< Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 16.djvu
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192
Œdipus
JOCASTE.
Fear not, but hear the king,
And answer him.
PHORBAS.
The king?
JOCASTE.
Thou standest before him.
PHORBAS.
Ye gods! is this the successor of Laius?
ŒDIPUS.
Waste not the time thus idly, but inform me,
Thou wert the only witness of his death,
And wounded, so 'tis said, in his defence.
PHORBAS.
He's dead, and let his ashes rest in peace;
Embitter not my fate, nor thus insult
A faithful subject wounded by thy hand.
ŒDIPUS.
I wound thee? I?
PHORBAS.
Now satiate thy revenge,
And put an end to this unhappy life;
The poor remains of blood which then escaped thee
Now thou mayest shed; and since thou must remember
The fatal place where Laius
ŒDIPUS.
Spare the rest:
It is enough: I see it now: 'twas I:
Ye gods! my eyes are opened.
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