Racine: Phaedra

CEDIPUS REX 63
Creon.— I will go,
By thee misjudged, but known as just by these. [Exit.]
Chorus.—Why, lady, art thou slow to lead him in ?
JocASTA.— I fain would learn how this sad chance arose.
Chorus.—Blind haste of speech there was, and wrong will
sting.
Jocasta.—From both of them ?
Chorus.— Yea, both.
Jocasta.— And what said each?
Chorus.—Enough for me, enough, our land laid low,
It seems, to leave the quarrel where it stopped.
CEdipus.—See'st thou, thou good in counsel, what thou dost,
Slighting my cause, and toning down thy zeal ?
Chorus.—My chief, not once alone I spoke.
Unwise, unapt for wisdom should I seem.
Were I to turn from thee aside.
Who, when my country rocked in storm,
Didst right her course. Ah ! if thou can'st,
Steer her well onward now.
Jocasta.—Tell me, my king, what cause of fell debate
Has bred this discord, and provoked thy soul.
CEdipus.—Thee will I tell, for thee I honor more
Than these. 'Twas Creon and his plots against me,
Jocasta.—Say then, if clearly thou can'st tell the strife.
CEdipus.—He says that I am Laios' murderer.
Jocasta.—Of his own knowledge, or by someone taught?
CEdipus.—A scoundrel seer suborning. For himself.
He takes good care to free his lips from blame.
Jocasta.—Leave now thyself, and all thy thoughts of this,
And list to me, and learn how little skill
In art prophetic mortal man may claim
And of this truth I'll give thee one short proof.
There came to Laios once an oracle,
(I say not that it came from Phcebos' self.
But from his servants,) that his fate was fixed
By his son's hand to fall—his own and mine
And him, so rumor runs, a robber band
Of aliens slay, where meet the three great roads.
Nor did three days succeed the infant's birth.
Before, by other hands, he cast him forth,
Classics. Vol. 30—