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EURIPIDES.
Antigone.
Why raise the ghost of shame, the Sphinx's story?
Forbear to vaunt too late that faded glory.
For thee this anguish lay the while in wait,
Far from thy land to know the exile's fate,
And, father, in some place unknown to die.
To maids who love me leaving tears of yearning,
From fatherland an exile unreturning,
I wander far in plight unmaidenly.
Oedipus.
Woe for the heart where duty's fire is burning!1740
Antigone.
Twined with my father's sad renown
This shall be mine unfading crown.
Woe for thy wrongs! Brother, alas for thine,
Who from thine home a tombless corse art thrust,
Hapless! Though death, my sire, for this be mine,
Yet will I veil him secretly with dust.
Oedipus.
Show thee again to thy companions' eyes.
Antigone.
Why should they weep? Mine own laments suffice.
Oedipus.
Then at the altars bow with suppliant cry.
Antigone.
They weary of my tale of misery.1750