Speak forth to all! The grief that these men bear Is more than any fear for mine own death. CREON. I speak then what I heard from God.--Thus saith Phoebus, our Lord and Seer, in clear command. An unclean thing there is, hid in our land, Eating the soil thereof: this ye shall cast Out, and not foster till all help be past. OEDIPUS. How cast it out? What was the evil deed? [Sidenote: vv. 100-113] CREON. Hunt the men out from Thebes, or make them bleed Who slew. For blood it is that stirs to-day. OEDIPUS. Who was the man they killed? Doth Phoebus say? CREON. O King, there was of old King Laius In Thebes, ere thou didst come to pilot us. OEDIPUS. I know: not that I ever saw his face. CREON. 'Twas he. And Loxias now bids us trace And smite the unknown workers of his fall. OEDIPUS. Where in God's earth are they? Or how withal Find the blurred trail of such an ancient stain? CREON. In Thebes, he said.--That which men seek amain They find. 'Tis things forgotten that go by. OEDIPUS. And where did Laius meet them? Did he die In Thebes, or in the hills, or some far land? [Sidenote: vv. 114-127] CREON. To ask God's will in Delphi he had planned His journey. Started and returned no more. OEDIPUS. And came there nothing back? No message, nor None of his company, that ye might hear? CREON. They all were slain, save one man; blind with fear He came, remembering naught--or almost naught. OEDIPUS. And what was that? One thing has often brought Others, could we but catch one little clue. CREON. 'Twas not one man, 'twas robbers--that he knew-- Who barred the road and slew him: a great band. OEDIPUS. Robbers?... What robber, save the work was planned By treason here, would dare a risk so plain? CREON. So some men thought. But Laius lay slain, And none to avenge him in his evil day. [Sidenote: vv. 128-148] OEDIPUS. And what strange mischief, when your master lay Thus fallen, held you back from search and deed? CREON. The dark-songed Sphinx was here. We had no heed Of distant sorrows, having death so near. OEDIPUS. It falls on me then. I will search and clear This darkness.--Well hath Phoebus done, and thou Too, to recall that dead king, even now, And with you for the right I also stand, To obey the God and succour this dear land. Nor is it as for one that touches me Far off; 'tis for mine own sake I must see This sin cast out. Whoe'er it was that slew Laius, the same wild hand may seek me too: And caring thus for Laius, is but care For mine own blood.--Up! Leave this altar-stair, Children. Take from it every suppliant bough. Then call the folk of Thebes. Say, 'tis my vow To uphold them to the end. So God shall crown Our greatness, or for ever cast us down. [_He goes in to the Palace._ PRIEST. My children, rise.--The King most lovingly Hath promised all we came for. And may He [Sidenote: vv. 149-161]