For the call came, < multifariously > and oft. "Oedipus, Oedipus, why tarry we? Too long, too long thy passing is delayed." But when he heard the summons of the god, He prayed that Theseus might be brought, and when The Prince came nearer: "O my friend," he cried, "Pledge ye my daughters, giving thy right hand-- And, daughters, give him yours--and promise me Thou never wilt forsake them, but do all That time and friendship prompt in their behoof." And he of his nobility repressed His tears and swore to be their constant friend. This promise given, Oedipus put forth Blind hands and laid them on his children, saying, "O children, prove your true nobility And hence depart nor seek to witness sights Unlawful or to hear unlawful words. Nay, go with speed; let none but Theseus stay, Our ruler, to behold what next shall hap."

Καλεῖ γὰρ αὐτὸν πολλὰ πολλαχῇ θεός· Ὦ οὗτος οὗτος͵ Οἰδίπους͵ τί μέλλομεν χωρεῖν; πάλαι δὴ τἀπὸ σοῦ βραδύνεται. Ὁ δ΄ ὡς ἐπῄσθετ΄ ἐκ θεοῦ καλούμενος͵ αὐδᾷ μολεῖν οἱ γῆς ἄνακτα Θησέα· κἀπεὶ προσῆλθεν͵ εἶπεν· Ὦ φίλον κάρα͵ δός μοι χερὸς σῆς πίστιν ἀρχαίαν τέκνοις͵ ὑμεῖς τε͵ παῖδες͵ τῷδε· καὶ καταίνεσον μήποτε προδώσειν τάσδ΄ ἑκών͵ τελεῖν δ΄ ὅσ΄ ἂν μέλλῃς φρονῶν εὖ ξυμφέροντ΄ αὐταῖς ἀεί. Ὁ δ΄͵ ὡς ἀνὴρ γενναῖος͵ οὐκ οἴκτου μέτα κατῄνεσεν τάδ΄ ὅρκιος δράσειν ξένῳ. Ὅπως δὲ ταῦτ΄ ἔδρασεν͵ εὐθὺς Οἰδίπους ψαύσας ἀμαυραῖς χερσὶν ὧν παίδων λέγει· Ὦ παῖδε͵ τλάσας χρὴ τὸ γενναῖον φρενὶ χωρεῖν τόπων ἐκ τῶνδε͵ μηδ΄ ἃ μὴ θέμις λεύσσειν δικαιοῦν͵ μηδὲ φωνούντων κλύειν. Ἀλλ΄ ἕρπεθ΄ ὡς τάχιστα· πλὴν ὁ κύριος Θησεὺς παρέστω μανθάνων τὰ δρώμενα.