_OEdip._ What mutters he? tell me, Eurydice: Thou shak'st: Thy soul's a woman;--speak, Adrastus, And boldly, as thou met'st my arms in fight:-- Dar'st thou not speak? why then 'tis bad indeed.-- Tiresias, thee I summon by thy priesthood, Tell me what news from hell; where Laius points, And whose the guilty head! _Tir._ Let me not answer. _OEdip._ Be dumb then, and betray thy native soil To farther plagues. _Tir._ I dare not name him to thee. _OEdip._ Dar'st thou converse with hell, and canst thou fear An human name? _Tir._ Urge me no more to tell a thing, which, known, Would make thee more unhappy: 'Twill be found, Though I am silent. _OEdip._ Old and obstinate! Then thou thyself Art author or accomplice of this murther, And shun'st the justice, which by public ban Thou hast incurred. _Tir._ O, if the guilt were mine, It were not half so great: Know, wretched man, Thou only, thou art guilty! thy own curse Falls heavy on thyself. _OEdip._ Speak this again: But speak it to the winds, when they are loudest, Or to the raging seas; they'll hear as soon, And sooner will believe. _Tir._ Then hear me, heaven! For, blushing, thou hast seen it; hear me, earth, Whose hollow womb could not contain this murder, But sent it back to light! And thou, hell, hear me! Whose own black seal has 'firmed this horrid truth, OEdipus murthered Laius! _OEdip._ Rot the tongue, And blasted be the mouth that spoke that lie! Thou blind of sight, but thou more blind of soul! _Tir._ Thy parents thought not so. _OEdip._ Who were my parents? _Tir._ Thou shalt know too soon. _OEdip._ Why seek I truth from thee? The smiles of courtiers, and the harlot's tears, The tradesman's oaths, and mourning of an heir, Are truths to what priests tell. O why has priest-hood privilege to lie, And yet to be believed!--thy age protects thee. _Tir._ Thou canst not kill me; 'tis not in thy fate, As 'twas to kill thy father, wed thy mother, And beget sons, thy brothers[9]. _OEdip._ Riddles, riddles! _Tir._ Thou art thyself a riddle; a perplext Obscure enigma, which when thou unty'st, Thou shalt be found and lost. _OEdip._ Impossible!-- Adrastus, speak; and, as thou art a king, Whose royal word is sacred, clear my fame. _Adr._ Would I could! _OEdip._ Ha, wilt thou not? Can that plebeian vice Of lying mount to kings? Can they be tainted? Then truth is lost on earth. _Cre._ The cheat's too gross. Adrastus is his oracle, and he, The pious juggler, but Adrastus' organ. _OEdip._ 'Tis plain, the priest's suborned to free the prisoner. _Cre._ And turn the guilt, on you. _OEdip._ O, honest Creon, how hast thou been belied! _Eur._ Hear me. _Cre._ She's bribed to save her lover's life. _Adr._ If, OEdipus, thou think'st-- _Cre._ Hear him not speak. _Adr._ Then hear these holy men. _Cre._ Priests, priests; all bribed, all priests. _OEdip._ Adrastus, I have found thee: The malice of a vanquished man has seized thee! _Adr._ If envy and not truth--