 | Oedipus |  |
ACT V.
SCENE I.
Creon, Alcander, Pyracmon.Cre.
Theres is at length my own; and all my wishes,
Which sure were great as Royalty e're form'd,
Fortune and my auspicious Stars have Crown'd.
O Diadem, thou Center of ambition,
Where all it's different Lines are reconcil'd,
As if thou wert the burning-glass of Glory!
Pyr.
Might I be Counseller, I would intreat you
To cool a little, Sir;
Find out Eurydice;
And, with the resolution of a man
Mark'd out for Greatness, give the fatal Choice
Of death or marriage.
Alc.
Survey curs'd Oedipus,
As one who, tho' unfortunate, 's belov'd,
Thought innocent, and therefore much lamented
By all the Thebans; you must mark him dead:
Since nothing but his death, not banishment,
Can give assurance to your doubtful Reign.
Cre.
Well have you done, to snatch me from the storm
Of racking Transport, where the little streams
Of Love, Revenge, and all the under passions,
As waters are by sucking VVhirl-pools drawn,
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Therefore, Pyracmon, as you boldly urg'd,
Eurydice shall dye, or be my Bride.
Alcander, Summon to their Master's aid
My Menial Servants, and all those whom change
Of State, and hope of the new Monarch's favour,
Can win to take our part: Away. What now?
[Ex. Alcander.
Enter Hæmon.
When Hæmon weeps, without the help of Ghosts,
I may foretel there is a fatal Cause.
Hæm.
Is't possible you should be ignorant
Of what has happen'd to the desperate King?
Cre.
I know no more, but that he was conducted
Into his Closet, where I saw him fling
His trembling Body on the Royal Bed;
All left him there, at his desire, alone:
But sure no ill, unless he dy'd with grief,
Could happen, for you bore his Sword away.
Hæm.
I did; and, having lock'd the door, I stood;
And through a chink I found, not only heard,
But saw him, when he thought no eye beheld him:
At first, deep sighs heav'd from his woful heart,
Murmurs, and groans, that shook the outward Rooms,
And art thou still alive, Oh wretch! he cry'd?
Then groan'd again, as if his sorrowful Soul
Had crack'd the strings of Life, and burst away.
Cre.
I weep, to hear; how then should I have griev'd
Had I beheld this wondrous heap of Sorrow!
But, to the fatal period.
Hem.
Thrice he struck,
With all his force, his hollow groaning breast,
And thus, with out-cries, to himself complain'd.
But thou canst weep then, and thou think'st 'tis well,
These bubbles of the shallowest emptiest sorrow,
Which Children vent for toys, and Women rain
For any Trifle their fond hearts are set on;
Yet these thou think'st are ample satisfaction
For bloudiest Murder, and for burning Lust:
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Weep Eyes, instead of Tears: O, by the Gods,
'Tis greatly thought, he cry'd, and fits my woes.
Which said, he smil'd revengefully, and leapt
Upon the floor; thence gazing at the Skies,
His Eye-balls fiery Red, and glowing vengeance;
Gods, I accuse you not, tho' I no more
Will view your Heav'n, till with more durable glasses,
The mighty Souls immortal Perspectives,
I find your dazling Beings: Take, he cry'd,
Take, Eyes, your last, your fatal farewel-view.
When with a groan, that seem'd the call of Death,
With horrid force lifting his impious hands,
He snatch'd, he tore, from forth their bloody Orbs
The Balls of sight, and dash'd 'em on the ground.
Cre.
A Master-piece of horrour; new and dreadful!
Hæm.
I ran to succour him; but, oh! too late;
For he had pluck'd the remnant strings away.
What then remains, but that I find Tiresias,
VVho, with his Wisdom, may allay those Furies
That haunt his gloomy Soul?
[Ex.
Cre.
Heav'n will reward
Thy care; most honest, faithful, foolish Hæmon!
But see, Alcander enters, well attended.
Enter Alcander, attended.
I see, thou hast been diligent.
Alc.
