ll counsels. For the dogs and the birds of the air tear
the flesh of this dead son of Oedipus, whom thou sufferest not to have
due burial, and carry it to the altars, polluting them therewith.
Wherefore the Gods receive not from us prayer or sacrifice; and the cry
of the birds hath an evil sound, for they are full of the flesh of a
man. Therefore I bid the be wise in time. For all men may err; but he
that keepeth not his folly, but repenteth, doeth well; but stubbornness
cometh to great trouble."

Then the King answered, "Old man, I know the race of prophets full well,
how ye sell your art for gold. But, make thy trade as thou wilt, this
man shall not have burial; yea, though the eagles of Zeus carry his
flesh to their master's throne in heaven, he shall not have it."

And when the prophet spake again, entreating him, and warning, the King
answered him after the same fashion, that he spake not honestly, but had
sold his art for money. But at the last the prophet spake in great
wrath, saying, "Know, O King, that before many days shall pass, thou
shalt pay a life for a life, even one of thine own children, for them
with whom thou hast dealt unrighteously, shutting up the living with the
dead, and keeping the dead from them to whom they belong. Therefore the
Furies lie in wait for thee, and thou shalt see whether or no I speak
these things for money. For there shall be mourning and lamentation in
thine own house; and against thy people shall be stirred up all the
cities, whose sons thou hast made to lie unburied. And now, my child,
lead me home, and let this man rage against them that are younger than
I."

So the prophet departed, and the old men were sore afraid, and said, "He
hath spoken terrible things, O King; nor ever since these gray hairs
were black have we known him say that which was false."

"Even so," said the King, "and I am troubled in heart, and yet am loath
to depart from my purpose."

"King Creon," said the old men, "thou needest good counsel."

"What, then, would ye have done?"

"Set free the maiden from the sepulchre, and give this dead man burial."

Then the King cried to his people that they should bring bars wherewith
to loosen the doors of the sepulchre, and hasted with them to the place.
But coming on their way to the body of Prince Polynices, they took it
up, and washed it, and buried that which remained of it, and raised over
the ashes a great mound of earth. And this being done, they drew