One falls and one doth rear
Against the city's stern, with clamour rude
Its triple crest—between, fence slight to save, 760
The breadth of wall extends. I fear
Lest with its kings the city be subdued.
Strophe IV.
For the dread reconcilements now at last,
Of curses breathed of old, fulfilment find,
Nor doth the fated mischief lag behind.
When wealth of merchants seeking gain
O'erweighted is, into the briny main
From the ship's stern the precious freight is cast.
Antistrophe IV.
For to what mortal did or gods or men,
His co-mates of the State, such honour pay, 770
And diverse-nurtured multitudes, as then
To Œdipus they paid, whose hand
Had from the ravening monster purged the land,
That riddling post which seized on men for prey.
Strophe V.
But when, unhappy wight,
Apprised of his dire wedlock, anguish-fraught,
Stung with intolerable pain,
Frenzied at heart, he twofold mishcief wrought;
For with the hand that had his father slain, 780
His proper eyes he did bereave of sight.[1]
- ↑ The epithet κρεισσοτέκνων being considered corrupt, I have omitted it.
