unburied," a prey for the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field. Whoever disobeys this mandate is to be stoned to death. "Now is the time," says Antigone to her sister, "to show
"Whether thou hast an innate nobleness,
Or art the base-born child of noble sires."—(P.)
And here we find at once the same strong contrast between the characters of the two sisters, which in a subsequent tragedy is seen between Electra and Chrysothemis. Antigone, like Joan of Arc and other enthusiasts, is so absorbed in her own self-sacrifice, inspired with such a lofty sense of what her duty towards her brother demands, that she spurns all other considerations. Death and life, honour and dishonour, happiness and misery, are as nothing compared with the work she has in hand. Ismene, though not less affectionate, is of a softer temper. She has less heroism, but more common-sense. Her advice is that which prudence naturally suggests—"Why add another to the countless sorrows of the family? Why offend the powers that be, or offer unavailing resistance to the majesty of law?"
But these prudent counsels only incense Antigone, and she breaks into a tone of lofty scorn:—
"No more will I exhort thee—no! and if
Thou wouldst it now, it would not pleasure me
To have thee as a partner in the deed.
Be what it liketh thee to be, but I
Will bury him; and shall esteem it honour
To die in the attempt; dying for him,
