OEDIPUS

(Oh thrice unhappy state.) With horror all dismayed I stand in dreaded of threatened fate. I am ashamed my destinies fowl (Oh Queen) to thunder out, And openly to blaze my fear my trembling mind does doubt: Yet out it goes. Phœbus me bids my Mother's Bed to fly. As though that I her Son, with her incestuously should lie. This fear, and only this me caused my father's kingdom great For to forsake. I fled not thence when fear the mind does Beatrice. The restless thought still dreads the thing, it knows can never chance. Such fancies now torment my heart, my safety to advance, And eke thine ever sacred laws (Oh Nature) for to keep A stately Sceptre I forsook, yet secret fear does creep Within my breast: and frets it still with doubt and discontent, And inward pangs which secretly my thoughts a sunder rend. So though no cause of dreaded I see, yet fear and dreaded I all, And scant in credit with my self, my thoughts my mind appall That I cannot persuaded be though reason tell me no, But that the Web is weaving still of my decreed woe. For what should I suppose the cause? a Plague that is so general, And Cadmus country wholly spoils, and spreads it self through all? Should me, amongst so huge a heap of plagued Bodies spare? And we alone amongst the rest reserude to mischiefs are? Oh heavy hap. And bide I still alone the spoil to see? Of Cities great, of men, of beasts, by plague that wasted be? And thou amongst so many ils, a happy life to led, Couldst once persuade thy self (Oh wretch) without all fear or dread. Of Phœbus secret Judgements to, and that in Kings estate? Thou, thou, infected hast the air, in such a filthy rate. Thou art the only cause of woe: by thee these evils rise, By thee to graven on such a sort, this wretched people plies. The firy flaming frying heat, afflicted hearts that wasts, Is not relieude as wont it was by cold and pleasant blasts. The gentle western winds have left with healthful puffs to blow, And now the fiery Dog with blaze of boiling heat does glow. The Sun in Leo burns so hot, and so the earth does broil, That floods and herbs are dried up, and nought remains but soil, So thoroughly schorcht and stued with heat, that moisture all is gone, And now amongst so many floods, remains alas not one. The places dry are only seen the streams are drunken up. And water that does yet remain: the soaking Earth does sup. The Moon with clouds quite over cast, all sadly she glides, And doleful darksome shades of night the who world over hides. No Star on high at all does shine, but black and hue Hath overshaded all the Skies, whence deadly mists ensue. The corn that wonted was to grow and fruitfully to spring, Now to the voided Barns nought else, but empty stalks does bring. No partly of all our kingdom is free from destruction: But all together run and rush, to utter confusion. The old men with the young (alas:) the with the child The plague consumes. Both man & wife, all beasts both tame & wild Are spoiled by the Pestilence. No pomp at all remains, That wonted was in Funerals, to ease the mourners pains. Alas this spoil of people made, by plague hath dryde mine eyes: And secretly within my breast, the grief it boiling fries. And that, that wonted is to hap, in most extremest ills: My tearees are dry and glutting grief my wretched breast it fills. The crazed father bears the son, unto their dampish graves: And after him with burden Like, the Mother comes and raves: And even lamenting as they stand, both they fallen, And mourners new in Like estate, for them they call. Who likewise in the amid of all their oil and painful pain Do drop into the graven they dug, and so the place do gain That was prepar' de for others erst. A hell it were to here The horror, and the Misery's that every where appe re. A Tomb is made for noble men, fast on the people die, And in, their burdens fling. Great Peers all unregarded lie. For lack of Graves, to Ashes clean their bodies some do wast And some half burned do leave them there, and home away for hast They run, & more they fetch, and then wood, fire, graven, and all Does want. And down for very grief the wretched misers fallen. No prayers avail. No Art can help this raging Plague t'appease: For none almost is left alive each others woe to ease. Before thine altars here Oh God my feeble hands I hold, Requiring all my destinies, at once with courage bold. And that by death I may prevent, my Country pressed to fallen. For this, and only this (Oh God) upon thy name I call. Let me not be the last that die: The last that goes to Grave. Grant this, and