If I speak false, let me die in his stead.
JOCASTA.
Ho, maiden! To our master! Hie thee fast And tell this tale.
[_The maiden goes._
Where stand ye at the last
[Sidenote: vv. 948-961]
Ye oracles of God? For many a year Oedipus fled before that man, in fear To slay him. And behold we find him thus Slain by a chance death, not by Oedipus.
[OEDIPUS _comes out from the Palace._
OEDIPUS.
O wife, O face I love to look upon, Why call'st thou me from where I sat alone?
JOCASTA.
Give ear, and ponder from what this man tells How end these proud priests and their oracles.
OEDIPUS.
Whence comes he? And what word hath he for us?
JOCASTA.
From Corinth; bearing news that Polybus Thy father is no more. He has found his death.
OEDIPUS.
How?--Stranger, speak thyself. This that she saith ...
STRANGER.
Is sure. If that is the first news ye crave, I tell thee, Polybus lieth in his grave.
OEDIPUS.
Not murdered?... How? Some passing of disease?
STRANGER.
A slight thing turns an old life to its peace.
[Sidenote: vv. 962-978]
OEDIPUS.
Poor father!... 'Tis by sickness he is dead?
STRANGER.
The growing years lay heavy on his head.
OEDIPUS.
O wife, why then should man fear any more The voice of Pytho's dome, or cower before These birds that shriek above us? They foretold Me for my father's murderer; and behold, He lies in Corinth dead, and here am I And never touched the sword.... Or did he die In grief for me who left him? In that way I may have wrought his death.... But come what may, He sleepeth in his grave and with him all This deadly seercraft, of no worth at all.
JOCASTA.
Dear Lord, long since did I not show thee clear...?
OEDIPUS.
Indeed, yes. I was warped by mine own fear.
JOCASTA.
Now thou wilt cast it from thee, and forget.
OEDIPUS.
Forget my mother?... It is not over yet.
JOCASTA.
What should man do with fear, who hath but Chance Above him, and no sight nor governance
[Sidenote: vv. 979-993]
Of things to be? To live as life may run, No fear, no fret, were wisest 'neath the sun. And thou, fear not thy mother. Prophets deem A deed wrought that is wrought but in a dream. And he to whom these things are nothing, best Will bear his burden.
OEDIPUS.
All thou counsellest Were good, save that my mother liveth still. And, though thy words be wise, for good or ill Her I still fear.
JOCASTA.
Think of thy father's tomb! Like light across our darkness it hath come.
OEDIPUS.
Great light; but while she lives I fly from her.
STRANGER.
What woman, Prince, doth fill thee so with fear?
OEDIPUS.
Merope, friend, who dwelt with Polybus.
STRANGER.
What in Queen Merope should fright thee thus?
OEDIPUS.
A voice of God, stranger, of dire import.
STRANGER.
Meet for mine ears? Or of some secret sort?
[Sidenote: vv. 994-1009]
OEDIPUS.
Nay, thou must hear, and Corinth. Long ago Apollo spake a doom, that I should know My mother's flesh, and with mine own hand spill My father's blood.--'Tis that, and not my will, Hath kept me always far from Corinth. So; Life hath dealt kindly with me, yet men know On earth no comfort like a mother's face.
STRANGER.
'Tis that, hath kept thee exiled in this place?
OEDIPUS.
That, and the fear too of my father's blood.
STRANGER.
Then, surely, Lord ... I came but for thy good ... 'Twere well if from that fear I set thee free.
OEDIPUS.
Ah, couldst thou! There were rich reward for thee.
STRANGER.
To say truth, I had hoped to lead thee home Now, and myself to get some good therefrom.
OEDIPUS.
Nay; where my parents are I will not go.
STRANGER.
My son, 'tis very clear thou dost not know What road thou goest.
OEDIPUS.
How? In God's name, say! How clear?
[Sidenote: vv. 1010-1019]
STRANGER.
'Tis this, keeps thee so long away From Corinth?
OEDIPUS.
'Tis the fear lest that word break One day upon me true.
STRANGER.
Fear lest thou take Defilement from the two that gave thee birth?
OEDIPUS.
'Tis that, old man, 'tis that doth fill the earth With terror.
STRANGER.
Then thy terror all hath been For nothing.
OEDIPUS.
How? Were not your King and Queen My parents?
STRANGER.
Polybus was naught to thee In blood.
OEDIPUS.
How? He, my father!
STRANGER.
That was he As much as I, but no more.
OEDIPUS.
Thou art naught; 'Twas he begot me.
