Page:Sophocles (Storr 1912) v1.djvu/315

 Their mourning had an end and no wail rose,

A moment there was silence; suddenly

A voice that summoned him; with sudden dread The hair of all stood up and all were ’mazed;

For the call came, now loud, now low, and oft.

“Oedipus, Oedipus, why tarry we?

Too long, too long thy passing is delayed.”

But when he heard the summons of the god,

He prayed that Theseus might be brought, and when

The Prince came nearer: “O my friend,” he cried,

“Pledge ye my daughters, giving thy right hand—

And, daughters, give him yours—and promise me

Thou never wilt forsake them, but do all

That time and friendship prompt in their behoof.”

And he of his nobility repressed

His tears and swore to be their constant friend.

This promise given, Oedipus put forth

Blind hands and laid them on his children, saying,

“O children, prove your true nobility

And hence depart nor seek to witness sights

Unlawful or to hear unlawful words.

Nay, go with speed; let none but Theseus stay,

Our ruler, to behold what next shall hap.”

So we all heard him speak, and weeping sore

We companied the maidens on their way.

After brief space we looked again, and lo

The man was gone, evanished from our eyes;

Only the king we saw with upraised hand

Shading his eyes as from some awful sight,

That no man might endure to look upon. 293