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543 Or else too weak to scotch it when I saw.
544 This thou art witless seeking to possess
545 Without a following or friends the crown,
546 A prize that followers and wealth must win.
CREON
547 Attend me. Thou hast spoken, 'tis my turn
548 To make reply. Then having heard me, judge.
OEDIPUS
549 Thou art glib of tongue, but I am slow to learn
550 Of thee; I know too well thy venomous hate.
CREON
551 First I would argue out this very point.
OEDIPUS
552 O argue not that thou art not a rogue.
CREON
553 If thou dost count a virtue stubbornness,
554 Unschooled by reason, thou art much astray.
OEDIPUS
555 If thou dost hold a kinsman may be wronged,
556 And no pains follow, thou art much to seek.
CREON
557 Therein thou judgest rightly, but this wrong
558 That thou allegest--tell me what it is.
OEDIPUS
559 Didst thou or didst thou not advise that I
560 Should call the priest?
CREON
Yes, and I stand to it.
OEDIPUS
561 Tell me how long is it since Laius...
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CREON
562 Since Laius...? I follow not thy drift.
OEDIPUS
563 By violent hands was spirited away.
CREON
564 In the dim past, a many years agone.
OEDIPUS
565 Did the same prophet then pursue his craft?
CREON
566 Yes, skilled as now and in no less repute.
OEDIPUS
567 Did he at that time ever glance at me?
CREON
568 Not to my knowledge, not when I was by.
OEDIPUS
569 But was no search and inquisition made?
CREON
570 Surely full quest was made, but nothing learnt.
OEDIPUS
571 Why failed the seer to tell his story then?
CREON
572 I know not, and not knowing hold my tongue.
OEDIPUS
573 This much thou knowest and canst surely tell.
CREON
574 What's mean'st thou? All I know I will declare.
OEDIPUS
575 But for thy prompting never had the seer
576 Ascribed to me the death of Laius.
CREON
577 If so he thou knowest best; but I
578 Would put thee to the question in my turn.
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OEDIPUS
579 Question and prove me murderer if thou canst.
CREON
580 Then let me ask thee, didst thou wed my sister?
OEDIPUS
581 A fact so plain I cannot well deny.
CREON
582 And as thy consort queen she shares the throne?
OEDIPUS
583 I grant her freely all her heart desires.
CREON
584 And with you twain I share the triple rule?
OEDIPUS
585 Yea, and it is that proves thee a false friend.
CREON
586 Not so, if thou wouldst reason with thyself,
587 As I with myself. First, I bid thee think,
588 Would any mortal choose a troubled reign
589 Of terrors rather than secure repose,
590 If the same power were given him? As for me,
591 I have no natural craving for the name
592 Of king, preferring to do kingly deeds,
593 And so thinks every sober-minded man.
594 Now all my needs are satisfied through thee,
595 And I have naught to fear; but were I king,
596 My acts would oft run counter to my will.
597 How could a title then have charms for me
598 Above the sweets of boundless influence?
599 I am not so infatuate as to grasp
600 The shadow when I hold the substance fast.
601 Now all men cry me Godspeed! wish me well,
602 And every suitor seeks to gain my ear,
603 If he would hope to win a grace from thee.
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604 Why should I leave the better, choose the worse?
