φοιτᾷ γὰρ ἡμᾶς ἔγχος ἐξαιτῶν πορεῖν,
1255
Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
Table of Contents
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Editions (1)
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1223-1312 focus
Ἐξάγγελος
ὦ γῆς μέγιστα τῆσδʼ ἀεὶ τιμώμενοι,
οἷʼ, ἔργʼ ἀκούσεσθʼ, οἷα δʼ εἰσόψεσθʼ, ὅσον δʼ
ἀρεῖσθε πένθος, εἴπερ ἐγγενῶς ἔτι
1225
τῶν Λαβδακείων ἐντρέπεσθε δωμάτων.
οἶμαι γὰρ οὔτʼ ἂν Ἴστρον οὔτε Φᾶσιν ἂν
νίψαι καθαρμῷ τήνδε τὴν στέγην, ὅσα
κεύθει, τὰ δʼ αὐτίκʼ εἰς τὸ φῶς φανεῖ κακὰ
ἑκόντα κοὐκ ἄκοντα. τῶν δὲ πημονῶν
1230
μάλιστα λυποῦσʼ αἳ φανῶσʼ αὐθαίρετοι.
ὦ γῆς μέγιστα τῆσδʼ ἀεὶ τιμώμενοι,
οἷʼ, ἔργʼ ἀκούσεσθʼ, οἷα δʼ εἰσόψεσθʼ, ὅσον δʼ
ἀρεῖσθε πένθος, εἴπερ ἐγγενῶς ἔτι
1225
τῶν Λαβδακείων ἐντρέπεσθε δωμάτων.
οἶμαι γὰρ οὔτʼ ἂν Ἴστρον οὔτε Φᾶσιν ἂν
νίψαι καθαρμῷ τήνδε τὴν στέγην, ὅσα
κεύθει, τὰ δʼ αὐτίκʼ εἰς τὸ φῶς φανεῖ κακὰ
ἑκόντα κοὐκ ἄκοντα. τῶν δὲ πημονῶν
1230
μάλιστα λυποῦσʼ αἳ φανῶσʼ αὐθαίρετοι.
Χορός
λείπει μὲν οὐδʼ ἃ πρόσθεν εἴδομεν τὸ μὴ οὐ
βαρύστονʼ εἶναι· πρὸς δʼ ἐκείνοισιν τί φῄς;
λείπει μὲν οὐδʼ ἃ πρόσθεν εἴδομεν τὸ μὴ οὐ
βαρύστονʼ εἶναι· πρὸς δʼ ἐκείνοισιν τί φῄς;
Ἐξάγγελος
ὁ μὲν τάχιστος τῶν λόγων εἰπεῖν τε καὶ
μαθεῖν, τέθνηκε θεῖον Ἰοκάστης κάρα.
1235
ὁ μὲν τάχιστος τῶν λόγων εἰπεῖν τε καὶ
μαθεῖν, τέθνηκε θεῖον Ἰοκάστης κάρα.
1235
Χορός
ὦ δυστάλαινα, πρὸς τίνος ποτʼ αἰτίας;
1237
ὦ δυστάλαινα, πρὸς τίνος ποτʼ αἰτίας;
Ἐξάγγελος
αὐτὴ πρὸς αὑτῆς. τῶν δὲ πραχθέντων τὰ μὲν
ἄλγιστʼ ἄπεστιν· ἡ γὰρ ὄψις οὐ πάρα.
ὅμως δʼ, ὅσον γε κἀν ἐμοὶ μνήμης ἔνι,
πεύσει τὰ κείνης ἀθλίας παθήματα.
1240
ὅπως γὰρ ὀργῇ χρωμένη παρῆλθʼ ἔσω
θυρῶνος, ἵετʼ εὐθὺ πρὸς τὰ νυμφικὰ
λέχη, κόμην σπῶσʼ ἀμφιδεξίοις ἀκμαῖς.
