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440 BC
ANTIGONE
by Sophocles
translated by R。 C。 Jebb
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
daughters of Oedipus：
ANTIGONE
ISMENE
CREON； King of Thebes
EURYDICE； his wife
HAEMON； his son
TEIRESIAS； the blind prophet
GUARD； set to watch the corpse of Polyneices
FIRST MESSENGER
SECOND MESSENGER； from the house
CHORUS OF THEBAN ELDERS
ANTIGONE
ANTIGONE
ANTIGONE
（SCENE：…The same as in the Oedipus the King； an open space before
the royal palace； once that of Oedipus； at Thebes。 The backscene
represents the front of the palace； with three doors； of which the
central and largest is the principal entrance into the house。 The time
is at daybreak on the morning after the fall of the two brothers；
Eteocles and Polyneices； and the flight of the defeated Argives。
ANTIGONE calls ISMENE forth from the palace； in order to speak to
her alone。）
ANTIGONE
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 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 twofold blow； and since in this last night the Argive
host hath fled； 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
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； 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 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。
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 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 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
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。
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。 When they have departed； the
CHORUS OF THEBAN ELDERS enters。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Beam of the sun； fairest light that ever dawned on Thebe of the
seven gates； thou hast shone forth at last； eye of golden day；
arisen above Dirce's streams！ The warrior of the white shield； who
came from Argos in his panoply； hath been stirred by thee to
headlong flight； in swifter career；
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
systema 1
who set forth against our land by reason of the vexed claims of
Polyneices； and； like shrill…screaming eagle； he flew over into our
land； in snow…white pinion sheathed； with an armed throng； and with
plumage of helms。
CHORUS
antistrophe 1
He paused above our dwellings； he ravened around our sevenfold
portals with spears athirst for blood； but he went hence； or ever
his jaws were glutted with our gore； or the Fire…god's pine…fed
flame had seized our crown of towers。 So fierce was the noise of
battle raised behind him； a thing too hard for him to conquer； as he
wrestled with his dragon foe。
LEADER
systema 2
For Zeus utterly abhors the boasts of a proud tongue； and when
he beheld them coming on in a great stream； in the haughty pride of
clanging gold； he smote with brandished fire one who was now hasting
to shout victory at his goal upon our ramparts。
CHORUS
strophe 2
Swung down； he fell on the earth with a crash； torch in hand； he
who so lately； in the frenzy of the mad onset； was raging against us
with the blasts of his tempestuous hate。 But those threats fared not
as he hoped； and to other foes the mighty War…god dispensed their
several dooms； dealing havoc around； a mighty helper at our need。
LEADER
systema 3
For seven captains at seven gates； matched against seven； left the
tribute of their panoplies to Zeus who turns the battle； save those
two of cruel fate； who； born of one sire and one mother； set against
each other their twain conquering spears； and are sharers in a
common death。
CHORUS
antistrophe 2
But since Victory of glorious name hath come to us； with joy
responsive to the j