Racine: Phaedra

86
SOPHOCLES
Since thou alone art left a father to them,
(For we their parents perish utterly,)
Suffer them not to wander husbandless,
Nor let thy kindred beg their daily bread,
Nor make them sharers with me in my woe
But look on them with pity, seeing them
At their age, but for thee, deprived of all.
noble soul, I pray thee, touch my hand
In token of consent. And ye, my girls,
Had ye the minds to hearken I would fain
Give ye much counsel. As it is, pray for me
To live where'er is meet ; and for yourselves
A brighter life than his ye call your sire.
Creon.—Enough of tears. Go thou within the house.
CEdipus.— I needs must yield, however hard it be.
Creon.—In their right season all things prosper best.
CEdipus.—Know'st thou my wish?
Creon.— Speak and I then shall know.
QEdipus.—That thou should'st send me far away from home.
Creon.—Thou askest what the gods alone can give.
CEdipus.—As for the gods, above all men they hate me.
Creon.—And therefore it may chance thou gain'st thy wish.
CEdipus.—And dost thou promise?
Creon.— When I mean them not,
1 am not wont to utter idle words.
CEdipus.—Lead me, then, hence.
Creon.— Go thou, but leave the girls.
CEdipus.—Ah, take them not from me
Creon.— Thou must not think
To hold the sway in all things all thy life
The sway thou had'st did not abide with thee.
Chorus.—Ye men of Thebes, behold this CEdipus,
Who knew the famous riddle and was noblest.
Whose fortune who saw not with envious glances ?
And, lo ! in what a sea of direst trouble
He now is plunged. From hence the lesson learn ye,
To reckon no man happy till ye witness
The closing day ; until he pass the border
Which severs life from death, unscathed by sorrow.