then (Oh mighty Jove ) my full request I have. Oh cruel Gods unkind: Oh more than thrice unhappy Fates: That only me denied is, that lights on all Estates. I mean a speedy death (alas) these evils to prevent And deadly woe rage itorment. Leave of thy blubb ring kingdoms foylde With rotten plagues & boil, and graves each where dispoylde. All which diseases thou unhappy guest didst bring with thee Dispatch. Away. Gpe hence. At least, unto thy parents flee. (Good Fortune can no mean observe, but still she preaseth higher.) He that to much does use ill will to fear, Unskilful is: and knows not how, he ought him self to bear In kings estate. For fear alone does Kingdoms chiefly keep. Than he that thus does arm himself from fear all free may sleep. Were any slain in his defence? Now, now, thou w fi st heart. This, this, and only this (alas,) is cause of all my smart. What made thee in those woods to rau ̄ ge? what hadst thou there to do? What nots, what privy marks hast thou, whereby thou dost me know? Declare forthwith what was his name y gave me unto thee. What was his name? What? canst thou know y man by sighed? Sirs bid the Herdsmen forth w to driven their Beasts to Altars all. Away with speed, make hast, the Master Shepherds to me call. Can any mischief greater be? than this that now I fear. When things be at the worst, of them a man may safely move. No (father) no I warrant that: repent not I (I trow.) I seek it not to that intent. I have decreed to know, The matter at the full. Wherefore I will it now pursus. Lo Phorbas: where he trembling coms, with comely aged h . To whom of all the kings flack than, the care and charge was endue. Dost thou his name, his speech his Face, or yet his person know? Didst thou once give this man A Child. Speak out, why dost thou stay? if so, declare it than. Why dost thou blush and doubting stand, troth seeks no delay? Confess thou slave, orels I swear, thou that constrained be Why dost thou say the child is dead, that thou this man didst give? Whose child was tell e forthw. Thine Oath thou slave? Some fire here. I'll charm thine Other and thee, With fire & flames: except forthwith thou tell the troth to me. Oh gaping earth devour my body quite: Or else thou God that art of houses void of light, To Hell my Saul with thunder bolts to Hell my Soul down drive. Where grisly Ghosts in dark ness deep, and endless pain do live. For thee alone, these Plagues do rage. For thee these mischiefs rise. For thee, the Earth lies desolate. For thee thou wretch the Skies Infected are. For thee, for thee, and for the slithy lust, A hundred thousand guiltless men, consumed are to dust. Oh people throw: cast heaps of stones upon this hateful Head: Both all your swords within my breast: you furies ouershed My restless thoughts, with raging woes and plunged in seas of pain. Let me those ho ̄ rrors still endure, which damned souls sustain. You citizens of Stately Thebes vex me with torments dile. Let Father, Son, and Wife, and all with vengeance me rsue. Let those that for my sake alone with plagues be Throw dar S, cast stones, fling f er and slames, and tortures all on me. Oh shame: Oh slander of the World: Oh hate of Gods above. Confounder Oh of Nature thou to laws of sacred love, Even from thy birth and open Foe. Thou didst deserve to die As soon as thou wast born. Go, go, unt the Court thee hie, There with thy Mother (slave) triumph rejoice as thou mayest do. Who hast thy house increased with unhappy children so. Make haste with speed, away, some thing thy mischiefs worthy find. And on thy self wreck all the spite of thy revenging mind. FOrtune the guide of human life does all things chau ̄ ge at will. And stirri ̄ g still, w to restless thoughts our wretched mi ̄ des does fill. In vain men strive their stats to keep when ̄ hidrous to ̄ pests rise: And blustering winds of dangers deep sets death before their eyis. Who says he does her fawning feel? & chau ̄ geth not his mind, When fickle fight of Fortune's wheel does turn by course of kind. These grievous plagues from ̄ private house to princely Thrones do flow, And oft their minds with cares they souse and thick upon the ̄ strow. Whole heaps of grief and dire debate, a woeful thing to see: A Princely life to misers state, converted for to be. Oh Oedipus thy fatal fallen, thy dreadful mischiefs right. Thy doleful state, thy misery, thy thrice unhappy plighted: These things shall blaze through all y world: what heart may the ̄ rejoice At thy distress? I can no more: my tears do stop my voice. But what is he that yonder stamps? and raging puffs