Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/125

Rh Œdip. Wilt thou not go, and leave me?

Creon. I will go,

By thee misjudged, but known as just by these.[Exit. Chorus. Why, lady, art thou slow to lead him in?

Joc. I fain would learn how this sad chance arose.

Chorus. Blind haste of speech there was, and wrong will sting.

Joc. From both of them?

Chorus. Yea, both.

Joc. And what said each?

Chorus. Enough for me, enough, our land laid low,

It seems, to leave the quarrel where it stopped.

Œdip. See'st thou, thou good in counsel, what thou dost,

Slighting my cause, and toning down thy zeal?

Chorus. My chief, not once alone I spoke,

Unwise, unapt for wisdom should I seem,

Were I to turn from thee aside,

Who, when my country rocked in storm,

Did'st right her course. Ah! if thou can'st,

Steer her well onward now.

Joc. Tell me, my king, what cause of fell debate

Has bred this discord, and provoked thy soul.

Œdip. Thee will I tell, for thee I honour more

Than these. 'Twas Creon and his plots against me.

Joc. Say then, if clearly thou can'st tell the strife.

Œdip. He says that I am Laios' murderer.

Joc. Of his own knowledge, or by some one taught?

Œdip. A scoundrel seer suborning. For himself,

He takes good care to free his lips from blame.

Joc. Leave now thyself, and all thy thoughts of this,

And list to me, and learn how little skill

In art prophetic mortal man may claim;

And of this truth I'll give thee one short proof.

There came to Laios once an oracle,