Part 4 (1/2)

CREON What's mean'st thou? All I know I will declare.

OEDIPUS But for thy prompting never had the seer Ascribed to me the death of Laius.

CREON If so he thou knowest best; but I Would put thee to the question in my turn.

OEDIPUS Question and prove me murderer if thou canst.

CREON Then let me ask thee, didst thou wed my sister?

OEDIPUS A fact so plain I cannot well deny.

CREON And as thy consort queen she shares the throne?

OEDIPUS I grant her freely all her heart desires.

CREON And with you twain I share the triple rule?

OEDIPUS Yea, and it is that proves thee a false friend.

CREON Not so, if thou wouldst reason with thyself, As I with myself. First, I bid thee think, Would any mortal choose a troubled reign Of terrors rather than secure repose, If the same power were given him? As for me, I have no natural craving for the name Of king, preferring to do kingly deeds, And so thinks every sober-minded man.

Now all my needs are satisfied through thee, And I have naught to fear; but were I king, My acts would oft run counter to my will.

How could a t.i.tle then have charms for me Above the sweets of boundless influence?

I am not so infatuate as to grasp The shadow when I hold the substance fast.

Now all men cry me G.o.dspeed! wish me well, And every suitor seeks to gain my ear, If he would hope to win a grace from thee.

Why should I leave the better, choose the worse?

That were sheer madness, and I am not mad.

No such ambition ever tempted me, Nor would I have a share in such intrigue.

And if thou doubt me, first to Delphi go, There ascertain if my report was true Of the G.o.d's answer; next investigate If with the seer I plotted or conspired, And if it prove so, sentence me to death, Not by thy voice alone, but mine and thine.

But O condemn me not, without appeal, On bare suspicion. 'Tis not right to adjudge Bad men at random good, or good men bad.

I would as lief a man should cast away The thing he counts most precious, his own life, As spurn a true friend. Thou wilt learn in time The truth, for time alone reveals the just; A villain is detected in a day.

CHORUS To one who walketh warily his words Commend themselves; swift counsels are not sure.

OEDIPUS When with swift strides the stealthy plotter stalks I must be quick too with my counterplot.

To wait his onset pa.s.sively, for him Is sure success, for me a.s.sured defeat.

CREON What then's thy will? To banish me the land?

OEDIPUS I would not have thee banished, no, but dead, That men may mark the wages envy reaps.

CREON I see thou wilt not yield, nor credit me.

OEDIPUS [None but a fool would credit such as thou.] [3]

CREON Thou art not wise.

OEDIPUS Wise for myself at least.