Page:Oedipus, King of Thebes (Murray 1911).djvu/92

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He shouts for one to open wide the gate

And lead him forth, and to all Thebes display

His father’s murderer, his mother’s. Nay,

Such words I will not speak. And his intent

Is set, to cast himself in banishment

Out to the wild, not walk ’mid human breed

Bearing the curse he bears. Yet sore his need

Of strength and of some guiding hand. For sure

He hath more burden now than man may endure.

But see, the gates fall back, and that appears

Which he who loathes shall pity—yea, with tears.

[ ''is led in, blinded and bleeding. The Old Men bow down and hide their faces; some of them weep''.

Oh, terrible! Oh, sight of all

This life hath crossed, most terrible!

Thou man more wronged than tongue can tell,

What madness took thee? Do there crawl

Live Things of Evil from the deep

To leap on man? Oh, what a leap

Was His that flung thee to thy fall!

O fallen, fallen in ghastly case,

I dare not raise mine eyes to thee;

Fain would I look and ask and see,

But shudder sickened from thy face.

Oh, pain; pain and woe!

Whither? Whither?