόν τε καὶ σόν

, and

κἄν

. (2) Taking καὶ with ἤν , ‘I will bury my brother, even if thou wilt not bury thine.’ But (i) the separation of

καί

from

ἤν

is abnormal: (ii) the mode of expression would be scarcely natural unless

ὁ ἐμός

and

ὁ σός

were different persons.

ἀδελφὸν … ἁλώσομαι . Didymus (circ. 30 B.C.) said this verse was condemned as spurious ‘by the commentators’ (

ὑπὸ τῶν ὑπομνηματιστῶν

). I believe it to be undoubtedly genuine. One modern argument against it is that Antigone should here speak only one verse. But these two verses express the resolve on which the action of the play turns: it is an important moment in the dialogue. And, at such a moment, Soph. often allows a stichomuthia to be broken by two or more verses for the same speaker. See the stichomuthia in 401—406, broken by 404 f.: O. T. 356-369 , broken by 366 f.: ib. 1000—1046 , broken by 1002 f. and 1005 f.: O. C. 579-606 , broken by 583 f. and 599 ff. Further, verse 46 is Sophoclean in three traits: ( a) ἀδελφόν emphasised by position as first word, with a pause after it: cp. 72 , 525 : O. T. 278

δεῖξαι

: O. C. 1628

χωρεῖν

. ( b) οὐ γὰρ δή in rejecting an alternative: O. T. 576

ἐκμάνθαν’· οὐ γὰρ δὴ φονεὺς ἁλώσομαι

. Cp. O. C. 110 n. ( c) The phrase with the aor. part.: Ai. 1267

χάρις διαρρεῖ καὶ προδοῦσ’ ἁλίσκεται

. Lastly, v. 45 , if alone, would be too bald and curt.

ὦ σχετλία , ‘over-bold.’ The word primarily means ‘enduring’ (&\sqrt;

σχε, σχεθεῖν

). Hence: (1) Of persons, ( a) ‘unflinching,’ in audacity or cruelty,—the usu. Homeric sense, as Od. 9.494

σχέτλιε, τίπτ’ ἐθέλεις ἐρεθιζέμεν ἄγριον ἄνδρα

; So Ph. 369 , Ph. 930

ὦ σχέτλιε

, Eur. Alc. 741

σχετλία τόλμης

. ( b) ‘Suffering,’=

τλήμων

, as Aesch. PV 644 (of Io), Eur. Hec. 783 . Neither Homer nor Soph. has this use. (2) Of things, ‘cruel,’ ‘wretched,’—a use common to all the poets: so Ai. 887

σχέτλια γάρ

(‘'tis cruel’), Tr. 879 .

οὐδέν , adv.: μέτα = μέτεστι : τῶν ἐμῶν (masc.) with εἴργειν only: cp. El. 536

ἀλλ’ οὐ μετῆν αὐτοῖσι τήν γ’ ἐμὴν κτανεῖν

. Plat. Apol. 19 C

ἐμοὶ τούτων... οὐδὲν μέτεστι

. For the plur. cp. O. T. 1448

ὀρθῶς τῶν γε σῶν τελεῖς ὕπερ

(‘thou wilt meetly render the last rites to thine own,’—Iocasta).

νῷν ethic dat. with ἀπώλετο (cp. O. C. 81

βέβηκεν ἡμίν

). ἀπεχθής , hateful to mankind for his involuntary crimes. ἀπώλετο , ‘died,’ not merely ‘was disgraced’ ( cp. 59

ὀλούμεθ’

): she is speaking of the deaths which had left them alone. But ἔπειτα in 53 is merely ‘then,’ ‘in the next place,’ and need not mean that Oedipus died before Iocasta. Here Soph. follows the outline of the epic version, acc. to which Oed. died at Thebes: see Introd. to Oed. Tyr. pp. xvi ff. The poet of the Odyssey ( 11. 275 ) makes him survive his consort's suicide, and no version appears to have assumed the contrary. The Antigone knows nothing of his exile from Thebes, or of the sacred honour which surrounded the close of his life, as the story is told in the later Oedipus at Colonus.

πρὸς … ἀμπλακημάτων … ἀράξας , ‘ impelled by them to strike his eyes’: cp. O. T. 1236 (

τέθνηκε

)

πρὸς τίνος ποτ’ αἰτίας;

αὐτοφώρων =

ἃ αὐτὸς ἐφώρασεν

(cp. fr. 768

τὰ πλεῖστα φωρῶν αἰσχρὰ φωράσεις βροτῶν

), detected by himself, when he insisted on investigating the murder of Laïus (cp. O. T. 1065 ). Elsewhere

αὐτόφωρος = φωραθεὶς ἐπ’ αὐτῷ τῷ ἔργῳ

, ‘taken in the act’: Thuc. 6.38

κολάζων, μὴ μόνον αὐτοφώρους

(

χαλεπὸν γὰρ ἐπιτυγχάνειν

ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧν βούλονται μέν, δύνανται δ’ οὔ

: and so in the adv.

ἐπ’ αὐτοφώρῳ λαμβάνειν

etc.

ἀράξας , with the golden brooches (

περόναι

): O. T. 1276

ἤρασσ’ ἐπαίρων βλέφαρα.

αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί , emphatic, like

αὐτὸς πρὸς αὑτοῦ

(1177), but not strictly pleonastic, since αὐτός =‘by his own act,’ i.e. ‘of his free will,’ while αὐτ. χερί refers to the instrument, ‘with hand turned against himself.’ Cp. on 56.

διπλοῦν ἔπος , a two-fold name (for the same person): as conversely Aesch. PV 209

ἐμοὶ δὲ μήτηρ...Θέμις | καὶ Γαῖα, πολλῶν ὀνομάτων μορφὴ μία

. Valckenär on Eur. Phoen.p. 153 cites Heracleitus Alleg. Hom. 21 (of Hera)

διπλοῦν ὄνομα φύσεως καὶ συμβιώσεως

, ‘a name signifying at once birth and marriage’ (since she was coniunx lovis et soror). Seneca Oed. Tyr. 389

mixtumque nomen coniugis, nati, patris.

(The feeble v. l. πάθος for

ἔπος

meant, ‘a double calamity,’ since both mother and wife perished.)

ἀρτάναισι : cp. O. T. 1264

πλεκταῖσιν αἰώραισιν ἐμπεπλεγμένην

δύο … μίαν : .

αὐτοκτονοῦντε is not literally, ‘slaying themselves,’ or ‘slaying each other,’ but, ‘slaying with their own hands’: the context explains that the person whom each so slew was his own brother. So either (1) suicide, or (2) slaying of kinsfolk, can be expressed by

αὐθέντης, αὐτοκτόνος, αὐτοσφαγής, αὐτοφόνος

, etc. The compound merely expresses that the deed is done with one's own hand, implying that such a use of one's own hand is unnatural. The object of the deed may be one's own life, or another's. This ambiguity of the compound is illustrated by 1175 f.

αὐτόχειρ δ’ αἱμάσσεται

.—XO.

πότερα πατρῴας ἢ πρὸς οἰκείας χερός

; ‘by his father's hand, or by his own?’

κατειργάσαντ’ , plur. verb with dual subject, as oft., even when another verb with the same subject is dual, as Xen. Cyr. 6.1.47

ὡς εἰδέτην...ἠσπάσαντο

: Plat. Euthyd. 294 E

ὅτε παιδία ἤστην ...ἠπίστασθε

: see O. C. 343 n.

ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν , ‘with mutual hands,’—each brother lifting his hands against the other. It is hard to believe that Soph. would here have written ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοιν , ‘against each other,’ when χεροῖν would seem a weak addition, and the double οιν would be brought into harsh relief by the independence of the two words. The verse is in every way better if we can read ἐπαλλήλοιν as an epithet of χεροῖν . Now we know that the word

ἐπάλληλος

was in common use at least as early as the 2nd century B.C. In the extant literature it seems always to correspond with

ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοις

as=‘ one on top of another’ ( Od. 23.47

κείατ’ ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισι

), being used to mean, ‘in close order’ or ‘in rapid sequence’ (as Polyb. 11. 11

ἐν ἐπαλλήλοις τάξεσι

, in close ranks: Alciphro Epp. 3. 6

τὰς ἐπαλλήλους πληγάς

, the showers of blows). An exception might, indeed, be supposed in Philo Judaeus De Mose 3, p. 692, where he is saying that the continuity of human record has been broken

διὰ τὰς ἐν ὕδασι καὶ πυρὶ γενομένας συνεχεῖς καὶ ἐπαλλήλους φθοράς

: which Adrian Turnebus rendered,

propter illas eluvionum et exustionum continuas et alternas (‘mutual’) interneciones.

But Philo was evidently (I think) using

ἐπάλληλος

in its ordinary sense, and meant merely, ‘owing to the continuous and rapid succession of calamities by flood and fire.’ It by no means follows, however, that a poet of the 5th cent. B.C. could not have used

ἐπάλληλος

in a sense corresponding with

ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοις

as= ‘ against each other,’—the more frequent and familiar sense of the words, as in the Homeric

ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισιν ἰόντες, ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισι φέρον πολύδακρυν Ἄρηα

( Il. 3.132 ): cp. Aristoph. Lys. 50

ἐπ’ ἀλλήλοισιν αἴρεσθαι δόρυ

. The use of

ἐπάλληλος

here may have been partly prompted by a reminiscence of Aesch. Theb. 931

ἐτελεύ|τασαν ὑπ’ ἀλλαλοφόνοις χερσὶν ὁμοσπόροισιν

(cp. Xen. Hier. 3. 8

ἀδελφοὺς... ἀλληλοφόνους

νῦν δ’ αὖ . Though in L δ’ has been inserted by a later hand, it is found in A, and its omission by the first hand in L (which has made other such oversights) cannot weigh much against it. Some of the recent edd. omit it: but the effect of νῦν αὖ without it would here be intolerably abrupt. For αὖ (‘in our turn’) cp. 7 .

μόνα δή , ‘ all alone’: Tr. 1063

μόνη με δὴ καθεῖλε

: Ai. 992

ἁπάντων δή

: so esp. with superlatives, ib. 858

πανύστατον δή

: Thuc. 1.50

μεγίστη δή

ψῆφον , the pebble used in voting, then, the vote; here (as below, 632) applied to the resolve or decree of an absolute monarch. Cp. O. T. 606

μή μ’ ἁπλῇ κτάνῃς | ψήφῳ, διπλῇ δέ

, i.e. not by thine own royal voice alone, but by mine also.

τυράννων , i.e. Creon: allusive plur., as 67: O.T. 366 n.

κράτη , the powers of the king, as 173 (cp. O. C. 392 n.). The disjunctive ἢ (for which Axt proposed καὶ ) means: ‘if we offend against this edict, or (in any way) against the royal powers.’ It could not mean: ‘if we infringe his edict, or (by persistence after warning) come into conflict with his power.’

τοῦτο μὲν is not governed by ἐννοεῖν , but is adv., ‘on the one hand,’ answered by ἔπειτα δ’ (63) instead of

τοῦτο δέ

, as elsewhere by

τοῦτ’ αὖθις

(167),

τοῦτ’ ἄλλο

( O. T. 605 ),

εἶτα

( Ph. 1346 ), or

δέ

( O. C. 441 ).

ὡς , with οὐ μαχουμένα , marks the intention of nature as expressed in sex,—‘showing that we were not meant to strive with men.’ This might be illustrated by Arist. 's phrase,

βούλεται ἡ φύσις ποιεῖν τι

, in regard to nature's intention or tendency ( De Anim. Gen. 4. 10, etc.).

οὕνεκ’ , ‘that’ (as O. T. 708 , O. C. 1395 , and oft.): not, ‘because,’ as some take it, supplying

χρή

with

ἀκούειν.

ἐκ , as from the head and fount of authority; so El. 264

κἀκ τῶνδ’ ἄρχομαι

: cp. O. C. 67 n.

ἀκούειν , infin. expressing consequence (‘so that we should hearken’), without

ὥστε

, as 1076

ληφθῆναι

. We find

ἀκούω τινός

, ‘to obey a person,’ but not

ἀκούω τι

, as ‘to hear (and obey) a command.’ Here ταῦτα and ἀλγίονα are accusatives of respect, ‘in regard to these things,’ as

πάντα

in El. 340 ,

τῶν κρατούντων ἐστὶ πάντ’ ἀκουστέα

, ‘I must obey the rulers in all things.’ If the accusatives were objective, the sense would be, ‘to hear these taunts’ (or, ‘to be called these names’): cp. Ph. 607 , Ai. 1235 .

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν . μέν (with no answering

δέ

) emphasises

ἐγώ

( ), while

οὖν

has its separate force, ‘therefore,’ as in O. T. 483 , O. C. 664 . The composite

μὲν οὖν

(‘nay rather’) would be unfitting here.

τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονός , the gods below (451), and also the departed spirit of Polyneices,—which, like the spirit of the unburied Patroclus ( Il. 23.65 ), can have no rest till sepulture has been given to the corpse. Cp. O. C. 1775

τῷ κατὰ γῆς

(Oedipus): for the allusive plur., El. 1419

ζῶσιν οἱ γᾶς ὑπαὶ κείμενοι

(Agamemnon). In ref. to the nether world, Attic writers regularly join

ὑπό

with gen., not dat.: El. 841

ὑπὸ γαίας... ἀνάσσει

: Tr. 1097

τόν θ’ ὑπὸ χθονὸς | Ἅιδου...σκύλακα

: Phaedr. 249 A

τὰ ὑπὸ γῆς δικαστήρια

. Indeed

ὑπό

with dat. is altogether rare in Attic prose, except as meaning ( a) under an authority, as

ὑπὸ νόμοις

, or ( b) under a class, as Plat. Symp. 205B

αἱ ὑπὸ πάσαις ταῖς τέχναις ἐργασίαι

. In poetry, Attic and other, it is freq. also in the local sense: cp. 337

ὑπ’ οἴδμασιν.

βιάζομαι τάδε , pass. with cogn. acc., as 1073

βιάζονται τάδε

. Cp. Ph. 1366

κἄμ’ ἀναγκάζεις τάδε

; and below, 219.

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι = τυράννων in 60, i.e. Creon. βεβῶσι , as El. 1094

μοίρᾳ μὲν οὐκ ἐν ἐσθλᾷ | βεβῶσαν

: O. C. 1358

ἐν πόνῳ | ταὐτῷ βεβηκώς

. Elsewhere Soph. has the simple phrase: Ai. 1352

κλύειν...τῶν ἐν τέλει

, and so Ph. 385 , 925.

οἱ ἐν τέλει

are ‘those in authority,’ —

τέλος

meaning ‘final or decisive power,’ as Thuc. 4.118

τέλος ἔχοντες ἰόντων

, ‘let the envoys go as plenipotentiaries.’ Pindar's

τέλος δωδεκάμηνον

(‘an office held for a year’), N. 11. 10, is perh. poetical. As synonyms for

οἱ ἐν τέλει

we find (1)

οἱ τὰ τέλη ἔχοντες

, Thuc. 5.47 , and (2)

τὰ τέλη

simply,—‘the authorities,’ sometimes with masc. part., as Thuc. 4.15

ἔδοξεν αὐτοῖς...τὰ τέλη καταβάντας βουλεύειν

. Hellen. 6. 5 has

τὰ μέγιστα τέλη

, ‘the highest magistrates’ (like Thuc. 1.10

ἔξω τῶν βασιλέων καὶ τῶν μάλιστα ἐν τέλει

: cp. 2 . 10).

τὸ γὰρ | ...πράσσειν : for the art. in the 6th place, with its noun in the next v., cp. 78 : O. T. 231 : O. C. 265 , 351: Ph. 674.

περισσὰ πρ .: cp. 780 : so Tr. 617

περισσὰ δρᾶν, = πολλὰ πράττειν, πολυπραγμονεῖν.

οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδ. = ἀνόητόν ἐστι: prop. of persons, as Tr. 553

γυναῖκα νοῦν ἔχουσαν

ἔτι , ‘ yet,’—at some future time: so El. 66 (

κἄμ’ ἐπαυχῶ

)

ἄστρον ὣς λάμψειν ἔτι

: Tr. 257

δουλώσειν ἔτι

(he vowed that he would yet enslave him).

