Oedipus Trilogy Part 14

CHORUS In a strange land strange thou art; To her will incline thy heart; Honor whatso'er the State Honors, all she frowns on hate.

OEDIPUS Guide me child, where we may range Safe within the paths of right; Counsel freely may exchange Nor with fate and fortune fight.

CHORUS (Ant. 2) Halt! Go no further than that rocky floor.

OEDIPUS Stay where I now am?

CHORUS Yes, advance no more.

OEDIPUS May I sit down?

CHORUS Move sideways towards the ledge, And sit thee crouching on the scarped edge.

ANTIGONE This is my office, father, O incline--

OEDIPUS Ah me! ah me!

ANTIGONE Thy steps to my steps, lean thine aged frame on mine.

OEDIPUS Woe on my fate unblest!

CHORUS Wanderer, now thou art at rest, Tell me of thy birth and home, From what far country art thou come, Led on thy weary way, declare!

OEDIPUS Strangers, I have no country. O forbear--

CHORUS What is it, old man, that thou wouldst conceal?

OEDIPUS Forbear, nor urge me further to reveal--

CHORUS Why this reluctance?

OEDIPUS Dread my lineage.

CHORUS Say!

OEDIPUS What must I answer, child, ah welladay!

CHORUS Say of what stock thou comest, what man's son--

OEDIPUS Ah me, my daughter, now we are undone!

ANTIGONE Speak, for thou standest on the slippery verge.

OEDIPUS I will; no plea for silence can I urge.

CHORUS Will neither speak? Come, Sir, why dally thus!

OEDIPUS Know'st one of Laius'--

CHORUS Ha? Who!

OEDIPUS Seed of Labdacus--

CHORUS Oh Zeus!

OEDIPUS The hapless Oedipus.

CHORUS Art he?

OEDIPUS Whate'er I utter, have no fear of me.

CHORUS Begone!

OEDIPUS O wretched me!

CHORUS Begone!

OEDIPUS O daughter, what will hap anon?

CHORUS Forth from our borders speed ye both!

OEDIPUS How keep you then your troth?

CHORUS Heaven's justice never smites Him who ill with ill requites.

But if guile with guile contend, Bane, not blessing, is the end.

Arise, begone and take thee hence straightway, Lest on our land a heavier curse thou lay.

ANTIGONE O sirs! ye suffered not my father blind, Albeit gracious and to ruth inclined, Knowing the deeds he wrought, not innocent, But with no ill intent; Yet heed a maiden's moan Who pleads for him alone; My eyes, not reft of sight, Plead with you as a daughter's might You are our providence, O make us not go hence!

O with a gracious nod Grant us the nigh despaired-of boon we crave?

Hear us, O hear, But all that ye hold dear, Wife, children, homestead, hearth and G.o.d!

Where will you find one, search ye ne'er so well.

Who 'scapes perdition if a G.o.d impel!

CHORUS Surely we pity thee and him alike Daughter of Oedipus, for your distress; But as we reverence the decrees of Heaven We cannot say aught other than we said.

OEDIPUS O what avails renown or fair repute?

Are they not vanity? For, look you, now Athens is held of States the most devout, Athens alone gives hospitality And shelters the vexed stranger, so men say.

Have I found so? I whom ye dislodged First from my seat of rock and now would drive Forth from your land, dreading my name alone; For me you surely dread not, nor my deeds, Deeds of a man more sinned against than sinning, As I might well convince you, were it meet To tell my mother's story and my sire's, The cause of this your fear. Yet am I then A villain born because in self-defense, Striken, I struck the striker back again?

E'en had I known, no villainy 'twould prove: But all unwitting whither I went, I went-- To ruin; my destroyers knew it well, Wherefore, I pray you, sirs, in Heaven's name, Even as ye bade me quit my seat, defend me.

O pay not a lip service to the G.o.ds And wrong them of their dues. Bethink ye well, The eye of Heaven beholds the just of men, And the unjust, nor ever in this world Has one sole G.o.dless sinner found escape.

Stand then on Heaven's side and never blot Athens' fair scutcheon by abetting wrong.

I came to you a suppliant, and you pledged Your honor; O preserve me to the end, O let not this marred visage do me wrong!

A holy and G.o.d-fearing man is here Whose coming purports comfort for your folk.

And when your chief arrives, whoe'er he be, Then shall ye have my story and know all.

Meanwhile I pray you do me no despite.