These are the laws our Lord Creon has decreed for us two, Ismene! For you, Ismene and for me. They say Creon has buried Eteocles with all proper burial rites and ceremonies fully preparing him for the world below, while our other brother, Polyneices, who died a death just as horrible, should be left unburied and unmourned! Left alone, to be the food for the sky’s starving ravens, all those birds of prey that eagerly hunt out their food. I can feel something horrible, something frightening in your words.Īntigone The burial of our brothers, Ismene!Ĭreon has decreed that the one may be buried with all honours while the other is not to be buried at all but, instead, he is to be shamed! That’s why I’ve brought you out here, Ismene to tell you about it, secretly and alone.

I’ve heard that the Argive enemy has run away last night but other than that, I’ve heard nothing else, nothing that would me make me neither happy nor sad.Īntigone I thought so. In that one day, in that one fatal battle, one brother killed the other. Since that day when we were robbed of both our brothers I’ve heard nothing. I’ve heard nothing about them, neither good nor bad. Do you understand what it really means? Do know what shame this new law will bring upon our brothers? 11 Now our king has stunned the whole city with this new law of his. They are “whispering,” lest anyone in the palace hears them.Īntigone Dear, dear Ismene! My poor, darling sister! Do you think Zeus has any more disasters to hurl upon our lives as punishment for our father’s sins? So far we have felt the weight of sadness, of destruction, of disgrace and even of dishonour.

It is made obvious that ANTIGONE has brought ISMENE to that spot in secret. The lower by everyone else.ĪNTIGONE and ISMENE stand together at Stage Left. The top is used by Creon, Eurydice and their attendants. The centre gate is used by Creon, the side gates by everyone else. Its three great gates are a little off centre, towards Stage Right.

We are at the front of the palace of Thebes. Continues until just before Antigone speaks.ĭawn breaking. Under no circumstances should any of this work be used as part of a collage, which includes the work of other writers or translators.īefore the curtain is raised we hear the sounds of battle. For use by any theatrical, educational or cinematic organisation, however, including a non-commercial one, permission must be sought. This work may be freely reproduced, stored and transmitted, electronically or otherwise, for any non-commercial purpose. Translated by George Theodoridis © Copyright 2004, all rights reserved - Bacchicstage ‘Sophocles’ - 'Greek Dramas' (p149, 1900): Internet Archive Book Images

Antigone by sophocles