Antigone

Sophocles

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

  1. Quiet, before your words truly fill me with rage, so that you not be found at the same time foolish as well as old. You say what is intolerable when you claim that the gods have concern for that corpse. Was it in high esteem for his benefactions
  2. that they sought to hide him, when he had come to burn their columned shrines, their sacred treasures and their land, and scatter its laws to the winds? Or do you see the gods honoring the wicked? It cannot be. No! From the very first
  3. certain men of the city were chafing at this edict and muttering against me, tossing their heads in secret, and they did not keep their necks duly under the yoke in submission to me. By those men, I am certain, they were led astray and bribed to do this deed.
  4. Nothing so evil as money ever grew to be current among men. This destroys cities, this drives men from their homes, this trains and warps honest minds to set themselves to works of shame,
  5. this teaches people to practise villainies, and to know every act of unholiness. But all the men who did this job for hire have made sure that, sooner or later, they shall suffer the punishment. Now, as Zeus still has my reverence, know this well—
  6. I tell you on my oath. If you do not find the very hand that made this burial, and reveal him before my eyes, mere death shall not suffice for you, not before, hung up alive, you have made this outrage plain,
  7. so that hereafter you may thieve with better knowledge of where your money should be received from, and learn that it is best not to be fond of money-making from any and every source. For you will find that ill-gotten gains bring more men to ruin than to safety.
Guard
  1. Will you allow me to speak? Or shall I just turn and go?
Creon
  1. Do you not know even now how much your voice sickens me?
Guard
  1. Is the pain in your ears, or in your soul?
Creon
  1. And why would you define the seat of my pain?
Guard
  1. He who did it hurts your heart, but I, your ears.
Creon
  1. God! How plain it is that you are a born babbler.
Guard
  1. Perhaps, but never the author of this action.
Creon
  1. Yes, and what is more, you sold your life for silver.
Guard
  1. Ah! It is truly sad when the judge judges wrong .
Creon
  1. Expound on judgment as you will. But, if you fail to
  2. show me the perpetrators of these crimes, you will avow that money basely earned wreaks sorrows.Exit Creon.
Guard
  1. Well, may the man be found! That would be best. But, whether he be caught or not—for fortune must decide that—I assure you that you will not see me come here again.
  2. Saved just now beyond hope and belief, I owe the gods great thanks.Exit the Guard.