HKB
forth, and marvel how he fares. ’Tis strange, this endless tarrying, passing strange. But when he comes, then I were base indeed, If I perform not all the god declares.
PRIEST. Thy words are well timed; even as thou speakest That shouting tells me Creon is at hand.
OEDIPUS. O King Apollo! may his joyous looks Be presage of the joyous news he brings!
PRIEST. As I surmise, ’tis welcome; else his head Had scarce been crowned with berry-laden bays.
OEDIPUS. We soon shall know; he’s now in earshot range. [Enter CREON] My royal cousin, say, Menoeceus’ child, What message hast thou brought us from the god?
CREON. Good news, for e’en intolerable ills, Finding right issue, tend to naught but good.
OEDIPUS. How runs the oracle? thus far thy words Give me no ground for confidence or fear.
CREON. If thou wouldst hear my message publicly, I’ll tell thee straight, or with thee pass within.
OEDIPUS. Speak before all; the burden that I bear Is more for these my subjects than myself.
CREON. Let me report then all the god declared. King Phoebus bids us straitly extirpate A fell pollution that infests the land, And no more harbor an inveterate sore.
OEDIPUS. What expiation means he? What’s amiss?
CREON. Banishment, or the shedding blood for blood. This stain of blood makes shipwreck of our state.
OEDIPUS. Whom can he mean, the miscreant thus denounced?
CREON. Before thou didst assume the helm of State, The sovereign of this land was Laius.
OEDIPUS. I heard as much, but never saw the man.
CREON. He fell; and now the god’s command is plain: Punish his takers-off, whoe’er they be.
OEDIPUS. Where are they? Where in the wide world to find The far, faint traces of a bygone crime?
CREON. In this land, said the god; “who seeks shall find; Who sits with folded hands or sleeps is blind.”
OEDIPUS. Was he within his palace, or afield, Or traveling, when Laius met his fate?
CREON. Abroad; he started, so he told us, bound For Delphi, but he never thence returned.
OEDIPUS. Came there no news, no fellow-traveler To give some clue that might be followed up?
CREON. But one escape, who flying for dear life, Could tell of all he saw but one thing sure.
OEDIPUS. And what was that? One clue might lead us far, With but a spark of hope to guide our quest.
CREON. Robbers, he told us, not one bandit but A troop of knaves, attacked and murdered him.
OEDIPUS. Did any bandit dare so bold a stroke, Unless indeed he were suborned from Thebes?
CREON. So ’twas surmised, but none was found to avenge His murder mid the trouble that ensued.
OEDIPUS. What trouble can have hindered a full quest, When royalty had fallen thus miserably?
CREON. The riddling Sphinx compelled us to let slide The dim past and attend to instant needs.
OEDIPUS. Well, I will start afresh and once again Make dark things clear. Right worthy the concern Of Phoebus, worthy thine too, for the dead; I also, as is meet, will lend my aid To avenge this wrong to Thebes and to the god. Not for some far-off kinsman, but myself, Shall I expel this poison in the blood; For whoso slew that king might have a mind To strike me too with his assassin hand. Therefore in righting him I serve myself. Up, children, haste ye, quit these altar stairs, Take hence your suppliant wands, go summon hither The Theban commons. With the god’s good help Success is sure; ’tis ruin if we fail. [Exeunt OEDIPUS and CREON]
PRIEST. Come, children, let us hence; these gracious words Forestall the very purpose of our suit. And may the god who sent this oracle Save us withal and rid us of this pest. [Exeunt PRIEST and SUPPLIANTS]