the phoenissae-第11节
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CREON
Be sure that none shall sprinkle over the corpse the moistened
dust。
ANTIGONE
O Creon; by my mother's corpse; by Jocasta; I implore thee!
CREON
'Tis but lost labour; thou wilt not gain thy prayer。
ANTIGONE
Let me but bathe the dead body…
CREON
Nay; that would be part of what the city is forbidden。
ANTIGONE
At least let me bandage the gaping wounds。
CREON
No; thou shalt never pay honour to this corpse。
ANTIGONE
O my darling! one kiss at least will I print upon thy lips。
CREON
Do not let this mourning bring disaster on thy marriage。
ANTIGONE
Marriage! dost think I will live to wed thy son?
CREON
Most certainly thou must; how wilt thou escape his bed?
ANTIGONE
Then if I must; our wedding…night will find another Danaid bride
in me。
CREON (turning to OEDIPUS)
Dost witness how boldly she reproached me?
ANTIGONE
Witness this steel; the sword by which I swear!
CREON
Why art so bent on being released from this marriage?
ANTIGONE
I mean to share my hapless father's exile。
CREON
A noble spirit thine but somewhat touched with folly。
ANTIGONE
Likewise will I share his death; I tell thee further。
CREON
Go; leave the land; thou shalt not murder son of mine。
(CREON goes out; followed by his attendants who carry with them
the body Of MENOECEUS。)
OEDIPUS
Daughter; for this loyal spirit I thank thee。
ANTIGONE
Were I to wed; then thou; my father; wouldst be alone in thy
exile。
OEDIPUS
Abide here and be happy; I will bear my own load of sorrow。
ANTIGONE
And who shall tend thee in thy blindness; father?
OEDIPUS
Where fate appoints; there will I lay me down upon the ground。
ANTIGONE
Where is now the famous Oedipus; where that famous riddle?
OEDIPUS
Lost for ever! one day made; and one day marred my fortune。
ANTIGONE
May not I too share thy sorrows?
OEDIPUS
To wander with her blinded sire were shame unto his child。
ANTIGONE
Not so; father; but glory rather; if she be a maid discreet。
OEDIPUS
Lead me nigh that I may touch thy mother's corpse。
ANTIGONE
So! embrace the aged form so dear to thee。
OEDIPUS
Woe is thee; thy motherhood; thy marriage most unblest!
ANTIGONE
A piteous corpse; a prey to every ill at once!
OEDIPUS
Where lies the corpse of Eteocles; and of Polyneices; where?
ANTIGONE
Both lie stretched before thee; side by side。
OEDIPUS
Lay the blind man's hand upon his poor sons' brows。
ANTIGONE
There then! touch the dead; thy children。
OEDIPUS
Woe for you! dear fallen sons; sad offspring of a sire as sad!
ANTIGONE
O my brother Polyneices; name most dear to me!
OEDIPUS
Now is the oracle of Loxias being fulfilled; my child。
ANTIGONE
What oracle was that? canst thou have further woes to tell?
OEDIPUS
That I should die in glorious Athens after a life of wandering。
ANTIGONE
Where? what fenced town in Attica will take thee in?
OEDIPUS
Hallowed Colonus; home of the god of steeds。 Come then; attend
on thy blind father; since thou art minded to share his exile。
(OEDIPUS and ANTIGONE chant their remaining lines as they slowly
depart。)
ANTIGONE
To wretched exile go thy way; stretch forth thy hand; my aged
sire; taking me to guide thee; like a breeze that speedeth barques。
OEDIPUS
See; daughter; I am advancing; be thou my guide; poor child。
ANTIGONE
Ah; poor indeed! the saddest maid of all in Thebes。
OEDIPUS
Where am I planting my aged step? Bring my staff; child。
ANTIGONE
This way; this way; father mine! plant thy footsteps here; like
dream for all the strength thou hast。
OEDIPUS
Woe unto thee that art driving my aged limbs in grievous exile
from their land! Ah me! the sorrows I endure!
ANTIGONE
〃Endure〃! why speak of enduring? Justice regardeth not the
sinner and requiteth not men's follies。
OEDIPUS
I am he whose name passed into high songs of victory because I
guessed the maiden's baffling riddle。
ANTIGONE
Thou art bringing up again the reproach of the Sphinx。 Talk no
more of past success。 This misery was in store for thee all the while;
to become an exile from thy country and die thou knowest not where;
while I; bequeathing to my girlish friends tears of sad regret; must
go forth from my native land; roaming as no maiden ought。
Ah! this dutiful resolve will crown me with glory in respect of my
father's sufferings。 Woe is me for the insults heaped on thee and on
my brother whose dead body is cast forth from the palace unburied;
poor boy! I will yet bury him secretly; though I have to die for it;
father。
OEDIPUS
To thy companions show thyself。
ANTIGONE
My own laments suffice。
OEDIPUS
Go pray then at the altars。
ANTIGONE
They are weary of my piteous tale。
OEDIPUS
At least go seek the Bromian god in his hallowed haunt amongst the
Maenads' hills。
ANTIGONE
Offering homage that is no homage in Heaven's eyes to him in whose
honour I once fringed my dress with the Theban fawn…skin and led the
dance upon the hills for the holy choir of Semele?
OEDIPUS
My noble fellow…countrymen; behold me; I am Oedipus; who solved
the famous riddle; and once was first of men; I who alone cut short
the murderous Sphinx's tyranny am now myself expelled the land in
shame and misery。 Go to; why make this moan and bootless
lamentation? Weak mortal as I am; I must endure the fate that God
decrees。
CHORUS (chanting)
Hail majestic Victory! keep thou my life nor ever cease to crown
my song! …THE END…
。