Oedipus The King pages 58-63, A 20th century version

pages 58-63
Class Project page

(An open place before the Royal Palace at Thebes. A group of young men, old men, youths, and children enter. They take their places before the palace. Oedipus emerges from the palace.)

OEDIPUS: My people, why are you coming to my palace when there is so much trouble in Thebes and you should be praying to Apollo? Tell me, the All-Famous Oedipus, why you are here. Tell me, old priest, do you come in panic or in good courage? If you tell me what is wrong I will help you.
PRIEST: King Oedipus, people of all ages have come to you before your palace. We are all concerned about what is happening to Thebes since it is truly a terrible time. You can see yourself that the state of our town is too retched for it to make a quick recovery. The plague has affected our fruit, our cattle, and the fertility of our women. The gods have struck us with this plague and as it sweeps the city, it is leaving tears and dead bodies. We know that you are not god but we still seek your help. You have been sent here by the gods through fate and so it is now your job to help us and to releive us from this pain. It is now time for you to take charge and become our Savior. You brought us good fortune when you first came, are you now able to do it again?
OEDIPUS: I know the reasons you seek me and I know your pain because I, too, have felt it. For this, I am mourning for you, myself, and all of Thebes. And I have taken action. I have sent my wife’s brother, Creon, to ask Apollo how Thebes can be saved. I am anxious to hear what the great Apollo suggests.
PRIEST: That is indeed good news. And look! Creon is coming.
OEDIPUS: I hope the news he brings is of use to us.
PRIEST: By the looks of Creon, it seems like he is bringing good news.
OEDIPUS: He is close, we will soon know. Creon, tell us what you know. What message do you have from Apollo?
CREON: Good news! All of the news is fortunate.
OEDIPUS: What did Apollo say?
CREON: Do you want this crowd of people to hear the news or shall we go into privacy.
OEDIPUS: Tell everyone since they are as worried as you and I, and I am worried for them.
CREON: So be it. Apollo told me that “hurt has fell upon Theban soil, and it should be driven out before it kills more people”.
OEDIPUS: But how do we drive it out?
CREON: We must banish the murderer who has brought this upon us. OEDIPUS: What do you mean by a murderer?
CREON: My king, before you came to Thebes, it was ruled by King Laius.
OEDIPUS: I know, I have been told but I have never seen him.
CREON: He was killed. Apollo told me that we must kill his murderer.
OEDIPUS: But that will be hard. How shall we find this murderer?
CREON: He is here in Thebes!
OEDIPUS: But where was Laius murdered? In Thebes, or on its countryside?
CREON: It happened abroad. He was heading towards Delphi, but never made it back.
OEDIPUS: And there were no witnesses who could give us a clue?
CREON: Just one servant escaped and he only knew of one thing.
OEDIPUS: What was it? Even one clue could greatly help so please say it.
CREON: He said that a group of robbers attacked and killed the king.
OEDIPUS: What bandit could have done this? Is it possible that he came from Thebes and still did such a thing?
CREON: That is unknown because the murderer escaped in all of the confusion.
OEDIPUS: How could he have been able to get away with such a crime?
CREON: The Sphinx told us to forget about the past and concentrate on our current problems.
OEDIPUS: Do not worry because I, too, share Apollo's concern for the people. I swear to avenge the king's death and to rid Thebes of its anguish. I shall find this murderer and make sure that he does not try to assassinate another. So go my people and [Exeunt OEDIPUS and CREON ]
PRIEST: Let us go and pray as our king has asked. Perhaps then the gods will relieve us of this plague.
II CHORUS: There are many people that are sick, yet there is nothing that can be done about it. There is no fruit to harvest. The babies are dying in the womens bodies because of this sickness. Death is sourounding us. It is all around. There are so many people that are sick, yet there is nothing that can be done about it. There is no fruit to harvest. The babies are dying in the womens bodies because of this sickness. Death is sourounding us. It is all around. There are so many people dying that we can not burn the bodies fast enough. The people can not help themselves. They just lie on the ground in sickness, spreading the disease to others. Mothers are praying and crying at the same time, and hoping that they will not die. They ask Paean, the daughter of Zeus, to rescue them.
III Athena, send away the one who caused this plague, because it is bringing death. Take him far away from Thebes. Take him to the great sea-palace of Amphtrite, or to the waves of the Thracian, and the shore. There is no mercy. Zeus, take a bolt and slay this man. Apollo, king Lycean, string your bow to help us fight it off. I would see the flashing of fire from this. His name is a name of Thebes. He is drunk with wine, and he has a cry of triumph. Following him are the Maenades,- come great Dionysus, with a splendor of light. Slrike at this man who causes this plague and save us!
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