Chapter 6 The Story of Oedipus-6

After a long exile, Oedipus and his daughter Antigone came to a beautiful village one night.The nightingale was singing in the woods, the flowering vines were emitting a burst of fragrance, and the cool breeze was blowing under the olive and osmanthus trees. Although Oedipus couldn't see it, he felt that it was peaceful and serene.After hearing his daughter's description, he believed that this place must be a sacred place.Not far ahead, the castle of a city towers high.After inquiring, Antigone knew that they were not far from Athens now. Oedipus was tired and sat down on a stone to rest.A villager came up and told him to leave this sacred place, telling him that no one's footsteps could defile it here.Only then did the two exiles know that they had arrived at Chronos.Here is the sacred grove of Eumenides, which is the title that the Athenians respect for the goddess of revenge.Oedipus knew that he had reached the end of his exile and that their miserable fate would be relieved.The Chronos were startled at his appearance, and dared not drive away the stranger sitting on the stone, but only wanted to report to the king as soon as possible.

"Who is your king?" asked Oedipus, for he had been a long wanderer, and the world was a stranger to him. "Have you heard of the mighty and noble hero Theseus?" asked the villager, "his fame spread throughout the world." "If your king is really so noble," replied Oedipus, "tell him to come here. I will reward him for this kindness with the greatest reward." "What reward can a blind man give our king?" asked the villager with sympathy and mockery. "Yes," he went on, "if you were not blind, your appearance It is so majestic and noble that I respect you, so I am willing to tell our countrymen and kings what you want."

When Oedipus was alone with his daughter again, he stood up, then fell to the ground, and prayed devoutly to the Furies. "Majestic and benevolent goddess," he said, "please fulfill the oracle of Apollo! Please tell me the future of life! O daughter of the night, have mercy on me!Dear city of Athens, have pity on the shadow of Oedipus!Although he is still in front of you, his physical body no longer exists! " They were alone for a short time.When word spread that a noble and blind man was sitting in the Nemesis's sacred grove, the elders of the village were taken aback, and immediately gathered around to stop them from desecrating the holy place.But they were even more astonished when they learned that the blind man had been cast out by Fate.They were afraid that the gods would take their anger out on them, so they didn't dare to let the person who was punished by the gods stay in the Holy Land, and asked him to leave immediately.Oedipus begged them not to drive him away from the exile appointed by the god himself.Antigone also begged them again and again: "If you are not willing to forgive the gray-haired old man, then please forgive me, I am innocent."

The villagers sympathized with the father and daughter, but were in awe of Furies, and were hesitating when Antigone suddenly saw a girl coming towards them on a horse.The girl had a sun hat on her head, followed by a servant, also on a horse. "This is my sister Ismene," Antigone exclaimed in surprise, "she must have brought us news from home!" Ismene dismounted and stood before them. She took a faithful servant and left Thebes to tell her father about the situation in the country.There his two sons met a disaster of their own making.At first they were willing to surrender the throne to their uncle Creon, as the doom of their family threatened them.But when their memory of their father faded, and they longed for dominion and the majesty of kings, the brothers became jealous of each other.Polynices came to the throne first, but the young Eteocles was dissatisfied. He was unwilling to take turns with his elder brother in power, so he incited the people to rebel and expelled his elder brother.It is said that the elder brother has already arrived in Argos, where he married the daughter of King Adrastos, and got the help of friends and allies to prepare for revenge.At this time another oracle circulated:

The sons of King Oedipus would be nothing without their father.If they want happiness, Oedipus must be found, dead or alive. The Chronos were amazed at the news Ismene brought.Oedipus stood up. "I see," He said, with the dignity of a king on his face, "A fugitive, a beggar, are they going to ask for help? Now, I am worthless. Am I the one they want?" "Yes, that's exactly it," continued Ismene, "uncle Creon will be here soon, and I'm going ahead of him. He wants to persuade you, and even kidnap you, to return to Thebes." The border, this is to satisfy the requirements of the oracle, which is beneficial to him and my brother, but without desecrating the city of Thebes."

"How do you know we're here?" asked Oedipus. "That's what the pilgrims to Delphi told us." "If I die on the border of Thebes," continued Oedipus, "will you bury me on the grounds of Thebes?" "No!" replied the daughter, "your bloody crime will prevent them from doing so." "Then," said the old king angrily, "they will never have me! If my son desires power more than filial piety, God It will only make them sworn enemies forever. If I were to adjudicate their disputes, then the one who now holds the scepter should abdicate the throne, and the one who was expelled should not return to the old country! Only two daughters are mine Faithful children! They should not be burdened by my sins. I pray to Heaven for them and ask for your protection. Kind friends, reach out to them and to me, and your own cities Will be strongly protected!"