ANTIGONE

It befell in times past that the gods, being angry with the

inhabitants of Thebes, sent into their land a very noisome beast which

men called the Sphinx. Now this beast had the face and breast of a

fair woman, but the feet and claws of a lion; and it was wont to ask a

riddle of such as encountered it; and such as answered not aright it

would tear and devour.

When it had laid waste the land many days, there chanced to come to

Thebes one Oedipus, who had fled from the city of Corinth that he

might escape the doom which the gods had spoken against him. And the

men of the place told him of the Sphinx, how she cruelly devoured the

people, and that he who should deliver them from her should have the

kingdom. So Oedipus, being very bold, and also ready of wit, went

forth to meet the monster. And when she saw him she spake, saying:

"Read me this riddle right, or die:

What liveth there beneath the sky,

Four-footed creature that doth choose

Now three feet and now twain to use,

And still more feebly o'er the plain

Walketh with three feet than with twain?"

And Oedipus made reply:

"'Tis man, who in life's early day

Four-footed crawleth on his way;

When time hath made his strength complete,

Upright his form and twain his feet;

When age hath bowed him to the ground

A third foot in his staff is found."

And when the Sphinx found that her riddle was answered, she cast

herself from a high rock and perished.

For a while Oedipus reigned in great power and glory; but afterwards

in madness he put out his own eyes. Then his two sons cast him into

prison, and took his kingdom, making agreement between themselves that

each should reign for the space of one year. And the elder of the two,

whose name was Eteocles, first had the kingdom; but when his year was

come to an end, he would not abide by his promise, but kept that which

he should have given up, and drave out his younger brother from the

city. Then the younger, whose name was Polynices, fled to Argos, to

King Adrastus. And after a while he married the daughter of the King,

who made a covenant with him that he would bring him back with a high

hand to Thebes, and set him on the throne of his father. Then the King

sent messengers to certain of the princes of Greece, entreating that

they would help in this matter. And of these some would not, but

others hearkened to his words, so that a great army was gathered

together and followed the King and Polynices to make war against

Thebes. So they came and pitched their camp over against the city. And

after they had been there many days, the battle grew fierce about the

wall. But the chiefest fight was between the two brothers, for the two

came together in an open space before the gates. And first Polynices

prayed to Here, for she was the goddess of the great city of Argos,

which had helped him in this enterprise, and Eteocles prayed to

Pallas of the Golden Shield, whose temple stood hard by. Then they

crouched, each covered with his shield, and holding his spear in his

hand, if by chance his enemy should give occasion to smite him; and if

one showed so much as an eye above the rim of his shield the other

would strike at him. But after a while King Eteocles slipped upon a

stone that was under his foot, and uncovered his leg, at which

straightway Polynices took aim with his spear, piercing the skin. But

so doing he laid his own shoulder bare, and King Eteocles gave him a

wound in the breast. He brake his spear in striking, and would have

fared ill but that with a great stone he smote the spear of Polynices,

and brake this also in the middle. And now were the two equal, for

each had lost his spear. So they drew their swords and came yet closer

together. But Eteocles used a device which he had learnt in the land

of Thessaly; for he drew his left foot back, as if he would have

ceased from the battle, and then of a sudden moved the right forward;

and so smiting sideways, drave his sword right through the body of

Polynices. But when thinking that he had slain him he set his weapons

in the earth, and began to spoil him of his arms, the other, for he

yet breathed a little, laid his hand upon his sword, and though he had

scarce strength to smite, yet gave the King a mortal blow, so that the

two lay dead together on the plain. And the men of Thebes lifted up

the bodies of the dead, and bare them both into the city.

When these two brothers, the sons of King Oedipus, had fallen each by

the hand of the other, the kingdom fell to Creon their uncle. For not

only was he the next of kin to the dead, but also the people held him

in great honour because his son Menoeceus had offered himself with a

willing heart that he might deliver his city from captivity.

