Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/229

Rh Ism. Mean'st thou to bury him, when law forbids?

Antig. He is my brother; yes, and thine, though thou

Would'st fain he were not. I desert him not.

Ism. Ο daring one, when Creon bids thee not?

Antig. He has no right to keep me from mine own.

Ism. Ah me! remember, sister, how our sire

Perished, with hate o'erwhelmed and infamy,

From evils that himself did bring to light,

With his own hand himself of eyes bereaving,

And how his wife and mother, both in one,

With twisted cordage, cast away her life;

And thirdly, how our brothers in one day

In suicidal conflict wrought the doom,

Each of the other. And we twain are left;

And think, how much more wretchedly than all

We twain shall perish, if, against the law,

We brave our sovereign's edict and his power.

This first we need remember, we were born

Women; as such, not made to strive with men.

And next, that they who reign surpass in strength,

And we must bow to this, and worse than this.

I then, entreating those that dwell below,

To judge me leniently, as forced to yield,

Will hearken to our rulers. Over-zeal

That still will meddle, little wisdom shows.

Antig. I will not ask thee, nor though thou should'st wish

To do it, should'st thou join with my consent.

Do what thou wilt, I go to bury him;

And good it were, in doing this, to die.