Thee, O Colonos, first of Knights, whose name
[Pointing to a statue
They bear in brotherhood and own for theirs.
Such. friend, believe me, is this place, not praised
In story, but of many a heart beloved.
Oed. Then is the land inhabited of men?
Ath. By men, who name them from Colonos there.
Oed. Have they a lord, or sways the people’s voice?
Ath. Lord Theseus, child of Aegeus, our late king.
Oed. Will some one of your people bring him hither?
Ath. Wherefore? What urgent cause requires his presence?
Oed. He shall gain mightily by granting little.
Ath. Who can gain profit from the blind?
Oed. The words
These lips shall utter, shall be full of sight.
Ath. Well, thou look’st nobly, but for thy hard fate.
This course is safe. Thus do. Stay where I found thee,
Till I go tell the neighbour townsmen here
Not of the city, but Colonos. They
Shall judge for thee to abide or to depart. [Exit
Oed. Tell me, my daughter, is the man away?
Ant. He is gone, father. I alone am near.
Speak what thou wilt in peace and quietness.
Oed. Dread Forms of holy Fear, since in this land
Your sanctuary first gave my limbs repose,
Be not obdurate to my prayer, nor spurn
The voice of Phoebus, who that fateful day,
When he proclaimed my host of ills to come,
Told me of rest after a weary time,
Where else but here? ‘When 1 should reach my bourne,
And find repose and refuge with the Powers
Of reverend name, my troubled life should end
With blessing to the men who sheltered me,
And curses on their race who banished me
And sent me wandering forth.’ Whereof he vouched me
Sure token, or by earthquake, or by fire
From heaven, or thundrous voices. And I know