Now when Creon was come to the throne, he made a proclamation about

the two princes, commanding that they should bury Eteocles with all

honour, seeing that he died as beseemed a good man and a brave, doing

battle for his country, that it should not be delivered into the hands

of the enemy; but as for Polynices he bade them leave his body to be

devoured by the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field, because

he had joined himself to the enemy, and would have beaten down the

walls of the city, and burned the temples of the gods with fire, and

led the people captive. Also he commanded that if any man should break

this decree he should suffer death by stoning.

Now Antigone, who was sister to the two princes, heard that the decree

had gone forth, and chancing to meet her sister Ismene before the

gates of the palace, spake to her, saying:

"O my sister, hast thou heard this decree that the King hath put forth

concerning our brethren that are dead?"

Then Ismene made answer: "I have heard nothing my sister, only that we

are bereaved of both of our brethren in one day, and that the army of

the Argives is departed in this night that is now past. So much I

know, but no more."

"Hearken then. King Creon hath made a proclamation that they shall

bury Eteocles with all honour; but that Polynices shall lie unburied,

that the birds of the air and the beasts of the field may devour him;

and that whosoever shall break this decree shall suffer death by

stoning."

"But if it be so, my sister, how can we avail to change it?"

"Think whether or no thou wilt share with me the doing of this deed."

"What deed? What meanest thou?"

"To pay due honour to this dead body."

"What? Wilt thou bury him when the King hath forbidden it?"

"Yea, for he is my brother and also thine, though, perchance, thou

wouldst not have it so. And I will not play him false."

"O my sister, wilt thou do this when Creon hath forbidden it?"

"Why should he stand between me and mine?"

"But think now what sorrows are come upon our house. For our father

perished miserably, having first put out his own eyes; and our mother

hanged herself with her own hands; and our two brothers fell in one

day, each by the other's spear; and now we two only are left. And

shall we not fall into a worse destruction than any, if we transgress

these commands of the King? Think, too, that we are women and not men,

and of necessity obey them that are stronger. Wherefore, as for me, I

will pray the dead to pardon me, seeing that I am thus constrained;

but I will obey them that rule."

"I advise thee not, and, if thou thinkest thus, I would not have thee

for helper. But know that I will bury my brother, nor could I better

die than for doing such a deed. For as he loved me, so also do I love

him greatly. And shall not I do pleasure to the dead rather than to

the living, seeing that I shall abide with the dead for ever? But

thou, if thou wilt, do dishonour to the laws of the gods?"

"I dishonour them not. Only I cannot set myself against the powers

that be."

"So be it; but I will bury my brother."

"O my sister, how I fear for thee!"

"Fear for thyself. Thine own lot needeth all thy care."

"Thou wilt at least keep thy counsel, nor tell the thing to any man."

"Not so: hide it not. I shall scorn thee more if thou proclaim it not

aloud to all."

So Antigone departed; and after a while came to the same place King

Creon, clad in his royal robes, and with his sceptre in his hand, and

set forth his counsel to the elders who were assembled, how he had

dealt with the two princes according to their deserving, giving all

honour to him that loved his country and casting forth the other

unburied. And he bade them take care that this decree should be kept,

saying that he had also appointed certain men to watch the dead body.

But he had scarcely left speaking when there came one of these same

watchers and said:

"I have not come hither in haste, O King, nay, I doubted much, while I

was yet on the way, whether I should not turn again. For now I

thought, 'Fool, why goest thou where thou shalt suffer for it'; and

then, again, 'Fool, the King will hear the matter elsewhere, and then

how wilt thou fare?' But at the last I came as I had purposed, for I

know that nothing may happen to me contrary to fate."

"But say," said the King, "what troubles thee so much?"

"First hear my case. I did not the thing, and know not who did it, and

it were a grievous wrong should I fall into trouble for such a

cause."

"Thou makest a long preface, excusing thyself, but yet hast, as I

judge, something to tell."

"Fear, my lord, ever causeth delay."

"Wilt thou not speak out thy news and then begone?"

