Oedipus King of Thebes Part 9

Were we not all as one, she thou and I?

OEDIPUS.

Yes, thou false friend! There lies thy treachery.

CREON.

Not so! Nay, do but follow me and scan Thine own charge close. Think'st thou that any man Would rather rule and be afraid than rule And sleep untroubled? Nay, where lives the fool--

[Sidenote: vv. 590-613]

I know them not nor am I one of them-- Who careth more to bear a monarch's name Than do a monarch's deeds? As now I stand All my desire I compa.s.s at thy hand.

Were I the King, full half my deeds were done To obey the will of others, not mine own.

Were that as sweet, when all the tale were told, As this calm griefless princedom that I hold And silent power? Am I so blind of brain That ease with glory tires me, and I fain Must change them? All men now give me G.o.d-speed, All smile to greet me. If a man hath need Of thee, 'tis me he calleth to the gate, As knowing that on my word hangs the fate Of half he craves. Is life like mine a thing To cast aside and plot to be a King?

Doth a sane man turn villain in an hour?

For me, I never l.u.s.ted thus for power Nor bore with any man who turned such l.u.s.t To doing.--But enough. I claim but just Question. Go first to Pytho; find if well And true I did report G.o.d's oracle.

Next, seek in Thebes for any plots entwined Between this seer and me; which if ye find, Then seize and strike me dead. Myself that day Will sit with thee as judge and bid thee Slay!

But d.a.m.n me not on one man's guess.--'Tis all Unjust: to call a traitor true, to call A true man traitor with no cause nor end!

And this I tell thee. He who plucks a friend Out from his heart hath lost a treasured thing Dear as his own dear life.

But Time shall bring

[Sidenote: vv. 614-626]

Truth back. 'Tis Time alone can make men know What hearts are true; the false one day can show.

LEADER.

To one that fears to fall his words are wise, O King; in thought the swift win not the prize.

OEDIPUS.

When he is swift who steals against my reign With plots, then swift am I to plot again.

Wait patient, and his work shall have prevailed Before I move, and mine for ever failed.

CREON.

How then? To banish me is thy intent?

OEDIPUS.

Death is the doom I choose, not banishment.

CREON.

Wilt never soften, never trust thy friend?

OEDIPUS.

First I would see how traitors meet their end.

CREON.

I see thou wilt not think.

OEDIPUS.

I think to save My life.

[Sidenote: vv. 627-633]

CREON.

Think, too, of mine.

OEDIPUS.

Thine, thou born knave!

CREON.

Yes.... What, if thou art blind in everything?

OEDIPUS.

The King must be obeyed.

CREON.

Not if the King Does evil.

OEDIPUS.

To your King! Ho, Thebes, mine own!

CREON.

Thebes is my country, not the King's alone.

[OEDIPUS _has drawn his sword; the Chorus show signs of breaking into two parties to fight for_ OEDIPUS _or for_ CREON, _when the door opens and_ JOCASTA _appears on the steps._

LEADER.

Stay, Princes, stay! See, on the Castle stair The Queen Jocasta standeth. Show to her Your strife. She will a.s.suage it as is well.

[Sidenote: vv. 634-648]

JOCASTA.

Vain men, what would ye with this angry swell Of words heart-blinded? Is there in your eyes No pity, thus, when all our city lies Bleeding, to ply your privy hates?... Alack, My lord, come in!--Thou, Creon, get thee back To thine own house. And stir not to such stress Of peril griefs that are but nothingness.