Creon
583
Dost thou appear a base and faithless friend.
Not so; wou'dst thou, like me, with temperate thought
Ponder things well. For first reflect, what man
Would choose to be a king, with all the fears
585
On royalty awaiting, might he sleep
Secure of fear, yet kingly pow'r possess ?
It is not in my nature, nor in his
Who knows what wisdom is, to form a wish
To be a monarch, rather than to use
590
A monarch's potency. All things from thee
I now obtain, nor feel the pangs of fear.
Were I a king, I should do many things
Against my will: can then the regal state
Be sweeter to me than my princely rank,
595
And pow'r that knows not care? Nor is my mind
By falsehood so beguiled, that it aspires
To honours which no real good procure.
Now all things give me pleasure; all men now
Greet me with courtesy; now all, who want
600
Favours from thee, address me, for their suits
Through me they all obtain. And shall I quit
These solid pleasures for the empty pomp
Of royalty? A mind to wisdom train'd
Can not be so depraved: I never loved
To form such measures, nor in such would deign
605
To share with others. Dost thou want a proof?
Go to the Pythian shrine, and there inquire
If faithfully the answer of the god
I have reported: if thou find me leagued
In counsels with the Seer, put me to death,
610
And in the sentence shall my voice assent
With thine: but on suspicion void of proof
Condemn me not: the just not lightly deem
The base man honest, or the honest base.
For he, that throws a faithful friend away,
615
616
Doth himself equal wrong as if he threw
His life away, which is most dear to him.
625
This thou wilt know in time; for time alone
Shows a just man; the base a day unveils.