"I will speak it. Know then that some man hath thrown dust upon this

dead corpse, and done besides such things as are needful."

"What sayest thou? Who hath dared to do this deed?"

"That I know not, for there was no mark as of spade or pick-axe; nor

was the earth broken, nor had wagon passed thereon. We were sore

dismayed when the watchman showed the thing to us; for the body we

could not see. Buried indeed it was not, but rather covered with dust.

Nor was there any sign as of wild beast or of dog that had torn it.

Then there arose a contention among us, each blaming the other, and

accusing his fellows, and himself denying that he had done the deed or

was privy to it. And doubtless we had fallen to blows but that one

spake a word which made us all tremble for fear, knowing that it must

be as he said. For he said that the thing must be told to thee, and in

no wise hidden. So we drew lots, and by evil chance the lot fell upon

me. Wherefore I am here, not willingly, for no man loveth him that

bringing evil tidings."

Then said the chief of the old men:

"Consider, O King, for haply this thing is from the gods."

But the King cried:

"Thinkest thou that the gods care for such an one as this dead man,

who would have burnt their temples with fire, and laid waste the land

which they love, and set at naught the laws? Not so. But there are

men in this city who have long time had ill will to me, not bowing

their necks to my yoke; and they have persuaded these fellows with

money to do this thing. Surely there never was so evil a thing as

money, which maketh cities into ruinous heaps, and banisheth men from

their houses, and turneth their thoughts from good unto evil. But as

for them that have done this deed for hire, of a truth they shall not

escape, for I say to thee, fellow, if ye bring not here before my eyes

the man that did this thing, I will hang you up alive. So shall ye

learn that ill gains bring no profit to a man."

So the guard departed; but as he went he said to himself:

"Now may the gods grant that the man be found; but however this may

be, thou shalt not see me come again on such errand as this, for even

now have I escaped beyond all hope."

Notwithstanding, after a space he came back with one of his fellows;

and they brought with them the maiden Antigone, with her hands bound

together.

And it chanced that at the same time King Creon came forth from the

palace. Then the guard set forth the thing to him, saying:

"We cleared away the dust from the dead body, and sat watching it. And

when it was now noon, and the sun was at his height, there came a

whirlwind over the plain, driving a great cloud of dust. And when this

had passed, we looked, and lo! this maiden whom we have brought hither

stood by the dead corpse. And when she saw that it lay bare as before,

she sent up an exceeding bitter cry, even as a bird whose young ones

have been taken from the nest. Then she cursed them that had done this

deed; and brought dust and sprinkled it upon the dead man, and poured

water upon him three times. Then we ran and laid hold upon her, and

accused her that she had done this deed; and she denied it not. But as

for me, 'tis well to have escaped from death, but it is ill to bring

friends into the same. Yet I hold that there is nothing dearer to a

man than his life."

Then said the King to Antigone:

"Tell me in a word, didst thou know my decree?"

"I knew it. Was it not plainly declared?"

"How daredst thou to transgress the laws?"

"Zeus made not such laws, nor Justice that dwelleth with the gods

below. I judged not that thy decrees had such authority that a man

should transgress for them the unwritten sure commandments of the

gods. For these, indeed, are not of to-day or yesterday, but they live

for ever, and their beginning no man knoweth. Should I, for fear of

thee, be found guilty against them? That I should die I knew. Why not?

All men must die. And if I die before my time, what loss? He who

liveth among many sorrows even as I have lived, counteth it gain to

die. But had I left my own mother's son unburied, this had been loss

indeed."

Then said the King:

"Such stubborn thoughts have a speedy fall, and are shivered even as

the iron that hath been made hard in the furnace. And as for this

woman and her sister--for I judge her sister to have had a part in

this matter--though they were nearer to me than all my kindred, yet

shall they not escape the doom of death. Wherefore let some one bring

the other woman hither."