605 That were sheer madness, and I am not mad.
606 No such ambition ever tempted me,
607 Nor would I have a share in such intrigue.
608 And if thou doubt me, first to Delphi go,
609 There ascertain if my report was true
610 Of the god's answer; next investigate
611 If with the seer I plotted or conspired,
612 And if it prove so, sentence me to death,
613 Not by thy voice alone, but mine and thine.
614 But O condemn me not, without appeal,
615 On bare suspicion. 'Tis not right to adjudge
616 Bad men at random good, or good men bad.
617 I would as lief a man should cast away
618 The thing he counts most precious, his own life,
619 As spurn a true friend. Thou wilt learn in time
620 The truth, for time alone reveals the just;
621 A villain is detected in a day.
CHORUS
622 To one who walketh warily his words
623 Commend themselves; swift counsels are not sure.
OEDIPUS
624 When with swift strides the stealthy plotter stalks
625 I must be quick too with my counterplot.
626 To wait his onset passively, for him
627 Is sure success, for me assured defeat.
CREON
628 What then's thy will? To banish me the land?
OEDIPUS
629 I would not have thee banished, no, but dead,
630 That men may mark the wages envy reaps.
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CREON
631 I see thou wilt not yield, nor credit me.
OEDIPUS
632 None but a fool would credit such as thou.
CREON
633 Thou art not wise.
OEDIPUS
Wise for myself at least.
CREON
634 Why not for me too?
OEDIPUS
Why for such a knave?
CREON
635 Suppose thou lackest sense.
OEDIPUS
Yet kings must rule.
CREON
636 Not if they rule ill.
OEDIPUS
Oh my Thebans, hear him!
CREON
637 Thy Thebans? am not I a Theban too?
CHORUS
638 Cease, princes; lo there comes, and none too soon,
639 Jocasta from the palace. Who so fit
640 As peacemaker to reconcile your feud?
641 Enter JOCASTA.
JOCASTA
642 Misguided princes, why have ye upraised
643 This wordy wrangle? Are ye not ashamed,
644 While the whole land lies striken, thus to voice
645 Your private injuries? Go in, my lord;
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646 Go home, my brother, and forebear to make
647 A public scandal of a petty grief.
CREON
648 My royal sister, Oedipus, thy lord,
649 Hath bid me choose (O dread alternative!)
650 An outlaw's exile or a felon's death.
OEDIPUS
651 Yes, lady; I have caught him practicing
652 Against my royal person his vile arts.
CREON
653 May I ne'er speed but die accursed, if I
654 In any way am guilty of this charge.
JOCASTA
655 Believe him, I adjure thee, Oedipus,
656 First for his solemn oath's sake, then for mine,
657 And for thine elders' sake who wait on thee.
CHORUS
658 Hearken, King, reflect, we pray thee, but not stubborn but relent.
OEDIPUS
659 Say to what should I consent?
CHORUS
660 Respect a man whose probity and troth
661 Are known to all and now confirmed by oath.
OEDIPUS
662 Dost know what grace thou cravest?
CHORUS
Yea, I know.
OEDIPUS
663 Declare it then and make thy meaning plain.
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CHORUS
664 Brand not a friend whom babbling tongues assail;
665 Let not suspicion 'gainst his oath prevail.
OEDIPUS
666 Bethink you that in seeking this ye seek
667 In very sooth my death or banishment?
CHORUS
668 No, by the leader of the host divine!
669 Witness, thou Sun, such thought was never mine,
670 Unblest, unfriended may I perish,
671 If ever I such wish did cherish!
672 But O my heart is desolate
673 Musing on our striken State,
674 Doubly fall'n should discord grow
675 Twixt you twain, to crown our woe.
OEDIPUS
676 Well, let him go, no matter what it cost me,
677 Or certain death or shameful banishment,
678 For your sake I relent, not his; and him,
679 Where'er he be, my heart shall still abhor.
CREON
680 Thou art as sullen in thy yielding mood
681 As in thine anger thou wast truculent.
682 Such tempers justly plague themselves the most.
OEDIPUS
683 Leave me in peace and get thee gone.
CREON
I go,
684 By thee misjudged, but justified by these.
685 Exeunt CREON
CHORUS
686 Lady, lead indoors thy consort; wherefore longer here delay?
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JOCASTA
687 Tell me first how rose the fray.
CHORUS
688 Rumors bred unjust suspicious and injustice rankles sore.
JOCASTA
689 Were both at fault?
CHORUS
Both.
JOCASTA
What was the tale?
CHORUS
690 Ask me no more. The land is sore distressed;
691 'Twere better sleeping ills to leave at rest.
