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But since Victory of glorious name hath come to us； with joy
responsive to the joy of Thebe whose chariots are many； let us enjoy
forgetfulness after the late wars； and visit all the temples of the
gods with night…long dance and song； and may Bacchus be our leader；
whose dancing shakes the land of Thebe。
LEADER
systema 4
But lo； the king of the land comes yonder； Creon； son of
Menoeceus； our new ruler by the new fortunes that the gods have given；
what counsel is he pondering； that he hath proposed this special
conference of elders； summoned by his general mandate？
（Enter CREON； from the central doors of the palace； in the garb of
king； with two attendants。）
CREON
Sirs； the vessel of our State； after being tossed on wild waves；
hath once more been safely steadied by the gods： and ye； out of all
the folk； have been called apart by my summons； because I knew；
first of all； how true and constant was your reverence for the royal
power of Laius； how； again； when Oedipus was ruler of our land； and
when he had perished； your steadfast loyalty still upheld their
children。 Since； then； his sons have fallen in one day by a twofold
doom；…each smitten by the other； each stained with a brother's
blood；…I now possess the throne and all its powers； by nearness of
kinship to the dead。
No man can be fully known； in soul and spirit and mind； until he
hath been seen versed in rule and law…giving。 For if any； being
supreme guide of the State； cleaves not to the best counsels； but；
through some fear； keeps his lips locked； I hold； and have ever
held； him most base； and if any makes a friend of more account than
his fatherland； that man hath no place in my regard。 For I…be Zeus
my witness； who sees all things always…would not be silent if I saw
ruin； instead of safety； coming to the citizens； nor would I ever deem
the country's foe a friend to myself； remembering this； that our
country is the ship that bears us safe； and that only while she
prospers in our voyage can we make true friends。
Such are the rules by which I guard this city's greatness。 And
in accord with them is the edict which I have now published to the
folk touching the sons of Oedipus；…that Eteocles； who hath fallen
fighting for our city； in all renown of arms； shall be entombed； and
crowned with every rite that follows the noblest dead to their rest。
But for his brother； Polyneices；…who came back from exile； and
sought to consume utterly with fire the city of his fathers and the
shrines of his fathers' gods；…sought to taste of kindred blood； and to
lead the remnant into slavery；…touching this man； it hath been
proclaimed to our people that none shall grace him with sepulture or
lament； but leave him unburied； a corpse for birds and dogs to eat；
a ghastly sight of shame。
Such the spirit of my dealing； and never； by deed of mine； shall
the wicked stand in honour before the just； but whoso hath good will
to Thebes； he shall be honoured of me； in his life and in his death。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Such is thy pleasure； Creon； son of Menoeceus； touching this
city's foe； and its friend； and thou hast power； I ween； to take
what order thou wilt； both for the dead； and for all us who live。
CREON
See； then； that ye be guardians of the mandate。
LEADER
Lay the burden of this task on some younger man。
CREON
Nay； watchers of the corpse have been found。
LEADER
What； then； is this further charge that thou wouldst give？
CREON
That ye side not with the breakers of these commands。
LEADER
No man is so foolish that he is enamoured of death。
CREON
In sooth； that is the meed； yet lucre hath oft ruined men
through their hopes。
（A GUARD enters from the spectators' left。）
GUARD
My liege； I will not say that I come breathless from speed； or
that have plied a nimble foot； for often did my thoughts make me
pause； and wheel round in my path； to return。 My mind was holding
large discourse with me； 'Fool； why goest thou to thy certain doom？'
'Wretch； tarrying again？ And if Creon hears this from another； must
not thou smart for it？' So debating； I went on my way with lagging
steps； and thus a short road was made long。 At last； however； it
carried the day that I should come hither…to thee； and； though my tale
