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Show 74 OEDIPUS. Oed. Yes, my^JE^eon; but the fad remembrance Quite blafts m y Soul: fee then the fwelhng Prieft! Methinks I have his Image now in view ± H e mounts the Tripos in a Minutes fpacc, His clouded Head knocks at the Temple Roof, While from his Mouth ihcfe ditmai Words arc heard : Fly, Wretch, whom Pate has doomd thy Father's Blood to fpill , Alndwithprepofirous Births thy Mother's Womb to fid, <JE%e. Is this the Caufe W h y you refute the Diadem of Corinth? O^d. The Caufe.' w h y is it not a monftrousone? ,jEge. Great Sir, you may return ; and tho' you ihould Enjoy the Queen (which all the Gods forbid) The Act would prove no Iuceft. Oed. H o w , ^fi^eon} Tho' I enjoy'd m y Morher , not Inceiluous! Thou rav'it , and fo do I, and thefe all catch M y Madnefs j look, they're dead with deep Dif-traction: Not Inceit! what, not Inceit with m y Mother? JEtf. M y Lord, Queen Merope is not your Mother. Oed. H a / did I hear thee right > not Merope M y Mother 1 <JEge. N or was Polybus your Father. Ocd. Then all m y Days and Nights muft now be fpent In curious fcarch, to find out thofe dark Parents W h o gave m e to the Wrorldj fpeak then, ^ o « , By all the Gods Coeleflial and Infernal, By all the Ties of Nature, Blood and Friendfhip, Conceal not from this rack'd defpainng King A Point or fmalleft Grain of what thou know It: Speak then , O anfwer to m y Doubts directly. OEDIPUS. 7J if Royal Polybus was not m y Father , W h y was 1 call'd his Son ? ^ ^ e . He, from m y Arms , Recciv'd you as the faireft gift of Nature- Not but you wrere adorn'd with all the Riches That Empire could bellow in coitly Mantles Upon its Infant Heir. Oed. But was I made the Heir of Corinth's Crown, Becaufe ^/Ejeon's hand prelentcd mc? tyfcfe. By m y advice, Bemcr paft all hope of Children , He took , embrae'd , and own'd you for his Son. Oed. Perhaps I then a m yours -, mftruct m e , Sir: If it be fo, I'll kneel and weep before you, With all the obedience of a penient Child, Imploring pardon. Kill m e if you pleafe , I will not writhe m y Body at the wound: But fink upon your Feet with a laft figh , And ask forgivenefs with m y dying Hands. fare. Otife, and call not to this aged Cheek The little Blood which ihould keep warm m y Heart. You are not mine , nor ought I to be bleft With fuch a God-like Off-fpringi Sir, I found you Upon the Mount Cithxron. Oed. O fpeak , go on > the Air grows fenfiblc O f the great things you utter, and is calm: The hurry'd Orbs', with Storms fo rack'd of late, Seem to ftand ftill, as if that Jove were talking. Cithocron l fpeak , the Valley of Cithccron ! JEoe. Oft-times before, 1 thither did rcfort, Charm'd with the Converfation of a M a n W h o led a rural Life, and had command O'er all the Shepherds, w h o about thofe Vales Tended their numerous Flocks. In this Man's Arms I faw you fmiling at a fatal Dagger Whofe point he often offei'd at your Throat,- |