And since They are thus Lively, I have one word or two to say to the Play.
When Ægeon brought the News of King Polybus's Death, Oedipus was wonderfully surpriz'd at the Relation.
O all ye Powers is't possible? what, Dead!p. 43.[217]
And why not? was the Man invulnerable or immortal? Nothing of that: He was only Fourscore and Ten years old, that was his main security. And if you will believe the Poet he
Fell like Autumn Fruit that mellow'd long,
Ev'n wondred at because he dropt no sooner.Ibid.[218]
And which is more, Oedipus must be acquainted with his Age, having spent the greatest part of his time with him at Corinth. So that in short, the pith of the Story lies in this Circumstance. A Prince of Ninety years was dead, and one who was wondred at for dying no sooner. And now why so much Exclamation upon this occasion? Why must all the Powers in Being be Summon'd in to make the News Credible? This Posse of Interjections would have been more seasonably raised if the Man had been alive; for that by the Poets Confession had been much the stranger Thing. However Oedipus is almost out of his Wits about the Matter, and is Urgent for an account of Particulars.
That so the Tempest of my joys may rise
By just degrees, and hit at last the Stars.Ibid.[219]
This is an empty ill proportion'd Rant, and without warrant in Nature or Antiquity. Sophocles does not represent Oedipus. in such Raptures of Extravagant surprize. In the next page there's another Flight about Polybus his Death somewhat like This. It begins with a Noverint Universi. You would think Oedipus was going to make a Bond.