by W. B. Yeats
OEDIPUS. What is it, my child? What is it, Antigone?
ANTIGONE. A girl in a Thessalian sunbonnet upon one of those young horses from Etna. But can it be she, or does my sight deceive me? Is it all my imagination? No, I cannot be certain, but it is, it is; she is waving her hand. She is flinging herself from her horse. She is here.
Enter Ismene
OEDIPUS. What are you saying, child?
ANTIGONE. It is your daughter and my sister, Ismene. You will know in a moment, for she is going to speak.
ISMENE. Father and sister, I had a long search before I found you — you who are more dear to me than anybody in the world, — and now can hardly see because of my tears.
OEDIPUS. YOU have come, my child.
ISMENE. Old man, you have had a dreadful life.
OEDIPUS. But you are here, my child.
ISMENE. Yes, after much toil.
OEDIPUS. Touch me, my daughter.
ISMENE. A hand for both of you.
OEDIPUS. Children — sisters.
ISMENE. Yes, child and sister, a twice wretched life.
OEDIPUS. Her life and mine.
ISMENE. Mine also.
OEDIPUS. Child, what has brought you?
ISMENE. Care for you, father.
OEDIPUS. That you may see me?
ISMENE. Yes, and because there is news that I cannot trust to any mouth but my own.
OEDIPUS. Your brothers might have brought it.
ISMENE. They are — where they are. It is their dark hour.
OEDIPUS. Their dark hour? A true saying, for both in character and in life they are like those Egyptians who send out their wives to earn their daily bread but keep the house themselves. My daughters carry their father’s burden while their brothers stay at home in comfort like women. One, since she came into a woman’s strength, has been the guide of the old blind man. Often hungry and barefoot, often vexed by rain or summer’s heat, often travel-weary amid waste places; and always that her father might have protection, indifferent to her own comfort. And you, my child, have been my messenger and my watcher, bringing, unknown to the men of Thebes, every oracle that touched upon my fate. And now what news, what message, what oracle have you brought? What words of terror? For you have not come empty-handed.
ISMENE. I went through much before I found you, father, but let that pass, for I will not talk of myself but of the misfortunes that afflict your two sons. I have come to tell you of those misfortunes. At first they had only one thought, to save the city from the curse our family has brought upon it; that it might escape further pollution they made no claim upon the throne but let Creon have it. But now, driven mad by some God or stirred up by their own wickedness, they have both claimed the throne. The younger, and therefore the more excitable of the two, has seized it and driven the elder son Polyneices into banishment; but he, or so it has been rumoured, is in Argos, and has gathered soldiers there. He plans to bring Thebes under the rule of Argos. I have brought you an evil tale, father; when will the Gods have pity upon you?
OEDIPUS. YOU still hope that they will have pity?
ISMENE. Yes, father, I have that hope. There have been new oracles.
OEDIPUS. What are they? What has been foretold that I can fix my hopes upon?
ISMENE. A day will come when the men of Thebes will long for the living man that he may bequeath to them his bones.
OEDIPUS. SO they know it at last, know that I am good still for something.
ISMENE. YOU shall make them strong or weak as you please.
OEDIPUS. I have been made into nothing; am I to be made into a man once more?
ISMENE. Yes, the Gods unmade you and the Gods remake you.
OEDIPUS. A poor gift to a man to abase his youth and exalt his age.
ISMENE. However that may be, Creon is coming to talk of these things and may be here sooner than you think.
OEDIPUS. What brings him, daughter?
ISMENE. To set you somewhere outside the Theban border, yet near enough to be within their power.
OEDIPUS. What good can I do beyond the border?
ISMENE. If an enemy’s country possess your bones, they will bring it victory.
OEDIPUS. SO the oracle has spoken at last.
ISMENE. Yes, you must not be your own master, so they will have you for a neighbour but not for a Theban.
OEDIPUS. But if I die in that place, will they bury me in Theban earth?
ISMENE. NO, father, they dread pollution.
OEDIPUS. Then never shall they be my masters.
ISMENE. A day is coming when that shall be a great grief to Thebes.
OEDIPUS. What do you know of that?
ISMENE. They will come in arms and you will blast them from the tomb.
OEDIPUS. Where had you these things, child?
ISMENE. I had them from the messengers of Delphi.
OEDIPUS. Yes; Apollo has said these things?
ISMENE. Men went from Thebes to Delphi and brought back the news.
OEDIPUS. DO my sons know it?
ISMENE. Both. They know it well.
OEDIPUS. Then they are base indeed not to have used the oracle for my recall.
ISMENE. And not to the border but into the city itself.
OEDIPUS. They are afraid of offending; they think more of the kingship and of their struggle for it than of their own father.