πύλας δʼ, ὅπως εἰσῆλθʼ, ἐπιρράξασʼ ἔσω
καλεῖ τὸν ἤδη Λάϊον πάλαι νεκρόν,
1245
μνήμην παλαιῶν σπερμάτων ἔχουσʼ, ὑφʼ ὧν
θάνοι μὲν αὐτός, τὴν δὲ τίκτουσαν λίποι
τοῖς οἷσιν αὐτοῦ δύστεκνον παιδουργίαν.
γοᾶτο δʼ εὐνάς, ἔνθα δύστηνος διπλοῦς
ἐξ ἀνδρὸς ἄνδρα καὶ τέκνʼ ἐκ τέκνων τέκοι.
1250
χὤπως μὲν ἐκ τῶνδʼ οὐκέτʼ οἶδʼ ἀπόλλυται·
βοῶν γὰρ εἰσέπαισεν Οἰδίπους, ὑφʼ οὗ
οὐκ ἦν τὸ κείνης ἐκθεάσασθαι κακόν,
ἀλλʼ εἰς ἐκεῖνον περιπολοῦντʼ ἐλεύσσομεν.
φοιτᾷ γὰρ ἡμᾶς ἔγχος ἐξαιτῶν πορεῖν,
1255
γυναῖκά τʼ οὐ γυναῖκα, μητρῴαν δʼ ὅπου
κίχοι διπλῆν ἄρουραν οὗ τε καὶ τέκνων.
λυσσῶντι δʼ αὐτῷ δαιμόνων δείκνυσί τις·
οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀνδρῶν, οἳ παρῆμεν ἐγγύθεν.
δεινὸν δʼ ἀύσας ὡς ὑφηγητοῦ τινος
1260
πύλαις διπλαῖς ἐνήλατʼ, ἐκ δὲ πυθμένων
ἔκλινε κοῖλα κλῇθρα κἀμπίπτει στέγῃ.
οὗ δὴ κρεμαστὴν τὴν γυναῖκʼ ἐσείδομεν,
πλεκταῖσιν αἰώραισιν ἐμπεπλεγμένην.
ὁ δʼ ὡς ὁρᾷ νιν, δεινὰ βρυχηθεὶς τάλας
1265
χαλᾷ κρεμαστὴν ἀρτάνην. ἐπεὶ δὲ γῇ
ἔκειτο τλήμων, δεινὰ δʼ ἦν τἀνθένδʼ ὁρᾶν.
ἀποσπάσας γὰρ εἱμάτων χρυσηλάτους
περόνας ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, αἷσιν ἐξεστέλλετο,
ἄρας ἔπαισεν ἄρθρα τῶν αὑτοῦ κύκλων,
1270
αὐδῶν τοιαῦθʼ, ὁθούνεκʼ οὐκ ὄψοιντό νιν
οὔθʼ οἷʼ ἔπασχεν οὔθʼ ὁποῖʼ ἔδρα κακά,
ἀλλʼ ἐν σκότῳ τὸ λοιπὸν οὓς μὲν οὐκ ἔδει
ὀψοίαθʼ, οὓς δʼ ἔχρῃζεν οὐ γνωσοίατο.
τοιαῦτʼ ἐφυμνῶν πολλάκις τε κοὐχ ἅπαξ
1275
ἤρασσʼ ἐπαίρων βλέφαρα. φοίνιαι δʼ ὁμοῦ
γλῆναι γένειʼ ἔτελλον, οὐδʼ ἀνίεσαν
φόνου μυδώσας σταγόνας, ἀλλʼ ὁμοῦ μέλας
ὄμβρος χαλάζης αἱματοῦς ἐτέγγετο.
τάδʼ ἐκ δυοῖν ἔρρωγεν, οὐ μόνου κάτα,
ἀλλʼ ἀνδρὶ καὶ γυναικὶ συμμιγῆ κακά.
1280
ὁ πρὶν παλαιὸς δʼ ὄλβος ἦν πάροιθε μὲν
ὄλβος δικαίως· νῦν δὲ τῇδε θἠμέρᾳ
στεναγμός, ἄτη, θάνατος, αἰσχύνη, κακῶν
ὅσʼ ἐστὶ πάντων ὀνόματʼ, οὐδέν ἐστʼ ἀπόν.
