Oedipus, my unhappy sire, the towers That fence the city round far off appear. This seems a holy place; 'tis full of pine, Of laurel, and of vine under whose leaves Trills her sweet notes full many a nightingale. Here rest thee on this unhewn seat of rock; The journey for thy aged feet was long. OEDIPUS. Guide thy old father safely to the seat. ANTIGONE. It is a lesson taught me long ago. OEDIPUS. Where is it we have halted? canst thou tell? ANTIGONE. Athens I know; this spot is strange to me. OEDIPUS. That it was Athens every traveller said. ANTIGONE. Wouldst thou that I go ask what place it is? OEDIPUS. Yea, daughter, if it is inhabited. ANTIGONE. Inhabited it is; but I may spare My pains, for close at hand I see a man. OEDIPUS. Bends he his steps in our direction, child? ANTIGONE. Yes, and is now at hand. (_Enter_ STRANGER.) Whate'er is meet For thee to say, speak; he is at thy side. OEDIPUS. O stranger, listen to this maid who sees Both for herself and me, since our good luck Hath sent thee to inform our ignorance. STRANGER. Ere thou dost question further, leave that place; 'Tis holy ground whereon thou mayest not tread. OEDIPUS. What, then, is the indwelling deity? STRANGER. I tell thee it is hallowed; it belongs To the dread Daughters of the Earth and Night. OEDIPUS. What is their name? With reverence I would ask. STRANGER. With us, the Eumenides, of sleepless eye; But different names seem good in different lands. OEDIPUS. May they receive the suppliant to their grace, For I intend no more to leave this ground. STRANGER. What means this? OEDIPUS. 'Tis the token of my doom. STRANGER. Myself I dare not thrust thee out until On my report the State my act approves. OEDIPUS. To a poor wanderer, friend, be not unkind, But what I humbly ask thee deign to tell. STRANGER. Speak on, and no unkind refusal fear. OEDIPUS. What is the place, then, upon which we stand? STRANGER. Thou shalt know all that I can tell. The place Around is holy, dread Posidon here Is present, present here the lord of fire, Titan Prometheus. What thou standest on Is of this region hight the Brazen Way, The prop of Athens, while these neighbouring fields Boast of Colonus, that famed charioteer, As their first settler; and their denizens Are proud to bear their founder's sainted name. Such claims to pious reverence hath this place, Stranger, which they who dwell here feel the more. OEDIPUS. There are then people who inhabit it? STRANGER. Yes, people named after their patron god. OEDIPUS. Has it a king or do the commons rule? STRANGER. The King of yonder city is its lord. OEDIPUS. And who now fills the seat of royalty? STRANGER. Theseus, the son of Aegeus, is his name. OEDIPUS. Would one of you my envoy be to him? STRANGER. To tell him aught, or bid him come to thee? OEDIPUS. To show him how small cost may bring great gain. STRANGER. And wherein can the blind advantage him? OEDIPUS.