ἐσθλήν· λέγω γὰρ καὶ τὰ δύσφορ', εἰ τύχοι
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)) — 151-215 focus
Χορός
ὦ Διὸς ἁδυεπὲς φάτι, τίς ποτε τᾶς πολυχρύσου
Πυθῶνος ἀγλαὰς ἔβας
Θήβας; ἐκτέταμαι φοβερὰν φρένα, δείματι πάλλων,
ἰήιε Δάλιε Παιάν,
ἀμφὶ σοὶ ἁζόμενος τί μοι ἢ νέον
155
ἢ περιτελλομέναις ὥραις πάλιν ἐξανύσεις χρέος.
εἰπέ μοι, ὦ χρυσέας τέκνον Ἐλπίδος, ἄμβροτε Φάμα.
ὦ Διὸς ἁδυεπὲς φάτι, τίς ποτε τᾶς πολυχρύσου
Πυθῶνος ἀγλαὰς ἔβας
Θήβας; ἐκτέταμαι φοβερὰν φρένα, δείματι πάλλων,
ἰήιε Δάλιε Παιάν,
ἀμφὶ σοὶ ἁζόμενος τί μοι ἢ νέον
155
ἢ περιτελλομέναις ὥραις πάλιν ἐξανύσεις χρέος.
εἰπέ μοι, ὦ χρυσέας τέκνον Ἐλπίδος, ἄμβροτε Φάμα.
Χορός
πρῶτα σὲ κεκλόμενος, θύγατερ Διός, ἄμβροτʼ Ἀθάνα
160
γαιάοχόν τʼ ἀδελφεὰν
Ἄρτεμιν, ἃ κυκλόεντʼ ἀγορᾶς θρόνον εὐκλέα θάσσει,
καὶ Φοῖβον ἑκαβόλον, ἰὼ
τρισσοὶ ἀλεξίμοροι προφάνητέ μοι,
εἴ ποτε καὶ προτέρας ἄτας ὕπερ ὀρνυμένας πόλει
165
ἠνύσατʼ ἐκτοπίαν φλόγα πήματος, ἔλθετε καὶ νῦν.
πρῶτα σὲ κεκλόμενος, θύγατερ Διός, ἄμβροτʼ Ἀθάνα
160
γαιάοχόν τʼ ἀδελφεὰν
Ἄρτεμιν, ἃ κυκλόεντʼ ἀγορᾶς θρόνον εὐκλέα θάσσει,
καὶ Φοῖβον ἑκαβόλον, ἰὼ
τρισσοὶ ἀλεξίμοροι προφάνητέ μοι,
εἴ ποτε καὶ προτέρας ἄτας ὕπερ ὀρνυμένας πόλει
165
ἠνύσατʼ ἐκτοπίαν φλόγα πήματος, ἔλθετε καὶ νῦν.
Χορός
ὦ πόποι, ἀνάριθμα γὰρ φέρω
πήματα· νοσεῖ δέ μοι πρόπας στόλος, οὐδʼ ἔνι φροντίδος ἔγχος
170
ᾧ τις ἀλέξεται. οὔτε γὰρ ἔκγονα
κλυτᾶς χθονὸς αὔξεται οὔτε τόκοισιν
ἰηίων καμάτων ἀνέχουσι γυναῖκες·
ἄλλον δʼ ἂν ἄλλῳ προσίδοις ἅπερ εὔπτερον ὄρνιν
175
κρεῖσσον ἀμαιμακέτου πυρὸς ὄρμενον
ἀκτὰν πρὸς ἑσπέρου θεοῦ.
ὦ πόποι, ἀνάριθμα γὰρ φέρω
πήματα· νοσεῖ δέ μοι πρόπας στόλος, οὐδʼ ἔνι φροντίδος ἔγχος
170
ᾧ τις ἀλέξεται. οὔτε γὰρ ἔκγονα
κλυτᾶς χθονὸς αὔξεται οὔτε τόκοισιν
ἰηίων καμάτων ἀνέχουσι γυναῖκες·
ἄλλον δʼ ἂν ἄλλῳ προσίδοις ἅπερ εὔπτερον ὄρνιν
175
κρεῖσσον ἀμαιμακέτου πυρὸς ὄρμενον
ἀκτὰν πρὸς ἑσπέρου θεοῦ.
Χορός
ὧν πόλις ἀνάριθμος ὄλλυται·
νηλέα δὲ γένεθλα πρὸς πέδῳ θαναταφόρα κεῖται ἀνοίκτως·
180
ἐν δʼ ἄλοχοι πολιαί τʼ ἔπι ματέρες
ἀχὰν παραβώμιον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλαν
λυγρῶν πόνων ἱκετῆρες ἐπιστενάχουσιν.