πράσσειν … δρῴης (instead of

πράσσοις

): for such substitution of a synonym cp. O. T. 54

ἄρξεις...κρατεῖς

(n.): O. C. 1501

σαφὴς ...ἐμφανής

. With δρῴης we have a double ἄν , the first after the negative, the second after the emphatic

ἐμοῦ γ’

: cp. O. T. 339 n.—Objection has been made to ἡδέως on the ground that it ought to mean, ‘with pleasure to yourself.’ Wecklein, indeed, takes that to be the sense, supposing γε to be misplaced; i.e. the proper order would have been, ἡδέως γε ἂν ἐμοῦ κ.τ.λ.: but the position of <)μοῦ in the verse sufficiently shows that γε must go with it. ἐμοί γ’ (Meineke) would leave μέτα awkward: and ἀσμένης (Lehrs) would not have been displaced by ἡδέως , which the old scholia confirm. All the difficulty has arisen from failing to distinguish between (1)

οὐκ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης

, and (2)

οὐκ ἂν μετὰ ἐμοῦ ἡδέως δρῴης

. In (1)

ἡδέως

could mean only, ‘agreeably to yourself.’ But in (2) it is ambiguous; for the statement is equivalent to saying, ‘your co-operation with me would not be agreeable’; i.e. to you, or to me, or to either of us,—as the context may imply. Here, as the emphatic ἐμοῦ γε indicates, she means

ἡδέως ἐμοί

. Cp. Plat. Rep. 426C

ὃς...ἂν σφᾶς...ἥδιστα θεραπεύῃ

, i.e. ‘whoever serves them most acceptably’ (not, ‘ most gladly’). Aristoph. Nub. 79

πῶς δῆτ’ ἂν ἥδιστ’ αὐτὸν ἐπεγείραιμι

; (i.e. most pleasantly for him).

ἴσθ’ from

εἰμί

: ‘be such as thou wilt,’—show what character thou wilt. Cp. Ph. 1049

οὗ γὰρ τοιούτων δεῖ, τοιοῦτός εἰμ’ ἐγώ

: ib. 1271

τοιοῦτος ἦσθα τοῖς λόγοισι

: El. 1024

ἄσκει τοιαύτη νοῦν δῑ αἰῶνος μένειν

: O.T. 435

ἡμεῖς τοιοίδ’ ἔφυμεν.

όποία σοι δοκεῖ =(

τοιαύτη

)

ὁποίᾳ

(or

ὁποίαν

)

εἶναι δοκεῖ σοι

, the relative being attracted into the case of the suppressed antecedent. This was the more natural since

ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ

, ‘of any kind you please,’ was felt as almost one word,

ὁποιαδήποτε

; just so

ὃς βούλει

( quivis), instead of

οὗτος ὃν βούλει

, Plat. Gorg. 517A

μήποτέ τις τῶν νῦν ἔργα τοιαῦτα ἐργάσηται οἷα τούτων ὃς βούλει εἴργασται

: Crat. 432 A

ὥσπερ αὐτὰ τὰ δέκα ἢ ὅστις βούλει ἄλλος ἀριθμός

.—Those who read ἴσθ’ (from

οἶδα

) ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ compare El. 1055

ἀλλ’ εἰ σεαυτῇ τυγχάνεις δοκοῦσά τι | φρονεῖν, φρόνει τοιαῦτα

. But

εἰδέναι

is not

φρονεῖν

. In Attic,

ἴσθ’ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ

could mean nothing but ‘know such things as seem good to thee.’ It could not mean ( a) ‘Have such sentiments as seem good to thee’: nor ( b) ‘Be wise in thine own wisdom.’ The Homeric phrases,

πεπνυμένα εἰδώς

(‘wise of heart’),

ἀθεμίστια εἰδώς, ἤπια οἶδε

(‘he has kindly feelings,’ Od. 13.405 ), etc., have no counterpart in the Attic usage of

εἰδέναι

. In 301

δυσσέβειαν εἰδέναι

, and in Ph. 960

δοκοῦντος οὐδὲν εἰδέναι κακόν

, the verb means simply ‘to know.’

θάψω , emphatic by place and pause:

ἀδελφόν.

φίλη … φίλου , loved by him, as he is loved by me: Ai. 267

κοινὸς ἐν κοινοῖσι

: ib. 620

ἄφιλα παρ’ ἀφίλοις.

μετ’ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι , i.e. in the same world of the dead (76). The repetition of μετά serves to bring out the reciprocity of love more strongly:

φίλη μετ’ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, μετὰ φίλου

(

κειμένη

),— instead of the simpler

φίλη μετὰ φίλου κείσομαι

ὅσια πανουργήσασ’ : having broken a human law in a manner which the gods permit,—viz., in order to observe a divine law. Creon uses the word

πανουργίας

below, 300. ὅσια is peculiarly appropriate since the word was familiar where duty to heaven was distinguished from duty to man: cp. Polyb. 23. 10

παραβῆναι καὶ τὰ πρὸς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους δίκαια καὶ τὰ πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺσὅσια

. The phrase is an

ὀξύμωρον

(a paradox with a point), like ‘splendide mendax’; i.e. the qualification (

ὅσια

) seems contrary to the essence of the thing qualified. Cp. Milton ( Tetrachordon), ‘Men of the most renowned virtue have sometimes by transgressing most truly kept the law’; which is not an oxymoron, because the words, ‘most truly,’ suggest an explanation by showing that ‘kept’ is not used in its ordinary sense.

ἐπεὶ κ.τ.λ. : (I will obey gods rather than men), for the other world is more to me than this.

τῶν ἐνθάδε = ἢ τοῖς ἐνθάδε: O. C. 567

τῆς ἐς αὔριον | οὐδὲν πλέον μοι ς οῦ

ἢ σοὶ

)

μέτεστιν ἡμέρας

(n.).

κείσομαι , though we have had the word in 73. For other examples of such repetition, see n. on O. C. 554 , and cp. below 163

ὤρθωσαν

, 167

ὤρθου

: 207

ἔκ γ’ ἐμοῦ

, 210

ἐξ ἐμοῦ

: 613, 618 (

ἕρπει

): 614, 625 (

ἐκτὸς ἄτας

σοὶ δ’ is better than Elmsley's σὺ δ’ , since the primary contrast is between their points of view: ‘if it seems right to thee, dishonour the dead,’ rather than, ‘do thou, if it seems right, dishonour the dead.’ Remark, too, that the simple εἰ δοκεῖ (without dat. of pron.) is usually a polite formula, ‘if it is pleasing to you (as well as to me)’: Ph. 526

ἀλλ’ εἰ δοκεῖ, πλέωμεν

: ib. 645

ἀλλ’ εἰ δοκεῖ, χωρῶμεν

: ib. 1402

εἰ δοκεῖ, στείχωμεν.

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμα , the honoured things of the gods; the laws which are theirs (454

θεῶν νόμιμα

), held in honour (by them and by men).

τὰ τοῖς θεοῖς ἔντιμα

(25, El. 239

ἔντιμος τούτοις

) would have presented the gods only as observers, not also as authors, of the laws.

ἀτιμάσασ’ ἔχε ( cp. 22 ), ‘be guilty of dishonouring’: cp. Ai. 588

μὴ προδοὺς ἡμᾶς γένῃ

, and n. on O. T. 957 .

ἐγὼ is slightly emphasised by μέν ( ), which goes closely with it, and does not here answer to the following δέ .

ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι = ἀτιμάζω: cp. O.C. 584

δῑ οὐδενὸς ποιεῖ.

τὸ δὲ | ...δρᾶν :

τὸ γὰρ | ...πράσσειν

. The inf. with art. is strictly an acc. of respect (‘as for the acting..., I am incapable of it’), but is practically equiv. to the simple inf.,

ἀμήχανος δρᾶν

: see n. on O. C. 47

οὐδ’ ἐμοὶ...τοὐξανιστάναι... | ...ἐστὶ θάρσος

τάδ’ ἂν προὔχοιο , ‘thou canst make these excuses’ ( sc.

εἰ βούλοιο

): Aesch. Ag. 1394

χαίροιτ’ ἄν, εἰ χαίροιτ’· ἐγὼ δ’ ἐπεύχομαι

. For

προέχεσθαι

as=

προφασίζεσθαι

cp. Thuc. 1.140

ὅπερ μάλιστα προὔχονται

. So

πρόσχημα = πρόφασις

( El. 525 ).

δὴ , ‘now,’ as the next thing to be done: cp. 173 .

τάφον χώσουσ’ , prop. to raise a mound on the spot where the remains of the dead had been burned: Il. 7.336

τύμβον δ’ ἀμφὶ πυρὴν ἕνα χεύομεν

. So Il. 24.799

σῆμ’ ἔχεαν

,—after placing the bones in an urn (

λάρναξ

), and depositing this in a grave (

κάπετος

). She speaks as if she hoped to give him regular sepulture. This is ultimately done by Creon's command (1203

τύμβον...χώσαντες

), though the rites which Antigone herself is able to perform are only symbolical (255, 429).

Join οἴμοι ταλαίνης , ‘alas for thee, unhappy one’: O. C. 1399

οἴμοι κελεύθου τῆς τ’ ἐμῆς δυσπραξίας, | οἴμοι δ’ ἑταίρων

: but the nom. when the ref. is to the speaker, as El. 1143

οἴμοι τάλαινα τῆς ἐμῆς πάλαι τροφῆς.

μὴ ’μοῦ προτάρβει (or, as some write it,

μὴ ἐμοῦ

) is clearly right. If we read

μή μου προτάρβει

, then the emphasis is solely on the verbal notion. ‘I fear for thee.’—‘ Fear not so: make thine own fate prosperous.’ But the stress on τὸν σόν renders it certain that the poet intended a corresponding stress on the preceding pronoun: ‘Fear not for me— make thine own fate prosperous.’ And μὴ ’μοῦ is no more objectionable than

μὴ ’γώ

in El. 472 . προτάρβει , as Tr. 89 (with gen.

πατρός

). Distinguish

προδείσας

, ‘afraid beforehand,’ O. T. 90 (n.).

ἐξόρθου here=‘straighten out,’ i.e. guide in a straight or prosperous course: cp. 167

ὤρθου πόλιν

, 675

ὀρθουμένων

. Elsewhere

ἐξορθόω

is usu. ‘to correct, amend’ ( Plat. Tim. 90D ); more rarely, like

ἀνορθόω

( O. T. 51 ), ‘to set upright’ (

τὸ πεσόν

, Plat. Legg. 862C ). In the figurative uses of

ὀρθός

and its derivatives the context must always guide our choice between the notion of ‘upright’ and that of ‘straight.’

ἀλλ’ οὖν … γε . In this combination ἀλλά is like our ‘well’; οὖν =‘at any rate’ (i.e. if you must do it); and

γε

emphasises the word which it follows. Cp. El. 233

ἀλλ’ οὖν εὐνοίᾳ γ’ αὐδῶ

, ‘well, at any rate (i.e. though you will not listen to me) it is with good-will that I speak.’ Ph. 1305.

κρυφῆ δέ : here

δέ = ἀλλά

: Thuc. 4.86

οὐκ ἐπὶ κακῷ, ἐπ’ ἐλευθερώσει δέ.

σὺν δ’ , adv., sc.

κεύσω

: cp. Ai. 1288

ὅδ’ ἦν ὁ πράσσων ταῦτα, σὺν δ’ ἐγὼ παρών.

αὔτως (adv. of

αὐτός

, see on O.T. 931), in just that way—‘likewise’: Tr. 1040

ὧδ’ αὔτως ὥς μ’ ὤλεσε

καταύδα , sc.

τὸ ἔργον

, ‘ denounce it.’ The word occurs only here, the pres. used in this sense being

καταγορεύω

( Thuc. 4.68

καταγορεύει τις ξυνειδὼς τοῖς ἑτέροις τὸ ἐπιβούλευμα

): aor.

κατεῖπον.

πολλόν : this Ionic form occurs also Tr. 1196

πολλὸν δ’ ἄρσεν’ ἐκτεμόνθ’ ὁμοῦ | ἄγριον ἔλαιον

, though in no other places of tragedy. And Soph. also used the epic form

πουλύπους

in a trimeter, fr. 286

νόει πρὸς ἀνδρί, σῶμα πουλύπους ὅπως | πέτρᾳ, κ.τ.λ.

Porson on Eur. Hec. 618 wished to read in our verse either

πλεῖον

(which is inadmissible, as Nauck observes, Eur. Stud. 2. 27), or

μᾶλλον

, which some edd. receive. But πολλὸν is manifestly better than

μᾶλλον.

σιγῶσ’ is explained by ἐὰν … τάδε , while the thought is strengthened by πᾶσι : she is to tell the news to all.

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι κ.τ.λ.: ‘thou hast a hot heart for chilling deeds’; i.e. in thy rash enthusiasm thou art undertaking deeds which might well chill thy soul with a presage of death. ἐπί with dat. here=‘with a view to’ ( Xen. Anab. 3.5.18

ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐθύσαντο

): not ‘in,’ like

ἐπ’ ἔργοις πᾶσι

O. C. 1268 (n.). Cp. 157 . θερμήν has suggested

ψυχρά

, and the thought of the dead has helped (cp. O. C. 621

νέκυς ψυχρός

). In Aesch. PV 693

δείματα

are said

ἀμφάκει κέντρῳ ψύχειν ψυχάν

(to chill,—where Meineke's

ψήχειν

, ‘to wear,’ is improbable). Cp. Aristoph. Ach. 1191

στυγερὰ τάδε κρυερὰ πάθεα

: Eur. fr. 908

κρυερὰ Διόθεν | θανάτου πεμφθεῖσα τελευτή

. For the verbal contrast, Schütz cp. Ad Herenn. 4. 15. 21

in re frigidissima cales, in ferventissima friges

, and A. P. 465

ardentem frigidus Aetnam Insiluit.

He thinks that Ismene (hurt by vv. 86 f.) implies, ‘and a cold heart for thy living sister,’ to which Ant. rejoins by v. 89. But

θερμήν

is not ‘affectionate,’ and Ant. seems to mean simply, ‘love and piety banish fear.’— Some understand, ‘with a view to joyless things’ (cp. on 650): but this would be weak.

ἁδεῖν , an aor. inf. used in Il. 3.173 , as also by Solon (fr. 7

ἔργμασιν ἐν μεγάλοις πᾶσιν ἁδεῖν χαλεπόν

), Her., and This Pind. is the only place in classical Attic where any part of the aor.

ἕαδον

occurs.

εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ’ , yes, if (besides having the wish to please them) you shall also have the power. καὶ goes closely with δυνήσει : cp. O. T. 283

εἰ καὶ τρίτ’ ἐστί

. Such cases must be carefully distinguished from those in which εἰ καί form a single expression; see O. T. p. 296.

Since οὐκοῦν (‘well, then’) precedes, δὴ is best taken as giving precision to ὅταν ,—‘so soon as.’

πεπαύσομαι , ‘I will cease forthwith’: so Tr. 587 . Cp. the perf., Ph. 1279

εἰ δὲ μή τι πρὸς καιρὸν λέγων | κυρῶ, πέπαυμαι

, ‘I have done.’

ἀρχήν , adv., ‘to begin with,’ ‘at all,’—in negative sentences; often placed, as here, before the negative word; El. 439

ἀρχὴν δ’ ἂν...οὐκ ἂν...ἐπέστεφε

: Ph. 1239

ἀρχὴν κλύειν ἂν οὐδ’ ἅπαξ ἐβουλόμην

: Her. 3.39

ἔφη χαριεῖσθαι μᾶλλον ἀποδιδοὺς τὰ ἔλαβε ἢ ἀρχὴν μηδὲ λαβών

. In affirmative sentences the art. is usually added: Andoc. or. 3 § 20

ἐξῆν γὰρ αὐτοῖς καὶ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἐῶσιν Ὀρχομενίους αὐτονόμους εἰρήνην ἄγειν

: so Isocr. or. 15 § 272.

ἐχθαρεῖ , pass.: so, from liquid stems, 230

ἀλγυνεῖ

: O. T. 272

φθερεῖσθαι

: Ai. 1155

πημανούμενος

. The ‘midd.’ fut. in

affords numerous examples, as below, 210, 637, 726: see n. on O. T. 672 and O. C. 1185 .

