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tale。
Forthwith； in fear； I essayed burnt…sacrifice on a duly kindled
altar： but from my offerings the Fire…god showed no flame； a dank
moisture； oozing from the thigh…flesh； trickled forth upon the embers；
and smoked； and sputtered； the gall was scattered to the air； and
the streaming thighs lay bared of the fat that had been wrapped
round them。
Such was the failure of the rites by which I vainly asked a
sign； as from this boy I learned； for he is my guide； as I am guide to
others。 And 'tis thy counsel that hath brought this sickness on our
State。 For the altars of our city and of our hearths have been
tainted； one and all； by birds and dogs； with carrion from the hapless
corpse； the son of Oedipus： and therefore the gods no more accept
prayer and sacrifice at our hands； or the flame of meat…offering；
nor doth any bird give a clear sign by its shrill cry； for they have
tasted the fatness of a slain man's blood。
Think； then； on these things； my son。 All men are liable to err；
but when an error hath been made； that man is no longer witless or
unblest who heals the ill into which he hath fallen； and remains not
stubborn。
Self…will； we know； incurs the charge of folly。 Nay； allow the
claim of the dead； stab not the fallen； what prowess is it to slay the
slain anew？ I have sought thy good； and for thy good I speak： and
never is it sweeter to learn from a good counsellor than when he
counsels for thine own gain。
CREON
Old man； ye all shoot your shafts at me； as archers at the
butts；…Ye must needs practise on me with seer…craft also；…aye； the
seer…tribe hath long trafficked in me； and made me their
merchandise。 Gain your gains； drive your trade； if ye list； in the
silver…gold of Sardis and the gold of India； but ye shall not hide
that man in the grave；…no； though the eagles of Zeus should bear the
carrion morsels to their Master's throne…no； not for dread of that
defilement will I suffer his burial：…for well I know that no mortal
can defile the gods。…But； aged Teiresias； the wisest fall with
shameful fall； when they clothe shameful thoughts in fair words； for
lucre's sake。
TEIRESIAS
Alas！ Doth any man know； doth any consider。。。
CREON
Whereof？ What general truth dost thou announce？
TEIRESIAS
How precious； above all wealth； is good counsel。
CREON
As folly； I think； is the worst mischief。
TEIRESIAS
Yet thou art tainted with that distemper。
CREON
I would not answer the seer with a taunt。
TEIRESIAS
But thou dost； in saying that I prophesy falsely。
CREON
Well； the prophet…tribe was ever fond of money。
TEIRESIAS
And the race bred of tyrants loves base gain。
CREON
Knowest thou that thy speech is spoken of thy king？
TEIRESIAS
I know it； for through me thou hast saved Thebes。
CREON
Thou art a wise seer； but thou lovest evil deeds。
TEIRESIAS
Thou wilt rouse me to utter the dread secret in my soul。
CREON
Out with it！…Only speak it not for gain。
TEIRESIAS
Indeed； methinks； I shall not；…as touching thee。
CREON
Know that thou shalt not trade on my resolve。
TEIRESIAS
Then know thou…aye； know it well…that thou shalt not live
through many more courses of the sun's swift chariot； ere one begotten
of thine own loins shall have been given by thee； a corpse for
corpses； because thou hast thrust children of the sunlight to the
shades； and ruthlessly lodged a living soul in the grave； but
keepest in this world one who belongs to the gods infernal； a corpse
unburied； unhonoured； all unhallowed。 In such thou hast no part； nor
have the gods above； but this is a violence done to them by thee。
Therefore the avenging destroyers lie in wait for thee； the Furies
of Hades and of the gods； that thou mayest be taken in these same
ills。
And mark well if I speak these things as a hireling。 A time not
long to be delayed shall awaken the wailing of men and of women in thy
house。 And a tumult of hatred against thee stirs all the cities
whose mangled sons had the burial…rite from dogs； or from wild beasts；
or from some winged bird that bore a polluting breath to each city
that contains the hearths of the dead。
Such arrows for thy heart…since thou provokest me…have I
