Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, Thomas Francklin (Translator), 950

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That shepherd is my only hope : Jocasta,
950

Would he were here !

Joe. Suppose he were ; what then ?

What wouldst thou do ?

Oedipus

I'll tell thee : if he says

The same as thou dost, I am safe and guiltless.

Joe. What said I, th&n ?

Oedipus

Thou saidst he did report

Laius was slain by robbers ; if 'tis true

He fell by numbers, I am innocent,

For I was unattended ; if but one

Attacked and slew him, doubtless I am he.

Joe. Be satisfied it must be as he first

Reported it ; he cannot cliange the tale :

Xot I alone, but the whole city heard it.

Falfilled ; for Phoebus said, JocSsta's son

Should slay his father. That could never be ;

For, oh ! Jocasta's son long since is dead.

ITe could not murder Laius ; therefore never

Will I attend to prophecies again.

Oedipus
( )r ^rant he should, the oracle was ne'er

Right, my Jocasta ; but, I beg thee, send

And fetch this shepherd ; do not fail.

Joe. I will

This moment ; come, my lord, let us go in ••

I will do nothing but what pleases thee, - [Exeunt.

Grant me henceforth, ye powers divine,

In virtue's purest paths to tread !

In every word, in every deed.

May sanctity of manners ever shine !

Obedient to the laws of Jove,

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)) — 950 focus

ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα,
950

τί μ' ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη

ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων

τὰ σέμν᾽ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτ᾽ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη

ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν
955

ὡς οὐκέτ᾽ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλ᾽ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους

τί φῄς, ξέν᾽; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημήνας γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μ᾿ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς,

εὖ ἴσθ᾽ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους

πότερα δόλοισιν, ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ;
960

Ἄγγελος

σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματ᾿ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους

νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Οἰδίπους

φεῦ φεῦ, τί δῆτʼ ἄν, ὦ γύναι, σκοποῖτό τις

τὴν Πυθόμαντιν ἑστίαν, ἢ τοὺς ἄνω
965

κλάζοντας ὄρνις, ὧν ὑφηγητῶν ἐγὼ

κτανεῖν ἔμελλον πατέρα τὸν ἐμόν; ὁ δὲ θανὼν

[43 b.

κεύθει κάτω δὴ γῆς. ἐγὼ δ᾽ ὅδ᾽ ἐνθάδε

ἄψαυστος ἔγχους, εἴ τι μὴ τὠμῷ πόθῳ

κατέφθιθ᾽· οὕτω δ᾽ ἂν θανὼν εἴη ἐξ ἐμοῦ.
970

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν παρόντα συλλαβὼν θεσπίσματα

κεῖται παρ' Ἅιδῃ Πόλυβος ἄξιʼ οὐδενός.

Ἰοκάστη

οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προὔλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους

ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη

μὴ νῦν ἔτ᾽ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς.
975

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς λέκτρον οὐκ ὀκνεῖν με δεῖ;

Ἰοκάστη

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 911-1085 focus

Ἰοκάστη

χώρας ἄνακτες, δόξα μοι παρεστάθη

ναοὺς ἱκέσθαι δαιμόνων, τάδʼ ἐν χεροῖν

στέφη λαβούσῃ κἀπιθυμιάματα.

ὑψοῦ γὰρ αἴρει θυμὸν Οἰδίπους ἄγαν

λύπαισι παντοίαισιν· οὐδʼ ὁποῖʼ ἀνὴρ
915

ἔννους τὰ καινὰ τοῖς πάλαι τεκμαίρεται,

ἀλλʼ ἐστὶ τοῦ λέγοντος, εἰ φόβους λέγοι.

ὅτʼ οὖν παραινοῦσʼ οὐδὲν ἐς πλέον ποιῶ,

πρὸς σʼ, ὦ Λύκειʼ Ἄπολλον, ἄγχιστος γὰρ εἶ,

ἱκέτις ἀφῖγμαι τοῖσδε σὺν κατεύγμασιν,
920

ὅπως λύσιν τινʼ ἡμὶν εὐαγῆ πόρῃς·

ὡς νῦν ὀκνοῦμεν πάντες ἐκπεπληγμένον

κεῖνον βλέποντες ὡς κυβερνήτην νεώς.

Ἄγγελος

ἆρʼ ἂν παρʼ ὑμῶν, ὦ ξένοι, μάθοιμʼ ὅπου

τὰ τοῦ τυράννου δώματʼ ἐστὶν Οἰδίπου;
925

μάλιστα δʼ αὐτὸν εἴπατʼ, εἰ κάτισθʼ ὅπου.

Χορός

στέγαι μὲν αἵδε, καὐτὸς ἔνδον, ὦ ξένε·

γυνὴ δὲ μήτηρ ἥδε τῶν κείνου τέκνων.

Ἄγγελος

ἀλλʼ ὀλβία τε καὶ ξὺν ὀλβίοις ἀεὶ

γένοιτʼ, ἐκείνου γʼ οὖσα παντελὴς δάμαρ.
930

Ἰοκάστη

αὔτως δὲ καὶ σύ γʼ, ὦ ξένʼ· ἄξιος γὰρ εἶ

τῆς εὐεπείας εἵνεκʼ· ἀλλὰ φράζʼ ὅτου

χρῄζων ἀφῖξαι χὤ τι σημῆναι θέλων.

Ἄγγελος

ἀγαθὰ δόμοις τε καὶ πόσει τῷ σῷ, γύναι.

Ἰοκάστη

τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα; παρὰ τίνος δʼ ἀφιγμένος;
935

Ἄγγελος

ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου· τὸ δʼ ἔπος οὑξερῶ τάχα,

ἥδοιο μέν, πῶς δʼ οὐκ ἄν, ἀσχάλλοις δʼ ἴσως.

Ἰοκάστη

τί δʼ ἔστι; ποίαν δύναμιν ὧδʼ ἔχει διπλῆν;

Ἄγγελος

τύραννον αὐτὸν οὑπιχώριοι χθονὸς

τῆς Ἰσθμίας στήσουσιν, ὡς ηὐδᾶτʼ ἐκεῖ.
940

Ἰοκάστη

τί δʼ; οὐχ ὁ πρέσβυς Πόλυβος ἐγκρατὴς ἔτι;

Ἄγγελος

οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεί νιν θάνατος ἐν τάφοις ἔχει.

Ἰοκάστη

πῶς εἶπας; ἦ τέθνηκε Πόλυβος, ὦ γέρον;

Ἄγγελος

εἰ μὴ λέγω τἀληθές, ἀξιῶ θανεῖν.

Ἰοκάστη

ὦ πρόσπολʼ, οὐχὶ δεσπότῃ τάδʼ ὡς τάχος
945

μολοῦσα λέξεις; ὦ θεῶν μαντεύματα,

ἵνʼ ἐστέ· τοῦτον Οἰδίπους πάλαι τρέμων

τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἔφευγε μὴ κτάνοι, καὶ νῦν ὅδε

πρὸς τῆς τύχης ὄλωλεν οὐδὲ τοῦδʼ ὕπο.