OEDIPUS
692 Strange counsel, friend! I know thou mean'st me well,
693 And yet would'st mitigate and blunt my zeal.
CHORUS
694 King, I say it once again,
695 Witless were I proved, insane,
696 If I lightly put away
697 Thee my country's prop and stay,
698 Pilot who, in danger sought,
699 To a quiet haven brought
700 Our distracted State; and now
701 Who can guide us right but thou?
JOCASTA
702 Let me too, I adjure thee, know, O king,
703 What cause has stirred this unrelenting wrath.
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OEDIPUS
704 I will, for thou art more to me than these.
705 Lady, the cause is Creon and his plots.
JOCASTA
706 But what provoked the quarrel? make this clear.
OEDIPUS
707 He points me out as Laius' murderer.
JOCASTA
708 Of his own knowledge or upon report?
OEDIPUS
709 He is too cunning to commit himself,
710 And makes a mouthpiece of a knavish seer.
JOCASTA
711 Then thou mayest ease thy conscience on that score.
712 Listen and I'll convince thee that no man
713 Hath scot or lot in the prophetic art.
714 Here is the proof in brief. An oracle
715 Once came to Laius (I will not say
716 'Twas from the Delphic god himself, but from
717 His ministers) declaring he was doomed
718 To perish by the hand of his own son,
719 A child that should be born to him by me.
720 Now Laius--so at least report affirmed--
721 Was murdered on a day by highwaymen,
722 No natives, at a spot where three roads meet.
723 As for the child, it was but three days old,
724 When Laius, its ankles pierced and pinned
725 Together, gave it to be cast away
726 By others on the trackless mountain side.
727 So then Apollo brought it not to pass
728 The child should be his father's murderer,
729 Or the dread terror find accomplishment,
730 And Laius be slain by his own son.
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731 Such was the prophet's horoscope. O king,
732 Regard it not. Whate'er the god deems fit
733 To search, himself unaided will reveal.
OEDIPUS
734 What memories, what wild tumult of the soul
735 Came o'er me, lady, as I heard thee speak!
JOCASTA
736 What mean'st thou? What has shocked and startled thee?
OEDIPUS
737 Methought I heard thee say that Laius
738 Was murdered at the meeting of three roads.
JOCASTA
739 So ran the story that is current still.
OEDIPUS
740 Where did this happen? Dost thou know the place?
JOCASTA
741 Phocis the land is called; the spot is where
742 Branch roads from Delphi and from Daulis meet.
OEDIPUS
743 And how long is it since these things befell?
JOCASTA
744 'Twas but a brief while were thou wast proclaimed
745 Our country's ruler that the news was brought.
OEDIPUS
746 O Zeus, what hast thou willed to do with me!
JOCASTA
747 What is it, Oedipus, that moves thee so?
OEDIPUS
748 Ask me not yet; tell me the build and height
749 Of Laius? Was he still in manhood's prime?
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JOCASTA
750 Tall was he, and his hair was lightly strewn
751 With silver; and not unlike thee in form.
OEDIPUS
752 O woe is me! Mehtinks unwittingly
753 I laid but now a dread curse on myself.
JOCASTA
754 What say'st thou? When I look upon thee, my king,
755 I tremble.
OEDIPUS
'Tis a dread presentiment
756 That in the end the seer will prove not blind.
757 One further question to resolve my doubt.
JOCASTA
758 I quail; but ask, and I will answer all.
OEDIPUS
759 Had he but few attendants or a train
760 Of armed retainers with him, like a prince?
JOCASTA
761 They were but five in all, and one of them
762 A herald; Laius in a mule-car rode.
OEDIPUS
763 Alas! 'tis clear as noonday now. But say,
764 Lady, who carried this report to Thebes?
JOCASTA
765 A serf, the sole survivor who returned.
OEDIPUS
766 Haply he is at hand or in the house?
JOCASTA
767 No, for as soon as he returned and found
768 Thee reigning in the stead of Laius slain,
769 He clasped my hand and supplicated me
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770 To send him to the alps and pastures, where