ISMENE. Your words fill me with grief, but I cannot contradict you.
OEDIPUS. Then may no God turn them from this war, may spear meet spear till I blast them from the tomb! I shall permit neither the son that now holds the throne to keep his throne, nor the son that is banished to return. They neither raised up their hands nor their voices to defend me driven out to shame and wandering. Say if you will that when the city drove me out it did the very thing I asked of it. No, I say, no! Upon that first day, when my soul was all in tumult and the dearest wish of my heart was to die, though I were to be stoned to death, no man would grant me my desire; but later on, when a long time had passed, when the tumult in my soul had passed, when I began to feel that in my anger against myself I had asked for punishments beyond my deserts, the city drove me out. My sons, who might have hindered, did nothing, though one word could have changed everything, and I their father was driven out to wander through my whole life as a beggar and an outcast. I owe my daily bread and whatever I have found of care and shelter to my daughters, to these two girls.
Their brothers have preferred the mob’s favour; yes, they have trafficked with it and bartered away their father for throne and sceptre. Never, never shall Oedipus be ally of one or the other, never shall the throne of Thebes be lucky to one or the other. I meditate upon the new prophecies the girl has brought, and when I speak, Phoebus Apollo speaks. Nor shall I help the men of Thebes whether it be Creon that they send or any other that may be great amongst them. But, strangers, if you are willing to help, if these Dreadful Goddesses are willing, I shall deliver your country from all its enemies.
CHORUS. Who could refuse compassion to Oedipus and his daughters? — and you have added another claim upon us, that you can deliver this country. Yet I have advice to give, and you shall be the better for it.
OEDIPUS. Advise me, sir, and whatever that advice be I shall take it.
CHORUS. Make prayer and atonement to the Dark Goddesses, for you have trespassed upon their ground.
OEDIPUS. How shall I go about it, stranger?
CHORUS. Draw water from the spring well over there.
OEDIPUS. And when I have drawn the water?
CHORUS. There are three bowls made by a famous potter.
OEDIPUS. Yes; what must I do?
CHORUS. Pour out three streams of water, facing to the spot where the sun rises.
OEDIPUS. A stream from each bowl?
CHORUS. Yes; and be careful to empty the last bowl completely.
OEDIPUS. And when the earth has drunk it?
CHORUS. Put three times nine sprays from an olive-tree upon that earth, and pray.
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OEDIPUS. What are the words that I must say? That is what chiefly matters.
CHORUS. Remind them to be good to suppliants, seeing that they are called the Good People, and then pray for whatever you most need, but do not move your lips, or if you move your lips do not permit them to make any sound, and having prayed come from the place without looking behind you. Do this, and I will help you all I can.
OEDIPUS. These are men of the neighbourhood, daughters; you have heard them.
ANTIGONE. We have heard them; what would you have us do?
OEDIPUS. I cannot go, for I have neither sight nor strength, but let one of you two go, for I think that one can perform a rite of this kind. If it be done with goodwill, one can make an atonement for ten thousand men. Go quickly, but one must remain here, for I am helpless without a guide.
ISMENE. I will go. I will perform the rite, but where shall I find the spot? Direct me.
CHORUS. On the further side of the wood, lady, and there is a custodian of the shrine who has everything that you will want.
ISMENE. Take care of our father, Antigone, until I return.
[She goes.
CHORUS. It is a terrible thing, stranger, to stir that old grief of yours, but there are things I long to know.
OEDIPUS. Must I tell all again?
CHORUS. I am thinking of that heavy sorrow, that sorrow for which there is no cure, of all that heavy burden which you have borne.
OEDIPUS. You should be too considerate to probe into my shame; am I not your guest?
CHORUS. I only speak of it because that tale has gone everywhere. I would know the true facts.
OEDIPUS. O misery!
CHORUS. Do not deny me.
OEDIPUS. Misery! Misery!
CHORUS. I have answered all your questions.
OEDIPUS. Every misfortune that I have suffered came from what I did in ignorance. I swear to God that I did nothing of my own will.
CHORUS. HOW did that come about?
OEDIPUS. Thebes gave me the wife that brought the curse upon me.
I knew nothing.
CHORUS. IS it true then that you lay with your own mother?
OEDIPUS. O misery! For you have spoken words that are cruel as death, and those two girls that I begot —
CHORUS. What is it that you say?
OEDIPUS. Those two daughters, those two curses.
CHORUS. O God!
OEDIPUS. The womb that bore me bore them also.
CHORUS. They are at once your children and —
OEDIPUS. My children and my sisters!
CHORUS. O horror!
OEDIPUS. Horror indeed, every horror has again swept back upon me; my soul is drowned.
CHORUS. You have suffered.
OEDIPUS. Suffered dreadful things.
