Oedipus King of Thebes Part 23

How shall I hold this counsel of thy mind True? Thou wert better dead than living blind.

OEDIPUS.

That this deed is not well and wisely wrought Thou shalt not show me; therefore school me not.

Think, with what eyes hereafter in the place Of shadows could I see my father's face, Or my poor mother's? Both of whom this hand Hath wronged too deep for man to understand.

Or children--born as mine were born, to see Their shapes should bring me joy? Great G.o.d!

To me

[Sidenote: vv. 1378-1403]

There is no joy in city nor in tower Nor temple, from all whom, in this mine hour, I that was chief in Thebes alone, and ate The King's bread, I have made me separate For ever. Mine own lips have bid the land Cast from it one so evil, one whose hand To sin was dedicate, whom G.o.d hath shown Birth-branded ... and my blood the dead King's own!

All this myself have proved. And can I then Look with straight eyes into the eyes of men?

I trow not. Nay, if any stop there were To dam this fount that welleth in mine ear For hearing, I had never blenched nor stayed Till this vile sh.e.l.l were all one dungeon made, Dark, without sound. 'Tis thus the mind would fain Find peace, self-prisoned from a world of pain.

O wild Kithairon, why was it thy will To save me? Why not take me quick and kill, Kill, before ever I could make men know The thing I am, the thing from which I grow?

Thou dead King, Polybus, thou city wall Of Corinth, thou old castle I did call My father's, what a life did ye begin, What splendour rotted by the worm within, When ye bred me! O Crossing of the Roads, O secret glen and dusk of crowding woods, O narrow footpath creeping to the brink Where meet the Three! I gave you blood to drink.

Do ye remember? 'Twas my life-blood, hot From mine own father's heart. Have ye forgot What deed I did among you, and what new And direr deed I fled from you to do?

O flesh, horror of flesh!...

[Sidenote: vv. 1409-1431]

But what is shame To do should not be spoken. In G.o.d's name, Take me somewhere far off and cover me From sight, or slay, or cast me to the sea Where never eye may see me any more.

What? Do ye fear to touch a man so sore Stricken? Nay, tremble not. My misery Is mine, and shall be borne by none but me.

LEADER.

Lo, yonder comes for answer to thy prayer Creon, to do and to decree. The care Of all our land is his, now thou art weak.

OEDIPUS.

Alas, what word to Creon can I speak, How make him trust me more? He hath seen of late So vile a heart in me, so full of hate.

_Enter_ CREON.

CREON.

Not to make laughter, Oedipus, nor cast Against thee any evil of the past I seek thee, but ... Ah G.o.d! ye ministers, Have ye no hearts? Or if for man there stirs No pity in you, fear at least to call Stain on our Lord the Sun, who feedeth all; Nor show in nakedness a horror such As this, which never mother Earth may touch, Nor G.o.d's clean rain nor sunlight. Quick within!

Guide him.--The ills that in a house have been They of the house alone should know or hear.

[Sidenote: vv. 1432-1447]

OEDIPUS.

In G.o.d's name, since thou hast undone the fear Within me, coming thus, all n.o.bleness, To one so vile, grant me one only grace.

For thy sake more I crave it than mine own.

CREON.

Let me first hear what grace thou wouldst be shown.

OEDIPUS.

Cast me from Thebes ... now, quick ... where none may see My visage more, nor mingle words with me.

CREON.

That had I done, for sure, save that I still Tremble, and fain would ask Apollo's will.

OEDIPUS.

His will was clear enough, to stamp the unclean Thing out, the b.l.o.o.d.y hand, the heart of sin.

CREON.

'Twas thus he seemed to speak; but in this sore Strait we must needs learn surer than before.

OEDIPUS.

Thou needs must trouble G.o.d for one so low?

CREON.

Surely; thyself will trust his answer now.

OEDIPUS.

I charge thee more ... and, if thou fail, my sin Shall cleave to thee.... For her who lies within,

[Sidenote: vv. 1448-1472]

Make as thou wilt her burial. 'Tis thy task To tend thine own. But me: let no man ask This ancient city of my sires to give Harbour in life to me. Set me to live On the wild hills and leave my name to those Deeps of Kithairon which my father chose, And mother, for my vast and living tomb.

As they, my murderers, willed it, let my doom Find me. For this my very heart doth know, No sickness now, nor any mortal blow, Shall slay this body. Never had my breath Been thus kept burning in the midst of death, Save for some frightful end. So, let my way Go where it listeth.

But my children--Nay, Creon, my sons will ask thee for no care.

Men are they, and can find them everywhere What life needs. But my two poor desolate Maidens.... There was no table ever set Apart for them, but whatso royal fare I tasted, they were with me and had share In all.... Creon, I pray, forget them not.

And if it may be, go, bid them be brought,

[CREON _goes and presently returns with the two princesses._ OEDIPUS _thinks he is there all the time._

That I may touch their faces, and so weep....

Go, Prince. Go, n.o.ble heart!...

If I might touch them, I should seem to keep And not to have lost them, now mine eyes are gone....

What say I?

In G.o.d's name, can it be I hear mine own

[Sidenote: vv. 1473-1505]

Beloved ones sobbing? Creon of his grace Hath brought my two, my dearest, to this place.

Is it true?