Part 29

OEDIPUS. Woe, woe!

CREON. This is but prelude to thy woes.

OEDIPUS. Hast thou my child?

CREON. And soon shall have the other.

OEDIPUS. Ho, friends! ye will not surely play me false? Chase this ungodly villain from your land.

CHORUS. Hence, stranger, hence avaunt! Thou doest wrong In this, and wrong in all that thou hast done.

CREON (to his guards). ’Tis time by force to carry off the girl, If she refuse of her free will to go.

ANTIGONE. Ah, woe is me! where shall I fly, where find Succor from gods or men?

CHORUS. What would’st thou, stranger?

CREON. I meddle not with him, but her who is mine.

OEDIPUS. O princes of the land!

CHORUS. Sir, thou dost wrong.

CREON. Nay, right.

CHORUS. How right?

CREON. I take but what is mine.

OEDIPUS. Help, Athens!

CHORUS. What means this, sirrah? quick unhand her, or We’ll fight it out.

CREON. Back!

CHORUS. Not till thou forbear.

CREON. ’Tis war with Thebes if I am touched or harmed.

OEDIPUS. Did I not warn thee?

CHORUS. Quick, unhand the maid!

CREON. Command your minions; I am not your slave.

CHORUS. Desist, I bid thee.

CREON (to the guard) And O bid thee march!

CHORUS. To the rescue, one and all! Rally, neighbors to my call! See, the foe is at the gate! Rally to defend the State.

ANTIGONE. Ah, woe is me, they drag me hence, O friends.

OEDIPUS. Where art thou, daughter?