But know, there is not one of all mankind

That shall be bruised more utterly than you.

OEDIPUS

Must I endure to hear all this from him?

Hence, to perdition! quickly hence! Begone

Back from these walls, and turn you home again.

TIRESIAS

But that you called me, I had not come hither.

OEDIPUS

I did not know that you would utter folly;

Else I had scarce sent for you, to my house.

TIRESIAS

Yea, such is what we seem, foolish to you,

And to your father’s, who begat you, wise.

OEDIPUS

What father’s? Stop! Who was it gave me being?

TIRESIAS

This day shall give you birth and death in one.

OEDIPUS

How all too full of riddles and obscure

Is your discourse!

TIRESIAS

Were you not excellent

At solving riddles?

OEDIPUS

Ay, cast in my teeth

Matters in which you must allow my greatness!

TIRESIAS

And yet this very fortune was your ruin!

OEDIPUS

Well, if I saved this city, I care not.

TIRESIAS

Well,

I am going; and you, boy, take me home.

OEDIPUS

Ay, let him.

Your turbulence impedes us, while you stay;

When you are gone, you can annoy no more.

[Retires.

TIRESIAS

I go, having said that I came to say;

Not that I fear your frown; for you possess

No power to kill me; but I say to you—

The man you have been seeking, threatening him,

And loud proclaiming him for Laius’ murder,

That man is here; believed a foreigner

Here sojourning; but shall be recognized

For Theban born hereafter; yet not pleased

In the event; for blind instead of seeing,

And poor for wealthy, to a foreign land,

A staff to point his footsteps, he shall go.

Also to his own sons he shall be found

Related as a brother, though their sire,

And of the woman from whose womb he came

Both son and spouse; one that has raised up seed

To his own father, and has murdered him.

Now get you in, and ponder what I say;

And if you can detect me in a lie,

Then come and say that I am no true seer.

[Exeunt TIRESIAS and Boy.

Chorus.

I. 1.

Who is he, who was said

By the Delphian soothsaying rock

To have wrought with hands blood-red

Nameless unspeakable deeds?

Time it were that he fled

Faster than storm-swift steeds!

For upon him springs with a shock,

Armed in thunder and fire,

The Child of Jove, at the head

Of the Destinies dread,

That follow, and will not tire.

I. 2.

For a word but now blazed clear

From Parnassus snow-covered mound, *

To hunt down the Unknown!

He, through the forest drear,

By rocks, by cavernous ways,

Stalks, like a bull that strays,

Heartsore, footsore, alone;

Flying from Earth’s central seat,

Flying the oracular sound

That with swift wings’ beat

For ever circles him round.

II. 1.

Of a truth dark thoughts, yea dark and fell,

The augur wise doth arouse in me,

Who neither assent, nor yet gainsay;