Page:Oedipus, King of Thebes (Murray 1911).djvu/23

vv. 87–99

Message of joy!

I tell thee, what is now our worst annoy,

If the right deed be done, shall turn to good.

[The crowd, which has been full of excited hope, falls to doubt and disappointment.

Nay, but what is the message? For my blood

Runs neither hot nor cold for words like those.

Shall I speak now, with all these pressing close,

Or pass within?—To me both ways are fair.

Speak forth to all! The grief that these men bear

Is more than any fear for mine own death.

I speak then what I heard from God.—Thus saith

Phoebus, our Lord and Seer, in clear command.

An unclean thing there is, hid in our land,

Eating the soil thereof: this ye shall cast

Out, and not foster till all help be past.

How cast it out? What was the evil deed?