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To the last drop。
OEDIPUS
And wherewith shall I fill it；
Ere in its place I set it？ This too tell。
CHORUS
With water and with honey； add no wine。
OEDIPUS
And when the embowered earth hath drunk thereof？
CHORUS
Then lay upon it thrice nine olive sprays
With both thy hands； and offer up this prayer。
OEDIPUS
I fain would hear it； that imports the most。
CHORUS
That； as we call them Gracious； they would deign
To grant the suppliant their saving grace。
So pray thyself or whoso pray for thee；
In whispered accents； not with lifted voice；
Then go and look back。 Do as I bid；
And I shall then be bold to stand thy friend；
Else； stranger； I should have my fears for thee。
OEDIPUS
Hear ye； my daughters； what these strangers say？
ANTIGONE
We listened； and attend thy bidding； father。
OEDIPUS
I cannot go； disabled as I am
Doubly； by lack of strength and lack of sight；
But one of you may do it in my stead；
For one； I trow； may pay the sacrifice
Of thousands； if his heart be leal and true。
So to your work with speed； but leave me not
Untended； for this frame is all too week
To move without the help of guiding hand。
ISMENE
Then I will go perform these rites； but where
To find the spot； this have I yet to learn。
CHORUS
Beyond this grove； if thou hast need of aught；
The guardian of the close will lend his aid。
ISMENE
I go； and thou； Antigone； meanwhile
Must guard our father。 In a parent's cause
Toil； if there be toil； is of no account。
＇Exit ISMENE＇
CHORUS
（Str。 1）
Ill it is； stranger； to awake
Pain that long since has ceased to ache；
And yet I fain would hear
OEDIPUS
What thing？
CHORUS
Thy tale of cruel suffering
For which no cure was found；
The fate that held thee bound。
OEDIPUS
O bid me not （as guest I claim
This grace） expose my shame。
CHORUS
The tale is bruited far and near；
And echoes still from ear to ear。
The truth； I fain would hear。
OEDIPUS
Ah me！
CHORUS
I prithee yield。
OEDIPUS
Ah me！
CHORUS
Grant my request； I granted all to thee。
OEDIPUS
（Ant。 1）
Know then I suffered ills most vile； but none
（So help me Heaven！） from acts in malice done。
CHORUS
Say how。
OEDIPUS
The State around
An all unwitting bridegroom bound
An impious marriage chain；
That was my bane。
CHORUS
Didst thou in sooth then share
A bed incestuous with her that bare
OEDIPUS
It stabs me like a sword；
That two…edged word；
O stranger； but these maidsmy own
CHORUS
Say on。
OEDIPUS
Two daughters； curses twain。
CHORUS
Oh God！
OEDIPUS
Sprang from the wife and mother's travail…pain。
CHORUS
（Str。 2）
What； then thy offspring are at once
OEDIPUS
Too true。
Their father's very sister's too。
CHORUS
Oh horror！
OEDIPUS
Horrors from the boundless deep
Back on my soul in refluent surges sweep。
CHORUS
Thou hast endured
OEDIPUS
Intolerable woe。
CHORUS
And sinned
OEDIPUS
I sinned not。
CHORUS
How so？
OEDIPUS
I served the State； would I had never won
That graceless grace by which I was undone。
CHORUS
（Ant。 2）
And next； unhappy man； thou hast shed blood？
OEDIPUS
Must ye hear more？
CHORUS
A father's？
OEDIPUS
Flood on flood
Whelms me； that word's a second mortal blow。
CHORUS
Murderer！
OEDIPUS
Yes； a murderer； but know
CHORUS
What canst thou plead？
OEDIPUS
A plea of justice。
CHORUS
How？
OEDIPUS
I slew who else would me have slain；
I slew without intent；
A wretch； but innocent
In the law's eye； I stand； without a stain。
CHORUS
Behold our sovereign； Theseus； Aegeus' son；
Comes at thy summons to perform his part。
＇Enter THESEUS＇
THESEUS
Oft had I heard of thee in times gone by
The bloody mutilation of thine eyes
And therefore know thee； son of Laius。
All that I lately gathered on the way
Made my conjecture doubly sure； and now
Thy garb and that marred visage prove to me
That thou art he。 So pitying thine estate；
Most ill…starred Oedipus； I fain would know
What is the suit ye urge on me and Athens；
Thou and the helpless maiden at thy side。
Declare it； dire indeed must be the tale
Whereat _I_ should recoil。 I too was reared；
Like thee； in exile； and in foreign lands
Wrestled with many perils； no man more。
Wherefore no alien in adversity
Shall seek in vain my succor； nor shalt thou；
I know myself a mortal； and my share
In what the morrow brings no more than thine。
OEDIPUS
Theseus； thy words so apt； so generous
So comfortable； need no long reply
Both who I am and of what lineage sprung；
And from what land I came； thou hast declared。
So without prologue I may utter now
My brief petition； and the tale is told。
THESEUS
Say on； and tell me what I fain would learn。
OEDIPUS
I come to offer thee this woe…worn frame；
A gift not fair to look on； yet its worth
More precious far than any outward show。
THESEUS
What profit dost thou proffer to have brought？
OEDIPUS
Hereafter thou shalt learn； not yet； methinks。
THESEUS
When may we hope to reap the benefit？
OEDIPUS
When I am dead and thou hast buried me。
THESEUS
Thou cravest life's last service； all before
Is it forgotten or of no account？
OEDIPUS
Yea； the last boon is warrant for the rest。
THESEUS
The grace thou cravest then is small indeed。
OEDIPUS
Nay； weigh it well； the issue is not slight。
THESEUS
Thou meanest that betwixt thy sons and me？
OEDIPUS
Prince； they would fain convey me back to Thebes。
THESEUS
If there be no compulsion； then methinks
To rest in banishment befits not thee。
OEDIPUS
Nay； when _I_ wished it _they_ would not consent。
THESEUS
For shame！ such temper misbecomes the faller。
OEDIPUS
Chide if thou wilt； but first attend my plea。
THESEUS
Say on； I wait full knowledge ere I judge。
OEDIPUS
O Theseus； I have suffered wrongs on wrongs。
THESEUS
Wouldst tell the old misfortune of thy race？
OEDIPUS
No； that has grown a byword throughout Greece。
THESEUS
What then can be this more than mortal grief？
OEDIPUS
My case stands thus； by my own flesh and blood
I was expelled my country； and can ne'er
Thither return again； a parricide。
THESEUS
Why fetch thee home if thou must needs obey。
THESEUS
What are they threatened by the oracle？
OEDIPUS
Destruction that awaits them in this land。
THESEUS
What can beget ill blood 'twixt them and me？
OEDIPUS
Dear son of Aegeus； to the gods alone
Is given immunity from eld and death；
But nothing else escapes all…ruinous time。
Earth's might decays； the might of men decays；
Honor grows cold； dishonor flourishes；
There is no constancy 'twixt friend and friend；
Or city and city； be it soon or late；
Sweet turns to bitter； hate once more to love。
If now 'tis sunshine betwixt Thebes and thee
And not a cloud； Time in his endless course
Gives birth to endless days and nights； wherein
The merest nothing shall suffice to cut
With serri