TIRESIAS

Gramercy Lord, what is your noble will? Know this, that for I did with graven advise, Foretell the Citizens of Athens town, How they might best with lose of little blood, Have victories against their enemies, Hath be the cause why I do wear this Crown, As right reward and not unmeet for me. Long have I be within the town of Thebes, Since that I tied this trusty tongue of mine From telling truth, fearing Eteocles: Yet, since thou dost in so great need desire I should reveal things hidden unto Thee, For common cause of this our common weal, I stand content to pleasure Thee herein. But first, that to this mighty God of yours There might some worthy sacrifice be made, Let kill the fairest goat that is in Thebes, Within whose bowels when the Priest shall look, And tell to me what he hath there espied, I trust advise Thee what is best to done. Take here the salt, and sprinkle therewithal About the neck, that done, cast all the rest Into the sacred fire, and then annoynte The knife prepared for the sacrifice. Oh mighty Jove, preserve the precious gift That thou me gave, when first thine angry Queen, For deep disdain did both mine eyes do out, Grant me, I may foretell the truth in this, For, but by Thee, I know that I ne may, Ne will ne can, out trusty sentence say, With knife then stick y kid. Now cast at once into the holy flame The sweet incense, and then advertise Me What hew it bears, and every other rite That ought may help the truth for to coniecte. Stay there, suffy eth this for to have seen, Know Creon, that these outward seemly signs By that the Gods have let me understand Who understandeth all and seeth secret things, Betokeneth that the City great of Thebes Shall Victor be against the Greekish host, If so consent be given, but more than this I list not say: Creon make me not stay By force. Sir it's not from ̄ Thee I flee, but from this fortune foul and fell. Thou Creon seemest now desirous still It to preserve: but if as well as I Thou knewest that which is to Thee unknown, Then wouldst thou not so soon consent thereto. And dost thou then so instantly request To know which way thou mayest the same preserve? Then will I satisfy Thy greedy mind in this: but first tell me, Menetius where is he? I pray Thee send him out some other where. I would not have him hear what I should say. And shall I then while he is present speak? Then Creon shalt thou know: the mean to save This City, is, that thou shalt lea thy son, And of his body make a sacrifice For his Country: lo here is all you seek So much to know, and since you have me forced To tell the thing that I would not have told, If I have you offended with my words, Blame then your self, and eke your forward fate. Even that, that heaven Hath ordained once, and needs it must ensue. Though evil for Thee, yet for thy country good. "Above all things we ought to hold it deer. "For continued ̄ more ̄ weal, were well, that one man wail. "Best Citizens care least for private gain. "Lo, thus the truth doth always hatred get. "The harm that continued ̄ mes from heaven can not be escaped. "What heaven hath done, that can not I undo. And wouldst thou have me learn to make a lie? That will I not: But in thy woe to yield Thee some relief, I tell Thee once, thou shalt be Lord of Thebes. Which happen of thine this string did well declare, Which from the heart does out alonely grow. So did the piece corrupted plainly show, And argument most evident to prove Thy son his death. I neither ought, ne will keep it so close. Ne blame not me, but blame the stars for this. We ought believe the cause is good and joust. "A fool is he accuseth heavens of wrongs. Then this that heaven commands can not be ill. Because I tell Thee that does Thee displease. Go daughter go, o what a fool is he That puts in use to publish prophecies? "For if he do foretell a forward fate, "Though it be true, yet shall he purchase hate: "And if he silence keep, or hide the truth, "The heavy wrath of mighty Gods ensueth. Apollo he might well tell things to come, That had no dread the angry to offend: But hie we daughter hence some other way. Contrary then to that which I have said, The incest foul, and childbirth monstruous Of Jocasta, so stirs the wrath of Jove, This city shall with bloody channels swim, And angry Mars shall overcome it all. With famine, flame, rape, murder, dole and death: These lusty towers shall have a headlong fallen, These houses burnde, and all the rest be razed, And soon be said, here whilom Thebes stood. One only way I find for to escape, Which both would Thee displease to hear it told, And me to tell percase were perilous. Thee therefore with my travel I commend To Jove, and with the rest I will endure, What so shall chance for our adversity. And what enthralls hath it?