Still raging at the theft of Hercules;
At thy command, to birds of prey will give
My bleeding bearl at thy command will live.
[The first act seems to be complete here, except for the commenting chorus
which would naturally follow. Oedipus has temporarily yielded to his
daughter's will.]
ACT II
[The following passage fittingly opens the second act or episode.
Although some editors would assign it to Antigone, it seems more fittingly
to belong to a messenger who has just arrived, for the double reason that it
gives fresher information from Thebes than Antigone would naturally possess;
and that Oedipus, after the speech to his daughter with which the previous
scene ended, would hardly address to her as rough a reply as he uses in
his next speech.]
Messenger: Thee, sprung from regal stock to be our guide, 320
In fear of civil strife our Thebes invokes,
And prays that thou wouldst save thy father's house
From the flaming torch of war. No mere threats, these;
For ever nearer does destruction come.
One brother claims his share of royal power,
His turn to rule according to the bond,
And now is rousing all the tribes of Greece 325
To bloody war. Against the walls of Thebes
Seven camps have set them down. Haste to our aid,
And war and crime prohibit equally.
Oedipus: Do I seem one to stay the hand of crime,
And teach it to refrain from kindred blood?
Should I teach righteousness and filial love? 330
They take me as a model for their crimes,
And follow me. I gladly recognize
And praise them as my sons; I urge them on
To do some outrage worthy of their sire.
Then on, my worthy offspring; by your deeds
Approve your noble birth; do ye surpass 335
My glory and my praises; do some deed
Because of which your father will rejoice
