OEDIPUS.
Aye, that were just, if of his grace he would Reveal it. How shall man compel his God?
LEADER.
Second to that, methinks, 'twould help us most ...
OEDIPUS.
Though it be third, speak! Nothing should be lost.
LEADER.
To our High Seer on earth vision is given Most like to that High Phoebus hath in heaven. Ask of Tiresias: he could tell thee true.
OEDIPUS.
That also have I thought for. Aye, and two Heralds have sent ere now. 'Twas Creon set Me on.--I marvel that he comes not yet.
[Sidenote: vv. 290-301]
LEADER.
Our other clues are weak, old signs and far.
OEDIPUS.
What signs? I needs must question all that are.
LEADER.
Some travellers slew him, the tale used to be.
OEDIPUS.
The tale, yes: but the witness, where is he?
LEADER.
The man hath heard thy curses. If he knows The taste of fear, he will not long stay close.
OEDIPUS.
He fear my words, who never feared the deed?
LEADER.
Well, there is one shall find him.--See, they lead Hither our Lord Tiresias, in whose mind All truth is born, alone of human kind.
[_Enter_ TIRESIAS _led by a young disciple. He is an old blind man in a prophet's robe, dark, unkempt and sinister in appearance._
OEDIPUS.
Tiresias, thou whose mind divineth well All Truth, the spoken and the unspeakable,
[Sidenote: vv. 302-321]
The things of heaven and them that walk the earth; Our city ... thou canst see, for all thy dearth Of outward eyes, what clouds are over her. In which, O gracious Lord, no minister Of help, no champion, can we find at all Save thee. For Phoebus--thou hast heard withal His message--to our envoy hath decreed One only way of help in this great need: To find and smite with death or banishing, Him who smote Laius, our ancient King. Oh, grudge us nothing! Question every cry Of birds, and all roads else of prophecy Thou knowest. Save our city: save thine own Greatness: save me; save all that yet doth groan Under the dead man's wrong! Lo, in thy hand We lay us. And, methinks, no work so grand Hath man yet compassed, as, with all he can Of chance or power, to help his fellow man.
TIRESIAS (_to himself_).
Ah me! A fearful thing is knowledge, when to know Helpeth no end. I knew this long ago, But crushed it dead. Else had I never come.
OEDIPUS.
What means this? Comest thou so deep in gloom?
TIRESIAS.
Let me go back! Thy work shall weigh on thee The less, if thou consent, and mine on me.
[Sidenote: vv. 322-336]
OEDIPUS.
Prophet, this is not lawful; nay, nor kind To Thebes, who feeds thee, thus to veil thy mind.
TIRESIAS.
'Tis that I like not thy mind, nor the way It goeth. Therefore, lest I also stray....
[_He moves to go off._ OEDIPUS _bars his road._
OEDIPUS.
Thou shalt not, knowing, turn and leave us! See, We all implore thee, all, on bended knee.
TIRESIAS.
All without light!--And never light shall shine On this dark evil that is mine ... and thine.
OEDIPUS.
What wilt thou? Know and speak not? In my need Be false to me, and let thy city bleed?
TIRESIAS.
I will not wound myself nor thee. Why seek To trap and question me? I will not speak.
OEDIPUS.
Thou devil!
[_Movement of_ LEADER _to check him._
Nay; the wrath of any stone Would rise at him. It lies with thee to have done And speak. Is there no melting in thine eyes!
[Sidenote: vv. 337-351]
TIRESIAS.
Naught lies with me! With thee, with thee there lies, I warrant, what thou ne'er hast seen nor guessed.
OEDIPUS (_to_ LEADER, _who tries to calm him._)
How can I hear such talk?--he maketh jest Of the land's woe--and keep mine anger dumb?
TIRESIAS.
Howe'er I hold it back, 'twill come, 'twill come.
OEDIPUS.
The more shouldst thou declare it to thy King.
TIRESIAS.
I speak no more. For thee, if passioning Doth comfort thee, on, passion to thy fill!
[_He moves to go._
OEDIPUS.
'Fore God, I am in wrath; and speak I will, Nor stint what I see clear. 'Twas thou, 'twas thou, Didst plan this murder; aye, and, save the blow, Wrought it.--I know thou art blind; else I could swear Thou, and thou only, art the murderer.
TIRESIAS (_returning_).
So?--I command thee by thine own word's power, To stand accurst, and never from this hour
[Sidenote: vv. 352-363]
Speak word to me, nor yet to these who ring Thy throne. Thou art thyself the unclean thing.
OEDIPUS.
Thou front of brass, to fling out injury So wild! Dost think to bate me and go free?
TIRESIAS.
I am free. The strong truth is in this heart.
