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OEDIPUS
My life hangs in the scale: and I fain would die guiltless of bad faith
to thee and to this city, in respect of my pledges.
THESEUS
And what sign of thy fate holds thee in suspense?
OEDIPUS
The gods, their own heralds, bring me the tidings, with no failure in
the signs appointed of old.
THESEUS
What sayest thou are the signs of these things, old man?
OEDIPUS
The thunder, peal on peal,—the lightning, flash on flash, hurled from
the unconquered hand.
THESEUS
Thou winnest my belief, for in much I find thee a prophet whose voice
is not false;—then speak what must be done.
OEDIPUS
Son of Aegeus, I will unfold that which shall be a treasure for this thy
city, such as age can never mar. Anon, unaided, and with no hand to guide
me, I will show the way to the place where I must die. But that place reveal
thou never unto mortal man,—tell not where it is hidden, nor in what
region it lies; that so it may ever make for thee a defence, better than
many shields, better than the succouring spear of neighbours.
But, for mysteries which speech may not profane, thou shalt mark them
for thyself, when thou comest to that place alone: since neither to any of
this people can I utter them, nor to mine own children, dear though they
are. No, guard them thou alone; and when thou art coming to the end
of life, disclose them to thy heir alone; let him teach his heir; and so
thenceforth.
And thus shalt thou hold this city unscathed from the side of the
Dragon's brood;—full many States lightly enter on offence, e'en though
their neighbour lives aright. For the gods are slow, though they are sure,
in visitation, when men scorn godliness, and turn to frenzy. Not such be
thy fate, son of Aegeus.—Nay, thou knowest such things, without my
precepts.
But to that place—for the divine summons urges me—let us now set
forth, and hesitate no more.—(As if suddenly inspired, he moves with
slow but firm steps towards the left of the scene, beckoning the others