Page:Sophocles' King Oedipus.pdf/29

Rh. You know best what he said; but now, question for question.

. Question your fill—I cannot be proved guilty of that blood.

. Answer me then. Are you not married to my sister?

. That cannot be denied.

. And do you not rule as she does? And with a like power?

. I give her all she asks for.

. And am not I the equal of you both?

. Yes: and that is why you are so false a friend.

. Not so; reason this out as I reason it, and first weigh this: who would prefer to lie awake amid terrors rather than to sleep in peace, granting that his power is equal in both cases. Neither I nor any sober-minded man. You give me what I ask and let me do what I want, but were I king I would have to do things I did not want to do. Is not influence and no trouble with it better than any throne, am I such a fool as to hunger after unprofitable honours? Now all are glad to see me, everyone wishes me well, all that want a favour from you ask speech of me—finding in that their hope. Why should I give up these things and take those? No wise mind is treacherous. I am no contriver of plots, and if another took to them he would not come to me for help.