Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, Thomas Francklin (Translator), 1054cont3

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Kest thou satisfied ;
1065

Were I descended from a race of slaves,
1065

'Twould not dishonour thee.
1065

Joe. Yet hear me ; do not,
1065

Once more I beg thee, do not search this matter.
1065

And find it too.
1065

Joe. I know it best, and best
1065

Advise thee.
1065

Oedipus
(Edi. I will not be persuaded. I must search

That advice perplexes more.

Joe. Oh ! would to heaven that thou mayst never know

Or who, or whence thou art !

Oedipus

\to the Attendants]. Let some one fetch

That shepherd quick, and leave this woman here

To glory in her high descent.

Joe. Alas !

Unhappy CEdipus ! that word alone
1070

I now can soaak : remember 'tis my last.
1070

Qi^DiPUS, Chorus.
1070

Chorus
[Exit JOOAS'J'A. Scene IY.

"Why fled the queen in such disorder hence ?

Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.

Current edition Experimental

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1054 focus

γύναι, νοεῖς ἐκεῖνον, ὅντιν᾿ ἀρτίως

μολεῖν ἐφιέμεσθα; τόνδ' οὗτος λέγει;
1055

Ἰοκάστη

τί δ᾽ ὅντιν' εἶπε; μηδὲν ἐντραπῇς. τὰ δὲ

[44 b.

ῥηθέντα βούλου μηδὲ μεμνῆσθαι μάτην.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο τοῦθ᾽, ὅπως ἐγὼ λαβὼν

σημεῖα τοιαῦτ᾽ οὐ φανῶ τοὐμὸν γένος.

Ἰοκάστη

μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, εἴπερ τι τοῦ σαυτοῦ βίου
1060

κήδει, ματεύσῃς τοῦθ᾽· ἅλις νοσοῦσ᾽ ἐγώ.

Οἰδίπους

θάρσει· σὺ μὲν γὰρ οὐδ᾽ ἂν *εἰ τρίτης ἐγὼ

μητρὸς φανῶ τρίδουλος, ἐκφανεῖ κακή.

Ἰοκάστη

ὅμως πιθοῦ μοι, λίσσομαι· μὴ δρᾶ τάδε.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ ἂν πιθοίμην μὴ οὐ τάδ᾽ ἐκμαθεῖν σαφῶς.
1065

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ μὴν φρονοῦσά γ᾽ εὖ τὰ λῷστά σοι λέγω.

Οἰδίπους

τὰ λῷστα τοίνυν ταῦτά μ᾿ ἀλγύνει πάλαι.

Ἰοκάστη

ὦ δύσποτμ', εἴθε μήποτε γνοίης ὃς εἶ.

Οἰδίπους

ἄξει τις ἐλθὼν δεῦρο τὸν βοτῆρά μοι;

ταύτην δ᾽ ἐᾶτε πλουσίῳ χαίρειν γένει.
1070

Ἰοκάστη

ἰοὺ ἰού, δύστηνε· τοῦτο γάρ σʼ ἔχω

μόνον προσειπεῖν, ἄλλο δ᾽ οὔποθ᾽ ὕστερον.

Χορός

τί ποτε βέβηκεν, Οἰδίπους, ὑπ᾿ ἀγρίας

ᾄξασα λύπης ἡ γυνή; δέδοιχ᾽ ὅπως

μὴ ἐκ τῆς σιωπῆς τῆσδ᾽ ἀναρρήξει κακά.
1075

Οἰδίπους

ὁποῖα χρῄζει ῥηγνύτω· τοὐμὸν δ᾽ ἐγώ,

κεἰ σμικρόν ἐστι, σπέρμ᾿ ἰδεῖν βουλήσομαι.

αὕτη δ᾽ ἴσως, φρονεῖ γὰρ ὡς γυνὴ μέγα,

τὴν δυσγένειαν τὴν ἐμὴν αἰσχύνεται.

ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἐμαυτὸν παῖδα τῆς Τύχης νέμων
1080

τῆς εὖ διδούσης οὐκ ἀτιμασθήσομαι.

τῆς γὰρ πέφυκα μητρός· οἱ δὲ συγγενεῖς

μῆνές με μικρὸν καὶ μέγαν διώρισαν.

