Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/210

112 Polyn. Retreat is base; and base that I, the elder,

Should thus be mocked and flouted by my brother.

Antig. And see'st thou then, how those his oracles

Thou leadest to fulfilment, that you both

Should meet your death, each from the other's hand?

Polyn. His wish begets the thought. We may not yield.

Antig. Ο wretched me! and who will follow thee,

Hearing the evils which his lips predict?

Polyn. These idle threats we tell not. Wise in war

Is he who speaks the better, not the worse.

Antig. And is thy mind, my brother, fixed and firm?

Polyn. Restrain me not. Sad counsel must I take,

For this my march, beforehand doomed to fail,

By him, my father, and the Erinnyes dread.

But you,—Zeus bless you, if to me in death

Ye grant the boon I asked for; for in life

Ye meet me not again. And now, release me.

Farewell! ye look upon my face no more.

Antig. Ah wretched me!

Polyn. Bemoan thou not for me!

Antig. And who could keep from wailing, brother dear,

For thee, thus rushing on an open grave?

Polyn. Well, I will die, if so I must.

Antig. Not so.

List thou to me.

Polyn. Persuade me not to wrong.

Antig. Ah, misery! to be bereaved of thee!

Polyn. These things depend on God, this way or that,

To be or not to be; but I for you

Will pray the Gods that ye may meet no harm,

Who, as all deem, no evil have deserved. [Exit.

[The sky grows dark, thunder is heard in the distance.