And lastly for the murderer, be it one Hiding alone or more in unison, I speak on him this curse: even as his soul Is foul within him let his days be foul, And life unfriended grind him till he die. More: if he ever tread my hearth and I Know it, be every curse upon my head That I have spoke this day. All I have said I charge ye strictly to fulfil and make Perfect, for my sake, for Apollo's sake, And this land's sake, deserted of her fruit And cast out from her gods. Nay, were all mute At Delphi, still 'twere strange to leave the thing Unfollowed, when a true man and a King Lay murdered. All should search. But I, as now Our fortunes fall--his crown is on my brow, His wife lies in my arms, and common fate, Had but his issue been more fortunate, Might well have joined our children--since this red Chance hath so stamped its heel on Laius' head, I am his champion left, and, as I would For mine own father, choose for ill or good This quest, to find the man who slew of yore Labdacus' son, the son of Polydore, Son of great Cadmus whom Agenor old Begat, of Thebes first master. And, behold, For them that aid me not, I pray no root Nor seed in earth may bear them corn nor fruit, No wife bear children, but this present curse Cleave to them close and other woes yet worse. Enough: ye other people of the land, [Sidenote: vv. 274-289] Whose will is one with mine, may Justice stand Your helper, and all gods for evermore. [_The crowd disperses._ LEADER. O King, even while thy curse yet hovers o'er My head, I answer thee. I slew him not, Nor can I shew the slayer. But, God wot, If Phoebus sends this charge, let Phoebus read Its meaning and reveal who did the deed. OEDIPUS. Aye, that were just, if of his grace he would Reveal it. How shall man compel his God? LEADER. Second to that, methinks, 'twould help us most ... OEDIPUS. Though it be third, speak! Nothing should be lost. LEADER. To our High Seer on earth vision is given Most like to that High Phoebus hath in heaven. Ask of Tiresias: he could tell thee true. OEDIPUS. That also have I thought for. Aye, and two Heralds have sent ere now. 'Twas Creon set Me on.--I marvel that he comes not yet. [Sidenote: vv. 290-301] LEADER. Our other clues are weak, old signs and far. OEDIPUS. What signs? I needs must question all that are. LEADER. Some travellers slew him, the tale used to be. OEDIPUS. The tale, yes: but the witness, where is he? LEADER. The man hath heard thy curses. If he knows The taste of fear, he will not long stay close. OEDIPUS. He fear my words, who never feared the deed? LEADER. Well, there is one shall find him.--See, they lead Hither our Lord Tiresias, in whose mind All truth is born, alone of human kind.