Therefore, at once bury me out of sight; Put me to death, cast me into the sea, That never eye of man may see me more. Come, lay your hands upon my wretched frame, Do as I pray ye, fearing naught, my load Of woe no mortal can support but I. (_Enter_ CREON.) CHORUS. At the right time thy wish to execute And give thee counsel, Creon comes, now left In place of thee sole guardian of our State. OEDIPUS. Alas! To him what can I find to say, What plea of justice, since my conscience cries That he has met foul treatment at my hands? CREON. I came not, Oedipus, to mock thy fall, Nor to upbraid thee with unkindness past. But ye, that stand around, if human hearts Ye do not reverence, reverence yonder sun Whose fire feeds all things, and expose no more Unveiled to view this horror, which nor earth Nor heaven's sweet rains nor sunlight can endure. Bear him within; let there be no delay. The sorrows of a household, piety Reserves for kindred eyes and ears alone. OEDIPUS. Since thou my expectation hast belied, Proving thyself as good as I am bad, Grant what I ask, for thy behoof I speak. CREON. What is this thing that thou wouldst have me do? OEDIPUS. Cast me, and instantly, out of this land, Beyond the pale of human intercourse. CREON. Already had I done this, but I first Desired to ask the counsel of the god. OEDIPUS. The god had fully made his counsel known, Which was to slay the impious parricide. CREON. So did we hold, yet in our present case Better we deemed it to be circumspect. OEDIPUS. Wilt thou enquire about a wretch like me? CREON. Thyself by this hast learned to trust the gods. OEDIPUS. I do conjure thee, and enjoin on thee, Her that within there lies, as seems thee fit, Lay in the ground. To thee that care belongs. But me, let never this my fatherland Be so dishonoured as to hold alive. Upon the mountains let my dwelling be, Upon my own Cithaeron, which my sire And mother chose as my appointed tomb, And so let those who sought it take my life. And yet past doubt it is that I was proof 'Gainst death in all its forms; if I were saved, It must have been for some fell destiny. But be my own lot what it may, my care Is for my children, Creon. For the boys I'd have thee take no thought; as they are men, Where'er they be they'll find a livelihood. But for my girls now lorn and desolate, My girls, apart from whom was never set Their father's table, who still had their share Of everything on which his hand was laid, I crave thy care. And first let me embrace My darlings and unite my tears to theirs. Pray, good my lord, Consent, kind heart. To hold them in my arms Would be to feel them mine as when I saw-- What shall I say? (ANTIGONE _and_ ISMENE, OEDIPUS' _daughters, are brought upon the scene_.) Is it my darlings' weeping that I hear? Do my ears tell me true? Has Creon sent My best beloved in mercy to their sire? Say I aright? CREON.