ŒDIPUS THE KING.
SCENE—Thebes. In the background, the palace of Œdipus; in front, the altar of Zeus, Priests and Boys round it in the attitude of suppliants, with olive and laurel branches in their hands, entwined with woollen threads.
Enter Œdipus.
Œdip. Why sit ye here, my children, youngest brood
Of Cadmos famed of old, in solemn state,
Your hands thus wreathèd with the suppliants' boughs?
And all the city reeks with incense smoke,
And all re-echoes with your hymns and groans;
And I, my children, counting it unmeet
To hear report from others, I have come
Myself, whom all name Œdipus the Great.—
Do thou, then, agèd Sire, since thine the right
To speak for these, tell clearly how ye stand,
In terror or submission; speak to me 10[1]
As willing helper. Heartless should I be
To see you prostrate thus, and feel no ruth.
Priest. Yea, Œdipus, thou ruler of my land,
Thou seest our age, who sit as suppliants, bowed
- ↑ These numerals refer to the Greek text, not to the translation.
