Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, ed. Lewis Campbell, 659

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ζητῶν ὄλεθρον ἢ φυγὴν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

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)) — 649-698 focus

Χορός

πιθοῦ θελήσας φρονήσας τʼ, ἄναξ, λίσσομαι.

Οἰδίπους

τί σοι θέλεις δῆτʼ εἰκάθω;
650

Χορός

τὸν οὔτε πρὶν νήπιον νῦν τʼ ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν καταίδεσαι.

Οἰδίπους

οἶσθʼ οὖν ἃ χρῄζεις;

Χορός

οἶδα.

Οἰδίπους

φράζε δὴ τί φής.

Χορός

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.

660

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.

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.

Κρέων

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;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.

679

Χορός

γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδʼ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη

μαθοῦσά γʼ ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680

Χορός

δόκησις ἀγνὼς λόγων ἦλθε, δάπτει δὲ καὶ τὸ μὴ ʼνʼδικον.

Ἰοκάστη

ἀμφοῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός

ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός

ἅλις ἔμοιγʼ, ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685

φαίνεται ἔνθʼ ἔληξεν αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους

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.

Ἰοκάστη

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)) — 660 focus

Nein, bei'm Gott, aller Götter erstem, dem Helios!¹

Freundlos, ohne Gott, mög' in Graus

Ich hinsterben, heg' ich solch argen Sinn!

Doch das Land schmerzt mich tief, das in Sammer schwindet,²

Wenn sich noch zur alten Noth
655

Gesellt dies neue Leid von euch her.

Oedipus.

So mag er gehen, müßt' ich ganz verderben auch,

Und würd' ich ehrlos mit Gewalt vom Land gejagt.

Die Klage deines Mundes, nicht die seine, stimmt

Mich milder; dieser, wo er sei, bleibt mir verhaßt.
660

Kreon.

Voll Hasses, seh' ich, gibst du nach; doch wann der Zorn

Verbraust, bereust du. Solcher Art Naturen sind

Sich selbst mit Recht unleidlich und die herbste Qual.

Oedipus.

So laß mich und entferne dich!

Kreon.

Ich eile fort,

Von dir verkannt, vor diesen aber rein, wie sonst.
665
Oedipus. Jokaste. Der Chor. (ab.)

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.

Oedipus

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.

Oedipus

Do you understand what you crave?

Chorus

I do.

Oedipus

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.

Oedipus

Then be quite aware that when you seek this you are seeking death or exile from this land for me.

660

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

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

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

Oedipus

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.

678

Chorus

Lady, why do you hesitate to take this man into the house?

Iocasta

I will, when I have learned what has happened.
680

Chorus

Blind suspicion, bred of talk, arose, and injustice inflicts wounds.

Iocasta

On both sides?

Chorus

Yes.

Iocasta

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

Oedipus

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

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Current edition Experimental

Χορός πιθοῦ θελήσας φρονήσας τʼ, ἄναξ, λίσσομαι.

Οἰδίπους τί σοι θέλεις δῆτʼ εἰκάθω; 650

Χορός τὸν οὔτε πρὶν νήπιον νῦν τʼ ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν καταίδεσαι.

Οἰδίπους οἶσθʼ οὖν ἃ χρῄζεις;

Χορός οἶδα.

Οἰδίπους φράζε δὴ τί φής.

Χορός 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.

Κρέων 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;

Κρέων πορεύσομαι, σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.

Χορός γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδʼ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη μαθοῦσά γʼ ἥτις ἡ τύχη. 680

Χορός δόκησις ἀγνὼς λόγων ἦλθε, δάπτει δὲ καὶ τὸ μὴ ʼνʼδικον.

Ἰοκάστη ἀμφοῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός ἅλις ἔμοιγʼ, ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας, 685 φαίνεται ἔνθʼ ἔληξεν αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ, τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ;

Ἰοκάστη πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

Nein, bei'm Gott, aller Götter erstem, dem Helios! 1 Freundlos, ohne Gott, mög' in Graus Ich hinsterben, heg' ich solch argen Sinn! Doch das Land schmerzt mich tief, das in Sammer schwindet, 2 Wenn sich noch zur alten Noth 655 Gesellt dies neue Leid von euch her.

