Antigone
Sophocles
Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 3: The Antigone. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1891.
- But even the exceedingly clever, old Teiresias, falls with a shameful fall, when they couch shameful thoughts in fine phrasing for profit’s sake.
- Alas! Does any man know, does any consider—
- What is this? What universal truth are you announcing?
- —by how much the most precious of our possessions is the power to reason wisely?
- By as much, I think, as senselessness is the greatest affliction.
- Yet you came into being full of that disease.
- I have no desire to trade insults with the seer.
- Yet that is what you do in saying that I prophesy falsely.
- Yes, for the prophet-clan was ever fond of money.
- And the race sprung from tyrants loves shameful gain.
- Do you know that you ramble so about your king?
- I am aware, since through me you have saved this city.
- You are a wise seer, but fond of doing injustice.
- You will stir me to utter the dire secret in my soul.
- Out with it! But only if it is not for gain that you speak it.
- Indeed, I think I speak without mention of gain—where you are concerned.
- Be certain that you will not trade in my will.