John Dryden - Incantation to Oedipus

Song Meaning

This incantation plunges into a scene of grim ritual, summoning dark powers within a shadowed grove. The narrator directs a macabre ceremony, demanding answers to confirm each step of the process. The dominant tone is one of foreboding and obligation, a chilling obedience to infernal commands. The core tension lies in the narrator's insistent questioning and the stark, monosyllabic confirmations. "Answer me, if this be done?" followed by "'Tis done" creates a cyclical, almost hypnotic rhythm. This back-and-forth emphasizes the ritual's inexorable progression and the narrator's role as a conduit for these ancient, terrifying forces. The imagery is stark and visceral, focusing on death and the underworld. The selection of a "darkest part o' th' grove" and the specific instruction to dig near "the bones of Laius" anchor the ritual in a place of death and lineage. The sacrifice of a "barren heifer" and the use of "blood, and blood-like wine" further cement the grim, chthonic nature of the invocation, turning away from the life-giving sun. The effectiveness stems from the stark, direct language and the relentless structure. The repetition of the question and answer builds a palpable sense of dread, making the listener feel complicit in the unfolding, grim proceedings. It’s a masterclass in building atmosphere through procedural, almost bureaucratic, execution of the horrific.