Chor. Thy pride is great, my friend,
If that thou thinkest thus to work thy will.
Creon. And yet I think it.
Chor. Then our country 's lost.
Creon. In a just cause the weak o'erpowers the strong.
CEdip. Hear ye what things he utters?
Chor. Things which he880
Shall ne'er accomplish!
Creon. Zeus knows that, not thou!
Chor. And is not this an outrage?
Creon. Outrage! aye;
Still thou must bear it!
Chor. Ho! ye people, come!
Ye rulers of this land come quickly—haste!
These men are getting far upon their way.
Enter Theseus, followed by Athenians.
Thes. What means this cry? What do ye? What ill fearing
Have ye thus stopped me in the act of slaughter,
Even at the altar, to the God of Ocean,
Guardian of this Colonos? Tell your tale out,
That I may know why I have rushed in haste thus,
With greater speed than one would walk for pleasure.890
Œdip. Ο dearest friend!—for well I know thy voice—
At this man's hands I suffer fearful wrongs.
Thes. What are they? Who has injured thee? Speak on!
Œdip. This Creon, whom thou seest, has torn from me
The only pair that I as children claim.
Thes. How say'st thou?
Œdip. What I suffer thou hast heard.
Thes. Let some one, then, to yonder altars go
With utmost speed to summon all the people,
