Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/175

Rh Chor. Branches thrice nine of olive then place here,

On either hand; then offer up these prayers.

Œdip. I fain would hear them. Crown of all are they.

Chor. Eumenides, the Gentle Ones, we call them,

With gentle hearts receive and save your suppliant;

Pray, both thyself, and some one in thy stead,

In low voice speaking, not in lengthened cry;

Then, turning not, withdraw. If thou dost this,

I will stand by thee boldly; else for thee,

Ο stranger friend, I should be full of fear.

Œdip. Hear ye, my children, what these townsmen say?

Antig. We hear. Do thou command us what is right.

Œdip. I may not go. Two evils press on me,

My failing strength and loss of power to see;

Let one of you go on and do these things.

For one soul working in the strength of love

Is mightier than ten thousand to atone;

But what ye do, do quickly. Only this

I ask you, leave me not. This feeble frame,

Bereaved of you, unguided cannot creep.

Ism. I go to do thy bidding. But the place

Which it is mine to seek, I fain would learn.

Chor. Beyond this grove, Ο maiden. And if still

Thou lackest aught, our townsman here shall tell thee.

Ism. I would go forth to this. Antigone,

Guard thou our father. For a parent's sake,

Though one may toil, one should the toil forget. [Exit.

Chor. To stir the buried evil of the past,

I know, is fearful; yet I fain would ask

Œdip. Of what?

Chor. Of thy great sorrow, pitiful,

Grievous, perplexing, ever by thy side.