CHORUS. But you have sinned.
OEDIPUS. Sinned without knowledge.
CHORUS. I do not understand.
OEDIPUS. I tell you that Thebes gave her to me. Would that I had never served that city, never been rewarded by it, miserable that I am.
CHORUS. But that is not all the tale; there was somebody that you killed.
OEDIPUS. So you must still question?
CHORUS. YOU killed your own father!
OEDIPUS. Another stab! Have I not suffered enough?
CHORUS. You killed him!
OEDIPUS. Yes; but I can plead —
CHORUS. What can you plead?
OEDIPUS. And plead justly.
CHORUS. And what can you plead?
OEDIPUS. That those whom I slew would have taken my own life, and that therefore I am innocent before the law. No evil intent brought me into this misery.
CHORUS. Our King Theseus comes, summoned by the messenger. Theseus, son of Aegeus, will hear and judge all that you have to say.
Enter Theseus
THESEUS. Son of Laius, I have long known you by hearsay and of the cruel putting out of your eyes, and now you stand visible before me, a ragged man with a disfigured face. I am full of compassion, Oedipus; I have come to find out why you have taken up your stand in this place, you and this luckless girl, and what you would ask of Athens and of myself? I will not refuse it, for I myself have been in exile, nor has any living man been in greater peril of his life than I. Never will I reject such a wanderer; what am I but a man, and I may suffer to-morrow what you suffer to-day.
OEDIPUS. Theseus, you have put great nobleness into a few words, and why should I speak many words? You have named me aright and named my father aright, and you know from what land I come; I will say what I must and so finish the tale.
THESEUS. Say it, for I am all ears.
OEDIPUS. I offer you as a gift this battered body; though hideous to look upon, it brings a blessing greater than beauty.
THESEUS. What blessing?
OEDIPUS. That you shall know later.
THESEUS. But the blessing? When does it come?
OEDIPUS. When I am dead and you have given me a grave.
THESEUS. That is the last gift of all, the last service hands can do. Is there nothing that you would have between this and then?
OEDIPUS. Nothing. Give me that and I have all the rest.
THESEUS. This is a trifling thing you ask.
OEDIPUS. It is no trifling thing. Weigh well what you do; it will stir up rancour.
THESEUS. What? Between your sons and me?
OEDIPUS. Yes, and before you bury me.
THESEUS. HOW could that be?
OEDIPUS. They may come to carry me to Thebes.
THESEUS. But if they come, why remain in exile?
OEDIPUS. When I would, they would not.
THESEUS. It is folly to make ill-fortune worse by temper.
OEDIPUS. Blame me when you have heard my story, not before.
THESEUS. Speak. I would not blame you from ignorance.
OEDIPUS. I have suffered an unheard-of wrong.
THESEUS. YOU mean that ancient misery?
OEDIPUS. NO. Who in all Hellas but knows that?
THESEUS. What new grief is this that no man has seen the like of?
OEDIPUS. I have been driven from my country by my own children, banished by them as my father’s murderer.
THESEUS. Then why should they come to fetch you?
OEDIPUS. Compelled by an oracle from the God.
THESEUS. Because of some misfortune it foretells?
OEDIPUS. That they shall be conquered if they do not, conquered by
Athens.
THESEUS. Why should Thebes and Athens fight? What can disturb the friendship between myself and Thebes?
OEDIPUS. Friendly son of Aegeus, the Gods neither grow old nor die, but all else is subject to change. Bodily strength and earth’s fertility decay, man’s trust in man dies out and enmity takes its place. Not even the best of friends can keep in the same mood toward one another, nor can city toward city, for be it soon or late men find the bitter better than the sweet, and then again, it may be, turn to the sweet. All is sweet to-day between Thebes and you, but the known goes and the unknown comes in its stead, and men take to the spear for any trifle. My body shall be asleep and buried, and yet, if Phoebus, son of God, spoke truth and God be God, it shall, though cold in death, drink hot Theban blood. But these are mysteries I may not speak. Ask no more. I end the tale where I began it — do that which you have promised and you shall not, unless the God has cheated me, make Oedipus welcome and get nothing in return.
CHORUS. From the first moment, King, he has promised this or some like thing.
THESEUS. Who would reject the friendship of such a man? His house and mine are ancient allies, he promises great gifts to our city, and he is the suppliant of the Gods. I cannot refuse what he asks. I admit his claim and establish him as citizen amongst us. Whatever choice you make, Oedipus, whether to remain here under the protection of these men or to live with me in my own house, your will shall be my will.
OEDIPUS. The blessing of God upon such men as this!
THESEUS. What is your
decision? Will you come into my house?
OEDIPUS. I would were it lawful — but this is the place.
THESEUS. The place for what? I will not thwart you —