τοιόσδε δ᾽ ἐκφὺς οὐκ ἂν ἐξέλθοιμ' †ἔτι

ποτ᾿ ἄλλος, ὥστε μὴ ἐκμαθεῖν τοὐμὸν γένος.
1085

Χορός

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1086-1107 focus

Χορός

εἴπερ ἐγὼ μάντις εἰμὶ καὶ κατὰ γνώμαν ἴδρις,

οὐ τὸν Ὄλυμπον ἀπείρων, ὦ Κιθαιρών,

οὐκ ἔσει τὰν αὔριον
1090

πανσέληνον, μὴ οὐ σέ γε καὶ πατριώταν Οἰδίπουν

καὶ τροφὸν καὶ ματέρʼ αὔξειν,

καὶ χορεύεσθαι πρὸς ἡμῶν, ὡς ἐπὶ ἦρα φέροντα τοῖς ἐμοῖς τυράννοις.
1095

ἰήϊε Φοῖβε, σοὶ δὲ ταῦτʼ ἀρέστʼ εἴη.

1098

Χορός

τίς σε, τέκνον, τίς σʼ ἔτικτε τᾶν μακραιώνων ἄρα

Πανὸς ὀρεσσιβάτα πατρὸς πελασθεῖσʼ;
1100

ἢ σέ γʼ εὐνάτειρά τις

Λοξίου; τῷ γὰρ πλάκες ἀγρόνομοι πᾶσαι φίλαι·

εἴθʼ ὁ Κυλλάνας ἀνάσσων,
1105

εἴθʼ ὁ Βακχεῖος θεὸς ναίων ἐπʼ ἄκρων ὀρέων σʼ εὕρημα δέξατʼ ἔκ του

Νυμφᾶν Ἑλικωνίδων, αἷς πλεῖστα συμπαίζει.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1054 focus

We lately sought that one should come, my queen.

Know’st thou, is this of whom he speaks the same?
1055

JO

What matter who? Regard not, nor desire

Even vainly to remember aught he saith.

OED

When I have found such tokens of my birth,

I must disclose it.

JO

As you love your life,
1060

By heaven I beg you, search no further here!
1060

The sickness in my bosom is enough.

OED

Nay, never fear! Were I proved thrice a slave

And waif of bondwomen, you still are noble.

JO

Yet hearken, I implore you: do not so.

OED

I cannot hear you. I must know this through.
1065

JO

With clear perception I advise the best.

OED

Thy ‘best’ is still my torment.

JO

Wretched one,

Never may’st thou discover who thou art!

OED

Will some one go and bring the herdman hither?

Leave her to revel in her lordly line!
1070

JO

O horrible! O lost one! This alone

I speak to thee, and no word more for ever.

CH

Oedipus, wherefore is Jocasta gone,

Driven madly by wild grief? I needs must fear

Lest from this silence she make sorrow spring.
1075

OED

Leave her to raise what storm she will. But I

Will persevere to know mine origin,

Though from an humble seed. Her woman’s pride

Is shamed, it may be, by my lowliness.

But I, whilst I account myself the son

Of prospering Fortune, ne’er will be disgraced.
1080

For she is my true mother: and the months,

Coheirs with me of the same father, Time,

Have marked my lowness and mine exaltation.

So born, so nurtured, I can fear no change,

That I need shrink to probe this to the root.
1085

CHORUS
CHORUS .

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1054 focus

Frau, meinst du, jener, den wir eben jezt hieher

Beschieden, sei derselbe, den der Bote meint?

Jokaste.

Wer? Welchen nannt' er? Achte nicht hierauf, und dem,

Was er gesprochen, sinne nicht vergeblich nach.
1030

Oedipus.

Das bleibe ferne, daß ich jezt nicht mein Geschlecht

Enthüllen sollte, nun ich solche Spuren fand!

Jokaste.

Bei allen Göttern, wenn das eigne Leben dir

Lieb ist, so laß dies Forschen! Meine Dual genügt.

Oedipus.

Sei ruhig! Wenn ich nach der dritten Mutter auch¹
1035

Dreifach ein Knecht erschiene, dir bringt's keine Schmach.

Jokaste.

Und doch (ich flehe) folge mir: ach, thu' es nicht!

Oedipus.

Nicht folgen kann ich, schauen muß ich's unverhüllt.

