Enter TIRESIAS, leaning on a staff, and led by his Daughter
  MANTO.

What makes this blind prophetic fool abroad? 
Would his Apollo had him! he’s too holy
For earth and me; I’ll shun his walk, and seek
My popular friends. [Exit CREON.

Tir. A little farther; yet a little farther,
Thou wretched daughter of a dark old man,
Conduct my weary steps:  And thou, who seest
For me and for thyself, beware thou tread not,
With impious steps, upon dead corps.  Now stay;
Methinks I draw more open, vital air. 
Where are we?

Man. Under covert of a wall;
The most frequented once, and noisy part
Of Thebes; now midnight silence reigns even here,
And grass untrodden springs beneath our feet.

Tir. If there be nigh this place a sunny bank,
There let me rest awhile:—­A sunny bank! 
Alas! how can it be, where no sun shines,
But a dim winking taper in the skies,
That nods, and scarce holds up his drowzy head,
To glimmer through the damps! [A Noise within. Follow, follow,
                                    follow!  A Creon, A Creon, A Creon! 
Hark! a tumultuous noise, and Creon’s name
Thrice echoed.

Man. Fly, the tempest drives this way.

Tir. Whither can age and blindness take their flight?  If I could fly, what could I suffer worse, Secure of greater ills? [Noise again, Creon, Creon, Creon!

Enter CREON, DIOCLES, ALCANDER, PYRACMON; followed by the Crowd.

Cre. I thank ye, countrymen; but must refuse
The honours you intend me; they’re too great,
And I am too unworthy; think again,
And make a better choice.

1 Cit. Think twice!  I ne’er thought twice in all my life; That’s double work.

2 Cit. My first word is always my second; and therefore I’ll have no second word; and therefore, once again, I say, A Creon!

All. A Creon, A Creon, A Creon!

Cre. Yet hear me, fellow-citizens.

Dioc. Fellow-citizens! there was a word of kindness!

Alc. When did OEdipus salute you by that familiar name?

1 Cit. Never, never; he was too proud.

Cre. Indeed he could not, for he was a stranger;
But under him our Thebes is half destroyed. 
Forbid it, heaven, the residue should perish
Under a Theban born! 
’Tis true, the gods might send this plague among you,
Because a stranger ruled; but what of that? 
Can I redress it now?

3 Cit. Yes, you or none.  ’Tis certain that the gods are angry with us, Because he reigns.

Cre. OEdipus may return; you may be ruined.

1 Cit. Nay, if that be the matter, we are ruined already.

2 Cit. Half of us, that are here present, were living men but yesterday; and we, that are absent, do but drop and drop, and no man knows whether he be dead or living.  And therefore, while we are sound and well, let us satisfy our consciences, and make a new king.