Sophocles - Oedipus the King Lines 120-181 lyrics

OEDIPUS Whom can he mean, the miscreant thus denounced? CREON Before thou didst a**ume 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 a**a**in 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.