Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Plumptre 1878).djvu/218

120 And this being done, then straightway Œdipus

Clasping his children with his sightless hands,

Spake thus: "My children! Now ye need to show

Your tempers true and noble, and withdraw

From where ye stand, nor think it right to look

On things that best are hidden, nor to list

To those that speak; but ye, with utmost speed

Go forth. But Theseus, who may claim the right,

Let him remain, to learn the things that come."

So much we all together heard him speak,

And then, with tears fast flowing, groaning still

We followed with the maidens. Going on

A little space we turned. And lo! we saw

The man no more; but he, the king, was there,

Holding his hand to shade his eyes, as one

To whom there comes a vision drear and dread

He may not bear to look on. Yet awhile,

But little, and we see him bowed to earth,

Adoring it, and in the self-same prayer

Olympos, home of Gods. What form of death

He died, knows no man, but our Theseus only.

For neither was it thunderbolt from Zeus

With flashing fire that slew him, nor the blast

Of whirlwind sweeping o'er the sea that hour,

But either some one whom the Gods had sent,

To guide his steps, or else the abyss of earth

In friendly mood had opened wide its jaws

Without one pang. And so the man was led

With nought to mourn for—did not leave the world

As worn with pain and sickness; but his end,

If any ever was, was wonderful.

And if I seem to any, saying this,

As one who dreams, I would not care to win

Their favour who as dreamier count of me.