and blows. And often shakes his vexed head, some mischief great he knows. Good sir your countnaunce does import some great and fearful thing, Tell us therefore (if that you may) what news from Court you bring. Who troubles me? Let me alone. I thought not to be found: Who now restores mine Eyes to me, Mother? or Mother's sound? Our labour all is spent in vain, now may we meet no more. The Seas divide those meetings vile that we have had before. The gaping earth divide us both, th'one from th'other quite. Still let our feet repugnant be. So shall I shun the light That most of all me grieves. So shall I space obtain to wail These bleeding woes on every side, that do my thoughts assail. Nay, Fear could n u cause me sloupe nor Fortune cast me down. My manly winds was never thraule to vain and peau h fears, But evermore in each courage bears. No not a thousand glister g swords, nor Mars himself in field. Can once dismay my Countenuance, or cause my heart to yield. The very Giants fierce and huge in fight withstand I dare. That Monster Sohinx whose riddels through the world renowned are Could not dismay my deedles heart, nor cause my courage slide For all the terrors I behold. I did that Fury bide. I saw him belching G bs of blood, I v wde full well the field That all to lay with blood, and bones quite ouerheelde. And when y he on Mountains top with mouth full huge to see. Stood gaping all with greedy Jaws to feed and pray on me, Oft fluttering with his fearful wings and shaking oft his raise, Began full Like a Lion with threats me to assail. Of whom straight way the Riddle I, it rush into mine ears With roaring found His wings he claps, the Rock for hast he tears. Destring with my Bowels still his greedy Jaws to glu : But I full soon assoiled had the question that he put. And all the subtle points there of, and twisted know S vntwinde. The ashes of that Monster vile, against us does rebel. That vile mishapen loathsome Beast, that raging Fiend of Hell. Is cause of all the plague that does this mournful City smite. Now only this remains alone, if Phœbus heavenly might, Can any means invent for us, or way of mercy make: Whereby these burning Plagues at length may haply chasice to slake. Oh More then thrice renow i'ld Stock of ancient Cadmus Raze. Oh mighty Thebes City grear, Oh heavy ruthful Case. Lo now you lie all desolate, with Plague devoured quite. Both you and all your Husbandmen. (O miserable sighed.) Oh fowl and fearful Fate (alas) what causeth all this aid? Oh God whence springs this Pestilence that us so? No age, no shape, no form is sparde, but all confounded lie. Thus happiest now y man I count, whose chance was first to die. For he hath shunned a thousand ils, which wretched Eyes have seen: And mischiefs great that us do pr sse from him are taken clean. Oh God withhold thy fury great, thy Plagues from us re du . Cease of afflicted Souls to scourge, who thee, and oue. Pour down on them diseases fowl, that them deserved have. A Guerdon joust for sin (O God) this this of thee we ave, And only this. We ask no more, the cause and all is thine, A thing not used of Gods it is, from pity to decline. My heart does vant, and trembling cold through all my limbs does run, As oft as I remembering, count the noble Stocks v un, By death and doleful destinies that overwhelmed lie, And yet alas the people still to Grave do faster hie. In long Array all in a rank by thousands on a oh , On every side, in every street to burial fast, they go. The seven broad wide open Gates, are not forway, But thronged the people pestered stand still in a fearful stay, And in the mydst of all their toil with corpses on their backs, The number that before does post the hinder number slacks The corpses in the streets do lie and Grave on Grave is made. But all in vain. For nought it boots the plague bestayde. The sacrifices done to Gods would e to to ill success. And such strange sights & signs do rise that nought else I can guess, But that at hand with ghastly paws, is utter destruction, With thousand ills accompanied and extreme confusion. The sheep of rot by heaps as thick, as dogs do fallen and worser e And belching out their wasted lunges, on ground do sprawling lie. And I my self of late did see: (a sighed unseen before,) As our high priest stood sacrificing at the Temple door, And strake with grievous bloody wound the golden horned Bull When down with lifeless lump he drop and members made full dull. And all the would wide bleeding gapes & black goars blood out spews. And yet the blade unsprinkled was. The blood it buying And