Oedipus
960
Unblushing insolence! falls this reproach
960
On my hoar head, or on thine own? while thus
960
Thy tongue descants on murders, nuptial rites,
And miseries which, unhappy, I sustain'd
Of guilt not conscious; so it pleased the gods,
Of old perchance enraged at some offence
Of those from whom I sprung; for fault in me,
965
To warrant this reproach thou canst not find
Against myself committed, or my house.
For tell me, to my father if the voice
Of oracles declared that he should fall
Slain by his sons, me justly for the deed
Dost thou revile? I had not being then.
970
If by ill fate (and that ill fate was mine)
I in fierce conflict 'gainst my father stood,
And slew him, nothing knowing whom my hand
Opposed, canst thou revile me for a deed
Unknowingly committed? But, thou wretch,
Dost thou not blush that of my mother's bed
975
Thou hast constrain'd me to make mention, since
She was thy sister? I will speak of it
Briefly (for what would silence now avail?)
Since thy unhallow'd tongue hath touch'd that point.
She brought me forth, ah me! she brought me forth,
980
O my unhappy fate! then bore me sons,
980
Her foul reproach, unconscious I of guilt,
Of guilt unconscious she. But this I know,
Me thou hast willingly reviled, and her;
Unwillingly I wedded her, and now
Unwillingly speak this. Yet shall my name
985
Fear from these nuptials no reviling tongue,
Nor from my father's death, the constant theme
Of thy malignant censure: for with truth
Answer me this, should one with boisterous force
Instant attack thy life, no wrong by thee
First offer'd, wou'dst thou nice inquiry make
990
Whether thy father made the rude assault;
Or wou'dst thou in a moment strive t' avenge
The wrong? I think, if that thou lovest thy life,
Thou wou'dst avenge thee of the ruffian strait,
Nor with slow caution ponder what is right.
On ills like these with erring steps I ran,
995
Led by the gods? nor would my father's shade,
Could it return to life, I think, reply
Opposing my just plea. But thou, whose soul
No justice rules, prompted by impious pride
To utter all, though honour bids thy tongue
1000
Be silent, in this presence hast presumed:
1000
To charge me thus with base and slanderous blame.
Yet canst thou stoop with adulation bland
To fawn on Theseus, and th' Athenian state
As train'd to righteous laws; but 'midst thy praise
Of this forgetful, that if ever land
1005
Knew with due honours to revere the gods,
Athens in this hath high pre-eminence..
Yet in this state thy thievish hand hath seized,
Its hoary supplicant, and borne away
My virgin daughters. Touch'd with wrongs like these
Bending before these awful pow'rs I breathe
1010
My ardent supplications, and invoke
Their succour, their protection, that thy pride
May learn what men are guardians of this state.
