Racine: Phaedra

46
SOPHOCLES
Creon.—I, if thou wish, am ready, these being by,
To tell thee all, w gO within the gates.
CEdipus.—Speak out to all. I sorrow more for them
Than for the woe ^hich touches me alone.
Creon.—I then will speak what from the God I heard
King Phoebos bids us chase the plague away
(The words were plain) now cleaving to our land,
Nor cherish guilt which still remains unhealed.
CEdipus.—But with what rites ? And what the deed itself ?
Creon.—Or drive far off, or blood for blood repay
That guilt of blood is blasting all the state.
CEdipus.—But whose fate is it that He pointeth to?
Creon.—Once, O my king, ere thou didst guide our state,
Our sovereign Laios ruled o'er all the land.
CEdipus.—So have I heard, for him I never saw.
Creon.—Now the God clearly bids us, he being dead,
To take revenge on those who shed his blood.
CEdipus.—Yes ; but where are they ? How to track the course
Of guilt all shrouded in the doubtful past?
Creon.—In this our land, so said He ; those who seek
Shall find ; unsought, we lose it utterly.
CEdipus.—Was it at home, or in the field, or else
In some strange land that Laios met his doom ?
Creon.—He went, so spake he, pilgrim-wise afar.
And never more came back as forth he went.
CEdipus.—Was there no courier, none who shared his road,
Who knew what, learning, one might turn to good ?
Creon.—Dead were they all, save one who fled for fear.
And he knew nought to tell but one small fact.
CEdipus [Interrupting] —And what was that ? One fact might
teach us much.
Had we but one small starting-point of hope.
Creon.—He used to tell that robbers fell on him.
Not man for man, but with outnumbering force.
CEdipus.—How could the robber e'er have dared this deed.
Unless some bribe from hence had tempted him ?
Creon.—So men might think; but Laios having died,
There was no helper for us in our ills.
CEdipus.—What ill then hindered, when your sovereignty
Had fallen thus, from searching out the truth ?