Antigone by Sophocles ~ Full Audiobook [tragedy]
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What conflict begins the play between Antigone and Ismene over Creon’s decree?
Part 1 of Antigone by Sophocles Translated by Francis Storr Part 1 Antigone and Ismene before the palace gates
Ismene, sister of my blood and heart, Seest thou how Zeus would in our lives Fulfill the weird of Oedipus, a world of woes? For what of pain, affliction, outrage, shame Is lacking in our fortunes, thine and mine? And now, this proclamation of to-day Made by our captain-general to the state, What can its purport be? Didst hear and heed, or art thou deaf When friends are banned as foes? To me, Antigone, no word of friends has come, or glad or grievous, since we twain were reft of our two brethren in one day by double fratricide, and since i' the night our Argive leaguers fled, no later news has reached me, to inspirit or deject. I know t'was so, and therefore summoned thee beyond the gates to breathe it in thine ear.
What is it? Some dark secret stirs thy breast. What but the thought of our two brothers dead, the one by Creon graced with funeral rites, the other disappointed. Ateocles he hath consigned to earth, as fame reports, with obsequies that use and won't ordain, so gracing him among the dead below. But Polyneses, a dishonoured course, so by report the royal edict runs, no man may bury him or make lament, must leave him tombless and unwept. A feast for kites to scent afar and swoop upon. Such is the edict, if report speak true, of Creon, our most noble Creon, aimed at thee and me, aye, me too, and anon he will be here to promulgate, for such as have not heard his mandate. Tis in sooth no passing humour, for the edict says whoe'er transgresses shall be stoned to death.
So stands it with us. Now, tis thine to show if thou art worthy of thy blood or base. But how, my rash, fond sister? In such case can I do anything to make or mar? Say, wilt thou aid me and abet? Decide. In what bold venture? What is in thy thought? Lend me a hand to bear the corpse away. What, bury him despite the interdict? My brother, and though thou deny him thine, No man shall say that I betrayed a brother. Wilt thou persist, though Creon has forbid? What right has he to keep me from mine own? Bethink thee, sister, of our father's fate. Abhorred, dishonored, self-convinced of sin Blinded, himself his executioner Think of his mother-wife, ill-sorted names Done by a noose herself had twined to death And last, our hapless brethren in one day Both in a mutual destiny involved Self-slaughtered, both the slayer and the slain Bethink thee, sister, we are left alone Shall we not perish wretchedest of all?
if in defiance of the law we cross a monarch's will weak women think of that not fram'd by nature to contend with men remember this too that the stronger rules we must obey his orders these or worse Therefore I plead compulsion and entreat the dead to pardon. I perforce obey the powers that be. Tis foolishness I ween to overstep in aught the golden mean. I urge no more. Nay, wert thou willing still, I would not welcome such a fellowship. Go thine own way. Myself will bury him. How sweet to die in such employ, To rest, sister and brother link'd in love's embrace, A sinless sinner ban'd a while on earth, But by the dead commended, And with them I shall abide for ever. As for thee, scorn, if thou wilt, The eternal laws of heav'n.
I scorn them not, but to defy the state Or break her ordinance I have no skill. A specious pretext! I will go alone to lap my dearest brother in the grave. My poor fond sister, how I fear for thee! O waste no fears on me. Look to thyself. At least let no man know of thine intent, But keep it close and secret, as will I. O tell it, sister. I shall hate thee more If thou proclaim it not to all the town. Thou hast a fiery soul for numbing work. I pleasure those whom I would leafest please. If thou succeed, but thou art doomed to fail— When strength shall fail me, yes, but not before. But if the venture's hopeless, why assay? Sister, forbear, or I shall hate thee soon, And the dead man will hate thee too, with cause.
Say I am mad, and give my madness reign to wreck itself, The worst that can befall is but to die an honourable death.
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