ἐξ ἐμοῦ , ‘on my part’ ( cp. 95 ), rather than simply ‘by me’ ( cp. 63 ).

ἐχθρὰ...τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ , ‘thou wilt be subject to the lasting enmity of the dead.’ The word προσκείσει means literally, ‘ wilt be attached to...,’ i.e., ‘ wilt be brought into a lasting relation with’; and ἐχθρά defines the nature of that relation. The sense is thus virtually the same as if we had,

ὁ θανὼν ἐχθρός σοι προσκείσεται

, ‘the enmity of the dead will cleave to thee.’ The convertible use of

προσκεῖσεθαι

is illustrated by 1243

ἀνδρὶ πρόσκειται κακόν

, as compared with El. 1040

ᾧ σὺ πρόσκεισαι κακῷ

, and ib. 240

εἴ τῳ πρόσκειμαι χρηστῷ

. Here,

προσκείσει

expresses merely the establishment of the permanent relation between the two persons. It does not mean, ‘you will be brought, as his foe, into dependence on him’ (i.e. under the power of his curse); as in Eur. Tro. 185

τῷ πρόσκειμαι δούλα τλάμων

; ‘to whom have I been assigned as a slave?’ (i.e. by the casting of lots:— the answer is,

ἐγγύς που κεῖσαι κλήρου

). Nor, again, ‘you will press upon the dead as his foe,’ i.e. be hostile and grievous to him: for, as

δίκῃ

shows, the punishment is to be hers, not his. The idea might have been expressed in a converse form by

τὸν θανόντα ἐχθρὸν προσθήσει

(cf. Xen. Cyr. 2.4.12 ).

Lehrs proposed

Δίκῃ

, i.e. ‘you will fall under the chastisement of justice.’ Donaldson, following Emper, reads

ἐχθρᾷ... δίκῃ

, as iure inimicorum apud mortuum eris: i.e. on the part of the dead you will be deemed to have only the rights of a foe. This is impossible. The ordinary reading is sound.

ἔα , one syll. by synizesis, as O. T. 1451 (n.).

τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσββουλίαν , the folly proceeding from me, the folly on my part, for which I bear the sole blame: El. 619

ἀλλ’ ἡ γὰρ ἐκ σοῦ δυσμένεια καὶ τὰ σὰ | ἔργ’ ἐξαναγκάζει με

, ‘it is the enmity on thy part,’ etc. Tr. 631

μὴ πρὼ| λέγοις ἂν τὸν πόθον τὸν ἐξ ἐμοῦ, | πρὶν εἰδέναι τἀκεῖθεν εῖ ποθούμεθα

. Cp. O. C. 453 n.

τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο , ironical: cp. El. 376

² φέρ’ εἰπὲ δὴ τὸ δεινόν.

πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ : for the position of the negative (which belongs to the verb, not to

τοσοῦτον

), cp. 223 , O. C. 125

προσέβα γὰρ οὐκ ἄν

. We still write

οὐ

here, not

οὔ

, because the sentence runs on without pause: but 255

τυμβήρης μὲν οὔ

, Ai. 545

ταρβήσει γὰρ οὔ

, since in each case a comma can follow the negative.

μὴ οὐ , not

μή

, because the principal verb

πείσομαι

is negatived: O.T. 283 n. She means, ‘even if I have to die, at least I shall not suffer the worst of evils; which is not death, but an ignoble death.’ Cp. frag. adesp. 61

οὐ κατθανεῖν γὰρ δεινόν, ἀλλ’ αἰσχρῶς θανεῖν

τοῖς φίλοις δ’ ὀρθῶς φίλη , ‘but truly dear to thy friends,’—i.e. both to the dead brother and to the living sister. The words are especially a parting assurance ( ἴσθι ) that Ismene's love is undiminished.

ὀρθῶς = ἀληθῶς

, as Diphilus frag. incert. 20

τὸν ὀρθῶς εὐγενῆ

. Others make

φίλη

active,—‘a true friend to thy friends’ (i.e. to Polyneices): which is certainly the fittest sense in Eur. I. T. 609

ὡς ἀπ’ εὐγενοῦς τινος | ῥίζης πέφυκας, τοῖς φίλοις τ’ ὀρθῶς φίλος

(Orestes, when he devotes his life to save his friend's). But here the other view is decidedly preferable.

Commentary on Sophocles: Antigone. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. 1900.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Experimental

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

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (12)

Greek (L. Benloew, 1858) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (L. Benloew, 1858)) — 1 focus

ὦ κοινὸν ¹ αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρ᾽ οἶσθ᾽ ὅτι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου κακῶν ²

ὁποῖον³ οὐχὶ νῷν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;

οὐδὲν ⁴ γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν, οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ ⁵
5

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν ⁶ τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασὶ πανδήμῳ πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως ;

ἔχεις τι ⁷, κεἰσήκουσας; ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά ⁸;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθ᾽ ἡδὺς, οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο,

μιᾷ θανόντων ἡμέρᾳ διπλῇ χερί ⁹·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ᾽ ὑπέρτερον ¹⁰

οὔτ᾽ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον, οὔτ᾽ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῷν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ᾽ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα ¹¹ μὲν, ὡς λέγουσι, σὺν δίκῃ

χρῃσθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ, κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε, τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς·
25

τὸν δ᾽ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφῳ καλύψαι, μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾷν δ᾽ ἄκλαυστον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι ¹² πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασι ¹³ τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

κἀμοὶ ¹⁴, λέγω γὰρ κἀμὲ, κηρύξαντ᾽ ἔχειν,

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσι

σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα· καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν

οὐχ ὡς ¹⁵ παρ᾽ οὐδέν· ἀλλ᾽, ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ,
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα,

εἴτ᾽ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας, εἴτ᾽ ἐσθλῶν κακή ¹⁶,

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαίφρων, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾽φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον ¹⁷ ;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις, καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί ¹⁸.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόῤῥητον πόλει·

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σὸν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν. οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῷν ¹⁹ ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ᾽ ἀπώλετο,
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργοῦ χερί·

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνὴ, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δ᾽, ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ᾽ ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτονοῦντε, τὼ ταλαιπώρω, μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσανθ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἀλλήλοιν χεροῖν.

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα, σκόπει

ὅσῳ ²⁰ κάκιστ᾽ ὀλούμεθ᾽, εἰ, νόμου βίᾳ,

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν.
60

ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν, γυναῖχ᾽ ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα·

ἔπειτα δ᾽, οὕνεκ᾽ ἀρχόμεσθ᾽ ἐκ κρεισσόνων,

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀκούειν, κἄτι τῶνδ᾽ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι. τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτ᾽ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽, οὔτ᾽ ἂν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα ²¹.
70

ἀλλ᾽ ²² ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ. κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

θάψω. καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσῃ θανεῖν.

φίλη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασ᾽· ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος,

ὃν δεῖ μ᾽ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω, τῶν ἐνθάδε.
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ αἰεὶ κείσομαι. σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ᾽ ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι· τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾷν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽· ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μή μου προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσεις γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον· κρυφῆ δὲ κεῦθε· σὺν δ᾽ αὕτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα. πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει

σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρεῖ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο· πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν, ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός

a

Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 1 focus

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρ᾽ οἶσθ᾽, ὅτι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῷν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ — ἄτης ἄτερ —

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ', ὁποῖον οὐ
5

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασὶ πανδήμῳ πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;

ἔχεις τι κεἰσήκουσας; ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθ᾽ ἡδὺς οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ᾽, ἐξότου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο,

μιᾷ θανόντων ἡμέρᾳ διπλῇ χερί·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ᾽ ὑπέρτερον

οὔτ᾽ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον οὔτ᾽ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῷν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων,

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ᾽ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὡς λέγουσι, σὺν δίκῃ

χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε, τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς·
25

τὸν δ᾽ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφῳ καλύψαι, μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

κἀμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ, κηρύξαντ᾽ ἔχειν,

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν

σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα· καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν

οὐχ ὡς παρ᾽ οὐδέν, ἀλλ’ ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ,
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα,

εἴτ᾽ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας, εἴτ᾽ ἐσθλῶν κακή.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾽φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόῤῥητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ’ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι, φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῷν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ᾽ ἀπώλετο,
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί·

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δ᾽ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ’ ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτονοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσαντ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀλλήλοιν χεροῖν.

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

ὅσῳ κάκιστ᾽ ὀλούμεθ'. εἰ νόμου βίᾳ

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν·
60

ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν, γυναῖχ᾽ ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα·

ἔπειτα δ᾽, οὕνεκ᾽ ἀρχόμεσθ᾽ ἐκ κρεισσόνων,

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀκούειν κἄτι τῶνδ᾽ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι. τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτ᾽ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽, οὔτ᾽ ἂν εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ' ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα.
70

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποίᾳ σοι δοκεῖ· κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

θάψω. καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσῃ θανεῖν.

φίλη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασ᾽· ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος.

ὃν δεῖ μ’ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω τῶν ἐνθάδε.
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ αἰεὶ κείσομαι· σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ᾽ ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι· τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽ · ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μὴ ᾽μοῦ προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ' οὖν προμηνύσῃς γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον, κρυφῆ δὲ κεῦθε· σὺν δ᾽ αὔτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα. πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει

σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ' οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρεῖ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο. πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδέν, ὥοτε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ', εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ', ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

2. ΠΑΡΟΔΟΣ.

Χορός

1

Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 1 focus

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρ᾽ οἶσθά τι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῷν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν, οὐκ ἄτης ἄτερ,

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν, οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ
5

τῶν σῶν τε κᾀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασὶ πανδήμῳ πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;

ἔχεις τι, κεἰσήκουσας, ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθ᾽ ἡδὺς, οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο,

μιᾷ θανόντων ἡμέρᾳ διπλῇ χερί·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ᾽ ὑπέρτερον,

οὔτ᾽ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον, οὔτ᾽ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῷν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων,

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ᾽ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα μὲν, ὡς λέγουσι, ξυνδίκῃ

χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ, κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε, τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς ·
25

τὸν δ᾽ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρύχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφῳ καλύψαι, μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾷν δ᾽ ἄκλαυστον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν, εἰσορμῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντά σοι

κᾀμοὶ (λέγων γὰρ ἔκαμε) κηρύξαντ᾽ ἔχειν,

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι, ταῦτα τοῖς μὴ οὐκ εἰδόσι

σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα· καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν

οὐχ, ὡς παρ᾽ οὐδὲν, ἀλλ᾽, ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ,
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα,

εἴτ᾽ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας, εἴτ᾽ ἐσθλῶν κακή.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαίφρων, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾿φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾿ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόῤῥητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σὸν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν μ᾽ εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἵ μοι, φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῷν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ᾽ ἀπώλετο,
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί·

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δ᾽ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ᾿ ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτενοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω, μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσαντ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀλλήλοιν χεροῖν·

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα, σκόπει,

ὅσῳ κάκιστ᾽ ὀλούμεθ᾽, εἰ νόμου βίᾳ

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν.
60

ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μέν, γυναῖχ᾽ ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα·

ἔπειτα δ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἀρχόμεσθ᾽ ἐκ κρεισσόνων,

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀκούειν, κἄτι τῶνδ᾽ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν, αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι· τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν, οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτ’ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽, οὔτ᾽ ἂν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα·
70

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ· κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

θάψω. καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσῃ θανεῖν·

φίλη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασ᾽· ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος,

ὃν δεῖ μ᾽ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω, τῶν ἐνθάδε·
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ αἰεὶ κείσομαι· σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ᾽ ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾷν, ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽ · ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴ μοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου!

Ἀντιγόνη

μή μου προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσεις γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὖργον, κρυφῆ δὲ κεῦθε· σὺν δ᾽ αὕτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἶμαι καταυδᾷν· πολλὸν ἐχθίων δ᾽ ἔσει

σύ γ᾽ ὡς, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ’ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽, οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽ · ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾷν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρεῖ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ.

ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο· πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν, ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός

1

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1 focus

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρ᾽ οἶσθ᾽ ὅτι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῷν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης †ἄτερ

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ
5

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασι πανδήμῳ πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;

ἔχεις τι κεἰσήκουσας; ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθ᾽ ἡδὺς οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ᾿ ἐξ ὅτου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο,

μιᾷ θανόντων ἡμέρᾳ διπλῇ χερί·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ᾽ ὑπέρτερον,

οὔτ᾽ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον, οὔτ᾽ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῷν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ᾽ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὡς λέγουσι, σὺν δίκῃ

†χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ, κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε, τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς,
25

τὸν δ᾽ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφῳ καλύψαι μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντά σοι

κἀμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ, κηρύξαντ᾽ ἔχειν,

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα *τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν

σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα, καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν

οὐχ ὡς παρ᾽ οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ,
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα

εἴτ᾿ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας εἴτ᾿ ἐσθλῶν κακή.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ' ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾿φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ' εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

50v

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ', ἀπόρρητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν *μ' εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῷν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ᾿ ἀπώλετο
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων, διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί·

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δ᾽ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ' ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτονοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσαντ᾽ ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν.

νῦν αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

ὅσῳ κάκιστ᾽ ὀλούμεθ᾽, εἰ νόμου βίᾳ

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν.
60

ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν γυναῖχ᾽ ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα·

ἔπειτα δ᾽ οὕνεκ᾿ ἀρχόμεσθ' ἐκ κρεισσόνων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀκούειν κἄτι τῶνδ᾽ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι. τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτ᾽ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα.
70

ἄλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

θάψω. καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσῃ θανεῖν.

φίλη μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασ'· ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος

ὃν δεῖ μ᾿ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω τῶν ἐνθάδε.
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ ἀεὶ κείσομαι· σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ᾽ ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοιʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μή μου προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσῃς γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον, κρυφῆ δὲ κεῦθε, σὺν δ᾽ αὕτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα· πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει

σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ'· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

51r

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρεῖ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο· πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός
α

Greek (A. Colonna, 1978) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Colonna, 1978)) — 1 focus

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρ᾽ οἶσθ᾽ ὅ τι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῷν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ,

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρόν, οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ’, ὁποῖον οὐ
5

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐχ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασι πανδήμῳ πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;

ἔχεις τι κεἰσήκουσας ; ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθ᾽ ἡδὺς οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο,

μιᾷ θανόντων ἡμέρᾳ διπλῇ χερί·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ᾽ ὑπέρτερον,

οὔτ᾽ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον οὔτ᾽ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῷν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ᾽ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὡς λέγουσι, σὺν δίκῃ

χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ, κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς·
25

τὸν δ᾽ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφῳ καλύψαι μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐὰν δ᾽ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

κἀμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ, κηρύξαντ᾽ ἔχειν,

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν

σαφῇ προκηρύξοντα, καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν

οὐχ ὡς παρ᾽ οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα

εἴτ᾽ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας εἴτ᾽ ἐσθλῶν κακή.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν εἴθ᾽ ἅπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

ἐἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσῃ σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόρρητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν, ἣν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν μ᾽ εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῷν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ᾽ ἀπώλετο,
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί·

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δ᾽ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ᾽ ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτονοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσαντ᾽ ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν.

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

ὅσῳ κάκιστ᾽ ὀλούμεθ᾽, εἰ νόμου βίᾳ

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν.
60

ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν γυναῖχ᾽ ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα·

ἔπειτα δ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἀρχόμεσθ᾽ ἐκ κρεισσόνων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀκούειν κἄτι τῶνδ᾽ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι· τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτ᾽ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα.
70

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

θάψω· καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσῃ θανεῖν.