1285
αὐτὴ πρὸς αὑτῆς. τῶν δὲ πραχθέντων τὰ μὲν
ἄλγιστʼ ἄπεστιν· ἡ γὰρ ὄψις οὐ πάρα.
ὅμως δʼ, ὅσον γε κἀν ἐμοὶ μνήμης ἔνι,
πεύσει τὰ κείνης ἀθλίας παθήματα.
1240
ὅπως γὰρ ὀργῇ χρωμένη παρῆλθʼ ἔσω
θυρῶνος, ἵετʼ εὐθὺ πρὸς τὰ νυμφικὰ
λέχη, κόμην σπῶσʼ ἀμφιδεξίοις ἀκμαῖς.
πύλας δʼ, ὅπως εἰσῆλθʼ, ἐπιρράξασʼ ἔσω
καλεῖ τὸν ἤδη Λάϊον πάλαι νεκρόν,
1245
μνήμην παλαιῶν σπερμάτων ἔχουσʼ, ὑφʼ ὧν
θάνοι μὲν αὐτός, τὴν δὲ τίκτουσαν λίποι
τοῖς οἷσιν αὐτοῦ δύστεκνον παιδουργίαν.
γοᾶτο δʼ εὐνάς, ἔνθα δύστηνος διπλοῦς
ἐξ ἀνδρὸς ἄνδρα καὶ τέκνʼ ἐκ τέκνων τέκοι.
1250
χὤπως μὲν ἐκ τῶνδʼ οὐκέτʼ οἶδʼ ἀπόλλυται·
βοῶν γὰρ εἰσέπαισεν Οἰδίπους, ὑφʼ οὗ
οὐκ ἦν τὸ κείνης ἐκθεάσασθαι κακόν,
ἀλλʼ εἰς ἐκεῖνον περιπολοῦντʼ ἐλεύσσομεν.
φοιτᾷ γὰρ ἡμᾶς ἔγχος ἐξαιτῶν πορεῖν,
1255
γυναῖκά τʼ οὐ γυναῖκα, μητρῴαν δʼ ὅπου
κίχοι διπλῆν ἄρουραν οὗ τε καὶ τέκνων.
λυσσῶντι δʼ αὐτῷ δαιμόνων δείκνυσί τις·
οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀνδρῶν, οἳ παρῆμεν ἐγγύθεν.
δεινὸν δʼ ἀύσας ὡς ὑφηγητοῦ τινος
1260
πύλαις διπλαῖς ἐνήλατʼ, ἐκ δὲ πυθμένων
ἔκλινε κοῖλα κλῇθρα κἀμπίπτει στέγῃ.
οὗ δὴ κρεμαστὴν τὴν γυναῖκʼ ἐσείδομεν,
πλεκταῖσιν αἰώραισιν ἐμπεπλεγμένην.
ὁ δʼ ὡς ὁρᾷ νιν, δεινὰ βρυχηθεὶς τάλας
1265
χαλᾷ κρεμαστὴν ἀρτάνην. ἐπεὶ δὲ γῇ
ἔκειτο τλήμων, δεινὰ δʼ ἦν τἀνθένδʼ ὁρᾶν.
ἀποσπάσας γὰρ εἱμάτων χρυσηλάτους
περόνας ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, αἷσιν ἐξεστέλλετο,
ἄρας ἔπαισεν ἄρθρα τῶν αὑτοῦ κύκλων,
1270
αὐδῶν τοιαῦθʼ, ὁθούνεκʼ οὐκ ὄψοιντό νιν
οὔθʼ οἷʼ ἔπασχεν οὔθʼ ὁποῖʼ ἔδρα κακά,
ἀλλʼ ἐν σκότῳ τὸ λοιπὸν οὓς μὲν οὐκ ἔδει
ὀψοίαθʼ, οὓς δʼ ἔχρῃζεν οὐ γνωσοίατο.