And while they went to fetch the maiden Ismene, Antigone said to the

King:

"Is it not enough for thee to slay me? What need to say more? For thy

words please me not nor mine thee. Yet what nobler thing could I have

done than to bury my mother's son? And so would all men say but fear

shutteth their mouths."

"Nay," said the King, "none of the children of Cadmus thinketh thus,

but thou only. But, hold, was not he that fell in battle with this man

thy brother also?"

"Yes, truly, my brother he was."

"And dost thou not dishonour him when thou honourest his enemy?"

"The dead man would not say it, could he speak."

"Shall then the wicked have like honour with the good?"

"How knowest thou but that such honour pleaseth the gods below?"

"I have no love for them I hate, though they be dead."

"Of hating I know nothing: 'tis enough for me to love."

"If thou wilt love, go love the dead. But while I live no woman shall

rule me."

Then those that had been sent to fetch the maiden Ismene brought her

forth from the palace. And when the King accused her that she had been

privy to the deed she denied not, but would have shared one lot with

her sister.

But Antigone turned from her, saying:

"Not so; thou hast no part or lot in the matter. For thou hast chosen

life, and I have chosen death; and even so shall it be."

And when Ismene saw that she prevailed nothing with her sister, she

turned to the King and said:

"Wilt thou slay the bride of thy son?"

"Ay," said he, "there are other brides to win!"

"But none," she made reply, "that accord so well with him."

"I will have no evil wives for my sons," said the King.

Then cried Antigone:

"O Haemon, whom I love, how thy father wrongeth thee!"

Then the King bade the guards lead the two into the palace. But

scarcely had they gone when there came to the place the Prince Haemon,

the King's son, who was betrothed to the maiden Antigone. And when the

King saw him, he said:

"Art thou content, my son, with thy father's judgment?"

And the young man answered:

"My father, I would follow thy counsels in all things."

Then said the King:

"'Tis well spoken, my son. This is a thing to be desired, that a man

should have obedient children. But if it be otherwise with a man, he

hath gotten great trouble for himself, and maketh sport for them that

hate him. And now as to this matter. There is naught worse than an

evil wife. Wherefore I say let this damsel wed a bridegroom among the

dead. For since I have found her, alone of all this people, breaking

my decree, surely she shall die. Nor shall it profit her to claim

kinship with me, for he that would rule a city must first deal justly

with his own kindred. And as for obedience, this it is that maketh a

city to stand both in peace and in war."

To this the Prince Haemon made answer:

"What thou sayest, my father, I do not judge. Yet bethink thee, that I

see and hear on thy behalf what is hidden from thee. For common men

cannot abide thy look if they say that which pleaseth thee not. Yet do

I hear it in secret. Know then that all the city mourneth for this

maiden, saying that she dieth wrongfully for a very noble deed, in

that she buried her brother. And 'tis well, my father, not to be

wholly set on thy thoughts, but to listen to the counsels of others."

"Nay," said the King; "shall I be taught by such an one as thou?"

"I pray thee regard my words, if they be well, and not my years."

"Can it be well to honour them that transgress? And hath not this

woman transgressed?"

"The people of this city judgeth not so."

"The people, sayest thou? Is it for them to rule, or for me?"

"No city is the possession of one man only."

So the two answered one the other, and their anger waxed hot. And at

the last the King cried:

"Bring this accursed woman, and slay her before his eyes."

And the Prince answered:

"That thou shalt never do. And know this also, that thou shalt never

see my face again."

So he went away in a rage; and the old men would have appeased the

King's wrath, but he would not hearken to them, but said that the two

maidens should die.

"Wilt thou then slay them both?" said the old men.

"'Tis well said," the King made answer. "Her that meddled not with the

matter I harm not."

"And how wilt thou deal with the other?"

"There is a desolate place, and there I will shut her up alive in a

sepulchre; yet giving her so much of food as shall quit us of guilt in

the matter, for I would not have the city defiled. There let her

persuade Death whom she loveth so much, that he harm her not."

