Sophocles - Oedipus the King lines 562- 822 lyrics

CHORUS strophe 1 Who is he by voice immortal named from Pythia's rocky cell, Doer of foul deeds of bloodshed, horrors that no tongue can tell? A foot for flight he needs Fleeter than storm-swift steeds, For on his heels doth follow, Armed with the lightnings of his Sire, Apollo. Like sleuth-hounds too The Fates pursue. antistrophe 1 Yea, but now flashed forth the summons from Parna**us' snowy peak, "Near and far the undiscovered doer of this murder seek!" Now like a sullen bull he roves Through forest brakes and upland groves, And vainly seeks to fly The doom that ever nigh Flits o'er his head, Still by the avenging Phoebus sped, The voice divine, From Earth's mid shrine. strophe 2 Sore perplexed am I by the words of the master seer. Are they true, are they false? I know not and bridle my tongue for fear, Fluttered with vague surmise; nor present nor future is clear. Quarrel of ancient date or in days still near know I none Twixt the Labdacidan house and our ruler, Polybus' son. Proof is there none: how then can I challenge our King's good name, How in a blood-feud join for an untracked deed of shame? antistrophe 2 All wise are Zeus and Apollo, and nothing is hid from their ken; They are gods; and in wits a man may surpa** his fellow men; But that a mortal seer knows more than I know--where Hath this been proven? Or how without sign a**ured, can I blame Him who saved our State when the winged songstress came, Tested and tried in the light of us all, like gold a**ayed? How can I now a**ent when a crime is on Oedipus laid? CREON Friends, countrymen, I learn King Oedipus Hath laid against me a most grievous charge, And come to you protesting. If he deems That I have harmed or injured him in aught By word or deed in this our present trouble, I care not to prolong the span of life, Thus ill-reputed; for the calumny Hits not a single blot, but blasts my name, If by the general voice I am denounced False to the State and false by you my friends. CHORUS This taunt, it well may be, was blurted out In petulance, not spoken advisedly. CREON Did any dare pretend that it was I Prompted the seer to utter a forged charge? CHORUS Such things were said; with what intent I know not. CREON Were not his wits and vision all astray When upon me he fixed this monstrous charge? CHORUS I know not; to my sovereign's acts I am blind. But lo, he comes to answer for himself. Enter OEDIPUS. OEDIPUS Sirrah, what mak'st thou here? Dost thou presume To approach my doors, thou brazen-faced rogue, My murderer and the filcher of my crown? Come, answer this, didst thou detect in me Some touch of cowardice or witlessness, That made thee undertake this enterprise? I seemed forsooth too simple to perceive The serpent stealing on me in the dark, Or else too weak to scotch it when I saw. This thou art witless seeking to possess Without a following or friends the crown, A prize that followers and wealth must win. CREON Attend me. Thou hast spoken, 'tis my turn To make reply. Then having heard me, judge. OEDIPUS Thou art glib of tongue, but I am slow to learn Of thee; I know too well thy venomous hate. CREON First I would argue out this very point. OEDIPUS O argue not that thou art not a rogue. CREON If thou dost count a virtue stubbornness, Unschooled by reason, thou art much astray. OEDIPUS If thou dost hold a kinsman may be wronged, And no pains follow, thou art much to seek. CREON Therein thou judgest rightly, but this wrong That thou allegest--tell me what it is. OEDIPUS Didst thou or didst thou not advise that I Should call the priest? CREON Yes, and I stand to it. OEDIPUS Tell me how long is it since Laius... CREON Since Laius...? I follow not thy drift. OEDIPUS By violent hands was spirited away. CREON In the dim past, a many years agone. OEDIPUS Did the same prophet then pursue his craft? CREON Yes, sk**ed as now and in no less repute. OEDIPUS Did he at that time ever glance at me? CREON Not to my knowledge, not when I was by. OEDIPUS But was no search and inquisition made? CREON Surely full quest was made, but nothing learnt. OEDIPUS Why failed the seer to tell his story then? CREON I know not, and not knowing hold my tongue. OEDIPUS This much thou knowest and canst surely tell. CREON What's mean'st thou? All I know I will declare. OEDIPUS But for thy prompting never had the seer Ascribed to me the d**h of Laius. CREON If so he thou knowest best; but I Would put thee to the question in my turn. OEDIPUS Question and prove me murderer if thou canst. CREON Then let me ask thee, didst thou wed my