Enter Tiresias

He saw all with his ears. for Derek Enter TIRESIAS, blind, led by A BOY      TIRESIAS My lord, my countrymen, I know you're there. We have been going the roads, the pair of us, Going by the one same pair of eyes. The man that's blinded always needs a guide.      CREON Tiresias, you venerable man: What's the news you have for me this time?      TIRESIAS News that you would be as well to heed.      CREON When did I not, prophetic father, heed you?      TIRESIAS And isn't that why your ship has stayed on course?      CREON You kept me right. I know it. In my bones.      TIRESIAS Then know this: where you are standing now Is a cliff edge, and there's cold wind blowing.      CREON Why do you always put that shiver through me? TIRESIAS Because I have the power to see and warn. I know things once I sit in that stone chair And the birds begin to skirl above my head. But in all my years as augur, I never heard Screaming the like of what I heard this day. It had no meaning to it. I knew by the whirl of wings And the rips and spits of blood the birds were mad. I was afraid, so once the blaze was lit On the altar stone I brought my offerings But the fire had no effect. It wouldn't take And none of the bits would burn.                Slime, Slime was what I got instead of flame. Matter oozing out from near the bone. The fat stayed raw and wept into the ash. Everywhere there was this spattered gall From the burst gall bladder. Slurry, smoke and dirt . . . Some deep fault caused that. The boy here saw it And I rely on him as you on me . . . There was no sign to be read.           The rite had failed. Because of you, Creon. You and your headstrongness. That body lying out there decomposing Is where the contagion starts. The dogs and birds Are at it day and night, spreading reek and rot On every altar stone and temple step, and the gods Are revolted. That's why we have this plague, This vile pollution. That's why my birds in flight Are meaningless. They're feeding on his flesh. Consider well, my son. All men make mistakes. But mistakes don't have to be forever, They can be admitted and atoned for. It's the overbearing man who is to blame. Pull back. Yield to the dead. Don't stab a ghost. What can you win when you only wound a corpse? I have your good at heart, and have good advice. The easiest thing for you would be to take it.      CREON Why am I standing out here like a target? Why is every arrow aimed at me?                You, Tiresias, You and your whole fortune-telling tribe Have bled me white. But not any more. Whoever wants can cross your palm with silver But they still won't get that body under ground. None of your pollution talk scares me. Not if Zeus himself were to send his eagle To scavenge on that flesh and shit it down, Not even that would put me back on my word. Nothing done on earth can defile the gods. But even the wisest on the earth, old man, Corrupts himself the minute he takes bribes And starts delivering fake truths on demand.       TIRESIAS This is bad. Does nobody realize—       CREON Does nobody realize what?       TIRESIAS           That the greatest boon Is trustworthy advice.       CREON        And witlessness Has to be the greatest threat.       TIRESIAS As you should know. It is your problem, Creon.       CREON I don't want to trade insults with a prophet.       TIRESIAS It's an insult to imply I am a fake.       CREON You seers are all the same. You have your price.       TIRESIAS Rulers too have a name for being corrupt.       CREON You realize you are talking to your king?       TIRESIAS A king my words once helped to save this city.       CREON Your second sight has been well warped since then...