παιὰν δὲ λάμπει στονόεσσά τε γῆρυς ὅμαυλος
185
ὧν ὕπερ, ὦ χρυσέα θύγατερ Διός,
εὐῶπα πέμψον ἀλκάν.
ὧν πόλις ἀνάριθμος ὄλλυται·
νηλέα δὲ γένεθλα πρὸς πέδῳ θαναταφόρα κεῖται ἀνοίκτως·
180
ἐν δʼ ἄλοχοι πολιαί τʼ ἔπι ματέρες
ἀχὰν παραβώμιον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλαν
λυγρῶν πόνων ἱκετῆρες ἐπιστενάχουσιν.
παιὰν δὲ λάμπει στονόεσσά τε γῆρυς ὅμαυλος
185
ὧν ὕπερ, ὦ χρυσέα θύγατερ Διός,
εὐῶπα πέμψον ἀλκάν.
Χορός
Ἄρεά τε τὸν μαλερόν, ὃς νῦν ἄχαλκος ἀσπίδων
190
φλέγει με περιβόατον, ἀντιάζω
παλίσσυτον δράμημα νωτίσαι πάτρας
ἔπουρον, εἴτʼ ἐς μέγαν θάλαμον Ἀμφιτρίτας
εἴτʼ ἐς τὸν ἀπόξενον ὅρμων
195
Θρῄκιον κλύδωνα·
τελεῖν γὰρ εἴ τι νὺξ ἀφῇ,
τοῦτʼ ἐπʼ ἦμαρ ἔρχεται·
τόν, ὦ τᾶν πυρφόρων
ἀστραπᾶν κράτη νέμων,
200
ὦ Ζεῦ πάτερ, ὑπὸ σῷ φθίσον κεραυνῷ,
Ἄρεά τε τὸν μαλερόν, ὃς νῦν ἄχαλκος ἀσπίδων
190
φλέγει με περιβόατον, ἀντιάζω
παλίσσυτον δράμημα νωτίσαι πάτρας
ἔπουρον, εἴτʼ ἐς μέγαν θάλαμον Ἀμφιτρίτας
εἴτʼ ἐς τὸν ἀπόξενον ὅρμων
195
Θρῄκιον κλύδωνα·
τελεῖν γὰρ εἴ τι νὺξ ἀφῇ,
τοῦτʼ ἐπʼ ἦμαρ ἔρχεται·
τόν, ὦ τᾶν πυρφόρων
ἀστραπᾶν κράτη νέμων,
200
ὦ Ζεῦ πάτερ, ὑπὸ σῷ φθίσον κεραυνῷ,
Χορός
Λύκειʼ ἄναξ, τά τε σὰ χρυσοστρόφων ἀπʼ ἀγκυλᾶν
βέλεα θέλοιμʼ ἂν ἀδάματʼ ἐνδατεῖσθαι
ἀρωγὰ προσταχθέντα τάς τε πυρφόρους
205
Ἀρτέμιδος αἴγλας, ξὺν αἷς Λύκιʼ ὄρεα διᾴσσει·
τὸν χρυσομίτραν τε κικλήσκω,
τᾶσδʼ ἐπώνυμον γᾶς,
210
οἰνῶπα Βάκχον εὔιον,
Μαινάδων ὁμόστολον,
πελασθῆναι φλέγοντʼ
ἀγλαῶπι ¯ ˘ ¯
πεύκᾳ ʼπὶ τὸν ἀπότιμον ἐν θεοῖς θεόν.
215
Λύκειʼ ἄναξ, τά τε σὰ χρυσοστρόφων ἀπʼ ἀγκυλᾶν
βέλεα θέλοιμʼ ἂν ἀδάματʼ ἐνδατεῖσθαι
ἀρωγὰ προσταχθέντα τάς τε πυρφόρους
205
Ἀρτέμιδος αἴγλας, ξὺν αἷς Λύκιʼ ὄρεα διᾴσσει·
τὸν χρυσομίτραν τε κικλήσκω,
τᾶσδʼ ἐπώνυμον γᾶς,
210
οἰνῶπα Βάκχον εὔιον,
Μαινάδων ὁμόστολον,
πελασθῆναι φλέγοντʼ
ἀγλαῶπι ¯ ˘ ¯
πεύκᾳ ʼπὶ τὸν ἀπότιμον ἐν θεοῖς θεόν.
215
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 87 focus
CH
Your friends would humbly deprecate the wrath
That sounds both in your speech, my lord, and his.
405
That is not what we need, but to discern
How best to solve the heavenly oracle.
Your friends would humbly deprecate the wrath
That sounds both in your speech, my lord, and his.
