Sophocles Oedipus Trilogy | Page 9

myself. First, I bid thee think,?Would any mortal choose a troubled reign?Of terrors rather than secure repose,?If the same power were given him? As for me,?I have no natural craving for the name?Of king, preferring to do kingly deeds,?And so thinks every sober-minded man.?Now all my needs are satisfied through thee,?And I have naught to fear; but were I king,?My acts would oft run counter to my will.?How could a title then have charms for me?Above the sweets of boundless influence??I am not so infatuate as to grasp?The shadow when I hold the substance fast.?Now all men cry me Godspeed! wish me well,?And every suitor seeks to gain my ear,?If he would hope to win a grace from thee.?Why should I leave the better, choose the worse??That were sheer madness, and I am not mad.?No such ambition ever tempted me,?Nor would I have a share in such intrigue.?And if thou doubt me, first to Delphi go,?There ascertain if my report was true?Of the god's answer; next investigate?If with the seer I plotted or conspired,?And if it prove so, sentence me to death,?Not by thy voice alone, but mine and thine.?But O condemn me not, without appeal,?On bare suspicion. 'Tis not right to adjudge?Bad men at random good, or good men bad.?I would as lief a man should cast away?The thing he counts most precious, his own life,?As spurn a true friend. Thou wilt learn in time?The truth, for time alone reveals the just;?A villain is detected in a day.
CHORUS?To one who walketh warily his words?Commend themselves; swift counsels are not sure.
OEDIPUS?When with swift strides the stealthy plotter stalks?I must be quick too with my counterplot.?To wait his onset passively, for him?Is sure success, for me assured defeat.
CREON?What then's thy will? To banish me the land?
OEDIPUS?I would not have thee banished, no, but dead,?That men may mark the wages envy reaps.
CREON?I see thou wilt not yield, nor credit me.
OEDIPUS?[None but a fool would credit such as thou.] [3]
CREON?Thou art not wise.
OEDIPUS
Wise for myself at least.
CREON?Why not for me too?
OEDIPUS
Why for such a knave?
CREON?Suppose thou lackest sense.
OEDIPUS
Yet kings must rule.
CREON?Not if they rule ill.
OEDIPUS
Oh my Thebans, hear him!
CREON?Thy Thebans? am not I a Theban too?
CHORUS?Cease, princes; lo there comes, and none too soon,?Jocasta from the palace. Who so fit?As peacemaker to reconcile your feud??[Enter JOCASTA.]
JOCASTA?Misguided princes, why have ye upraised?This wordy wrangle? Are ye not ashamed,?While the whole land lies striken, thus to voice?Your private injuries? Go in, my lord;?Go home, my brother, and forebear to make?A public scandal of a petty grief.
CREON?My royal sister, Oedipus, thy lord,?Hath bid me choose (O dread alternative!)?An outlaw's exile or a felon's death.
OEDIPUS?Yes, lady; I have caught him practicing?Against my royal person his vile arts.
CREON?May I ne'er speed but die accursed, if I?In any way am guilty of this charge.
JOCASTA?Believe him, I adjure thee, Oedipus,?First for his solemn oath's sake, then for mine,?And for thine elders' sake who wait on thee.
CHORUS?(Str. 1)?Hearken, King, reflect, we pray thee, but not stubborn but relent.
OEDIPUS?Say to what should I consent?
CHORUS?Respect a man whose probity and troth?Are known to all and now confirmed by oath.
OEDIPUS?Dost know what grace thou cravest?
CHORUS
Yea, I know.
OEDIPUS?Declare it then and make thy meaning plain.
CHORUS?Brand not a friend whom babbling tongues assail;?Let not suspicion 'gainst his oath prevail.
OEDIPUS?Bethink you that in seeking this ye seek?In very sooth my death or banishment?
CHORUS?No, by the leader of the host divine!?(Str. 2)?Witness, thou Sun, such thought was never mine,?Unblest, unfriended may I perish,?If ever I such wish did cherish!?But O my heart is desolate?Musing on our striken State,?Doubly fall'n should discord grow?Twixt you twain, to crown our woe.
OEDIPUS?Well, let him go, no matter what it cost me,?Or certain death or shameful banishment,?For your sake I relent, not his; and him,?Where'er he be, my heart shall still abhor.
CREON?Thou art as sullen in thy yielding mood?As in thine anger thou wast truculent.?Such tempers justly plague themselves the most.
OEDIPUS?Leave me in peace and get thee gone.
CREON
I go,?By thee misjudged, but justified by these.?[Exeunt CREON]
CHORUS?(Ant. 1)?Lady, lead indoors thy consort; wherefore longer here delay?
JOCASTA?Tell me first how rose the fray.
CHORUS?Rumors bred unjust suspicious and injustice rankles sore.
JOCASTA?Were both at fault?
CHORUS
Both.
JOCASTA
What was the tale?
CHORUS?Ask me no more. The land is sore distressed;?'Twere better sleeping ills to leave at rest.
OEDIPUS?Strange counsel, friend! I know thou mean'st me well,?And yet would'st mitigate and blunt my zeal.
CHORUS?(Ant. 2)?King, I say it once again,?Witless were I proved, insane,?If I lightly put away?Thee my country's prop and stay,?Pilot who, in danger sought,?To a quiet haven brought?Our distracted State; and now?Who can guide us right but thou?
JOCASTA?Let me too, I adjure thee, know, O king,?What cause has stirred this unrelenting wrath.
OEDIPUS?I will, for thou art more to me than these.?Lady, the cause is Creon and his plots.
JOCASTA?But what provoked the quarrel? make this clear.
OEDIPUS?He points me out as Laius'