University of Virginia Library

SCENE THE SECOND.

Antigone.
Ant.
This is the palace:
The night is dark: quick; let me hence depart ...
What? do I hesitate? and do my feet
Stagger beneath my weight? Why tremble thus?
Whence all this apprehension? Do I plan
Aught that is criminal? Do I fear death?
I fear alone not to atchieve my task.
Oh, Polinices! oh, beloved brother!
Oh, wept till now in vain! ... The time is past
For tears alone ... now is the time for action.
I feel myself superior to my sex:
Yes, on this day, in spite of cruel Creon,
Thou shalt from me receive funereal honours:
Yes, thou shalt now receive a sister's life,
Or from her hands the last sad obsequies.
Oh Night, who on this spot, of light unworthy,
Shouldst reign eternally, oh pall thyself
In thy most dense, impenetrable glooms,
To second thus my lofty purposes.
Conceal me from the vigilant espial
Of royal satellites: I hope in thee.
Ye gods, if ye have not expressly sworn,
That, in this Thebes, no pious ceremony
Shall e'er be consummated, I but ask
So much of life as may ensure performance
To this one act of sisterly affection.
Let me press forward: holy is the office:
A holy impulse urges me to action,
A lofty impulse of fraternal love ...
But who pursues me? Ah! I am betrayed ...
A female comes to me? Who art thou? speak ...