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Finally, an attempt made by Joseph, who wants to marry Maria, and by Lady Sneerwell, who is in love with Charles, to prevent the union of the two young people by making out that Charles is in honour bound to marry Lady Sneerwell. miscarries through a creature of that lady's named Snake being persuaded to tell the truth. So Joseph, bankrupt in character and in expectations, has the mortification of seeing Maria contracted to Charles, Lady Teazle reconciled to Sir Peter, and his own reputation lost both with his ex-guardian and with his wealthy uncle.

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SOPHOCLES

Antigone

Persons in the Drama Creon

Eurydike, wife of Creon H.EMON, son of Creon Teiresias Antigone Two Messengers Ismene Guard Chorus of Theban Elders

Act I

Scene.—Thebes, in front of the Palace. Enter Antigone and Ismene. Antigone: Ismene, mine own sister, dearest one, Surely all woes that sprang from CEdipus Will Zeus accomplish on us twain; and now Hast thou not heard our chieftain's new decree?

Sophocles, the great master of Greek tragedy, was born at Colonus, about a mile from Athens. Though the date of his birth is not exactly known, it was probably about 495 b.c. He was educated with much care by his father, and showed such skill in poetry and music that he was selected after the victory of Salamis to lead a chorus of youths in a triumphal psean composed by himself. Sophocles is justly accounted the most perfect of the Attic tragedians. In his hands tragedy becomes the true and faithful reflex of human feelings, passions and impulses. We have no knowledge of the order in which his tragedies were written, nor of the date on which " Antigone " was first produced. After the death of CEdipus, Antigone and her sister returned to Thebes. When Polyneikes with his seven armies advanced against the city, the invaders were overthrown,

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Ismene: No pleasant word or painful have I heard, Since we were reft at once of brothers twain, On one sad day.

Antigone: Therefore I sent for thee

Beyond the gates, that thou may'st hear alone. One, Eteocles, with rites of burial Creon has honoured; but, for Polyneikes, Unwept, nnsepulchred, a prey to birds, His corpse must lie. So Creon hath decreed. Who disobeys, by stoning he must die. Show now if thou art worthy of thy birth! Wilt thou take part with me in risk and toil ? Wilt thou with me give burial to our dead?

Ismene: Darest thou what Creon has forbidden?

Antigone : Ay.

He has no right to keep me from mine own.

Ismene: O sister, we two girls are left alone; We cannot strive with men; this and far worse We must obey. From those that are departed I pray forgiveness, but obey our lords.

Antigone: Now would I not, though thou should'st will it, share The deed with thee. I, I will bury him; Yea, and rejoice to die in doing it. Dishonour if thou wilt what gods approve, [Exeunt. Enter Chorus of Theban Elders, and Creon.

Creon: Friends, since the sons of CEdipus have fallen Both on the self-same day with murderous blow, Smiting and being smitten, now I hold Their thrones, and all their powers of sovereignty.

and Polyneikes and Eteocles each fell by the other's hand. Creon, assuming the sovereignty, decreed that Eteocles should receive funeral honours, but that the corpse of Apolyneikes should be left unburied. The Greeks attached great importance to the due celebration of funeral rites, and Antigone resolved to perform the sacred duty to her brother in defiance of the man-made law which set at nought the laws of heaven. The scene is unchanged throughout. Sophocles died about 405 B.C.

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Now, whoso, being called to guide a State,

Still counts his friend more worthy than his country,

I utterly despise him. Not as friend

I count my country's foe. Such my decree

Concerning those two sons of CEdipus.

Him who died fighting for our fatherland

Eteocles, I honour with all rites;

But him who sought with fire to desolate

His father's city and the shrines of God,

Him Polyneikes, none shall dare entomb

Nor any utter wail nor loud lament,

But leave his corpse unburied, by the dogs

And vultures mangled, foul to look upon.

Be ye, then, guardians of the things I speak;

Since watchmen are appointed for the corpse,

Consent not ye with those that disobey.

Chorus : None are so foolish as to seek for death.

[Enter a Guard,

Guard: Not with swift feet, but tarrying oft in doubt, I come to thee, O king, in haste yet slow, And though I tell of nought yet will I speak; Yea, speak I will. The corpse . . . someone has been But now and buried it; a little dust O'er the skin scattering with the wonted rites.

Creon : What say'st thou ? What man dared this deed of guilt?

Guard: I know not. All the soil was dry and hard, But he who did it went and left no sign. No tomb was raised, but dust all lightly strewn. Now when we found the thing, ill words arose, Since every guard to every guard appeared The man whose hand had done it; yet not one Was privy to his schemes who planned the deed; So swore we all. Therefore to tell thee all Against my will I come, seeing 'tis true That no man loves the messenger of ill.