The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 19

AG. Why, thou shouldst trample him the more, being dead.

OD. Rejoice not, King, in feats that soil thy fame!

AG. 'Tis hard for power to observe each pious rule.

OD. Not hard to grace the good words of a friend.

AG. The 'n.o.ble spirit' should hearken to command.

OD. No more! 'Tis conquest to be ruled by love.

AG. Remember what he was thou gracest so.

OD. A noisome enemy; but his life was great.

AG. And wilt thou honour such a pestilent corse?

OD. Hatred gives way to magnanimity.

AG. With addle-pated fools.

OD. Full many are found Friends for an hour, yet bitter in the end.

AG. And wouldst thou have us gentle to such friends?

OD. I would not praise ungentleness in aught.

AG. We shall be known for weaklings through thy counsel.

OD. Not so, but righteous in all Grecian eyes.

AG. Thou bidst me then let bury this dead man?

OD. I urge thee to the course myself shall follow.

AG. Ay, every man for his own line! That holds.

OD. Why not for my own line? What else were natural?

AG. 'Twill be thy doing then, ne'er owned by me.

OD. Own it or not, the kindness is the same.

AG. Well, for thy sake I'd grant a greater boon; Then why not this? However, rest a.s.sured That in the grave or out of it, Aias still Shall have my hatred. Do thou what thou wilt. [_Exit_

CH. Whoso would sneer at thy philosophy, While such thy ways, Odysseus, were a fool.

OD. And now let Teucer know that from this hour I am more his friend than I was once his foe, And fain would help him in this burial-rite And service to his brother, nor would fail In aught that mortals owe their n.o.blest dead.

TEU. Odysseus, best of men, thine every word Hath my heart's praise, and my worst thought of thee Is foiled by thy staunch kindness to the man Who was thy rancorous foe. Thou wast not keen To insult in present of his corse, like these, The insensate general and his brother-king, Who came with proud intent to cast him forth Foully debarred from lawful obsequy.

Wherefore may he who rules in yon wide heaven, And the unforgetting Fury-spirit, and she, Justice, who crowns the right, so ruin them With cruellest destruction, even as they Thought ruthlessly to rob him of his tomb!

For thee, revered Laertes' lineal seed, I fear to admit thy hand unto this rite, Lest we offend the spirit that is gone.

But for the rest, I hail thy proffered aid; And bring whom else thou wilt, I'll ne'er resent it.

This work shall be my single care; but thou, Be sure I love thee for thy generous heart.

OD. I had gladly done it; but, since thou declinest, I bow to thy decision, and depart. [_Exit_

TEU. Speed we, for the hour grows late: Some to scoop his earthy cell, Others by the cauldron wait, Plenished from the purest well.

Hoist it, comrades, here at hand, High upon the three-foot stand!

Let the cleansing waters flow; Brightly flame the fire below!

Others in a stalwart throng From his chamber bear along All the arms he wont to wield Save alone the mantling s.h.i.+eld.

Thou with me thy strength employ, Lifting this thy father, boy; Hold his frame with tender heed-- Still the gashed veins darkly bleed.

Who professes here to love him?

Ply your busy cares above him, Come and labour for the man, n.o.bler none since time began, Aias, while his life-blood ran.

LEADER OF CH. Oft we know not till we see.

Weak is human prophecy.

Judge not, till the hour have taught thee What the destinies have brought thee.

KING OEDIPUS

THE PERSONS

OEDIPUS, _King of Thebes._ _Priest of Zeus._ CREON, _brother of Jocasta._ CHORUS _of Theban Elders._ TIRESIAS, _the Blind Prophet._ JOCASTA, _the Queen, sister to Creon._ _A Corinthian Shepherd._ _A Theban Shepherd._ _Messenger_

The following also appear, but do not speak:

_A Train of Suppliants._ _The children_ ANTIGONE _and_ ISMENE.

SCENE. Before the Royal Palace in the Cadmean citadel of Thebes.

Laius, the descendant of Cadmus, and king of Thebes (or Thebe), had been told by an oracle that if a son were born to him by his wife Jocasta the boy would be his father's death.

Under such auspices, Oedipus was born, and to elude the prophecy was exposed by his parents on Mount Cithaeron. But he was saved by a compa.s.sionate shepherd, and became the adopted son of Polybus, king of Corinth. When he grew up he was troubled by a rumour that he was not his father's son. He went to consult the oracle of Apollo at Delphi, and was told--not of his origin but of his destiny--that he should be guilty of parricide and incest.

He was too horror-stricken to return to Corinth, and as he travelled the other way, he met Laius going from Thebes to Delphi. The travellers quarrelled and the son killed his father, but knew not whom he had slain. He went onward till he came near Thebes, where the Sphinx was making havoc of the n.o.blest citizens, devouring all who failed to solve her riddle. But Oedipus succeeded and overcame her, and, as Laius did not return, was rewarded with the regal sceptre,-- and with the hand of the queen.

He reigned n.o.bly and prosperously, and lived happily with Jocasta, by whom he had four children.