405
That is not what we need, but to discern
How best to solve the heavenly oracle.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 78 focus
Ein Wort des Trostes sprachest du, und eben wird
Von diesen mir bedeutet, daß sich Kreon naht.
Ein Wort des Trostes sprachest du, und eben wird
Von diesen mir bedeutet, daß sich Kreon naht.
Oedipus.
O Fürst Apollon, daß er so mit rettendem
80
Geschick erscheine, wie sein Auge freudig strahlt!
O Fürst Apollon, daß er so mit rettendem
80
Geschick erscheine, wie sein Auge freudig strahlt!
Der Oberpriester.
Wohl naht mit ihm die Freude; denn wie käm' er sonst
Mit reichen Lorbeerzweigen so das Haupt umkränzt?
1
Wohl naht mit ihm die Freude; denn wie käm' er sonst
Mit reichen Lorbeerzweigen so das Haupt umkränzt?
1
Oedipus.
Bald wird sich's zeigen: nahe schon, vernimmt er uns.
O Fürst, Menökeus' edler Sohn, mein Bruder, sprich:
85
Mit welcher Botschaft kehrst du mir vom Gott zurück?
Kreon. Die Vorigen.
Bald wird sich's zeigen: nahe schon, vernimmt er uns.
O Fürst, Menökeus' edler Sohn, mein Bruder, sprich:
85
Mit welcher Botschaft kehrst du mir vom Gott zurück?
Kreon.
Mit guter; denn ich meine, wenn das Schwere selbst
Gelangt zu gutem Ende, dann steht Alles wohl.
Wie lautet, was er sagte?
Mit guter; denn ich meine, wenn das Schwere selbst
Gelangt zu gutem Ende, dann steht Alles wohl.
Wie lautet, was er sagte?
Oedipus.
Denn nicht dreist bin ich
Noch ward mir eben bange durch dein leztes Wort.
90
Denn nicht dreist bin ich
Noch ward mir eben bange durch dein leztes Wort.
90
Kreon.
Ich bin bereit zu reden, wenn du's hören willst
In Dieser Beisein, oder folg' ich dir hinein.
Ich bin bereit zu reden, wenn du's hören willst
In Dieser Beisein, oder folg' ich dir hinein.
Oedipus.
Sprich's aus vor Allen: fühl' ich doch um ihr Geschick
Mehr Kummer, als mir um das eigne Leben bangt.
Sprich's aus vor Allen: fühl' ich doch um ihr Geschick
Mehr Kummer, als mir um das eigne Leben bangt.
Kreon.
So meld' ich Alles, wie's der Gott mir offenbart.
95
Uns ruft der König Phöbos auf mit klarem Wort,
Des Landes Schandfleck (denn er weile hier) hinaus
Zu treiben, nicht zu hegen unheilbare Schuld.
So meld' ich Alles, wie's der Gott mir offenbart.
95
Uns ruft der König Phöbos auf mit klarem Wort,
Des Landes Schandfleck (denn er weile hier) hinaus
Zu treiben, nicht zu hegen unheilbare Schuld.
Oedipus.
Durch welche Sühnung? Welcher Art ist diese Noth?
Durch welche Sühnung? Welcher Art ist diese Noth?
Kreon.
Sei's durch Verbanmung, oder daß wir Mord mit Mord
100
Versöhnen; Blutschuld sei es, was die Stadt bestürmt.
Sei's durch Verbanmung, oder daß wir Mord mit Mord
100
Versöhnen; Blutschuld sei es, was die Stadt bestürmt.
Oedipus.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 87 focus
Oedipus
(Edi. Thou canst talk it well,
And thou more grossly, if thou thinkst to pass
Unpunished for this injury to thy friend.
And thou more grossly, if thou thinkst to pass
Unpunished for this injury to thy friend.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 87 focus
Chorus
CREON, CHORUS.
From violence of passion this reproach
From violence of passion this reproach
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 151-215 focus
The chorus of Theban elders enters.
159
Chorus
in holy fear of you, wondering what debt you will extract from me, perhaps unknown before, perhaps renewed with the revolving years. Tell me, immortal Voice, child of golden Hope.
155
in holy fear of you, wondering what debt you will extract from me, perhaps unknown before, perhaps renewed with the revolving years. Tell me, immortal Voice, child of golden Hope.
155
Chorus
First I call on you, daughter of Zeus, immortal Athena,
and on your sister, Artemis, guardian of our earth, who sits on her glorious throne above the circle of our market-place, and on far-shooting Apollo: oh shine forth for me, my three-fold help against death!
160
If ever before you drove a fiery pest from our borders to stop ruin rushing upon our city, come now also!
