Oedipus Trilogy Part 30

ISMENE Thou canst not say that I did not protest.

ANTIGONE Well, some approved thy wisdom, others mine.

ISMENE But now we stand convicted, both alike.

ANTIGONE Fear not; thou livest, I died long ago Then when I gave my life to save the dead.

CREON Both maids, methinks, are crazed. One suddenly Has lost her wits, the other was born mad.

ISMENE Yea, so it falls, sire, when misfortune comes, The wisest even lose their mother wit.

CREON I' faith thy wit forsook thee when thou mad'st Thy choice with evil-doers to do ill.

ISMENE What life for me without my sister here?

CREON Say not thy sister _here_: thy sister's dead.

ISMENE What, wilt thou slay thy own son's plighted bride?

CREON Aye, let him raise him seed from other fields.

ISMENE No new espousal can be like the old.

CREON A plague on trulls who court and woo our sons.

ANTIGONE O Haemon, how thy sire dishonors thee!

CREON A plague on thee and thy accursed bride!

CHORUS What, wilt thou rob thine own son of his bride?

CREON 'Tis death that bars this marriage, not his sire.

CHORUS So her death-warrant, it would seem, is sealed.

CREON By you, as first by me; off with them, guards, And keep them close. Henceforward let them learn To live as women use, not roam at large.

For e'en the bravest spirits run away When they perceive death pressing on life's heels.

CHORUS (Str. 1) Thrice blest are they who never tasted pain!

If once the curse of Heaven attaint a race, The infection lingers on and speeds apace, Age after age, and each the cup must drain.

So when Etesian blasts from Thrace downpour Sweep o'er the blackening main and whirl to land From Ocean's cavernous depths his ooze and sand, Billow on billow thunders on the sh.o.r.e.

(Ant. 1) On the Labdacidae I see descending Woe upon woe; from days of old some G.o.d Laid on the race a malison, and his rod Scourges each age with sorrows never ending.

The light that dawned upon its last born son Is vanished, and the b.l.o.o.d.y axe of Fate Has felled the goodly tree that blossomed late.

O Oedipus, by reckless pride undone!

(Str. 2) Thy might, O Zeus, what mortal power can quell?

Not sleep that lays all else beneath its spell, Nor moons that never tire: untouched by Time, Throned in the dazzling light That crowns Olympus' height, Thou reignest King, omnipotent, sublime.

Past, present, and to be, All bow to thy decree, All that exceeds the mean by Fate Is punished, Love or Hate.

(Ant. 2) Hope flits about never-wearying wings; Profit to some, to some light loves she brings, But no man knoweth how her gifts may turn, Till 'neath his feet the treacherous ashes burn.

Sure 'twas a sage inspired that spake this word; _If evil good appear_ _To any, Fate is near_; And brief the respite from her flaming sword.

Hither comes in angry mood Haemon, latest of thy brood; Is it for his bride he's grieved, Or her marriage-bed deceived, Doth he make his mourn for thee, Maid forlorn, Antigone?

[Enter HAEMON]

CREON Soon shall we know, better than seer can tell.

Learning may fixed decree anent thy bride, Thou mean'st not, son, to rave against thy sire?

Know'st not whate'er we do is done in love?

HAEMON O father, I am thine, and I will take Thy wisdom as the helm to steer withal.

Therefore no wedlock shall by me be held More precious than thy loving goverance.

CREON Well spoken: so right-minded sons should feel, In all deferring to a father's will.

For 'tis the hope of parents they may rear A brood of sons submissive, keen to avenge Their father's wrongs, and count his friends their own.

But who begets unprofitable sons, He verily breeds trouble for himself, And for his foes much laughter. Son, be warned And let no woman fool away thy wits.

Ill fares the husband mated with a shrew, And her embraces very soon wax cold.

For what can wound so surely to the quick As a false friend? So spue and cast her off, Bid her go find a husband with the dead.

For since I caught her openly rebelling, Of all my subjects the one malcontent, I will not prove a traitor to the State.

She surely dies. Go, let her, if she will, Appeal to Zeus the G.o.d of Kindred, for If thus I nurse rebellion in my house, Shall not I foster mutiny without?

For whoso rules his household worthily, Will prove in civic matters no less wise.

But he who overbears the laws, or thinks To overrule his rulers, such as one I never will allow. Whome'er the State Appoints must be obeyed in everything, But small and great, just and unjust alike.

I warrant such a one in either case Would s.h.i.+ne, as King or subject; such a man Would in the storm of battle stand his ground, A comrade leal and true; but Anarchy-- What evils are not wrought by Anarchy!

She ruins States, and overthrows the home, She dissipates and routs the embattled host; While discipline preserves the ordered ranks.

Therefore we must maintain authority And yield to t.i.tle to a woman's will.

Better, if needs be, men should cast us out Than hear it said, a woman proved his match.

CHORUS To me, unless old age have dulled wits, Thy words appear both reasonable and wise.

HAEMON Father, the G.o.ds implant in mortal men Reason, the choicest gift bestowed by heaven.

'Tis not for me to say thou errest, nor Would I arraign thy wisdom, if I could; And yet wise thoughts may come to other men And, as thy son, it falls to me to mark The acts, the words, the comments of the crowd.

The commons stand in terror of thy frown, And dare not utter aught that might offend, But I can overhear their muttered plaints, Know how the people mourn this maiden doomed For n.o.blest deeds to die the worst of deaths.

When her own brother slain in battle lay Unsepulchered, she suffered not his corse To lie for carrion birds and dogs to maul: Should not her name (they cry) be writ in gold?

Such the low murmurings that reach my ear.

O father, nothing is by me more prized Than thy well-being, for what higher good Can children covet than their sire's fair fame, As fathers too take pride in glorious sons?

Therefore, my father, cling not to one mood, And deemed not thou art right, all others wrong.

For whoso thinks that wisdom dwells with him, That he alone can speak or think aright, Such oracles are empty breath when tried.

The wisest man will let himself be swayed By others' wisdom and relax in time.

See how the trees beside a stream in flood Save, if they yield to force, each spray unharmed, But by resisting perish root and branch.

The mariner who keeps his mainsheet taut, And will not slacken in the gale, is like To sail with thwarts reversed, keel uppermost.

Relent then and repent thee of thy wrath; For, if one young in years may claim some sense, I'll say 'tis best of all to be endowed With absolute wisdom; but, if that's denied, (And nature takes not readily that ply) Next wise is he who lists to sage advice.

CHORUS If he says aught in season, heed him, King.

(To HAEMON) Heed thou thy sire too; both have spoken well.