naturalness between the child and the parent; death, dearth, dissolutions of ancient amities."[1]
"O son of Ægeus, unto Gods alone
Nor age can come, nor destined hour of death;
All else the almighty ruler Time sweeps on.
Earth's strength shall wither, wither strength of limb,
And trust decays, and mistrust grows apace;
And the same spirit lasts not among them
That once were friends, nor joineth state with state.
To these at once, to those in after-years
Sweet things grow bitter, then turn sweet again.
And what, if now at Thebes all things run smooth,
And well towards thee, Time, in myriad change,
A myriad nights and days brings forth; and thus
In these, for some slight cause, they yet may spurn
In battle all their pledge of faithfulness.
And then this body, sleeping in the grave,
All cold and stiff shall drink warm blood of men,
If Zeus be Zeus, and his son Phœbus true."—(P.)
Theseus is convinced by the sincerity of Œdipus, and declares that he will never give up a suppliant guest, bound to him by ancient friendship—so rich in the present favour of the gods, and in the future blessings which will flow from his presence in the land. He will not give him up, despite of the threats of Creon and all his host; "for," he adds, with all the pride of a Bayard, "my heart knows no fear"—
"My very name will guard thee from all harm."
The famous chorus which follows is associated with a personal anecdote of the old age of Sophocles. It is
- ↑ King Lear, Act i. sc. 2.
