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I tremble too, O King; but till thou hear

From him who saw, oh, let hope conquer fear.

One shred of hope I still have, and therefore

Will wait the herdsman’s coming. ’Tis no more.

He shall come. But what further dost thou seek?

This. If we mark him close and find him speak

As thou hast, then I am lifted from my dread.

What mean’st thou? Was there something that I said

Thou said’st he spoke of robbers, a great band,

That slaughtered Laïus’ men. If still he stand

To the same tale, the guilt comes not my way.

One cannot be a band. But if he say

One lonely loin-girt man, then visibly

This is God’s finger pointing toward me.

Be sure of this. He told the story so

When first he came. All they that heard him know,