Jokaste.

Doch rath' ich dir das Beste; denn ich mein' es gut.

Oedipus.

Nun, eben dieses Beste quält mich lange schon.²
1040

Jokaste.

Erführst du niemals, wer du bist, Unseliger!

Oedipus.

Wird Einer mir den Hirten herzuführen geh'n?

Die lasset nur sich ihres hohen Stammes freu'n!

Jokaste.

Weh, weh dir, Armer! Dieses Wort vermag ich nur

Dir zuzurufen, und hinfort kein andres mehr!
1045
Dedipus. Der Bote. Der Chor.

Der Chor.

Was ging die Frau doch, Dedipus, so schnell hinweg,

Von wildem Jammer aufgestürmt? Ich fürchte sehr,

Aus diesem Schweigen bricht hervor ein schweres Leid.

Oedipus.

Was immer wolle, brech' hervor; doch mein Geschlecht,

Ich will es kennen lernen, ob's auch niedrig sei.
1050

Sie mag verschämt in ihrem Frauenstolze wohl

Erröthen über meines Stamms Unwürdigkeit.

Ich aber, wenn ich Tyche's Sohn, der Spenderin³

Des Glücks, mich achte, werde nicht erniedrigt sein.

Von dieser Mutter stamm' ich, und es ordneten
1055

Verwandte Monde Niedrigkeit und Größe mir.

Bei solcher Abkunst tracht' ich nicht nach Andrem mehr,⁴

Als nach dem Einen, mein Geschlecht an's Licht zu zieh'n.

Strophe. (ab.)

Der Chor.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1054 focus

Knowest thou, lady, him we wish'd to come

To be the man of whom this stranger speaks?

Who...speak of whom?...Regard him not, nor wish
1055

On words at random utter'd e'en to think.
1055

Oedipus

What, shall such traces of my birth appear,

And I not follow them! It may not be.

Oh, by the gods inquire not, if thy life

Be dear to thee! Enough that I am wretched.

Oedipus

Be cheer'd: for were I thrice a slave, and thrice

My mothers slaves, thence no disgrace were thine.

Yet let my prayers prevail; this search forbear.

Oedipus

No pray'rs shall move me: I will be inform'd.
1065

Jocasta

I have strong cause: I warn thee for thy peace.

Oedipus

My peace that cause, whate'er it be, destroys.

Never, oh never may'st thou know thy birth!

Oedipus

Go some one, bring this herdsman to me, haste

And let her glory in her noble birth.
1070

Jocasta

Alas, ill-fated man! for by that name

Alone, ah me! can I address thee now.

And by none other ever from this hour.

Chorus

Ah, wither is the queen with hasty step

Jocasta

Fled, pierced with anguish? From this silence great

My fear, lest something dreadful should burst forth.

Oedipus

Burst forth what may, my soul is bent to know,

Mean though it be, my race: but she perchance

(For, as a woman, lofty are her thoughts)

Looks with disdain on my ignoble birth.

I am the son of Fortune: while she smiles,
1080

I shall not be disgraced : my mother she,

The Months, my kindsmen, have design'd me mean,

And great: thus born, no other can I be,

Nor will I ever blush to know my race.

Chorus
STRO. ANTIS.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1086-1105 focus

Chorus

If I am a seer or wise of heart,

Cithaeron, you will not fail—by heaven, you will not—to know at tomorrow’s full moon that Oedipus honors you as native to him, as his nurse, and his mother, and that you are celebrated in our dance and song,
1090

because you are well-pleasing to our prince. O Phoebus to whom we cry, may these things find favor in your sight!
1095

1098

Chorus

Who was it, my son, who of the race whose years are many, that bore you in wedlock with

Pan, the mountain-roaming father? Or was it a bride of Loxias that bore you? For dear to him are all the upland pastures.
1100

Or perhaps it was Cyllene’s lord, or the Bacchants’ god, dweller on the hill-tops, that received you, a new-born joy, from one of the nymphs of Helicon, with whom he most often sports.
1105

