There are some passages in the Antigone of Sophocles, well known to scholars, of which I am reminded in this connection.  Antigone has resolved to sprinkle sand on the dead body of her brother Polynices, notwithstanding the edict of King Creon condemning to death that one who should perform this service, which the Greeks deemed so important, for the enemy of his country; but Ismene, who is of a less resolute and noble spirit, declines taking part with her sister in this work, and says,—­

“I, therefore, asking those under the earth to consider me, that I am compelled to do thus, will obey those who are placed in office; for to do extreme things is not wise.”

ANTIGONE

“I would not ask you, nor would you, if you still wished, do it joyfully with me.  Be such as seems good to you.  But I will bury him.  It is glorious for me doing this to die.  I beloved will lie with him beloved, having, like a criminal, done what is holy; since the time is longer which it is necessary for me to please those below, than those here, for there I shall always lie.  But if it seems good to you, hold in dishonor things which are honored by the gods.”

ISMENE

“I indeed do not hold them in dishonor; but to act in opposition to the citizens I am by nature unable.”

Antigone being at length brought before King Creon, he asks,—­

“Did you then dare to transgress these laws?”

ANTIGONE

“For it was not Zeus who proclaimed these to me, nor Justice who dwells with the gods below; it was not they who established these laws among men.  Nor did I think that your proclamations were so strong, as, being a mortal, to be able to transcend the unwritten and immovable laws of the gods.  For not something now and yesterday, but forever these live, and no one knows from what time they appeared.  I was not about to pay the penalty of violating these to the gods, fearing the presumption of any man.  For I well knew that I should die, and why not? even if you had not proclaimed it.”

This was concerning the burial of a dead body.

The wisest conservatism is that of the Hindoos.  “Immemorial custom is transcendent law,” says Menu.  That is, it was the custom of the gods before men used it.  The fault of our New England custom is that it is memorial.  What is morality but immemorial custom?  Conscience is the chief of conservatives.  “Perform the settled functions,” says Kreeshna in the Bhagvat-Geeta; “action is preferable to inaction.  The journey of thy mortal frame may not succeed from inaction.”—­“A man’s own calling with all its faults, ought not to be forsaken.  Every undertaking is involved in its faults as the fire in its smoke.”—­“The man who is acquainted with the whole, should not drive those from their works who are slow of comprehension, and less experienced than himself.”—­“Wherefore, O Arjoon, resolve to fight,” is the advice of the God to the irresolute soldier who fears to slay