CHORUS chanting

Lo, yonder Ismene comes forth, shedding such tears as fond sisters weep; a cloud upon her brow casts its shadow over her darkly-flushing face, and breaks in rain on her fair cheek.

And thou, who, lurking like a viper in my house, wast secretly draining my life-blood, while I knew not that I was nurturing two pests, to rise against my throne-come, tell me now, wilt thou also confess thy part in this burial, or wilt thou forswear all knowledge of it?

I have done the deed,-if she allows my claim,-and share the burden of the charge.

Nay, justice will not suffer thee to do that: thou didst not consent to the deed, nor did I give thee part in it.

But, now that ills beset thee, I am not ashamed to sail the sea of trouble at thy side.

Whose was the deed, Hades and the dead are witnesses: a friend in words is not the friend that I love.

Nay, sister, reject me not, but let me die with thee, and duly honour the dead.

Share not thou my death, nor claim deeds to which thou hast not put thy hand: my death will suffice.

And what life is dear to me, bereft of thee?

Ask Creon; all thy care is for him.

Why vex me thus, when it avails thee nought?

Indeed, if I mock, ’tis with pain that I mock thee.

Tell me,-how can I serve thee, even now?

Save thyself: I grudge not thy escape.

Ah, woe is me! And shall I have no share in thy fate?

Thy choice was to live; mine, to die.

At least thy choice was not made without my protest.

One world approved thy wisdom; another, mine.

Howbeit, the offence is the same for both of us.

Be of good cheer; thou livest; but my life hath long been given to death, that so I might serve the dead.

Lo, one of these maidens hath newly shown herself foolish, as the other hath been since her life began.

Yea, O king, such reason as nature may have given abides not with the unfortunate, but goes astray.

Thine did, when thou chosest vile deeds with the vile.

What life could I endure, without her presence?