δρᾶσαι δικαιοῖ, δυοῖν ἀποκρίνας κακοῖν,
640
Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
Table of Contents
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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)) — 649-698 focus
Χορός
πιθοῦ θελήσας φρονήσας τʼ, ἄναξ, λίσσομαι.
πιθοῦ θελήσας φρονήσας τʼ, ἄναξ, λίσσομαι.
Οἰδίπους
τί σοι θέλεις δῆτʼ εἰκάθω;
650
τί σοι θέλεις δῆτʼ εἰκάθω;
650
Χορός
τὸν οὔτε πρὶν νήπιον νῦν τʼ ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν καταίδεσαι.
τὸν οὔτε πρὶν νήπιον νῦν τʼ ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν καταίδεσαι.
Οἰδίπους
οἶσθʼ οὖν ἃ χρῄζεις;
οἶσθʼ οὖν ἃ χρῄζεις;
Χορός
οἶδα.
οἶδα.
Οἰδίπους
φράζε δὴ τί φής.
φράζε δὴ τί φής.
Χορός
τὸν ἐναγῆ φίλον μήποτʼ ἐν αἰτίᾳ
655
σὺν ἀφανεῖ λόγῳ σʼ ἄτιμον βαλεῖν.
τὸν ἐναγῆ φίλον μήποτʼ ἐν αἰτίᾳ
655
σὺν ἀφανεῖ λόγῳ σʼ ἄτιμον βαλεῖν.
Οἰδίπους
εὖ νυν ἐπίστω, ταῦθʼ ὅταν ζητῇς, ἐμοὶ
ζητῶν ὄλεθρον ἢ φυγὴν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.
εὖ νυν ἐπίστω, ταῦθʼ ὅταν ζητῇς, ἐμοὶ
ζητῶν ὄλεθρον ἢ φυγὴν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.
Χορός
οὐ τὸν πάντων θεῶν θεὸν πρόμον
660
Ἅλιον· ἐπεὶ ἄθεος ἄφιλος ὅ τι πύματον
ὀλοίμαν, φρόνησιν εἰ τάνδʼ ἔχω.
ἀλλά μοι δυσμόρῳ γᾶ φθινὰς
665
τρύχει ψυχάν, τάδʼ εἰ κακοῖς κακὰ
προσάψει τοῖς πάλαι τὰ πρὸς σφῷν.
οὐ τὸν πάντων θεῶν θεὸν πρόμον
660
Ἅλιον· ἐπεὶ ἄθεος ἄφιλος ὅ τι πύματον
ὀλοίμαν, φρόνησιν εἰ τάνδʼ ἔχω.
ἀλλά μοι δυσμόρῳ γᾶ φθινὰς
665
τρύχει ψυχάν, τάδʼ εἰ κακοῖς κακὰ
προσάψει τοῖς πάλαι τὰ πρὸς σφῷν.
Οἰδίπους
ὁ δʼ οὖν ἴτω, κεἰ χρή με παντελῶς θανεῖν
ἢ γῆς ἄτιμον τῆσδʼ ἀπωσθῆναι βίᾳ.
670
τὸ γὰρ σόν, οὐ τὸ τοῦδʼ, ἐποικτίρω στόμα
ἐλεινόν· οὗτος δʼ ἔνθʼ ἂν ᾖ στυγήσεται.
ὁ δʼ οὖν ἴτω, κεἰ χρή με παντελῶς θανεῖν
ἢ γῆς ἄτιμον τῆσδʼ ἀπωσθῆναι βίᾳ.
670
τὸ γὰρ σόν, οὐ τὸ τοῦδʼ, ἐποικτίρω στόμα
ἐλεινόν· οὗτος δʼ ἔνθʼ ἂν ᾖ στυγήσεται.
Κρέων
στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δʼ, ὅταν
θυμοῦ περάσῃς· αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις
αὑταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675
στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δʼ, ὅταν
θυμοῦ περάσῃς· αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις
αὑταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675
Οἰδίπους
οὔκουν μʼ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;
οὔκουν μʼ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;
Κρέων
πορεύσομαι,
σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.
πορεύσομαι,
σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.
Χορός
γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδʼ ἔσω;
γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδʼ ἔσω;
Ἰοκάστη
μαθοῦσά γʼ ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680
μαθοῦσά γʼ ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680
Χορός
δόκησις ἀγνὼς λόγων ἦλθε, δάπτει δὲ καὶ τὸ μὴ ʼνʼδικον.
