Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Jebb 1917).djvu/37

609—630] surmise. It is not right to adjudge bad men good at random, or good men bad. I count it a like thing for a man to cast off a true friend as to cast away the life in his own bosom, which most he loves. Nay, thou wilt learn these things with sureness in time, for time alone shows a just man; but thou couldst discern a knave even in one day.

. Well hath he spoken, O king, for one who giveth heed not to fall: the quick in counsel are not sure.

. When the stealthy plotter is moving on me in quick sort, I, too, must be quick with my counterplot. If I await him in repose, his ends will have been gained, and mine missed.

. What wouldst thou, then? Cast me out of the land?

. Not so: I desire thy death—not thy banishment—that thou mayest show forth what manner of thing is envy.

. Thou speakest as resolved not to yield or to believe?

[. No; for thou persuadest me not that thou art worthy of belief.]

. No, for I find thee not sane. . Sane, at least, in mine own interest.

. Nay, thou shouldst be so in mine also. . Nay, thou art false.

. But if thou understandest nought? . Yet must I rule.

. Not if thou rule ill. . Hear him, O Thebes!

. Thebes is for me also—not for thee alone.