φίλη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασ᾽· ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος

ὃν δεῖ μ᾽ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω τῶν ἐνθάδε.
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ αἰεὶ κείσομαι σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ᾽ ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽, ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μὴ ᾿μοῦ προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσῃς γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον, κρυφῇ δὲ κεῦθε, σὺν δ᾽ αὕτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα· πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσῃ

σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ' οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσῃ γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρῇ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῷ θανόντι προσχείσῃ δίκῃ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο· πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχῃ, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός
1

Greek (A. Dain, 1955) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. Dain, 1955)) — 1 focus

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρ’ οἶσθ’ ὅ τι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ’ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῷν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ’ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ’ ἄτης ἄτερ

οὔτ’ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ’ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ’ ὁποῖον οὐ
5

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ’ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ’ αὖ φασι πανδήμῳ πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;

ἔχεις τι κεἰσήκουσας; ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθ’ ἡδὺς οὔτ’ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ’, ἐξ ὅτου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο

μιᾷ θανόντων ἡμέρᾳ διπλῇ χερί·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ’ ὑπέρτερον,

οὔτ’ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον οὔτ’ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἤιδη καλῶς καί σ’ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ’ οὕνεκ’ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ’ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ’ ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῷν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ’ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὡς λέγουσι, σὺν δίκῃ

χρῆσθαι δικαιῶν καὶ νόμῳ, κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς·
25

τὸν δ’ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφῳ καλύψαι μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ’ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

κἀμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ, κηρύξαντ’ ἔχειν,

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν

σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα, καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ’ ἄγειν

οὐχ ὡς παρ’ οὐδέν, ἀλλ’ ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα

εἴτ’ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας εἴτ’ ἐσθλῶν κακή.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ’, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ’ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ’ ἂν εἴθ’ ἅπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσῃ σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῖ γνώμης ποτ’ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ’, ἀπόρρητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ’ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ’ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν μ’ εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῷν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ’ ἀπώλετο,
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί·

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δ’ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ’ ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτονοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσαντ’ ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν.

νῦν δ’ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

ὅσῳ κάκιστ’ ὀλούμεθ’, εἰ νόμου βίᾳ

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν.
60

ἀλλ’ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν γυναῖχ’ ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα·

ἔπειτα δ’ οὕνεκ’ ἀρχόμεσθ’ ἐκ κρεισσόνων

καὶ ταῦτ’ ἀκούειν κἄτι τῶνδ’ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι· τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτ’ ἂν κελεύσαιμ’ οὔτ’ ἄν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ’ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα.
70

ἀλλ’ ἴσθ’ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ’ ἐγὼ

θάψω· καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσῃ θανεῖν.

φίλη μετ’ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασ’· ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος

ὃν δεῖ μ’ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω τῶν ἐνθάδε.
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ αἰεὶ κείσομαι· σοὶ δ’ εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ’ ἀτιμάσασ’ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ’ ἂν προὔχοι', ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ’ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μὴ ’μοῦ προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ’ οὖν προμηνύσῃς γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον, κρυφῇ δὲ κεῦθε, σὺν δ’ αὕτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα· πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσῃ

σιγῶσ’, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ’ οἶδ’ ἀρέσκουσ’ οἷς μάλισθ’ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσῃ γ’· ἀλλ’ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρῇ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῷ θανόντι προσκείσῃ δίκῃ.

ἀλλ’ ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο· πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ’, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ’ ἴσθ’ ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχῃ, τοῖς φίλοις δ’ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός
1

Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. D. Dawe, 1979)) — 1 focus

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρ᾽ οἶσθ᾽ ὅ τι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῶιν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ † ἄτης ἄτερ †

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ', ὁποῖον οὐ
5

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασι πανδήμωι πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;

ἔχεις τι κεἰσήκουσας; ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθ᾽ ἡδὺς οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο

μιᾶι θανόντοιν ἡμέραι διπλῆι χερί·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῆι νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ᾽ ὑπέρτερον,

οὔτ᾽ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον οὔτ᾽ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἤιδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῶιν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ᾽ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὡς λέγουσι, † σὺν δίκηι

χρησθεὶς δικαίαι † καὶ νόμωι κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε, τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς·
25

τὸν δ᾽ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφωι καλύψαι μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χαρὰν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντά σοι

κἀμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ, κηρύξαντ᾽ ἔχειν·

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν

σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα, καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν

οὐχ ὡς παρ᾽ οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾶι
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα

εἴτ᾽ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας εἴτ᾽ ἐσθλῶν κακή.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν εἴθ᾽ ἅπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσηι σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῆιδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόρρητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέληις,
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῶι τῶν ἐμῶν μ᾽ εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῶιν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ᾽ ἀπώλετο,
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῶι χερί·

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δ᾽ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ' ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτονοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσαντ᾽ ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν.

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

ὅσωι κάκιστ᾽ ὀλούμεθ᾽, εἰ νόμου βίαι

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν.
60

ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν γυναῖχ᾽ ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα,

ἔπειτα δ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἀρχόμεσθ᾽ ἐκ κρεισσόνων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀκούειν κἄτι τῶνδ᾽ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι· τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτ᾽ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρώιης μέτα.
70

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ· κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

θάψω. καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσηι θανεῖν.

φίλη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασ᾽, ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος

ὃν δεῖ μ᾽ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω τῶν ἐνθάδε.
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ αἰεὶ κείσομαι σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ᾽ ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ

βίαι πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προύχοι᾽, ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῶι φιλτάτωι πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μὴ ᾿μοῦ προτάρβει. τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου βίον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσηις γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον, κρυφῆι δὲ κεῦθε, σὺν δ᾽ αὔτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα. πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσηι

σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξηις τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με· χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσηι γ᾽. ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾶις.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρῆι μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῶι θανόντι προσκλήισηι δίκηι.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχηι, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός

1

Greek (G. Hermann, 1830) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (G. Hermann, 1830)) — 1 focus

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρ' οἶσθ᾽ ὅτι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾿ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῷν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινόν, οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ,

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρόν , οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμον ἔσθ᾽ ὁποῖον οὔ,
5

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασὶ πανδήμῳ πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;

ἔχεις τι, κεἰσήκουσας; ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθ᾽ ἡδὺς οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ᾽ ἐξ ὅτου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο,

μιᾷ θανόντων ἡμέρᾳ διπλῇ χερί·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ᾽ ὑπέρτερον,

οὔτ᾽ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον, οὔτ᾽ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῷν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων,

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ᾽ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὡς λέγουσι, σὺν δίκῃ

χρῃσθεὶς δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμῳ κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε, τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς·
25

τὸν δ᾽ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί, φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφῳ καλύψαι, μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασιν τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

κἀμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ, κηρύξαντ᾽ ἔχειν,

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν

σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα· καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν

οὐχ ὡς παρ᾽ οὐδέν· ἀλλ᾽ ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ,
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα,

εἴτ᾽ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας, εἴτ᾽ ἐσθλῶν κακή.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ θάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης πότ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόῤῥητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμόν, καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν. οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν μ᾽ εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῷν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ᾽ ἀπώλετο
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων, διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί·

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δ᾽ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ' ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτονοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσαντ᾽ ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν.

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

ὅσῳ κάκιστ᾽ ὀλούμεθ᾽, εἰ νόμου βίᾳ

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν.
60

ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μέν, γυναῖχ᾽ ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα

ἔπειτα δ᾽, οὕνεκ᾽ ἀρχόμεσθ᾽ ἐκ κρεισσόνων,

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀκούειν, κἄτι τῶνδ᾽ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι. πείσομαι. τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτ᾽ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽, οὔτ᾽ ἂν εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα.
70

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποίᾳ σοι δοκεῖ. κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

θάψω. καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσῃ θανεῖν.

φίλη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασ᾽ · ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος,

ὃν δεῖ μ᾽ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω τῶν ἐνθάδε.
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ αἰεὶ κείσομαι· σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ᾽ ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι· τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν, ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽· ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μή μου προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσῃς γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον· κρυφῆ δὲ κεῦθε· σὺν δ᾽ αὔτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι· καταύδα. πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει

σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρεῖ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔα με, καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν,
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο. πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδέν, ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός

1

Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (R. C. Jebb, 1906)) — 1 focus

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρ᾽ οἶσθ᾽ ὅ τι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῷν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ ;

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ
5

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασὶ πανδήμῳ πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;

ἔχεις τι κεἰσήκουσας ; ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθ᾽ ἡδὺς οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο,

μιᾷ θανόντοιν ἡμέρᾳ διπλῇ χερί·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ᾽ ὑπέρτερον,

οὔτ᾽ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον οὔτ᾽ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῷν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ᾽ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὡς λέγουσι, σὺν δίκης

χρήσει δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμου, κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε, τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς·
25

τὸν δ᾽ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφῳ καλύψαι μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

κἀμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ, κηρύξαντ᾽ ἔχειν,

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν

σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα, καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν

οὐχ ὡς παρ᾽ οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ,
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα

εἴτ᾽ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας εἴτ᾽ ἐσθλῶν κακή.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾽φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόρρητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμόν, καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος ;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν μ᾽ εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῷν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ᾽ ἀπώλετο,
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί·

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δ᾽ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ᾽ ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτονοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσαντ᾽ ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν.

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

ὅσῳ κάκιστ᾽ ὀλούμεθ᾽, εἰ νόμου βίᾳ

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν.
60

ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν γυναῖχ᾽ ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα·

ἔπειτα δ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἀρχόμεσθ᾽ ἐκ κρεισσόνων,

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀκούειν κἄτι τῶνδ᾽ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι· τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτ᾽ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽, οὔτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα.
70

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποία σοι δοκεῖ· κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

θάψω· καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσῃ θανεῖν.

φίλη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασ᾽· ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος

ὃν δεῖ μ᾽ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω τῶν ἐνθάδε.
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ ἀεὶ κείσομαι· σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ᾽ ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽· ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μὴ ᾿μοῦ προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσῃς γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον, κρυφῇ δὲ κεῦθε, σὺν δ᾽ αὔτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα· πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει

σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρεῖ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο· πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός

1

Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (A. C. Pearson, 1924)) — 1 focus

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρ’ οἶσθ᾽ ὅ τι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῷν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ
5

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασι πανδήμῳ πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;

ἔχεις τι κεἰσήκουσας; ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθ᾽ ἡδὺς οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ᾽ ἐξ ὅτου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο,

μιᾷ θανόντοιν ἡμέρᾳ διπλῇ χερί·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ᾽ ὑπέρτερον,

οὔτ᾽ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον οὔτ᾽ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ' ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ' ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῷν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ᾽ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὡς λέγουσι, σὺν δίκῃ

†χρησθεὶς δικαίᾳ † καὶ νόμῳ, κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς,
25

τὸν δ᾽ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφῳ καλύψαι μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

κἀμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ, κηρύξαντ᾽ ἔχειν,

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν

σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα, καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν

οὐχ ὡς παρ᾽ οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ,
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα

εἴτ' εὐγενὴς πέφυκας εἴτ᾽ ἐσθλῶν κακή.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν εἴθ᾽ ἅπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσῃ σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόρρητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν μ᾽ εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῷν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ᾽ ἀπώλετο,
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί·

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δ᾽ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ᾽ ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτονοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσαντ᾽ ἐπ᾽ ἀλλήλοιν χεροῖν.

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

ὅσῳ κάκιστ᾽ ὀλούμεθ᾽, εἰ νόμου βίᾳ

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν.
60

ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν γυναῖχ' ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα·

ἔπειτα δ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἀρχόμεσθ᾽ ἐκ κρεισσόνων

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀκούειν κἄτι τῶνδ᾽ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι. τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτ᾽ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα.
70

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

θάψω. καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσῃ θανεῖν.

φίλη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασ᾽· ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος

ὃν δεῖ μ᾽ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω τῶν ἐνθάδε.
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ αἰεὶ κείσομαι· σοὶ δ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ᾽ ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προύχοι᾽ — ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι, ταλαίνης ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μὴ ᾽μοῦ προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσῃς γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον, κρυφῇ δὲ κεῦθε, σὺν δ᾽ αὔτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα· πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσῃ

σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσῃ γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρῇ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῷ θανόντι προσκείσῃ δίκῃ.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο· πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχῃ, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός

Antigone (OCR draft) Experimental (Antigone) — 1 focus

Ἀντιγόνη

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρʼ οἶσθʼ ὅ τι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπʼ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῷν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτʼ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτʼ ἄτης ἄτερ

οὔτʼ αἰσχρὸν οὔτʼ ἄτιμόν ἐσθʼ, ὁποῖον οὐ
5

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπʼ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτʼ αὖ φασι πανδήμῳ πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;

ἔχεις τι κεἰσήκουσας; ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθʼ ἡδὺς οὔτʼ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετʼ ἐξ ὅτου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο,

μιᾷ θανόντοιν ἡμέρᾳ διπλῇ χερί·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῇ νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδʼ ὑπέρτερον,

οὔτʼ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον οὔτʼ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σʼ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδʼ οὕνεκʼ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δʼ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσʼ ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῷν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δʼ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὡς λέγουσι, σὺν δίκης

χρήσει δικαίᾳ καὶ νόμου κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς·
25

τὸν δʼ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφῳ καλύψαι μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δʼ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

κἀμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ, κηρύξαντʼ ἔχειν,

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν

σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα, καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμʼ ἄγειν

οὐχ ὡς παρʼ οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾷ,
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα

εἴτʼ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας εἴτʼ ἐσθλῶν κακή.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δʼ, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδʼ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσʼ ἂν ἢ ʼφάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτʼ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφʼ, ἀπόρρητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσʼ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν μʼ εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι. φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῷν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τʼ ἀπώλετο,
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῷ χερί.

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δʼ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθʼ ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτονοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσαντʼ ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν.

νῦν δʼ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

ὅσῳ κάκιστʼ ὀλούμεθʼ, εἰ νόμου βίᾳ

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν.
60

ἀλλʼ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν γυναῖχʼ ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα.

ἔπειτα δʼ οὕνεκʼ ἀρχόμεσθʼ ἐκ κρεισσόνων,

καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀκούειν κἄτι τῶνδʼ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι· τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτʼ ἂν κελεύσαιμʼ οὔτʼ ἄν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γʼ ἂν ἡδέως δρῴης μέτα.
70

ἀλλʼ ἴσθʼ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δʼ ἐγὼ

θάψω· καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσῃ θανεῖν.

φίλη μετʼ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασʼ. ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος

ὃν δεῖ μʼ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω τῶν ἐνθάδε.
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ αἰεὶ κείσομαι· σοὶ δʼ, εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμʼ ἀτιμάσασʼ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδʼ ἂν προὔχοιʼ· ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσʼ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μὴ ʼμοῦ προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλʼ οὖν προμηνύσῃς γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον, κρυφῇ δὲ κεῦθε, σὺν δʼ αὔτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα· πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει

σιγῶσʼ, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ οἶδʼ ἀρέσκουσʼ οἷς μάλισθʼ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γʼ· ἀλλʼ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρεῖ μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῷ θανόντι προσκείσει δίκῃ.

ἀλλʼ ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο· πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλʼ εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δʼ ἴσθʼ ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δʼ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (K. Reinhardt, 1949)) — 1 focus

ὦ κοινὸν αὐτάδελφον Ἰσμήνης κάρα,
1

ἆρ᾽ οἶσθ᾽ ὅ τι Ζεὺς τῶν ἀπ᾽ Οἰδίπου κακῶν

ὁποῖον οὐχὶ νῶιν ἔτι ζώσαιν τελεῖ;

οὐδὲν γὰρ οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτης ἄτερ

οὔτ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὔτ᾽ ἄτιμόν ἐσθ᾽, ὁποῖον οὐ
5

τῶν σῶν τε κἀμῶν οὐκ ὄπωπ᾽ ἐγὼ κακῶν.