Nothing these,
For Number, to the Crowds that soon will follow;
Be resolute,
And call your utmost Fury to revenge.
Cre.
Ha! thou hast given
Th'Alarm to Cruelty; and never may
These eyes be clos'd, till they behold Adrastus
Stretch'd at the feet of false Eurydice.
But see, they're here! retire a while, and mark.
Enter Adrastus, Eurydice, attended.
Adr.
Alas, Eurydice, what fond rash man,
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That shall hereafter read the Fate of Oedipus,
VVill dare, with his frail hand, to grasp a Scepter?
Eur.
'Tis true, a Crown seems dreadful, and I wish
That you and I, more lowly plac'd, might pass
Our softer hours in humble Cells away:
Not but I love you to that Infinite height,
I could (O wondrous proof of fiercest Love!)
Be greatly wretched in a Court with you.
Adr.
Take then this most lov'd innocence away;
Fly from Tumultuous Thebes,
From blood and Murder,
Fly from the Author of all Villanies,
Rapes, Death, and Treason, from that Fury Creon:
Vowchsafe that I, o're-joy'd, may bear you hence,
And at your Feet present the Crown of Argos.
[Creon and Attendants come up to him.
Cre.
I have o're-heard thy black design, Adrastus.
And therefore, as a Traytor to this State,
Death ought to be thy Lot: let it suffice
That Thebes surveys thee as a Prince; abuse not
Her proffer'd mercy, but retire betimes,
Lest she repent and hasten on thy Doom.
Adr.
Think not, most abject,
Most abhorr'd of Men,
Adrastus will vouchsafe to answer thee;
Thebans, to you I justifie my Love:
I have addrest my Prayers to this fair Princess;
But, if I ever meant a violence,
Or thought to Ravish, as that Traytor did,
What humblest Adorations could not win;
Brand me, you Gods, blot me with foul dishonour,
And let men Curse me by the name of Creon!
Eur.
Hear me, O Thebans, if you dread the wrath
Of her whom Fate ordain'd to be your Queen,
Hear me, and dare not, as you prize your lives,
To take the part of that Rebellious Traytor.
By the Decree of Royal Oedipus,
By Queen Jocasta's order, by what's more,
My own dear Vows of everlasting Love,
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All that the World can make me Mistress of.
Cre.
O perjur'd VVoman!
Draw all; and when I give the word, fall on.
Traytor, resign the Princess, or this moment
Expect, with all those most unfortunate wretches,
Upon this spot straight to be hewn in pieces.
Adr.
No, Villain, no;
VVith twice those odds of men,
I doubt not in this Cause
To vanquish thee.
Captain, remember to your care I give
My Love; ten thousand times more dear
Than Life, or Liberty.
Cre.
Fall on, Alcander.
Pyracmon, you and I must wheel about
For nobler Game, the Princess.
Adr.
Ah, Traytor, dost thou shun me?
Follow, follow,
My brave Companions; see, the Cowards fly.
[Ex. fighting: Creon's Party beaten off by Adrastus.
Enter Oedipus.
Oed.
O, 'tis too little this, thy loss of sight,
What has it done? I shall be gaz'd at now
The more; be pointed at, There goes the Monster!
Nor have I hid my horrours from my self;
For tho' corporeal light be lost for ever,
The bright reflecting Soul, through glaring Opticks,
Presents in larger size her black Idea's,
Doubling the bloody prospect of my Crimes:
Holds Fancy down, and makes her act again,
VVith Wife and Mother, Tortures, Hell, and Furies.
Ha! now the baleful off-spring's brought to light!
In horrid form they ranck themselves before me;
VVhat shall I call this Medley of Creation?
Here one, with all th'obedience of a Son,
Borrowing Jocasta's look, kneels at my Feet,
And calls me Father; there a sturdy Boy,
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Bears up, and with his cold hand grasping mine,
Cries out, How fares my Brother Oedipus?
VVhat, Sons and Brothers! Sisters and Daughters too!
Fly all, begon, fly from my whirling brain;
Hence, Incest, Murder, hence, you ghastly figures!