OEDIPUS.
What prompted thee? I swear 'twas not thine art.
TIRESIAS.
'Twas thou. I spoke not, save for thy command.
OEDIPUS.
Spoke what? What was it? Let me understand.
TIRESIAS.
Dost tempt me? Were my words before not plain!
OEDIPUS.
Scarce thy full meaning. Speak the words again.
TIRESIAS.
Thou seek'st this man of blood: Thyself art he.
OEDIPUS.
'Twill cost thee dear, twice to have stabbed at me!
[Sidenote: vv. 364-377]
TIRESIAS.
Shall I say more, to see thee rage again?
OEDIPUS.
Oh, take thy fill of speech: 'twill all be vain.
TIRESIAS.
Thou livest with those near to thee in shame Most deadly, seeing not thyself nor them.
OEDIPUS.
Thou think'st 'twill help thee, thus to speak and speak?
TIRESIAS.
Surely, until the strength of Truth be weak.
OEDIPUS.
'Tis weak to none save thee. Thou hast no part In truth, thou blind man, blind eyes, ears and heart.
TIRESIAS.
More blind, more sad thy words of scorn, which none Who hears but shall cast back on thee: soon, soon.
OEDIPUS.
Thou spawn of Night, not I nor any free And seeing man would hurt a thing like thee.
TIRESIAS.
God is enough.--'Tis not my doom to fall By thee. He knows and shall accomplish all.
[Sidenote: vv. 378-402]
OEDIPUS (_with a flash of discovery_).
Ha! Creon!--Is it his or thine, this plot?
TIRESIAS.
'Tis thyself hates thee. Creon hates thee not.
OEDIPUS.
O wealth and majesty, O conquering skill That carved life's rebel pathways to my will, What is your heart but bitterness, if now For this poor crown Thebes bound upon my brow, A gift, a thing I sought not--for this crown Creon the stern and true, Creon mine own Comrade, comes creeping in the dark to ban And slay me; sending first this magic-man And schemer, this false beggar-priest, whose eye Is bright for gold and blind for prophecy? Speak, thou. When hast thou ever shown thee strong For aid? The She-Wolf of the woven song Came, and thy art could find no word, no breath, To save thy people from her riddling death. 'Twas scarce a secret, that, for common men To unravel. There was need of Seer-craft then. And thou hadst none to show. No fowl, no flame, No God revealed it thee. 'Twas I that came, Rude Oedipus, unlearned in wizard's lore, And read her secret, and she spoke no more. Whom now thou thinkest to hunt out, and stand Foremost in honour at King Creon's hand. I think ye will be sorry, thou and he That shares thy sin-hunt. Thou dost look to me
[Sidenote: vv. 403-424]
An old man; else, I swear this day should bring On thee the death thou plottest for thy King.
LEADER.
Lord Oedipus, these be but words of wrath, All thou hast spoke and all the Prophet hath. Which skills not. We must join, for ill or well, In search how best to obey God's oracle.
TIRESIAS.
King though thou art, thou needs must bear the right Of equal answer. Even in me is might For thus much, seeing I live no thrall of thine, But Lord Apollo's; neither do I sign Where Creon bids me. I am blind, and thou Hast mocked my blindness. Yea, I will speak now. Eyes hast thou, but thy deeds thou canst not see Nor where thou art, nor what things dwell with thee. Whence art thou born? Thou know'st not; and unknown, On quick and dead, on all that were thine own, Thou hast wrought hate. For that across thy path Rising, a mother's and a father's wrath, Two-handed, shod with fire, from the haunts of men Shall scourge thee, in thine eyes now light, but then Darkness. Aye, shriek! What harbour of the sea, What wild Kithairon shall not cry to thee In answer, when thou hear'st what bridal song, What wind among the torches, bore thy strong Sail to its haven, not of peace but blood. Yea, ill things multitude on multitude
[Sidenote: vv. 425-438]
Thou seest not, which so soon shall lay thee low, Low as thyself, low as thy children.--Go, Heap scorn on Creon and my lips withal: For this I tell thee, never was there fall Of pride, nor shall be, like to thine this day.
OEDIPUS.
To brook such words from this thing? Out, I say! Out to perdition! Aye, and quick, before ...
[_The_ LEADER _restrains him_.
Enough then!--Turn and get thee from my door.
TIRESIAS.
I had not come hadst thou not called me here.
OEDIPUS.
I knew thee not so dark a fool. I swear 'Twere long before I called thee, had I known.
TIRESIAS.
Fool, say'st thou? Am I truly such an one? The two who gave thee birth, they held me wise.
OEDIPUS.
Birth?... Stop! Who were they? Speak thy prophecies.
TIRESIAS.