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Show w 66 OEDIPUS. As if convulfive Death had fcizd upon him ; And itammcr'd in his abrupt Prayer fo wildly, That, had he been the Murderer of Lajus, Guilt and diltrattion could not have ihook him more. Oed. By your defcription, fure a* Plagues and Death Lay wafte our Tfcefce*, fome Deed that fhuns the light Beiot thofe fears : If thou rciped'ft m y peace, Secure h i m , dear Iocafla ;• for m y Genius Shrinks at his N a m e . loe. O h , rather let him go! So m y poor boding Heart would have it be, Without a reafon. Oed. Hark, the Thebans come: Therefore retire: and, once more , if thoulov'ftmc, Let Phorbas be rctain'd. Ioc. Y o u fhall, while I Have life , be ftill obey'd. In vain you tooth m c with your foft endearments, A n d fet the faircit countenance to view, Your gloomy Eyes, m y Lord, betray a deadncCs And inward langufhing: that Oracle Eats, like a fubtile W o r m , its venom'd way, Preys on your Heart, and rots the noble Core, Howc'cr the beauteous out-fide thews fo lovely. Oed. O , thou wilt kill m e with thy lovc'sexcefi! All, all is well i retire, the Thebans come. [£x. Jocafta, Ghofi. Oedipus! Oed. H a ! again that fcrcam of woe ! Thrice have I heard,thrice fince the Morning dawn'd It hollow'd loud, as if m y Guardian Spirit Call'd from fome vaulted Manfion, Oedipus! O r is it but the work of Mclancholly ? W h e n the Sunfets, fhadows ,that fhew datNoon But fmall, appear moft long and terrible. So , w h e n w e think Fate hovers o cr our Heads, Our apptehenfions (hoot beyond all D ™ * " " ^ OEDIPUS. €f Owls, Ravens, Crickets feem the watch of Death ; Nature's worft Vciminc fcarc her God-like Sons : Ecchos , the very leavings of a Voice, Grow bablmg GJiofts, and call us to our Graves: Each Mole-hill thought fwells ro a hugeO/ympw, While w e fantaftick Dreamers heave and puff, And fweat with an Imagination's weight; As if» like tAt as , with thefe mortal Shoulders W e could fuftain the burden of the World. [ Crcon comes forward. Creon. O facrcd Sir, m y Royal Lord - Oed. W h a t now ? Thou feem'ft affrighted at fome dreadful Action , Thy Breath comes thort, thy darted Eyes arc fixt O n m c for aid, as if thou were purfu'd: I fenr thec to the Thebans, fpeak thy wonder j Fear not, this Palace is a Sanctuary, The King himfelfs thy Guard. Creon. For m e , a!as , (with yours! M y Life's not worth a thought , when weigh'd But fly , m y Lord , fly as your Life is facred i Your Fate is precious to your faithful Creon, W h o therefore, on his Knees, thus prof Irate begs You would remove from Thebes rhat vows your W h e n I but offet'd at your Innocence: (ruinc. They gather'd Stones, and menae'd m e with Death, And drove m e through the Streets with Imprecations Againft your Sacred Perfon , and thofe Traytors Which juftify'd your Guilt : which curs'd Tireftac Told , as from Heav'n, was caufe of their def-truction. Oed. Rife , worthy Creon , hafte and take our Guard , Rank 'cm in equal parts upon the Square. Then open every Gate of this our Palace, And let the Torrent in. Hark , n o w it comes, [Shout. I hear 'em roar : begone and break d o w n all E The |