OEDIPUS AND TEIRESIAS
OEDIPUS:
You do know who you are dealing with here?
TEIRESIAS:
Oh yes. Know I all about you, Oedipus. You think of yourself as great
man, think you know best. If only you knowed how little you know.
You know nothing.
OEDIPUS:
How dare you.
TEIRESIAS:
If you could stop for just one moment and listen to something other
than your own stubborn voice, much more would you know about
yourself.
OEDIPUS:
What is that supposed to mean?
TEIRESIAS:
Stop this search, look no further into the past. Knowing what
happened to Laios wont change what happened to Laios, but it will
change you, in the worstest way imaginable.
Just tell me who killed him.
OEDIPUS:
TEIRESIAS:
Still you willn’t listen! You willn’t listen to what's good for you. If I
were to tell you who killed him...
CHORUS:
(ALL) Who?
TEIRESIAS:
If these people were to know who is guilty, never would you mock
me again. Never would you mock anyone ever again. Has it non
occurred to you, great Oedipus, that there may be a reason for my
refusal to speak? That I hold back the identity of the murder man for
a purpose? No, of course, non. You don't listen, do you? You don't
see anything.
OEDIPUS:
Ha, says the man with no eyes.
TEIRESIAS:
I am blind north by north-west. When the wind is southerly, know I
a murder man from a milkmaid.
OEDIPUS:
(trying to be calm) Teiresias – friend. I don't wish to sound rudely,
but this is no joke; the future of Thebes lays in your hands.
TEIRESIAS:
Your “future” is already decided Oedipus. Your fate mapped out by
the gods. None of us know our fate, not even me. But you – you
don't even know your past properly.
OEDIPUS:
Know you what I think, prophetman? I think you had some
involvement in this crime. Maybe you killed Laios yourself, maybe
you are the murder man. That would account for your reluctance to
speak.
TEIRESIAS:
You are wrong, of course.
OEDIPUS:
Wrong, am I? We shall see, we shall see. Guards! Arrest this man on
suspicion of killing Laios.
The guards move in and seize Teiresias.
TEIRESIAS:
All right, all right, I’ll tell you what you want to hear, though it be
against my better judgement.
OEDIPUS:
Who is it?
TEIRESIAS:
I thought you were supposed to be the solver of riddles Oedipus.
Can you non guess who it is or must I spell it out to you?
OEDIPUS:
Who?
CHORUS:
(ALL) Who?...Who?...Who?...
TEIRESIAS:
The murder man is from Corinth
But birthed was he in Thebes.
He is rich and powerful
But will die in shame.
CHORUS:
(ALL) Shame...Shame...
TEIRESIAS:
He has eyes
But he will non see.
CHORUS:
(ALL) See...See...
TEIRESIAS:
His family is perfect
But his family is disgusting.
OEDIPUS:
A name, damn you, give me his name; I just want to know his name!
CHORUS:
(A) You don't want to know what the Blindy-man knows.
OEDIPUS:
A name.
CHORUS:
(B) What the Blindy-man knows is nonspeakable.
(C) Turn a blind eye to what the Blindy-man knows.
TEIRESIAS:
To his children he is a brother,
To his wife he is a son.
CHORUS:
(ALL) (laughing at ridiculous idea) To his children he is a brother!
To his wife he is a son!
TEIRESIAS:
There. Ponder that riddle – Capit.