Commentary

Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))

mvp-comment-656-1 τὰ λῷστα … ταῦτα ¹

mvp-comment-657-1 ὃς ²

mvp-comment-658-1 Iocasta rushes from the scene-to appear no more. Cp. the sudden exit of Haemon ( Soph. Ant. 766 ), of Eurydice ( Soph. Ant. 1245 ), and of Deianeira ( Soph. Trach. 813 ). In each of the two latter cases, the exit silently follows a speech by another person, and the Chorus comments on the departing one's silence. Iocasta, like Haemon, has spoken passionate words immediately before going: and here σιωπῆς ³

mvp-comment-659-1 δέδοικα ⁴

mvp-comment-660-1 The subject to ἀναρρήξει ⁵ κακά ⁶ κακά ⁷

mvp-comment-661-1 χρῄζει scornfully personifies the κακά.

mvp-comment-661-2 βουλήσομαι ⁸

mvp-comment-662-1 ὡς γυνὴ ⁹ ὡς ¹⁰

mvp-comment-663-1 Whatever may have been his human parentage, Oed. is the “son of Fortune ” (said in a very different tone from “ Fortunae filius” in Hor. Sat. 2.6.49 ): Fortune brings forth the months with their varying events; these months, then, are his brothers, who ere now have known him depressed as well as exalted. He has faith in this Mother, and will not shrink from the path on which she seems to beckon him; he will not be false to his sonship. We might recall Schiller's epigram on the Wolfians; whatever may be the human paternity of the Iliad, “ hat es doch Eine Mutter nur, Und die Züge der Mutter, Deine unsterblichen Züge, Natur.”

mvp-comment-663-2 τῆς εὖ διδούσης ¹¹ τῆς ¹²

mvp-comment-664-1 συγγενεῖς ¹³

mvp-comment-665-1 διώρισαν ¹⁴

mvp-comment-666-1 “Having sprung of such parentage ( ἐκφὺς ¹⁵ ἐξέλθοιμι ¹⁶ ἄλλος ¹⁷ ποτ’ ¹⁸ ἔτι | ποτέ ¹⁹

mvp-comment-667-1 μάντις ²⁰

mvp-comment-668-1 κατὰ ²¹

mvp-comment-669-1 οὐ ²²

mvp-comment-669-2 ἀπείρων ²³

Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus

1066. mvp-comment-608-1 φρονοῦσά γ᾽ εὐ With clear knowledge. Ср. 1038.

1067. mvp-comment-609-1 τὰ λῷστα.. ταῦτα ‘This which you call the best'-that I do not learn my origin.

1069. mvp-comment-610-1 Will some one go and fetch the herdsman hither for me?' ἄξει here is more peremptory than οὐκ ἄξει; just as ἆρα; is stronger than ἆρ' οὐ; see Essay on Language § 29. p. 50.

1070. mvp-comment-611-1 πλουσίῳ .. γένει Her wealthy lineage. The word πλούσιος is used sarcastically. Cp. Εl. 361, σοὶ δὲ πλουσία | τράπεζα κείσθω.

1071. mvp-comment-612-1 ἰοὺ ἰού An exclamation of horror and wonder. Cp. Τr. 1143, ἰοὺ ἰοὺ δύστηνος, οἴχομαι τάλας.

1072. mvp-comment-613-1 ἄλλο δ᾽ οὔποθ᾽ ὕστερον And no word any more for ever.

1075. mvp-comment-614-1 ἀναρρήξει is best taken actively with ἡ γυνή as subject. She will cause evils to break forth. If κακά were the subject, χρήζει in 1076 could hardly have a natural meaning. Cp. II. 20. 55, ἐν δ᾽ αὐτοῖς ἐρίδα ῥήγνυντο. For the situation, cp. Ant. 766, 1253, Tr. 813.

1076. mvp-comment-615-1 Let her raise what storms she will; but I am determined to see my origin, though it be humble.'

1078. mvp-comment-616-1 ὡς γυνή For a woman. Cp. Hdt. 4. 81, ὀλίγους, ὡς Σκύθας εἶναι. Oedipus implies that his own 'pride of birth, (avowed in 1080, foll.) is of a nobler strain.

1079. mvp-comment-617-1 τὴν δυσγένειαν τὴν ἐμήν The baseness of my birth.

