Antigone

Sophocles

Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 3: The Antigone. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1891.

  1. You can never marry her, not while she is still alive.
Haemon
  1. Then she will die, and in death destroy another.
Creon
  1. What! Does your audacity run to open threats?
Haemon
  1. How is it a threat to speak against empty plans?
Creon
  1. You will regret your unwise instructions in wisdom.
Haemon
  1. If you were not my father, I would have called you insane.
Creon
  1. You woman’s slave, do not try to cajole me.
Haemon
  1. Do you want to have your say and then have done without a reply?
Creon
  1. Is that so? By Olympus above—know this well—you will have no joy for taunting me over and above your censures.
  2. Bring out that hated thing, so that with him looking on she may die right now in her bridegroom’s presence and at his side!
Haemon
  1. No, not at my side will she die—do not ever imagine it. Nor shall you ever look at me and set eyes on my face again.
  2. Indulge in your madness now with whomever of your friends can endure it.Exit Haemon.
Chorus
  1. The man is gone, King Creon, in anger and haste. A young mind is fierce when stung.
Creon
  1. Let him do—no!—let him plan something more immense than befits a man. Farewell to him! Still he will not save these two girls from death.
Chorus
  1. Then the pair of them, you really intend to kill them both?
Creon
  1. Not the one who did not put her hands to the burial. You are right.
Chorus
  1. And by what mode of death do you mean to kill the other?