bubbles on the ground. Alas what do these things por end? O mighty Jove at length vouchsafe some good and would y end. At length withhold thy h worser (Oh God) and health unto us send. Nothing (alas) remains at all, in woe ed old estate, But all are tu ed to p to down, quite void and desolate The famting horse for bank his burden tats. And after on : Who cries for help that bide Unkept: unknown ways and path do range and overstride. The Bull and me a e in field all fainting lies. And, all his flock , fely Shepherd die. The his zatal breath expiers And to the hisfast esters. The do live in aretched peace. The rage, and wrathful founds of ramping Lions cease. The vengeance Bears are now as am as sheep The ugly Serpent that was wont the Rocky Den es to keep. Oft quaffing poisoned in inward hea . she boils, for longer lie e she toils. The woods are withfresh and lively hue The wonted shades are gone. All things are quite out of their Que: No greenish grass on ground does grow, the earth no moisture soups. The Vine without ap, his drowsy head down drowpes. What shall I say? all but of course, And as they worse and worse. Oh mighty yls? When cease loud thus fierce and raging spills? I think but we almost alive, there do no men remain: Whom Darrs on earth have left unslain. I think shades of hell where filthy floods do flow, Where plagues and vile diseases too, where dreadful horrors grow, And mischiefs on us throw, With Botch & blame e of sundry kinds which sother blasts do blow, And wrekful vexed hags of hell do dreath and on us bring: The angry feddes of hell I think their vengea ce, on us fling And out their mortal poison spue which they against us bear. Lo see how greedy death on us with scowling eyes does lere. See, see. O Jove how fast he throws his Darts. Not one he spares But all confounds. His threatening force, withstand no Creature dares. No doubt the loathsome Feryman the sinful souls that trains Through stinking floods, his labour loths that he for us sustains. Such press by plum ̄ psalm to him is made which still renews his pains. But hark yet more ̄ sters more the ̄ these, the Fame abroad does fly That hellish Dogs w to bawling found were herd to howl and cry, And y the ground with trembling shook, and under feel did move. And dreadful blazing Comets bright were seen in Skies above. And ghastly shapes of men beside, to wander on the ground. And wood, and trees on every side, did fearfully resound. Beside all this strau ̄ g Ghosts were seen in places where they stood. And Rivers more then one or two, that ran all black goorb blood. Oh cruel plague, Oh vile discase, far worse then speedy death. Oh we unhappy thrice and more, who do prolong our breath. In these accursed days and times. But hark to me a while. When first this Iothsome plague begins these Misers to defile, It takes them thus. A fearful Cold through all their bones does r n,] And Cold and Heat together mixed, their see es all benome. Than little loathsome marks appear, and all their bodies spot. And all their members slamming glow, and burning fast do rot. The Lights, the Lungs, the heart, the Guts, and all that inward lies. And all the secret parts iscorcht, with deadly, I fire fries. The blood all clotterd in their Cheeks, in cluster lies by lumps. And it and heat together makes, great, strange, and ruddy bumps. And blood and flesh congealed stands, in Face as stiff as stake. And Eyes in head fast fixed set, and often trickling make. And down apace whole floods they steam, and clots & drops do trill, And all the skin from of their Face, by flakes and scales does pill. A thousand fearful sounds at once, into their ears do rush. And loathsome blood out of their Nose, by stilling streams does gush. The very anguish of their heart does cause them for to shake. And what with pain & heal, and fear, their wearied limbs do quake. Then some the ru ̄ ning Rivers haunt, and some on gro and ce . And some again their thirst to slake, cold water gulping . Thus all our country ost with plague in Griefy it waltering . And still desiring for to die, a thousand death's it die. But God to hear them then is pressed: and death to none . Besides all this, the church some do frequent: but not to pray, But only for to glut the Gods, with that that they do say. But who is this that comes to Court in hast with posting pace? What? is't Creon that noble Prince (for deeds and stately raze?) Or does my mind oppressed with care things false for true contrive? Creon it is long looked for, his sighed does me reuyue. A iraytor he is, who stle ̄ ce keeps, when ̄ king