O Gods! Gods, answer; is there any mean?
Let me go mad, or dye.
Enter Jocasta.
Jos.
Where, where is this most wretched of mankind,
This stately Image of Imperial Sorrow,
Whose story told, whose very name but mention'd,
Would cool the rage of Feavers, and unlock
The hand of Lust from the pale Virgin's hair,
And throw the Ravisher before her feet?
Oed.
By all my fears, I think Jocasta's Voice!
Hence; fly; begon: O thou far worse than worst
Of damning Charmers! O abhor'd, loath'd Creature!
Fly, by the Gods, or by the Fiends, I charge thee,
Far as the East, West, North, or South of Heav'n;
But think not thou shalt ever enter there:
The golden Gates are barr'd with Adamant,
'Gainst thee, and me; and the Celestial Guards,
Still as we rise, will dash our Spirits down.
Joc.
O wretched Pair! O greatly wretched we!
Two Worlds of woe!
Oed.
Art thou not gon then? ha!
How dar'st thou stand the Fury of the Gods?
Or com'st thou in the Grave to reap new pleasures?
Joc.
Talk on; till thou mak'st mad my rowling brain;
Groan still more Death; and may those dismal sources
Still bubble on, and pour forth blood and tears.
Methinks, at such a meeting, Heav'n stands still;
The Sea nor Ebbs, nor Flows: this Mole-hill Earth
Is heav'd no more: the busie Emmets cease;
Yet hear me on—
Oed.
Speak then, and blast my Soul.
Joc.
O, my lov'd Lord, tho' I resolve a Ruine
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'Tis horrour, worse than thousand thousand deaths,
To send me hence without a kind Farewel.
Oed.
Gods, how she shakes me! stay thee, O Jocasta,
Speak something e're thou goest for ever from me.
Joc.
'Tis Woman's weakness, that I would be pity'd;
Pardon me then, O greatest, tho' most wretched,
Of all thy Kind: my Soul is on the brink
And sees the boiling Furnace just beneath:
Do not thou push me off, and I will go
With such a willingness, as if that Heav'n
With all it's glories glow'd for my reception.
Oed.
O, in my heart, I feel the pangs of Nature;
It works with kindness o're: Give, give me way;
I feel a melting here, a tenderness,
Too mighty for the anger of the Gods!
Direct me to thy knees, yet oh forbear:
Lest the dead Embers should revive,
Stand off—and at just distance
Let me groan my horrours—here
On the Earth, here blow my utmost Gale;
Here sob my Sorrows, till I burst with sighing:
Here gasp and Languish out thy wounded Soul.
Joc.
In spight of all those Crimes the cruel Gods
Can charge me with, I know my Innocence;
Know yours: 'tis Fate alone that makes us wretched,
For you are still my Husband.
Oed.
Swear I am,
And I'll believe thee; steal into thy Arms,
Renew endearments, think 'em no pollutions,
But chaste as Spirits joys: gently I'll come,
Thus weeping blind, like dewy Night, upon thee,
And fold thee softly in my Arms to slumber.
[The Ghost of Lajus ascends by degrees, pointing at Jacosta.
Joc.
Begon, my Lord! Alas, what are we doing?
Fly from my Arms! Whirl-winds, Seas, Continents,
And Worlds, divide us! O thrice happy thou,
Who hast no use of eyes; for here's a fight
Would turn the melting face of Mercy's self
To a wild Fury.
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Ha! what seest thou there?
Joc.
the Spirit of my Husband! O the Gods!
How wan he looks!
Oed.
Thou rav'st; thy Husband's here.
Joc.
There, there he Mounts,
In circling fire, amongst the blushing Clouds!
And see, he waves Jocasta from the VVorld!
Ghost.
Jocasta, Oedipus.
[Vanish with Thunder.
Oed.
What wouldst thou have?
Thou knowst I cannot come to thee, detain'd
In darkness here, and kept from means of death.
