Page:Oedipus, King of Thebes (Murray 1911).djvu/35

vv. 322–336

Prophet, this is not lawful; nay, nor kind

To Thebes, who feeds thee, thus to veil thy mind.

’Tis that I like not thy mind, nor the way

It goeth. Therefore, lest I also stray

[He moves to go off. bars his road.

Thou shalt not, knowing, turn and leave us! See,

We all implore thee, all, on bended knee.

Ye have no knowledge. What is mine I hold

For ever dumb, lest what is thine be told.

What wilt thou? Know and speak not? In my need

Be false to me, and let thy city bleed?

I will not wound myself nor thee. Why seek

To trap and question me? I will not speak.

Thou devil!

Nay; the wrath of any stone

Would rise at him. It lies with thee to have done

And speak. Is there no melting in thine eyes!