Page:Oedipus, King of Thebes (Murray 1911).djvu/100

Rh Beloved ones sobbing? Creon of his grace

Hath brought my two, my dearest, to this place.

Is it true?

’Tis true. I brought them, for in them I know

Thy joy is, the same now as long ago.

God bless thee, and in this hard journey give

Some better guide than mine to help thee live.

Children! Where are ye? Hither; come to these

Arms of your brother, whose wild offices

Have brought much darkness on the once bright eyes

Of him who grew your garden; who, nowise

Seeing nor understanding, digged a ground

The world shall shudder at. Children, my wound

Is yours too, and I cannot meet your gaze

Now, as I think me what remaining days

Of bitter living the world hath for you.

What dance of damsels shall ye gather to,

What feast of Thebes, but quick ye shall turn home,

All tears, or ere the feast or dancers come?

And, children, when ye reach the years of love,

Who shall dare wed you, whose heart rise above

The peril, to take on him all the shame

That cleaves to my name and my children’s name?

God knows, it is enough!

My flowers, ye needs must die, waste things, bereft

And fruitless.

Creon, thou alone art left

Their father now, since both of us are gone

Who cared for them. Oh, leave them not alone