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Œdipus
But hence, begone, nor urge my temper further,
Thou author of abominable falsehood.
HIGH PRIEST.
Thou callest me hypocrite, and base impostor;
Thy father thought not so.
ŒDIPUS.
My father, saidst thou?
HIGH PRIEST.
Thy wretched fate: to-day shall give thee birth;
To-day shall give thee death: unhappy man,
Tell me who gave thee birth, or say with whom
Thou livest, beset with sorrows and with crimes
For thee alone reserved. O Corinth! Phocis!
Detested nuptials! impious wretched race,
Too like its parent stem! whose deadly rage
Shall fill the world with horror and amaze.
Farewell.
SCENE V.
ŒDIPUS, PHILOCTETES, JOCASTE.
ŒDIPUS.
Immovable; my passion is subsided;
I know not where I am: methinks some god
Descended from above to calm my rage;
Who to his priest imparted power divine,
And by his sacred voice pronounced my ruin.