Page:Oedipus, King of Thebes (Murray 1911).djvu/95

vv. 1351–1377 That babe—what grace was done him,

Had he died shelterless,

He had not laid on himself this grief to bear,

And all who gave him love.

I, too, O Friend, I had been happier.

Found not the way to his father’s blood, nor shaken

The world’s scorn on his mother,

The child and the groom withal;

But now, of murderers born, of God forsaken,

Mine own sons’ brother;

All this; and if aught can fall

Upon man more perilous

And elder in sin, lo, all

Is the portion of Oedipus.

How shall I hold this counsel or thy mind

True? Thou wert better dead than living blind.

That this deed is not well and wisely wrought

Thou shalt not show me; therefore school me not.

Think, with what eyes hereafter in the place

Of shadows could I see my father’s face,

Or my poor mother’s? Both of whom this hand

Hath wronged too deep for man to understand.

Or children—born as mine were born, to see

Their shapes should bring me joy? Great God! To me