Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/178

80 In a strange land, full many a risk of life.

So from no stranger, coming as thou com'st,

Would I draw back, or fail to help and save;

I know that I am man, and I can count

No more than thou, on what the morrow brings.

Œdip. Theseus, thy noble heart, with fewest words,

Permits me too to answer thee in brief;

For who I am, and of what father born,

And from what country come,—thou hast said all;

So that nought else remains but just to say

The things I wish for, and my tale is told.

Thes. Tell me then straightway, that I too may know.

Œdip. I come to give thee this poor feeble frame,

A sorry gift, uncomely to the sight.

But gain will come of it, that far outweighs

All outward beauty.

Thes. And what gain is this

Thou boastest that thou bring'st?

Œdip. In course of time

Thou shalt know all, but not this present hour.

Thes. And when shall this, the gain thou bring'st, be clear?

Œdip. When I shall die, and thou shalt bury me.

Thes. Thou askest life's last care; what comes between

Thou dost forget, or make of no account.

Œdip. For me this goeth hand in hand with that.

Thes. 'Tis a small thing thou ask'st, this boon of thine.

Œdip. Look to it well. Not small the conflict here.

Thes. Mean'st thou a conflict of thy townsmen with me?

Œdip. Fain would they force me thither to return.

Thes. Against their will, it is not good to flee.