Antigone Ismene, my sister, true child of my own mother, do you know any evil out of all the evils bequeathed by Oedipus that Zeus will not fulfil for the two of us in our lifetime? There is nothing—no pain, no ruin, no shame, nor dishonor—that I have not seen in your sufferings and mine. And now what is this new edict that they say the general has just decreed to all the city? Do you know anything? Have you heard? Or does it escape you that evils from our enemies are on the march against our friends?
Ismene To me no word of our friends, Antigone, either bringing joy or bringing pain has come since we two were robbed of our two brothers who died in one day by a double blow. And since the Argive army has fled during this night, I have learned nothing further, whether better fortune is mine, or further ruin.
Antigone I knew it well, so I was trying to bring you outside the courtyard gates to this end, that you alone might hear.
Ismene Hear what? It is clear that you are brooding on some dark news.
Antigone Why not? Has not Creon destined our brothers, the one to honored burial, the other to unburied shame? Eteocles, they say, with due observance of right and custom, he has laid in the earth for his honor among the dead below. As for the poor corpse of Polyneices, however, they say that an edict has been published to the townsmen that no one shall bury him or mourn him, but instead leave him unwept, unentombed, for the birds a pleasing store as they look to satisfy their hunger. Such, it is said, is the edict that the good Creon has laid down for you and for me—yes, for me—and it is said that he is coming here to proclaim it for the certain knowledge of those who do not already know. They say that he does not conduct this business lightly, but whoever performs any of these rites, for him the fate appointed is death by public stoning among the entire city. This is how things stand for you, and so you will soon show your nature, whether you are noble-minded, or the corrupt daughter of a noble line.
Ismene Poor sister, if things have come to this, what would I profit by loosening or tightening this knot?
Antigone Consider whether you will share the toil and the task.
Ismene What are you hazarding? What do you intend?
Antigone Will you join your hand to mine in order to lift his corpse?
Ismene You plan to bury him—when it is forbidden to the city?
Antigone Yes, he is my brother, and yours too, even if you wish it otherwise. I will never be convicted of betraying him.
Ismene Hard girl! Even when Creon has forbidden it?
Antigone No, he has no right to keep me from my own.
Ismene Ah, no! Think, sister, how our father perished in hatred and infamy, when, because of the crimes that he himself detected, he smashed both his eyes with self-blinding hand; then his mother-wife, two names in one, with a twisted noose destroyed her life; lastly, our two brothers in a single day, both unhappy murderers of their own flesh and blood, worked with mutual hands their common doom. And now we, in turn—we two who have been left all alone—consider how much more miserably we will be destroyed, if in defiance of the law we transgress against an autocrat’s decree or his powers. No, we must remember, first, that ours is a woman’s nature, and accordingly not suited to battles against men; and next, that we are ruled by the more powerful, so that we must obey in these things and in things even more stinging. I, therefore, will ask those below for pardon, since I am forced to this, and will obey those who have come to authority. It is foolish to do what is fruitless.
Antigone I would not encourage you—no, nor, even if you were willing later, would I welcome you as my partner in this action. No, be the sort that pleases you. I will bury him—it would honor me to die while doing that. I shall rest with him, loved one with loved one, a pious criminal. For the time is greater that I must serve the dead than the living, since in that world I will rest forever. But if you so choose, continue to dishonor what the gods in honor have established.
Ismene I do them no dishonor. But to act in violation of the citizens’ will—of that I am by nature incapable.
Antigone You can make that your pretext! Regardless, I will go now to heap a tomb over the brother I love.
Ismene Oh no, unhappy sister! I fear for you!
Antigone Do not tremble for me. Straighten out your own destiny.
Ismene Then at least disclose the deed to no one before you do it. Conceal it, instead, in secrecy—and so, too, will I.
Antigone Go on! Denounce it! You will be far more hated for your silence, if you fail to proclaim these things to everyone.
Ismene You have a hot heart for chilling deeds.
Antigone I know that I please those whom I am most bound to please.
Ismene Yes, if you will also have the power. But you crave the impossible.
Antigone Why then, when my strength fails, I will have finished.
Ismene An impossible hunt should not be tried in the first place.
Antigone If you mean that, you will have my hatred, and you will be subject to punishment as the enemy of the dead. But leave me and the foolish plan I have authored to suffer this terrible thing, for I will not suffer anything so terrible that my death will lack honor.
Ismene Go, then, if you so decide. And of this be sure: though your path is foolish, to your loved ones your love is straight and true.
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