Oedipus. So mag er gehen, müßt' ich ganz verderben auch, Und würd' ich ehrlos mit Gewalt vom Land gejagt. Die Klage deines Mundes, nicht die seine, stimmt Mich milder; dieser, wo er sei, bleibt mir verhaßt. 660

Kreon. Voll Hasses, seh' ich, gibst du nach; doch wann der Zorn Verbraust, bereust du. Solcher Art Naturen sind Sich selbst mit Recht unleidlich und die herbste Qual.

Oedipus. So laß mich und entferne dich!

Kreon. Ich eile fort, Von dir verkannt, vor diesen aber rein, wie sonst. 665 Oedipus. Jokaste. Der Chor. (ab.)

Der Chor.

Chorus Consent, reflect, listen, my king, I beg you.

Oedipus 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.

Oedipus Do you understand what you crave?

Chorus I do.

Oedipus 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.

Oedipus Then be quite aware that when you seek this you are seeking death or exile from this land for me.

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

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

Oedipus 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.

Chorus Lady, why do you hesitate to take this man into the house?

Iocasta I will, when I have learned what has happened. 680

Chorus Blind suspicion, bred of talk, arose, and injustice inflicts wounds.

Iocasta On both sides?

Chorus Yes.

Iocasta 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

Oedipus 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

Iocasta In the name of the gods, tell me, king, the reason that you have conceived this steadfast wrath.

Stable identifiers

Χορός

πιθοῦ θελήσας φρονήσας τʼ, ἄναξ, λίσσομαι.

Οἰδίπους

τί σοι θέλεις δῆτʼ εἰκάθω;
650

Χορός

τὸν οὔτε πρὶν νήπιον νῦν τʼ ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν καταίδεσαι.

Οἰδίπους

οἶσθʼ οὖν ἃ χρῄζεις;

Χορός

οἶδα.

Οἰδίπους

φράζε δὴ τί φής.

Χορός

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.

Κρέων

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;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.

Χορός

γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδʼ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη

μαθοῦσά γʼ ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680

Χορός

δόκησις ἀγνὼς λόγων ἦλθε, δάπτει δὲ καὶ τὸ μὴ ʼνʼδικον.

Ἰοκάστη

ἀμφοῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός

ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός

ἅλις ἔμοιγʼ, ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685

φαίνεται ἔνθʼ ἔληξεν αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ,

τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ;

Ἰοκάστη

πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ

μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

Nein, bei'm Gott, aller Götter erstem, dem Helios!¹

Freundlos, ohne Gott, mög' in Graus

Ich hinsterben, heg' ich solch argen Sinn!

Doch das Land schmerzt mich tief, das in Sammer schwindet,²

Wenn sich noch zur alten Noth
655

Gesellt dies neue Leid von euch her.

Oedipus.

So mag er gehen, müßt' ich ganz verderben auch,

Und würd' ich ehrlos mit Gewalt vom Land gejagt.

Die Klage deines Mundes, nicht die seine, stimmt

Mich milder; dieser, wo er sei, bleibt mir verhaßt.
660

Kreon.

Voll Hasses, seh' ich, gibst du nach; doch wann der Zorn

Verbraust, bereust du. Solcher Art Naturen sind

Sich selbst mit Recht unleidlich und die herbste Qual.

Oedipus.

So laß mich und entferne dich!

Kreon.

Ich eile fort,

Von dir verkannt, vor diesen aber rein, wie sonst.
665
Oedipus. Jokaste. Der Chor. (ab.)

Chorus

Consent, reflect, listen, my king, I beg you.

Oedipus

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.

Oedipus

Do you understand what you crave?

Chorus

I do.

Oedipus

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.

Oedipus

Then be quite aware that when you seek this you are seeking death or exile from this land for me.

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

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

Oedipus

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.

Chorus

Lady, why do you hesitate to take this man into the house?

Iocasta

I will, when I have learned what has happened.
680

Chorus

Blind suspicion, bred of talk, arose, and injustice inflicts wounds.

Iocasta

On both sides?

Chorus

Yes.

Iocasta

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

Oedipus

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

Iocasta

In the name of the gods, tell me, king, the reason that you have conceived this steadfast wrath.