_Adr._ Methinks, my lord, I see a sad repentance, A general consternation spread among them. _OEdip._ My reign is at an end; yet, ere I finish, I'll do a justice that becomes a monarch; A monarch, who, in the midst of swords and javelins, Dares act as on his throne, encompast round With nations for his guard. Alcander, you Are nobly born, therefore shall lose your head: [_Seizes him._ Here, Haemon, take him: but for this, and this, Let cords dispatch them. Hence, away with them! _Tir._ O sacred prince, pardon distracted Thebes, Pardon her, if she acts by heaven's award; If that the infernal spirits have declared The depth of fate; and if our oracles May speak, O do not too severely deal! But let thy wretched Thebes at least complain. If thou art guilty, heaven will make it known; If innocent, then let Tiresias die. _OEdip._ I take thee at thy word.--Run, haste, and save Alcander: I swear, the prophet, or the king shall die. Be witness, all you Thebans, of my oath; And Phorbas be the umpire. _Tir._ I submit. [_Trumpet sounds._ _OEdip._ What mean those trumpets? _Enter_ HAEMON _with_ ALCANDER, _&c._ _Haem._ From your native country, Great sir, the famed AEgeon is arrived, That renowned favourite of the king your father: He comes as an ambassador from Corinth, And sues for audience. _OEdip._ Haste, Haemon, fly, and tell him that I burn To embrace him. _Haem._ The queen, my lord, at present holds him In private conference; but behold her here. _Enter_ JOCASTA, EURYDICE, _&c._ _Joc._ Hail, happy OEdipus, happiest of kings! Henceforth be blest, blest as thou canst desire; Sleep without fears the blackest nights away; Let furies haunt thy palace, thou shalt sleep Secure, thy slumbers shall be soft and gentle As infants' dreams. _OEdip._ What does the soul of all my joys intend? And whither would this rapture? _Joc._ O, I could rave, Pull down those lying fanes, and burn that vault, From whence resounded those false oracles, That robbed my love of rest: If we must pray, Rear in the streets bright altars to the Gods, Let virgins' hands adorn the sacrifice; And not a grey-beard forging priest come near, To pry into the bowels of the victim, And with his dotage mad the gaping world. But see, the oracle that I will trust, True as the Gods, and affable as men. _Enter_ AEGEON. _Kneels._ _OEdip._ O, to my arms, welcome, my dear AEgeon; Ten thousand welcomes! O, my foster-father, Welcome as mercy to a man condemned! Welcome to me, as, to a sinking mariner, The lucky plank that bears him to the shore! But speak, O tell me what so mighty joy Is this thou bring'st, which so transports Jocasta? _Joc._ Peace, peace, AEgeon, let Jocasta tell him!-- O that I could for ever charm, as now, My dearest OEdipus! Thy royal father, Polybus, king of Corinth, is no more. _OEdip._ Ha! can it be? AEgeon, answer me; And speak in short, what my Jocasta's transport May over-do.