continued ̄ mands to speak. Was ever man rebuked for that, that he was bid to say? The thing I always feared, I see upon me now is laid: But slender props they are (God wot) whereby your Treason is stayed. Meropa my Mother deer, shall me from this defend: Polybius eke shall purge me quite, from Actions all, that tend To murder, or to incest vile, they both shall me excuse. In such a case no means at all of trial I refuse. Lay what you can unto my charge. No fault in me remains. The Thebans long or I came here, of Laius death complains. My Mother yet alive, my Father still in Like estate. No, no, this is some dol ishe drift, of the false Prophets pate. Or else some mighty God above, does bear me no good will, And seeks by Plagues on me to wreke, his wrathful vengeance still. Ah Sir I am glad at length I smell your drifts and fetches fine. I know the whole confederacy your sleights I can untwine. That beastly Priest, that blearayed wretch beelyes the Gods and me: And thee thou Traitor in my place hath promised king to be. And dost thou me exhort thou laue my kingdom for to leave? Oh saythlesse head. Oh shameless heart, y could such treasons weave? Darest thou attempt thou villayae vile this thing, to me to break? And fearest thou not in such a cause so boldly for to speak. The surest way for them that gape for kingdoms large, & wide, Is first things mean, and rest, and peace, and base estate to praise: And yet with Tooth and Nail, to toil to mount aloft always. So often times, most restless beasts do chiefly rest commend. Time is the only means for such, as thou to work their will. Were unto you at any time my life, my deeds descried? Did any man defend me yet? or else my causes plead? And guiltless yet I am condemn'de to this you do me lead, And me express example give, which I intend to take. What measure you do meat to me, like measure must I make. He that in amid of perils deep, and dau ̄ gers hath be cast, Does seek all means to shun Like ills as he hath overpassed. Come take this traitor vile away, In dungeon deep him fast Enclose. There for his endue deserts, let him abide such pain And scourge of mind (as meet it is) false traitors to sustain. S Et, see, the miserable State, of Princes careful life. What raging storms? what bloody broils? what toil? what endless strife Do they endure? (Oh God) what plagues? what grief do they sustain? A Princely life: No. No. (No doubt) and ever during pain. A state ene fit for men on whom Fortune would wreke her will. A place for Cares to couch them in. A door wide open still For griefs and dangers all that been to enter when they list. A king these Mates must ever have, it boots not to resist. Whole floods of privy pinching fear, great anguish of the mind: Apparent plagues, & daily griefs. These playfayres Princes find. And other none, with whom they spend, and pass their wretched days. Thus he that Princes lives, and base Estate together ways: Shall find the one a very hell, a perfect infelicity: The other eke a heaven right, exempted quite from misery. Let Oedipus example be of this unto you all, A Mirror meet. A Pattern plain, of Princes careful thrall. Who late in perfect Joy as seem'de, and everlasting bliss, Triumphantly his life out led, a Myser now he is, And most of wretched Misers all, even at this present time, With doubtful waves of fear Itost, subject to such a Crime Whereat my tongue amazed stays, God grant that at the last, It fallen not out as Creon told. Not yet the worst is passed, Were there great Bans of men w to him his Person to uphold? It is enough, I know the man that hath this mischief done. The number and the place agrees. The time untried alone Remains: Than tell what time he died, and when that he was slain. Oh God what Fortune vile does me oppress on every side? How do my sorrows still increase? Tell how my Father died. And is he dead: in deed? not slain? what joy may I tonceaue? How may I now triumph? the Gods to witness I do call, To whom are known my hidden thoughts and secret workings all: Now may I li to skies my hands, my hands from mischief free. But yet the chiefest a see of fear remaineth still to me. That I continued ̄ fesse. But secret thoughts my trembling heart do rive With inward doubt of deep distress, my Mother I do fear. This grudge is that continually my heart does rend and tear. I fear not her: but from her sighed, a godly zeal me frays. Least as Apollo hath forefolde, I should a Marriage make With mine own Mother: only this fowl fear does make me quake. What vantage should it be to her adopted Sons to have? What