No part of royalty’s estate exceeds
Supreme authority in words and deeds.
Creon. No other Theban sees it so but you.
Antigone. The others too, but they suppress their thoughts.
Creon. And you feel otherwise and unashamed?
Antigone. A filial pious act contains no shame.
Creon. Was he not brother, too, that fell his foe?
Antigone. Aye, true, his parents, they were also mine.
Creon. Why act then with impiety to him?
Antigone. The dead man will not say he deems it so.
Creon. He will; he sees you treat them both alike.
Antigone. It was my brother, not a slave that died.
Creon. But he laid waste the land, the other saved.
Antigone. But partial laws to Hades are unknown.
Creon. Yet equal rites the bad should not obtain.
Antigone. Who knows if that be felt as just below?
Creon. A foe can never be a friend—e’en dead.
Antigone. My heart admits no hate, but love for both.
Creon. To Hades then, and love, if love you must,
For while I live no woman masters me.
Ismene enters from the palace door L., under arrest.
Chorus. Lo, yonder at the door appears
Ismene shedding silver tears;
From clouds of sorrow on her brow
That shade and mar her beauty now
The rain in drops her cheek bedews,
Which crimson drops of blood suffuse.
Creon. And you, you viper lurking in my house,
And sucking my life’s blood, though unobserved,
I did not know that I was nurturing here
Two pests, in insurrection ’gainst my throne—
Come, tell me now, will you still further own
That you participated in the act
Of burial, or maintain you knew it not?