950

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα,
950

τί μʼ ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη

ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων

τὰ σέμνʼ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη

ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν
955

ὡς οὐκέτʼ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλʼ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους

τί φῄς, ξένʼ; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημάντωρ γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μʼ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς,

εὖ ἴσθʼ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους

πότερα δόλοισιν ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ;
960

Ἄγγελος

σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματʼ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους

νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Οἰδίπους

φεῦ φεῦ, τί δῆτʼ ἄν, ὦ γύναι, σκοποῖτό τι

τὴν Πυθόμαντιν ἑστίαν ἢ τοὺς ἄνω
965

κλάζοντας ὄρνεις, ὧν ὑφηγητῶν ἐγὼ

κτενεῖν ἔμελλον πατέρα τὸν ἐμόν; ὁ δὲ θανὼν

κεύθει κάτω δὴ γῆς. ἐγὼ δʼ ὅδʼ ἐνθάδε

ἄψαυστος ἔγχους· εἴ τι μὴ τὠμῷ πόθῳ

κατέφθιθʼ· οὕτω δʼ ἂν θανὼν εἴη ʼξ ἐμοῦ.
970

τὰ δʼ οὖν παρόντα συλλαβὼν θεσπίσματα

κεῖται παρʼ Ἅιδῃ Πόλυβος ἄξιʼ οὐδενός.

Ἰοκάστη

οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προύλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους

ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη

μὴ νῦν ἔτʼ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς.
975

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς οὐκ ὀκνεῖν λέχος με δεῖ;

977

Ἰοκάστη

τί δʼ ἂν φοβοῖτʼ ἄνθρωπος ᾧ τὰ τῆς τύχης

κρατεῖ, πρόνοια δʼ ἐστὶν οὐδενὸς σαφής;

εἰκῆ κράτιστον ζῆν, ὅπως δύναιτό τις.

σὺ δʼ εἰς τὰ μητρὸς μὴ φοβοῦ νυμφεύματα·
980

πολλοὶ γὰρ ἤδη κἀν ὀνείρασιν βροτῶν

μητρὶ ξυνηυνάσθησαν. ἀλλὰ ταῦθʼ ὅτῳ

παρʼ οὐδέν ἐστι, ῥᾷστα τὸν βίον φέρει.

Οἰδίπους

καλῶς ἅπαντα ταῦτʼ ἂν ἐξείρητό σοι,

εἰ μὴ ʼκύρει ζῶσʼ ἡ τεκοῦσα· νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ
985

ζῇ, πᾶσʼ ἀνάγκη, κεἰ καλῶς λέγεις, ὀκνεῖν.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ μὴν μέγας γʼ ὀφθαλμὸς οἱ πατρὸς τάφοι.

Οἰδίπους

μέγας, ξυνίημʼ· ἀλλὰ τῆς ζώσης φόβος.

Ἄγγελος

ποίας δὲ καὶ γυναικὸς ἐκφοβεῖσθʼ ὕπερ;

Οἰδίπους

Μερόπης, γεραιέ, Πόλυβος ἧς ᾤκει μέτα.
990

Ἄγγελος

τί δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκείνης ὑμὶν ἐς φόβον φέρον;

Οἰδίπους

θεήλατον μάντευμα δεινόν, ὦ ξένε.

Ἄγγελος

ἦ ῥητόν; ἢ οὐχὶ θεμιτὸν ἄλλον εἰδέναι;

Οἰδίπους

μάλιστά γʼ· εἶπε γάρ με Λοξίας ποτὲ

χρῆναι μιγῆναι μητρὶ τἠμαυτοῦ τό τε
995

πατρῷον αἷμα χερσὶ ταῖς ἐμαῖς ἑλεῖν.

ὧν οὕνεχʼ ἡ Κόρινθος ἐξ ἐμοῦ πάλαι

μακρὰν ἀπῳκεῖτʼ· εὐτυχῶς μέν, ἀλλʼ ὅμως

τὰ τῶν τεκόντων ὄμμαθʼ ἥδιστον βλέπειν.

1000

Ἄγγελος

ἦ γὰρ τάδʼ ὀκνῶν κεῖθεν ἦσθʼ ἀπόπτολις;
1000

Οἰδίπους

πατρός τε χρῄζων μὴ φονεὺς εἶναι, γέρον.

Ἄγγελος

τί δῆτʼ ἐγὼ οὐχὶ τοῦδε τοῦ φόβου σʼ, ἄναξ,

ἐπείπερ εὔνους ἦλθον, ἐξελυσάμην;

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν χάριν γʼ ἂν ἀξίαν λάβοις ἐμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτʼ ἀφικόμην, ὅπως
1005

σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ οὔποτʼ εἶμι τοῖς φυτεύσασίν γʼ ὅμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

ὦ παῖ, καλῶς εἶ δῆλος οὐκ εἰδὼς τί δρᾷς.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς, ὦ γεραιέ; πρὸς θεῶν δίδασκέ με.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τῶνδε φεύγεις οὕνεκʼ εἰς οἴκους μολεῖν.
1010

Οἰδίπους

ταρβῶν γε μή μοι Φοῖβος ἐξέλθῃ σαφής.

Ἄγγελος

ἦ μὴ μίασμα τῶν φυτευσάντων λάβῃς;

Οἰδίπους

τοῦτʼ αὐτό, πρέσβυ, τοῦτό μʼ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ.

Ἄγγελος

ἆρʼ οἶσθα δῆτα πρὸς δίκης οὐδὲν τρέμων;

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δʼ οὐχί, παῖς γʼ εἰ τῶνδε γεννητῶν ἔφυν;
1015

Ἄγγελος

ὁθούνεκʼ ἦν σοι Πόλυβος οὐδὲν ἐν γένει.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς εἶπας; οὐ γὰρ Πόλυβος ἐξέφυσέ με;

Ἄγγελος

οὐ μᾶλλον οὐδὲν τοῦδε τἀνδρός, ἀλλʼ ἴσον.

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς ὁ φύσας ἐξ ἴσου τῷ μηδενί;

Ἄγγελος

ἀλλʼ οὔ σʼ ἐγείνατʼ οὔτʼ ἐκεῖνος οὔτʼ ἐγώ.
1020

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ ἀντὶ τοῦ δὴ παῖδά μʼ ὠνομάζετο;

Ἄγγελος

δῶρόν ποτʼ, ἴσθι, τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν λαβών.

Οἰδίπους

κᾆθʼ ὧδʼ ἀπʼ ἄλλης χειρὸς ἔστερξεν μέγα;

Ἄγγελος

ἡ γὰρ πρὶν αὐτὸν ἐξέπεισʼ ἀπαιδία.