I've heard a Spirit's force is wonderful;
At whose approach, when starting from his Dungeon,
The Earth does shake, and the old Ocean groans,
Rocks are remov'd, and Tow'rs are Thundred down:
And walls of Brass, and Gates of Adamant,
Are passable as Air, and fleet like VVinds.
Joc.
VVas that a Raven's Croak; or my Sons Voice?
No matter which; I'll to the Grave, and hide me:
Earth open, or I'll tear thy bowels up.
Hark! he goes on, and blabs the deed of Incest.
Oed.
Strike then, Imperial Ghost; dash all at once
This House of Clay into a thousand pieces:
That my poor lingring Soul may take her flight
To your Immortal Dwellings.
Joc.
Haste thee then,
Or I shall be before thee: See, thou canst not see;
Then I will tell thee that my wings are on:
I'll mount, I'll fly, and with a port Divine
Glide all along the gaudy Milky soil,
To find my Lajus out; ask every God
In his bright Palace, if he knows my Lajus,
My murder'd Lajus!
Oed.
Ha! how's this, Jocasta?
Nay, if thy brain be sick, then thou art happy.
Joc.
Ha! will you not? shall I not find him out?
Will you not show him? are my tears despis'd?
Why, then I'll Thunder, yes, I will be mad,
And fright you with my cries,: yes, cruel Gods,
Tho' Vultures, Eagles, Dragons tear my heart,
I'll snatch Celestial flames, fire all your dwellings,
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Of Chrystal flye from off their Diamond Hinges;
Drive you all out from your Ambrosial Hives,
To swarm like Bees about the field of Heav'n:
This will I do, unless you shew me Lajus,
My dear, my murder'd Lord. O Lajus! Lajus! Lajus!
[Ex. Jocasta.
Oed.
Excellent grief! why, this is as it should be!
No Mourning can be suitable to Crimes
Like ours, but what Death makes, or Madness forms.
I could have wish'd methought for sight again,
To mark the Gallantry of her distraction:
Her blazing Eyes darting the wandring Stars,
T'have seen her mouth the Heav'ns, and mate the Gods,
While with her Thundring Voice she menac'd high,
And every Accent twang'd with smarting sorrow;
But what's all this to thee? thou, Coward, yet
Art living, canst not, wilt not find the Road
To the great Palace of magnificent Death;
Tho' thousand ways lead to his thousand doors,
Which day and night are still unbarr'd for all.
[Clashing of Swords: Drums and Trumpets without.
Hark! 'tis the noise of clashing Swords! the sound
Comes near: O, that a Battel would come o're me!
If I but grasp a Sword, or wrest a Dagger,
I'll make a ruine with the first that falls.
Enter Hæmon, with Guards.
Hæm.
Seize him, and bear him to the Western-Tow'r.
Pardon me, sacred Sir; I am inform'd
That Creon has designs upon your life:
Forgive me then, if, to preserve you from him,
I order your Confinement.
Oed.
Slaves, unhand me.
I think thou hast a Sword: 'twas the wrong side.
Yet, cruel Hæmon, think not I will live;
He that could tear his eyes out, sure can find
Some desperate way to stifle this curst breath:
Or if I starve! but that's a lingring Fate;
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The Aiery Soul can easily o're-shoot
Those bounds with which thou strive'st to pale her in:
Yes, I will perish in despite of thee;
And, by the rage that stirs me, if I meet thee
In the other World, I'll curse thee for this usage.
[Exit.
Hæm.
Tiresias, after him; and, with your Counsel,
Advise him humbly; Charm, if possible,
These feuds within: while I without extinguish,
Or perish in th'Attempt, the furious Creon;
That Brand which sets our City in a Flame.
Tir.
Heav'n prosper your intent, and give a period
To all your Plagues: what old Tiresias can
Shall straight be done. Lead, Manto the Tow'r.
[Ex. Tir. Manto.
Hæm.
Follow me all, and help to part this Fray,
[Trumpets again.
Or fall together in the bloody broil.
[Ex.
Enter Creon with Eurydice, Pyracmon and his party giving ground to Adrastus.
Cre.
Hold, hold your Arms, Adrastus Prince of Argos,
Hear, and behold; Eurydice is my Prisoner.
