(CH.) Where are the maids and their attendant friends?

(M.) They cannot be far off; the approaching sound

Of lamentation tells they come this way. (Enter ANTIGONE and ISMENE)

ANTIGONE

Woe, woe! on this sad day We sisters of one blasted stock must bow beneath the shock, Must weep and weep the curse that lay On him our sire, for whom In life, a life-long world of care 'Twas ours to bear, In death must face the gloom That wraps his tomb. What tongue can tell That sight ineffable? (CH.) What mean ye, maidens? (ANT.) All is but surmise. (CH.) Is he then gone? (ANT.) Gone as ye most might wish. Not in battle or sea storm, But reft from sight, By hands invisible borne To viewless fields of night. Ah me! on us too night has come, The night of mourning. Wither roam O'er land or sea in our distress Eating the bread of bitterness?

(ΧΟ.) Ποῦ δ΄ αἵ τε παῖδες χοἰ προπέμψαντες φίλων;

(ΑΓ.) Αἵδ΄ οὐχ ἑκάς· γόων γὰρ οὐκ ἀσήμονες φθόγγοι σφε σημαίνουσι δεῦρ΄ ὁρμωμένας.

(ΑΝTIGONE) Αἰαῖ͵ φεῦ͵ ἔστιν ἔστι νῷν δὴ οὐ τὸ μέν͵ ἄλλο δὲ μή͵ πατρὸς ἔμφυτον ἄλαστον αἷμα δυσμόροιν στενάζειν͵ ᾧ τινι τὸν πολὺν ἄλλοτε μὲν πόνον ἔμπεδον εἴχομεν͵ ἐν πυμάτῳ δ΄ ἀλόγιστα παροίσομεν ἰδόντε καὶ παθούσα. (ΧΟ.) Τί δ΄ ἔστιν; (ΑΝ.) Ἔστιν μὲν εἰκάσαι͵ φίλοι. (ΧΟ.) Βέβηκεν; (ΑΝ.) Ὡς μάλιστ΄ ἂν ἐν πόθῳ λάβοις. Τί γάρ; ὅτῳ μήτ΄ Ἄρης μήτε πόντος ἀντέκυρσεν͵ ἄσκοποι δὲ πλάκες ἔμαρψαν ἐν ἀφανεῖ τινι μόρῳ φερόμενον· τάλαινα͵ νῷν δ΄ ὀλεθρία νὺξ ἐπ΄ ὄμμασιν βέβακε· πῶς γὰρ ἤ τιν΄ ἀπίαν γᾶν ἢ πόντιον κλύδων΄ ἀλώμεναι βίου δύσοιστον ἕξομεν τροφάν;