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CR.
First on this very point, hear me declare–

OED.
I will not hear that thou art not a villain.

CR.
Thine is a shallow judgement, if thou thinkest
Self-will without true thought can bring thee gain.

OED.
Thine is a shallow judgement, if thou thinkest
Thou canst abuse thy kinsman and be free.

CR.
A rightful sentence. But I fain would learn
What wrong is that you speak of?

OED.
Tell me this;
Didst thou, or not, urge me to send and bring
The reverend-seeming prophet?

CR.
Yea, and still
I hold that counsel firm.

OED.
How long is ‘t now
Since Laius–

CR.
What? I do not catch your drift.

OED.
Vanished in ruin by a dire defeat?

CR.
‘Twere long to count the years that come between.

OED.
And did this prophet then profess his art?

CR.
Wise then as now, nor less in reverence.

OED.
Then at that season did he mention me?

CR.
Not in my hearing.

OED.
But, I may presume,
Ye held an inquisition for the dead?

CR.
Yes, we inquired, of course: and could not hear.

OED.
Why was he dumb, your prophet, in that day?

CR.
I cannot answer, for I do not know.

OED.
This you can answer, for you know it well.

CR.
Say what? I will not gainsay, if I know.

OED.
That, but for your advice, he had not dared
To talk of Laius’ death as done by me.

CR.
You know, that heard him, what he spake. But I
Would ask thee too a question in my turn.

OED.
No questioning will fasten blood on me.

CR.
Hast thou my sister for thine honoured queen?

OED.
The fact is patent, and denial vain.

CR.
And shar’st with her dominion of this realm?

OED.
All she desires is given her by my will.

CR.
Then, am not I third-partner with you twain?

OED.
There is your villany in breaking fealty.

CR.
Not so, if thou wouldst reason with thyself
As I do. First consider one thing well:
Who would choose rule accompanied with fear
Before safe slumbers with an equal sway?
‘Tis not my nature, no, nor any man’s,
Who follows wholesome thoughts, to love the place
Of domination rather than the power.
Now, without fear, I have my will from thee;
But were I king, I should do much unwillingly.
How then can I desire to be a king,
When masterdom is mine without annoy?
Delusion hath not gone so far with me
As to crave more than honour joined with gain.
Now all men hail me happy, all embrace me;
All who have need of thee, call in my aid;
For thereupon their fortunes wholly turn.
How should I leave this substance for that show?
No man of sense can harbour thoughts of crime.
Such vain ambition hath no charm for me,
Nor could I bear to lend it countenance.
If you would try me, go and ask again
If I brought Phoebus’ answer truly back.
Nay more, should I be found to have devised
Aught in collusion with the seer, destroy me,
Not by one vote, but two, mine own with thine.
But do not on a dim suspicion blame me
Of thy mere will. To darken a good name
Without clear cause is heinous wickedness;
And to cast off a worthy friend I call
No less a folly than to fling away
What most we love, the life within our breast.
The certainty of this will come with time;
For time alone can clear the righteous man.
An hour suffices to make known the villain.