Sophocles Oedipus Tyrannus 2

ed. Lewis Campbell

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τίνας ποθ᾽ ἕδρας τάσδε μοι θοάζετε

Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.

Current edition Experimental

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1-150 focus
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 2 focus
PRIEST
14
Great ruler of my country, thou beholdest
The different ages of our flock who here
Are gathered round thine altar,—some, whose wing
15
Hath not yet ventured far from home, and some
Burdened with many years, priests of the Gods,
Myself the arch priest of Zeus, and these fresh youths,
A chosen few. Others there are who crowd
The holy agora and the temples twain
20
Of Pallas, and Ismenus’ hallowed fires,
A suppliant host. For, as thyself perceivest,
Our city is tempest tost, and all too weak
To lift above the waves her weary prow
That plunges in a rude and ravenous sea.
Earth’s buds are nipped, withering the germs within,
25
Our cattle lose their increase, and our wives
Have fruitless travail; and that scourge from Heaven,
The fiery Pestilence abhorred of men,
Descending on our people with dire stroke
Lays waste the Home of Cadmus, while dark Death
Wins ample tribute of laments and groans.
30
We kneel, then, at thy hearth; not likening thee
Unto the gods, I nor these children here,
But of men counting thee the first in might
Whether to cope with earthly casualty
Or visiting of more than earthly Power.
35
Thou, in thy coming to this Theban land,
Didst take away the hateful tax we paid
To that stern songstress,—aided not by us
With hint nor counsel, but, as all believe,
Gifted from heaven with life-restoring thought.
Now too, great Oedipus of matchless fame,
40
We all uplift our suppliant looks to thee,
To find some help for us, whether from man,
Or through the prompting of a voice Divine.
Experienced counsel, we have seen and know,
Hath ever prosperous issue. Thou, then, come,
Noblest of mortals, give our city rest
45
From sorrow! come, take heed! seeing this our land
Now calls thee Saviour for thy former zeal;
And ’twere not well to leave this memory
Of thy great reign among Cadmean men,
‘He raised us up, only again to fall.’
50
Let the salvation thou hast wrought for us
50
Be flawless and assured! As once erewhile
Thy lucky star gave us prosperity,
Be the same man to-day. Wouldst thou be king
In power, as in command, ’tis greater far
To rule a people than a wilderness.
55
Since nought avails or city or buttressed wall
Or gallant vessel, if unmanned and void.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1 focus
Kinder, ihr, des alten Kadmos neuer Stamm, 1 2 3
1
Weßhalb erscheint ihr lagernd auf den Stufen hier,
Geschmückt mit Zweigen als die Hülfeflehenden? 4
Erfüllt von Opferdüften ist die ganze Stadt,
Erfüllt von Bittgesängen und von Klageruf.
5
Hierüber wollt' ich Kunde nicht durch Boten erst
Vernehmen, Kinder; darum trat ich selbst heraus,
Ich, Dedipus, von Allen weit mit Ruhm genannt.
(zu dem Oberpriester)
So sage du mir, Alter, weil es dir geziemt,
Für die das Wort zu führen: was trieb euch hieher?
10
War's eine Sorge, war's ein Wunsch? Gern möcht' ich euch
Beisteh'n in Allem, und gefühllos wär' ich ja,
Erweckte solches Flehen nicht Mitleid in mir.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 2 focus
Oedipus
58
O my unhappy sons ! too well I know
Your sad estate. I know the woes of Thebes ;
And yet amongst you lives not such a wretch
60
As (Edipus ; for oh ! on me, my children.
Your sorrows press. Alas ! I feel for you
My people, for myself, for Thebes, for all !
Think not I slept regardless of your ills ;
Oh no ! with many a tear I wept your fate.
65
And oft in meditation deep revolved
How best your peace and safety to restore :
The only medicine that my thoughts could find
I have administered : Menteceus' son.
The noble Creon, went by my command
70
To Delphos from Apollo's shrine, to know
What must be done to save this wretched land t
'Tis time he were returned : I wonder much
At his delay. If, when he comes, your king
Perform not all the god enjoins, then say
75
He is the worst of men.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 2 focus
Priest
14
Sovereign of Thebes, imperial Edipus,...
Thou seest us what we are, who sit thus low
15
Before thy altars; some whose unfledged wings
Bear them not far; and some who bend beneath
The weight of age, Priests these, myself the Priest
Of Jupiter; and some, the noblest youths,
The flow'r of Thebes. Her other sons arranged
20
Along the forum hold their suppliant boughs,
And at Minerva's temples, and the shrine
Prophetic nigh Ismenus: for the state,
Thine eyes behold it, labours in the storm,
Unable from the blood-stain'd wave to rear
25
Her head: her opening buds unfruitful fall,
Scorch'd by the baneful blasts: her pastured herds
Perish, her infants perish ere the birth.
Incumbent o'er the town destructive hangs
The fiery pestilence, beneath whose force
Thebes becomes desolate; with sighs and groans
Mean while the gloomy Pluto is enrich'd.
Now at thy altars sit I, and these youths,
Not that we deem thee equal to the gods,
35
But 'midst th' afflicting accidents of life,
Or sufferings sent from heav'n, the first of men.
For thou at Thebes arriving didst redeem.
The city from the tribute which we paid
To the harsh-screaming monster, not inform'd
40
By us, or counsell'd; no, with higher thought
We deem thee by some god inspired to raise
Our state to life. And now, most potent king,
Thus prostrate at thy feet we all implore
Thy aid; for our distress find some relief,
45
Attending to some god's oracular voice,
Or by some sage instructed; for I see
The counsels of th' experienced give fresh life
Since now
50
E'en in calamities. Thou best of men,
Go on, th' afflicted city once more raise;
Go on, and prudence be thy guide.
This country for thy former generous deeds
Hails thee as her preserver, of thy reign
55
Let us not hold this memory, that by thee
From ruin raised, by sad reverse at last
78
We sink in ruin; but once more this state
Restore to safety; as thou gavest us then
With happy auspices fair fortune, now
Be like thyself. More glorious wilt thou reign
132
O'er peopled, than o'er desolated realms :
The strong-ribb'd galley, and the rampired tow'r,
Their martial youth if wanting, nought avail.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1-150 focus

