Edipus Tyrannus was published, without Shelley's name, at London, in 1820, under the imprint of C. F. Seyfang, for the author, by J. Johnston, Cheapside. The drama was begun, under the circumstances described in Mrs. Shelley's Note, August 24, 1819, at the Baths of San Giuliano, near Pisa. It was sent to Horace Smith, who employed the publisher. It was threatened with prosecution by citizens of the ward, and some steps thereto seem to have been taken; but at the suggestion of Alderman Rothwell the publisher gave up the whole edition, except seven copies, which had been sold, and also told the name of his employer. The secret of the authorship was kept by Horace Smith, who said only that the work had been sent to him from Pisa. The drama was suggested by the affair of Queen Caroline. Of the characters Purganax stands for Lord Castlereagh, Dakry for Lord Eldon, and Laoctonos for the Duke of Wellington.

ADVERTISEMENT

THIS Tragedy is one of a triad or system of three Plays (an arrangement according to which the Greeks were accustomed to connect their dramatic representations) elucidating the wonderful and appalling fortunes of the Swellfoot dynasty. It was evidently written by some learned Theban; and, from its characteristic dulness, apparently before the duties on the importation of Attic salt had been repealed by the Bootarchs. The tenderness with which he treats the Pigs proves him to have been a sus Bœotiœ; possibly Epicuri de grege porcus; for, as the poet observes,

"A fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind."

No liberty has been taken with the translation of this remarkable piece of antiquity except the suppressing a seditious and blasphemous Chorus of the Pigs and Bulls at the last act. The word Hoydipouse (or more properly Edipus), has been rendered literally Swellfoot without its having been conceived necessary to determine whether a swelling of the hind or the fore feet of the Swinish Monarch is particularly indicated.

Should the remaining portions of this Tragedy be found, entitled Swellfoot in Angaria and Charité, the Translator might be tempted to give them to the reading Public.

Chorus of the Swinish Multitude.

GUARDS, ATTENDANTS, PRIESTS, etc., etc.

SCENE. Thebes.

CEDIPUS TYRANNUS

ACT I

SCENE - A magnificent Temple, built of thigh-bones and death'sheads, and tiled with scalps. Over the Altar the statue of Famine, veiled; a number of boars, sows and sucking-pigs, crowned with thistle, shamrock and oak, sitting on the steps and clinging round the Altar of the Temple.

Enter SWELLFOOT, in his royal robes, without perceiving the Pigs.

SWELLFOOT

THOU supreme goddess! by whose power divine
These graceful limbs are clothed in proud array
[He contemplates himself with satisfaction.
Of gold and purple, and this kingly paunch
Swells like a sail before a favoring breeze,
And these most sacred nether promontories
Lie satisfied with layers of fat; and these
Boeotian cheeks, like Egypt's pyramid,
(Nor with less toil were their foundations laid)
Sustain the cone of my untroubled brain,
That point, the emblem of a pointless nothing!
Thou to whom Kings and laurelled Emperors,
Radical-butchers, Paper-money-millers,
Bishops and deacons, and the entire army
Of those fat martyrs to the persecution
Of stifling turtle-soup and brandy-devils,

Offer their secret vows! thou plenteous Ceres
Of their Eleusis, hail!

SWINE

Eigh! eigh! eigh! eigh!

SWELLFOOT

Ha! what are ye,

Who, crowned with leaves devoted to the Furies, Cling round this sacred shrine ?

SWINE

Aigh! aigh! aigh!

SWELLFOOT

What! ye

that are

The very beasts that, offered at her altar

With blood and groans, salt-cake, and fat, and

inwards,

Ever propitiate her reluctant will

When taxes are withheld?

SWINE

Ugh! ugh! ugh!

SWELLFOOT

What! ye who grub

With filthy snouts my red potatoes up
In Allan's rushy bog? who eat the oats
Up, from my cavalry in the Hebrides?
Who swill the hog-wash soup my cooks digest
From bones, and rags, and scraps of shoe-leather,
Which should be given to cleaner Pigs than you?