οὐκοῦν ἅ γ' ἥξει καὶ σὲ χρὴ λέγειν ἐμοί.
Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
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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)) — 463-511 focus
Χορός
τίς ὅντινʼ ἁ θεσπιέπεια Δελφὶς εἶπε πέτρα
ἄρρητʼ ἀρρήτων τελέσαντα φοινίαισι χερσίν;
465
ὥρα νιν ἀελλάδων
ἵππων σθεναρώτερον
φυγᾷ πόδα νωμᾶν.
ἔνοπλος γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ἐπενθρῴσκει
πυρὶ καὶ στεροπαῖς ὁ Διὸς γενέτας,
470
δειναὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕπονται
κῆρες ἀναπλάκητοι
τίς ὅντινʼ ἁ θεσπιέπεια Δελφὶς εἶπε πέτρα
ἄρρητʼ ἀρρήτων τελέσαντα φοινίαισι χερσίν;
465
ὥρα νιν ἀελλάδων
ἵππων σθεναρώτερον
φυγᾷ πόδα νωμᾶν.
ἔνοπλος γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτὸν ἐπενθρῴσκει
πυρὶ καὶ στεροπαῖς ὁ Διὸς γενέτας,
470
δειναὶ δʼ ἅμʼ ἕπονται
κῆρες ἀναπλάκητοι
Χορός
ἔλαμψε γὰρ τοῦ νιφόεντος ἀρτίως φανεῖσα
φάμα Παρνασοῦ τὸν ἄδηλον ἄνδρα πάντʼ ἰχνεύειν.
φοιτᾷ γὰρ ὑπʼ ἀγρίαν
475
ὕλαν ἀνά τʼ ἄντρα καὶ
πέτρας ἰσόταυρος
μέλεος μελέῳ ποδὶ χηρεύων,
τὰ μεσόμφαλα γᾶς ἀπονοσφίζων
480
μαντεῖα· τὰ δʼ ἀεὶ
ζῶντα περιποτᾶται.
ἔλαμψε γὰρ τοῦ νιφόεντος ἀρτίως φανεῖσα
φάμα Παρνασοῦ τὸν ἄδηλον ἄνδρα πάντʼ ἰχνεύειν.
φοιτᾷ γὰρ ὑπʼ ἀγρίαν
475
ὕλαν ἀνά τʼ ἄντρα καὶ
πέτρας ἰσόταυρος
μέλεος μελέῳ ποδὶ χηρεύων,
τὰ μεσόμφαλα γᾶς ἀπονοσφίζων
480
μαντεῖα· τὰ δʼ ἀεὶ
ζῶντα περιποτᾶται.
Χορός
δεινὰ μὲν οὖν, δεινὰ ταράσσει σοφὸς οἰωνοθέτας
οὔτε δοκοῦντʼ οὔτʼ ἀποφάσκονθʼ· ὅ τι λέξω δʼ ἀπορῶ.
485
πέτομαι δʼ ἐλπίσιν οὔτʼ, ἐνθάδʼ ὁρῶν οὔτʼ ὀπίσω.
τί γὰρ ἢ Λαβδακίδαις
ἢ τῷ Πολύβου νεῖκος ἔκειτʼ, οὔτε πάροιθέν ποτʼ ἔγωγʼ
490
ἔμαθον, πρὸς ὅτου δὴ βασανίζων βασάνῳ
ἐπὶ τὰν ἐπίδαμον φάτιν εἶμʼ Οἰδιπόδα Λαβδακίδαις
ἐπίκουρος ἀδήλων θανάτων.
495
δεινὰ μὲν οὖν, δεινὰ ταράσσει σοφὸς οἰωνοθέτας
οὔτε δοκοῦντʼ οὔτʼ ἀποφάσκονθʼ· ὅ τι λέξω δʼ ἀπορῶ.
485
πέτομαι δʼ ἐλπίσιν οὔτʼ, ἐνθάδʼ ὁρῶν οὔτʼ ὀπίσω.
τί γὰρ ἢ Λαβδακίδαις
ἢ τῷ Πολύβου νεῖκος ἔκειτʼ, οὔτε πάροιθέν ποτʼ ἔγωγʼ
490
ἔμαθον, πρὸς ὅτου δὴ βασανίζων βασάνῳ
ἐπὶ τὰν ἐπίδαμον φάτιν εἶμʼ Οἰδιπόδα Λαβδακίδαις
ἐπίκουρος ἀδήλων θανάτων.
