He shouts for one to open wide the gate And lead him forth, and to all Thebes display His father's murderer, his mother's.... Nay, Such words I will not speak. And his intent Is set, to cast himself in banishment Out to the wild, not walk 'mid human breed Bearing the curse he bears. Yet sore his need Of strength and of some guiding hand. For sure He hath more burden now than man may endure. But see, the gates fall back, and that appears Which he who loathes shall pity--yea, with tears. [OEDIPUS _is led in, blinded and bleeding. The Old Men bow down and hide their faces; some of them weep._ CHORUS. Oh, terrible! Oh, sight of all This life hath crossed, most terrible! Thou man more wronged than tongue can tell, What madness took thee? Do there crawl Live Things of Evil from the deep To leap on man? Oh, what a leap Was His that flung thee to thy fall! LEADER. O fallen, fallen in ghastly case, I dare not raise mine eyes to thee; Fain would I look and ask and see, But shudder sickened from thy face. OEDIPUS. Oh, pain; pain and woe! Whither? Whither? [Sidenote: vv. 1308-1328] They lead me and I go; And my voice drifts on the air Far away. Where, Thing of Evil, where Endeth thy leaping hither? LEADER. In fearful ends, which none may hear nor say. OEDIPUS. [_Strophe._ Cloud of the dark, mine own For ever, horrible, Stealing, stealing, silent, unconquerable, Cloud that no wind, no summer can dispel! Again, again I groan, As through my heart together crawl the strong Stabs of this pain and memories of old wrong. LEADER. Yea, twofold hosts of torment hast thou there, The stain to think on and the pain to bear. OEDIPUS. [_Antistrophe._ O Friend, thou mine own Still faithful, minister Steadfast abiding alone of them that were, Dost bear with me and give the blind man care? Ah me! Not all unknown Nor hid thou art. Deep in this dark a call Comes and I know thy voice in spite of all. LEADER. O fearful sufferer, and could'st thou kill Thy living orbs? What God made blind thy will? [Sidenote: vv. 1329-1351] OEDIPUS. [_Strophe._ 'Tis Apollo; all is Apollo, O ye that love me, 'tis he long time hath planned These things upon me evilly, evilly, Dark things and full of blood. I knew not; I did but follow His way; but mine the hand And mine the anguish. What were mine eyes to me When naught to be seen was good? LEADER. 'Tis even so; and Truth doth speak in thee. OEDIPUS.