dost,
Then mayst thou still be cursed with loving me;
And, as thou art, be still unpitied, loathed;
And let his ghost--No, let his ghost have rest--
But let the greatest, fiercest, foulest fury,
Let Creon haunt himself. [_Exit_ EUR.

_Cre._ 'Tis true, I am
What she has told me--an offence to sight:
My body opens inward to my soul,
And lets in day to make my vices seen
By all discerning eyes, but the blind vulgar.
I must make haste, ere OEdipus return,
To snatch the crown and her--for I still love,
But love with malice. As an angry cur
Snarls while he feeds, so will I seize and stanch
The hunger of my love on this proud beauty,
And leave the scraps for slaves.

_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