Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/112

14 For I, on Creon's hint, two couriers sent

To summon him, and wonder that he comes not.

Chorus. Old rumours are there also, dark and dumb.

Œdip. And what are they? I weigh the slightest word.

Chorus. 'Twas said he died by some chance traveller's hand.

Œdip. I, too, heard that. But none the eye-witness sees.

Chorus. If yet his soul be capable of awe,

Hearing thy curses, he will shrink from them.

Œdip. Words fright not him, who doing, knows no fear.

Chorus. Well, here is one who'll put him to the proof.

For lo! they bring the seer inspired of God,

With whom alone of all men, truth abides.

Œdip. Teiresias! thou whose mind embraceth all,

Told or untold, of heaven or paths of earth;

Thou knowest, although thou see'st not, what a pest

Dwells on us, and we find in thee, Ο prince,

Our one deliverer, yea, our only help.

For Phœbos (if the couriers told thee not)

Sent back this word to us, who sent to ask,

That this one way was open to escape

From this fell plague,—if those who Laios slew,

We in our turn discovering should slay,

Or drive them forth as exiles from the land.

Thou, therefore, grudge not either sign from birds,

Or any other path of prophecy;

But save the city, save thyself, save me;

Save from the curse the dead has left behind;

On thee we hang. To use our means, our power,

In doing good, is noblest service owned.

Teir. Ah me! ah me! how dread is wisdom's gift,

When no good issue waiteth on the wise!