are the means whereby thou dost these secrets understand ̄ worser. Didst thou me to my Father give? Who than gave me to thee? Tell me y troth, what child, & whose, What was his Mother's Spare now. Leave of to speak in vain, spare now Oh Mother me, By these Relics of my dismembered body I thee pray. By mine unhappy Children pledges left. What shall I say? By all the Gods I thee beseech. By all that in my name Is good or bade, let me alone. Alas you are to blame To trouble me. You see what hell my hapless heart does pain. You see that in my Conscience ten thousand horrors rain. Thou God, thou teller out of Fates. On thee, on thee, I call, My Father only I did owe, unto the Destinies all. Now twice a Parricide, and worse than I did fear to be: My Mother I have slain. (Alas) the fault is all in me. Oh Oedipus accursed wretch, lament thine own Calamity, Lament thy state, thy grief lament, thou Caitiff born to misery. Where wilt thou now become (alas?) thy Face where wilt thou hide: Oh miserable Slave, canst thou such shameful torments bide? Canst thou which hast thy Parents slave? Canst thou prolong thy life? Wilt thou not die? deserving Death: thou cause of all the grief, And Plagues, and dreadful mischiefs all that Theban City press. Why dost thou seek by longer life, thy sorrows to increase? Why dost thou toil and labour thus in vain? It will not be. Both God, and man: and beast, and all abhor thy Face to see Oh Earth why gapst thou not for me why do you not unfold You gates of hell me to receive? why do you hence withhold? The fierce Infernal Fiends from me, from me so wretched wight? Why break not all the Furies loose this hateful head to smite With Plagues? which them deserved hath (alas) I am left alone, Both light, and sighed, and comfort all from me (Oh wretch) is gone. Oh cursed head: Oh wicked wight, whom all men deadly hate. Oh Beast, what meanest thou still to live in this unhappy state? The Skies do blush and are ashamed, at these thy mischiefs great The Earth laments, y Heavens weep, the Seas for rage do freat. And blustering rise, and storms do stir, and all thou wretch for thee. By whose incest, and bloody deeds all things disturbed be. Quite out of course, displaced quite, Oh cursed fatal day. Oh mischiefs great, Oh dreadful times, Oh wretch, away, away. Exile thy self from all men's sighed, thy life half spent in misery, Go end consume it now outright in thrice as great calamity. Oh lying Phoebe thine Oracles my sin, and sheme surmount: My Mother's death amongst my deeds; thou never didst recount. A meet Exploict for me that a to Nature deadly Foe. With trembling fearful pace go forth, thou wretched monster go, Grope out thy ways on knees in dark thou miserable Slave. So mayest thou yet in tract of time endue pains, and vengeance have, For thy mischievous life. Thus, thus, the Gods themselves decree. Thus, thus, thy Fates: thus, thus, the skies appoint it for to be. Then headlong hence, with a mischief hence, thou caitiff vile away. Away, away, thou monstrous Beast. Go, Run. Stand, stay, Least on thy Mother thou do fallen. All you that wearied bodies have, with stickenesse ouerprest. Lo, now I fly: I fly away, the cause of your unrest. Lift up your heads: a better state of Air shall Straight ensue When I am gone: for whom alone, these dreadful mischiefs grew. And you that now, half dead yet live in wretched misers case. Help those who ̄ present torments press forth, hie you on apace. For lo, with me I carry hence, all mischiefs under Skies. All cruel Fates, Diseases all that for my sake did rise, With me they go: with me both grief, Plague, Pocks, Botch, & all The ills that either now you press, or ever after shall. With me they go, with me: these Mates been meetest of all for me. Who am the most unhappiest wretch that ever Sun did see. Who doubtful health to sick men brings, all health to the ̄ denies. And Oedipus of Gods it hath things hidden to unfold: Speak out, tell all, and spare not man: all doubts I can discus. Look what the Gods commanded have accomplished shall be. Nor never shall these eyes of mine abide the day to see, A King of kingdom spoiled by force, by guile or crast suppressed. A king to kings the prop ought be, and chiefest cause of rest: No man regards his death at all whom living he does fear, Ought any cause of fear or grief, the duty for to let? It that the Theban Cities great, by doleful plagues destryde. Pierce not thy heart a: et oughtest thou these Kingdoms for to rue, Which were unto thy brother's house, of ancient title endue. Why so? a simple remedy of little