Page:Sophocles (Storr 1912) v1.djvu/223



Must ye hear more?

A father’s?

Flood on flood

Whelms me; that word’s a second mortal blow.

Murderer!

Yes, a murderer, but know—

What canst thou plead?

A plea of justice.

How?

I slew who else would me have slain;

I slew without intent,

A wretch, but innocent

In the law’s eye, I stand, without a stain.

Behold our sovereign, Theseus, Aegeus’ son,

Comes at thy summons to perform his part.

Enter.

Oft had I heard of thee in times gone by—

The bloody mutilation of thine eyes—

And therefore know thee, son of Laïus.

All that I lately gathered on the way 201