τοιαῦτʼ ἐφυμνῶν πολλάκις τε κοὐχ ἅπαξ
1275
ἤρασσʼ ἐπαίρων βλέφαρα. φοίνιαι δʼ ὁμοῦ
γλῆναι γένειʼ ἔτελλον, οὐδʼ ἀνίεσαν
φόνου μυδώσας σταγόνας, ἀλλʼ ὁμοῦ μέλας
ὄμβρος χαλάζης αἱματοῦς ἐτέγγετο.
τάδʼ ἐκ δυοῖν ἔρρωγεν, οὐ μόνου κάτα,
ἀλλʼ ἀνδρὶ καὶ γυναικὶ συμμιγῆ κακά.
1280
ὁ πρὶν παλαιὸς δʼ ὄλβος ἦν πάροιθε μὲν
ὄλβος δικαίως· νῦν δὲ τῇδε θἠμέρᾳ
στεναγμός, ἄτη, θάνατος, αἰσχύνη, κακῶν
ὅσʼ ἐστὶ πάντων ὀνόματʼ, οὐδέν ἐστʼ ἀπόν.
Χορός
νῦν δʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ τλήμων ἐν τίνι σχολῇ κακοῦ;
1285
νῦν δʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ τλήμων ἐν τίνι σχολῇ κακοῦ;
1285
Ἐξάγγελος
βοᾷ διοίγειν κλῇθρα καὶ δηλοῦν τινα
τοῖς πᾶσι Καδμείοισι τὸν πατροκτόνον,
τὸν μητέρʼ—αὐδῶν ἀνόσιʼ οὐδὲ ῥητά μοι,
ὡς ἐκ χθονὸς ῥίψων ἑαυτὸν οὐδʼ ἔτι
1290
μενῶν δόμοις ἀραῖος, ὡς ἠράσατο.
ῥώμης γε μέντοι καὶ προηγητοῦ τινος
δεῖται· τὸ γὰρ νόσημα μεῖζον ἢ φέρειν.
δείξει δὲ καὶ σοί· κλῇθρα γὰρ πυλῶν τάδε
διοίγεται· θέαμα δʼ εἰσόψει τάχα
1295
τοιοῦτον οἷον καὶ στυγοῦντʼ ἐποικτίσαι.
1297
βοᾷ διοίγειν κλῇθρα καὶ δηλοῦν τινα
τοῖς πᾶσι Καδμείοισι τὸν πατροκτόνον,
τὸν μητέρʼ—αὐδῶν ἀνόσιʼ οὐδὲ ῥητά μοι,
ὡς ἐκ χθονὸς ῥίψων ἑαυτὸν οὐδʼ ἔτι
1290
μενῶν δόμοις ἀραῖος, ὡς ἠράσατο.
ῥώμης γε μέντοι καὶ προηγητοῦ τινος
δεῖται· τὸ γὰρ νόσημα μεῖζον ἢ φέρειν.
δείξει δὲ καὶ σοί· κλῇθρα γὰρ πυλῶν τάδε
διοίγεται· θέαμα δʼ εἰσόψει τάχα
1295
τοιοῦτον οἷον καὶ στυγοῦντʼ ἐποικτίσαι.
Χορός
ὦ δεινὸν ἰδεῖν πάθος ἀνθρώποις,
ὦ δεινότατον πάντων ὅσʼ ἐγὼ
προσέκυρσʼ ἤδη. τίς σʼ, ὦ τλῆμον,
προσέβη μανία; τίς ὁ πηδήσας
1300
μείζονα δαίμων τῶν μακίστων
πρὸς σῇ δυσδαίμονι μοίρᾳ;
φεῦ φεῦ, δύστανʼ·
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἐσιδεῖν δύναμαί σε, θέλων
πόλλʼ ἀνερέσθαι, πολλὰ πυθέσθαι,
1305
πολλὰ δʼ ἀθρῆσαι·
τοίαν φρίκην παρέχεις μοι.