καὶ νῦν τί τοῦτ᾽ αὖ φασι πανδήμωι πόλει

κήρυγμα θεῖναι τὸν στρατηγὸν ἀρτίως;

ἔχεις τι κεἰσήκουσας; ἤ σε λανθάνει

πρὸς τοὺς φίλους στείχοντα τῶν ἐχθρῶν κακά;
10

Ἰσμήνη

ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐδεὶς μῦθος, Ἀντιγόνη, φίλων

οὔθ᾽ ἡδὺς οὔτ᾽ ἀλγεινὸς ἵκετ᾽, ἐξ ὅτου

δυοῖν ἀδελφοῖν ἐστερήθημεν δύο,

μιᾶι θανόντων ἡμέραι διπλῆι χερί·

ἐπεὶ δὲ φροῦδός ἐστιν Ἀργείων στρατὸς
15

ἐν νυκτὶ τῆι νῦν, οὐδὲν οἶδ᾽ ὑπέρτερον

οὔτ᾽ εὐτυχοῦσα μᾶλλον οὔτ᾽ ἀτωμένη.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἤιδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽. οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπτεμττον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐ γὰρ τάφου νῶιν τὼ κασιγνήτω Κρέων

τὸν μὲν προτίσας, τὸν δ᾽ ἀτιμάσας ἔχει;

Ἐτεοκλέα μέν, ὡς λέγουσι, σὺν δίκηι

†χρησθεὶς δικαίαι† καὶ νόμωι κατὰ χθονὸς

ἔκρυψε τοῖς ἔνερθεν ἔντιμον νεκροῖς·
25

τὸν δ᾽ ἀθλίως θανόντα Πολυνείκους νέκυν

ἀστοῖσί φασιν ἐκκεκηρῦχθαι τὸ μὴ

τάφωι καλύψαι μηδὲ κωκῦσαί τινα,

ἐᾶν δ᾽ ἄκλαυτον ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς γλυκὺν

θησαυρὸν εἰσορῶσι πρὸς χάριν βορᾶς.
30

τοιαῦτά φασι τὸν ἀγαθὸν Κρέοντα σοὶ

κἀμοί, λέγω γὰρ κἀμέ, κηρύξαντ᾽ ἔχειν,

καὶ δεῦρο νεῖσθαι ταῦτα τοῖσι μὴ εἰδόσιν

σαφῆ προκηρύξοντα, καὶ τὸ πρᾶγμ᾽ ἄγειν

οὐχ ὡς παρ᾽ οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ὃς ἂν τούτων τι δρᾶι,
35

φόνον προκεῖσθαι δημόλευστον ἐν πόλει.

οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα, καὶ δείξεις τάχα

εἴτ᾽ εὐγενὴς πέφυκας εἴτ᾽ ἐσθλῶν κακή.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾽φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσηι σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῖ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῆιδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἢ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόρρητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέληις.
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῶι τῶν ἐμῶν μ᾽ εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι· φρόνησον, ὦ κασιγνήτη, πατὴρ

ὡς νῶιν ἀπεχθὴς δυσκλεής τ᾽ ἀπώλετο,
50

πρὸς αὐτοφώρων ἀμπλακημάτων διπλᾶς

ὄψεις ἀράξας αὐτὸς αὐτουργῶι χερί·

ἔπειτα μήτηρ καὶ γυνή, διπλοῦν ἔπος,

πλεκταῖσιν ἀρτάναισι λωβᾶται βίον·

τρίτον δ᾽ ἀδελφὼ δύο μίαν καθ᾽ ἡμέραν
55

αὐτοκτονοῦντε τὼ ταλαιπώρω μόρον

κοινὸν κατειργάσαντ᾽ ἐπαλλήλοιν χεροῖν.

νῦν δ᾽ αὖ μόνα δὴ νὼ λελειμμένα σκόπει

ὅσωι κάκιστ᾽ ὀλούμεθ᾽, εἰ νόμου βίαι

ψῆφον τυράννων ἢ κράτη παρέξιμεν.
60

ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖν χρὴ τοῦτο μὲν γυναῖχ᾽ ὅτι

ἔφυμεν, ὡς πρὸς ἄνδρας οὐ μαχουμένα·

ἔπειτα δ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἀρχόμεσθ᾽ ἐκ κρεισσόνων,

καὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἀκούειν κἄτι τῶνδ᾽ ἀλγίονα.

ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν αἰτοῦσα τοὺς ὑπὸ χθονὸς
65

ξύγγνοιαν ἴσχειν, ὡς βιάζομαι τάδε,

τοῖς ἐν τέλει βεβῶσι πείσομαι· τὸ γὰρ

περισσὰ πράσσειν οὐκ ἔχει νοῦν οὐδένα.

Ἀντιγόνη

οὔτ᾽ ἂν κελεύσαιμ᾽ οὔτ᾽ ἄν, εἰ θέλοις ἔτι

πράσσειν, ἐμοῦ γ᾽ ἂν ἡδέως δρώιης μέτα,
70

ἀλλ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ὁποῖά σοι δοκεῖ, κεῖνον δ᾽ ἐγὼ

θάψω. καλόν μοι τοῦτο ποιούσηι θανεῖν.

φίλη μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κείσομαι, φίλου μέτα,

ὅσια πανουργήσασ᾽· ἐπεὶ πλείων χρόνος

ὃν δεῖ μ᾽ ἀρέσκειν τοῖς κάτω τῶν ἐνθάδε.
75

ἐκεῖ γὰρ αἰεὶ κείσομαι· σὺ δ᾽, εἰ δοκεῖ,

τὰ τῶν θεῶν ἔντιμ᾽ ἀτιμάσασ᾽ ἔχε.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ

βίαι πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προύχοι᾽· ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῶι φιλτάτωι πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μὴ ᾿μοῦ προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου· πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσηις γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον, κρυφῆι δὲ κεῦθε, σὺν δ᾽ αὕτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσηι

σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξηις τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσηι γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾶις.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ταῦτα λέξεις, ἐχθαρῆι μὲν ἐξ ἐμοῦ,

ἐχθρὰ δὲ τῶι θανόντι προσκείσηι δίκηι.

ἀλλ᾽ ἔα με καὶ τὴν ἐξ ἐμοῦ δυσβουλίαν
95

παθεῖν τὸ δεινὸν τοῦτο· πείσομαι γὰρ οὐ

τοσοῦτον οὐδὲν ὥστε μὴ οὐ καλῶς θανεῖν.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχηι, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός

Translations (11)

German (A. Boeckh, 1884) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (A. Boeckh, 1884)) — 1 focus

ANTIGONE

O treu verbundnes Schwesterhaupt, Ismene, sprich,
1

weifst du, daſs Zeus der Leiden uns von Oedipus

keins unvollendet schon bei unserm Leben läfst?

Denn nichts ist schmerzlich, nichts - des unheilvollen Gräuls

nicht zu gedenken nichts entehrend, schimpflich nichts,
5

was ich in deiner Noth und meiner nicht gesehn.

Und welchen Ausspruch, sagt man, hat nun eben erst

der Herrscher allem Volke wieder kund gethan?

Weifst du davon? vernahmst du's? oder blieb dir fremd,

daſs unsern Freunden von den Feinden Übel nahn?
10

ISMENE

Mir wurde keine Kunde mehr, Antigone,

von unsern Freunden, frohe nicht noch traurige,

seitdem die beiden Brüder uns entrissen sind,

an Einem Tag gefallen durch zwiefachen Mord.

Und da verschwunden nun auch der Argeier Heer
15

in dieser Nacht, ist mir ein Weitres nicht bewuſst,

nicht dafs des Glückes mehr mir oder Leides ward.

ANTIGONE

Wohl wufst' ich's, und ich holte vor des Hauses Thor

defshalb heraus dich, daſs allein du mich vernähmst.

ISMENE

Was ist es? Sicher wogt in dir ein schweres Wort.
20

ANTIGONE

Ehrt nicht der Brüder jenen mit des Grabes Gunst

uns Kreon, und verweigert diesem schmählich sie?

ANTIGONE

Eteokles barg er, wie sie sagen, rechtem Recht,

Gesetz und Brauche folgend in der Erde Schofs,

daſs er geehret unten bei den Todten sei;
25

doch des Polyneikes elend hingestreckten Leib,

hat er verkündet, sagt man, solle nimmer wer

mit Grabeshülle decken, noch wehklagen ihn,

nein, unbeweint ihn lassen, ohne Grab, ein Mahl

den Vögeln, welche lauern ob des süssen Raubs.
30

Desgleichen, sagt man, liefs der gute

Kreon dir

und mir, denn mir auch, mein' ich wohl, verkündigen,

und komme hierher, denen dies noch unbekannt,

es deutlich anzusagen; und es gelte nicht

für nichts die Sach' ihm, sondern wer deſs Eines thut,
35

Tod treffe diesen in der Stadt durch Steinigung.

So steht dir dieses; zeigen wirst alsbald du nun,

ob edel du entsprossen, ob von Guten schlecht.

ISMENE

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

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

ANTIGONE

Ob mit du wirken, mit du handeln wirst, bedenk'.

ISMENE

Und welch ein Wagniſs meinst du? Wohin denkst du doch!

ANTIGONE

Ob du den Todten mir vereint aufnehmen wirst.

ISMENE

Bestatten willst du gar ihn wider dies Verbot?

ANTIGONE

Ja, meinen Bruder, und du wollest oder nicht
45

den deinen: nicht soll man Verrathes mich bezeihn.

ISMENE

Elende, da doch Kreon dies verboten hat?

ANTIGONE

Mich abzuhalten von dem Meinen ziemt ihm nicht.

ISMENE

Weh mir, bedenk', o Schwester, wie der Vater uns,

ISMENE

verhafst und ruhmlos, schmachbeladen, unterging,
50

ob selbstentdeckter Gräuel er das Augenpaar

sich ausgerissen selber mit selbeigner Hand;

dann sie, die Mutter, Mutter ihm und Weib zugleich,

ihr Leben schmählich mit gewundnem Strange kürzt;

das Dritte, wie die Brüder beid' an Einem Tag
55

im Wechselmord sich ein gemeinsam Todesloos

die Armen gaben, einer durch des andern Hand!

Nun sind allein wir übrig; o bedenke, wie

wir auf das Schlimmste stürben, überträten wir

der Herrscher Urtheil und Gewalt, trotz ihrem Recht.
60

Erwägen muſst du ja doch, daſs wir Frauen sind,

ohnmächtig gegen Männer in den Kampf zu gehn,

dann aber, daſs wir als beherrscht von Stärkeren

dem folgen müssen und sogar noch Härterem.

Ich also jene bittend, die der Erdenschofs
65

birgt, zu verzeihen, wenn mich Übermacht bezwingt,

will folgen unsern Herrschern: denn das Übermafs

im Handeln zu erstreben ist nur Unverstand.

ANTIGONE

Nicht mehr verlang' ich's, noch wenn jetzo du sogar

es wolltest, möcht' ich, daſs mit mir du handeltest.
70

Sei wie du seyn willst; aber jenen werd' im Grab

ich bergen; schön ist mir der Tod für diese That.

Geliebt beim lieben Freunde lieg' ich dann, dieweil

ich frommen Frevel übte: muſs doch längre Zeit

den Untern ich gefallen als den Oberen!
75

Denn dort ja lieg' ich ewig; du, wenn dir's gefällt,

entehre, was ehrwürdig ist nach Götterrecht.

ISMENE

Ich acht' es wahrlich nicht unehrenwerth:

jedoch

zum Trotz der Stadt zu handeln—das vermag ich nicht.

ANTIGONE

Du wende dies so vor: ich aber werd' ein Grab
80

dem vielgeliebten Bruder aufzuschütten gehn.

ISMENE

O weh mir Armen! ach wie fürcht' ob deiner ich!

ANTIGONE

Sei nicht um mich bang, sorge nur für dein Geschick.

ISMENE

Vertraue nur nicht irgend wem vorher die That;

verbirg geheim sie, schweigen werd' auch ich davon.
85

ANTIGONE

Weh! sprich sie laut aus;

viel verhaſster wirst du mir

durch Schweigen werden, kündest du nicht allen sie.

ISMENE

Dein Blut erhitzt sich um ein frostig Wahngebild!

ANTIGONE

Genüg' ich doch, wem ich zumeist genügen muſs!

ISMENE

Wenn du's vermöchtest; doch du willst Unmögliches.
90

ANTIGONE

Gut, wenn ich denn zu schwach bin, lass' ich ab davon.

ISMENE

Auch nicht beginnen soll man, was unmöglich ist.

ANTIGONE

Wenn also du sprichst, machest mir du dich verhafst,

und auch dem Todten wirst verhafst du seyn mit Recht.

Wohlan denn, lasse mich und meinen Unverstand
95

dies Übel dulden; denn gewiſs erleid' ich nichts

so Groſses, daſs mir nicht verblieb' ein edler Tod.

ISMENE

Wohl, dünkt es dir, so gehe; aber wisse, dafs

du thöricht gehst, ob ächte Freundin auch dem Freund.

Beide ab.³

II. PARODOS.

CHOR (nachdem er in der Orchestra angelangt).

Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (J. A. Bolufer, 1921)) — 1 focus

¡Oh compañera cabecita de mi propia hermana Ismena! ¿No sabes que de las maldiciones de Edipo no quedará ninguna a la cual Júpiter no dé cumplimiento en vida nuestra? Porque nada hay más doloroso, ni ominoso, ni torpe, ni deshonroso que no haya visto yo en tus desgracias y en las mías. Y ahora, ¿cuál es ese nuevo pregón que dicen ha publicado por toda la ciudad el reciente jefe? ¿Estás enterada de algo que hayas oído? ¿O ignoras los males que los enemigos han dispuesto contra los nuestros?

Ismena

A mí, Antigona Antígona, ninguna noticia referente a nuestros amigos, ni agradable ni dolorosa, ha llegado desde que perdimos a nuestros dos hermanos, que en un mismo día se mataron uno a otro. Y desde que el ejército de los argivos se ha marchado en esta misma noche, nada sé que pueda hacerme más feliz o desgraciada.

Antígona

Bien lo sabía; y por eso te he hecho salir fuera de palacio, para que tú sola me escuches.

Ismena

¿Qué hay? Pues manifiestas inquietud por decir algo.

Antígona

¿Pues no ha dispuesto Creonte que, de nuestros dos hermanos, se le hagan a uno las honras fúnebres y se deje al otro insepulto? A Eteocles, según dicen, en cumplimiento de la ley divina y humana, sepultó en tierra para que obtenga todos los honores, allå allá bajo, entre los muertos. Y respecto del cadáver de Polinices, que miserablemente ha muerto, dicen que ha publicado un bando para que ningún ciudadano lo entierre ni lo llore; sino que insepulto y sin los honores del llanto, lo dejen para sabrosa presa de las aves que se abalancen a devorarlo. Ese bando dicen que el bueno de Creonte ha hecho pregonar por ti y por mi mí, quiero decir que por mi mí; y que vendrá aquí para anunciar en alta voz esa orden a los que no la conozcan; y que la cosa se ha de tomar no de cualquier manera, porque quien se atreva a hacer algo de lo que prohíbe, se expone a morir lapidado por el pueblo. Ya sabes lo que hay, y pronto podrás demostrar si eres de sangre noble o una cobarde que desdice de la nobleza de sus padres.

Ismena

¿Y qué, ¡oh desdichada!, si las cosas están así, podré remediar yo, tanto si desobedezco como si acato esas órdenes?

Antígona

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

Ismena

¿En qué empresa? ¿Qué es lo que piensas?

Antígona

Si vendrás conmigo a levantar el cadáver.

Ismena

¿Piensas sepultarlo, a pesar de haberlo prohibido a toda la ciudad?

Antígona

A mi hermano, y no al tuyo, si tú no quieres; pues nunca dirán de mí que lo he abandonado.

Ismena

¡Oh desdichada! ¿Habiéndolo prohibido Creonte?

Antígona

Ningún derecho tiene a privarme de los míos.

Ismena

¡Ay de mí! Reflexiona, hermana, que nuestro padre murió aborrecido e infamado, depues después que, por los peçados pecados que en sí mismo había descubierto, se arrancó los ojos él mismo con su propia mano. También su madre y mujer —nombres que se contradicen— con un lazo de trenza se quitó la vida. Y como tercera desgracia, nuestros dos hermanos en un mismo día se degüellan los desdichados, dándose muerte uno a otro con sus propias manos. Y ahora que solas quedamos nosotras dos, considera de qué manera más infame moriremos si con desprecio de la ley desobedecemos la orden y autoridad del tirano. Pues preciso es pensar ante todo que somos mujeres, para no querer luchar contra los hombres; y luego, que estamos bajo la autoridad de los superiores, para obedecer estas órdenes y otras más severas. Lo que ês es yo, rogando a los que están bajo tierra que me tengan indulgencia, como que cedo contra mi voluntad, obedeceré a los que están en el poder; porque el querer hacer más que lo que uno puede, no es cosa razonable.

