_Cre._ Indeed he could not, for he was a stranger; But under him our Thebes is half destroyed. Forbid it, heaven, the residue should perish Under a Theban born! 'Tis true, the gods might send this plague among you, Because a stranger ruled; but what of that? Can I redress it now? _3 Cit._ Yes, you or none. 'Tis certain that the gods are angry with us, Because he reigns. _Cre._ OEdipus may return; you may be ruined. _1 Cit._ Nay, if that be the matter, we are ruined already. _2 Cit._ Half of us, that are here present, were living men but yesterday; and we, that are absent, do but drop and drop, and no man knows whether he be dead or living. And therefore, while we are sound and well, let us satisfy our consciences, and make a new king. _3 Cit._ Ha, if we were but worthy to see another coronation! and then, if we must die, we'll go merrily together. _All._ To the question, to the question. _Dioc._ Are you content, Creon should be your king? _All_ A Creon, A Creon, A Creon! _Tir._ Hear me, ye Thebans, and thou Creon, hear me. _1 Cit._ Who's that would be heard? we'll hear no man; we can scarce hear one another. _Tir._ I charge you, by the gods, to hear me. _2 Cit._ Oh, it is Apollo's priest, we must hear him; it is the old blind prophet, that sees all things. _3 Cit._ He comes from the gods too, and they are our betters; and, in good manners, we must hear him:--Speak, prophet. _2 Cit._ For coming from the gods, that's no great matter, they can all say that: but he is a great scholar; he can make almanacks, an' he were put to it; and therefore I say, hear him. _Tir._ When angry heaven scatters its plagues among you, Is it for nought, ye Thebans? are the gods Unjust in punishing? are there no crimes, Which pull this vengeance down? _1 Cit._ Yes, yes; no doubt there are some sins stirring, that are the cause of all. _3 Cit._ Yes, there are sins, or we should have no taxes. _2 Cit._ For my part, I can speak it with a safe conscience, I never sinned in all my life. _1 Cit._ Nor I. _3 Cit._ Nor I. _2 Cit._ Then we are all justified; the sin lies not at our doors. _Tir._ All justified alike, and yet all guilty! Were every man's false dealing brought to light, His envy, malice, lying, perjuries, His weights and measures, the other man's extortions, With what face could you tell offended heaven, You had not sinned? _2 Cit._ Nay, if these be sins, the case is altered; for my part, I never thought any thing but murder had been a sin. _Tir._ And yet, as if all these were less than nothing, You add rebellion to them, impious Thebans! Have you not sworn before the gods to serve And to obey this OEdipus, your king By public voice elected? answer me, If this be true! _2 Cit._ This is true; but its a hard world, neighbours, If a man's oath must be his master. _Cre._ Speak, Diocles; all goes wrong.