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Show Ill I I iS O ED IP US. ccs, and make a new King. ). Cit. H a , if w e were but worthy to fee an0. thcr Coronation 1 And then, ifwc muft die , we'll go merrily together. tA&. T o the Queftion, to the Queftion. Dioc. Arc you content Creon fhall be your Kin?; t^iU. A Creon, a Creon, a Creon. i^ Tir. Hear m e , yc Thebans: And thou Creon hear i. Cit. Who's that would be heatd ? We'll heat no M a n : w c can fcarce hear one another. Tir. I charge you by the Gods to hear mc. i. Cit. O, 'tis Apollo's Prieft; wc muft hear him : 'Tis the old blind Prophet, that fees all things I. Cit. H e comes from the Gods too; and they are our Betters; and therefore in good Manners wc muft hear him. Speak, Prophet. i. Cit. For coming from the Gods, that's no great matter; they can all fay that: But he's a great Sholar, he can make Almanacks an he were m to't; and therefore I fay, hear him. Tir. W h e n angry Heav'n fcatters its Plagues among you, Is it for nought, yc Thebans ? Arc the Gods Unjuft in punifhing ? Are there no Crimes Which pull this Vengeance down > i. Cit. Yes, yes, no doubt, there are fome Sim ftirring, that arc the Caufe of all. 3. Cit. Yes, There are Sins, or w c fhould have no Taxes. x. Cit. For m y part, I can fpeak it with afafc Confidence, I ne'er fin'd in all m y Life. 1. Cit. N o r I. 3. Cit. N o r I. i. Cit. Then w c are all juitified: TheSin lies not at our Doors. Tir. All juitified alike, and yet all guilty. Were every Man's Falfc-dcaling brought to light; His OEDIPUS. J9 His Envy, Malice , Lying, Perjuries ; His Weights ^and Meafures , th'othcr Man's Extortions , With what Face could you tell offended Heav'n, You had not fin'd ? 2. Cit. Nay , if thefe be Sins the Cafe is al-tcr'd : For m y part , I never rhought any thing but Murder had been a Sin. Tir. And yet, as if all thefe were left than nothing, You add Rebellion to 'cm. Impious Thebans I Have you not fworn before the Gods, to ferve And to obey this Oedipus, your King, By publick Voice elected ? Anfwer m e, If this be true. i. Cit. This is true : but it's a hatd World, Neighbours, if a Man's Oath muft be his Mafter. Creon. Speak Diodes : All goes wrong. Dioc. H o w ! Arc you Traytors , Country-men of Thebes ? This holy Sir, w h o preflcs you with Oaths, Forgets your firft. Were you not fworn before T o Lajus, and his Blood ? <AB. W e were , w e were. Dioc. While Lajus has a lawful Succeflor, Your firft Oath ftill muft bind : Eurydice Is Heir to Lajus let her marry Creon : Offended Heav'n will never be appcas'd, While Oedipus pollutes the Throne of Lajus, A Srranger ro his Blood. tAU- We'll no Oedipus , no Oedipus. 1. Cit. H e puts the Prophet in a Moufe-holc. i. Cit. I knew it would be fo : T h e laft M an ever fpeaks rhc belt Reafon. Tir. Can Benefits thus die ? Ungrateful Thebans! Remember yet , when after Lajus's Death, The Monftcr Sphynx laid your rich Country waftc, Your Vineyards fpoil'd, your labouring Oxen flew j B 1 Your iv \ t I , |