495
Χορός
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν οὖν Ζεὺς ὅ τʼ Ἀπόλλων ξυνετοὶ καὶ τὰ βροτῶν
εἰδότες· ἀνδρῶν δʼ ὅτι μάντις πλέον ἢ ʼγὼ φέρεται,
500
κρίσις οὔκ ἔστιν ἀλαθής· σοφίᾳ δʼ ἂν σοφίαν
παραμείψειεν ἀνήρ.
ἀλλʼ οὔποτʼ ἔγωγʼ ἄν, πρὶν ἴδοιμʼ ὀρθὸν ἔπος, μεμφομένων ἂν καταφαίην.
505
φανερὰ γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, πτερόεσσʼ ἦλθε κόρα
ποτέ, καὶ σοφὸς ὤφθη βασάνῳ θʼ ἁδύπολις τῷ ἀπʼ ἐμᾶς
510
φρενὸς οὔποτʼ ὀφλήσει κακίαν.
ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν οὖν Ζεὺς ὅ τʼ Ἀπόλλων ξυνετοὶ καὶ τὰ βροτῶν
εἰδότες· ἀνδρῶν δʼ ὅτι μάντις πλέον ἢ ʼγὼ φέρεται,
500
κρίσις οὔκ ἔστιν ἀλαθής· σοφίᾳ δʼ ἂν σοφίαν
παραμείψειεν ἀνήρ.
ἀλλʼ οὔποτʼ ἔγωγʼ ἄν, πρὶν ἴδοιμʼ ὀρθὸν ἔπος, μεμφομένων ἂν καταφαίην.
505
φανερὰ γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, πτερόεσσʼ ἦλθε κόρα
ποτέ, καὶ σοφὸς ὤφθη βασάνῳ θʼ ἁδύπολις τῷ ἀπʼ ἐμᾶς
510
φρενὸς οὔποτʼ ὀφλήσει κακίαν.
Translations (4)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 342 focus
OED
And hadst thou there acquaintance of this man?
And hadst thou there acquaintance of this man?
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 330 focus
Was sagst du? Willst du, was du weißt, nicht sagen, denkst
Uns hinzugeben und die Stadt dem Fluch zu weih'n?
Was sagst du? Willst du, was du weißt, nicht sagen, denkst
Uns hinzugeben und die Stadt dem Fluch zu weih'n?
Teiresias.
Ich will mir selbst nicht wehe thun noch dir. Wozu
Dies eitle Fragen? Nie vernimmst du's doch von mir.
Ich will mir selbst nicht wehe thun noch dir. Wozu
Dies eitle Fragen? Nie vernimmst du's doch von mir.
Oedipus.
Was, du, der Schlimmen Schlimmster! - denn des Steines Art
335
Magst du zur Wuth aufregen, - offenbarst du's nicht?
Willst stumm verharren, ungerührt und ungebeugt?
Was, du, der Schlimmen Schlimmster! - denn des Steines Art
335
Magst du zur Wuth aufregen, - offenbarst du's nicht?
Willst stumm verharren, ungerührt und ungebeugt?
Teiresias.
Du tadelst meine Sinnesart; die, welche dir
Beiwohnt, die deine, kennst du nicht und schmähest mich.
Du tadelst meine Sinnesart; die, welche dir
Beiwohnt, die deine, kennst du nicht und schmähest mich.
Oedipus.
Wer sollte nicht ergrimmen, wenn er solches Wort
340
Vernimmt, womit du diese Stadt zu höhnen wagst?
Wer sollte nicht ergrimmen, wenn er solches Wort
340
Vernimmt, womit du diese Stadt zu höhnen wagst?
Teiresias.
Selbst wird's ja kommen, hüllt es auch mein Schweigen ein.
Selbst wird's ja kommen, hüllt es auch mein Schweigen ein.
Oedipus.
So mußt du mir auch sagen, was da kommen wird.
So mußt du mir auch sagen, was da kommen wird.
Teiresias.
Nicht weiter werd' ich reden; mun, wenn dir's gefällt,
Ras' auf im Zorne, wär' er auch der wildeste.
345
Nicht weiter werd' ich reden; mun, wenn dir's gefällt,
Ras' auf im Zorne, wär' er auch der wildeste.