ὦ δεινὸν ἰδεῖν πάθος ἀνθρώποις,
ὦ δεινότατον πάντων ὅσʼ ἐγὼ
προσέκυρσʼ ἤδη. τίς σʼ, ὦ τλῆμον,
προσέβη μανία; τίς ὁ πηδήσας
1300
μείζονα δαίμων τῶν μακίστων
πρὸς σῇ δυσδαίμονι μοίρᾳ;
φεῦ φεῦ, δύστανʼ·
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἐσιδεῖν δύναμαί σε, θέλων
πόλλʼ ἀνερέσθαι, πολλὰ πυθέσθαι,
1305
πολλὰ δʼ ἀθρῆσαι·
τοίαν φρίκην παρέχεις μοι.
Οἰδίπους
αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, δύστανος ἐγώ,
ποῖ γᾶς φέρομαι τλάμων; πᾷ μοι
φθογγὰ διαπωτᾶται φοράδην;
1310
ἰὼ δαῖμον, ἵνʼ ἐξήλλου.
αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, δύστανος ἐγώ,
ποῖ γᾶς φέρομαι τλάμων; πᾷ μοι
φθογγὰ διαπωτᾶται φοράδην;
1310
ἰὼ δαῖμον, ἵνʼ ἐξήλλου.
Χορός
ἐς δεινὸν οὐδʼ ἀκουστὸν οὐδʼ ἐπόψιμον.
ἐς δεινὸν οὐδʼ ἀκουστὸν οὐδʼ ἐπόψιμον.
Translations (2)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1237 focus
Sie starb von eignen Händen. Doch das Schmerzlichste
Der That entging euch; denn der Anblick mangelt euch.
So viel indeß mir haftet im Gedächtnisse,
Vernehmt vom lezten Leidenskampf der Armen dort.
Denn als in wildem Schmerze sie hineingelangt
1215
Zur Halle, stürmt sie sonder Rast in's Brautgemach,
Und rauft mit beiden Händen sich die Locken aus.
Dann warf sie drinnen hinter sich die Thüre zu,
Und rief dem längst entschlaf'nen Laïos, eingedenk
Der alten Ehe, deren Sprößling ihn erschlug,
1220
Indeß er sie, die Mutter als Erzeugerin
Unsel'ger Kinder hinterließ dem eignen Sohn.
Sie flucht dem Lager, wo sie (zwiefach herbe Schmach!)
Den Mann vom Manne, Kinder sich vom Kind gebar.
Doch wie sie dann geendet, weiß ich weiter nicht.
1225
Denn schreiend kam jezt Dedipus hereingestürzt,
Was uns den Ausgang ihres Leids zu schau'n verwehrt:
Auf ihn allein, der wild umherlief, blickten wir.
Denn stürmend bat er um ein Schwert und fragte, wo
Die Gattin, ach! nicht Gattin, wo die Mutter sei,
1230
Aus deren Schooße sein Geschlecht und er entsproß.
Und wie er tobte, zeigt' ein Gott den Weg ihm an:
Kein Mann ja, der ihm nahe stand, vermochte dies.
Mit grausem Heulen sprang er los auf's Doppelthor,
Geführt von unsichtbarer Hand; vom Grunde bog
1235
Er aus der hohlen Schlösser Band und stürzt hinein
Zum Brautgemache, wo wir hängen sah'n die Frau,
Geknüpft an's hochgewundne Seil. Doch als er so
Sie sah, der Arme, brüllt er gräßlich auf und läßt
Die Schlinge nieder. Wie die Jammervolle nun
1240
Dalag am Boden, gräßlich war's, was hier geschah.
Denn goldgetriebne Spangen, die vordem zum Schmuck
1
Ihr dienten, riß er aus der Frau Gewanden los,
Erhob sie, traf der Augen beide Kreise sich,
Und rief das Wort: sie sollten, weil sie nicht geseh'n,
1245
Was er geduldet Grauses; noch was er gethan,
Hinfort in Nacht schau'n, die zu schau'n ihm Sünde war,
Und die er kennen möchte, nicht erkennen mehr!