Οἰδίπους

σὺ δʼ ἐμπολήσας ἢ τυχών μʼ αὐτῷ δίδως;
1025

1026

Ἄγγελος

εὑρὼν ναπαίαις ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖς.

Οἰδίπους

ὡδοιπόρεις δὲ πρὸς τί τούσδε τοὺς τόπους;

Ἄγγελος

ἐνταῦθʼ ὀρείοις ποιμνίοις ἐπεστάτουν.

Οἰδίπους

ποιμὴν γὰρ ἦσθα κἀπὶ θητείᾳ πλάνης;

Ἄγγελος

σοῦ τʼ, ὦ τέκνον, σωτήρ γε τῷ τότʼ ἐν χρόνῳ.
1030

Οἰδίπους

τί δʼ ἄλγος ἴσχοντʼ ἀγκάλαις με λαμβάνεις;

Ἄγγελος

ποδῶν ἂν ἄρθρα μαρτυρήσειεν τὰ σά·

Οἰδίπους

οἴμοι, τί τοῦτʼ ἀρχαῖον ἐννέπεις κακόν;

Ἄγγελος

λύω σʼ ἔχοντα διατόρους ποδοῖν ἀκμάς.

Οἰδίπους

δεινόν γʼ ὄνειδος σπαργάνων ἀνειλόμην.
1035

Ἄγγελος

ὥστʼ ὠνομάσθης ἐκ τύχης ταύτης ὃς εἶ.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ πρὸς θεῶν, πρὸς μητρὸς ἢ πατρός; φράσον.

Ἄγγελος

οὐκ οἶδʼ· ὁ δοὺς δὲ ταῦτʼ ἐμοῦ λῷον φρονεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ γὰρ παρʼ ἄλλου μʼ ἔλαβες οὐδʼ αὐτὸς τυχών;

Ἄγγελος

οὔκ, ἀλλὰ ποιμὴν ἄλλος ἐκδίδωσί μοι.
1040

Οἰδίπους

τίς οὗτος; ἦ κάτοισθα δηλῶσαι λόγῳ;

Ἄγγελος

τῶν Λαΐου δήπου τις ὠνομάζετο.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ τοῦ τυράννου τῆσδε γῆς πάλαι ποτέ;

Ἄγγελος

μάλιστα· τούτου τἀνδρὸς οὗτος ἦν βοτήρ.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ κἄστʼ ἔτι ζῶν οὗτος, ὥστʼ ἰδεῖν ἐμέ;
1045

Ἄγγελος

ὑμεῖς γʼ ἄριστʼ εἰδεῖτʼ ἂν οὑπιχώριοι.

Οἰδίπους

ἔστιν τις ὑμῶν τῶν παρεστώτων πέλας,

ὅστις κάτοιδε τὸν βοτῆρʼ ὃν ἐννέπει,

εἴτʼ οὖν ἐπʼ ἀγρῶν εἴτε κἀνθάδʼ εἰσιδών;

σημήναθʼ, ὡς ὁ καιρὸς ηὑρῆσθαι τάδε.
1050

Χορός

οἶμαι μὲν οὐδένʼ ἄλλον ἢ τὸν ἐξ ἀγρῶν,

ὃν κἀμάτευες πρόσθεν εἰσιδεῖν· ἀτὰρ

ἥδʼ ἂν τάδʼ οὐχ ἥκιστʼ ἂν Ἰοκάστη λέγοι.

1054

Οἰδίπους

γύναι, νοεῖς ἐκεῖνον, ὅντινʼ ἀρτίως

μολεῖν ἐφιέμεσθα; τόνδʼ οὗτος λέγει;
1055

Ἰοκάστη

τί δʼ ὅντινʼ εἶπε; μηδὲν ἐντραπῇς· τὰ δὲ

ῥηθέντα βούλου μηδὲ μεμνῆσθαι μάτην.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο τοῦθʼ ὅπως ἐγὼ λαβὼν

σημεῖα τοιαῦτʼ οὐ φανῶ τοὐμὸν γένος.

Ἰοκάστη

μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, εἴπερ τι τοῦ σαυτοῦ βίου
1060

κήδει, ματεύσῃς τοῦθʼ· ἅλις νοσοῦσʼ ἐγώ.

Οἰδίπους

θάρσει· σὺ μὲν γὰρ οὐδʼ ἐὰν τρίτης ἐγὼ

μητρὸς φανῶ τρίδουλος, ἐκφανεῖ κακή.

Ἰοκάστη

ὅμως πιθοῦ μοι, λίσσομαι· μὴ δρᾶ τάδε.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ ἂν πιθοίμην μὴ οὐ τάδʼ ἐκμαθεῖν σαφῶς.
1065

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ μὴν φρονοῦσά γʼ εὖ τὰ λῷστά σοι λέγω.

Οἰδίπους

τὰ λῷστα τοίνυν ταῦτά μʼ ἀλγύνει πάλαι.

Ἰοκάστη

ὦ δύσποτμʼ, εἴθε μήποτε γνοίης ὃς εἶ.

Οἰδίπους

ἄξει τις ἐλθὼν δεῦρο τὸν βοτῆρά μοι;

ταύτην δʼ ἐᾶτε πλουσίῳ χαίρειν γένει.
1070

Ἰοκάστη

ἰοὺ ἰού, δύστηνε· τοῦτο γάρ σʼ ἔχω

μόνον προσειπεῖν, ἄλλο δʼ οὔποθʼ ὕστερον.

Χορός

τί ποτε βέβηκεν, Οἰδίπους, ὑπʼ ἀγρίας

ᾄξασα λύπης ἡ γυνή; δέδοιχʼ ὅπως

μὴ ʼκ τῆς σιωπῆς τῆσδʼ ἀναρρήξει κακά.
1075

Οἰδίπους

ὁποῖα χρῄζει ῥηγνύτω· τοὐμὸν δʼ ἐγώ,

κεἰ σμικρόν ἐστι, σπέρμʼ ἰδεῖν βουλήσομαι.

αὕτη δʼ ἴσως, φρονεῖ γὰρ ὡς γυνὴ μέγα,

τὴν δυσγένειαν τὴν ἐμὴν αἰσχύνεται.

ἐγὼ δʼ 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 δʼ ἐκφὺς οὐκ ἂν ἐξέλθοιμʼ ἔτι

ποτʼ ἄλλος, ὥστε μὴ ʼκμαθεῖν τοὐμὸν γένος.
1085

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 950 focus

Jocasta, my dear queen, why didst thou send
950

To bring me hither from our palace-hall?

JO

Hear that man’s tale, and then consider well

The end of yonder dreadful prophecy.

OED

Who is the man, and what his errand here?

JO

He comes from Corinth, to make known to thee
955

That Polybus, thy father, is no more.

OED

How, stranger? Let me learn it from thy mouth.

COR. SH

If my first duty be to make this clear,

Know beyond doubt that he is dead and gone.