Antígona

Ni te lo mandaré, ni aunque luego lo quieras hacer, tendré gusto en que me ayudes. Haz de ti lo que te parezca. A él, yo le sepultaré; si hago esto, bello me será morir. Amada yaceré con él, con el amado, después de cumplir con todos los deberes piadosos; porque mayor es el tiempo que debo complacer a los muertos que a los vivos. Pero tú, si te parece, haz desprecio de lo que en más estimación tienen los dioses.

Ismena

Yo no hago desprecio desprecio de eso; pero soy impotente para obrar contra la voluntad de los ciudadanos.

Antígona

Tú puedes dar esas excusas; que yo me voy ya a erigir una tumba a mi queridísimo hermano.

Ismena

¡Ay, pobre de mí! ¡Cómo estoy temblando por ti!

Antígona

Por mí no te preocupes; procura por tu suerte.

Ismena

Pues al menos no digas a nadie tu proyecto; guárdalo en secreto, que yo haré lo mismo.

Antígona

¡Oh de mí! Divúlgalo; que más odiosa me serás si callas y no lo dices a todos.

Ismena

Ardiente corazón tienes en cosas que hielan de espanto.

Antígona

Pero sé que agrado a quienes principalmente debo agradar.

Ismena

Si es que puedes; porque intentas un imposible.

Antígona

Pues cuando no pueda, desistirê desistiré.

Ismena

De ningún modo conviene perseguir lo imposible.

Antígona

Si eso dices serás odiada de mí, y odiosa serás para el muerto, con justicia. Pero deja que yo, con mi mal consejo, sufra estos horrores; porque nada sentiré tanto como un no bello morir.

Ismena

Pues si te parece, anda; pero ten esto en cuenta, que procedes insensatamente, bien que muy amable a los seres queridos.

CORO

Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806) (OCR draft) Experimental (Latin (F. H. Bothe, 1806)) — 1 focus

O coniunctum mihi germanum Ismenes caput, ecquid nosti calamitatum ab Oedipo ortarum, quod nobis in vita nondum confecerit Iupiter?

nihil est enim triste, non sine divina calamitate, nec turpe, neque ignominiosum , quod tuis malis meisque adiunctum non viderim. Et nunc quid illud est rursus, quod ab urbis rectore aiunt universis civibus propositum fuisse edictum? tenesne, et inaudisti quidpiam , an te latet grassans in amicos inimicorum iniuria?

Ismene

Ad me quidem, Antigona, haud ullus perlatus est de amicis sermo, nec laetus, nec tristis, ex quo fratribus ambae sumus orbatae duobus, una die peremtis mutua manu : postquam vero Argivorum exercitus hac ipsa nocte in fugam se dedit, nihil novi ulterius, neque fortunata magis, neque damnis auctior.

Antigone

Pulchre id noram: quocirca te foras prodire iussi , ut sola audires.

Ismene

Quid est? Aestuare enim videris , aliquid volvens animo.

Antigone

Nonne enim nobis Creon, decreto fratrum alteri sepulturae honore, alterum eo privat indignis modis? Eteoclem quidem, ut aiunt, iusto patrocinio fas observans, humo condidit, inferis honoratum Manibus: miseri autem mortui Polynicis cadaver civibus fertur edixisse ne quis sepulchro contegat, neque adeo lamentetur; sed sinant indefletum , insepultum , gratum thesaurum alitibus pastus gratia irruentibus. Talia dicunt bonum Creonta tibi mihique (dicere enim fastidivit) praeconatum esse, et huc venire, ut haec ipsa, si qui forte ignorent, clare pronuntiet, hancque rem non deputare esse nihili; sed quicumque horum quid fecerit, decretum esse, ut is a populo lapidibus obruatur. Ita tibi haec se habent: et mox ostendes, an generosa sis, an vero ex bonis ignava.

Ismene

Nam quid, o misera, quum res in eo loco sit, facitis meis ego vel solvens vel adstringens, prodesse possim?

Antigone

an operam sis collatura, meque adiutura, vide.

Ismene

Quo in periculo? quae tua tandem est sententia ?

Antigone

An cadaver mecum sustolles.

Ismene

Num illud ergo sepelire cogitas, etsi, nequis id faciat, publice interdictum est?

Antigone

Meum scilicet, tuumque , etiam si nofratrem: numquam enim proditionis me alligabo.

Ismene

O infelix, num Creonte prohibente?

Antigone

At nullum ei jus est, ut a meis me arceat.

Ismene

Hei mihi! revoca in animum, soror, pater ut nobis periit odiosus infamisque, qui, patefactis piaculis, propria sibi manu oculos effodit: tum illius mater eademque uxor, geminum titulum sustinens , tortis laqueis sibi vitam ademit: tertium vero fratres duo una die, semet occidentes miseri, necem sibi invicem intulere mutuis manibus: nunc tandem nos duae solae relictae , considera, quam pessimis exemplis periturae simus, si, more violato, edictum regis vel imperia transgrediamur. Sane igitur hoc cogitare oportet, feminas nos esse, haud viris certare pares, et quoniam sumus subditae potentioribus, et in his rebus obtemperare, aliisque adhuc acerbioribus. Proinde ego Manes inferos, ut veniam dent, precata, quia vi huc compellor, summam rerum obtinentibus morem geram: nam maiora viribus aggredi, dementia est.

Antigone

Neque te iusserim, neque adeo, si velis operam conferre, adiutrice te lubens utar.

Age esto, ut tibi placet; illum vero ego sepeliam. Decorum mihi erit hoc facto mori: cara cum Creon iacebo, pio peracto facinore. Nempe longius est tempus , quo me inferis placere oportet, quam his quibuscum hic versor: illic enim semper jacebo: tu vero, si ita videtur, quae apud Deos sanctissima habentur, aspernare.

Ismene

Haud equidem aspernor: sed invitis civibus quidpiam facere nullo pacto valeo.

Antigone

Tu quidem ista praetexas, ego vero iam ibo, carissimoque fratri aggesta humo tumulum excitabo,

Ismene

Hei mihi miserae, quam male tibi metuo!

Antigone

Ne mea causa metuas: res tuas in tuto colloca.

Ismene

Hoc saltem inceptum nemini indicaveris, sed clam omnes habe, itidemque ego celabo.

Antigone

Scilicet puto te elocuturam; at multo invisior sic eris, cum non omnibus haec praedicaveris.

Ismene

In re frigida calet tibi cor admodum.

Antigone

At placeo, sat novi, quibus maxime me placere decet.

Ismene

Situ quidem possis; sed maiora viribus affectas.

Antigone

Proinde cessabo, quum nihil potero amplius.

Ismene

Sed ne primitus quidem sectari impossibilia decet.

Antigone

Si haec loqui perrexeris , mihi quidem odio eris, infensumque tibi merito mortuum habebis. Sine me meamque temeritatem acerba illa pati: patiar enim mihil tam dirum, quin decore moriar.

Ismene

At si tibi videtur, ito: hoc autem scias, stultam te quidem esse, sed amicis probe amicam.

Chorus

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1 focus

Own sister of my blood, one life with me,
1

Ismenè, have the tidings caught thine ear?

Say, hath not Heaven decreed to execute

On thee and me, while yet we are alive,

All the evil Oedipus bequeathed? All horror,
5

All pain, all outrage, falls on us! And now

The General’s proclamation of to-day—

Hast thou not heard?—Art thou so slow to hear

When harm from foes threatens the souls we love?

ISMENE

No word of those we love, Antigone,

Painful or glad, hath reached me, since we two

Were utterly deprived of our two brothers,

Cut off with mutual stroke, both in one day.

And since the Argive host this now-past night
15

Is vanished, I know nought beside to make me

Nearer to happiness or more in woe.

ANT

I knew it well, and therefore led thee forth

The palace gate, that thou alone mightst hear.

ISM

Speak on! Thy troubled look bodes some dark news.
20

ANT

Why, hath not Creon, in the burial-rite,

Of our two brethren honoured one, and wrought

On one foul wrong? Eteocles, they tell,

With lawful consecration he lays out,

And after covers him in earth, adorned

With amplest honours in the world below.
25

But Polynices, miserably slain,

They say ’tis publicly proclaimed that none

Must cover in a grave, nor mourn for him;

But leave him tombless and unwept, a store

Of sweet provision for the carrion fowl
30

That eye him greedily. Such righteous law
30

Good Creon hath pronounced for thy behoof—

Ay, and for mine! I am not left out!—And now

He moves this way to promulgate his will

To such as have not heard, nor lightly holds

The thing he bids, but, whoso disobeys,
35

The citizens shall stone him to the death.

This is the matter, and thou wilt quickly show

If thou art noble, or fallen below thy birth.

ISM

Unhappy one! But what can I herein

Avail to do or undo?
40

ANT

Wilt thou share

The danger and the labour? Make thy choice.

ISM

Of what wild enterprise? What canst thou mean?

ANT

Wilt thou join hand with mine to lift the dead?

ISM

To bury him, when all have been forbidden?

Is that thy thought?

ANT

To bury my own brother
45

And thine, even though thou wilt not do thy part.
45

I will not be a traitress to my kin.

ISM

Fool-hardy girl! against the word of Creon?

ANT

He hath no right to bar me from mine own.

ISM

Ah, sister, think but how our father fell,

Hated of all and lost to fair renown,

Through self-detected crimes—with his own hand,
50

Self-wreaking, how he dashed out both his eyes:

Then how the mother-wife, sad two-fold name!

With twisted halter bruised her life away,

Last, how in one dire moment our two brothers

With internecine conflict at a blow
55

Wrought out by fratricide their mutual doom.

Now, left alone, O think how beyond all

Most piteously we twain shall be destroyed,

If in defiance of authority

We traverse the commandment of the King!
60

We needs must bear in mind we are but women,

Never created to contend with men;

Nay more, made victims of resistless power,

To obey behests more harsh than this to-day.

I, then, imploring those beneath to grant
65

Indulgence, seeing I am enforced in this,

Will yield submission to the powers that rule,

Small wisdom were it to overpass the bound.

ANT

I will not urge you! no! nor if now you list

To help me, will your help afford me joy.

Be what you choose to be! This single hand
70

Shall bury our lost brother. Glorious

For me to take this labour and to die!

Dear to him will my soul be as we rest

In death, when I have dared this holy crime.

My time for pleasing men will soon be over;

Not so my duty toward the Dead! My home
75

Yonder will have no end. You, if you will,

May pour contempt on laws revered on High.

ISM

Not from irreverence. But I have no strength

To strive against the citizens’ resolve.

ANT

Thou, make excuses! I will go my way
80

To raise a burial-mound to my dear brother.

ISM

Oh, hapless maiden, how I fear for thee!

ANT

Waste not your fears on me! Guide your own fortune.

ISM

Ah! yet divulge thine enterprise to none,

But keep the secret close, and so will I.
85

ANT

O Heavens! Nay, tell! I hate your silence worse;

I had rather you proclaimed it to the world.

ISM

You are ardent in a chilling enterprise.

ANT

I know that I please those whom I would please.

ISM

Yes, if you thrive; but your desire is bootless.
90

ANT

Well, when I fail I shall be stopt, I trow!

ISM

One should not start upon a hopeless quest.

ANT

Speak in that vein if you would earn my hate

And aye be hated of our lost one. Peace!

Leave my unwisdom to endure this peril;
95

Fate cannot rob me of a noble death.

ISM

Go, if you must—Not to be checked in folly,

But sure unparalleled in faithful love!

CHORUS
CHORUS. (entering). LEADER OF CHORUS.

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.

Was kann ich, wenn dies also steht, Unselige,³

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

Antigone.

Sieh, ob du helfen, ob die Mühe theilen wirst

Ismene.

Bei welchem Unterfangen? Wo geräthst du hin?

Antigone.

Ob du den Todten, mir gesellt, aufnehmen willst!

Ismene.

Ihn denn bestatten willst du, dem Verbot zum Troz?

Antigone.

Ja, meinen Bruder und den deinen, wenn auch du
45

Nicht willst; denn niemals soll man mich Verrathes zeih'n!⁴

Ismene.

Tollkühne, während Kreon's Wort es dir verwehrt?

Antigone.

Fern halten darf mich dieser nie von meiner Pflicht.

Ismene.

Weh mir! Bedenk', o Schwester, wie der Vater uns,

Mit Haß und Hohn belastet, ruhmlos unterging,
50

Nachdem er selbst um Gräuel, die er selbst enthüllt,

Der Augen Sterne sich zerriß mit eigner Hand;

Wie dann die Mutter, Mutter ihm und Weib zugleich,

Schmachvoll mit frevlem Strange sich das Leben nahm;

Zum dritten, wie die Brüder beid' an Einem Tag
55

Im Wechselmord sich ein gemeinsam Todesloos,

Die Armen, schufen, Einer durch des Andern Hand!

Wir sind allein jezt übrig; du bedenke denn,

Wie schmählich wir verdürben, wenn wir wider Necht

Der Herrscher Ausspruch und Gewalt mißachteten.
60

Wohl mußt du doch erwägen, daß wir Frauen sind,

Und nicht geschaffen, Männern kühn im Kampf zu steh'n,

Dann aber, daß wir, weil beherrscht von Stärkeren,

Hier folgen müssen und sogar in Härterem.

Drum will ich jene, die der Erde Schooß verbirgt,⁵
65

Anfleh'n um Nachsicht, weil Gewalt mich bindet hier,

Und ihm gehorchen, dem die Macht geworden ist;

Denn Unverstand ist's, über seine Kraft zu thun.

Nicht mehr verlang' ich's, möchte dich zur Helferin

Nicht mehr, erklärtest du dich auch bereit dazu.
70

Nein, wähle deinem Sinne nach: ihn werd' ich selbst

Bestatten; ruhmvoll ist der Tod für diese That.

Bei ihm, dem Lieben, werd' ich ruh'n, die Liebende,

Die frommen Frevel übte; muß ich länger doch

Den Todten dort gefallen, als den Lebenden.
75

Denn dort ja ruh' ich ewig; du, wenn dir's gefällt,

Entehre, was in Ehre selbst bei Göttern steht.

Ich acht' es auch der Ehre werth; indeß der Stadt

Zum Troz zu handeln, fühl ich mich nicht stark genug.

Antigone.

So wende du das vor; doch ich geh' unverweilt,
80

Und schütt' ein Grab dem heißgeliebten Bruder auf.

Ismene.

Tollkühne, weh mir! Ha, wie fürcht' ich deinethalb!

Antigone.

Sei nicht um mich bang; sich're du nur dein Geschick!

Ismene.

Doch offenbare ja zuvor Niemand die That;

Im Dunkel birg' sie; gerne schweig' auch ich davon.
85

Antigone.

Ha, laut verkünd' es! Viel verhaßter wirst du mir

Durch Schweigen, offenbarst du's nicht vor aller Welt.

Ismene.

Dir wallt der Busen glühend, wo mich Schauder faßt.

Antigone.

Doch weiß ich hold mir, deren Huld mein Höchstes iſt.

Ismene.

Wenn du's vermöchtest; doch du willst Unmögliches.
90

Nun freilich, wenn ich's nicht vermag, so lass' ich ab.

Auch nicht von Anfang jage nach Unmöglichem.

Antigone.

Durch solche Reden wirst du billig mir verhaßt,

Und billig hassen wird dich auch der Todte dort.

Nein, laß du mich und meines Sinnes Unverstand
95

Dies Grauenvolle dulden. Was ich Schweres auch⁶

Erleiden möge, bleibt mir doch ein schöner Tod.

Ismene.

Nun, wenn dir's gut dünkt, ziehe hin: ächt schwesterlich

Als Schwester fühlend gehst du, wenn als Thörin auch.