Und also fluchend hob er oft, nicht Einmal nur,
Die Wimpern hoch und traf sich, und die blutigen
1250
Augäpfel nezten roth die Wang' und sandten nicht
Des Blutes Naß in Tropfen, nein, zugleich ergoß
Ein Regen sich in blutig schwarzem Strom herab.
So brach das Unheil über Zwei vereint herein;
Verstrickt in Eines Leides Fall ward Mann und Weib.
1255
Wohl war in frühern Tagen noch das alte Glück
Ein Glück in Wahrheit; aber nun, an diesem Tag,
Blüht Jammer, Elend, Schande, Tod; von allem Leid,
Sie starb von eignen Händen. Doch das Schmerzlichste
Der That entging euch; denn der Anblick mangelt euch.
So viel indeß mir haftet im Gedächtnisse,
Vernehmt vom lezten Leidenskampf der Armen dort.
Denn als in wildem Schmerze sie hineingelangt
1215
Zur Halle, stürmt sie sonder Rast in's Brautgemach,
Und rauft mit beiden Händen sich die Locken aus.
Dann warf sie drinnen hinter sich die Thüre zu,
Und rief dem längst entschlaf'nen Laïos, eingedenk
Der alten Ehe, deren Sprößling ihn erschlug,
1220
Indeß er sie, die Mutter als Erzeugerin
Unsel'ger Kinder hinterließ dem eignen Sohn.
Sie flucht dem Lager, wo sie (zwiefach herbe Schmach!)
Den Mann vom Manne, Kinder sich vom Kind gebar.
Doch wie sie dann geendet, weiß ich weiter nicht.
1225
Denn schreiend kam jezt Dedipus hereingestürzt,
Was uns den Ausgang ihres Leids zu schau'n verwehrt:
Auf ihn allein, der wild umherlief, blickten wir.
Denn stürmend bat er um ein Schwert und fragte, wo
Die Gattin, ach! nicht Gattin, wo die Mutter sei,
1230
Aus deren Schooße sein Geschlecht und er entsproß.
Und wie er tobte, zeigt' ein Gott den Weg ihm an:
Kein Mann ja, der ihm nahe stand, vermochte dies.
Mit grausem Heulen sprang er los auf's Doppelthor,
Geführt von unsichtbarer Hand; vom Grunde bog
1235
Er aus der hohlen Schlösser Band und stürzt hinein
Zum Brautgemache, wo wir hängen sah'n die Frau,
Geknüpft an's hochgewundne Seil. Doch als er so
Sie sah, der Arme, brüllt er gräßlich auf und läßt
Die Schlinge nieder. Wie die Jammervolle nun
1240
Dalag am Boden, gräßlich war's, was hier geschah.
Denn goldgetriebne Spangen, die vordem zum Schmuck
1
Ihr dienten, riß er aus der Frau Gewanden los,
Erhob sie, traf der Augen beide Kreise sich,
Und rief das Wort: sie sollten, weil sie nicht geseh'n,
1245
Was er geduldet Grauses; noch was er gethan,
Hinfort in Nacht schau'n, die zu schau'n ihm Sünde war,
Und die er kennen möchte, nicht erkennen mehr!
Und also fluchend hob er oft, nicht Einmal nur,
Die Wimpern hoch und traf sich, und die blutigen
1250
Augäpfel nezten roth die Wang' und sandten nicht
Des Blutes Naß in Tropfen, nein, zugleich ergoß
Ein Regen sich in blutig schwarzem Strom herab.
So brach das Unheil über Zwei vereint herein;
Verstrickt in Eines Leides Fall ward Mann und Weib.
1255
Wohl war in frühern Tagen noch das alte Glück
Ein Glück in Wahrheit; aber nun, an diesem Tag,
Blüht Jammer, Elend, Schande, Tod; von allem Leid,
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1223-1312 focus
A second messenger enters from the house.
