按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
guest； the daughter of Tantalus； on the Sipylian heights； I how；
like clinging ivy； the growth of stone subdued her； and the rains fail
not； as men tell； from her wasting form； nor fails the snow； while
beneath her weeping lids the tears bedew her bosom； and most like to
hers is the fate that brings me to my rest。
CHORUS
systema 2
Yet she was a goddess； thou knowest； and born of gods； we are
mortals； and of mortal race。 But 'tis great renown for a woman who
hath perished that she should have shared the doom of the godlike；
in her life； and afterward in death。
ANTIGONE
strophe 2
Ah； I am mocked！ In the name of our fathers' gods； can ye not wait
till I am gone；…must ye taunt me to my face； O my city； and ye； her
wealthy sons？ Ah； fount of Dirce； and thou holy ground of Thebe
whose chariots are many； ye； at least； will bear me witness； in what
sort； unwept of friends； and by what laws I pass to the rock…closed
prison of my strange tomb； ah me unhappy！ who have no home on the
earth or in the shades； no home with the living or with the dead。
CHORUS
strophe 3
Thou hast rushed forward to the utmost verge of daring； and
against that throne where justice sits on high thou hast fallen； my
daughter； with a grievous fall。 But in this ordeal thou art paying；
haply； for thy father's sin。
ANTIGONE
antistrophe 2
Thou hast touched on my bitterest thought；…awaking the ever…new
lament for my sire and for all the doom given to us； the famed house
of Labdacus。 Alas for the horrors of the mother's bed！ alas for the
wretched mother's slumber at the side of her own son；…and my sire！
From what manner of parents did I take my miserable being！ And to them
I go thus； accursed； unwed； to share their home。 Alas； my brother；
ill…starred in thy marriage； in thy death thou hast undone my life！
CHORUS
antistrophe 3
Reverent action claims a certain praise for reverence； but an
offence against power cannot be brooked by him who hath power in his
keeping。 Thy self…willed temper hath wrought thy ruin。
ANTIGONE
epode
Unwept； unfriended； without marriage…song； I am led forth in my
sorrow on this journey that can be delayed no more。 No longer； hapless
one； may I behold yon day…star's sacred eye； but for my fate no tear
is shed； no friend makes moan。
（CREON enters from the palace。）
CREON
Know ye not that songs and wailings before death would never
cease； if it profited to utter them？ Away with her…away！ And when ye
have enclosed her； according to my word； in her vaulted grave； leave
her alone； forlorn…whether she wishes to die； or to live a buried life
in such a home。 Our hands are clean as touching this maiden。 But
this is certain…she shall be deprived of her sojourn in the light。
ANTIGONE
Tomb； bridal…chamber； eternal prison in the caverned rock； whither
go to find mine own； those many who have perished； and whom Persephone
hath received among the dead！ Last of all shall I pass thither； and
far most miserably of all； before the term of my life is spent。 But
I cherish good hope that my coming will be welcome to my father； and
pleasant to thee； my mother； and welcome； brother； to thee； for；
when ye died； with mine own hands I washed and dressed you； and poured
drink…offerings at your graves； and now； Polyneices； 'tis for
tending thy corpse that I win such recompense as this。
And yet I honoured thee； as the wise will deem； rightly。 Never；
had been a mother of children； or if a husband had been mouldering
in death； would I have taken this task upon me in the city's
despite。 What law； ye ask； is my warrant for that word？ The husband
lost； another might have been found； and child from another； to
replace the first…born： but； father and mother hidden with Hades； no
brother's life could ever bloom for me again。 Such was the law whereby
I held thee first in honour； but Creon deemed me guilty of error
therein； and of outrage； ah brother mine！ And now he leads me thus；
a captive in his hands； no bridal bed； no bridal song hath been
mine； no joy of marriage； no portion in the nurture of children； but
thus； forlorn of friends； unhappy one； I go living to the vaults of
death。
And what law of heaven have I transgressed？ Why； hapless one；
should I look to the gods any more；…what ally should I invoke；…when by
piety I have earned the name of impious？ Nay； then； if these things
are pleasing to the gods； when I have suffered my doom； I shall come
to know my sin； but if the sin is with my judges； I could wish them no
fuller measure of evil than they； on their part； mete wrongfully to
me。
CHORUS
Still the same tempest of the soul vexes this maiden with the same
fierce gusts。
CREON
Then for this shall her guards have cause to rue their slowness。
ANTIGONE
Ah me！ that word hath come very near to death。
CREON
I can cheer thee with no hope that this doom is not thus to be
fulfilled。
ANTIGONE
O city of my fathers in the land of Thebe！ O ye gods； eldest of
our race！…they lead me hencnow； now…they tarry not！ Behold me；
princes of Thebes； the last daughter of the house of your kings；…see
what I suffer； and from whom； because I feared to cast away the fear
of Heaven！
（ANTIGONE is led away by the guards。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
Even thus endured Danae in her beauty to change the light of day
for brass…bound walls； and in that chamber； secret as the grave； she
was held close prisoner； yet was she of a proud lineage； O my
daughter； and charged with the keeping of the seed of Zeus； that
fell in the golden rain。
But dreadful is the mysterious power of fate： there is no
deliverance from it by wealth or by war； by fenced city； or dark；
sea…beaten ships。
antistrophe 1
And bonds tamed the son of Dryas； swift to wrath； that king of the
Edonians； so paid he for his frenzied taunts； when； by the will of
Dionysus； he was pent in a rocky prison。 There the fierce exuberance
of his madness slowly passed away。 That man learned to know the god；
whom in his frenzy he had provoked with mockeries； for he had sought
to quell the god…possessed women； and the Bacchanalian fire； and he
angered the Muses that love the flute。
strophe 2
And by the waters of the Dark Rocks； the waters of the twofold
sea； are the shores of Bosporus； and Thracian Salmydessus； where Ares；
neighbour to the city； saw the accurst； blinding wound dealt to the
two sons of Phineus by his fierce wife；…the wound that brought
darkness to those vengeance…craving orbs； smitten with her bloody
hands； smitten with her shuttle for a dagger。
antistrophe 2
Pining in their misery； they bewailed their cruel doom； those sons
of a mother hapless in her marriage； but she traced her descent from
the ancient line of the Erechtheidae； and in far…distant caves she was
nursed amid her father's storms； that child of Boreas； swift as a
steed over the steep hills； a daughter of gods； yet upon her also
the gray Fates bore hard； my daughter。
（Enter TEIRESIAS； led by a Boy； on the spectators' right。）
TEIRESIAS
Princes of Thebes； we have come with linked steps； both served
by the eyes of one； for thus； by a guide's help； the blind must walk。
CREON
And what； aged Teiresias； are thy tidings？
TEIRESIAS
I will tell thee； and do thou hearken to the seer。
CREON
Indeed； it has not been my wont to slight thy counsel。
TEIRESIAS
Therefore didst thou steer our city's course aright。
CREON
I have felt； and can attest； thy benefits。
TEIRESIAS
Mark that now； once more； thou standest on fate's fine edge。
CREON
What means this？ How I shudder at thy message！
TEIRESIAS
Thou wilt learn； when thou hearest the warnings of mine art。 As
I took my place on mine old seat of augury； where all birds have
been wont to gather within my ken； I heard a strange voice among them；
they were screaming with dire； feverish rage； that drowned their
language in jargon； and I knew that they were rending each other
with their talons； murderously； the whirr of wings told no doubtful
tale。
Forthwith； in fear； I essayed burnt…sacrifice on a duly kindled
altar：