launched at thee； archer…like； in my anger；…sure arrows； of which thou
shalt not escape the smart。…Boy； lead me home； that he may spend his
rage on younger men； and learn to keep a tongue more temperate； and to
bear within his breast a better mind than now he bears。
（The Boy leads TEIRESIAS Out。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
The man hath gone； O King； with dread prophecies。 And； since the
hair on this head； once dark； hath been white； I know that he hath
never been a false prophet to our city。
CREON
I； too； know it well； and am troubled in soul。 'Tis dire to yield；
but； by resistance； to smite my pride with ruin…this； too； is a dire
choice。
LEADER
Son of Menoeceus； it behoves thee to take wise counsel。
CREON
What should I do then？ Speak and I will obey。
LEADER
Go thou； and free the maiden from her rocky chamber； and make a
tomb for the unburied dead。
CREON
And this is thy counsel？ Thou wouldst have me yield？
LEADER
Yea； King； and with all speed； for swift harms from the gods cut
short the folly of men。
CREON
Ah me； 'tis hard； but I resign my cherished resolve；…I obey。 We
must not wage a vain war with destiny。
LEADER
Go； thou； and do these things； leave them not to others。
CREON
Even as I am I'll go：…on； on； my servants； each and all of
you；…take axes in your hands； and hasten to the ground that ye see
yonder！ Since our judgment hath taken this turn； I will be present
to unloose her； as myself bound her。 My heart misgives me； 'tis best
to keep the established laws； even to life's end。
（CREON and his servants hasten out on the spectators' left。）
CHORUS （singing）
strophe 1
O thou of many names； glory of the Cadmeian bride； offspring of
loud…thundering Zeus！ thou who watchest over famed Italia； and
reignest； where all guests are welcomed； in the sheltered plain of
Eleusinian Deo！ O Bacchus； dweller in Thebe； mother…city of Bacchants；
by the softly…gliding stream of Ismenus； on the soil where the
fierce dragon's teeth were sown！
antistrophe 1
Thou hast been seen where torch…flames glare through smoke；
above the crests of the twin peaks； where move the Corycian nymphs；
thy votaries； hard by Castalia's stream。
Thou comest from the ivy…mantled slopes of Nysa's hills； and
from the shore green with many…clustered vines； while thy name is
lifted up on strains of more than mortal power； as thou visitest the
ways of Thebe：
strophe 2
Thebe； of all cities； thou holdest first in honour； thou and thy
mother whom the lightning smote； and now； when all our people is
captive to a violent plague； come thou with healing feet over the
Parnassian height； or over the moaning strait！
antistrophe 2
O thou with whom the stars rejoice as they move； the stars whose
breath is fire； O master of the voices of the night； son begotten of
Zeus； appear； O king； with thine attendant Thyiads； who in
night…long frenzy dance before thee； the giver of good gifts； Iacchus！
（Enter MESSENGER； on the spectators' left。）
MESSENGER
Dwellers by the house of Cadmus and of Amphion； there is no estate
of mortal life that I would ever praise or blame as settled。 Fortune
raises and Fortune humbles the lucky or unlucky from day to day； and
no one can prophesy to men concerning those things which are
established。 For
CREON was blest once； as I count bliss； he had saved this land of
Cadmus from its foes； he was clothed with sole dominion in the land；
he reigned； the glorious sire of princely children。 And now all hath
been lost。 For when a man hath forfeited his pleasures； I count him
not as living；…I hold him but a breathing corpse。 Heap up riches in
thy house； if thou wilt； live in kingly state； yet； if there be no
gladness therewith； I would not give the shadow of a vapour for all
the rest； compared with joy。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
And what is this new grief that thou hast to tell for our princes？
MESSENGER
Death； and the living are guilty for the dead。
LEADER
And who is the slayer？ Who the stricken？ Speak。
MESSENGER
Haemon hath perished； his blood hath been shed by no stranger。
LEADER
By his father's hand； or by his own？
MESSENGER
By his own； in wrath with his sire for the murder