1237
1286
1297
Second Messenger
You who are most honored in this land, what deeds you will hear, what deeds you will behold, what burden of sorrow will be yours,
if, true to your race, you still care for the house of Labdacus. For I think that neither the Ister nor the
Phasis
could wash this house clean, so many are the ills that it shrouds, or will soon bring to light, ills wrought not unwittingly, but on purpose.
1225
And those griefs smart the most which are seen to be of our own choice.
1230
You who are most honored in this land, what deeds you will hear, what deeds you will behold, what burden of sorrow will be yours,
if, true to your race, you still care for the house of Labdacus. For I think that neither the Ister nor the
Phasis
could wash this house clean, so many are the ills that it shrouds, or will soon bring to light, ills wrought not unwittingly, but on purpose.
1225
And those griefs smart the most which are seen to be of our own choice.
1230
Chorus
Indeed the troubles which we knew before are far from being easy to bear. Besides them, what do you have to announce?
Indeed the troubles which we knew before are far from being easy to bear. Besides them, what do you have to announce?
Second Messenger
This is the shortest tale to tell and hear:
our royal lady Iocasta is dead.
1235
This is the shortest tale to tell and hear:
our royal lady Iocasta is dead.
1235
Chorus
Alas, wretched lady! From what cause?
1237
Alas, wretched lady! From what cause?
Second Messenger
By her own hand. You will not suffer the worst part of the painful event, since you do not behold the events. Nevertheless, so far as my memory serves,
you will learn that unhappy woman’s fate.
When, frantic, she passed within the vestibule, she rushed straight towards her marriage couch, clutching her hair with the fingers of both hands. Once within the chamber,
1240
she dashed the doors together behind her, then called on the name of Laius, long since a corpse, thinking of that son, born long ago, by whose hand the father was slain, leaving the mother to breed accursed offspring with his own child. And she bewailed the marriage in which, wretched woman, she had given birth to a twofold brood,
1245
husband by husband, children by her child. And how she perished is more than I know. For with a shriek Oedipus burst in, and did not allow us to watch her woe until the end: on him, as he rushed around, our eyes were set.
1250
To and fro he went, asking us to give him a sword, asking where he could find the wife who was no wife, but a mother whose womb had borne both him and his children. And in his frenzy a power greater than mortal man was his guide, for it was none of us mortals who were near.
1255
With a dread cry, as though someone beckoned him on, he sprang at the double doors, forced the bending bolts from the sockets, and rushed into the room. There we beheld the woman hanging by the neck in a twisted noose of swinging cords.
1260
And when he saw her, with a dread deep cry he released the halter by which she hung. And when the hapless woman was stretched out on the ground, then the sequel was horrible to see: for he tore from her raiment the golden brooches with which she had decorated herself,
1265
and lifting them struck his own eye-balls, uttering words like these: No longer will you behold such horrors as I was suffering and performing! Long enough have you looked on those whom you ought never to have seen, having failed in the knowledge of those whom I yearned to know—henceforth you shall be dark!
1270
With such a dire refrain, he struck his eyes with raised hand not once but often. At each blow the bloody eye-balls bedewed his beard, and sent forth not sluggish drops of gore, but all at once a dark shower of blood came down like hail.
1275
From the deeds of the two of them such ills have broken forth, not on one alone, but with mingled woe for man and wife. The old happiness of their ancestral fortune was once happiness indeed. But now today lamentation, ruin, death, shame,
1280
1285
and every earthly ill that anyone could name are all theirs.
1285
1286
By her own hand. You will not suffer the worst part of the painful event, since you do not behold the events. Nevertheless, so far as my memory serves,
you will learn that unhappy woman’s fate.
