Page:The Antigone of Sophocles (1911).djvu/66

62 His own. Enraged because

His sire condemned to death the maid he loved.

Oh prophet, how hast thou thy word fulfilled!

’T is even as I say—decide what ’s best.

But look! Eurydice, the hapless wife

Of Creon comes here from the house—by chance,

Or has she heard the tidings of her son?

Ye Thebans all, I overheard your words,

As I was coming forth to make my way

To Pallas’ shrine and offer up my prayers.

And I had just removed the bar, prepared

To open wide the door, when words of woe

Affecting me and mine fell on my ear;

Shocked, my affrighted senses fled, and back

I fell into my waiting-women’s arms.

Repeat thy tale. What tidings dost thou bring?

’T will be no new experience for me:

Not ignorant of sorrow I shall listen.

Dear lady, I was there, and what I saw

I ’ll tell without reserve and in detail.

For why should I attempt to soothe thy heart

And afterwards be proved a liar. Truth

Is always best.—As guide I led thy lord

Unto the summit of the plain, where still

Unpitied lay the corpse of Polyneices,

By dogs all mangled. To Persephone,

The goddess of the Cross-ways, and to Pluto,

We prayed to show us mercy and restrain

Their wrath; then washing pure and clean the corpse

With boughs fresh plucked we set to burning all

The dogs had left of his poor body; then

Of native earth heaped up a mound, and turned

To enter that rockvaulted chamber, where

The bridegroom, Death, awaited on a couch

Of stone. And long before we reached it, one

Of my companions heard a voice of wailing,