Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, OEDIPUS REX [TYRANNUS][OR, OEDIPUS THE KING]: BLINDNESS, by SOPHOCLES


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

OEDIPUS REX [TYRANNUS][OR, OEDIPUS THE KING]: BLINDNESS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Nay, give me no more counsel. Bid me not
Last Line: That no man else, but I alone, must bear.
Subject(s): Blindness; Visually Handicapped


NAY, give me no more counsel. Bid me not
Believe my deed, thus done, is not well done.
I know 'tis well. When I had passed the grave,
How could those eyes have met my father's gaze,
Or my unhappy mother's -- since on both
I have done wrongs beyond all other wrong?
Or live and see my children? -- Children born
As they were born! What pleasure in that sight?
None for these eyes of mine, for ever, none.
Nor in the sight of Thebes, her castles, shrines
And images of the gods, whereof, alas!
I robbed myself -- myself, I spoke that word,
I that she bred and nurtured, I her prince,
And bade her thrust the sinner out, the man
Proved of the gods polluted -- Laius' son.
When such a stain by my own evidence
Was on me, could I raise my eyes to them?
No! Had I means to stop my ears, and choke
The wells of sound, I had not held my hand,
But closed my body like a prison-house
To hearing as to sight. Sweet for the mind
To dwell withdrawn, where troubles could not come.
Cithaeron! Ah, why didst thou welcome me?
Why, when thou hadst me there, didst thou not kill,
Never to show the world myself -- my birth!
O Polybus, and Corinth, and the home
Men called my father's ancient house, what sores
Festered beneath that beauty that ye reared,
Discovered now, sin out of sin begot.
O ye three roads, O secret mountain-glen,
Trees, and a pathway narrowed to the place
Where met the three, do you remember me?
I gave you blood to drink, my father's blood,
And so my own! Do you remember that?
The deed I wrought for you? Then, how I passed
Hither to other deeds?
O Marriage-bed
That gave me birth, and, having borne me, gave
Fresh children to your seed, and showed the world
Father, son, brother, mingled and confused,
Bride, mother, wife in one, and all the shame
Of deeds the foulest ever known to man.
No. Silence for a deed so ill to do
Is better. Therefore lead me hence away!
To hide me or to kill. Or to the sea
Cast me, where you shall look on me no more.
Come! Deign to touch me, though I am a man
Accursed. Yield! Fear nothing! Mine are woes
That no man else, but I alone, must bear.





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