Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/209

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179
HEADERTEXT
179

ANTIGONE 179

Creon. Out with them ; only speak them not for

gain. Teiresias. So is 't, I trow, in all that touches thee. Creon. Know that thou shalt not bargain with my

will. Teiresias. Know, then, and know it well, that thou

shalt see u4o

Not many winding circuits of the sun, Before thou giv'st as quittance for the dead, A corpse by thee begotten ; ^ for that thou Hast to the ground cast one that walked on earth, And foully placed within a sepulchre U45

A living soul ; and now thou keep'st from them. The Gods below, the corpse of one unblest, Unwept, unhallowed, and in these things thou Canst claim no part, nor yet the Gods above ; But they by thee are outraged ; and they wait, nso The sure though slow avengers of the grave. The dread Erinnyes of the mighty Gods,^ For thee in these same evils to be snared. Search well if I say this as one who sells His soul for money. Yet a little while, uss

And in thy house the wail of men and women Shall make it plain. And every city stirs Itself in arms against thee, owning those Whose limbs the dogs have buried, or fierce wolves. Or winged birds have brought the accursed taint ueo To region consecrate. Doom like to this. Sure darting as an arrow to its mark, I launch at thee, (for thou dost vex me sore,) An archer aiming at the Ύβτγ heart,

1 Tliis of course foretells the death of Haemon.

2 These goddesses are the avengers of all violations of filial duty or the claims of kinship.