Page:The Antigone of Sophocles (1911).djvu/39

SOPHOCLES. Him here in person, here before my eyes,

Or death shall be too light a purishment,

But first, hung up alive, you shall disclose

The truth about this outrage, that next time

With better knowledge you may go

To get your lucre, and may learn that gold

Is not to be obtained from every source,

How much so e’er you love the touch of gold.

You'll learn that more are brought to woe and pain,

Than happiness by their ill-gotten gain.

I ’ve leave to speak? Or must I turn and go?

Do you not see your speech offends. me much?

Pierced in the heart, or only in the ear?

Why should you mark where my displeasure lies?

The doer pains your heart, and I your ears.

Pah! What a natural spendthrift of his tongue.

Perhaps, but I did not the deed you charge.

You did, I know, and sold yourself for gold.

To think so good a judge should judge amiss!

Deliver judgments on my judgment, glib

Of tongue,—but if the culprits in this deed

You do not soon produce, you ’ll soon affirm

That treacherous gains bring punishment to rogues.

May he be found!—None hopes it more than I.

But found or not—for chance will settle that—

One thing is sure: you ’ll never catch me here.

For I, e’en now escaped beyond all hope

And expectation, deeply thank the gods.

[Watchman exit R.

Wonders are manifold;

Nothing so wondrous as Man!

He it is that is bold

Mid the surges high to sail,

Blown by the stormy gale,

White crests of Ocean to span.