Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/101



SCENE—Thebes. In the background, the palace of ; in front, the altar of, Priests and Boys round it in the attitude of suppliants, with olive and laurel branches in their hands, entwined with woollen threads.

Œdip. Why sit ye here, my children, youngest brood

Of Cadmos famed of old, in solemn state,

Your hands thus wreathèd with the suppliants' boughs?

And all the city reeks with incense smoke,

And all re-echoes with your hymns and groans;

And I, my children, counting it unmeet

To hear report from others, I have come

Myself, whom all name Œdipus the Great.—

Do thou, then, agèd Sire, since thine the right

To speak for these, tell clearly how ye stand,

In terror or submission; speak to me

As willing helper. Heartless should I be

To see you prostrate thus, and feel no ruth.

Priest. Yea, Œdipus, thou ruler of my land,

Thou seest our age, who sit as suppliants, bowed