Sophocles, Antigone, line 724

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Chorus
My king, it is right, if he speaks something appropriate, that you should learn from him [725] and that you, in turn, Haemon, should learn from your father. On both sides there have been wise words.

Creon
Men of my age—are we, then, to be schooled in wisdom by men of his?

Haemon
Not in anything that is not right. But if I am young, you should look to my conduct, not to my years.

Creon
[730] Is it worthy conduct to honor disrupters?

Haemon
I could not urge anyone to show respect for the wicked.

Creon
And is she not in the grasp of that disease?

Haemon
All the people of this city of Thebes deny it.

Creon
Shall Thebes prescribe to me how I must rule?

Haemon
[735] See, there, how you have spoken so much like a child.

Creon
Am I to rule this land by the will of another than myself?

Haemon
That is no city, which belongs to one man.

Creon
Does not the city by tradition belong to the man in power?

Haemon
You would make a fine monarch in a desert.

Creon
[740] This boy seems to be fighting on the side of the woman.

Haemon
If you are a woman, for, to be sure, my concern is for you.

Creon
You traitor, attacking your father, accusing him!

Haemon
Because I see you making a mistake and committing injustice.

Creon
Am I making a mistake when I respect my own prerogatives?

Haemon
[745] Yes. You do not respect them, when you trample on the gods' honors.

Creon
Polluted creature, submitting to a woman!

Haemon
You will never catch me submitting to shamelessness.

Creon
You do. Your every word, after all, pleads her case.

Haemon
And yours, and mine, and that of gods below.

Creon
[750] You can never marry her, not while she is still alive.

Haemon
Then she will die, and in death destroy another.

Creon
What! Does your audacity run to open threats?

Haemon
How is it a threat to speak against empty plans?

Creon
You will regret your unwise instructions in wisdom.

Haemon
[755] If you were not my father, I would have called you insane.

Creon
You woman's slave, do not try to cajole me.

Haemon
Do you want to have your say and then have done without a reply?

Sophocles. The Antigone of Sophocles. Edited with introduction and notes by Sir Richard Jebb. Sir Richard Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1891.

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