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-3-1 ἕδρας 1 θοάζετε 2

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

1-3. mvp-comment-1-1 Before the dialogue begins, the suppliants are seen to enter on the spectator's right, with wool-wreathed olivewands in their left hands (Aesch. Suppl. 193). Marshalled by the Priests, they eagerly approach the altars, on the steps of which they lay their wands (Ib. 242). Before this movement is completed, Oedipus enters to them by the central door. There was probably at least one altar on either side of this, that of Apollo Lycaeus (1.919) being one, and the approach of Creon, who comes from the country, would be seen by those on the spectator's left (11. 78, 9), before becoming visible to Oedipus or to the Priest of Zeus, who remains on the right.

2. mvp-comment-3-1 μοι is precatory, adding a tone of pleading affectionateness to the question. Cp. Εl. 144, τί μοι τῶν δυσφόρων ἐφίει; τίνας . . ἕδρας τάσδε.. θοάζετε = Why do ye thus sit (or kneel) here with so much haste? The king in entering has observed (or before entering has heard from others, 11. 6, 7) the earnestness with which the suppliants have taken their places by the altars, and he regards this as one of the signs of trouble in the city. The meaning here given to θοάζω is that which it has everywhere in Euripides, who uses it frequently. Another θοάζω = θάσσω is mentioned by grammarians, and has been generally assumed to be the verb found in this and two other places of classical Greek, viz. Aesch. Suppl. 595, Emped. 1. 18. But it is at least questionable whether the meaning to hasten is not admissible in both of these. And in the present case it is unobjectionable. For however slow and staid the movements on the proscenium actually were, they are often described in the dialogue as rapid and hurried. (El. 872, O. C. 887.) Cp. esp. Aesch. Suppl. 209, μή νυν σχόλαζε, addressed by Danaus to the suppliant maidens, who are taking their places at the altar. It must be admitted, however, that the authority of Plutarch (de Aud. Poet. 2. 22 E) counts for something in favour of the other meaning, and that it suits the context equally well.