When, frantic, she passed within the vestibule, she rushed straight towards her marriage couch, clutching her hair with the fingers of both hands. Once within the chamber,
1240
When, frantic, she passed within the vestibule, she rushed straight towards her marriage couch, clutching her hair with the fingers of both hands. Once within the chamber,
she dashed the doors together behind her, then called on the name of Laius, long since a corpse, thinking of that son, born long ago, by whose hand the father was slain, leaving the mother to breed accursed offspring with his own child. And she bewailed the marriage in which, wretched woman, she had given birth to a twofold brood,
1245
husband by husband, children by her child. And how she perished is more than I know. For with a shriek Oedipus burst in, and did not allow us to watch her woe until the end: on him, as he rushed around, our eyes were set.
1250
To and fro he went, asking us to give him a sword, asking where he could find the wife who was no wife, but a mother whose womb had borne both him and his children. And in his frenzy a power greater than mortal man was his guide, for it was none of us mortals who were near.
1255
With a dread cry, as though someone beckoned him on, he sprang at the double doors, forced the bending bolts from the sockets, and rushed into the room. There we beheld the woman hanging by the neck in a twisted noose of swinging cords.
1260
And when he saw her, with a dread deep cry he released the halter by which she hung. And when the hapless woman was stretched out on the ground, then the sequel was horrible to see: for he tore from her raiment the golden brooches with which she had decorated herself,
1265
and lifting them struck his own eye-balls, uttering words like these: No longer will you behold such horrors as I was suffering and performing! Long enough have you looked on those whom you ought never to have seen, having failed in the knowledge of those whom I yearned to know—henceforth you shall be dark!
1270
With such a dire refrain, he struck his eyes with raised hand not once but often. At each blow the bloody eye-balls bedewed his beard, and sent forth not sluggish drops of gore, but all at once a dark shower of blood came down like hail.
1275
From the deeds of the two of them such ills have broken forth, not on one alone, but with mingled woe for man and wife. The old happiness of their ancestral fortune was once happiness indeed. But now today lamentation, ruin, death, shame,
1280
and every earthly ill that anyone could name are all theirs.
1285
Chorus
And does the sufferer have any respite from pain now?
And does the sufferer have any respite from pain now?
Second Messenger
He cries for some one to unbar the gates and show to all the Cadmeans his father’s slayer, his mother’s—the words must not pass my lips—
in order to banish himself from the land and not to put the house under his own curse by waiting here. And yet he lacks strength, and one to guide his steps, for the anguish is more than he can bear. He will soon show this to you: look, the bars of the gates are withdrawn,
1290
and soon you will behold a sight which even he who abhors it must pity.
1295
1297
He cries for some one to unbar the gates and show to all the Cadmeans his father’s slayer, his mother’s—the words must not pass my lips—
in order to banish himself from the land and not to put the house under his own curse by waiting here. And yet he lacks strength, and one to guide his steps, for the anguish is more than he can bear. He will soon show this to you: look, the bars of the gates are withdrawn,
1290
and soon you will behold a sight which even he who abhors it must pity.
1295
Chorus
O dread fate for men to see, O most dreadful of all that I have set my eyes on! Unhappy one, what madness has come upon you?
Who is the unearthly foe who, with a leap of more than mortal range has made your ill-starred life his prey? Alas, alas, you hapless man! I cannot even look on you, though there is much I desire to ask, much I desire to learn,
1300
much that draws my wistful gaze: with such a shuddering do you fill me!
1305
O dread fate for men to see, O most dreadful of all that I have set my eyes on! Unhappy one, what madness has come upon you?
Who is the unearthly foe who, with a leap of more than mortal range has made your ill-starred life his prey? Alas, alas, you hapless man! I cannot even look on you, though there is much I desire to ask, much I desire to learn,
1300
much that draws my wistful gaze: with such a shuddering do you fill me!
1305
Oedipus
Woe is me! Alas, alas, wretched that I am! Where, where am I carried in my misery?
How is my voice swept abroad on the wings of the air? Oh, my fate, how far you have sprung!
1310
Woe is me! Alas, alas, wretched that I am! Where, where am I carried in my misery?
How is my voice swept abroad on the wings of the air? Oh, my fate, how far you have sprung!
1310
Chorus
To a dread place, dire in men’s ears, dire in their sight.
To a dread place, dire in men’s ears, dire in their sight.