But hence, begone, nor urge my temper further,
Thou author of abominable falsehood.
HIGH PRIEST.
Thou callest me hypocrite, and base impostor;
Thy father thought not so.
ŒDIPUS.
Who? Polybus?
My father, saidst thou?
HIGH PRIEST.
Thou wilt know too soon
Thy wretched fate: to-day shall give thee birth;
To-day shall give thee death: unhappy man,
Tell me who gave thee birth, or say with whom
Thou livest, beset with sorrows and with crimes
For thee alone reserved. O Corinth! Phocis!
Detested nuptials! impious wretched race,
Too like its parent stem! whose deadly rage
Shall fill the world with horror and amaze.
Farewell.
SCENE V.
ŒDIPUS, PHILOCTETES, JOCASTE.
ŒDIPUS.
His last words fix me to the earth
Immovable; my passion is subsided;
I know not where I am: methinks some god
Descended from above to calm my rage;
Who to his priest imparted power divine,
And by his sacred voice pronounced my ruin.
