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CH.
Prudence bids hearken to such words, my lord,
For fear one fall. Swift is not sure in counsel.

OED.
When he who hath designs on me is swift
In his advance, I must bethink me swiftly.
Should I wait leisurely, his work hath gained
Achievement, while my plans have missed success.

CR.
What would you then? To thrust me from the land?

OED.
Nay, death, not exile, is my wish for thee,
When all have seen what envy brings on men.

[
CR.
You’ll ne’er relent nor listen to my plea.][4]

OED.
You’ll ne’er be governed or repent your guilt.

CR.
Because I see thou art blind.

OED.
Not to my need.

CR.
Mine must be thought of too.

OED.
You are a villain.

CR.
How if thy thought be vain?

OED.
Authority
Must be maintained.

CR.
Not when authority
Declines to evil.

OED.
O my citizens!

CR.
I have a part in them no less than you.

LEADER OF CH.
Cease, princes. Opportunely I behold
Jocasta coming toward you from the palace.
Her presence may attune your jarring minds.

[Enter JOCASTA.]

JOCASTA.
Unhappy that ye are, why have ye reared
Your wordy rancour ‘mid the city’s harms?
Have you no shame, to stir up private broils
In such a time as this? Get thee within!

(To OED)

And thou too, Creon! nor enlarge your griefs
To make a mountain out of nothingness.

CR.
Sister, thy husband Oedipus declares
One of two horrors he will wreak on me,
Banishment from my native land, or death.

OED.
Yea, for I caught him practising, my queen,
Against our person with malignant guile.

CR.
May comfort fail me, and a withering curse
Destroy me, if I e’er planned aught of this.

JO.
I pray thee, husband, listen to his plea;
Chiefly respecting his appeal to Heaven,
But also me, and these who stand by thee.

CH.
1. Incline to our request
Thy mind and heart, O King!

OED.
What would you I should yield unto your prayer?

CH.
2. Respect one ever wise,
Whose oath protects him now.

OED.
Know ye what thing ye ask?

CH.
3. I know.

OED.
Then plainly tell.

CH.
4. Thy friend, who is rendered sacred by his oath,
Rob not of honour through obscure surmise.

OED.
In asking that, you labour for my death
Or banishment. Of this be well assured.

CH.
5. No, by the Sun I swear,
Vaunt-courier of the host of heaven.
For may I die the last of deaths,
Unblest of God or friend,
If e’er such thought were mine.
But oh! this pining land
Afflicts my sorrow-burdened soul,
To think that to her past and present woe
She must add this, which springs to her from you.

OED.
Then let him range, though I must die outright,
Or be thrust forth with violence from the land!
–Not for his voice, but thine, which wrings my heart:
He, wheresoe’er he live, shall have my hate.

CR.
You show yourself as sullen when you yield,
As unendurable in your fury’s height.
Such natures justly give themselves most pain.