771 He might be farthest from the sight of Thebes.
772 And so I sent him. 'Twas an honest slave
773 And well deserved some better recompense.
OEDIPUS
774 Fetch him at once. I fain would see the man.
JOCASTA
775 He shall be brought; but wherefore summon him?
OEDIPUS
776 Lady, I fear my tongue has overrun
777 Discretion; therefore I would question him.
JOCASTA
778 Well, he shall come, but may not I too claim
779 To share the burden of thy heart, my king?
OEDIPUS
780 And thou shalt not be frustrate of thy wish.
781 Now my imaginings have gone so far.
782 Who has a higher claim that thou to hear
783 My tale of dire adventures? Listen then.
784 My sire was Polybus of Corinth, and
785 My mother Merope, a Dorian;
786 And I was held the foremost citizen,
787 Till a strange thing befell me, strange indeed,
788 Yet scarce deserving all the heat it stirred.
789 A roisterer at some banquet, flown with wine,
790 Shouted "Thou art not true son of thy sire."
791 It irked me, but I stomached for the nonce
792 The insult; on the morrow I sought out
793 My mother and my sire and questioned them.
794 They were indignant at the random slur
795 Cast on my parentage and did their best
796 To comfort me, but still the venomed barb
797 Rankled, for still the scandal spread and grew.
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798 So privily without their leave I went
799 To Delphi, and Apollo sent me back
800 Baulked of the knowledge that I came to seek.
801 But other grievous things he prophesied,
802 Woes, lamentations, mourning, portents dire;
803 To wit I should defile my mother's bed
804 And raise up seed too loathsome to behold,
805 And slay the father from whose loins I sprang.
806 Then, lady,--thou shalt hear the very truth--
807 As I drew near the triple-branching roads,
808 A herald met me and a man who sat
809 In a car drawn by colts--as in thy tale--
810 The man in front and the old man himself
811 Threatened to thrust me rudely from the path,
812 Then jostled by the charioteer in wrath
813 I struck him, and the old man, seeing this,
814 Watched till I passed and from his car brought down
815 Full on my head the double-pointed goad.
816 Yet was I quits with him and more; one stroke
817 Of my good staff sufficed to fling him clean
818 Out of the chariot seat and laid him prone.
819 And so I slew them every one. But if
820 Betwixt this stranger there was aught in common
821 With Laius, who more miserable than I,
822 What mortal could you find more god-abhorred?
823 Wretch whom no sojourner, no citizen
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824 May harbor or address, whom all are bound
825 To harry from their homes. And this same curse
826 Was laid on me, and laid by none but me.
827 Yea with these hands all gory I pollute
828 The bed of him I slew. Say, am I vile?
829 Am I not utterly unclean, a wretch
830 Doomed to be banished, and in banishment
831 Forgo the sight of all my dearest ones,
832 And never tread again my native earth;
833 Or else to wed my mother and slay my sire,
834 Polybus, who begat me and upreared?
835 If one should say, this is the handiwork
836 Of some inhuman power, who could blame
837 His judgment? But, ye pure and awful gods,
838 Forbid, forbid that I should see that day!
839 May I be blotted out from living men
840 Ere such a plague spot set on me its brand!
CHORUS
841 We too, O king, are troubled; but till thou
842 Hast questioned the survivor, still hope on.
OEDIPUS
843 My hope is faint, but still enough survives
844 To bid me bide the coming of this herd.
JOCASTA
845 Suppose him here, what wouldst thou learn of him?
OEDIPUS
846 I'll tell thee, lady; if his tale agrees
847 With thine, I shall have 'scaped calamity.
JOCASTA
848 And what of special import did I say?
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OEDIPUS
849 In thy report of what the herdsman said
850 Laius was slain by robbers; now if he
851 Still speaks of robbers, not a robber, I
852 Slew him not; "one" with "many" cannot square.
853 But if he says one lonely wayfarer,
854 The last link wanting to my guilt is forged.