(Sie gehen nach verschiedenen Seiten ab. Der Chor tritt auf.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1 focus

O my dear sister, my best-beloved Ismene .'
1

Is there an evil, by the tvrath of Jove
1

Reserved for Ql]dipus' unhappy race,

We have not felt already ? Sorrow and shame,

And bitterness and anguish, all that's sad.

All that's distressful, hath been ours, and now

This dreadful edict from the tyrant comes
5

To double our misfortunes. Hast thou heard

What harsh commands he hath imposed on all.

Or art thou still to know what future ills

Our foes have vet in store to make us wretched ?

When by each otlier's hand our brothei's fell,

And Greece dismissed her armies^ I have heard

Naught that could give or joy or grief to me.
10

Antigone

1 thought thou wert a stranger to the tidings,

And therefore called thee forth, that here alone

I might impart them to thee.

Ismene

Oh ! what are they ?

For something dreadful labours in thy breast.

Antigone

Know then, from Creon, our indulgent lord,

Our hapless brothers met a different fate :

To honour one, and one to infamy

He hath consigned. With funeral rites he graced

The body of our dear Eteocles,

Whilst Polynices' wretched carcase lies

Unburied, unlamented, left exposed

A feast for hungry vultures on the plain.

No pitying friend will dare to violate
30

The tyrant's harsh command, for public death

Awaits th' offender. Creon comes himself

To tell us of it — such is our condition.

, This is the crisis, this the hour, Ismene,
35

, That must declare thee worthy of thy birth,

I Or show thee mean, base, and degenerate.

Ismene

What wouldst thou have me do ? — defy his

power?

Contemn the laws ?
40

Antigone

To act with me, or not :

Consider and resolve.

Ismene

What daring deed

Wouldst thou attempt? What is it? Speak !

Antigone

To join

And take the body, my Ismene.

Ismene

Ha !

And wouldst thou dare to bury it, when thus

We are forbidden?

Antigone

Aye, to bury Mm !
45

He is my brother, and thine too, Ismene ;
45

Therefore, consent or not, I have determined

I'll not disgrace my birth.

Ismene

Hath not the king

Pronounced it death to all?

Antigone

He hath no right,

No power to keep me from my own.

Ismene

Alas !

Remember our unhappy father's fate :
50

His eyes torn out by his own fatal hand,

Oppressed with shame and infamy he died ;

Fruit of his crimes ! a mother, and a wife —

Dreadful alliance ! — self-devoted, fell ;

And last, in one sad day, Eteocles
55

And Polynices by each other slain.

Left as we are, deserted and forlorn.

What from our disobedience can we hope

But misery and ruin? Poor weak women,

Helpless, nor formed by nature to contend
60

With powerful man. We are his subjects too.

Therefore to this, and worse than this, my sister,

We must submit. For me, ii^ humblest prajgr

Will I address me to th' infernal pow'rs

For pardon of that crime which well they know
65

Sprang from nec^^ssity, and then obey ;

Since to attempt what we can never hope

To execute, is folly all and madness.

Antigone

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.

Antigone

That be thy excuse,
80

Whilst I prepare the funeral pile.

Ismene

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.

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.

Ismene

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.

Ismene

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.

Ismene

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.

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.

Creon
Scene II. Strophe i. Antistro'phe, i. Stro2yhe 2. AntistropJie 2. ACT II. Scene I.

Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889) (OCR draft) Experimental (Spanish (A. G. Garbin, 1889)) — 1 focus

¡Ismena, hermana mía! ¿Hay uno sólo de los males reservados á la raza de Edipo con el que no nos haya afligido el cielo á nosotras, míseras que aún vivimos? No, no hay dolor, ni humillación, ni oprobio que no hayamos probado (¡y sin culpa!) en la serie de nuestras desgracias. Y ahora, ¿qué edicto es ese que acaba de hacer publicar el rey en toda la ciudad? ¿No lo sabes? ¿No ha llegado á tus oídos? ¿O las nuevas desgracias que amenazan á nuestros amigos se te ocultan?

ISMENA

Ninguna nueva noticia, Antigona, agradable ni funesta concerniente á nuestros amigos ha llegado hasta mi, después que nuestros dos hermanos perecieron, dándose en un día muerte el uno al otro; el ejército de los argivos ha desaparecido en esta misma noche ¹. No sé que haya más, ni por fortuna ni por desgracia.

ANTÍGONA

Pues bien, precisamente te he hecho salir de las puertas del vestíbulo, para que tú sola me oigas.

ISMENA

¿Qué ocurre, Antigona? Tus palabras revelan una gran agitación.

ANTÍGONA

¡Pues qué! ¿No acaba Creonte de conceder preferentemente á uno de nuestros dos hermanos el honor de la sepultura, privando de él al otro indignamente? — A Eteocles, por un decreto equitativo y justo, le ha hecho sepultar, dicen, con los honores debidos á los manes: — y, por lo que hace al cadáver del desgraciado Polynice, se ha pregonado una orden, prohibiendo á los ciudadanos que le sepulten ni le lloren, para que, abandonado, sin honras fúnebres, ni duelo, sirva de preciado pasto á las aves carniceras ². Ya sabes, hermana, lo que el generoso Creonte ha querido ordenarte á tí y á mí; ¡sí, á mi, á mi también! — y le verás venir aquí á proclamar muy clara su voluntad á todos cuantos pudieran ignorarla: — y para que esta prescripción sea severamente cumplida, conmina al que intente desobedecer su mandato, con la pena de morir en la ciudad apedreado á manos del pueblo. — Ya sabes lo que ansiaba comunicarte... ahora tú demostrarás si eres mujer ilustre ó una vil que desmiente su noble sangre.

ISMENA

¡Ah, infortunada de mí!... Y en tal estado las cosas, ¿qué puedo yo hacer ó deshacer que sea ya provechoso?

ANTÍGONA

Ve si quieres cooperar conmigo y ayudarme en mi propósito.

ISMENA

¿A qué peligro quieres lanzarte? ¿Qué es lo que intentas?

ANTÍGONA

¿Tus manos, dime, ayudarán á estas manos mías á levantar el cadáver?

ISMENA

¡Qué! A pesar de la prohibición impuesta á la ciudad, ¿te atreverás á dar sepultura?...

ANTÍGONA

A mi hermano, sí; y aunque tú no lo quieras, el tuyo. Jamás será acusada Antígona de haber cometido una traición.

ISMENA

¡Desdichada! ¿Y la prohibición del tirano?...

ANTÍGONA

No hay en él ningún derecho para apartarme de los míos.

ISMENA

¡Ay! Acuérdate, hermana, que nuestro padre se nos murió aborrecido y cargado de oprobio después de haberse arrancado con su propia airada mano los ojos, en castigo de los crímenes horrendos por él mismo sorprendidos; que después su madre, á la par madre y esposa, acabó afrentosamente su vida con un nudo fatal;—y por último, que nuestros dos hermanos, en un solo día ¡desdichados! cumplieron su común destino, dándose recíproca muerte con sus propias manos. Reflexiona, pues, con cuánta ignominia pereceríamos las dos, hoy abandonadas y solas, si rebeldes á la ley, osáramos quebrantar ese decreto, y desafiar el poder de los príncipes;—es preciso tener en cuenta que hemos nacido débiles mujeres, incapaces de luchar contra los hombres; que, gobernadas por los que son más fuertes que nosotras, tenemos que rendirles obediencia, así en esta como en otras cosas más crueles aún y dolorosas. Por mi parte, después de pedir á los difuntos que me perdonen, si cedo á la violencia, me someteré á la autoridad de los magistrados constituidos en poder; pues sería insensatez pretender ejecutar lo que excede de nuestras fuerzas.

ANTÍGONA

No pienso rogarte más... y aunque tú accedieras á hacer algo por complacerme, rehusaré tu concurso. Ve tú allá lo que te parezca bien. Por mí le he de dar sepultura, y me será glorioso morir, después de haberlo realizado. Como buena hermana iré á reposar con mi hermano amado por haber sido santamente criminal. Pero ¡ah! por más tiempo he de hacerme grata á los muertos que á los vivos, pues con ellos he de reposar eternamente. Desprecia tú, en buen hora, si lo juzgas conveniente, las sacrosantas leyes de los dioses.

ISMENA

No es que las desprecio, Antigona mía, pero me considero impotente para obrar contra la voluntad de una ciudad entera.

ANTÍGONA

Eso pretestarás tú en buen hora... yo me marcho á erigir á mi hermano amadísimo su sepulcro.

ISMENA

¡Ay, tiemblo, tiemblo por tí, desventurada!

ANTÍGONA

No te inquietes por mi. Cuidate sólo de enderezar tu suerte.

ISMENA

Pero al menos no descubras á nadie tus proyectos; ocúltalos con la mayor reserva... por mi parte, encerrado quedará en mi pecho.

ANTÍGONA

¡Ira del cielo!... ya puedes apresurarte á vociferarlos. Te harás todavía más aborrecible si los callas, si no corres á divulgarlos por todo el mundo.

ISMENA

Tienes el corazón ardiente en cosas que lo hielan de espanto.

ANTÍGONA

En cambio, sé que satisfago á aquellos á quienes tengo el deber de hacerme grata.

ISMENA

¡Y si te fuera siquiera posible!..... empero intentas lo que es superior á tus fuerzas.

ANTÍGONA

¡Bien! desistiré sólo cuando esas fuerzas me faltaren.

ISMENA

Desde el principio debemos renunciar á aquello que supera nuestro poder.

ANTÍGONA

Si continúas en ese lenguaje, obtendrás mi aborrecimiento por un lado, y por otro..... algún día yacerás junto al muerto odiada con justicia. Déjame con mi funesta temeridad sufrir los males que me aguarden; pues no habría para mi nada tan afrentoso como el no morir honrosamente.

ISMENA

Puesto que tú lo quieres..... parte, hermana imprudente;..... pero, en realidad, amiga de tus amigos. Se van ambas, por diferente lado. Sube el coro compuesto de los ancianos ó senadores de Thebas).

El Coro entra en escena.

CORO

German (F. Hölderlin, 1804) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (F. Hölderlin, 1804)) — 1 focus

ANTIGONAE

Gemeinsamschwesterliches! o Ismenes Haupt!
1

Weisst du etwas, das nicht der Erde Vater

Erfuhr, mit uns, die wir bis hieher leben,

Ein Nennbares, seit Oedipus gehascht ward?

Nicht eine traur’ge Arbeit, auch kein Irrsaal,
5

Und schändlich ist, und ehrlos nirgend eines,

Das ich in deinem, meinem Unglück nicht gesehn.

Jetzt aber, ahnest du das, was der Feldherr

Uns kundgethan, in offner Stadt, so eben?

Hast du gehört es? oder weist du nicht,
10

Wie auf die Lieben kommet Feindesübel?

ISMENE

Nicht kam ein Wort zu mir, Antigonä, vonLieben,

Kein liebliches und auch kein trauriges, seitdem

Die beyden Brüder beyde wir verloren;

Die starben, Einen Tag, von zweyen Händen;
15

Scıt aber fort das Heer von Argos ist,

Vergangne Nacht, weiss ich nichts weiter mehr,

Und bin nicht glücklicher und nicht betrübter.

ANTIGONAE

Das dacht’ ich wohl und rief aus dem Hofthor

Darum, dass du’s besonders hören könntest.
20

ISMENE

Was ist’s, du scheinst ein rothes Wort zu färben ?

ANTIGONAE

Hat mit der lezten Ehre denn nicht unsre Brüder

Kreon gekränzt, beschimpfet, wechselsweise ?

Eteokles zwar, sagt man, behandelt er

Mit rechtem Recht, gesezgemäls, und birgt
25

Ihn in der Erd’, ehrsam den Todten drunten.

Vom andern aber, der gestorben ist armseelig,

Von Polynikes Leibe sagen sie, man hab’

Es in der Stadt verkündet, dass man ihn

Mit keinem Grabe berg’ und nicht betraure.
30

Man soll ihn lassen unbeweint und grablos,,

Süfs Mahl den Vögeln, die auf Fralses Lust sehn.

So etwas, sagt man, hat der gute Kreon dir

Und mir, denn mich auch mein’ ich, kund gethan,

Und hierher kommt er, difs Unwissenden
35

Deutlich zu melden. Und die Sache sei

Nicht, wie für nichts. Wer etwas thut dabei,

Dem wird der Tod des Steinigens im Orte.

So steht esdir. Und gleich wirst du beweisen,

Ob gutgeboren, ob die Böse du der Guten?
40

ISMENE

Wasaber, o du Arme, wenn es so steht?

Soll ich es lassen oder doch zu Grab gehn?

ANTIGONAE

Ob mitthun du, mithelfen wollest, forsche!

ISMENE

Das ist vermessen. Wie bist du daran?

ANTIGONAE

Ob du den Todten mit der Hand hier tragest?
45

ISMENE

Dem willst zu Grabe du gehn, dem die Stadt entsagt hat?

ANTIGONAE

Von dir und mir mein’ ich, auch wenn du nicht es willst,

Den Bruder. Denn treulos fängt man mich nicht,

ISMENE

Verwilderte! wenn Kreon es verbietet?

ANTIGONAE

Mit diesem hat das Meine nichts zu thun.
50

ISMENE

O mir! bedenke, Schwester, wie der Vater,

Von uns, verhalst und ruhmlos untergangen,

Nach selbstverschuldeten Verirrungen ,

Da er sein Augenpaar mit eigner Hand zerstochen.

Und dann die Mutter, Ehefrau zugleich,
55

Ein doppelt Leiden, mit gewundnen Striken

Verstümmelte das Leben sie. Zum dritten

Die beiden Brüder, die an Einem Tage

Verwandten Tod mit Gegnershand bewirket.,

Und nun wir zwei, die wir allein geblieben,
60

Sieh, wie am schlimmsten wir vergiengen, wenn

Gewaltsam wir des Herrn Befehl und Kraft

Verfehlten. Difs auch denke, Weiber sind wir,

Und dürfen so nicht gegen Männer streiten.

Und dann auch, weil von Stärkern wir beherrscht sind,
65

So müssen wir diess hören; Härters noch!

Ich also bitte sie, die drunten sind,

Mir zu verzeihen, dass mir diess geschieht,

Und lafs sie walten, die da ferne gehen,

Denn Ueberflüfsiges zu thun, ist sinnlos.
70

ANTIGONAE

Befehlen will ichs nicht, und wolltest dus nun

Noch thun, es wär in deiner Hülfe Lust nicht.

Nein! denke du, wie diess gefällt; doch ihn

Begrab’ ich. Schön ist es hernach, zu sterben.

Lieb werd’ ich bei ihm liegen, bei dem Lieben,
75

Wenn Heiligs ich vollbracht. Und dann ists mehr Zeit,

Dafs denen drunten ich gefall’ , als hier.

Dort wohn’ ich ja für immer einst. Doch du,

Beliebt es, halt ehrlos vor Göttern Ehrsams.

ISMENE

Für ehrlos halt’ ichs nicht. Zum Schritt allein, den Bürger
80

Im Aufstand thun, bin linkisch ich geboren.

ANTIGONAE

Nimm nun zum Vorwand diess. Ich aber gehe,

Ein Grab dem liebsten Bruder aufzuwerfen.

ISMENE

Ich Arme! o! wie fürcht’ ich für dich!

ANTIGONAE

Mir rathe nicht! komm’ aus mit deinem Leben!
85

ISMENE

Meinwegen. Lafs die That nur niemand hören!

Halt dich jezt still! So kann ich mit dabei seyn.

ANTIGONAE

O mir! schrei laut es aus! Ich hasse nur noch mehr dich,

Schweigst du und sagst nicht dieses aus vor allen.

ISMENE

Warm für die Kalten leidet deine Seele.
90

ANTIGONAE

Ich weiss, wem ich gefallen muss am meisten.

ISMENE

Könntst du es, doch Unthunliches versuchst du,

ANTIGONAE

Gewils! kann ich es nicht, so muls ichs lassen.

ISMENE

Gleich Anfangs muss Niemand Unthunlichs jagen.

ANTIGONAE

Magst du so etwas sagen, hass’ ich dich,
95

Hafst auch dich der Gestorbene mit Recht.

Lafs aber mich und meinen irren Rath

Das Gewaltige leiden. Ich bin überall nicht so

Empfindsam , dass’ ich sollt’ unschönen Todes sterben.

