Thes. For what design? Speak! I will not oppose thee.
Œdip. Where I shall conquer those who cast me forth.
Thes. That were great boon for this thy stay with us.
Œdip. If what thou say'st abides with thee in act.
Thes. Fear not as touching me; I ne'er will fail thee.
Œdip. I bind thee not, like baser men, by oaths.650
Thes. No more by that thou'dst gain than from my word.
Œdip. How wilt thou act then?
Thes. What alarms thee most?
Œdip. Men will come here . . . .
Thes. Let these take charge of them.
Œdip. Beware, in leaving me . . . .
Thes. Nay, tell me not
What to beware.
Œdip. And yet I needs must, fearing . . . .
Thes. Fear my heart knows not.
Œdip. Thou know'st not their threats.
Thes. But this I know, that no man of them all
Shall drag thee off from hence against my will.
Full many men have uttered many a threat
In random wrath, but when their mind is calm,
The threatenings vanish and are seen no more.660
If they, perchance, waxed fierce, and spake big words
About thy going back, yet I know well
They 'll find the sea full wide and rough for them.
I bid thee, then, apart from my resolve,
Take heart, if it was Phœbos sent thee here:
And, even in my absence this I know,
My very name will guard thee from all harm. [Exit.