So the guards led Antigone away to shut her up alive in the sepulchre.

But scarcely had they departed when there came an old prophet

Tiresias, seeking the King. Blind he was, so that a boy led him by the

hand; but the gods had given him to see things to come.

And when the King saw him he asked:

"What seekest thou, wisest of men?"

Then the prophet answered:

"Hearken, O King, and I will tell thee. I sat in my seat, after my

custom, in the place whither all manner of birds resort. And as I sat

I heard a cry of birds that I knew not, very strange and full of

wrath. And I knew that they tare and slew each other, for I heard the

fierce flapping of their wings. And being afraid, I made inquiry about

the fire, how it burned upon the altars. And this boy, for as I am a

guide to others so he guideth me, told me that it shone not at all,

but smouldered and was dull, and that the flesh which was burnt upon

the altar spluttered in the flame, and wasted away into corruption and

filthiness. And now I tell thee, O King, that the city is troubled by

thy ill counsels. For the dogs and the birds of the air tear the flesh

of this dead son of Oedipus, whom thou sufferest not to have due

burial, and carry it to the altars, polluting them therewith.

Wherefore the gods receive not from us prayer or sacrifice; and the

cry of the birds hath an evil sound, for they are full of the flesh of

a man. Therefore I bid thee be wise in time. For all men may err; but

he that keepeth not his folly, but repenteth, doeth well; but

stubbornness cometh to great trouble."

Then the King answered:

"Old man, I know the race of prophets full well, how ye sell your art

for gold. But, make thy trade as thou wilt, this man shall not have

burial; yea, though the eagles of Zeus carry his flesh to their

master's throne in heaven, he shall not have it."

And when the prophet spake again, entreating him, and warning, the

King answered him after the same fashion, that he spake not honestly,

but had sold his art for money.

But at the last the prophet spake in great wrath, saying:

"Know, O King, that before many days shall pass, thou shalt pay a life

for a life, even one of thine own children, for them with whom thou

hast dealt unrighteously, shutting up the living with the dead, and

keeping the dead from them to whom they belong. Therefore the Furies

lie in wait for thee, and thou shalt see whether or no I speak these

things for money. For there shall be mourning and lamentation in thine

own house; and against thy people shall be stirred up many cities. And

now, my child, lead me home, and let this man rage against them that

are younger than I."

So the prophet departed, and the old men were sore afraid, and said:

"He hath spoken terrible things, O King; nor ever since these gray

hairs were black have we known him say that which was false."

"Even so," said the King, "and I am troubled in heart, and yet am

loath to depart from my purpose."

"King Creon," said the old men, "thou needest good counsel."

"What, then, would ye have done?"

"Set free the maiden from the sepulchre, and give this dead man

burial."

Then the King cried to his people that they should bring bars

wherewith to loosen the doors of the sepulchre, and hastened with them

to the place. But coming on their way to the body of Prince Polynices,

they took it up, and washed it, and buried that which remained of it,

and raised over the ashes a great mound of earth. And this being done,

they drew near to the place of the sepulchre; and as they approached,

the King heard within a very piteous voice, and knew it for the voice

of his son. Then he bade his attendants loose the door with all speed;

and when they had loosed it, they beheld within a very piteous sight.

For the maiden Antigone had hanged herself by the girdle of linen

which she wore, and the young man Prince Haemon stood with his arms

about her dead body, embracing it. And when the King saw him, he cried

to him to come forth; but the Prince glared fiercely upon him and

answered him not a word, but drew his two-edged sword. Then the King,

thinking that his son was minded in his madness to slay him, leapt

back, but the Prince drave the sword into his own heart, and fell

forward on the earth, still holding the dead maiden in his arms. And

when they brought the tidings of these things to Queen Eurydice, the

wife of King Creon and mother to the Prince, she could not endure the

grief, being thus bereaved of her children, but laid hold of a sword,

and slew herself therewith.

So the house of King Creon was left desolate unto him that day,

because he despised the ordinances of the gods.