OED

By illness coming o’er him, or by guile?
960

COR. SH

Light pressure lays to rest the timeworn frame.

OED

He was subdued by sickness then, poor soul!

COR. SH

By sickness and the burden of his years.

OED

Ah! my Jocasta, who again will heed

The Pythian hearth oracular, and birds

Screaming in air, blind guides! that would have made
965

My father’s death my deed; but he is gone,

Hidden underneath the ground, while I stand hero

Harmless and weaponless:—unless, perchance,

My absence killed him,—so he may have died

Through me. But be that as it may, the grave
970

That covers Polybus, hath silenced, too,

One voice of prophecy, worth nothing now.

JO

Did I not tell thee so, long since?

OED

Thou didst.

But I was drawn to error by my fear.

JO

Now cast it altogether out of mind.
975

OED

Must I not fear my mother’s marriage-bed?

JO

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 950 focus

Mein trautes Weib, Iokaste, vielgeliebtes Haupt,

In welcher Absicht riefst du mich vom Haus hieher?

Jokaste.

Vernimm den Mann hier, und erwäge dann, wohin
925

Es mit des Gottes hohem Spruch gekommen ist.

Und dieser Mann

Oedipus.

wer ist er, und was bringt er mir?

Jokaste.

Vom Land Korinthos meldet er, daß Polybos,

Dein Vater, nicht mehr lebe, nein, des Todes sei.

Oedipus.

Was sagst du, Fremdling? Künde du mir selbst es an.
930

Der Bote.

Nun, wenn ich dies vor Allem deutlich sagen soll,

So wisse: jener ging dahin des Todes Weg.

Oedipus.

Und hat ihn Arglist oder Krankheit hingerafft?

Der Bote.

Ein leichter Anstoß wiegt in Ruh' ein greises Haupt.

Oedipus.

An einer Krankheit, scheint es, starb der Arme wohl?
935

Der Bote.

Und wie's gemäß des Lebens langer Dauer war.

Oedipus.

Weh, weh! Warum denn, mein Gemahl, beachten wir

Den Seherherd in Pytho, was die Vögel noch,

Die droben kreischen, die verkündet, daß ich einst

Den eignen Vater tödten soll? Ihn birgt der Schooß
940

Der Erde jezt als Todten, und ich weile hier,

Kein Schwert berührt' ich, - wenn ihn nicht Sehnsucht um mich

Verzehrte - so wohl kam er um durch meine Schuld.

Nein, diese Sehersprüche, die nahm Polybos

Mit sich hinab zum Hades; nichts bedeuten sie.
945

Jokaste.

Hab' ich dir das nicht lange schon vorhergesagt?

Oedipus.

Wohl sagtest du's; doch irre führte mich die Furcht.

Jokaste.

Nun komme nichts von diesem dir zu Sinne mehr!

Oedipus.

Wie? Darf der Mutter Ehe mich nicht ängstigen?

Jokaste.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 950 focus

O my Jocasta, dearest to my soul,
950

Why hast thou sent my presence to require?

Jocasta

Hear thou this man; then ponder well what end

The gods' high-honour'd oracles have found.

Oedipus

Who is this stranger? With what tidings fraught?

Jocasta

From Corinth is he come, to tell thee this,
955

That Polybus thy father is no more.

Oedipus

Speak, stranger; I would be inform'd by thee.

Corinthian

If this I plainly must at first declare,

Know thou that he hath trod the path to death.

Oedipus

By treachery, or th' attack of some disease ?
960

Slight force will sink the limbs of age to rest.
960

Oedipus

Wasted by sickness then, it seems, he died.

Corinthian

And weary progress through a length of years.

Oedipus

Alas, alas! Why, lady, should we pay

To Delphi's fate-foretelling shrine regard,

Or to the flight of birds that clang aloft?
965

I by their auspices was doom'd to slay

My father: but beneath the earth he lies

In death; and I am here, the sword not touch'd:

Unless perchance through fond desire of me

He wasted, so from me he had his death.
970

But, bearing with him all those oracles

Of no account, he lies among the dead.

Jocasta

All this did I not tell thee long ago?

Oedipus

Thou didst; but I was borne away by fears.

Jocasta

Now then let none of them disturb thy mind.
975

Oedipus

Behoves me not to fear my mother's bed?

Jocasta

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 911-1085 focus

Iocasta

Princes of the land, I am planning to visit the shrines of the gods, with this wreathed branch and these gifts of incense in my hands. For Oedipus excites his soul excessively with all sorts of grief,

as he does not judge the new things from the old, like a man of sense, but is under the control of the speaker, if he speaks of frightful things. Since, then, I can do no good by counsel, to you, Lycean Apollo—for you are nearest—
915

I have come as a suppliant with these symbols of prayer, that you may find us some escape from uncleanliness. For now we are all afraid, like those who see fear in the helmsman of their ship.
920

Enter a messenger.

Messenger

Can you tell me, strangers, where

the house of King Oedipus is? Or better still, tell me where he himself is, if you know.
925

Chorus

This is his dwelling, and he himself, stranger, is within. This lady here is the mother of his children.

Messenger

Then may she be ever happy in a happy home,

since she is his blessed queen.
930

Iocasta

Happiness to you also, stranger! Your fair greeting deserves this. But say what you have come to seek or to tell.

Messenger

Good tidings, lady, for your house and your husband.

Iocasta

What are they? From whom have you come?
935

Messenger

From Corinth , and at the message I will give now you will doubtless rejoice, though you may perhaps grieve too.

Iocasta

What is it? Why has it this double potency?

Messenger

The people will make him king of the

Isthmian land, as it was said there.
940

Iocasta

How then? Is the aged Polybus no longer in power?

Messenger

No. For death holds him in the tomb.

Iocasta

What do you mean? Is Polybus dead, old man?

Messenger

If I do not speak the truth, I am content to die.

Iocasta

Handmaid, away with all speed, and tell this to your master! Oracles of the gods, where do you stand now? It is this man that Oedipus long feared he would slay. And now this man has died in the course of destiny, not by his hand.
945

950 Enter Oedipus.

Oedipus

Iocasta, dearest wife, why have you summoned me forth from these doors?
950

Iocasta

Hear this man, and judge, as you listen, what the awful oracles have come to.

Oedipus

Who is he and what news does he have for me?

Iocasta

He comes from Corinth to tell you that your father Polybus lives no longer, but has perished.
955

Oedipus

How, stranger? Let me have it from your own mouth.

Messenger

If I must first make these tidings plain, know indeed that he is dead and gone.

Oedipus

By treachery, or from illness?
960

Messenger

A light tilt of the scale brings the aged to their rest.

Oedipus

Ah, he died, it seems, of sickness?

Messenger

Yes, and of the long years that he had lived.

