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CHORUS
What ho, people, rulers of the land, ho, hither with all speed,
hither I These men are on their way to cross our borders!
(THESEUS enters with his attendants in haste.)
THESEUS
What means this shout? What is the trouble? What fear can have
moved you to stay my sacrifice at the altar unto the sea-god, the lord of
your Colonus? Speak, that I may know all, since therefore have I sped
hither with more than easeful speed of foot.
OEDIPUS
Ah, friend,—I know thy voice,—yon man, but now, hath done me foul
wrong.
THESEUS
What is that wrong? And who hath wrought it? Speak!
OEDIPUS
Creon, whom thou seest there, hath torn away from me my two children,—mine
all.
What dost thou tell me?
Thou hast heard my wrong.
THESEUS
OEDIPUS
THESEUS {to his attendants)
Haste, one of you, to the altars yonder,—constrain the folk to leave
the sacrifice, and to speed—footmen,—horsemen all, with slack rein,—
to the region where the two highways meet, lest the maidens pass, and I
become a mockery to this stranger, as one spoiled by force. Away, I tell
thee—quick!—{Some guards go out. Turning towards CREON) AS for
yon man—if my wrath went as far as he deserves—I would not have
suffered him to go scatheless from my hand. But now such law as he himself
hath brought, and no other, shall be the rule for his correction.—
(Addressing CREON) Thou shalt not quit this land until thou bring those
maidens, and produce them in my sight; for thy deed is a disgrace to me,
and to thine own race, and to thy country. Thou hast come unto a city
that observes justice, and sanctions nothing without law,—yet thou hast
put her lawful powers aside,—thou hast made this rude inroad,—thou art
taking captives at thy pleasure, and snatching prizes by violence, as in the
belief that my city was void of men, or manned by slaves, and I—a thing
of nought.