Epeisodion 1
Creon
What are you saying? What man dared do this?
Guard
I do not know. For there was no scar of a pickax to be seen
there,
no earth thrown up by a
mattock. The ground was hard and dry, unbroken, not rolled over by
wheels. The doer was someone who left no trace. When the first
day-watchman showed it to us, a discomforting amazement fell on us
all.
250
The dead man was veiled
from us—not shut within a tomb, but a light cover of dust was on him, as
if put there by the hand of one who shunned a curse. And no sign was
visible that any beast of prey or any dog had approached or torn him.
Then evil words flew thick and loud among us,
255
guard accusing guard. It would even have come to blows
in the end, nor was there anyone there to prevent it: every man was the
culprit, and no one was plainly guilty, while all disclaimed knowledge
of the act. We were ready to take red-hot iron in our hands,
260
to walk through fire and to swear oaths
by the gods that we had neither done the deed, nor shared knowledge of
the planning or the doing. At last, when our investigating got us
nowhere, someone spoke up and made us all bend our faces
265
in fear towards the earth. For we did
not know how we could argue with him, nor yet prosper, if we did what he
said. His argument was that the deed must be reported to you and not
hidden. This view prevailed, and so it was that
270
the lot doomed miserable me to win this prize. So here
I stand, as unwelcome to you as I am unwilling, I well know. For no man
delights in the bearer of bad news.
275
Chorus
My king, my thoughts have long been deliberating whether this deed is
somehow the work of gods?
Creon
Quiet, before your words truly
fill me with rage, so that you not be found at the same time foolish as
well as old. You say what is intolerable when you claim that the gods
have concern for that corpse. Was it in high esteem for his
benefactions
280
that they sought
to hide him, when he had come to burn their columned shrines, their
sacred treasures and their land, and scatter its laws to the winds? Or
do you see the gods honoring the wicked? It cannot be. No! From the very
first
285
certain men of the city
were chafing at this edict and muttering against me, tossing their heads
in secret, and they did not keep their necks duly under the yoke in
submission to me. By those men, I am certain, they were led astray and
bribed to do this deed.
290
Nothing so
evil as money ever grew to be current among men. This destroys cities,
this drives men from their homes, this trains and warps honest minds to
set themselves to works of shame,
295
this teaches people to practise villainies, and to know every act of
unholiness. But all the men who did this job for hire have made sure
that, sooner or later, they shall suffer the punishment. Now, as Zeus
still has my reverence, know this well—
300
I tell you on my oath. If you do not find the very hand
that made this burial, and reveal him before my eyes, mere death shall
not suffice for you, not before, hung up alive, you have made this
outrage plain,
305
so that hereafter
you may thieve with better knowledge of where your money should be
received from, and learn that it is best not to be fond of money-making
from any and every source. For you will find that ill-gotten gains bring
more men to ruin than to safety.
310
Guard
Will you allow me to speak? Or
shall I just turn and go?
315
Creon
Do you not know even now how much your voice sickens me?
Guard
Is the pain in your ears, or in your soul?
Creon
And why would you define the seat of my pain?
Guard
He who did it hurts your heart, but I, your ears.
Creon
God! How plain it is that you are
a born babbler.
320
Guard
Perhaps, but never the author of this action.
Creon
Yes, and what is more, you sold your life for silver.
Guard
Ah! It is truly sad when the judge judges wrong .
Creon
Expound on judgment as you will. But, if you fail to
show me the perpetrators of these crimes, you
will avow that money basely earned wreaks sorrows. Exit
Creon.
325
Guard
Well, may the man be found! That would be best. But, whether he be caught
or not—for fortune must decide that—I assure you that you will not see
me come here again.
Saved just now
beyond hope and belief, I owe the gods great thanks. Exit the
Guard.
330
