Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/196

98 Within our borders, thou may'st show them me;

But if they get beyond, we need not toil;

For there are others, hastening to pursue,

And those who flee shall never thank the Gods

As 'scaped from this our land: but lead thou on,

And know that thou who hold'st thy prey art held,

And chance has caught thee, hunter as thou art;

For gains, ill gotten by a fraud unjust,

Can never prosper. And another's help

Thou shalt not have in this, for well I know

Thou had'st not ventured on so great a wrong

Alone, unbacked, but there is some one else,

Trusting to whom thou did'st it. And for me,

I must look well to this: nor leave my state

By one man conquered, weak and powerless.

Regard'st thou aught of this, or seems it vain,

Both now, and when thou planned'st these thy schemes?

Creon. While thou speak'st here, I fault with nothing find;

When we reach home, we shall know what to do.

Thes. Go on and threaten. Thou, Ο Œdipus,

Stay here in peace and comfort, trusting me

That I, unless I die, will never rest,

Before I give thy children to thy hands.

Œdip. God bless thee, Theseus, for thy noble heart,

And all thy just and generous care for us.

[Exeunt and Athenians, with and his guards.

Chor. Ah! would that I were there