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Rh Œdip. Nay, but they never gave me what I wished.

Thes. Ο fool, in troubles passion profits not.

Œdip. Hear first, then counsel. Till then, let me be.

Thes. Instruct me; unadvised I would not speak.

Œdip. Ο Theseus, I have suffered ills on ills.

Thes. Speak'st thou of that old sorrow of thy house?

Œdip. Not so. That sorrow all th' Hellenes know.

Thes. What more than human woe weighs sore on thee?

Œdip. Thus is it with me. I was driven away

By mine own sons; and never may I tread

My country's soil, my father's murderer.

Thes. Why should they fetch thee then, apart to dwell?

Œdip. It is the voice of God constrains them to it.

Thes. What evil do the oracles forebode?

Œdip. That they are doomed in this thy land to fall.

Thes. And how should strife spring up 'twixt them and me?

Œdip. Ο son of Ægeus, unto Gods alone

Nor age can come, nor destined hour of death.

All else the almighty Ruler, Time, sweeps on.

Earth's strength shall wither, wither strength of limb,

And trust decays, and mistrust grows apace;

And the same spirit lasts not among them

That once were friends, nor joineth state with state.

To these at once, to those in after years,

Sweet things grow bitter, then turn sweet again.

And what if now at Thebes all things run smooth

And well towards thee, Time, in myriad change,

A myriad nights and days brings forth; and thus

In these, for some slight cause, they yet may spurn

In battle, all their pledge of faithfulness.