of	Cadmus	freed	us	from	the	tax	we	paid To	the	fell	songstress?	Nor	hadst	thou	received Prompting	from	us	or	been	by	others	schooled; No,	by	a	god	inspired	(so	all	men	deem, And	testify)	didst	thou	renew	our	life. And	now,	O	Oedipus,	our	peerless	king, All	we	thy	votaries	beseech	thee,	find Some	succor,	whether	by	a	voice	from	heaven Whispered,	or	haply	known	by	human	wit. Tried	counselors,	methinks,	are	aptest	found To	furnish	for	the	future	pregnant	rede. Upraise,	O	chief	of	men,	upraise	our	State! Look	to	thy	laurels!	for	thy	zeal	of	yore Our	country's	savior	thou	art	justly	hailed: O	never	may	we	thus	record	thy	reign:— "He	raised	us	up	only	to	cast	us	down." Uplift	us,	build	our	city	on	a	rock. Thy	happy	star	ascendant	brought	us	luck, O	let	it	not	decline!	If	thou	wouldst	rule This	land,	as	now	thou	reignest,	better	sure To	rule	a	peopled	than	a	desert	realm. Nor	battlements	nor	galleys	aught	avail, If	men	to	man	and	guards	to	guard	them	tail. OEDIPUS Ah!	my	poor	children,	known,	ah,	known	too	well, The	quest	that	brings	you	hither	and	your	need. Ye	sicken	all,	well	wot	I,	yet	my	pain, How	great	soever	yours,	outtops	it	all. Your	sorrow	touches	each	man	severally, Him	and	none	other,	but	I	grieve	at	once