sister? OEDIPUS A fact so plain I cannot well deny. CREON And as thy consort queen she shares the throne? OEDIPUS I grant her freely all her heart desires. CREON And with you twain I share the triple rule? OEDIPUS Yea, and it is that proves thee a false friend. CREON Not so, if thou wouldst reason with thyself, As I with myself. First, I bid thee think, Would any mortal choose a troubled reign Of terrors rather than secure repose, If the same power were given him? As for me, I have no natural craving for the name Of king, preferring to do kingly deeds, And so thinks every sober-minded man. Now all my needs are satisfied through thee, And I have naught to fear; but were I king, My acts would oft run counter to my will. How could a title then have charms for me Above the sweets of boundless influence? I am not so infatuate as to grasp The shadow when I hold the substance fast. Now all men cry me Godspeed! wish me well, And every suitor seeks to gain my ear, If he would hope to win a grace from thee. Why should I leave the better, choose the worse? That were sheer madness, and I am not mad. No such ambition ever tempted me, Nor would I have a share in such intrigue. And if thou doubt me, first to Delphi go, There ascertain if my report was true Of the god's answer; next investigate If with the seer I plotted or conspired, And if it prove so, sentence me to d**h, Not by thy voice alone, but mine and thine. But O condemn me not, without appeal, On bare suspicion. 'Tis not right to adjudge Bad men at random good, or good men bad. I would as lief a man should cast away The thing he counts most precious, his own life, As spurn a true friend. Thou wilt learn in time The truth, for time alone reveals the just; A villain is detected in a day. CHORUS To one who walketh warily his words Commend themselves; swift counsels are not sure. OEDIPUS When with swift strides the stealthy plotter stalks I must be quick too with my counterplot. To wait his onset pa**ively, for him Is sure success, for me a**ured defeat. CREON What then's thy will? To banish me the land? OEDIPUS I would not have thee banished, no, but dead, That men may mark the wages envy reaps. CREON I see thou wilt not yield, nor credit me. OEDIPUS None but a fool would credit such as thou. CREON Thou art not wise. OEDIPUS Wise for myself at least. CREON Why not for me too? OEDIPUS Why for such a knave? CREON Suppose thou lackest sense. OEDIPUS Yet kings must rule. CREON Not if they rule ill. OEDIPUS Oh my Thebans, hear him! CREON Thy Thebans? am not I a Theban too? CHORUS Cease, princes; lo there comes, and none too soon, Jocasta from the palace. Who so fit As peacemaker to reconcile your feud? Enter JOCASTA. JOCASTA Misguided princes, why have ye upraised This wordy wrangle? Are ye not ashamed, While the whole land lies striken, thus to voice Your private injuries? Go in, my lord; Go home, my brother, and forebear to make A public scandal of a petty grief. CREON My royal sister, Oedipus, thy lord, Hath bid me choose (O dread alternative!) An outlaw's exile or a felon's d**h. OEDIPUS Yes, lady; I have caught him practicing Against my royal person his vile arts. CREON May I ne'er speed but die accursed, if I In any way am guilty of this charge. JOCASTA Believe him, I adjure thee, Oedipus, First for his solemn oath's sake, then for mine, And for thine elders' sake who wait on thee. CHORUS strophe 1 Hearken, King, reflect, we pray thee, but not stubborn but relent. OEDIPUS Say to what should I consent? CHORUS Respect a man whose probity and troth Are known to all and now confirmed by oath. OEDIPUS Dost know what grace thou cravest? CHORUS Yea, I know. OEDIPUS Declare it then and make thy meaning plain. CHORUS Brand not a friend whom babbling tongues a**ail; Let not suspicion 'gainst his oath prevail. OEDIPUS Bethink you that in seeking this ye seek In very sooth my d**h or banishment? CHORUS No, by the leader of the host divine! strophe 2 Witness, thou Sun, such thought was never mine, Unblest, unfriended may I perish, If ever I such wish did cherish! But O my heart is desolate Musing on our striken State, Doubly fall'n should discord grow Twixt you twain, to crown our woe. OEDIPUS Well, let him go, no matter what it cost me, Or certain d**h or shameful banishment, For your sake I relent, not his; and him, Where'er he be, my heart shall still abhor. CREON Thou art as sullen in thy yielding mood As in thine anger thou wast truculent. Such tempers justly plague themselves the most. OEDIPUS Leave me in peace and get thee gone. CREON I go, By thee misjudged, but justified by these