I, even I, did slay thee, woe is me!
I, yes, I speak the truth. Lead me, ye guards,1320
Lead me forth quickly; lead me out of sight,
More crushed to nothing than is nothing's self.
Chor. Thou counsellest gain, if gain there be in ills,
For present ills when shortest then are best.
Creon. Oh, come thou then, come thou,
The last of all my dooms, that brings to me1330
Best boon, my life's last day. Come then, oh come,
That never more I look upon the light.
Chor. These things are in the future. What is near,
That we must do. O'er what is yet to come
They watch, to Whom that work of right belongs.
Creon. I did but pray for what I most desire.
Chor. Pray thou for nothing then: for mortal man
There is no issue from a doom decreed.
Creon. [Looking at the two corpses.] Lead me then
forth, vain shadow that I am,
Who slew thee, Ο my son, unwillingly,1340
And thee too—(O my sorrow!)—and I know not
Which way to look or turn. All near at hand
Is turned to evil; and upon my head
There falls a doom far worse than I can bear.
Chor. Man's highest blessedness,
In wisdom chiefly stands;
And in the things that touch upon the Gods,
'Tis best in word or deed,
To shun unholy pride;
Great words of boasting bring great punishments,1350
And so to grey-haired age
Teach wisdom at the last.