345
Oedipus.
Und Nichts verhalten werd' ich, traun, in meinem Zorn,
Was ich erkannte. Wisse denn, ich glaube, du
Hast mitersonnen, mitgethan die That, und nur
Nicht selbst den Mann erschlagen. Wenn du sehend wärst,
Dann würd' ich sagen: dir allein gehört die That.
350
Und Nichts verhalten werd' ich, traun, in meinem Zorn,
Was ich erkannte. Wisse denn, ich glaube, du
Hast mitersonnen, mitgethan die That, und nur
Nicht selbst den Mann erschlagen. Wenn du sehend wärst,
Dann würd' ich sagen: dir allein gehört die That.
350
Teiresias.
Wahrhaftig? - Bei dem Fluche, den du früherhin
Verkündet, bleibe, rath' ich dir, und wende nicht
An diese Männer oder mich forthin das Wort,
Du, der, ein Frevler, dieses Land entheiligt hat!
Wahrhaftig? - Bei dem Fluche, den du früherhin
Verkündet, bleibe, rath' ich dir, und wende nicht
An diese Männer oder mich forthin das Wort,
Du, der, ein Frevler, dieses Land entheiligt hat!
Oedipus.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 342 focus
Messenger
That from herself arose: but of these deeds
The greatest grief is wanting, for no eye
Beheld them; yet, as far as memory prompts,
Her heart-corroding sufferings thou shalt know.
Soon as the portal she had pass'd, with woes
Distracted to her nuptial bed she rush'd
Rending her hair, and entering barr'd the doors :
On Laius long since dead she calls, and makes
Sad mention of the seed announced of old,
By which he died, and left her to produce
Unhallow'd offspring, at which nature starts.
Her nuptial bed with anguish she bewail'd,
Where from her husband husbands she brought forth,
And sons from sons. How, after this, she died
I know not, for with loud laments, and pace
Impetuous in rush'd Edipus: her ills
1290
Our thoughts no more engaged, for all our eyes
1290
Were fix'd on him; he, hurrying on, demands
1290
A sword; his wife he seeks, and not his wife,
1290
His mother, and the mother of his sons.
1290
Him raving thus some evil demon shows,
What not a man there present would declare,
Where he might find her; with a dreadful cry,
As by some impulse, 'gainst the folding doors
He rush'd, and all the solid bolts beat down,
Then burst into the chamber; there he saw
His wife, but breathless now, around her neck
The wreathed cord: at this unhappy sight
Deeply he groan'd, and loosed the strangling noose.
When on the floor the wretched corse was laid,
The golden clasps, with which she was adorn'd,
He from her vestments snatch'd, then, dreadful deed!
Raised high his hand, and plunged their piercing points
Deep in his orbs of sight, exclaiming thus,
That her no more they should behold, his woes,
His horrid deeds no more; but henceforth dark
Nor see whom it beseem'd him not to see,
Nor those, with whom he should have converse, know.
Thus oft exclaiming he his eyelids raised,
And rent the orbs of sight; the bleeding balls
1295
Imbath'd his cheeks, nor ceased the gushing drops,
1295
But rain'd a show'r of black and streaming gore.
1295
This the unhappy fate of both, the woes
1295
Of wife and husband blended dreadfully.
1295
Their former happiness, with ample right
Of old call'd happiness, is now, this day,
Misfortune, lamentation, death, disgrace,
And all the names that misery ever knew.
That from herself arose: but of these deeds
The greatest grief is wanting, for no eye
Beheld them; yet, as far as memory prompts,
Her heart-corroding sufferings thou shalt know.
Soon as the portal she had pass'd, with woes
Distracted to her nuptial bed she rush'd
Rending her hair, and entering barr'd the doors :
On Laius long since dead she calls, and makes
Sad mention of the seed announced of old,
By which he died, and left her to produce
Unhallow'd offspring, at which nature starts.
Her nuptial bed with anguish she bewail'd,
Where from her husband husbands she brought forth,
And sons from sons. How, after this, she died
I know not, for with loud laments, and pace
Impetuous in rush'd Edipus: her ills
1290
Our thoughts no more engaged, for all our eyes
1290
Were fix'd on him; he, hurrying on, demands
1290
A sword; his wife he seeks, and not his wife,
1290
His mother, and the mother of his sons.
