Priest You have spoken opportunely, since at this time these people here indicate that Creon is drawing near.
Oedipus Lord Apollo, may he come to us in the brightness of saving fortune, even as his face is bright!
Priest He seems to bring comfort, since otherwise he would not be coming crowned so thickly with berry-laden bay.
Oedipus We will soon know: he is within hearing-range. Prince, my kinsman, child of Menoeceus, what news have you brought us from the god?
Creon Good news. I tell you that even troubles hard to bear will end in perfect peace if they find the right issue.
Oedipus But what is the oracle? So far, your words neither encourage nor frighten me.
Creon If you want to hear in the presence of these people, I am ready to speak: otherwise we can go inside.
Oedipus Speak to all. The sorrow that I bear for these is more than for my own life.
Creon I will tell you what I heard from the god. Phoebus our lord clearly commands us to drive out the defilement which he said was harbored in this land, and not to nourish it so that it cannot be healed.
Oedipus With what sort of purification? What is the manner of the misfortune?
Creon By banishing the man, or by paying back bloodshed with bloodshed, since it is this blood which brings the tempest on our city.
Oedipus And who is the man whose fate he thus reveals?
Creon Laius, my lord, was the leader of our land before you assumed control of this state.
Oedipus I know it well—by hearsay, for I never saw him.
Creon He was slain, and the god now bids us to take vengeance on his murderers, whoever they are.
Oedipus Where on earth are they? Where shall the dim track of this old crime be found?
Creon In this land, the god said. What is sought for can be caught; only that which is not watched escapes.
Oedipus Was it in the house, or in the field, or on foreign soil that Laius met his bloody end?
Creon He left our land, as he said, on a mission to Delphi. And once he had set forth, he never again returned.
Oedipus And was there none to tell? Was there no travelling companion who saw the deed, from whom tidings might have been gained, and used?
Creon All perished, save one who fled in fear, and he could tell with assurance only one thing of all that he saw.
Oedipus And what was that? One thing might hold the clue to many, if we could only get a small beginning for hope.
Creon He said that robbers fell upon them, not one man alone, but with a great force.
Oedipus How then, unless some intrigue had been worked with bribes from here in Thebes, would the robbers have been so bold?
Creon Such things were surmised. But once Laius was slain no avenger arose in the midst of our troubles.
Oedipus But when royalty had fallen in this way, what trouble prevented a full search?
Creon The riddling Sphinx had forced us to let things that were obscure go, and to investigate the pressing trouble.
Oedipus I will start afresh, and once more make dark things plain. Worthily has Phoebus Apollo—and worthily have you—bestowed this care on behalf of the dead. And so, as is fitting, you will find me allied with you in seeking vengeance for this land, and for the god as well. I will dispel this taint not on behalf of far-off friends, but for my own benefit. For whoever killed Laius might wish to take vengeance on me also with a hand as fierce. Avenging Laius, therefore, I serve myself. Come, my children, as quickly as possible rise from the altar-steps, and lift these suppliant boughs. Let someone summon here Cadmus’ people, warning them that I will leave nothing untried. For with the god’s help our good fortune—or our ruin—will be made certain.
Priest My children, let us rise. What we came to seek, this man promises of his own accord. And may Phoebus, who sent these oracles, come to us as savior and deliverer from the pestilence.
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