Page:The Antigone of Sophocles (1911).djvu/50

46 She were thine enemy, go down to Hades

And find a bridegroom there. For since alone

Of all the Thebans I have captured her

In flagrant insubordination, death

Shall be her punishment—my word I gave—

I will_not_break it. Therefore let her call

Her Zeus of kindred blood to witness. ’S death!

If kith and kindred I o’erlook when they

Become unruly, how much more must I

Expect rebellion then away from home!

For he that in his own household is just

Will prove to be an upright citizen;

But he that disregards and breaks the law,

Or thinks that he can dictate to his rulers,

No praise from me will e’er obtain. Whomso

The city places in command, that man

Must be obeyed in great things and in small,

Or right or wrong, and whosoever thus obeys,

Would, I feel sure, be competent to rule,

And in the storm of battle, when once placed,

Will hold his post, and by his comrade’s side

Stand dauntless and unflinching. Greater bane

There is not than the lack of discipline.

This ruins cities, this makes desolate

The home, ’t is this that breaks the allies’ ranks

And routs them; while it is obedience

That in the ranks of the unconquered saves

Most lives. Hence we must stand for discipline,

Defeat ne’er suffer from a woman’s hand;

For if we fall from power, if fall we must,

’T is better far to be o’erthrown by man,

And not be taunted “mastered by a woman.”

Unless old age has stolen away our mind,

What thou dost say is wisely said, I find.

Father, no higher faculty the gods implant

In man than reason. That my father errs

I could not say and would not if I could.

Yet wisdom might be heard from others too,

And as thy son, I naturally observe

The words and acts of all the Thebans, what