1080. mvp-comment-618-1 παῖδα τῆς Τύχης.. τῆς εὐ διδούσης Accounting myself the child of favouring Fortune. Cp. the opposite fancy of Polynices in O. C. 1323-1324, κεί μὴ σὸς ἀλλὰ τοῦ κακοῦ | πότμου φυτευθείς. So in Shak. Winter's Tale, 4. 4, Florizel says From thy succession wipe me, father! I Am heir to my affection.' 1082. οἱ δὲ συγγενεῖς μῆνές με μικρὸν καὶ μέγαν διώρισαν] And the months that have grown up with me, have alone determined my lowness and my exaltation. As elsewhere, Time is spoken of as a real thing or person commensurate with the events.

1084-1085. mvp-comment-619-1 This parentage of mine can never be disproved; and therefore why should I not find out my origin? This is better than I cannot but know my birth.

1084. mvp-comment-620-1 †ἔτι | ποτ' ἄλλος It must be admitted that ποτέ beginning the line after a short syllable which precludes synaphea, is questionable. See Aj. 986, οὐχ ὅσον τάχος | δῆτ᾿ αὐτὸν ἄξεις δεῦρο; It is allowable to conjecture ἐξέλθοιμ᾽ ἐγώ. But the secret of the anomaly is probably the inverted order (for ἄλλος ποτέ), which is for the sake of emphasis and rhythm. Cp. Phil. 1217, ἔτ᾿ οὐδέν εἰμι. 1086, foll. The chorus have forgotten their apprehension expressed in supr. 1074-1075, and yielding to the feeling of the moment, join with Oedipus in his wish to discover his origin. The joyous confidence of this strain gives greater emphasis to the catastrophe. Cp. Ant. 1115-1152, Aj. 693-718, Tr. 205-224- 'Soon shall the wonder be revealed. Our king was nursed on the mountain's breast, divinely born; some nymph his mother, his father, some roving God.' The solemnity of the prevailing ditrochaic (or epitrite) rhythm is relieved 1092. ματέρ'] by lyrical dactyls. The tone is one of religious joyousness, rising at first into excited hope, which changes, in line 7 of the strophe, into pious aspiration. トCCL トー 5 トトトトートー 1086. For κατὰ γνώμαν, cp. Tr. 102, εἴπ᾽, ὦ κρατιστεύων κατ᾿ ὄμμα, and see Essay on Language § 19. p. 28.

1087. mvp-comment-621-1 οὐ τὸν Ὄλυμπον Ant. 758.

1087. mvp-comment-621-2 ἀπείρων Hesychius, ἀπείρονας· ἀπειράτους. Σοφοκλῆς Θυέστῃ.

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Kest thou satisfied ; 1065 Were I descended from a race of slaves, 1065 'Twould not dishonour thee. 1065 Joe. Yet hear me ; do not, 1065 Once more I beg thee, do not search this matter. 1065 And find it too. 1065 Joe. I know it best, and best 1065 Advise thee. 1065

Oedipus (Edi. I will not be persuaded. I must search That advice perplexes more. Joe. Oh ! would to heaven that thou mayst never know Or who, or whence thou art !

Oedipus \to the Attendants]. Let some one fetch That shepherd quick, and leave this woman here To glory in her high descent. Joe. Alas ! Unhappy CEdipus ! that word alone 1070 I now can soaak : remember 'tis my last. 1070 Qi^DiPUS, Chorus. 1070

Chorus [Exit JOOAS'J'A. Scene IY. "Why fled the queen in such disorder hence ?

Current edition Experimental

γύναι, νοεῖς ἐκεῖνον, ὅντιν᾿ ἀρτίως μολεῖν ἐφιέμεσθα; τόνδ' οὗτος λέγει; 1055

Ἰοκάστη τί δ᾽ ὅντιν' εἶπε; μηδὲν ἐντραπῇς. τὰ δὲ [44 b. ῥηθέντα βούλου μηδὲ μεμνῆσθαι μάτην.

Οἰδίπους οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο τοῦθ᾽, ὅπως ἐγὼ λαβὼν σημεῖα τοιαῦτ᾽ οὐ φανῶ τοὐμὸν γένος.

Ἰοκάστη μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, εἴπερ τι τοῦ σαυτοῦ βίου 1060 κήδει, ματεύσῃς τοῦθ᾽· ἅλις νοσοῦσ᾽ ἐγώ.