[Sidenote: vv. 1020-1028]
STRANGER.
'Twas not I begot Oedipus, neither was it he.
OEDIPUS.
What wild Fancy, then, made him name me for his child?
STRANGER.
Thou wast his child--by gift. Long years ago Mine own hand brought thee to him.
OEDIPUS.
Coming so, From a strange hand, he gave me that great love?
STRANGER.
He had no child, and the desire thereof Held him.
OEDIPUS.
And thou didst find somewhere--or buy-- A child for him?
STRANGER.
I found it in a high Glen of Kithairon.
[_Movement of_ JOCASTA, _who stands riveted with dread, unnoticed by the others._
OEDIPUS.
Yonder? To what end Wast travelling in these parts?
STRANGER.
I came to tend The flocks here on the mountain.
[Sidenote: vv. 1029-1037]
OEDIPUS.
Thou wast one That wandered, tending sheep for hire?
STRANGER.
My son, That day I was the saviour of a King.
OEDIPUS.
How saviour? Was I in some suffering Or peril?
STRANGER.
Thine own feet a tale could speak.
OEDIPUS.
Ah me! What ancient pain stirs half awake Within me!
STRANGER.
'Twas a spike through both thy feet. I set thee free.
OEDIPUS.
A strange scorn that, to greet A babe new on the earth!
STRANGER.
From that they fain Must call thee Oedipus, "_Who-walks-in-pain_."
OEDIPUS.
Who called me so--father or mother? Oh, In God's name, speak!
[Sidenote: vv. 1038-1046]
STRANGER.
I know not. He should know Who brought thee.
OEDIPUS.
So: I was not found by thee. Thou hadst me from another?
STRANGER.
Aye; to me One of the shepherds gave the babe, to bear Far off.
OEDIPUS.
What shepherd? Know'st thou not? Declare All that thou knowest.
STRANGER.
By my memory, then, I think they called him one of Laius' men.
OEDIPUS.
That Laius who was king in Thebes of old?
STRANGER.
The same. My man did herding in his fold.
OEDIPUS.
Is he yet living? Can I see his face?
STRANGER.
[_Turning to the Chorus._
Ye will know that, being natives to the place.
[Sidenote: vv. 1047-1062]
OEDIPUS.
How?--Is there one of you within my pale Standing, that knows the shepherd of his tale? Ye have seen him on the hills? Or in this town? Speak! For the hour is come that all be known.
LEADER.
I think 'twill be the Peasant Man, the same, Thou hast sought long time to see.--His place and name Our mistress, if she will, can tell most clear.
[JOCASTA _remains as if she heard nothing._
OEDIPUS.
Thou hear'st him, wife. The herd whose presence here We craved for, is it he this man would say?
JOCASTA.
He saith ... What of it? Ask not; only pray Not to remember.... Tales are vainly told.
OEDIPUS.
'Tis mine own birth. How can I, when I hold Such clues as these, refrain from knowing all?
JOCASTA.
For God's love, no! Not if thou car'st at all For thine own life.... My anguish is enough.
OEDIPUS (_bitterly_).
Fear not!... Though I be thrice of slavish stuff From my third grand-dam down, it shames not thee.
[Sidenote: vv. 1063-1075]
JOCASTA.
Ask no more. I beseech thee.... Promise me!
OEDIPUS.
To leave the Truth half-found? 'Tis not my mood.
JOCASTA.
I understand; and tell thee what is good.
OEDIPUS.
Thy good doth weary me.
JOCASTA.
O child of woe, I pray God, I pray God, thou never know!
OEDIPUS (_turning from her_).
Go, fetch the herdsman straight!--This Queen of mine May walk alone to boast her royal line.
JOCASTA.
[_She twice draws in her breath through her teeth, as if in some sharp pain._
Unhappy one, goodbye! Goodbye before I go: this once, and never never more!
[_She comes towards him as though to take a last farewell, then stops suddenly, turns, and rushes into the Palace._
LEADER.
King, what was that? She passed like one who flies In very anguish. Dread is o'er mine eyes Lest from this silence break some storm of wrong.
[Sidenote: vv. 1076-1097]
OEDIPUS.
Break what break will! My mind abideth strong To know the roots, how low soe'er they be, Which grew to Oedipus. This woman, she Is proud, methinks, and fears my birth and name Will mar her nobleness. But I, no shame Can ever touch me. I am Fortune's child, Not man's; her mother face hath ever smiled Above me, and my brethren of the sky, The changing Moons, have changed me low and high. There is my lineage true, which none shall wrest From me; who then am I to fear this quest?