Oedipus.

This: that until he talked with thee, the seer

Ne’er spoke of me as Laïus’ murderer.

Creon.

I know not if he hath so spoken now.

I heard him not.—But let me ask and thou

Answer me true, as I have answered thee.

Oedipus.

Ask, ask! Thou shalt no murder find in me.

Creon.

My sister is thy wife this many a day?

Oedipus.

That charge it is not in me to gainsay.

Creon.

Thou reignest, giving equal reign to her?

Oedipus.

Always to her desire I minister.

Creon.

Were we not all as one, she thou and I?

Oedipus.

Yes, thou false friend! There lies thy treachery.

Creon.

Not so! Nay, do but follow me and scan

Thine own charge close. Think’st thou that any man

Would rather rule and be afraid than rule

And sleep untroubled? Nay, where lives the fool—

I know them not nor am I one of them—

Who careth more to bear a monarch’s name

Than do a monarch’s deeds? As now I stand

All my desire I compass at thy hand.

Were I the King, full half my deeds were done

To obey the will of others, not mine own.

Were that as sweet, when all the tale were told,

As this calm griefless princedom that I hold

And silent power? Am I so blind of brain

That ease with glory tires me, and I fain

Must change them? All men now give me God-speed,

All smile to greet me. If a man hath need

Of thee, ’tis me he calleth to the gate,

As knowing that on my word hangs the fate

Of half he craves. Is life like mine a thing

To cast aside and plot to be a King?

Doth a sane man turn villain in an hour?

For me, I never lusted thus for power

Nor bore with any man who turned such lust

To doing.—But enough. I claim but just

Question. Go first to Pytho; find if well

And true I did report God’s oracle.

Next, seek in Thebes for any plots entwined

Between this seer and me; which if ye find,

Then seize and strike me dead. Myself that day

Will sit with thee as judge and bid thee Slay!

But damn me not on one man’s guess.—’Tis all

Unjust: to call a traitor true, to call

A true man traitor with no cause nor end!

And this I tell thee. He who plucks a friend

Out from his heart hath lost a treasured thing

Dear as his own dear life.

But Time shall bring

Truth back. ’Tis Time alone can make men know

What hearts are true; the false one day can show.

Leader.

To one that fears to fall his words are wise,

O King; in thought the swift win not the prize.

Oedipus.

When he is swift who steals against my reign

With plots, then swift am I to plot again.

Wait patient, and his work shall have prevailed

Before I move, and mine for ever failed.

Creon.

How then? To banish me is thy intent?

Oedipus.

Death is the doom I choose, not banishment.

Creon.

Wilt never soften, never trust thy friend?

Oedipus.

First I would see how traitors meet their end.

Creon.

I see thou wilt not think.

Oedipus.

I think to save

My life.

Creon.

Think, too, of mine.