δόκησις ἀγνὼς λόγων ἦλθε, δάπτει δὲ καὶ τὸ μὴ ʼνʼδικον.
Ἰοκάστη
ἀμφοῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῖν;
ἀμφοῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῖν;
Χορός
ναίχι.
ναίχι.
Ἰοκάστη
καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;
καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;
Χορός
ἅλις ἔμοιγʼ, ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685
φαίνεται ἔνθʼ ἔληξεν αὐτοῦ μένειν.
ἅλις ἔμοιγʼ, ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685
φαίνεται ἔνθʼ ἔληξεν αὐτοῦ μένειν.
Οἰδίπους
ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ,
τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ;
ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ,
τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ;
Χορός
ὦναξ, εἶπον μὲν οὐχ ἅπαξ μόνον,
690
ἴσθι δὲ παραφρόνιμον, ἄπορον ἐπὶ φρόνιμα
πεφάνθαι μʼ ἄν, εἴ σʼ ἐνοσφιζόμαν,
ὅς τʼ ἐμὰν γᾶν φίλαν ἐν πόνοις
ἀλύουσαν κατʼ ὀρθὸν οὔρισας,
695
τανῦν τʼ εὔπομπος, ἂν γένοιο.
ὦναξ, εἶπον μὲν οὐχ ἅπαξ μόνον,
690
ἴσθι δὲ παραφρόνιμον, ἄπορον ἐπὶ φρόνιμα
πεφάνθαι μʼ ἄν, εἴ σʼ ἐνοσφιζόμαν,
ὅς τʼ ἐμὰν γᾶν φίλαν ἐν πόνοις
ἀλύουσαν κατʼ ὀρθὸν οὔρισας,
695
τανῦν τʼ εὔπομπος, ἂν γένοιο.
Ἰοκάστη
πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ
μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.
πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ
μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.
Translations (2)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 634 focus
Was weckt ihr unbesonnen, ihr Unseligen,
Der Zungen Aufruhr und erröthet nicht und schafft
Euch eignes Leid noch, während also krankt das Land?
Geh du nach Hause, du, o Kreon, eile heim,
630
Und macht zu großem Leide nicht ein eitles Nichts!
Was weckt ihr unbesonnen, ihr Unseligen,
Der Zungen Aufruhr und erröthet nicht und schafft
Euch eignes Leid noch, während also krankt das Land?
Geh du nach Hause, du, o Kreon, eile heim,
630
Und macht zu großem Leide nicht ein eitles Nichts!
Kreon.
Schwester, Arges mir zu thun sinnt Dedipus,
Dein Gatte, der von zweien Uebeln eines mir,
Flucht aus der Heimat oder hier den Tod, verhängt.
Schwester, Arges mir zu thun sinnt Dedipus,
Dein Gatte, der von zweien Uebeln eines mir,
Flucht aus der Heimat oder hier den Tod, verhängt.
Oedipus.
So ist es: eben überführt' ich ihn, o Frau,
635
Der Böses meinem Leben sann mit böser List.
So ist es: eben überführt' ich ihn, o Frau,
635
Der Böses meinem Leben sann mit böser List.
Kreon.
Nie sei ich glücklich, will, verflucht, zu Grunde geh'n,
That ich dir Eines, wessen du mich schuldig nenust!
Nie sei ich glücklich, will, verflucht, zu Grunde geh'n,
That ich dir Eines, wessen du mich schuldig nenust!
Jokaste.
O bei den Göttern, glaube diesem Wort, o Herr,
Vor Allem scheuend, was er hier den Göttern schwur,
640
Dann mich und diese Männer, die dir nahe steh'n!
O bei den Göttern, glaube diesem Wort, o Herr,
Vor Allem scheuend, was er hier den Göttern schwur,
640
Dann mich und diese Männer, die dir nahe steh'n!
Der Chor.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 649-698 focus
Chorus
Consent, reflect, listen, my king, I beg you.
Consent, reflect, listen, my king, I beg you.
Oedipus
What would you have me grant you?
650
What would you have me grant you?
650
Chorus
Respect him who was in the past not foolish, and who now is strong in his oath.
Respect him who was in the past not foolish, and who now is strong in his oath.
Oedipus
Do you understand what you crave?
Do you understand what you crave?
Chorus
I do.
I do.
Oedipus
Tell me, then, what you mean.
655
Tell me, then, what you mean.
655
Chorus
That you should never use an unproved rumor to cast a dishonoring charge on the friend who has bound himself with a curse.