be nought； yet will I tell it； for I come with a good grip on one
hope；…that I can suffer nothing but what is my fate。
CREON
And what is it that disquiets thee thus？
GUARD
I wish to tell thee first about myself…I did not do the deed…I did
not see the doer…it were not right that I should come to any harm。
CREON
Thou hast a shrewd eye for thy mark； well dost thou fence
thyself round against the blame； clearly thou hast some strange
thing to tell。
GUARD
Aye； truly； dread news makes one pause long。
CREON
Then tell it； wilt thou； and so get thee gone？
GUARD
Well； this is it。…The corpse…some one hath just given it burial；
and gone away；…after sprinkling thirsty dust on the flesh； with such
other rites as piety enjoins。
CREON
What sayest thou？ What living man hath dared this deed？
GUARD
I know not； no stroke of pickaxe was seen there； no earth thrown
up by mattock； the ground was hard and dry； unbroken； without track of
wheels； the doer was one who had left no trace。 And when the first
day…watchman showed it to us； sore wonder fell on all。 The dead man
was veiled from us； not shut within a tomb； but lightly strewn with
dust； as by the hand of one who shunned a curse。 And no sign met the
eye as though any beast of prey or any dog had come nigh to him； or
torn him。
Then evil words flew fast and loud among us； guard accusing guard；
und it would e'en have come to blows at last； nor was there any to
hinder。 Every man was the culprit； and no one was convicted； but all
disclaimed knowledge of the deed。 And we were ready to take red…hot
iron in our hands；…to walk through fire；…to make oath by the gods that
we had not done the deed；…that we were not privy to the planning or
the doing。
At last； when all our searching was fruitless； one spake； who made
us all bend our faces on the earth in fear； for we saw not how we
could gainsay him； or escape mischance if we obeyed。 His counsel was
that this deed must be reported to thee； and not hidden。 And this
seemed best； and the lot doomed my hapless self to win this prize。
So here I stand；…as unwelcome as unwilling； well I wot； for no man
delights in the bearer of bad news。
LEADER
O king； my thoughts have long been whispering； can this deed；
perchance； be e'en the work of gods？
CREON
Cease； ere thy words fill me utterly with wrath； lest thou be
found at once an old man and foolish。 For thou sayest what is not to
be borne； in saying that the gods have care for this corpse。 Was it
for high reward of trusty service that they sought to hide his
nakedness； who came to burn their pillared shrines and sacred
treasures； to burn their land； and scatter its laws to the winds？ Or
dost thou behold the gods honouring the wicked？ It cannot be。 No！ From
the first there were certain in the town that muttered against me；
chafing at this edict； wagging their heads in secret； and kept not
their necks duly under the yoke； like men contented with my sway。
'Tis by them； well I know； that these have been beguiled and
bribed to do this deed。 Nothing so evil as money ever grew to be
current among men。 This lays cities low； this drives men from their
homes； this trains and warps honest souls till they set themselves
to works of shame； this still teaches folk to practise villainies； and
to know every godless deed。
But all the men who wrought this thing for hire have made it
sure that； soon or late； they shall pay the price。 Now； as Zeus
still hath my reverence； know this…I tell it thee on my oath：…If ye
find not the very author of this burial； and produce him before mine
eyes； death alone shall not be enough for you； till first； hung up
alive； ye have revealed this outrage；…that henceforth ye may thieve
with better knowledge whence lucre should be won； and learn that it is
not well to love gain from every source。 For thou wilt find that
ill…gotten pelf brings more men to ruin than to weal。
GUARD
May I speak？ Or shall I just turn and go？
CREON
Knowest thou not that even now thy voice offends？
GUARD
Is thy smart in the ears； or in the soul？
CREON
And why wouldst thou define the seat of my pain？
GUARD
The doer vexes thy mind； but I； thine ears。
CREON
Ah； thou art a born babbler； 'tis well seen。
GUARD
May be； but never the doer of this deed。
CREON
Yea； and more；…the seller of thy life for silver。
GUARD
Alas！ 'Tis sa