CREON.

Sister, it is the pleasure of thy lord, Our King, to do me deadly wrong. His word Is pa.s.sed on me: 'tis banishment or death.

OEDIPUS.

I found him ... I deny not what he saith, My Queen ... with craft and malice practising Against my life.

CREON.

Ye G.o.ds, if such a thing Hath once been in my thoughts, may I no more See any health on earth, but, festered o'er With curses, die!--Have done. There is mine oath.

JOCASTA.

In G.o.d's name, Oedipus, believe him, both For my sake, and for these whose hearts are all Thine own, and for my brother's oath withal.

[Sidenote: vv. 649-664]

LEADER. [_Strophe._

Yield; consent; think! My Lord, I conjure thee!

OEDIPUS.

What would ye have me do?

LEADER.

Reject not one who never failed his troth Of old and now is strong in his great oath.

OEDIPUS.

Dost know what this prayer means?

LEADER.

Yea, verily!

OEDIPUS.

Say then the meaning true.

LEADER.

I would not have thee cast to infamy Of guilt, where none is proved, One who hath sworn and whom thou once hast loved.

OEDIPUS.

'Tis that ye seek? For me, then ... understand Well ... ye seek death or exile from the land.

LEADER.

No, by the G.o.d of G.o.ds, the all-seeing Sun!

May he desert me here, and every friend With him, to death and utterest malison, If e'er my heart could dream of such an end!

[Sidenote: vv. 665-680]

But it bleedeth, it bleedeth sore, In a land half slain, If we join to the griefs of yore Griefs of you twain.

OEDIPUS.

Oh, let him go, though it be utterly My death, or flight from Thebes in beggary.

'Tis thy sad lips, not his, that make me know Pity. Him I shall hate, where'er he go.

CREON.

I see thy mercy moving full of hate And slow; thy wrath came swift and desperate.

Methinks, of all the pain that such a heart Spreadeth, itself doth bear the bitterest part.

OEDIPUS.

Oh, leave me and begone!

CREON.

I go, wronged sore By thee. These friends will trust me as before.

[CREON _goes._ OEDIPUS _stands apart lost in trouble of mind._

LEADER. [_Antistrophe._

Queen, wilt thou lead him to his house again?

JOCASTA.

I will, when I have heard.

[Sidenote: vv. 681-696]

LEADER.

There fell some word, some blind imagining Between them. Things known foolish yet can sting.

JOCASTA.

From both the twain it rose?

LEADER.