Oedipus

Alas, alas! Why indeed, my wife, should one look to the

hearth of the Pythian seer, or to the birds that scream above our heads, who declared that I was doomed to slay my father? But he is dead, and lies beneath the earth, and here I am, not having put my hand to any spear—unless, perhaps, he died out of longing for me:
965

thus, indeed, I would be the cause of his death. But as the oracles stand, at least, Polybus has swept them with him to his rest in Hades. They are worth nothing.
970

Iocasta

Did I not long ago foretell this to you?

Oedipus

You did, but I was mislead by my fear.

Iocasta

Now no longer take any of those things to heart.
975

Oedipus

But surely I must fear my mother’s bed.

977

Iocasta

What should a mortal man fear, for whom the decrees of Fortune are supreme, and who has clear foresight of nothing? It is best to live at random, as one may.

But fear not that you will wed your mother. Many men before now have slept with their mothers in dreams. But he to whom these things are as though nothing bears his life most easily.
980

Oedipus

All these words of yours would have been well said,

were my mother not alive. But as it is, since she lives, I must necessarily fear, though you do speak well.
985

Iocasta

Your father’s death is a great sign for us to take cheer.

Oedipus

Great, I know. But my fear is of her who lives.

Messenger

And who is the woman about whom you fear?

Oedipus

Merope, old man, the consort of Polybus.
990

Messenger

And what is it in her that moves your fear?

Oedipus

A divine oracle of dread import, stranger.

Messenger

Proper, or improper, for another to know?

Oedipus

Proper, surely. Loxias once said that I was

doomed to marry my own mother, and to shed with my own hands my father’s blood. For which reasons I long shirked my home in Corinth—with a happy outcome, to be sure, but still it is sweet to see the face of one’s parents.
995

999

Messenger

Was it really for fear of this that you became an exile from that city?

Oedipus

And because I did not wish, old man, to be the murderer of my father.
1000

Messenger

Why have I not relieved you of this second fear, my lord, since I came to give you pleasure?

Oedipus

And indeed you will have worthy thanks from me.

Messenger

And indeed I came specially for this, that

I might profit from your returning home.
1005

Oedipus

But by no means will I ever go near my parents again.

Messenger

My son, it is crystal clear that you do not know what you are doing.

Oedipus

How so, old man? In the name of the gods, tell me.

Messenger

If on account of this you are fleeing from returning home.
1010

Oedipus

Fearing indeed lest Apollo’s prophecy come true in me.

Messenger

Lest you acquire some pollution from your parents?

Oedipus

This very thing, old man, this constantly frightens me.

Messenger

Do you know, then, that your fears are wholly in vain?

Oedipus

How so, if I was born of those parents?
1015

Messenger

Because you had no blood in common with Polybus.

Oedipus

What are you saying? Was Polybus not my father?

Messenger

Just as much, and no more, than he who speaks to you.

Oedipus

And how can my father be equal to him who is as though nothing to me?

Messenger

But he did not father you, any more than I did.
1020

Oedipus

How, then, did he call me his son?

Messenger

Long ago he received you as a gift from my hands.

Oedipus

And yet he loved me so dearly, who came from another’s hand?

Messenger

His former childlessness won him over.

Oedipus

And had you bought me or found me by chance, when you gave me to him?
1025

1026

Messenger

I found you in Cithaeron’s winding glens.

Oedipus

And why were you roaming those regions?

Messenger

I was in charge of mountain flocks.

Oedipus

What, you were a shepherd—a vagrant hireling?

Messenger

But your savior, my son, in that hour.
1030

Oedipus

And what was my pain when you took me in your arms?

Messenger

The ankles of your feet might bear witness.

Oedipus

Ah me, why do you speak of that old trouble?

Messenger

I freed you when you had your ankles pinned together.

Oedipus

It was a dread brand of shame that I took from my cradle.
1035

Messenger

So much so that from that fortune you were called by that name which you still bear.

Oedipus

Oh, in the name of the gods, was the deed my mother’s or father’s? Speak!

Messenger

I know not. He who gave you to me knows better of that than I.

Oedipus

What, you got me from another? You did not find me yourself?

Messenger

No. Another shepherd gave you to me.
1040

Oedipus

Who was he? Can you tell clearly?

Messenger

I think he was said to be one of the household of Laius.

Oedipus

The king who ruled this country long ago?

Messenger

The same. The man was a herdsman in his service.

Oedipus

Is he still alive, that I might see him?
1045

Messenger

You natives of this country should know best.

Oedipus

Is there any of you here present that knows the herdsman of whom he speaks, having seen him either in the pastures or here in town? Answer!

The hour has come for these things to be revealed finally.
1050

Chorus

I think he speaks of no other than the peasant you already wanted to see. But our lady Iocasta might best tell you that.

1054

Oedipus

Lady, do you know the one whom we summoned just now?

Is it of him that this man speaks?
1055

Iocasta

Why ask of whom he spoke? Regard it not; waste not a thought on what he said; it would be vain.

Oedipus

It must not happen that, with such clues in my grasp, I fail to bring my birth to light.

Iocasta

For the gods’ sake, if you have any care for your own life, do not continue this search! My anguish is enough.
1060

Oedipus

Be of good courage. Even if I should be found the son of a servile mother—a slave by three descents—you will not be proven baseborn.

Iocasta

Hear me, I implore you: do not do this.

Oedipus

I will not hear of not discovering the whole truth.
1065

Iocasta

Yet I wish you well—I counsel you for the best.

Oedipus

These best counsels, then, vex my patience.

Iocasta

Oh ill-fated man, may you never know who you are!

Oedipus

Go, some one, fetch me the herdsman.

Leave this woman to glory in her princely stock.
1070

Iocasta

Alas, alas, miserable man—that word alone can I say to you—and no other word ever again. She rushes into the palace.

Chorus

Why has this woman gone, Oedipus, rushing off in wild grief? I fear

a storm of sorrow will soon break forth from this silence.
1075

Oedipus

Break forth what will! Be my race ever so lowly, I crave to learn it. That woman perhaps—for she is proud with more than a woman’s pride—feels ashamed of my lowly origin. But I, who hold myself son of Fortune

that gives good, will not be dishonored. She is the mother from whom I spring, and the months, my kinsmen, have marked me sometimes lowly, sometimes great. Such being my heritage, never more can I prove
1080

false to it, or keep from searching out the secret of my birth.
1085

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-589-1 ἐξεπέμψω ¹

mvp-comment-590-1 τί μοι λέγει; ²

mvp-comment-591-1 ὡς ³

mvp-comment-592-1 σημάντωρ ⁴ σημήνας γενοῦ ⁵

mvp-comment-593-1 εὖ ἴσθ’ ⁶ σαφῶς ⁷

mvp-comment-593-2 θανάσιμον βεβηκότα ⁸

mvp-comment-594-1 ξυναλλαγῇ ⁹

mvp-comment-595-1 σμικρὰ ῥοπή ¹⁰ εὐνάζει ¹¹

mvp-comment-596-1 Yes, he died of infirmities (νόσοις ἔφθιτὀ, and of the long years (τῷ μακρῷ χρόνῳ, causal dat.), in accordance with their term ( συμμετρούμενος ¹²

