Oedipus
O Zeus, may you be good to men such as these!
Theseus
What is your wish, then? Will you come to my house?
Oedipus
Yes, I would, if it were right. But this is the place—
Theseus
[645]
What will you do here? Speak, for I will not hinder you.
Oedipus
—Where I will conquer those who cast me out.
Theseus
The promised gift of your presence would be great.
Oedipus
It shall be, if you keep your pledge with me.
Theseus
Have courage concerning me; never will I betray you.
Oedipus
[650]
I will not bind you with an oath as if an evil man.
Theseus
Well, you would win nothing more than by my word.
Oedipus
What will you do, then?
Theseus
What is it that you fear?
Oedipus
Men will come—
Theseus
But these men here will see to that.
Oedipus
Beware that if you leave me—
Theseus
Do not instruct me in my duties.
Oedipus
[655]
Fear constrains me—
Theseus
My heart feels no fear.
Oedipus
You do not know the threats—
Theseus
I know that none will lead you from here against my will. Often threats have blustered in men's hearts with words loud and vain; but when the mind comes to itself once more,
[660]
the threats have vanished. For those men, too, perhaps—yes, even if in boldness they have spoken dreadful things of bringing you back, the voyage here will prove long and hard to sail. Now I exhort you, apart from any decision of mine, to take heart,
[665]
if indeed Phoebus has been your escort here. Even if I am not present, still my name, I know, will shield you from harm.
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Sophocles. The Oedipus at Colonus of Sophocles. Edited with introduction and notes by Sir Richard Jebb. Sir Richard Jebb. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1889.
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