1290
Him raving thus some evil demon shows,
What not a man there present would declare,
Where he might find her; with a dreadful cry,
As by some impulse, 'gainst the folding doors
He rush'd, and all the solid bolts beat down,
Then burst into the chamber; there he saw
His wife, but breathless now, around her neck
The wreathed cord: at this unhappy sight
Deeply he groan'd, and loosed the strangling noose.
When on the floor the wretched corse was laid,
The golden clasps, with which she was adorn'd,
He from her vestments snatch'd, then, dreadful deed!
Raised high his hand, and plunged their piercing points
Deep in his orbs of sight, exclaiming thus,
That her no more they should behold, his woes,
His horrid deeds no more; but henceforth dark
Nor see whom it beseem'd him not to see,
Nor those, with whom he should have converse, know.
Thus oft exclaiming he his eyelids raised,
And rent the orbs of sight; the bleeding balls
1295
Imbath'd his cheeks, nor ceased the gushing drops,
1295
But rain'd a show'r of black and streaming gore.
1295
This the unhappy fate of both, the woes
1295
Of wife and husband blended dreadfully.
1295
Their former happiness, with ample right
Of old call'd happiness, is now, this day,
Misfortune, lamentation, death, disgrace,
And all the names that misery ever knew.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 463-510 focus
Chorus
Who is he of whom the divine voice from the Delphian rock has said
to have wrought with blood-red hands horrors that no tongue can tell? It is time that he ply in flight a foot stronger than the feet of storm-swift steeds.
465
The son of Zeus is springing upon him with fiery lightning, and with him come the dread unerring Fates.
470
Who is he of whom the divine voice from the Delphian rock has said
to have wrought with blood-red hands horrors that no tongue can tell? It is time that he ply in flight a foot stronger than the feet of storm-swift steeds.
465
The son of Zeus is springing upon him with fiery lightning, and with him come the dread unerring Fates.
470
Chorus
Recently the message has flashed forth from snowy
Parnassus
ordering all to search for the unknown man. He wanders under cover of the wild wood, among caves and rocks, fierce as a bull, wretched and forlorn on his joyless path, still seeking to separate himself from the doom revealed at the central shrine of the earth.
475
But that doom lives forever, forever flits around him.
480
Recently the message has flashed forth from snowy
Parnassus
ordering all to search for the unknown man. He wanders under cover of the wild wood, among caves and rocks, fierce as a bull, wretched and forlorn on his joyless path, still seeking to separate himself from the doom revealed at the central shrine of the earth.
475
But that doom lives forever, forever flits around him.
480
Chorus
The wise augur moves me, neither approving nor denying, with dread, with dread indeed.
I am at a loss what to say. I am flustered in my expectations, seeing neither the present nor the future clearly. Never in past days or in these have I heard how the house of Labdacus or the son of Polybus had any quarrel with one another that
485
I could bring as proof in assailing the public reputation of Oedipus, seeking to avenge the line of Labdacus
490
for the undiscovered murder.
495
The wise augur moves me, neither approving nor denying, with dread, with dread indeed.
I am at a loss what to say. I am flustered in my expectations, seeing neither the present nor the future clearly. Never in past days or in these have I heard how the house of Labdacus or the son of Polybus had any quarrel with one another that
485
I could bring as proof in assailing the public reputation of Oedipus, seeking to avenge the line of Labdacus
490
for the undiscovered murder.
495
Chorus
Zeus and Apollo indeed are keen of thought and know the affairs of the earth.
But there is no sure test of whether a mortal seer attains more knowledge than I do, though man may surpass man in wisdom. But until I see the word made good, I will never assent when men blame Oedipus. Before all eyes the winged maiden came against him once upon a time, and he was seen to be wise,
500
and bore the test in welcome service to the state. Never, therefore, will he be adjudged guilty of evil.
510
Zeus and Apollo indeed are keen of thought and know the affairs of the earth.
But there is no sure test of whether a mortal seer attains more knowledge than I do, though man may surpass man in wisdom. But until I see the word made good, I will never assent when men blame Oedipus. Before all eyes the winged maiden came against him once upon a time, and he was seen to be wise,
500
and bore the test in welcome service to the state. Never, therefore, will he be adjudged guilty of evil.
510
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
342. mvp-comment-213-1 καί to be taken ὑπερβάτως with λέγειν, And what will happen, ought you not also to tell?