Westminster abbey; with other occasional poems, and a free translation of the Oedipus tyrannus of Sophocles Illustrated with engravings . re,A kingdoms strength consists not in extentOf vast domains, and bulwarks raisd to heavn ;The people are its strength, and when these fail,Its fleets are useless, and its bulwarks vain. Oed. Alas! my sons, ye urge not your complaintsUnknown or unregarded—well I knowThe various labours that oppress the state :Nor hath your sovreign borne amidst you allThe slightest share of woe. Still have I feltFor every pang the meanest subject breast, where all
Westminster abbey; with other occasional poems, and a free translation of the Oedipus tyrannus of Sophocles Illustrated with engravings . re,A kingdoms strength consists not in extentOf vast domains, and bulwarks raisd to heavn ;The people are its strength, and when these fail,Its fleets are useless, and its bulwarks vain. Oed. Alas! my sons, ye urge not your complaintsUnknown or unregarded—well I knowThe various labours that oppress the state :Nor hath your sovreign borne amidst you allThe slightest share of woe. Still have I feltFor every pang the meanest subject breast, where all your cares a center find, the talons of a lion, together with a human voice. She is said to have beensent by Juno to annoy the detested progeny of Cadmus, and spread herravages far and wide around the neighbourhood of Thebes, devouring allthose who were unable to expound her senigmas. Oedipus alone was equalto the task; when the monster, in despair, dashed out her brains against arock. It would be a waste of time to enter into farther explanation onthis subject, though ingenious theories relative to it have not been< OEDIPUS TYRANNUS. 13^ Feels no repose, but bears an empires by night upon my couch I lie,Or throngd in regal pomp, all-seeing Jove !Witness the tears I shed, the sighs I rove my thoughts in mazy wandrings lost,Some medcine to explore for bleeding prudence bade I faild not to performWith early speed—to Delphis shrine I sentCreon, my noble relative and friend,To seek of Jove, what dark unpurgd offenceHath staind the land ; what offering may atone,And mitigate the wrath of angry heavn—My soul is big with terror while I waitThe Gods decree: the time of his returnIs near elapsd, and may the curse be mineIf I not execute in all its forceThe dread behest.— Priest. Auspicious are thy words ;These youths pronounce, that Creon is arrivd. Oed. O great Apollo ! Grant his chearful looksBe the fair omen of thy smile restor
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Keywords: ., bookauthorsophocles, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1810, bookyear181
