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O'er a sunless； windless glade；
The spot by no mortal footstep trod；
The pleasance kept for the Bacchic god；
Where he holds each night his revels wild
With the nymphs who fostered the lusty child。
（Ant。 1）
And fed each morn by the pearly dew
The starred narcissi shine；
And a wreath with the crocus' golden hue
For the Mother and Daughter twine。
And never the sleepless fountains cease
That feed Cephisus' stream；
But they swell earth's bosom with quick increase；
And their wave hath a crystal gleam。
And the Muses' quire will never disdain
To visit this heaven…favored plain；
Nor the Cyprian queen of the golden rein。
（Str。 2）
And here there grows； unpruned； untamed；
Terror to foemen's spear；
A tree in Asian soil unnamed；
By Pelops' Dorian isle unclaimed；
Self…nurtured year by year；
'Tis the grey…leaved olive that feeds our boys；
Nor youth nor withering age destroys
The plant that the Olive Planter tends
And the Grey…eyed Goddess herself defends。
（Ant。 2）
Yet another gift； of all gifts the most
Prized by our fatherland； we boast
The might of the horse； the might of the sea；
Our fame； Poseidon； we owe to thee；
Son of Kronos； our king divine；
Who in these highways first didst fit
For the mouth of horses the iron bit；
Thou too hast taught us to fashion meet
For the arm of the rower the oar…blade fleet；
Swift as the Nereids' hundred feet
As they dance along the brine。
ANTIGONE
Oh land extolled above all lands； 'tis now
For thee to make these glorious titles good。
OEDIPUS
Why this appeal； my daughter？
ANTIGONE
Father； lo！
Creon approaches with his company。
OEDIPUS
Fear not； it shall be so； if we are old；
This country's vigor has no touch of age。
＇Enter CREON with attendants＇
CREON
Burghers； my noble friends； ye take alarm
At my approach （I read it in your eyes）；
Fear nothing and refrain from angry words。
I come with no ill purpose； I am old；
And know the city whither I am come；
Without a peer amongst the powers of Greece。
It was by reason of my years that I
Was chosen to persuade your guest and bring
Him back to Thebes； not the delegate
Of one man； but commissioned by the State；
Since of all Thebans I have most bewailed；
Being his kinsman； his most grievous woes。
O listen to me； luckless Oedipus；
Come home！ The whole Cadmeian people claim
With right to have thee back； I most of all；
For most of all （else were I vile indeed）
I mourn for thy misfortunes； seeing thee
An aged outcast； wandering on and on；
A beggar with one handmaid for thy stay。
Ah！ who had e'er imagined she could fall
To such a depth of misery as this；
To tend in penury thy stricken frame；
A virgin ripe for wedlock； but unwed；
A prey for any wanton ravisher？
Seems it not cruel this reproach I cast
On thee and on myself and all the race？
Aye； but an open shame cannot be hid。
Hide it； O hide it； Oedipus； thou canst。
O； by our fathers' gods； consent I pray；
Come back to Thebes； come to thy father's home；
Bid Athens； as is meet； a fond farewell；
Thebes thy old foster…mother claims thee first。
OEDIPUS
O front of brass； thy subtle tongue would twist
To thy advantage every plea of right
Why try thy arts on me； why spread again
Toils where 'twould gall me sorest to be snared？
In old days when by self…wrought woes distraught；
I yearned for exile as a glad release；
Thy will refused the favor then I craved。
But when my frenzied grief had spent its force；
And I was fain to taste the sweets of home；
Then thou wouldst thrust me from my country； then
These ties of kindred were by thee ignored；
And now again when thou behold'st this State
And all its kindly people welcome me；
Thou seek'st to part us； wrapping in soft words
Hard thoughts。 And yet what pleasure canst thou find
In forcing friendship on unwilling foes？
Suppose a man refused to grant some boon
When you importuned him； and afterwards
When you had got your heart's desire； consented；
Granting a grace from which all grace had fled；
Would not such favor seem an empty boon？
Yet such the boon thou profferest now to me；
Fair in appearance； but when tested false。
Yea； I will proved thee false； that these may hear；