Οἰδίπους θάρσει· σὺ μὲν γὰρ οὐδ᾽ ἂν *εἰ τρίτης ἐγὼ μητρὸς φανῶ τρίδουλος, ἐκφανεῖ κακή.

Ἰοκάστη ὅμως πιθοῦ μοι, λίσσομαι· μὴ δρᾶ τάδε.

Οἰδίπους οὐκ ἂν πιθοίμην μὴ οὐ τάδ᾽ ἐκμαθεῖν σαφῶς. 1065

Ἰοκάστη καὶ μὴν φρονοῦσά γ᾽ εὖ τὰ λῷστά σοι λέγω.

Οἰδίπους τὰ λῷστα τοίνυν ταῦτά μ᾿ ἀλγύνει πάλαι.

Ἰοκάστη ὦ δύσποτμ', εἴθε μήποτε γνοίης ὃς εἶ.

Οἰδίπους ἄξει τις ἐλθὼν δεῦρο τὸν βοτῆρά μοι; ταύτην δ᾽ ἐᾶτε πλουσίῳ χαίρειν γένει. 1070

Ἰοκάστη ἰοὺ ἰού, δύστηνε· τοῦτο γάρ σʼ ἔχω μόνον προσειπεῖν, ἄλλο δ᾽ οὔποθ᾽ ὕστερον.

Χορός τί ποτε βέβηκεν, Οἰδίπους, ὑπ᾿ ἀγρίας ᾄξασα λύπης ἡ γυνή; δέδοιχ᾽ ὅπως μὴ ἐκ τῆς σιωπῆς τῆσδ᾽ ἀναρρήξει κακά. 1075

Χορός

We lately sought that one should come, my queen. Know’st thou, is this of whom he speaks the same? 1055

JO What matter who? Regard not, nor desire Even vainly to remember aught he saith.

OED When I have found such tokens of my birth, I must disclose it.

JO As you love your life, 1060 By heaven I beg you, search no further here! 1060 The sickness in my bosom is enough.

OED Nay, never fear! Were I proved thrice a slave And waif of bondwomen, you still are noble.

JO Yet hearken, I implore you: do not so.

OED I cannot hear you. I must know this through. 1065

JO With clear perception I advise the best.

OED Thy ‘best’ is still my torment.

JO Wretched one, Never may’st thou discover who thou art!

OED Will some one go and bring the herdman hither? Leave her to revel in her lordly line! 1070

JO O horrible! O lost one! This alone I speak to thee, and no word more for ever.

CH Oedipus, wherefore is Jocasta gone, Driven madly by wild grief? I needs must fear Lest from this silence she make sorrow spring. 1075

CHORUS CHORUS .

Frau, meinst du, jener, den wir eben jezt hieher Beschieden, sei derselbe, den der Bote meint?

Jokaste. Wer? Welchen nannt' er? Achte nicht hierauf, und dem, Was er gesprochen, sinne nicht vergeblich nach. 1030

Oedipus. Das bleibe ferne, daß ich jezt nicht mein Geschlecht Enthüllen sollte, nun ich solche Spuren fand!

Jokaste. Bei allen Göttern, wenn das eigne Leben dir Lieb ist, so laß dies Forschen! Meine Dual genügt.

Oedipus. Sei ruhig! Wenn ich nach der dritten Mutter auch 1 1035 Dreifach ein Knecht erschiene, dir bringt's keine Schmach.

Jokaste. Und doch (ich flehe) folge mir: ach, thu' es nicht!

Oedipus. Nicht folgen kann ich, schauen muß ich's unverhüllt.

Jokaste. Doch rath' ich dir das Beste; denn ich mein' es gut.

Oedipus. Nun, eben dieses Beste quält mich lange schon. 2 1040

Jokaste. Erführst du niemals, wer du bist, Unseliger!

Oedipus. Wird Einer mir den Hirten herzuführen geh'n? Die lasset nur sich ihres hohen Stammes freu'n!

Jokaste. Weh, weh dir, Armer! Dieses Wort vermag ich nur Dir zuzurufen, und hinfort kein andres mehr! 1045 Dedipus. Der Bote. Der Chor.

Der Chor. Was ging die Frau doch, Dedipus, so schnell hinweg, Von wildem Jammer aufgestürmt? Ich fürchte sehr, Aus diesem Schweigen bricht hervor ein schweres Leid.