mvp-comment-597-1 σκοποῖτο ¹³

mvp-comment-597-2 τὴν Π. ἑστίαν ¹⁴ ἑστίαν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-598-1 κλάζοντας ¹⁶

mvp-comment-598-2 ὧν ὑφηγητῶν ¹⁷

mvp-comment-599-1 κτενεῖν ¹⁸

mvp-comment-600-1 κεύθει ¹⁹

mvp-comment-600-2 δὴ ²⁰

mvp-comment-601-1 ἄψαυστος ²¹

mvp-comment-601-2 εἴ τι μὴ ²²

mvp-comment-602-1 εἴη ξ ²³

mvp-comment-603-1 τὰ δ’ οὖν παρόντα ²⁴ δ’ οὖν ²⁵ ἄξῑ οὐδενός ²⁶

mvp-comment-603-2 τὰ παρόντα ²⁷

mvp-comment-603-3 συλλαβὼν ²⁸

mvp-comment-604-1 ηὔδας ²⁹

mvp-comment-605-1 νυν ³⁰

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

951. mvp-comment-553-1 ἐξεπέμψω Hast thou had me called forth? The middle voice as in μεταπέμπεσθαι, of that which is done through others. In Ant. 19, where Antigone herself brings Ismene forth, the active is used.

954. mvp-comment-554-1 τί μοι λέγει What, pray, has he to tell? rather than, What has he to tell me?'

955. mvp-comment-555-1 ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου Answers not quite exactly to τίς ποτ' ἐστί; cp. supr. 936

957. mvp-comment-556-1 σημήνας γενοῦ Εssay on Language p. 51.

957. mvp-comment-556-2 σημήνας The periphrasis is more courteous than σήμηνον here.

958. mvp-comment-557-1 The messenger would rather tell first the accession of Oedipus to the Corinthian throne. Supr. 939.

959. mvp-comment-558-1 εἰ ἴσθ᾽ Porson corrected this το σάφ'᾽ ἴσθ'. But the hiatus is sufficiently defended by the recurrence of the open vowel after φεῦ, τί, ὦ.

960. mvp-comment-559-1 νόσου ξυναλλαγή By visitation of disease. 961. A little touch lays low the aged frame. σμ. δ = A slight inclination of the balance. Cp. Plat. Rep. 8. 556 E, ὥσπερ σῶμα νοσῶδες μικρᾶς ῥοπῆς ἔξωθεν δεῖται προσλαβέσθαι πρὸς τὸ κάμνειν.

963. mvp-comment-560-1 Yes, and by the length of years which his life had measured.' The dative is first instrumental, and then joined with συμμετρούμενοs in a supplementary construction.

964. mvp-comment-561-1 τί.. σκοποῖτο Cp. Phil. 428, τί δῆτα δεῖ σκοπεῖν; and for the middle v., infr. 1487, νοούμενος.

966. mvp-comment-562-1 κλάζοντας ὄρνις The informants of Teiresias, supr. 350 foll., cp. Ant. 998, foll.

967. mvp-comment-563-1 κτανεῖν On the aor. inf. after μέλλω, see L. and S. s. v. μέλλω. The resolved feet have here the effect of a crescendo.

969. mvp-comment-564-1 ἄψαυστος ἔγχους Without having laid hand to sword.

971. mvp-comment-565-1 τὰ.. παρόντα i. e. Well, and so he is in his grave, and has taken with him those prophecies which were troubling us, worth nothing now. There is no special emphasis on παρόντα; δ᾽ οὖν merely marking the return from the digression εἴ τι μὴ.. εἴη ἐξ ἐμοῦ. The new fear of Oedipus (976) is inconsistent with this speech, but the inconsistency is natural, and in keeping with his irresolution and excitement. See l. 914, and cp. Shakespeare, Macbeth, 3. 4,

Then comes my fit again; I had else been perfect, | Whole as the marble, founded as the rock, | As broad and general as the casing air; | But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in | To saucy doubts and fears.

975. mvp-comment-566-1 ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς Take to heart, — allow to weigh upon your spirit. Cp. Hdt. 7.51, ἐς θυμὸν ὧν βαλεῦ καὶ τὸ παλαιὸν ἔπος, ὡς εὖ εἴρηται, κ.τ.λ. Supr. 739, τί δ᾽ ἐστί σοι τοῦτ᾽, Οἰδίπους, ἐνθύμιον;

976. mvp-comment-567-1 λέχος cannot be retained without altering the order of the words, which is best as it is.

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That shepherd is my only hope : Jocasta, 950 Would he were here ! Joe. Suppose he were ; what then ? What wouldst thou do ?

Oedipus I'll tell thee : if he says The same as thou dost, I am safe and guiltless. Joe. What said I, th&n ?

Current edition Experimental

ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα, 950 τί μ' ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων τὰ σέμν᾽ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτ᾽ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν 955 ὡς οὐκέτ᾽ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλ᾽ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους τί φῄς, ξέν᾽; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημήνας γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μ᾿ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς, εὖ ἴσθ᾽ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους πότερα δόλοισιν, ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ; 960

Ἄγγελος σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματ᾿ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Ἰοκάστη οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προὔλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη μὴ νῦν ἔτ᾽ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς. 975

Οἰδίπους καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς λέκτρον οὐκ ὀκνεῖν με δεῖ;

Ἰοκάστη

Ἄγγελος ἆρʼ ἂν παρʼ ὑμῶν, ὦ ξένοι, μάθοιμʼ ὅπου τὰ τοῦ τυράννου δώματʼ ἐστὶν Οἰδίπου; 925 μάλιστα δʼ αὐτὸν εἴπατʼ, εἰ κάτισθʼ ὅπου.

Χορός στέγαι μὲν αἵδε, καὐτὸς ἔνδον, ὦ ξένε· γυνὴ δὲ μήτηρ ἥδε τῶν κείνου τέκνων.

Ἄγγελος ἀλλʼ ὀλβία τε καὶ ξὺν ὀλβίοις ἀεὶ γένοιτʼ, ἐκείνου γʼ οὖσα παντελὴς δάμαρ. 930

Ἰοκάστη αὔτως δὲ καὶ σύ γʼ, ὦ ξένʼ· ἄξιος γὰρ εἶ τῆς εὐεπείας εἵνεκʼ· ἀλλὰ φράζʼ ὅτου χρῄζων ἀφῖξαι χὤ τι σημῆναι θέλων.

Ἄγγελος ἀγαθὰ δόμοις τε καὶ πόσει τῷ σῷ, γύναι.

Ἰοκάστη τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα; παρὰ τίνος δʼ ἀφιγμένος; 935

Ἄγγελος ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου· τὸ δʼ ἔπος οὑξερῶ τάχα, ἥδοιο μέν, πῶς δʼ οὐκ ἄν, ἀσχάλλοις δʼ ἴσως.

