Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/246

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Chor. And, lo! Ismene at the gate

Comes shedding tears of sisterly regard,

And o'er her brow a gathering cloud

Mars the deep roseate blush,

Bedewing her fair cheek.

Creon. [To .] And thou who, creeping as a viper creeps,

Did'st drain my life in secret, and I knew not

That I was rearing two accursèd ones,

Subverters of my throne,—come, tell me, then,

Wilt thou confess thou took'st thy part in this,

Or wilt thou swear thou did'st not know of it?

Ism. I did the deed, if she did, go with her,

Yea, share the guilt, and bear an equal blame.

Antig. Nay, justice will not suffer this, for thou

Did'st not consent, nor did I let thee join.

Ism. Nay, in thy troubles, I am not ashamed

In the same boat with thee to share thy fate.

Antig. Who did it. Hades knows, and those below:

I do not love a friend who loves in words.

Ism. Do not, my sister, put me to such shame,

As not to let me join in death with thee,

And so to pay due reverence to the dead.

Antig. Share not my death, nor make thine own this deed

Thou had'st no hand in. My death shall suffice.

Ism. What life to me is sweet, bereaved of thee?

Antig. Ask Creon there, since thou o'er him dost watch.

Ism. Why vex me so, in nothing bettered by it?

Antig. 'Tis pain indeed, to laugh my laugh at thee.

Ism. But now, at least, how may I profit thee?

Antig. Save thou thyself. I grudge not thy escape.

Ism. Ah, woe is me! and must I miss thy fate?