The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 64

I see a man even now approaching here.

OED. How? Makes he towards us? Is he drawing nigh?

ANT. He is close beside us. Whatsoe'er thou findest Good to be spoken, say it. The man is here.

_Enter an_ Athenian.

OED. O stranger, learning from this maid, who sees Both for herself and me, that thou art come With timely light to clear our troubled thought--

ATHENIAN. Ere thou ask more, come forth from where thou sittest!

Ye trench on soil forbidden human tread.

OED. What soil? And to what Power thus consecrate?

ATH. None may go near, nor dwell there. 'Tis possessed By the dread sisters, children of Earth and Night.

OED. What holy name will please them, if I pray?

ATH. 'All seeing Gentle Powers' the dwellers here Would call them. But each land hath its own rule.

OED. And gently may they look on him who now Implores them, and will never leave this grove!

ATH. What saying is this?

OED. The watchword of my doom.

ATH. Yet dare I not remove thee, till the town Have heard my purpose and confirm the deed.

OED. By Heaven, I pray thee, stranger, scorn me not, Poor wanderer that I am, but answer me.

ATH. Make clear thy drift. Thou'lt get no scorn from me.

OED. Then, pray thee, tell me how ye name the place Where now I sit.

ATH. The region all around Is sacred. For 'tis guarded and possessed By dread Poseidon, and the t.i.tan mind That brought us fire--Prometheus. But that floor Whereon thy feet are resting, hath been called The brazen threshold of our land, the stay Of glorious Athens, and the neighbouring fields Are fain to honour for their patron-G.o.d Thee, O Colonos, first of Knights, whose name [_Pointing to a statue_ They bear in brotherhood and own for theirs.

Such, friend, believe me, is this place, not praised In story, but of many a heart beloved.

OED. Then is the land inhabited of men?

ATH. By men, who name them from Colonos there.

OED. Have they a lord, or sways the people's voice?

ATH. Lord Theseus, child of Aegeus, our late king.

OED. Will some one of your people bring him hither?

ATH. Wherefore? What urgent cause requires his presence?

OED. He shall gain mightily by granting little.

ATH. Who can gain profit from the blind?

OED. The words These lips shall utter, shall be full of sight.

ATH. Well, thou look'st n.o.bly, but for thy hard fate.

This course is safe. Thus do. Stay where I found thee, Till I go tell the neighbour townsmen here Not of the city, but Colonos. They Shall judge for thee to abide or to depart. [_Exit_

OED. Tell me, my daughter, is the man away?

ANT. He is gone, father. I alone am near.

Speak what thou wilt in peace and quietness.

OED. Dread Forms of holy Fear, since in this land Your sanctuary first gave my limbs repose, Be not obdurate to my prayer, nor spurn The voice of Phoebus, who that fateful day, When he proclaimed my host of ills to come, Told me of rest after a weary time, Where else but here? 'When I should reach my bourne, And find repose and refuge with the Powers Of reverend name, my troubled life should end With blessing to the men who sheltered me, And curses on their race who banished me and sent me wandering forth.' Whereof he vouched me Sure token, or by earthquake, or by fire From heaven, or thundrous voices. And I know Some aery message from your shrine hath drawn me With winged whisper to this grove. Not else Had ye first met me coming, nor had I Sate on your dread unchiselled seat of stone, With dry cold lips greeting your sober shrine.

Then give Apollo's word due course, and give Completion to my life, if in your sight These toils and sorrows past the human bound Seem not too little. Kindly, gentle powers, Offspring of primal darkness, hear my prayer!

Hear it, Athenai, of all cities queen, Great Pallas' foster-city! Look with ruth On this poor shadow of great Oedipus, This fading semblance of his kingly form.

ANT. Be silent now. There comes an aged band With jealous looks to know thine errand here.

OED. I will be silent, and thine arm shall guide My footstep under covert of the grove Out of the path, till I make sure what words These men will utter. Warily to observe Is the prime secret of the prudent mind. [_Exeunt_

CHORUS (_entering_).

Keep watch! Who is it? Look! 1 Where is he? Vanished! Gone! Oh where?

Most uncontrolled of men!

Look well, inquire him out, Search keenly in every nook!

--Some wanderer is the aged wight, A wanderer surely, not a native here.

Else never had he gone within The untrodden grove Of these--unmarried, unapproachable in might, --Whose name we dare not breathe, But pa.s.s their shrine Without a look, without a word, Uttering the unheard voice of reverential thought.

But now, one comes, they tell, devoid of awe, Whom, peering all around this grove I find not, where he abideth.

OED. (_behind_).

Behold me! For I 'see by sound,'

As mortals say.

CH. Oh, Oh!

With horror I see him, with horror hear him speak.

OED. Pray you, regard me not as a transgressor!

CH. Defend us, Zeus! Who is that aged wight?

OED. Not one of happiest fate, Or enviable, O guardians of this land!

'Tis manifest; else had I not come hither Led by another's eyes, not moored my bark On such a slender stay.

CH. Alas! And are thine eyes 2 Sightless? O full of misery, As thou look'st full of years!

But not, if I prevail, Shalt thou bring down this curse.

Thou art trespa.s.sing. Yet keep thy foot From stumbling in that verdant, voiceless dell, Where running water as it fills The hallowed bowl, Mingles with draughts[1] of honey. Stranger, hapless one!

Avoid that with all care.

Away! Remove!

Distance impedes the sound. Dost hear, Woe-burdened wanderer? If aught thou carest to bring Before our council, leave forbidden ground, And there, where all have liberty, Speak,--but till then, avaunt thee!