force and strength Is ignorance of our estate when dangers us betide. But what? with to thou so great a good for common safety hide? And I likewise at Subjects hands disdain to take a dorre, Speak out with speed, or else by proof of torment thou shalt find How dangerous a case it is to gawle a Princes mind. Go to, dispatch and cease in time to vex me any more. Except that thou forthwith to me this einous deed isclose: The gods I do protest, to death for all thou only goes. Durst any man on earth attem pte, that noble Prince to slay? Show me the man that I may him dispatch out of the way. Let us (sith God continued ̄ mands) forthwith some good atonement make If any way, or means there be their wrathful rage to slake. Thou God that sits on seat on high, and all the world dost guide, And thou by whose commandment the Stars in Skies do glide: Thou, thou that only ruler art of Seas, of Floods, and all. On thee and on thy Godhead great, for these requests I call. Who so hath slain king Laius, o Jove I do thee pray. Let thousand ils upon him fallen, before his dying day. Let him no health ne comfort have, but all to crushed with cares, Consume his wretched years in grief, & though that death him spares Awhile. Yet mischiefs all, at length upon him light. With all the evils under Sun, that ugly monster smite. In exile let him live a Slave, the rated course of life. In shame, in care, in peuury in danger and in strife. Let no man on him pity take, let all men him revile. Let him his Mother's sacred Bed incestuously defile. Limb him his father kill. And yet let him do mischiefs more. What thing more heinous can I wish then that I wished before? Let him do all those illes I say, that I have shunned and passed. All those and more (if more may be) o God upon him cast. Let him no hope of pardon have: but sue and all in vain. All hellish Furies on him light, for to increase his pain. Oh Jove pour down thy fury great, thy thu ̄ dring thumps out throw Let Boreas boisterous blasts and stormy plagues upon him blow Consume him quite. From out his guts w to pocks and botches vile Let all diseases on him light that wretched bodies file. Let these and more (if more may be) upon that Monster fallen. Let Harpies paws and greedy paunch deum ure his members all. Let no man him regard: or seek his limbs in grade to lay: But let him die ten thousand death's before his dying day. By this my Kingdom I do swear, and Kingdom that I left By all my Country Gods that be in Temples closely kept, I swear, I vow, I do protest, and thereto witness take: The Stars, the Seas, the Earth and all that ere thy hand did make. Except that I my self forthwith this bloody monster find, To wreak the wrath of God some way with solemyne oath I bind. And so my father, Polybius his happy days out live. And so my mother Merope, no marriage new contrive: As he shall die that did this deed, and none shall him excuse. Whoso he be here I protest for that he shortly rues: But where this wicked deed was done Creon now tell me plain: Both by what means? & where: and how Ring Laius was slain. Creon. Passing through Castalia woods & mountains heaped with suoe Where groves and scrubs, and bushes thick & brambles sharp do groe. A threepathd crooked way there is that diversely does go. One unto Bacchus city bends that Phoce does hight, The other to Olenius, forth stretcheth out aright: The third that reaches through the vales and by the rivers lies Tends down unto the Banks whereby Ele a, water plies There unawares (Oh piteous chance) a troup of thieves entraps The noble prince, and murders him hence spring these great mishaps which heap you realms with hideous woes and plagues on every side, By joust decree of heavenly powers which can no murder bide. But see Tiresias where he coms with old and trembling pace. I think Apollo's heavenly might have brought him to this place. See where he comes and Manto too, his steps directing stays 'Tis he who for your grace (Oh king) and for your country prays Why than declare from when ̄ ce, and why these deadly signs arise, With courage stout I will it hear, it shall not once aggrise By valiant mind. Extremest ils have power to banish fear. Yet sense the Gods will have him known tell me (I say) his name That sive your King. Than noble Creon thou shalt go, this pain is first for thee: Who must this crown and kingdom great enjoy after me. As though y silence hurts not more both king and countries weal: Then speech oft times: which subjects thoughts to Princes both reveal? Dispatch at once, stir me no more thou knowest my guise of old.