Part 3

OEDIPUS.

My poor, poor children! Surely long ago I have read your trouble. Stricken, well I know, Ye all are, stricken sore: yet verily Not one so stricken to the heart as I. Your grief, it cometh to each man apart For his own loss, none other's; but this heart For thee and me and all of us doth weep. Wherefore it is not to one sunk in sleep Ye come with waking. Many tears these days For your sake I have wept, and many ways Have wandered on the beating wings of thought. And, finding but one hope, that I have sought

And followed. I have sent Menoikeus' son, Creon, my own wife's brother, forth alone To Apollo's House in Delphi, there to ask What word, what deed of mine, what bitter task, May save my city. And the lapse of days Reckoned, I can but marvel what delays His journey. 'Tis beyond all thought that thus He comes not, beyond need. But when he does, Then call me false and traitor, if I flee Back from whatever task God sheweth me.

PRIEST.

At point of time thou speakest. Mark the cheer Yonder. Is that not Creon drawing near?

OEDIPUS.

O Lord Apollo, help! And be the star That guides him joyous as his seemings are!

PRIEST.

Oh! surely joyous! How else should he bear That fruited laurel wreathed about his hair?

OEDIPUS.

We soon shall know.--'Tis not too far for one Clear-voiced.

(Shouting) Ho, brother! Prince! Menoikeus' son, What message from the God?

CREON (from a distance).

Message of joy!

Enter CREON

I tell thee, what is now our worst annoy, If the right deed be done, shall turn to good.

OEDIPUS.

Nay, but what is the message? For my blood Runs neither hot nor cold for words like those.

CREON.

Shall I speak now, with all these pressing close, Or pass within?--To me both ways are fair.

OEDIPUS.

Speak forth to all! The grief that these men bear Is more than any fear for mine own death.

CREON.

I speak then what I heard from God.--Thus saith Phoebus, our Lord and Seer, in clear command. An unclean thing there is, hid in our land, Eating the soil thereof: this ye shall cast Out, and not foster till all help be past.

OEDIPUS.

How cast it out? What was the evil deed?

CREON.

Hunt the men out from Thebes, or make them bleed Who slew. For blood it is that stirs to-day.