ISMENE

Wenn dir es.dünkt, so geh. Wiss aber difs,
100

Sinnlos, doch lieb in liebem Tone sprichst du.

English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb1, 1904)) — 1 focus

Ismene, sister, mine own dear sister, knowest thou what ill there is, of all bequeathed by Oedipus, that Zeus fulfils not for us twain while we live? Nothing painful is there, nothing fraught with ruin, no shame, no dishonour, that I have not seen in thy woes and mine.

And now what new edict is this of which they tell, that our Captain hath just published to all Thebes? Knowest thou aught? Hast thou heard? Or is it hidden from thee that our friends are threatened with the doom 10 of our foes?

Ismene

No word of friends, Antigone, gladsome or painful, hath come to me, since we two sisters were bereft of brothers twain, killed in one day by a twofold blow; and since in this last night the Argive host hath fled, I know no more, whether my fortune be brighter, or more grievous.

Antigone

I knew it well, and therefore sought to bring thee beyond the gates of the court, that thou mightest hear alone.

Ismene

20 What is it? ’Tis plain that thou art brooding on some dark tidings.

Antigone

What, hath not Creon destined our brothers, the one to honoured burial, the other to unburied shame? Eteocles, they say, with due observance of right and custom, he hath laid in the earth, for his honour among the dead below. But the hapless corpse of Polyneices— as rumour saith, it hath been published to the town that none shall entomb him or mourn, but leave unwept, unsepulchred, 30 a welcome store for the birds, as they espy him, to feast on at will. Such, ’tis said, is the edict that the good Creon hath set forth for thee and for me,—yes, for me,—and is coming hither to proclaim it clearly to those who know it not; nor counts the matter light, but, whoso disobeys in aught, his doom is death by stoning before all the folk. Thou knowest it now; and thou wilt soon show whether thou art nobly bred, or the base daughter of.a noble line.

Ismene

Poor sister,—and if things stand thus, what 40 could I help to do or undo?

Antigone

Consider if thou wilt share the toil and the deed.

Ismene

In what venture? What can be thy meaning?

Antigone

Wilt thou aid this hand to lift the dead?

Ismene

Thou wouldst bury him,—when ’tis forbidden to Thebes?

Antigone

I will do my part,—and thine, if thou wilt not,—to a brother. False to him will I never be found.

Ismene

Ah, over-bold! when Creon hath forbidden ?

Antigone

Nay, he hath no right to keep me from mine own. 50

Ismene

Ah me! think, sister, how our father perished, amid hate and scorn, when sins bared by his own search had moved him to strike both eyes with self-blinding hand; then the mother wife, two names in one, with twisted noose did despite unto her life; and last, our two brothers in one day,—each shedding, hapless one, a kinsman’s blood,—wrought out with mutual hands their common doom. And now we in turn—we two left all alone—think how we shall perish, more miserably 60 than all the rest, if, in defiance of the law, we brave a king’s decree or his powers. Nay, we must remember, first, that we were born women, as who should not strive with men; next, that we are ruled of the stronger, so that we must obey in these things, and in things yet sorer. I, therefore, asking the Spirits Infernal to pardon, seeing that force is put on me herein, will hearken to our rulers; for ’tis witless to be over busy.

Antigone

I will not urge thee,—no, nor, if thou yet 70 shouldst have the mind, wouldst thou be welcome as a worker with me. Nay, be what thou wilt; but I will bury him: well for me to die in doing that. I shall rest, a loved one with him whom I have loved, sinless in my crime; for I owe a longer allegiance to the dead than to the living: in that world I shall abide for ever. But "if thou wilt, be guilty of dishonouring laws which the gods have stablished in honour.

Ismene

I do them no dishonour; but to defy the State, I have no strength for that.

Antigone

80 Such be thy plea:—I, then, will go to heap the earth above the brother whom I love.

Ismene

Alas, unhappy one! How I fear for thee!

Antigone

Fear not for me: guide thine own fate aright.

Ismene

At least, then, disclose this plan to none, but hide it closely,—and so, too, will I.

Antigone

Oh, denounce it! Thou wilt be far more hateful for thy silence, if thou proclaim not these things to all.

Ismene

Thou hast a hot heart for chilling deeds.

Antigone

I know that I please where I am most bound to please. 90

Ismene

Aye, if thou canst; but thou wouldst what thou canst not.

Antigone

Why, then, when my strength fails, I shall have done.

Ismene

A hopeless quest should not be made at all.

Antigone

If thus thou speakest, thou wilt have hatred. from me, and will justly be subject to the lasting hatred of the dead. But leave me, and the folly that is mine alone, to suffer this dread thing; for I shall not suffer aught so dreadful as an ignoble death.

Ismene

Go, then, if thou must; and of this be sure,— that, though thine errand is foolish, to thy dear ones thou art truly dear. Exit ANTIGONE on the spectators’ left. ISMENE retires into the palace by one of the two side-doors.

Chorus

100 1

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1 focus

My sister, loved Ismene, of the ills

Which sprung from Edipus conceives thy thought

One by the hand of Jove not brought on us

His sole-surviving children? There is nought

That sinks the soul with anguish, deep distress,

Shame, and disgrace, but in thy ills and mine

I see it all. E'en now what new decree

Is rumour'd by the Chief as late proclaim'd

Through all the city? Know'st thou? Hast thou heard?

Or art thou unacquainted with the ills

Which from our foes advance against our friends?

To me no tidings of our friends are come,

Pleasing or mournful, since the fatal hour

At once deprived us of our brothers, slain

Each by the other's hand; and this last night

The slaughtering sword hath quell'd the Argive host;

Further than this I know not, nor have heard

Aught of good fortune or affliction more.

Antigone

I know it well, and call'd thee forth before
1

The palace gates, that thou may'st hear alone.

What is it? Dark and troubled seem thy thoughts.

Know then that of our brothers Creon deigns

One with a tomb to grace, and casts one forth

Unhonour'd. With all just and solemn rites

Eteocles, they say, beneath the earth

He places, honour'd by the dead below.

But his harsh edict is proclaim'd, that none

Entomb, that none bewail the wretched corse

Of Polynices, doom'd by him to lie

Unwept, unburied, with his flesh to gorge

The ravening birds, whose keen eye marks their prey.

This the good Creon hath, they say, to thee

And me (for I must name myself) enjoin'd;

And hither comes his mandate to proclaim

To those who know it not; no trivial charge,

Nor to be slighted; for whoe'er performs.

Aught of these offices, is doom'd to die.

Such is our state; which calls on thee to show

Thy high-born spirit, or degenerate mind.

What, wretched sister, what can I avail,

Opposing, or obeying his command?

Wilt thou assist me? Wilt thou share my toils?

Resolve.

What deed of danger to attempt ?

Ismene

What thy intent?

Antigone

Wilt thou with thine assist

My hand, and bear this wretched corse away?

Wou'dst thou inter him, though the state forbids ?

Mine and thy brother, e'en though thou refuse
95

Thy social aid, I never will betray.
95

Wilt thou, too daring, Creon's mandate scorn?

He has no right to hold me from my friends.

Ismene

Yet, O my sister, to remembrance call

Our father's fate; how odious, how defamed

He perish'd, when confounded with the sense

Of his offences, in his rage he rent

With his own hands his bleeding orbs of sight.

His mother then and wife, to ills on ills

A double title, in the wreathed noose

Died self-destroy'd. Our brothers now, both slain

Each by the other's spear, unhappy youths,

Have in one day one common fate achieved

We now remain sole relics of our house;

Think then how we shall perish by a fate

More wretched still, if we by force infringe

The sovereign pow'r and edict of our lords.

Consider too that we are women, weak

By nature, and unable to contend.

With men; thus subject to a stronger pow'r

We must hear this, and what may grieve us more.

I then (of those beneath the earth revered

Imploring pardon, since by force constrain'd)

Will yield obedience to our potent lords.

Attempts beyond our strength no prudence show....

I would not urge thee; nor, were now thy mind

Prompt to the deed, consent that thou shou'dst act

With me: be such as is thy will to be.

I will inter him; and performing this

Death will be glorious to me; I shall lie

With my dear brother, to my brother dear,

These pious rites discharged; for to the dead

Longer a grace is pleasing than to those

Who live; since there for ever I shall lie.

Do thou, if such thy pleasure, lightly deem

Of sacred things, the honours of the gods.

I hold them high in honour; but to act

By force against the state were rash and wild.

Make that thy fair pretence; but I will go,

And for my dearest brother raise a tomb.

Unhappy sister, how I fear for thee !

Fear not for me; be thy own life thy care.

Yet to none other thy intent disclose :

Conceal it: of my silence be assured.

No, speak it loud: more hateful wilt thou be

If silent; be it then proclaim'd to all.

Thou hast a warm heart in a dangerous act.

Pleasing, I know, this act to those whom most

Behoves it me to please.

Couldst thou effect

Thy purpose; but the deed exceeds thy pow'r.

When my pow'r fails, I from th' attempt will cease.

Attempt not things which cannot be achieved.

Thou wilt be hated e'en by me, if thus

Thou speak, and justly by the dead be held

In hatred. Leave me then, and my design

Thus rash, to put this danger to the proof.

To me no sufferings have that hideous form

Which can affright me from a glorious death.

Go then, since thus resolved; but know th' attempt

Shows frenzy, though strong friendship to thy friends.

Chorus
STRO. 1.

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.

Notes on the current edition

Antigone

1. (the ships)

2. (Electra in answer to her sister's warnings)

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1-99

4-6

Current edition Experimental

Ἀντιγόνη ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος. 20

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαίφρων, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾽φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον 17 ; 40

Ἀντιγόνη εἰ ξυμπονήσεις, καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί 18 .

Ἰσμήνη ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόῤῥητον πόλει·

Ἀντιγόνη τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σὸν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς, 45 ἀδελφόν. οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἀντιγόνη

Ἰσμήνη ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι· τὸ δὲ βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾷν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽· ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον 80 χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη οἴμοι ταλαίνης ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη μή μου προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσεις γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ τοὔργον· κρυφῆ δὲ κεῦθε· σὺν δ᾽ αὕτως ἐγώ. 85

Ἀντιγόνη οἴμοι, καταύδα. πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς. 90

Ἀντιγόνη οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἰσμήνη ἀλλ᾽, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός a

Ἀντιγόνη ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος. 20

Ἰσμήνη τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾽φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον; 40

Ἀντιγόνη εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόῤῥητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς, 45 ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλ’ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι· τὸ δὲ βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽ · ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον 80 χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη μὴ ᾽μοῦ προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη ἀλλ' οὖν προμηνύσῃς γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ τοὔργον, κρυφῆ δὲ κεῦθε· σὺν δ᾽ αὔτως ἐγώ. 85

Ἀντιγόνη οἴμοι, καταύδα. πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλ' οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς. 90

Ἀντιγόνη οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἰσμήνη ἀλλ', εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ', ὅτι ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

2. ΠΑΡΟΔΟΣ.

Χορός 1

Ἀντιγόνη ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος. 20

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαίφρων, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾿φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον; 40

Ἀντιγόνη εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾿ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόῤῥητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σὸν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς, 45 ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν μ᾽ εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἀντιγόνη

Ἰσμήνη ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾷν, ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽ · ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον 80 χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη οἴ μοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου!

Ἀντιγόνη μή μου προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσεις γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ τοὖργον, κρυφῆ δὲ κεῦθε· σὺν δ᾽ αὕτως ἐγώ. 85

Ἀντιγόνη οἶμαι καταυδᾷν· πολλὸν ἐχθίων δ᾽ ἔσει σύ γ᾽ ὡς, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλ’ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽, οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽ · ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς. 90

Ἀντιγόνη οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾷν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἰσμήνη ἀλλ᾽, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός 1

Ἀντιγόνη ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαίφρων, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾽φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον ¹⁷ ;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις, καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί ¹⁸.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόῤῥητον πόλει·

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σὸν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν. οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι· τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾷν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽· ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μή μου προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσεις γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον· κρυφῆ δὲ κεῦθε· σὺν δ᾽ αὕτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα. πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει

σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός

a

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾽φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾽ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόῤῥητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ’ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι· τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽ · ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴμοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου.

Ἀντιγόνη

μὴ ᾽μοῦ προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ' οὖν προμηνύσῃς γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὔργον, κρυφῆ δὲ κεῦθε· σὺν δ᾽ αὔτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἴμοι, καταύδα. πολλὸν ἐχθίων ἔσει

σιγῶσ᾽, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ' οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽ οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽· ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾶν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ', εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ', ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός

1

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαίφρων, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾿φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ᾿ εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ᾽, ἀπόῤῥητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σὸν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν μ᾽ εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾷν, ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.

Ἀντιγόνη

σὺ μὲν τάδ᾽ ἂν προὔχοι᾽ · ἐγὼ δὲ δὴ τάφον
80

χώσουσ᾽ ἀδελφῷ φιλτάτῳ πορεύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

οἴ μοι ταλαίνης, ὡς ὑπερδέδοικά σου!

Ἀντιγόνη

μή μου προτάρβει· τὸν σὸν ἐξόρθου πότμον.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὖν προμηνύσεις γε τοῦτο μηδενὶ

τοὖργον, κρυφῆ δὲ κεῦθε· σὺν δ᾽ αὕτως ἐγώ.
85

Ἀντιγόνη

οἶμαι καταυδᾷν· πολλὸν ἐχθίων δ᾽ ἔσει

σύ γ᾽ ὡς, ἐὰν μὴ πᾶσι κηρύξῃς τάδε.

Ἰσμήνη

θερμὴν ἐπὶ ψυχροῖσι καρδίαν ἔχεις.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ’ οἶδ᾽ ἀρέσκουσ᾽, οἷς μάλισθ᾽ ἁδεῖν με χρή.

Ἰσμήνη

εἰ καὶ δυνήσει γ᾽ · ἀλλ᾽ ἀμηχάνων ἐρᾷς.
90

Ἀντιγόνη

οὐκοῦν, ὅταν δὴ μὴ σθένω, πεπαύσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀρχὴν δὲ θηρᾷν οὐ πρέπει τἀμήχανα.

Ἰσμήνη

ἀλλ᾽, εἰ δοκεῖ σοι, στεῖχε· τοῦτο δ᾽ ἴσθ᾽, ὅτι

ἄνους μὲν ἔρχει, τοῖς φίλοις δ᾽ ὀρθῶς φίλη.

Χορός

1

Ἀντιγόνη

ᾔδη καλῶς, καί σ᾽ ἐκτὸς αὐλείων πυλῶν

τοῦδ᾽ οὕνεκ᾽ ἐξέπεμπον, ὡς μόνη κλύοις.

Ἰσμήνη

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; δηλοῖς γάρ τι καλχαίνουσ᾽ ἔπος.
20

τί δ᾽, ὦ ταλαῖφρον, εἰ τάδ' ἐν τούτοις, ἐγὼ

λύουσ᾽ ἂν ἢ ᾿φάπτουσα προσθείμην πλέον;
40

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ ξυμπονήσεις καὶ ξυνεργάσει, σκόπει.

Ἰσμήνη

ποῖόν τι κινδύνευμα; ποῦ γνώμης ποτ' εἶ;

Ἀντιγόνη

εἰ τὸν νεκρὸν ξὺν τῇδε κουφιεῖς χερί.

Ἰσμήνη

ἦ γὰρ νοεῖς θάπτειν σφ', ἀπόρρητον πόλει;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὸν γοῦν ἐμὸν καὶ τὸν σόν, ἢν σὺ μὴ θέλῃς,
45

ἀδελφόν· οὐ γὰρ δὴ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλώσομαι.

Ἰσμήνη

ὦ σχετλία, Κρέοντος ἀντειρηκότος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲν αὐτῷ τῶν ἐμῶν *μ' εἴργειν μέτα.

Ἰσμήνη

ἐγὼ μὲν οὐκ ἄτιμα ποιοῦμαι, τὸ δὲ

βίᾳ πολιτῶν δρᾶν ἔφυν ἀμήχανος.