Der Chor.

Knowest thou, lady, him we wish'd to come To be the man of whom this stranger speaks? Who...speak of whom?...Regard him not, nor wish 1055 On words at random utter'd e'en to think. 1055

Oedipus What, shall such traces of my birth appear, And I not follow them! It may not be. Oh, by the gods inquire not, if thy life Be dear to thee! Enough that I am wretched.

Oedipus Be cheer'd: for were I thrice a slave, and thrice My mothers slaves, thence no disgrace were thine. Yet let my prayers prevail; this search forbear.

Oedipus No pray'rs shall move me: I will be inform'd. 1065

Jocasta I have strong cause: I warn thee for thy peace.

Oedipus My peace that cause, whate'er it be, destroys. Never, oh never may'st thou know thy birth!

Oedipus Go some one, bring this herdsman to me, haste And let her glory in her noble birth. 1070

Jocasta Alas, ill-fated man! for by that name Alone, ah me! can I address thee now. And by none other ever from this hour.

Chorus Ah, wither is the queen with hasty step

Jocasta Fled, pierced with anguish? From this silence great My fear, lest something dreadful should burst forth.

Chorus STRO. ANTIS.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Kest thou satisfied ;
1065

Were I descended from a race of slaves,
1065

'Twould not dishonour thee.
1065

Joe. Yet hear me ; do not,
1065

Once more I beg thee, do not search this matter.
1065

And find it too.
1065

Joe. I know it best, and best
1065

Advise thee.
1065

Oedipus
(Edi. I will not be persuaded. I must search

That advice perplexes more.

Joe. Oh ! would to heaven that thou mayst never know

Or who, or whence thou art !

Oedipus

\to the Attendants]. Let some one fetch

That shepherd quick, and leave this woman here

To glory in her high descent.

Joe. Alas !

Unhappy CEdipus ! that word alone
1070

I now can soaak : remember 'tis my last.
1070

Qi^DiPUS, Chorus.
1070

Chorus
[Exit JOOAS'J'A. Scene IY.

"Why fled the queen in such disorder hence ?

γύναι, νοεῖς ἐκεῖνον, ὅντιν᾿ ἀρτίως

μολεῖν ἐφιέμεσθα; τόνδ' οὗτος λέγει;
1055

Ἰοκάστη

τί δ᾽ ὅντιν' εἶπε; μηδὲν ἐντραπῇς. τὰ δὲ

[44 b.

ῥηθέντα βούλου μηδὲ μεμνῆσθαι μάτην.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο τοῦθ᾽, ὅπως ἐγὼ λαβὼν

σημεῖα τοιαῦτ᾽ οὐ φανῶ τοὐμὸν γένος.

Ἰοκάστη

μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, εἴπερ τι τοῦ σαυτοῦ βίου
1060

κήδει, ματεύσῃς τοῦθ᾽· ἅλις νοσοῦσ᾽ ἐγώ.

Οἰδίπους

θάρσει· σὺ μὲν γὰρ οὐδ᾽ ἂν *εἰ τρίτης ἐγὼ

μητρὸς φανῶ τρίδουλος, ἐκφανεῖ κακή.

Ἰοκάστη

ὅμως πιθοῦ μοι, λίσσομαι· μὴ δρᾶ τάδε.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ ἂν πιθοίμην μὴ οὐ τάδ᾽ ἐκμαθεῖν σαφῶς.
1065

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ μὴν φρονοῦσά γ᾽ εὖ τὰ λῷστά σοι λέγω.

Οἰδίπους

τὰ λῷστα τοίνυν ταῦτά μ᾿ ἀλγύνει πάλαι.

Ἰοκάστη

ὦ δύσποτμ', εἴθε μήποτε γνοίης ὃς εἶ.

Οἰδίπους

ἄξει τις ἐλθὼν δεῦρο τὸν βοτῆρά μοι;

ταύτην δ᾽ ἐᾶτε πλουσίῳ χαίρειν γένει.
1070

Ἰοκάστη

ἰοὺ ἰού, δύστηνε· τοῦτο γάρ σʼ ἔχω

μόνον προσειπεῖν, ἄλλο δ᾽ οὔποθ᾽ ὕστερον.

