[page 83]
KING OEDIPUS
THE PERSONS
- OEDIPUS, King of Thebes.
- Priest of Zeus.
- CREON, brother of Jocasta.
- CHORUS of Theban Elders.
- TIRESIAS, the Blind Prophet.
- JOCASTA, the Queen, sister to Creon.
- A Corinthian Shepherd.
- A Theban Shepherd.
- Messenger
The following also appear, but do not speak:
- A Train of Suppliants.
- The children ANTIGONE and ISMENE.
SCENE. Before the Royal Palace in the Cadmean citadel of Thebes.
[page 84] Laius, the descendant of Cadmus, and king of Thebes (or Thebè), had been told by an oracle that if a son were born to him by his wife Jocasta the boy would be his father’s death.
Under such auspices, Oedipus was born, and to elude the prophecy was exposed by his parents on Mount Cithaeron. But he was saved by a compassionate shepherd, and became the adopted son of Polybus, king of Corinth. When he grew up he was troubled by a rumour that he was not his father’s son. He went to consult the oracle of Apollo at Delphi, and was told—not of his origin but of his destiny—that he should be guilty of parricide and incest.