Stasimon 7
Antigone
My heart is mad with wailing.
Ismene
My heart groans within me.
Antigone
Ah, the grief, brother all-lamentable.
Ismene
And you also, brother all-wretched.
970
Antigone
You perished at the hands of your nearest and dearest.
Ismene
And you killed your nearest and dearest.
Antigone
Twofold to tell of—
Ismene
Twofold to look upon—
Antigone
Are these sorrows so close to those.
975
Ismene
Fraternal sorrows stand close by fraternal sorrows.
Chorus
O Fate, giver of grievous troubles, and awful shade of Oedipus, black Erinys, you are indeed a mighty force.
Antigone
Sorrows hard to behold—
Ismene
He showed me when he returned from exile.
Antigone
But he made no return after he had killed.
Ismene
He was saved, but lost his life.
Antigone
He lost it, all too truly.
985
Ismene
And took this one’s life away.
Antigone
Wretched family!
Ismene
Wretched suffering!
Antigone
Kindred sorrows full of groans!
Ismene
Sorrows steeped in tripled griefs.
990
Chorus
O Fate, giver of grievous troubles, and awful shade of Oedipus, black Erinys, you are indeed a mighty force.
[Choral]
Now you know of the Erinys by experience—
Ismene
And you are made aware no later—
995
Antigone
When you came back to our city,
Ismene
Yes, to face him with your spear.
Antigone
A tale of destruction!
Ismene
Destruction to look upon!
Antigone
Oh, the grief—
1000
Antigone
For home and land.
Antigone
And more also for me.
Ismene
Ah I pity your grievous suffering, my king.
1005
Antigone
Pity for you both, most lamentable of all men.
Ismene
You were possessed by delusion.
Antigone
Where shall we lay them in the earth?
Ismene
Ah, where their honor is greatest.
Antigone
To lie beside their father, a cause for him of sorrow.
1010