Oedipus: This much thou knowest and canst surely tell.
Creon: What’s mean’st thou? All I know I will declare.
Oedipus: But for thy prompting never had the seer Ascribed to me the death of Laius.
Creon: If so he thou knowest best; but I Would put thee to the question in my turn.
Oedipus: Question and prove me murderer if thou canst.
Creon: Then let me ask thee, didst thou wed my sister?
Oedipus: A fact so plain I cannot well deny.
Creon: And as thy consort queen she shares the throne?
Oedipus: I grant her freely all her heart desires.
Creon: And with you twain I share the triple rule?
Oedipus: Yea, and it is that proves thee a false friend.
Creon: Not so, if thou wouldst reason with thyself, As I with myself. First, I bid thee think, Would any mortal choose a troubled reign Of terrors rather than secure repose, If the same power were given him? As for me, I have no natural craving for the name Of king, preferring to do kingly deeds, And so thinks every sober-minded man. Now all my needs are satisfied through thee,
And I have naught to fear; but were I king, My acts would oft run counter to my will. How could a title then have charms for me Above the sweets of boundless influence? I am not so infatuate as to grasp The shadow when I hold the substance fast. Now all men cry me Godspeed! wish me well, And every suitor seeks to gain my ear, If he would hope to win a grace from thee.
Why should I leave the better, choose the worse? That were sheer madness, and I am not mad. No such ambition ever tempted me, Nor would I have a share in such intrigue. And if thou doubt me, first to Delphi go, There ascertain if my report was true Of the god’s answer; next investigate If with the seer I plotted or conspired, And if it prove so, sentence me to death,
Not by thy voice alone, but mine and thine. But O condemn me not, without appeal, On bare suspicion. ’Tis not right to adjudge Bad men at random good, or good men bad. I would as lief a man should cast away The thing he counts most precious, his own life, As spurn a true friend. Thou wilt learn in time The truth, for time alone reveals the just; A villain is detected in a day.
Chorus: To one who walketh warily his words Commend themselves; swift counsels are not sure.
Oedipus: When with swift strides the stealthy plotter stalks I must be quick too with my counterplot. To wait his onset passively, for him Is sure success, for me assured defeat.
Creon: What then’s thy will? To banish me the land?
Oedipus: I would not have thee banished, no, but dead, That men may mark the wages envy reaps.
Creon: I see thou wilt not yield, nor credit me.
Oedipus: [None but a fool would credit such as thou.]
Creon: Thou art not wise.
Oedipus: Wise for myself at least.
Creon: Why not for me too?
Oedipus: Why for such a knave?