Page:The Antigone of Sophocles (1911).djvu/30

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In flight and see the welcome feast below.

Such is the edict which Creon the Good

Hath published both for thee and me—for I

Too am included—and he’s coming here

Forthwith, this clearly to proclaim to those

Who know it not; nor trivial matter deems,

But whoso fails to heed his will, a doom

Most dire awaits him, stoned to death by all.

Thou hast my news, and soon wilt show thyself,

If of a noble strain, or basely bred,

Unworthy daughter of a noble sire.

But what can I do, sister, my touch,

To loose, or yet to tighten such a knot?

Consider. Wilt join to do and dare?

In what emprise? What meanest thou to do?

Wilt aid this hand of mine to lift the corpse?

Surely thou dost not mean to bury him

When Creon’s edict doth forbid?

My brother—and thine, if thou wilt not—I shall enshrine:

Disloyal I shall ne’er be found to him.

Foolhardy girl! When Creon hath said nay?

To bar me from mine own he has no right.

Oh, sister, be advised! Remember first

Our father, how he fell defamed and scorned,

And prompted by the sins which his own search

Lard bare, smote both his eyes with self-raised hand;

Then how the mother-wife, ah, two-fold name,

With twisted cord did violence to her life.

And last our brothers, shedding brother’s blood,

In one sad day have wrought each other’s doom.

And now we two, the only two still left,

O think what worser fate is yet in store

Fro us, if we defy the law and brave

The high decree that speaks the sovereign will.

Nay, let_us not forget that we are women,

Whom nature fashioned not to fight with men: