Ed. Good luck be yours, and for this errand's sake The Spirit (39) for you a better guardian make Than e'er for me. Where are you, children? Please Come to these hands; they are your brother's. Have ministered to make these eyes, once bright, To think of all the bitter coming length Of life that now the world will make you live. Tearfully home instead of holiday? And when you reach your bridal prime, oh then Which blasts you as it blasts my parents' name? These will be your reproaches: who will marry? Ill does their age their piteous fortune suit; Children, were you of years to understand, Manage to live as season may allot you, And better luck be yours than his that got you. Cre. Far enough in lamentation. Now within the house repair. Ed. Choice is none, and yet 'tis hard consenting. Cre. Cre. Ed. Send me forth to dwell in exile. Cre. Fit alone makes fair. Speak to hear's to know. Ed. But of Gods I stand abhorrèd. Cre. Ed. Say you Ay? Cre. I like not speaking where I know my words are vain. Ed. Well, 'tis time, you must remove me. Cre. Come, and let the children go. Ed. Rob me not of them, of them! Cre. You must not think in all to reign. Reign you had, and life is left you: honours proved a faithless train. [Exeunt EDIPUS, CREON, and the CHILDREN, while the CHORUS speak the Epilogue. Cho. O inhabiters of Thebè, look, for this is Œdipus, He that guessed the great enigma, he of men allglorious : Him the people never envied, and he kept an eye on doom; Yet what seas of ill engulf him, yet what awful waves entomb! So until a mortal creature sees the final day of all, Happy let him while he waits and watches no man living call Till the homeward race has touched the barrier free from hurt or fall. [Exeunt omnes. CEDIPUS UP AT COLONOS SCENE.-The Hill of Colonos near Athens. A road from Left leads to the Sacred Grove of the Eumenides, which is fenced with natural rock: at some point in its circuit the rock affords a natural seat. Enter DIPUS and ANTIGONE, weary and travel-stained, by the road from L. Ed. Child of the old man blind, Antigone, What lands are these? In whose domains are we? Less than my little. Let me not complain. Teach patience: and noblesse is there to second. The walls that case the town are far aloof. There chant within it nightingales thick-flown. Here lay you down on this unpolished stone. Long miles for aged limbs you've left behind. Ed. Ay: settle me down here, and watch the blind. [ANTIGONE leads him to the seat and composes him there. Ant. 'Tis not Time's fault, if you must tell me that ! Ant. Well, shall I ask direction somewhere near? [A Man of the Country is descried approaching Ant. Nay, better, 'tis inhabited. I doubt We need not-for I see a man about. Ed. This way approaching? He begins to move? Enter the COUNTRYMAN. Ant. Why, no, for now he's reached us! Speak you can Whose eyes do duty for herself and me- Of dread powers, daughters of the Earth and Ed. Teach me to pray them! What's this name so great? |