Oedipus A Tragedy |
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| 1. | SCENE I. |
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 | Oedipus |  |
SCENE I.
OEDIPUS, ARASPES, DIMAS, ATTENDANTS.OEDIPUS.
Here let your anxious murmurs cease; restrain
Your drops of sorrow; know, this banishment
Which you compassionate for me hath charms.
My flight to your misfortunes will secure
A speedy remedy; you lose your sovereign,
But life and future days of bliss are yours.
The time is urgent, Thebes, and all her sons,
Wait the disposal of their fate from me.
When I obtain'd the throne, I saved the state;
And as I mounted, so I shall descend;
Glory will follow, and illume the shade
Of my adversity. Mid all my woes,
All my calamities, to give you safety
Hath always been my envied lot. I now,
My children, throne, and country, quit for you.
For the last time then to my words attend.
Since ye must have a king, consult my choice.
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And virtue meet; a monarch is his father;
Himself was friend to Hercules. Let me
Depart; and place upon his head the crown.
Go, and bring Phorbas hither: bid him, friends,
Appear with honest confidence before me.
'Tis fit, and justice prompts me to bestow
Some small memorial of my bounty on him;
'Tis fit at least, that as a sovereign ought,
I should resign my throne. Before me, likewise,
Bring the Corinthian stranger. You remain.
| Oedipus | |