Ἰοκάστη τί δʼ ἔστι; ποίαν δύναμιν ὧδʼ ἔχει διπλῆν;

Ἄγγελος τύραννον αὐτὸν οὑπιχώριοι χθονὸς τῆς Ἰσθμίας στήσουσιν, ὡς ηὐδᾶτʼ ἐκεῖ. 940

Ἰοκάστη τί δʼ; οὐχ ὁ πρέσβυς Πόλυβος ἐγκρατὴς ἔτι;

Ἄγγελος οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεί νιν θάνατος ἐν τάφοις ἔχει.

Ἰοκάστη πῶς εἶπας; ἦ τέθνηκε Πόλυβος, ὦ γέρον;

Ἄγγελος εἰ μὴ λέγω τἀληθές, ἀξιῶ θανεῖν.

Οἰδίπους ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα, 950 τί μʼ ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων τὰ σέμνʼ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν 955 ὡς οὐκέτʼ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλʼ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους τί φῄς, ξένʼ; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημάντωρ γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μʼ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς, εὖ ἴσθʼ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους πότερα δόλοισιν ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ; 960

Ἄγγελος σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματʼ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Ἰοκάστη οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προύλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη μὴ νῦν ἔτʼ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς. 975

Οἰδίπους καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς οὐκ ὀκνεῖν λέχος με δεῖ;

Οἰδίπους καλῶς ἅπαντα ταῦτʼ ἂν ἐξείρητό σοι, εἰ μὴ ʼκύρει ζῶσʼ ἡ τεκοῦσα· νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ 985 ζῇ, πᾶσʼ ἀνάγκη, κεἰ καλῶς λέγεις, ὀκνεῖν.

Ἰοκάστη καὶ μὴν μέγας γʼ ὀφθαλμὸς οἱ πατρὸς τάφοι.

Οἰδίπους μέγας, ξυνίημʼ· ἀλλὰ τῆς ζώσης φόβος.

Ἄγγελος ποίας δὲ καὶ γυναικὸς ἐκφοβεῖσθʼ ὕπερ;

Οἰδίπους Μερόπης, γεραιέ, Πόλυβος ἧς ᾤκει μέτα. 990

Ἄγγελος τί δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκείνης ὑμὶν ἐς φόβον φέρον;

Οἰδίπους θεήλατον μάντευμα δεινόν, ὦ ξένε.

Ἄγγελος ἦ ῥητόν; ἢ οὐχὶ θεμιτὸν ἄλλον εἰδέναι;

Ἄγγελος ἦ γὰρ τάδʼ ὀκνῶν κεῖθεν ἦσθʼ ἀπόπτολις; 1000

Οἰδίπους πατρός τε χρῄζων μὴ φονεὺς εἶναι, γέρον.

Ἄγγελος τί δῆτʼ ἐγὼ οὐχὶ τοῦδε τοῦ φόβου σʼ, ἄναξ, ἐπείπερ εὔνους ἦλθον, ἐξελυσάμην;

Οἰδίπους καὶ μὴν χάριν γʼ ἂν ἀξίαν λάβοις ἐμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτʼ ἀφικόμην, ὅπως 1005 σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλʼ οὔποτʼ εἶμι τοῖς φυτεύσασίν γʼ ὅμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος ὦ παῖ, καλῶς εἶ δῆλος οὐκ εἰδὼς τί δρᾷς.

Οἰδίπους πῶς, ὦ γεραιέ; πρὸς θεῶν δίδασκέ με.

Ἄγγελος εἰ τῶνδε φεύγεις οὕνεκʼ εἰς οἴκους μολεῖν. 1010

Οἰδίπους ταρβῶν γε μή μοι Φοῖβος ἐξέλθῃ σαφής.

Ἄγγελος ἦ μὴ μίασμα τῶν φυτευσάντων λάβῃς;

Οἰδίπους τοῦτʼ αὐτό, πρέσβυ, τοῦτό μʼ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ.

Ἄγγελος ἆρʼ οἶσθα δῆτα πρὸς δίκης οὐδὲν τρέμων;

Οἰδίπους πῶς δʼ οὐχί, παῖς γʼ εἰ τῶνδε γεννητῶν ἔφυν; 1015

Ἄγγελος ὁθούνεκʼ ἦν σοι Πόλυβος οὐδὲν ἐν γένει.

Οἰδίπους πῶς εἶπας; οὐ γὰρ Πόλυβος ἐξέφυσέ με;

Ἄγγελος οὐ μᾶλλον οὐδὲν τοῦδε τἀνδρός, ἀλλʼ ἴσον.

Οἰδίπους καὶ πῶς ὁ φύσας ἐξ ἴσου τῷ μηδενί;

Ἄγγελος ἀλλʼ οὔ σʼ ἐγείνατʼ οὔτʼ ἐκεῖνος οὔτʼ ἐγώ. 1020

Οἰδίπους ἀλλʼ ἀντὶ τοῦ δὴ παῖδά μʼ ὠνομάζετο;

Ἄγγελος δῶρόν ποτʼ, ἴσθι, τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν λαβών.

Οἰδίπους κᾆθʼ ὧδʼ ἀπʼ ἄλλης χειρὸς ἔστερξεν μέγα;

Ἄγγελος ἡ γὰρ πρὶν αὐτὸν ἐξέπεισʼ ἀπαιδία.

Οἰδίπους σὺ δʼ ἐμπολήσας ἢ τυχών μʼ αὐτῷ δίδως; 1025

Ἄγγελος εὑρὼν ναπαίαις ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖς.

That shepherd is my only hope : Jocasta,
950

Would he were here !

Joe. Suppose he were ; what then ?

What wouldst thou do ?

Oedipus

I'll tell thee : if he says

The same as thou dost, I am safe and guiltless.

Joe. What said I, th&n ?

ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα,
950

τί μ' ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη

ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων

τὰ σέμν᾽ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτ᾽ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη

ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν
955

ὡς οὐκέτ᾽ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλ᾽ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους

τί φῄς, ξέν᾽; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημήνας γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μ᾿ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς,

εὖ ἴσθ᾽ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους

πότερα δόλοισιν, ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ;
960

Ἄγγελος

σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματ᾿ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους

νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Ἰοκάστη

οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προὔλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους

ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη

μὴ νῦν ἔτ᾽ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς.
975

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς λέκτρον οὐκ ὀκνεῖν με δεῖ;

Ἄγγελος

ἆρʼ ἂν παρʼ ὑμῶν, ὦ ξένοι, μάθοιμʼ ὅπου

τὰ τοῦ τυράννου δώματʼ ἐστὶν Οἰδίπου;
925

μάλιστα δʼ αὐτὸν εἴπατʼ, εἰ κάτισθʼ ὅπου.

