University of Virginia Library

THE SECOND SCENE.

Senex. OEdipus.
[Senex.]
The Corinth people all (O King) in Fathers place to rayn
Doe call your Grace: Polybius doth eternall rest obtayn.

OED.
O God what Fortune vyle doth mee oppresse on euery side?
How doe my sorrowes still encrease? Tell how my Father dide.

SEN.
No sicknesse (sir) but very age did of his life him reaue.

OED.
And is hee dead? in deede? not slayne? what ioy may I conceaue?
How may I now triumph? the Gods to witnesse I doe call,
To whom are known my hidden thoughts and secret workings al:
Now may I lift to skyes my hands, my hands from mischiefe free.
But yet the chiefest cause of feare remayneth still to mee.

SEN.
Your Fathers kingdom ought al dred out of your mind to driue.

OED.
That I cōfesse. But secret thoughts my trembling heart do riue
With inward doubt of deepe distresse, my Mother I do feare.
This grudge is that continually my heart doth rent and seare.

SEN.
Do you your Mother feare? on your return that onely slayes.

OED.
I feare not her: but from her sight, a godly zeale mee frayes.

S.
What will you her a Wydow leaue?

OE.
Now, now, thou woūdst my heart.
This, this, and onely this (alas,) is cause of all my smart.

SEN.
Tell me (O king) what doubtfull feare? doth presse thy princely brest:
Kings coūcels I can well cōceale that ben with Cares opprest.

OED.
Least as Apollo hath foretolde, I should a Mariage make
With myne owne Mother: only this fowle feare doth make me quake.

SEN.
Such vayne & peuysh feares, at length from out your breast exyle.
Meropa your Mother is not in deede, you do your selfe beguile.

OED.
What vauntage should it be to her adopted Sonnes to haue?

SEN.
A kingdom she shall gayne thereby. Her Husband layde in graue.
The chiefest prop to stay her Realmes from present confusion,
Is children for to haue: and hope of lawfull succession.

OED.
What are the meanes whereby thou dost these secrets vnderstād.

SEN.
My selfe (your grace) an Infant gaue into your fathers hand.

OED.
Didst thou me to my Father geue? Who than gaue me to thee?

SEN.
A Sheparde six; that wonted on Cytheron Hills to bee.

OE.
What made thee in those woods to raūge? what hadst thou there to do?

SEN.
Upon those Hils my Beasts I kept, somtime a Sheepeherde to.

OE.
What nots, what priuy marks hast thou wherby thou dost me kno?

SE.
The holes yt through your feete are borde frō whēce your name did gro.

OE.
Declare forthwith what was his name yt gaue me vnto thee.

SE.
The kings chief Shephard than that was, deliuered you to mee.

OE.
What was his name?

SE.
O king old mens remēbrance soone doth fayle:
Obliuion for the chiefest part, doth hoary heads assayle,
And drowns their former memory of things long out of mynde.

OE.
What? canst thou know ye man by sight?

S.
Perhaps I should him finde,
And know by Face. Things ouerwhelmd by time; and quight opprest.
A small marke oft to mynde reuokes, and fresh renues in brest.

OE.
Sirs bid the Herdmen forth wt driue theyr Beasts to Aulters all.
Away with speede, make hast, the Master Sheepherds to mee call.

SE.
Sith that your destny this doth hyde, and Fortune it detayne
And closely keepe, see it be so, from opening that refrayne.
That long conceald hath hidden lyen, that seeke not to disclose:
Such things outsercht and foūd oftimes agaynst the sercher goes.

OE.
Can any mischiefe greater be? than this that now I feare.

SE.
Aduise you wel remembre fyrst what weight this thing doth beare:
That thus you goe about to search, and sift with Tooth and Nayle,
Obserue the golden meane: beware beare still an equall sayle.
Your Coūtreys wealth (O King) your lyfe, and all vpon this lyes.
Though you stir not, bee sure at length your Fortune you escryes.
A happy state for to disturbe doth nought at all behoue.

OE.
When things be at the worst, of them a man may safely moue.

SE.
Can you haue ought more excellent? than is a Prynces state?
Beware least of your Parents found it you repent to late.

OE.
No (father) no I warrant that: repent not I (I trow.)
I seeke it not to that entent. I haue decreed to know,
The matter at the full. Wherefore I will it now pursue.
Lo Phorbas: where hee trembling coms, with comely aged hue.
To whom of all the kinges flock than, the care and charge was due.
Dost thou his name, his speach his Face, or yet his person know?

SE.
Me thinks I should haue seene his Face, and yet I cannot show
The places where I haue him seene, small time brings such a chainge,
As well acquaynted Faces oft, to vs appeare full strainge.
This looke is neyther throughly known, nor yet vnknown to mee,
I cannot tell: I doubt it much, and yet it may bee hee.
In Laius tyme long since when hee these Kindomes great did keepe:
Wast thou not on Citheron hils chiefe Shepard to his sheepe?