I am being dragged away in misery. Strangers, strangers!OedipusMy child, where are you?AntigoneI am led off by force.OedipusGive me your hand, my child!AntigoneI am helpless.CreonAway with you!OedipusI am wretched, wretched! The guards exit with Antigone. CreonSo those two staffs will never again support your path.But since you wish to overcome your country and your friends, whose will I, though tyrant as well, am here discharging, then I wish you victory. For in time, I am sure, you will come to recognize all this, that now too as in time past, it is you who have done yourself no good, by indulging your anger despite your friends.This has always been your ruin.ChorusStop there, stranger!CreonHands off, I say!ChorusI will not let go, unless you give back the maidens.CreonThen you will soon give the city a more valuable prize, for I will lay hands on more than those two girls.ChorusWhat! What do you intend?CreonThis man here will be my captive.ChorusA valiant threat!CreonStraightaway it will be done.ChorusIndeed, unless the ruler of this realm prevents you.OedipusVoice of shamelessness! Will you really lay hands on me?CreonShut up, I say!OedipusNo! May the powers of this place grant me to utter this further curse! Most evil of men, when these eyes were dark, you wrenched from me the helpless one who was my eyesight and made off with her by force. Therefore to you and to your race may the Sun, the god who sees all things,grant in time an old age such as mine!CreonDo you see this, people of the land?OedipusThey see both you and me. They know that I have suffered in deeds, and my defense is mere words.CreonI will not check my anger. Though I am aloneand slow with age, I will take this man by force.OedipusAh, my wretchedness!ChorusWhat arrogance you have come with, stranger, if you think you will achieve this!CreonI will.