The Seven Plays in English Verse Part 75

ANT. Art thou then so resolved, O brother mine?

POL. I am. r.e.t.a.r.d me not! I must attend To my dark enterprise, blasted and foiled Beforehand by my father's angry curse.

But as for you, Heaven prosper all your way, If ye will show this kindness in my death, For nevermore in life shall ye befriend me!

Nay, cling to me no longer. Fare ye well.

Ye will behold my living form no more.

ANT. O misery!

POL. Bewail me not.

ANT. And who That saw thee hurrying forth to certain death Would not bewail thee, brother?

POL. If Fate wills, Why, I must die.

ANT. Nay, but be ruled by me.

POL. Give me not craven counsel.

ANT. Woe is me, To lose thee!

POL. Heaven hath power to guide the event Or thus or otherwise. Howe'er it prove, I pray that ye may ne'er encounter ill.

All men may know, ye merit nought but good.

[_Exit. The sky is overcast--a storm is threatened_

CHORUS.

New trouble, strange trouble, deep laden with doom, I 1 From the sight-bereft stranger seems dimly to loom!

Or peers Fate through the gloom?

She will move toward her mark or through s.h.i.+ning or shade; Since no purpose of G.o.ds ever idly was made.

Time sees the fulfilment, who lifteth to-day What was lowly, and trampleth the lofty to clay.

Thunder! Heavens! what a sound!

OED. My children! Would but some one in the place Haste hither Theseus, n.o.blest among men!

ANT. Wherefore, my father? What is thy desire?

OED. These winged thunders of the Highest will soon Bear me away to the Unseen. Send quickly!

CHORUS.

Again, yonder crash through the fire-startled air I 2 Wing'd from Zeus, rushes down, till my thin locks of hair, Stiff with fear, upward stare.

My soul shrinks and cowers, for yon gleam from on high Darts again! Ne'er in vain hath it leapt from the sky, But flies forth amain to what task Zeus hath given.

I fear the unknown fatal edict of Heaven!

Lightning glares all around!

OED. My daughters, the divinely promised end Here unavoidably descends on me.

ANT. How dost thou know it? By what certain sign?

OED. I know it perfectly. Let some one go With speed to bring the lord of Athens. .h.i.ther.

CHORUS.

Great Heaven, how above me, beside me, around, II 1 Peals redoubled the soul-thrilling sound!

O our G.o.d, to this land, to our mother, if aught Thou wouldst send with some darkness of destiny fraught, Smile gently once more! With the good let me bear What of fortune soe'er,-- Taste no cup, touch no food, the doomed sinner may share.

Zeus, to thee, Lord, I cry!

OED. Is the King coming? Will he find me alive, My daughters, and with reason undisturbed?

ANT. Say wherefore dost thou crave with such desire The clearness of an undistracted mind?

OED. I would fully render from a grateful soul The boon I promised, when I gained my suit.

CHORUS (_looking towards Athens_).

Come, my chief! come with speed! Or, if haply at hand, II 2 On the height where the curved altars stand, Thou art hallowing with oxen in sacrifice slain Yonder shrine of Poseidon, dread lord of the main, Hie thee hither! Be swift! The blind stranger intends To thee, to thy friends, To thy city, for burdens imposed, just amends.

Haste thee, King! Hear our cry!

_Enter_ THESEUS.

THE. Why sounds again from hence your joint appeal, Wherein the stranger's voice is loudly heard?

Is it some lightning-bolt new-fallen from Zeus, Or cloud-born hail that is come rattling down?

From Heavens so black with storm nought can surprise.

OED. Prince, thou art come to my desire. Some G.o.d Hath happily directed this thy way.

THE. What is befallen? Son of Laius, tell!

OED. My path slopes downward, and before my death I would confirm to Athens and to thee My promised boon.

THE. What sign dost thou perceive That proves thine end so near?

OED. The G.o.ds themselves With herald voices are proclaiming it, Nought failing of the fore-appointed signs.

THE. What are these tokens, aged monarch, say?

OED. The loud continual thunder, and the darts That flash in volleys from the unconquered hand.

THE. I may not doubt thee; for thy speech, I feel, Hath ample witness of prophetic power.

What must I do?

OED. I will instruct thee now, Aegeus' great son! in rites that shall remain An ageless treasure to thy countrymen.

I will presently, with no man guiding me, Conduct thee to the spot, where I must die.

This is thy secret, not to be revealed To any one of men, or where 'tis hid Or whereabout it lies. So through all time This neighbouring[3] mound shall yield thee mightier aid Than many a s.h.i.+eld and help of alien spears.

More shalt thou learn, too sacred to divulge, When yonder thou art come thyself alone.

Since to none other of these citizens Nor even unto the children of my love May I disclose it. 'Tis for thee to keep Inviolate while thou livest, and when thy days Have ending, breathe it to the foremost man Alone, and he in turn unto the next Successively. So shalt thou ever hold Athens unravaged by the dragon brood[4].

Cities are numberless, and any one May lightly insult even those who dwell secure.

For the eye of Heaven though late yet surely sees When, casting off respect, men turn to crime.

Erechtheus' heir! let that be far from thee!

A warning needless to a man so wise!

Now go we--for this leading of the G.o.d Is urgent--to the place, nor loiter more.

This way, my children! follow me! For I Am now your guide, as ye were mine. Come on!