OEDIPUS AT COLONUS
Antigone
Then woe is me,
If I must lose thee.
Polyneices
Nay, that rests with fate,
Whether I live or die; but for you both
I pray to heaven ye may escape all ill;
For ye are blameless in the eyes of all.
Chorus
Ills on ills! no pause or rest! (Str. 1)
Come they from our sightless guest?
Or haply now we see fulfilled
What fate long time hath willed?
For ne’er have I proved vain
Aught that the heavenly powers ordain.
Time with never sleeping eye
Watches what is writ on high,
Overthrowing now the great,
Raising now from low estate.
Hark! How the thunder rumbles! Zeus defend us!
Oedipus
Children, my children! will no messenger
Go summon hither Theseus my best friend?
Antigone
And wherefore, father, dost thou summon him?
Oedipus
This winged thunder of the god must bear me
Anon to Hades. Send and tarry not.
