Page:Oedipus, King of Thebes (Murray 1911).djvu/93

vv. 1308–1328

They lead me and I go;

And my voice drifts on the air

Far away.

Where, Thing of Evil, where

Endeth thy leaping hither?

In fearful ends, which none may hear nor say.

Cloud of the dark, mine own

For ever, horrible,

Stealing, stealing, silent, unconquerable,

Cloud that no wind, no summer can dispel!

Again, again I groan,

As through my heart together crawl the strong

Stabs of this pain and memories of old wrong.

Yea, twofold hosts of torment hast thou there,

The stain to think on and the pain to bear.

O Friend, thou mine own

Still faithful, minister

Steadfast abiding alone of them that were,

Dost bear with me and give the blind man care?

Ah me! Not all unknown

Nor hid thou art. Deep in this dark a call

Comes and I know thy voice in spite of all.

O fearful sufferer, and could’st thou kill

Thy living orbs? What God made blind thy will?