Χορός

τί ποτε βέβηκεν, Οἰδίπους, ὑπ᾿ ἀγρίας

ᾄξασα λύπης ἡ γυνή; δέδοιχ᾽ ὅπως

μὴ ἐκ τῆς σιωπῆς τῆσδ᾽ ἀναρρήξει κακά.
1075

We lately sought that one should come, my queen.

Know’st thou, is this of whom he speaks the same?
1055

JO

What matter who? Regard not, nor desire

Even vainly to remember aught he saith.

OED

When I have found such tokens of my birth,

I must disclose it.

JO

As you love your life,
1060

By heaven I beg you, search no further here!
1060

The sickness in my bosom is enough.

OED

Nay, never fear! Were I proved thrice a slave

And waif of bondwomen, you still are noble.

JO

Yet hearken, I implore you: do not so.

OED

I cannot hear you. I must know this through.
1065

JO

With clear perception I advise the best.

OED

Thy ‘best’ is still my torment.

JO

Wretched one,

Never may’st thou discover who thou art!

OED

Will some one go and bring the herdman hither?

Leave her to revel in her lordly line!
1070

JO

O horrible! O lost one! This alone

I speak to thee, and no word more for ever.

CH

Oedipus, wherefore is Jocasta gone,

Driven madly by wild grief? I needs must fear

Lest from this silence she make sorrow spring.
1075

CHORUS
CHORUS .

Frau, meinst du, jener, den wir eben jezt hieher

Beschieden, sei derselbe, den der Bote meint?

Jokaste.

Wer? Welchen nannt' er? Achte nicht hierauf, und dem,

Was er gesprochen, sinne nicht vergeblich nach.
1030

Oedipus.

Das bleibe ferne, daß ich jezt nicht mein Geschlecht

Enthüllen sollte, nun ich solche Spuren fand!

Jokaste.

Bei allen Göttern, wenn das eigne Leben dir

Lieb ist, so laß dies Forschen! Meine Dual genügt.

Oedipus.

Sei ruhig! Wenn ich nach der dritten Mutter auch¹
1035

Dreifach ein Knecht erschiene, dir bringt's keine Schmach.

Jokaste.

Und doch (ich flehe) folge mir: ach, thu' es nicht!

Oedipus.

Nicht folgen kann ich, schauen muß ich's unverhüllt.

Jokaste.

Doch rath' ich dir das Beste; denn ich mein' es gut.

Oedipus.

Nun, eben dieses Beste quält mich lange schon.²
1040

Jokaste.

Erführst du niemals, wer du bist, Unseliger!

Oedipus.

Wird Einer mir den Hirten herzuführen geh'n?

Die lasset nur sich ihres hohen Stammes freu'n!

Jokaste.

Weh, weh dir, Armer! Dieses Wort vermag ich nur

Dir zuzurufen, und hinfort kein andres mehr!
1045
Dedipus. Der Bote. Der Chor.

Der Chor.

Was ging die Frau doch, Dedipus, so schnell hinweg,

Von wildem Jammer aufgestürmt? Ich fürchte sehr,

Aus diesem Schweigen bricht hervor ein schweres Leid.

Knowest thou, lady, him we wish'd to come

To be the man of whom this stranger speaks?

Who...speak of whom?...Regard him not, nor wish
1055

On words at random utter'd e'en to think.
1055

Oedipus

What, shall such traces of my birth appear,

And I not follow them! It may not be.

Oh, by the gods inquire not, if thy life

Be dear to thee! Enough that I am wretched.

Oedipus

Be cheer'd: for were I thrice a slave, and thrice

My mothers slaves, thence no disgrace were thine.

Yet let my prayers prevail; this search forbear.

Oedipus

No pray'rs shall move me: I will be inform'd.
1065

Jocasta

I have strong cause: I warn thee for thy peace.

Oedipus

My peace that cause, whate'er it be, destroys.

Never, oh never may'st thou know thy birth!

Oedipus

Go some one, bring this herdsman to me, haste

And let her glory in her noble birth.
1070

Jocasta

Alas, ill-fated man! for by that name

Alone, ah me! can I address thee now.

And by none other ever from this hour.

Chorus

Ah, wither is the queen with hasty step

Jocasta

Fled, pierced with anguish? From this silence great

My fear, lest something dreadful should burst forth.

Chorus
STRO. ANTIS.