Page:Tragedies of Seneca (1907) Miller.djvu/40

22 Lie mingled still in dark obscurity. I shrink from knowing what I long to know. Wherefore, O brother of my consort, speak; And if to weary hearts thou bring'st relief, With quickened utterance thy news proclaim. Creon: In dark obscurity the answer lies. Oedipus: Who gives me doubtful succor grants me none. Creon: It is the custom of the Delphic god In dark enigmas to conceal the fates. Oedipus: Yet speak; however dark the riddle be 'Tis given to Oedipus alone to solve. Creon: Apollo doth ordain that banishment Be meted out to him who slew our king, And so our murdered Laius be avenged; For only thus shall we again behold The day's clear light, and drink safe draughts of air. Oedipus: Who was the slayer of the noble king? Tell who is designated by the god, That he th' allotted punishment may pay. Creon: May it be granted me to tell the things To sight and hearing dreadful. At the thought, Numb horror holds my limbs, my blood runs cold. When to Apollo's hallowed shrine I came With reverent feet, and pious hands upraised, Parnassus' double-crested, snowy peak Gave forth a fearful crash, the laurels shook, And fair Castalia's waters ceased to flow. The priestess of the son of Lato then Began to spread her bristling locks abroad, And felt the inspiration of the god. Scarce had she reached the sacred inner shrine, When with a roar, beyond the voice of man, There sounded forth this doubtful oracle: "Kind shall the stars return to the Theban city of Cadmus, If, O fugitive guest, Ismenian Dirce thou leavest, Stained with the blood of a king, from infancy known to Apollo. Brief shall be thy joys, the impious joys of slaughter. With thee war thou bringest, and war to thy children thou leavest, Foul returned once more to the impious arms of thy mother."