The Lantern

Oedipus at Colonus15

SE

Oedipus: Woe, woe!

Creon: This is but prelude to thy woes.

Oedipus: Hast thou my child?

Creon: And soon shall have the other.

Oedipus: Ho, friends! ye will not surely play me false? Chase this ungodly villain from your land.

Chorus: Hence, stranger, hence avaunt! Thou doest wrong In this, and wrong in all that thou hast done.

Creon: To his guards.

’Tis time by force to carry off the girl, If she refuse of her free will to go.

Antigone: Ah, woe is me! where shall I fly, where find Succour from gods or men?

Chorus: What would’st thou, stranger?

Creon: I meddle not with him, but her who is mine.

Oedipus: O princes of the land!

Chorus: Sir, thou dost wrong.

Creon: Nay, right.

Chorus: How right?

Creon: I take but what is mine.

Oedipus: Help, Athens!

Chorus: What means this, sirrah? quick unhand her, or We’ll fight it out.

Creon: Back!

Chorus: Not till thou forbear.

Creon: ’Tis war with Thebes if I am touched or harmed.

Oedipus: Did I not warn thee?

Chorus: Quick, unhand the maid!

Creon: Command your minions; I am not your slave.

Chorus: Desist, I bid thee.