Page:Oedipus, King of Thebes (Murray 1911).djvu/99

vv. 1448–1472 Make as thou wilt her burial. ’Tis thy task

To tend thine own. But me: let no man ask

This ancient city of my sires to give

Harbour in life to me. Set me to live

On the wild hills and leave my name to those

Deeps of Kithairon which my father chose,

And mother, for my vast and living tomb.

As they, my murderers, willed it, let my doom

Find me. For this my very heart doth know,

No sickness now, nor any mortal blow,

Shall slay this body. Never had my breath

Been thus kept burning in the midst of death,

Save for some frightful end. So, let my way

Go where it listeth.

But my children—Nay,

Creon, my sons will ask thee for no care.

Men are they, and can find them everywhere

What life needs. But my two poor desolate

Maidens. There was no table ever set

Apart for them, but whatso royal fare

I tasted, they were with me and had share

In all. Creon, I pray, forget them not.

And if it may be, go, bid them be brought,

[ goes and presently returns with the two princesses. thinks he is there all the time.

That I may touch their faces, and so weep.

Go, Prince. Go, noble heart!

If I might touch them, I should seem to keep

And not to have lost them, now mine eyes are gone.

What say I?

In God’s name, can it be I hear mine own