LEADER
Sire, ’tis meet that thou shouldest profit by his words, if he speaks aught in season, and thou, Haemon, by thy father’s; for on both parts there hath been wise speech.
CREON
Men of my age are we indeed to be schooled, then, by men of his?
HAEMON
In nothing that is not right; but if I am young, thou shouldest look to my merits, not to my years.
CREON
Is it a merit to honour the unruly?
HAEMON
I could wish no one to show respect for evil-doers.
CREON
Then is not she tainted with that malady?
HAEMON
Our Theban folk, with one voice, denies it.
CREON
Shall Thebes prescribe to me how I must rule?
HAEMON
See, there thou hast spoken like a youth indeed.
CREON
Am I to rule this land by other judgment than mine own?
HAEMON
That is no city which belongs to one man.
CREON
Is not the city held to be the ruler’s?
HAEMON
Thou wouldst make a good monarch of a desert.
CREON
This boy, it seems, is the woman’s champion.
HAEMON
If thou art a woman; indeed, my care is for thee.
CREON
Shameless, at open feud with thy father!
HAEMON
Nay, I see thee offending against justice.
CREON
Do I offend, when I respect mine own prerogatives?
HAEMON
Thou dost not respect them, when thou tramplest on the gods’ honours,
CREON
O dastard nature, yielding place to woman!
HAEMON
Thou wilt never find me yield to baseness.
CREON
All thy words, at least, plead for that girl.
HAEMON
And for thee, and for me, and for the gods below.
CREON
Thou canst never marry her, on this side the grave.
HAEMON
Then she must die, and in death destroy another.
CREON
How! doth thy boldness run to open threats?
HAEMON
What threat is it, to combat vain resolves?
CREON
Thou shalt rue thy witless teaching of wisdom.
HAEMON
Wert thou not my father, I would have called thee unwise.
CREON
Thou woman’s slave, use not wheedling speech with me.
HAEMON
Thou wouldest speak, and then hear no reply?
CREON
Sayest thou so? Now, by the heaven above us-be sure of it-thou shalt smart for taunting me in this opprobrious strain. Bring forth that hated thing, that she may die forthwith in his presence-before his eyes-at her bridegroom’s side!
HAEMON
No, not at my side-never think it-shall she perish; nor shalt thou ever set eyes more upon my face:-rave, then, with such friends as can endure thee.
Exit HAEMON


LEADER

The man is gone, O king, in angry haste; a youthful mind, when stung, is fierce.
CREON
Let him do, or dream, more than man-good speed to him!-But he shall not save these two girls from their doom.
LEADER
Dost thou indeed purpose to slay both?
CREON
Not her whose hands are pure: thou sayest well.
LEADER
And by what doom mean’st thou to slay the other?
CREON
I will take her where the path is loneliest, and hide her, living, in rocky vault, with so much food set forth as piety prescribes, that the city may avoid a public stain. And there, praying to Hades, the only god whom she worships, perchance she will obtain release from death; or else will learn, at last, though late, that it is lost labour to revere the dead.
CREON goes into the palace.


CHORUS singing

strophe
Love, unconquered in the fight, Love, who makest havoc of wealth, who keepest thy vigil on the soft cheek of a maiden; thou roamest over the sea, and among the homes of dwellers in the wilds; no immortal can escape thee, nor any among men whose life is for a day; and he to whom thou hast come is mad.
antistrophe
The just themselves have their minds warped by thee to wrong, for their ruin: ’tis thou that hast stirred up this present strife of kinsmen; victorious is the love-kindling light from the eyes of the fair bride; it is a power enthroned in sway beside the eternal laws; for there the goddess Aphrodite is working her unconquerable will.
ANTIGONE is led out of the palace by two Of CREON’S attendants who are about to conduct her to her doom.
But now I also am carried beyond the bounds of loyalty, and can no more keep back the streaming tears, when I see Antigone thus passing to thebridal chamber where all are laid to rest.
The following lines between ANTIGONE and the CHORUS are chanted responsively.


ANTIGONE

strophe 1
See me, citizens of my fatherland, setting forth on my last way, looking my last on the sunlight that is for me no more; no, Hades who gives sleep to all leads me living to Acheron’s shore; who have had no portion in the chant that brings the bride, nor hath any song been mine for the crowning of bridals; whom the lord of the Dark Lake shall wed.
CHORUS
systema 1
Glorious, therefore, and with praise, thou departest to that deep place of the dead: wasting sickness hath not smitten thee; thou hast not found the wages of the sword; no, mistress of thine own fate, and still alive, thou shalt pass to Hades, as no other of mortal kind hath passed.
Antigone by Sophocles