Adr.
What would'st thou, Hell-hound?
Cre.
See this brandish'd Dagger:
Forgo th'advantage which thy Arms have won,
Or, by the blood which trembles through the heart
Of her whom more than life I know thou lov'st,
I'll bury to the haft, in her fair breast,
This Instrument of my Revenge.
Adr.
Stay thee, damn'd wretch; hold, stop thy bloody hand.
Cre.
Give order then, that on this instant, now,
This moment, all thy Souldiers straight disband.
Adr.
Away, my Friends, since Fate has so allotted;
Begon, and leave me to the Villain's mercy.
Eur.
Ah, my Adrastus! call 'em, call 'em back!
Stand there; come back! O, cruel barbarous Men!
Could you then leave your Lord, your Prince, your King,
After so bravely having fought his Cause,
To perish by the hand of this base Villain?
Why rather rush you not at once together
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Hang his contagious Quarters on the Gates;
Nor let my death affright you.
Cre.
Dye first thy self then.
Adr.
O, I charge thee hold.
Hence, from my presence all: he's not my Friend
That disobeys: See, art thou now appeas'd?
[Ex. Attendants.
Or is there ought else yet remains to do
That can atone thee? slake thy thirst of blood
With mine: but save, O save that innocent wretch.
Cre.
Forego thy Sword, and yield thy self my Prisoner.
Eur.
Yet while there's any dawn of hope to save
Thy precious life, my dear Adrastus,
What-e're thou dost, deliver not thy Sword;
With that thou may'st get off, tho' odds oppose thee:
For me, O, fear not; no, he dares not touch me;
His horrid love will spare me. Keep thy Sword;
Lest I be ravish'd after thou art slain.
Adr.
Instruct me, Gods, what shall Adrastus do?
Cre.
Do what thou wilt, when she is dead: My Souldiers
With numbers wll o're-pow'r thee. I'st thy wish
Eurydice should fall before thee?
Adr.
Traytor, no:
Better that thou and I, and all mankind
Should be no more.
Creon.
Then cast thy Sword away,
And yield thee to my mercy, or I strike.
Adr.
Hold thy rais'd Arm; give me a moment's pause.
My Father, when he blest me, gave me this;
My Son, said he, let this be thy last refuge;
If thou forego'st it, misery attends thee:
Yet Love now charms it from me; which in all
The hazards of my life I never lost.
'Tis thine, my faithful Sword, my only trust;
Tho' my heart tells me that the gift is Fatal.
Cre.
Fatal! yes, foolish Love-sick Prince, it shall:
Thy arrogance, thy scorn,
My wounds remembrance,
Turn all at once the Fatal point upon thee.
Pyracmon, to the Palace, dispatch
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And will oppose me: Come, Sir, are you ready?
Adr.
Yes, Villain, for what-ever thou canst dare.
Eur.
Hold, Creon, or through me, through me you wound.
Adr.
Off, Madam, or we perish both; behold
I'm not unarm'd, my ponyard's in my hand:
Terefore away.
Eur.
I'll guard your life with mine.
Cre.
Dye both then; there is now no time for dallying.
[Kills Eurydice.
Eur.
Ah, Prince, farewel; farewel, my dear Adrastus.
[Dyes.
Adr.
Unheard of Monster! eldest-born of Hell!
Down, to thy Primitive Flames.
[Stabs Creon.
Cre.
Help, Souldiers, help:
Revenge me.
Adr.
More; yet more: a thousand wounds!
I'll stamp thee still, thus, to the gaping Furies.
[Adrastus falls, kill'd by the Souldiers.
Enter Hæmon, Guards, with Alcander and Pyracmon bound: the Assassins are driven off.
O Hæmon, I am slain; nor need I name
The inhumane Author of all Villanies;
There he lyes gasping.
Cre.
If I must plunge in Flames,
Burn first my Arm; base instrument, unfit
To act the dictates of my daring mind:
Burn, burn for ever, O weak Substitute
Of that the God, Ambition.
