Hide me immediately away from men!
Kill me outright, or fling me far to sea,
Where never ye may look upon me more.
Come, lend your hand unto my misery!
Comply, and fear not, for my load of woe
Is incommunicable to all but me.
Ch. With timely presence to fulfil thy need
With act and counsel, Creon comes, who now
Is regent o’er this people in thy room.
Oed. Alas, what shall I say to him? What plea
For my defence will hold? My evil part
Toward him in all the past is clearly proved.
Enter Creon.
Cr. I come not, Oedipus, to mock thy woes,
Nor to reproach thee for thine evils past.
But ye, (to Chorus) if all respect of mortal eye
Be dead, let awe of the universal flame
Of life’s great nourisher, our lord the Sun,
Forbid your holding thus unveiled to view
This huge abomination, which nor Earth
Nor sacred Element, nor light of Heaven
Can once endure. Convey him in with speed.
Religion bids that kindred eyes and ears
Alone should witness kindred crime and woe.
Oed. By Heaven, since thou hast reft away my fear,
So nobly meeting my unworthiness,
I pray thee, hear me for thine own behoof.
Cr. What boon dost thou desire so earnestly?
Oed. Fling me with speediest swiftness from the land,
Where nevermore I may converse with men.
Cr. Doubt not I would have done it, but the God
Must be inquired of, ere we act herein.
Oed. His sacred utterance was express and clear,
The parricide, the unholy, should be slain.
Cr. Ay, so ’twas spoken: but, in such a time,
We needs must be advised more perfectly.
Oed. Will ye then ask him for a wretch like me?
Cr. Yea. For even thou methinks wilt now believe.
