The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 20

But after some years a plague descended on the people, and Apollo, on being inquired of, answered that it was for Laius' death. The act of regicide must be avenged. Oedipus undertakes the task of discovering the murderer,--and in the same act discovers his own birth, and the fulfilment of both the former prophecies.

Jocasta hangs herself, and Oedipus in his despair puts out his eyes.

KING OEDIPUS

OEDIPUS--Priest of Zeus (_with the_ Train of Suppliants _grouped before an altar_).

OEDIPUS. Nurslings of Cadmus, children of my care, Why press ye now to kneel before my gate With sacred branches in those suppliant hands, While o'er your city clouds of incense rise And sounds of praise, mingling with sounds of woe?

I would not learn of your estate, my sons, Through others, wherefore I myself am come, Your Oedipus,--a name well known to men.

Speak, aged friend, whose look proclaims thee meet To be their spokesman--What desire, what fear Hath brought you? Doubt not of my earnest will To lend all succour. Hard would be the heart That looked unmoved on such a kneeling throng.

PRIEST. Great ruler of my country, thou beholdest The different ages of our flock who here Are gathered round thine altar,--some, whose wing Hath not yet ventured far from home, and some Burdened with many years, priests of the G.o.ds, Myself the arch priest of Zeus, and these fresh youths, A chosen few. Others there are who crowd The holy agora and the temples twain Of Pallas, and Ismenus' hallowed fires, A suppliant host. For, as thyself perceivest, Our city is tempest tost, and all too weak To lift above the waves her weary prow That plunges in a rude and ravenous sea.

Earth's buds are nipped, withering the germs within, Our cattle lose their increase, and our wives Have fruitless travail; and that scourge from Heaven, The fiery Pestilence abhorred of men, Descending on our people with dire stroke Lays waste the Home of Cadmus, while dark Death Wins ample tribute of laments and groans.

We kneel, then, at thy hearth; not likening thee Unto the G.o.ds, I nor these children here, But of men counting thee the first in might Whether to cope with earthly casualty Or visiting of more than earthly Power.

Thou, in thy coming to this Theban land, Didst take away the hateful tax we paid To that stern songstress[1],--aided not by us With hint nor counsel, but, as all believe, Gifted from heaven with life-restoring thought.

Now too, great Oedipus of matchless fame, We all uplift our suppliant looks to thee, To find some help for us, whether from man, Or through the prompting of a voice Divine.

Experienced counsel, we have seen and know, Hath ever prosperous issue. Thou, then, come, n.o.blest of mortals, give our city rest From sorrow! come, take heed! seeing this our land Now calls thee Saviour for thy former zeal; And 'twere not well to leave this memory Of thy great reign among Cadmean men, 'He raised us up, only again to fall.'

Let the salvation thou hast wrought for us Be flawless and a.s.sured! As once erewhile Thy lucky star gave us prosperity, Be the same man to-day. Wouldst thou be king In power, as in command, 'tis greater far To rule a people than a wilderness.

Since nought avails or city or b.u.t.tressed wall Or gallant vessel, if unmanned and void.

OED. Ye touch me to the core. Full well I know Your trouble and your desire. Think not, my sons, I have no feeling of your misery!

Yet none of you hath heaviness like mine.

Your grief is held within the single breast Of each man severally. My burdened heart Mourns for myself, for Thebe, and for you.

Your coming hath not roused me from repose: I have watched, and bitterly have wept; my mind Hath travelled many a labyrinth of thought.

And now I have tried in act the only plan Long meditation showed me. I have sent The brother of my queen, Menoeceus' son, Creon, to learn, in Phoebus' Delphian Hall, What word or deed of mine may save this city.

And when I count the time, I am full of pain To guess his speed; for he is absent long, Beyond the limit of expectancy.

But when he shall appear, base then were I In aught to disobey the voice of Heaven.

PR. Lo, in good time, crowning thy gracious word, 'Tis told me by these youths, Creon draws near.

OED. Apollo! may his coming be as blest With saving fortune, as his looks are bright.

PR. Sure he brings joyful news; else had he ne'er Worn that full wreath of thickly-berried bay.

OED. We have not long to doubt. He can hear now.

_Enter_ CREON.

Son of Menoeceus, brother of my queen, What answer from Apollo dost thou bring?

CREON. Good; for my message is that even our woes, When brought to their right issue, shall be well.

OED. What saith the oracle? Thy words so far Neither embolden nor dishearten me.

CR. Say, must I tell it with these standing by, Or go within? I am ready either way.

OED. Speak forth to all. The burden of their grief Weighs more on me than my particular fear.

CE. My lips shall utter what the G.o.d hath said.

Sovereign Apollo clearly bids us drive Forth from this region an accursed thing (For such is fostered in the land and stains Our sacred clime), nor cherish it past cure.

OED. What is the fault, and how to be redressed?

CR. By exile, or by purging blood with blood.

Since blood it is that shakes us with this storm.

OED. Whose murder doth Apollo thus reveal?

CR. My gracious lord, before thy prosperous reign King Laius was the leader of our land.

OED. Though I ne'er saw him, I have heard, and know.

CR. Phoebus commands us now to punish home, Whoe'er they are, the authors of his death.

OED. But they, where are they? Where shall now be read The fading record of this ancient guilt?

CR He saith, 'tis in this land. And what is sought Is found, while things uncared for glide away.

OED. But where did Laius meet this violent end?

At home, afield, or on some foreign soil?

CR. He had left us, as he said, to visit Delphi; But nevermore returned since he set forth.

OED. And was there none, no fellow traveller, To see, and tell the tale, and help our search?

CR. No, they were slain; save one, who, flying in fear, Had nought to tell us but one only thing.

OED. What was that thing? A little door of hope, Once opened, may discover much to view.

CR. A random troop of robbers, meeting him, Outnumbered and o'erpowered him. So 'twas told.

OED. What robber would have ventured such a deed, If unsolicited with bribes from hence?

CR. We thought of that. But Laius being dead, We found no helper in our miseries.

OED. When majesty was fallen, what misery Could hinder you from searching out the truth?

CR. A present trouble had engrossed our care.

The riddling Sphinx compelled us to observe The moment's grief, neglecting things unknown.

OED. But I will track this evil to the spring And clear it to the day. Most worthily Doth great Apollo, worthily dost thou Prompt this new care for the unthought of dead.

And me too ye shall find a just ally, Succouring the cause of Phoebus and the land.

Since, in dispelling this dark cloud, I serve No indirect or distant claim on me, But mine own life, for he that slew the king May one day turn his guilty hand 'gainst me With equal rage. In righting Laius, then, I forward mine own cause.--Now, children, rise From the altar-steps, and lift your suppliant boughs, And let some other summon to this place All Cadmus' people, and a.s.sure them, I Will answer every need. This day shall see us Blest with glad fortune through G.o.d's help, or fallen.