[Dyes.
Adr.
She's gone; O deadly Marks-man, in the heart!
Yet in the pangs of death she grasps my hand:
Her lips too tremble, as if she would speak
Her last farewel. O, Oedipus, thy fall
Is great; and nobly now thou goest attended!
They talk of Heroes, and Celestial Beauties,
And wondrous pleasures in the other World;
Let me but find her there, I ask no more.
[Dyes.
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Cap.
O, Sir, the Queen Jocasta, swift and wild,
As a robb'd Tygress bounding o're the Woods,
Has acted Murders that amaze mankind:
In twisted Gold I saw her Daughters hang
On the Bed Royal; and her little Sons
Stabb'd through the breasts upon the bloody Pillows.
Hæm.
Relentless Heav'ns! is then the Fate of Lajus
Never to be Aton'd? How sacred ought
Kings lives be held, when but the death of one
Demands an Empire's blood for Expiation?
But see! the furious mad Jocasta's here.
Scene Draws, and discovers Jocasta held by her women, and stabb'd in many places of her bosom, her hair dishevel'd; her Children slain upon the Bed.
Was ever yet a sight of so much horrour,
And pity, brought to view!
Joc.
Ah, cruel Women!
Will you not let me take my last farewel
Of those dear Babes? O let me run and seal
My melting Soul upon their bubling wounds!
I'll Print upon their Coral mouths such Kisses,
As shall recall their wandring Spirits home.
Let me go, let me go, or I will tear you piece-meal.
Help, Hæmon, help:
Help Oedipus; help, Gods; Jocasta Dyes.
Enter Oedipus above.
Oed.
I've found a Window, and I thank the Gods
'Tis quite unbarr'd: sure, by the distant noise,
The height will fit my Fatal purpose well.
Joc.
What hoa, my Oedipus! see, where he stands!
His groping Ghost is lodg'd upon a Tow'r,
Nor can it find the Road: Mount, mount, my soul;
I'll wrap thy shivering Spirit in Lambent Flames! and so we'll sail.
But see! we're landed on the happy Coast;
And all the Golden Strands are cover'd o're
With glorious Gods, that come to try our Cause:
Jove, Jove, whose Majesty now sinks me down,
He who himself burns in unlawful fires,
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'Tis fixt by Fate, upon Record Divine:
And Oedipus shall now be ever mine.
[Dyes.
Oed.
Speak, Hæmon; what has Fate been doing there?
What dreadful deed has mad Jocasta done?
Hæm.
The Queen her self, and all your wretched Off-spring,
Are by her Fury slain.
Oed.
By all my woes,
She has out done me, in Revenge and Murder;
And I should envy her the sad applause:
But, Oh! my Children! Oh, what have they done?
This was not like the mercy of the Heav'ns,
To set her madness on such Cruelty:
This stirs me more than all my sufferings,
And with my last breath I must call you Tyrants.
Hæm.
What mean you, Sir.
Oed.
Jocasta! lo, I come.
O Lajus, Labdacus, and all you Spirits
Of the Cadmean Race, prepare to meet me,
All weeping rang'd along the gloomy Shore:
Extend your Arms t'embrace me; for I come;
May all the Gods too from their Battlements
Behold, and wonder at a Mortals daring;
And, when I knock the Goal of dreadful death,
Shout and applaud me with a clap of Thunder:
Once more, thus wing'd by horrid Fate, I come
Swift as a falling Meteor; lo, I flye,
And thus go downwards, to the darker Sky.
[Thunder. He flings himself from the Window: The Thebans gather about his Body.
Hæm.
O Prophet, Oedipus is now no more!
O curs'd Effect of the most deep despair!
Tir.
Cease your Complaints, and bear his body hence;
The dreadful sight will daunt the drooping Thebans,
Whom Heav'n decrees to raise with Peace and Glory:
Yet, by these terrible Examples warn'd,
The sacred Fury thus Alarms the World.
Let none, tho' ne're so Vertuous, great and High,
Be judg'd entirely blest before they Dye.
| Oedipus | |