CHORUS
(Str. 1)
Ills on ills! no pause or rest!
Come they from our sightless guest?
Or haply now we see fulfilled
What fate long time hath willed?
For ne’er have I proved vain
Aught that the heavenly powers ordain.
Time with never sleeping eye
Watches what is writ on high,
Overthrowing now the great,
Raising now from low estate.
Hark! How the thunder rumbles! Zeus defend us!
OEDIPUS
Children, my children! will no messenger
Go summon hither Theseus my best friend?
ANTIGONE
And wherefore, father, dost thou summon him?
OEDIPUS
This winged thunder of the god must bear me
Anon to Hades. Send and tarry not.
CHORUS
(Ant. 1)
Hark! with louder, nearer roar
The bolt of Zeus descends once more.
My spirit quails and cowers: my hair
Bristles for fear. Again that flare!
What doth the lightning-flash portend?
Ever it points to issues grave.
Dread powers of air! Save, Zeus, O save!
OEDIPUS
Daughters, upon me the predestined end
Has come; no turning from it any more.
ANTIGONE
How knowest thou? What sign convinces thee?
OEDIPUS
I know full well. Let some one with all speed
Go summon hither the Athenian prince.
CHORUS
(Str. 2)
Ha! once more the deafening sound
Peals yet louder all around
If thou darkenest our land,
Lightly, lightly lay thy hand;
Grace, not anger, let me win,
If upon a man of sin
I have looked with pitying eye,
Zeus, our king, to thee I cry!
OEDIPUS
Is the prince coming? Will he when he comes
Find me yet living and my senses clear!
ANTIGONE
What solemn charge would’st thou impress on him?
OEDIPUS
For all his benefits I would perform
The promise made when I received them first.
CHORUS
(Ant. 2)
Hither haste, my son, arise,
Altar leave and sacrifice,
If haply to Poseidon now
In the far glade thou pay’st thy vow.
For our guest to thee would bring
And thy folk and offering,
Thy due guerdon. Haste, O King!
[Enter THESEUS]
THESEUS
Wherefore again this general din? at once
My people call me and the stranger calls.
Is it a thunderbolt of Zeus or sleet
Of arrowy hail? a storm so fierce as this
Would warrant all surmises of mischance.
OEDIPUS
Thou com’st much wished for, Prince, and sure some god
Hath bid good luck attend thee on thy way.
THESEUS
What, son of Laius, hath chanced of new?
OEDIPUS
My life hath turned the scale. I would do all
I promised thee and thine before I die.
THESEUS
What sign assures thee that thine end is near?
OEDIPUS
The gods themselves are heralds of my fate;
Of their appointed warnings nothing fails.
THESEUS
How sayest thou they signify their will?
OEDIPUS
This thunder, peal on peal, this lightning hurled
Flash upon flash, from the unconquered hand.
THESEUS
I must believe thee, having found thee oft
A prophet true; then speak what must be done.
OEDIPUS
O son of Aegeus, for this state will I
Unfold a treasure age cannot corrupt.
Myself anon without a guiding hand
Will take thee to the spot where I must end.
This secret ne’er reveal to mortal man,
Neither the spot nor whereabouts it lies,
So shall it ever serve thee for defense
Better than native shields and near allies.
But those dread mysteries speech may not profane
Thyself shalt gather coming there alone;
Since not to any of thy subjects, nor
To my own children, though I love them dearly,
Can I reveal what thou must guard alone,
And whisper to thy chosen heir alone,
So to be handed down from heir to heir.
Thus shalt thou hold this land inviolate
From the dread Dragon’s brood. [4]The justest State
By countless wanton neighbors may be wronged,
For the gods, though they tarry, mark for doom
The godless sinner in his mad career.
Far from thee, son of Aegeus, be such fate!
But to the spot–the god within me goads–
Let us set forth no longer hesitate.
Follow me, daughters, this way. Strange that I
Whom you have led so long should lead you now.
Oh, touch me not, but let me all alone
Find out the sepulcher that destiny
Appoints me in this land. Hither, this way,
For this way Hermes leads, the spirit guide,
And Persephassa, empress of the dead.
O light, no light to me, but mine erewhile,
Now the last time I feel thee palpable,
For I am drawing near the final gloom
Of Hades. Blessing on thee, dearest friend,
On thee and on thy land and followers!
Live prosperous and in your happy state
Still for your welfare think on me, the dead.
[Exit THESEUS followed by ANTIGONE and ISMENE]
