Page:Oedipus, King of Thebes (Murray 1911).djvu/58

Rh Laïus must die. And he, the tale yet stays

Among us, at the crossing of three ways

Was slain by robbers, strangers. And my son—

God’s mercy!—scarcely the third day was gone

When Laïus took, and by another’s hand

Out on the desert mountain, where the land

Is rock, cast him to die. Through both his feet

A blade of iron they drove. Thus did we cheat

Apollo of his will. My child could slay

No father, and the King could cast away

The fear that dogged him, by his child to die

Murdered.—Behold the fruits of prophecy!

Which heed not thou! God needs not that a seer

Help him, when he would make his dark things clear.

Woman, what turmoil hath thy story wrought

Within me! What up-stirring of old thought!

What thought? It turns thee like a frightened thing.

’Twas at the crossing of three ways this King

Was murdered? So I heard or so I thought.

That was the tale. It is not yet forgot.

The crossing of three ways! And in what land?