Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/174

76 Then for your country's welfare ye shall gain

A great Deliverer, trouble to its foes.

Chor. Worthy of pity art thou, Œdipus;

Both thou and these thy daughters. But as thou

Dost of this land proclaim thyself the saviour,

I wish to give thee counsel for thy good.

Œdip. Help me, true friend, as willing to do all.

Chor. Make thine atonement to these Powers, to whom

Thou camest first, profaning this their soil.

Œdip. After what fashion? Tell me, Ο my friends.

Chor. First, offer from the ever-flowing stream

Libations sacred, lifting holy hands.

Œdip. And when I take this pure and stainless stream ?

Chor. Vases there are, the work of skilful hands;

Crown thou their rims and handles at the mouth.

Œdip. With fresh green boughs, or locks of wool, or how?

Chor. Around them twine a young lamb's snow-white locks.

Œdip. So be it. And what then remains to do?

Chor. Then pour libations turning to the East.

Œdip. And shall I pour with these same urns thou tell'st of?

Chor. Pour three libations, all at once the last

Œdip. With what shall I fill this? Instruct me here.

Chor. Water and honey. Wine thou must not add.

Œdip. Why this, when vine-leaves shadow all the land?