Thou art come to take me； not to take me home；
But plant me on thy borders； that thy State
May so escape annoyance from this land。
_That_ thou shalt never gain； but _this_ instead
My ghost to haunt thy country without end；
And for my sons； this heritageno more
Just room to die in。 Have not I more skill
Than thou to draw the horoscope of Thebes？
Are not my teachers surer guides than thine
Great Phoebus and the sire of Phoebus； Zeus？
Thou art a messenger suborned； thy tongue
Is sharper than a sword's edge； yet thy speech
Will bring thee more defeats than victories。
Howbeit； I know I waste my wordsbegone；
And leave me here； whate'er may be my lot；
He lives not ill who lives withal content。
CREON
Which loses in this parley； I o'erthrown
By thee； or thou who overthrow'st thyself？
OEDIPUS
I shall be well contented if thy suit
Fails with these strangers； as it has with me。
CREON
Unhappy man； will years ne'er make thee wise？
Must thou live on to cast a slur on age？
OEDIPUS
Thou hast a glib tongue； but no honest man；
Methinks； can argue well on any side。
CREON
'Tis one thing to speak much； another well。
OEDIPUS
Thy words； forsooth； are few and all well aimed！
CREON
Not for a man indeed with wits like thine。
OEDIPUS
Depart！ I bid thee in these burghers' name；
And prowl no longer round me to blockade
My destined harbor。
CREON
I protest to these；
Not thee； and for thine answer to thy kin；
If e'er I take thee
OEDIPUS
Who against their will
Could take me？
CREON
Though untaken thou shalt smart。
OEDIPUS
What power hast thou to execute this threat？
CREON
One of thy daughters is already seized；
The other I will carry off anon。
OEDIPUS
Woe； woe！
CREON
This is but prelude to thy woes。
OEDIPUS
Hast thou my child？
CREON
And soon shall have the other。
OEDIPUS
Ho； friends！ ye will not surely play me false？
Chase this ungodly villain from your land。
CHORUS
Hence； stranger； hence avaunt！ Thou doest wrong
In this； and wrong in all that thou hast done。
CREON （to his guards）
'Tis time by force to carry off the girl；
If she refuse of her free will to go。
ANTIGONE
Ah； woe is me！ where shall I fly； where find
Succor from gods or men？
CHORUS
What would'st thou； stranger？
CREON
I meddle not with him； but her who is mine。
OEDIPUS
O princes of the land！
CHORUS
Sir； thou dost wrong。
CREON
Nay； right。
CHORUS
How right？
CREON
I take but what is mine。
OEDIPUS
Help； Athens！
CHORUS
What means this； sirrah？ quick unhand her； or
We'll fight it out。
CREON
Back！
CHORUS
Not till thou forbear。
CREON
'Tis war with Thebes if I am touched or harmed。
OEDIPUS
Did I not warn thee？
CHORUS
Quick； unhand the maid！
CREON
Command your minions； I am not your slave。
CHORUS
Desist； I bid thee。
CREON （to the guard）
And O bid thee march！
CHORUS
To the rescue； one and all！
Rally； neighbors to my call！
See； the foe is at the gate！
Rally to defend the State。
ANTIGONE
Ah； woe is me； they drag me hence； O friends。
OEDIPUS
Where art thou； daughter？
ANTIGONE
Haled along by force。
OEDIPUS
Thy hands； my child！
ANTIGONE
They will not let me； father。
CREON
Away with her！
OEDIPUS
Ah； woe is me； ah woe！
CREON
So those two crutches shall no longer serve thee
For further roaming。 Since it pleaseth thee
To triumph o'er thy country and thy friends
Who mandate； though a prince； I here discharge；
Enjoy thy triumph； soon or late thou'lt find
Thou art an enemy to thyself； both now
And in time past； when in despite of friends
Thou gav'st the rein to passion； still thy bane。
CHORUS
Hold there； sir stranger！
CREON
Hands off； have a care。
CHORUS
Restore the maidens； else thou goest not。
CREON
Then Thebes will take a dearer surety soon；
I will lay hands on more than these two maids。
CHORUS
What canst thou further？
CREON
Carry off this man。
CHORUS
Brave words！
CREON
And deeds forthwith shall make them good。
CHORUS
Unless perchance our sovereign intervene。
OEDIPUS
O shameless voice！ Would'st lay an hand on me？
CREON
Silence； I bid thee！
OEDIPUS
Goddesses； allow
Thy suppliant to utter yet one curse！
Wretch； now my eyes are gone thou hast torn away
The helpless maiden who was eyes to me；
For these to thee and all thy cursed race
May the great Sun；