That you should never use an unproved rumor to cast a dishonoring charge on the friend who has bound himself with a curse.
Oedipus
Then be quite aware that when you seek this you are seeking death or exile from this land for me.
Then be quite aware that when you seek this you are seeking death or exile from this land for me.
Chorus
No, by the god that stands at the head of all the host of the gods, no, by the sun. Unblest, unbefriended, may I die the worst possible death, if I have this thought!
660
But my unhappy soul is worn by the withering of the land, as well as by the thought that our old sorrows should be crowned by new ones arising from the two of you.
665
No, by the god that stands at the head of all the host of the gods, no, by the sun. Unblest, unbefriended, may I die the worst possible death, if I have this thought!
660
But my unhappy soul is worn by the withering of the land, as well as by the thought that our old sorrows should be crowned by new ones arising from the two of you.
665
Oedipus
Then let him go, though I am surely doomed to be killed
or thrust dishonored from the land. Your words, not his, move me to compassion; but he, wherever he be, shall be hated.
670
Then let him go, though I am surely doomed to be killed
or thrust dishonored from the land. Your words, not his, move me to compassion; but he, wherever he be, shall be hated.
670
Creon
You are truly sullen in yielding, as you are vehement in the excesses of your wrath. But such natures are
justly most difficult for themselves to bear.
675
You are truly sullen in yielding, as you are vehement in the excesses of your wrath. But such natures are
justly most difficult for themselves to bear.
675
Oedipus
Will you not be gone and leave me in peace?
Will you not be gone and leave me in peace?
Creon
I will go on my way. I have found you undiscerning, but in the view of these men I am just.
He exits.
I will go on my way. I have found you undiscerning, but in the view of these men I am just.
He exits.
Chorus
Lady, why do you hesitate to take this man into the house?
Lady, why do you hesitate to take this man into the house?
Iocasta
I will, when I have learned what has happened.
680
I will, when I have learned what has happened.
680
Chorus
Blind suspicion, bred of talk, arose, and injustice inflicts wounds.
Blind suspicion, bred of talk, arose, and injustice inflicts wounds.
Iocasta
On both sides?
On both sides?
Chorus
Yes.
Yes.
Iocasta
And what was the story?
And what was the story?
Chorus
It is enough, I think, enough, when our land is already vexed, that the matter should rest where it stopped.
685
It is enough, I think, enough, when our land is already vexed, that the matter should rest where it stopped.
685
Oedipus
Do you see to what you have come, for all your noble intent, in seeking to slacken and blunt my zeal?
Do you see to what you have come, for all your noble intent, in seeking to slacken and blunt my zeal?
Chorus
King, I have said it more than once—
be sure that I would have proved myself a madman, bankrupt in sane counsel, if I forsook you—you, who gave a true course to my beloved country when it was
690
distraught with troubles, and who now are likely to prove our prospering guide.
695
King, I have said it more than once—
be sure that I would have proved myself a madman, bankrupt in sane counsel, if I forsook you—you, who gave a true course to my beloved country when it was
690
distraught with troubles, and who now are likely to prove our prospering guide.
695
Iocasta
In the name of the gods, tell me, king, the reason that you have conceived this steadfast wrath.
In the name of the gods, tell me, king, the reason that you have conceived this steadfast wrath.
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
640. mvp-comment-374-1 δικαιοῖ, Thinks fit, or intends. Cp. Hdt. 3. 36, ταῦτα δέ μιν ποιεῦντα ἐδικαίωσε Κροῖσος .. νουθετῆσαι.
640. mvp-comment-374-2 δυοῖν ἀποκρίνας κακοῖν Having made selection between two evils. There are two objections to this line on the ground of metre; the o lengthened before up (cp. Aesch. Prom. 24, ἀποκρύψει φάος), and the scansion of δυοῖν as a monosyllable, the only parallel to which in Greek tragic verse is Ἐρινννων, in Iph. Taur. 970, 1456. (See, however, Hes. Scut. 3, Ἠλεκτρύωνος: cp. ib. 16.) The two metrical exceptions are singular. But it is not likely that the verse is corrupt. No interpolator would have introduced a word so rare in later Greek as ἀποκρίνας in this sense. (Cp. Hdt. 6. 130.) None of the attempted emendations are satisfactory. Critics have noticed what was hardly worth noticing, the discrepancy between l. 641. and 623, and it has been proposed to interpret δεινά as implying that after making selection Oedipus had chosen death as the punishment. But such slight inconsistencies are neither undramatic nor unnatural.