University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

ŒDIPUS, PHILOCTETES, ARASPES.
OEDIPUS.
Araspes, say, is this the prince we seek?
Eubœan Philoctetes?

PHILOCTETES.
Yes, 'tis he,
Who by blind fortune to these walls impell'd,
And Heaven's relentless ire pursuing still,
Hath suffer'd unaccustom'd wrongs. I know
The crime with which low malice hath assay'd
To blacken my pure fame. But think not thou
That I shall stoop to justify my deeds.
Nor do I deem of OEdipus so lightly,
As to believe his soul can e'er descend
To jealousy so mean. If both our feet
Mark the same track, thy honour is with mine
Strictly united. Theseus, Hercules,
Myself, have pointed out to thee the path
Which thou hast enter'd on, the path to glory.
Oh! do not, by a calumny, obscure
Th'heroic brightness of these names, with which
Thine claims alliance. But with utmost care,
By generous acts, the dignity support
Of thy high-raised proximity to them.

OEDIPUS.
To serve mankind, and from destruction dire
This wretched land to rescue, is the height
Of my ambition. In disastrous times,
This lesson hath been taught me by the heroes
Whom thou with emulation hast pursued,
And I admire. Forbid it, all ye powers,
That I should taint thy glory which a crime!
Had Heaven reserved the fatal choice to me,
I would have yielded up myself the victim.
Whene'er his country bids, to lay down life,
This is a monarch's duty, the bright gem
Of royalty, too rich to give to others.
I would with pleasure have my life resign'd,
And warded off the blow from thine: once more
I would have saved my people. But free-will
Is shackled now; the criminal must bleed;
Thou art accused; prepare for thy defence.
If clear thy innocence; my heart well-pleased
Shall in the court of Thebes delight to grace
A warrior like thyself. Most truly happy
To meet thee there, not as a man to whom
Guilt is imputed, but as Philoctetes.

PHILOCTETES.
Now, by the faith of my illustrious name,
I tell thee, prince, elate with conscious pride,
This bosom thought itself above suspicion.
This hand accused by Thebes, hath in defect
Of Heaven's dread thunder, freed the burthen'd earth
From infamous assassins; Hercules
Strengthen'd my arm, and they have bit the dust.
He who with just avengement punish'd them,
Will never dare to follow their example.

OEDIPUS.
Nor do I think from consecrated deeds
Of great renown, thou wouldst imbrue thy hands
In crimes detested. If beneath thy sword
Laius expired, doubtless he fell with honour;
And as a hero ought, thy arm subdued him.
I do thee ample justice.

PHILOCTETES.
Hah! and where
Had been the wond'rous crime, if this keen sword
Had number'd Laius with the dead? To me
His death had been but one small trophy more.
A king is in his subjects' eyes a god,
Survey'd with awe. To Hercules and me
He is a common man. My guardian care
Hath oft protected kings; judge then if he
Who could avenge them, would retreat, nor meet
The proudest of them all in mortal fight.

OEDIPUS.
Of Philoctetes, and his worth far-famed,
I am not ignorant. Full well I know
That heroes like himself with monarchs hold
Glorious equality.—But doubt not, prince,
That he who conquer'd Laius merits death;
His head will answer for the woes of Thebes.
And thou—

PHILOCTETES.
I slew him not—Let that suffice,
If mine the deed, I would not have conceal'd,
But gloried in it. Hear me, OEdipus,
For thou art bound to hear. Mere common men,
Plain ordinary souls, by vulgar means
May justify their actions: but a prince,
A warrior, such, for instance, as thyself
And Philoctetes, when he speaks the word,
On his integrity and spotless faith,
Deserves, and gains belief. Doth OEdipus
Suspect that murther'd Laius fell by me!
To fix on any name the accusation
I'll becomes him. His sceptre and his wife
To thee have been transmitted; all the fruits
Of his unhappy death by thee were gather'd.
It cannot be affirm'd, that I with bold
And fortunate address have claim'd his spoils,
Or ask'd his vacant throne; an object, that,
Which never tempted me; a station high,
But always by Alcides view'd with scorn.
With him in perfect liberty I dwelt,
No subjects I possess'd, and own'd no master.
I have made sovereigns, but ne'er wish'd to be one.
But why thus stoop to justify my deeds!
Virtue self-vindicated, is debased.

OEDIPUS.
Thy virtue charms me, whilst thy pride offends.
Judgment awaits thee, prince; thy innocence,
If fearing nought from the just laws' decree,
Will with redoubled splendor shine reveal'd.
With us remain.

PHILOCTETES.
Assuredly I will.
My honour on th'event depends. And Heaven,
All-hearing Heaven, forbids me to depart,
Till its avengement hath repaid these wrongs,
Suspicions base, which stain my cheeks with shame.