The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 65

OED. Daughter, what must I think, or do?

ANT. My sire!

We must conform us to the people's will, Yielding ere they compel.

OED. Give me thy hand.

ANT. Thou hast it.

OED. --Strangers, let me not Be wronged, when I have trusted you And come from where I stood!

CH. a.s.sure thee, from this seat No man shall drag thee off against thy will.

OED. Farther?

CH. Advance thy foot.

OED. Yet more?

CH. a.s.sist him onward Maiden, thou hast thy sight.

ANT. Come, follow, this way follow with thy darkened steps, Father, the way I am leading thee.

CH. Content thee, sojourning in a strange land, O man of woe!

To eschew whate'er the city holds in hate, And honour what she loves!

OED. Then do thou lead me, child, Where with our feet secure from sin We may be suffered both to speak and hear.

Let us not war against necessity.

CH. There! From that bench of rock Go not again astray.

OED. Even here?

CH. Enough, I tell thee.

OED. May I sit?

CH. Ay, crouch thee low adown Crooking thy limbs, upon the stone.

ANT. Father, this task is mine-- Sink gently down into thy resting-place,

OED. Woe is me!

ANT. Supporting on this loving hand Thy reverend aged form.

OED. Woe, for my cruel fate! [OEDIPUS _is seated_

CH. Now thou unbendest from thy stubborn ways, O man of woe!

Declare, what mortal wight thou art, That, marked by troublous fortune, here art led.

What native country, shall we learn, is thine?

OED. O strangers, I have none!

But do not--

CH. What dost thou forbid, old sir?

OED. Do not, oh, do not ask me who I am, Nor probe me with more question.

CH. What dost thou mean?

OED. My birth is dreadful.

CH. Tell it forth.

OED. What should I utter, O my child? Woe is me!

CH. Thy seed, thy father's name, stranger, p.r.o.nounce!

OED. Alas! What must I do? My child!

ANT. Since no resource avails thee, speak!

OED. I will. I cannot hide it further.

CH. Ye are long about it. Haste thee!

OED. Know ye of one Begotten of Laius?

CH. Horror! Horror! Oh!

OED. Derived from Labdacus?

CH. O Heaven!

OED. Fate-wearied Oedipus?

CH. Art thou he?

OED. Fear not my words.

CH. Oh! Oh!

OED. Unhappy me!

CH. Oh!

OED. Daughter, what is coming?

CH. Away! Go forth. Leave ye the land. Begone!