162 SOPHOCLES
Through future near or far as through the past, 660
One law holds ever good, Nought comes to life of man unscathed throughout by woe.
Antistrophe II.
For hope to many comes in wanderings wild,
A solace and support ; To many as a cheat of fond desires, ees
And creepeth still on him who knows it not,
Until he burn his foot
Within the scorching flame.
Full well spake one of old, That evil ever seems to be as good 67o
To those whose thoughts of heart
God leadeth unto woe, And without woe, he spends but shortest space of time.
And here comes Haemon, last of all thy sons :
Comes he bewailing sore cts
The fate of her who should have been his bride. The maid Antigone, Grieving o'er vanished joys ?
Enter Haemon.
Creon. Soon we shall know much more than seers can tell. Surely thou dost not come, my son, to rage eso
Against thy father, hearing his decree. Fixing her doom who should have been thy bride ; Or dost thou love us still, whatever we do ?
Haemon. My father, I am thine ; and thou dost guide With thy wise counsels, which I gladly follow. ess
