ISMENE. In what adventure? What is in thy mind? ANTIGONE. Will thy arm help me to uplift the corpse? ISMENE. How! Wouldst thou brave the law and bury him? ANTIGONE. Bury thy brother and mine own I would. Do as thou wilt, my duty shall not fail. ISMENE. In face of Creon's edict? Art thou mad? ANTIGONE. Has he the right to part me from mine own? ISMENE. Sister, alack! think how our father fell, O'erwhelmed with hatred and with infamy Through sins which his own act had brought to light, His eyes bereft of sight by his own hand; How she that was his wife and mother too Perished, self-strangled with a twisted cord, And lastly our two brothers in one day With fratricidal hands most ruefully Upon each other brought a common doom. Now only we are left, and worst of all Our fate will be, if, in contempt of law, Our ruler's will and order we defy. Think first that we are women, and too weak Battle to do against the strength of men; And next, that we are subject unto power, And must in harder things than this obey. For my share then, I will entreat the dead To pardon what I do unwillingly, And bow to the command of those in power. High vaulting virtue overleaps itself. ANTIGONE. I urge thee not; nay, didst thou wish to aid, My heart would not accept thy partnership. Hold to thy own opinion; him I mean To bury; death were honour in that cause. I in the tomb shall lie with those I love, A glorious criminal. Longer will last The praise of those below than those above. There I shall ever dwell. Then, if thou wilt, Treat as of no account the claim of heaven. ISMENE. I lack not piety, but lack the force To fly in face of public ordinance. ANTIGONE. Cling to thy specious pretext while I go To heap the earth upon a brother's grave. ISMENE. Too daring sister, how I quake for thee. ANTIGONE. Quake not for me, steer thine own course aright. ISMENE. At least disclose to none this thy design; I too will keep it locked within my breast. ANTIGONE. Avaunt! reveal it! I shall hate thee more If thou dost not proclaim it to the world. ISMENE. Hot is thy blood, but chill thy enterprise. ANTIGONE. I shall please those whom I am bound to please. ISMENE. Hadst thou the power, but desperate is thy aim. ANTIGONE. When my power fails I have but to desist. ISMENE. Where we must fail, not to attempt is wise. ANTIGONE. Such talk will make thee hateful unto me, And by the dead man righteously abhorred. Then leave me with my folly to endure This dreadful penalty. Come what come may, Nothing will rob me of a noble death. ISMENE. Art thou resolved? Go, then, and be assured That though misguided thou art well beloved. * * * * * _SISTERLY LOVE DEFIES THE LAW_. Antigone is caught by the guard paying funeral rites to the corpse of Polynices, and is brought before Creon. LINES 384-581. GUARD. Behold the guilty one, caught in the act Of burial. Where is Creon to be found? CHORUS.