Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759))
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
95-131. mvp-comment-65-1 This short dialogue is carefully constructed with a view to the plot. Oedipus had heard of Laius and of his death, but (as he imagines) certainly never saw him and never thought of inquiring into the circumstances of his murder. (An excuse for this improbability is suggested afterwards in ll. 220-221, οὐ γὰρ ἂν μακράν, κ.τ.λ.) One witness of the deed remains, but he being overcome with fear could only give even at the time a confused account of an assault by a band of robbers.
105. mvp-comment-73-1 οὐ γὰρ εἰσεῖδόν γέ πω By hearsay, for I certainly never saw him.
105. mvp-comment-73-2 που, which appears in several MSS, would imply uncertainty, and would therefore weakly express the security of Oedipus. The literal meaning of οὔπω is not to be pressed. From not yet it has passed into meaning simply never. Cp. Hdt. 3. 127, ὃς ὠφέλησε μέν κω Πέρσας οὐδέν : 4. 81, ὃς δὲ μὴ εἶδέ κω 160, τούτῳ γὰρ οὐδεὶς Περσέων ἠξίωσέ κω ἑαυτὸν συμβαλέειν. In all these places, though past time is spoken of, there is no opposition between past and future. Or, as happens with ἤδη, ποτέ, ἔτι, and other particles, the notion of time is altogether lost. Cp e.g. Hes Op. et D. 271, τά γ' ου πω ἔολπα τελεῖν. The conjecture γ' ἐγώ takes the emphasis from the verb.
106. mvp-comment-74-1 τούτου θανόντος This is most easily explained as genitive absolute, but is at the same time to be partly connected with τοὺς αὐτοέντας.
107. mvp-comment-75-1 τοὺς αὐτοέντας .. τινάς The murderers, whosoever they are. Cp. Ο. С. 288-289, ὅταν δ᾽ ὁ κύριος παρῇ τις: Hdt. 1. 114. τὸν δὲ κού τινα .. τῷ δέ τινι. This reading is preferable to τινά. If the mark over the σ L. indicates doubt, as seems probable from the parallel reading of A, this would only prove that some early scribe knew of or wished to suggest the other reading, perhaps because it seemed easier.
107. mvp-comment-75-2 χειρὶ τιμωρεῖν Like τοιαύτῃ χειρὶ τιμωρεῖν, l. 140 . For the rare active, denoting an absolute intention, see Essay on Language p. 98. The vague use of the plural in Creon's report prepares the way for the more definite statement in l. 122 without committing the oracle to error.
108. mvp-comment-76-1 οἱ δ᾽ εἰσὶ ποῦ γῆς The inversion gives additional emphasis.
108. mvp-comment-76-2 τόδε This, which we are set to find. Cp. τόδ' αἷμα, supr. 101.
110. mvp-comment-77-1 τὸ δὲ ζητούμενον ἁλωτόν Creon, though no longer quoting the oracle, continues the oracular tone. Cp. 87-88.
112. mvp-comment-78-1 It may seem strange that Oedipus should not have heard the particulars from Jocasta. But this kind of improbability is external to the play, and dramatic interest requires that the fact should here be brought before the mind of the spectator. Cp. Aristot. Poet. 1454-1456, ἄλογον δὲ μηδὲν εἶναι ἐν τοῖς πράγμασιν, εἰ δὲ μή, ἔξω τῆς τραγῳδίας, οἷον τὰ ἐν τῷ Οἰδίποδι τῷ Σοφοκλέους. The inevitable unlikelihood is minimized, however. For Oedipus does not deny having heard of the violent death of Laius; and gives a reason afterwards (220-221) why he could not inquire into the circumstances at the time.