THE FAMILY INSTINCTS 207 



SO in a widely different spirit, Sophocles vindicates 

 the sanctity of parental authority by the most im- 

 pressive means. The vengeance of CEdipus towards 

 his sons is implacable. When Polynices implores 

 forgiveness, (Edipus refuses to answer him, because 

 it would be a profanation of a father's lips to hold 

 communion with an ungrateful son. Entreated by his 

 host to speak to Polynices, CEdipus, in recognition of 

 the sacred law of hospitality, consents at last to break 

 silence, but only to pronounce a curse upon the 

 offender. The justice of the gods forbids any exercise 

 of his clemency, because it is necessary that the out- 

 rage offered to the majesty of the father should be 

 avenged. Such was the early Greek view of the 

 parental relationship. Lear's personality has few of 

 the solemn attributes of his Athenian prototype. If 

 he has been driven forth by his two undutiful 

 daughters, Eegan and Gonerill, the fault is his own ; 

 he has despised the counsels of his faithful Kent and 

 mistaken the true affection of his other daughter Cor- 

 delia, and the thought of retribution for his wrongs 

 is lost in the pathos of the ending to his poor mis- 

 guided life. 



As the ancient civilisations lasted many centuries, 

 they found time to work out some of the moditica- 



