But shall preserve his country. When I first
Came to the throne of Thebes, I served it well;
And, as I mounted, now I shall descend
In glory: honor shall attend my fall:
I leave my country, kingdom, children, all.
Then hear me now, hear my last parting words;
A king you must have; let him be my choice;
Take Philoctetes: he is generous, noble,
Virtuous, and brave; his father was a king,
And he the friend of Hercules; let him
Succeed me: I must hence.—Go, search out Phorbas;
Bid him not fear, but come this moment hither,
I must bequeath him something; he deserves it:
I'll take my farewell as a monarch ought.
Go, bring the stranger to me—stay ye here.
SCENE II.
ŒDIPUS, ARASPES, ICARUS, Attendants.
ŒDIPUS.
Ha! is it thou, my much-loved Icarus!
The faithful guardian of my infant years,
Favorite and friend of Polybus, my father,
What brought thee hither?
ICARUS.
Polybus is dead.
ŒDIPUS.
Alas? my father!
ICARUS.
'Twas what we expected;
For he had filled the measure of his days,
And died in good old age; these eyes beheld it.
