_Manent_ OEDIPUS, JOCASTA, CREON, PYRACMON, HÆMON, _and_ ALCANDER.
_OEdip._ To bed, my fair, my dear, my best Jocasta. After the toils of war, 'tis wondrous strange Our loves should thus be dashed. One moment's thought, And I'll approach the arms of my beloved.
_Joc._ Consume whole years in care, so now and then I may have leave to feed my famished eyes With one short passing glance, and sigh my vows: This, and no more, my lord, is all the passion Of languishing Jocasta. [_Exit._
_OEdip._ Thou softest, sweetest of the world! good night.-- Nay, she is beauteous too; yet, mighty love! I never offered to obey thy laws, But an unusual chillness came upon me; An unknown hand still checked my forward joy, Dashed me with blushes, though no light was near; That even the act became a violation.
_OEdip._ Hark! who was that? Ha! Creon, didst thou call me?
_Cre._ Not I, my gracious lord, nor any here.
_OEdip._ That's strange! methought I heard a doleful voice Cry, OEdipus.--The prophet bade me sleep. He talked of dreams, and visions, and to-morrow! I'll muse no more; come what will, or can, My thoughts are clearer than unclouded stars; And with those thoughts I'll rest. Creon, good-night. [_Exit with_ HÆM.
_Cre._ Sleep seal your eyes up, sir,--eternal sleep! But if he sleep and wake again, O all Tormenting dreams, wild horrors of the night, And hags of fancy, wing him through the air: From precipices hurl him headlong down, Charybdis roar, and death be set before him!
_Alc._ Your curses have already taken effect, For he looks very sad.
_Cre._ May he be rooted, where he stands, for ever; His eye-balls never move, brows be unbent, His blood, his entrails, liver, heart, and bowels, Be blacker than the place I wish him, hell.
_Pyr._ No more; you tear yourself, but vex not him. Methinks 'twere brave this night to force the temple, While blind Tiresias conjures up the fiends, And pass the time with nice Eurydice.
_Alc._ Try promises and threats, and if all fail, Since hell's broke loose, why should not you be mad? Ravish, and leave her dead with her Adrastus.
_Cre._ Were the globe mine, I'd give a province hourly For such another thought.--Lust and revenge! To stab at once the only man I hate, And to enjoy the woman whom I love! I ask no more of my auspicious stars, The rest as fortune please; so but this night She play me fair, why, let her turn for ever.