And wound in woven coils of nets he seizeth for his prey I 2 The aery tribe of birds and wilding armies of the chase, And sea-born millions of the deep--man is so crafty-wise. And now with engine of his wit he tameth to his will The mountain-ranging beast whose lair is in the country wild; And now his yoke hath passed upon the mane Of horse with proudly crested neck and tireless mountain bull. Wise utterance and wind-swift thought, and city-moulding mind, II 1 And shelter from the clear-eyed power of biting frost, He hath taught him, and to shun the sharp, roof-penetrating rain,-- Full of resource, without device he meets no coming time; From Death alone he shall not find reprieve; No league may gain him that relief; but even for fell disease, That long hath baffled wisest leech, he hath contrived a cure. Inventive beyond wildest hope, endowed with boundless skill, II 2 One while he moves toward evil, and one while toward good, According as he loves his land and fears the Gods above. Weaving the laws into his life and steadfast oath of Heaven, High in the State he moves but outcast he, Who hugs dishonour to his heart and follows paths of crime Ne'er may he come beneath my roof, nor think like thoughts with me. LEADER OF CHORUS What portent from the Gods is here? My mind is mazed with doubt and fear. How can I gainsay what I see? I know the girl Antigone, O hapless child of hapless sire! Didst thou, then, recklessly aspire To brave kings' laws, and now art brought In madness of transgression caught? _Enter_ Watchman, _bringing in_ ANTIGONE WATCH. Here is the doer of the deed--this maid We found her burying him. Where is the King? CH. Look, he comes forth again to meet thy call. _Enter_ CREON. CR. What call so nearly times with mine approach? WATCH. My lord, no mortal should deny on oath, Judgement is still belied by after thought When quailing 'neath the tempest of your threats, Methought no force would drive me to this place But joy unlook'd for and surpassing hope Is out of bound the best of all delight, And so I am here again,--though I had sworn I ne'er would come,--and in my charge this maid, Caught in the act of caring for the dead Here was no lot throwing, this hap was mine Without dispute. And now, my sovereign lord, According to thy pleasure, thine own self Examine and convict her. For my part I have good right to be away and free From the bad business I am come upon. CR. This maiden! How came she in thy charge? Where didst thou find her? WATCH. Burying the prince. One word hath told thee all. CR. Hast thou thy wits, and knowest thou what thou sayest? WATCH. I saw her burying him whom you forbade To bury. Is that, now, clearly spoken, or no? CR. And how was she detected, caught, and taken?