OED. Then is the land inhabited of men?

ATH.  By men, who name them from Colonos there.

OED. Have they a lord, or sways the people’s voice?

ATH.  Lord Theseus, child of Aegeus, our late king.

OED. Will some one of your people bring him hither?

ATH.  Wherefore?  What urgent cause requires his presence?

OED. He shall gain mightily by granting little.

ATH.  Who can gain profit from the blind?

OED. The words
These lips shall utter, shall be full of sight.

ATH.  Well, thou look’st nobly, but for thy hard fate. 
This course is safe.  Thus do.  Stay where I found thee,
Till I go tell the neighbour townsmen here
Not of the city, but Colonos.  They
Shall judge for thee to abide or to depart. [Exit

OED. Tell me, my daughter, is the man away?

ANT.  He is gone, father.  I alone am near. 
Speak what thou wilt in peace and quietness.

OED. Dread Forms of holy Fear, since in this land
Your sanctuary first gave my limbs repose,
Be not obdurate to my prayer, nor spurn
The voice of Phoebus, who that fateful day,
When he proclaimed my host of ills to come,
Told me of rest after a weary time,
Where else but here?  ’When I should reach my bourne,
And find repose and refuge with the Powers
Of reverend name, my troubled life should end
With blessing to the men who sheltered me,
And curses on their race who banished me
and sent me wandering forth.’  Whereof he vouched me
Sure token, or by earthquake, or by fire
From heaven, or thundrous voices.  And I know
Some aery message from your shrine hath drawn me
With winged whisper to this grove.  Not else
Had ye first met me coming, nor had I
Sate on your dread unchiselled seat of stone,
With dry cold lips greeting your sober shrine. 
Then give Apollo’s word due course, and give
Completion to my life, if in your sight
These toils and sorrows past the human bound
Seem not too little.  Kindly, gentle powers,
Offspring of primal darkness, hear my prayer! 
Hear it, Athenai, of all cities queen,
Great Pallas’ foster-city!  Look with ruth
On this poor shadow of great Oedipus,
This fading semblance of his kingly form.

ANT.  Be silent now.  There comes an aged band
With jealous looks to know thine errand here.

OED. I will be silent, and thine arm shall guide
My footstep under covert of the grove
Out of the path, till I make sure what words
These men will utter.  Warily to observe
Is the prime secret of the prudent mind. [Exeunt