165
First I call on you, daughter of Zeus, immortal Athena,
and on your sister, Artemis, guardian of our earth, who sits on her glorious throne above the circle of our market-place, and on far-shooting Apollo: oh shine forth for me, my three-fold help against death!
160
If ever before you drove a fiery pest from our borders to stop ruin rushing upon our city, come now also!
165
Chorus
Alas, countless are the sorrows I bear.
A plague is on all our people, and thought can find no weapon for defense. The fruits of the glorious earth do not grow; by no birth of offspring do women surmount the pangs in which they shriek.
170
You can see life after life speed away, like a bird on the wing, swifter than irresistible fire, to the shore of the western god.
175
Alas, countless are the sorrows I bear.
A plague is on all our people, and thought can find no weapon for defense. The fruits of the glorious earth do not grow; by no birth of offspring do women surmount the pangs in which they shriek.
170
You can see life after life speed away, like a bird on the wing, swifter than irresistible fire, to the shore of the western god.
175
Chorus
With such deaths, past numbering, the city perishes.
Unpitied, her children lie on the ground, spreading pestilence, with no one to mourn them. Meanwhile young wives and grey-haired mothers raise a wail at the steps of the altars, some here, some there,
180
and groan in supplication for their terrible woes. The prayers to the Healer ring clear, and with them the voice of lamentation. For which things, golden daughter of Zeus, send us the bright face of comfort.
185
With such deaths, past numbering, the city perishes.
Unpitied, her children lie on the ground, spreading pestilence, with no one to mourn them. Meanwhile young wives and grey-haired mothers raise a wail at the steps of the altars, some here, some there,
180
and groan in supplication for their terrible woes. The prayers to the Healer ring clear, and with them the voice of lamentation. For which things, golden daughter of Zeus, send us the bright face of comfort.
185
Chorus
Grant that the fierce god of death, who now without the bronze of shields, though among cries like those of battle, wraps me in the flames of his onset, may turn his back in speedy flight from our land, borne by a favorable wind to the great chamber of Amphitrite,
190
or to the Thracian waves, those waters where none find haven. For if night leaves anything undone in the working of destruction, day follows to accomplish it. You who wield the
195
powers of fiery lightning, Zeus our father, slay him beneath your thunder-bolt.
200
Grant that the fierce god of death, who now without the bronze of shields, though among cries like those of battle, wraps me in the flames of his onset, may turn his back in speedy flight from our land, borne by a favorable wind to the great chamber of Amphitrite,
190
or to the Thracian waves, those waters where none find haven. For if night leaves anything undone in the working of destruction, day follows to accomplish it. You who wield the
195
powers of fiery lightning, Zeus our father, slay him beneath your thunder-bolt.
200
Chorus
Lycean Lord, would that the shafts from your bent bow’s string of woven gold might
go forth in their might, our champions in the face of the foe, and the flashing fires of Artemis too, with which she darts through the Lycian hills. I call him whose locks are bound with gold,
205
who is named with the name of this land, ruddy Bacchus to whom Bacchants cry, to draw near with the blaze of his shining torch,
210
our ally against the god unhonored among the gods.
215
Lycean Lord, would that the shafts from your bent bow’s string of woven gold might
go forth in their might, our champions in the face of the foe, and the flashing fires of Artemis too, with which she darts through the Lycian hills. I call him whose locks are bound with gold,
205
who is named with the name of this land, ruddy Bacchus to whom Bacchants cry, to draw near with the blaze of his shining torch,
210
our ally against the god unhonored among the gods.
215
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
mvp-comment-64-1 λέγω γὰρ … εὐτυχεῖν 1
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
87. mvp-comment-61-1 καὶ τὰ δύσφορ᾽.. εὐτυχεῖν These words prepare the hearers' minds for the unwelcome intimation in l. 97. The construction of πάντα is difficult. Either (1) by an extension of the subject, πάντα is substituted in the resumption for τὰ δύσφορα. For I declare that even what is troublous, if it but find right issue,all in short will then be well. Or (2) πάντα is part of the predicate and has the force of an adverb. Even what is hard, if it but find right issue, will turn out altogether prosperously.' Cp. Aj. 275, κεῖνός τε λύπῃ πᾶς ἐλήλαται κακῇ. That which is troublous or burdensome is the pollution of the murder, and its right issue is the detection and banishment of the murderer. There is no reason to suppose any corruption of the text. δύσθρο' (Heimsoeth conj.) would suggest rather the rumour than the reality of evils. λέγω shows that this is Creon's construction of the answer and not the answer itself. 89, 90, οὔτε, κ.τ.λ.] For thus far I am not elated, nor do I anticipate evil until I hear more. πρό implies that fear would be premature.