JO.  Let not thy queen be left in ignorance
What cause thou hadst to lift thy wrath so high.

OED. I’ll tell thee, lady, for I honour thee
More than these citizens.  ’Twas Creon there,
And his inveterate treason against me.

JO.  Accuse him, so you make the quarrel plain.

OED. He saith I am the murderer of the King.

JO.  Speaks he from hearsay, or as one who knows?

OED. He keeps his own lips free:  but hath suborned
A rascal soothsayer to this villany.

JO.  Hearken to me, and set your heart at rest
On that you speak of, while I make you learn
No mortal thing is touched by soothsaying. 
Of that I’ll give thee warrant brief and plain. 
Word came to Laius once, I will not say
From Phoebus’ self, but from his ministers,
The King should be destroyed by his own son,
If son were born to him from me.  What followed? 
Laius was slain, by robbers from abroad,
Saith Rumour, in a cross-way!  But the child
Lived not three days, ere by my husband’s hand
His feet were locked, and he was cast and left
By messengers on the waste mountain wold. 
So Phoebus neither brought upon the boy
His father’s murder, nor on Laius
The thing he greatly feared, death by his son. 
Such issue came of prophesying words. 
Therefore regard them not.  God can himself
With ease bring forth what for his ends he needs.

OED. What strange emotions overcloud my soul,
Stirred to her depths on hearing this thy tale!

JO.  What sudden change is this?  What cares oppress thee?

OED. Methought I heard thee say, King Laius
Was at a cross-road overpowered and slain?

JO.  So ran the talk that yet is current here.

OED. Where was the scene of this unhappy blow?

JO.  Phocis the land is named.  The parted ways
Meet in one point from Dauha and from Delphi.

OED. And since the event how much of time hath flown?

JO.  ’Twas just ere you appeared with prospering speed
And took the kingdom, that the tidings came.

OED. What are thy purposes against me, Zeus?

JO.  Why broods thy mind upon such thoughts, my king?

OED. Nay, ask me not!  But tell me first what height
Had Laius, and what grace of manly prime?

JO.  Tall, with dark locks just sprinkled o’er with grey: 
In shape and bearing much resembling thee.

OED. O heavy fate!  How all unknowingly
I laid that dreadful curse on my own head!

JO.  How? 
I tremble as I gaze on thee, my king!

OED. The fear appals me that the seer can see. 
Tell one thing more, to make it doubly clear!

JO.  I am lothe to speak, but, when you ask, I will.

OED. Had he scant following, or, as princes use,
Full numbers of a well-appointed train?

JO.  There were but five in all:  a herald one;
And Laius travelled in the only car.