ANTIGONE: (715-725)
O tomb, vaulted bride-bed
in eternal rock,
Soon I shall be with my own again
Where Persephone welcome
the thin ghost underground:
And I shall see my father again,
and you, mother,
And dearest Polyneices––
dearest indeed
To me, since it was my hand
That washed him clean and poured the ritual wine:
And my reward is death before my time!
And yet, as men’s hearts know,
I have done no wrong,
I have not sinned before God.
Or if I have,
I shall know the truth in death.
But if the guilt
Lies upon Creon
who judged me,
then, I pray,
May his punishment
equal my own.

THE LAST VERSES
CHORAGOS:
Then do not pray any more: the sky is deal
CREON:
Lead me away. I have been rash and foolish.
I have killed my son and my wife.
I look for comfort; my comfort lies here dead.
Whatever my hands have touched has come to nothing.
Fate has brought all my pride to a thought of dust.

[As CREON is being led into the house, the CHORAGOS advances and
speaks directly to the audience.]
CHORAGOS:
There is no happiness where there is no wisdom;
No wisdom but in submission to the gods. 1040
Big words are always punished,
And proud men in old age learn to be wise.