Χορός

στέγαι μὲν αἵδε, καὐτὸς ἔνδον, ὦ ξένε·

γυνὴ δὲ μήτηρ ἥδε τῶν κείνου τέκνων.

Ἄγγελος

ἀλλʼ ὀλβία τε καὶ ξὺν ὀλβίοις ἀεὶ

γένοιτʼ, ἐκείνου γʼ οὖσα παντελὴς δάμαρ.
930

Ἰοκάστη

αὔτως δὲ καὶ σύ γʼ, ὦ ξένʼ· ἄξιος γὰρ εἶ

τῆς εὐεπείας εἵνεκʼ· ἀλλὰ φράζʼ ὅτου

χρῄζων ἀφῖξαι χὤ τι σημῆναι θέλων.

Ἄγγελος

ἀγαθὰ δόμοις τε καὶ πόσει τῷ σῷ, γύναι.

Ἰοκάστη

τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα; παρὰ τίνος δʼ ἀφιγμένος;
935

Ἄγγελος

ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου· τὸ δʼ ἔπος οὑξερῶ τάχα,

ἥδοιο μέν, πῶς δʼ οὐκ ἄν, ἀσχάλλοις δʼ ἴσως.

Ἰοκάστη

τί δʼ ἔστι; ποίαν δύναμιν ὧδʼ ἔχει διπλῆν;

Ἄγγελος

τύραννον αὐτὸν οὑπιχώριοι χθονὸς

τῆς Ἰσθμίας στήσουσιν, ὡς ηὐδᾶτʼ ἐκεῖ.
940

Ἰοκάστη

τί δʼ; οὐχ ὁ πρέσβυς Πόλυβος ἐγκρατὴς ἔτι;

Ἄγγελος

οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεί νιν θάνατος ἐν τάφοις ἔχει.

Ἰοκάστη

πῶς εἶπας; ἦ τέθνηκε Πόλυβος, ὦ γέρον;

Ἄγγελος

εἰ μὴ λέγω τἀληθές, ἀξιῶ θανεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα,
950

τί μʼ ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη

ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων

τὰ σέμνʼ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη

ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν
955

ὡς οὐκέτʼ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλʼ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους

τί φῄς, ξένʼ; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημάντωρ γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μʼ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς,

εὖ ἴσθʼ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους

πότερα δόλοισιν ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ;
960

Ἄγγελος

σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματʼ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους

νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Ἰοκάστη

οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προύλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους

ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη

μὴ νῦν ἔτʼ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς.
975

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς οὐκ ὀκνεῖν λέχος με δεῖ;

Οἰδίπους

καλῶς ἅπαντα ταῦτʼ ἂν ἐξείρητό σοι,

εἰ μὴ ʼκύρει ζῶσʼ ἡ τεκοῦσα· νῦν δʼ ἐπεὶ
985

ζῇ, πᾶσʼ ἀνάγκη, κεἰ καλῶς λέγεις, ὀκνεῖν.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ μὴν μέγας γʼ ὀφθαλμὸς οἱ πατρὸς τάφοι.

Οἰδίπους

μέγας, ξυνίημʼ· ἀλλὰ τῆς ζώσης φόβος.

Ἄγγελος

ποίας δὲ καὶ γυναικὸς ἐκφοβεῖσθʼ ὕπερ;

Οἰδίπους

Μερόπης, γεραιέ, Πόλυβος ἧς ᾤκει μέτα.
990

Ἄγγελος

τί δʼ ἔστʼ ἐκείνης ὑμὶν ἐς φόβον φέρον;

Οἰδίπους

θεήλατον μάντευμα δεινόν, ὦ ξένε.

Ἄγγελος

ἦ ῥητόν; ἢ οὐχὶ θεμιτὸν ἄλλον εἰδέναι;

Ἄγγελος

ἦ γὰρ τάδʼ ὀκνῶν κεῖθεν ἦσθʼ ἀπόπτολις;
1000

Οἰδίπους

πατρός τε χρῄζων μὴ φονεὺς εἶναι, γέρον.

Ἄγγελος

τί δῆτʼ ἐγὼ οὐχὶ τοῦδε τοῦ φόβου σʼ, ἄναξ,

ἐπείπερ εὔνους ἦλθον, ἐξελυσάμην;

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν χάριν γʼ ἂν ἀξίαν λάβοις ἐμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτʼ ἀφικόμην, ὅπως
1005

σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ οὔποτʼ εἶμι τοῖς φυτεύσασίν γʼ ὅμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

ὦ παῖ, καλῶς εἶ δῆλος οὐκ εἰδὼς τί δρᾷς.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς, ὦ γεραιέ; πρὸς θεῶν δίδασκέ με.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τῶνδε φεύγεις οὕνεκʼ εἰς οἴκους μολεῖν.
1010

Οἰδίπους

ταρβῶν γε μή μοι Φοῖβος ἐξέλθῃ σαφής.

Ἄγγελος

ἦ μὴ μίασμα τῶν φυτευσάντων λάβῃς;

Οἰδίπους

τοῦτʼ αὐτό, πρέσβυ, τοῦτό μʼ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ.

Ἄγγελος

ἆρʼ οἶσθα δῆτα πρὸς δίκης οὐδὲν τρέμων;

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δʼ οὐχί, παῖς γʼ εἰ τῶνδε γεννητῶν ἔφυν;
1015

Ἄγγελος

ὁθούνεκʼ ἦν σοι Πόλυβος οὐδὲν ἐν γένει.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς εἶπας; οὐ γὰρ Πόλυβος ἐξέφυσέ με;

Ἄγγελος

οὐ μᾶλλον οὐδὲν τοῦδε τἀνδρός, ἀλλʼ ἴσον.

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς ὁ φύσας ἐξ ἴσου τῷ μηδενί;

Ἄγγελος

ἀλλʼ οὔ σʼ ἐγείνατʼ οὔτʼ ἐκεῖνος οὔτʼ ἐγώ.
1020

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ ἀντὶ τοῦ δὴ παῖδά μʼ ὠνομάζετο;

Ἄγγελος

δῶρόν ποτʼ, ἴσθι, τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν λαβών.

Οἰδίπους

κᾆθʼ ὧδʼ ἀπʼ ἄλλης χειρὸς ἔστερξεν μέγα;

Ἄγγελος

ἡ γὰρ πρὶν αὐτὸν ἐξέπεισʼ ἀπαιδία.

Οἰδίπους

σὺ δʼ ἐμπολήσας ἢ τυχών μʼ αὐτῷ δίδως;
1025

Ἄγγελος

εὑρὼν ναπαίαις ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖς.

Οἰδίπους

ὡδοιπόρεις δὲ πρὸς τί τούσδε τοὺς τόπους;

Ἄγγελος

ἐνταῦθʼ ὀρείοις ποιμνίοις ἐπεστάτουν.

Οἰδίπους

ποιμὴν γὰρ ἦσθα κἀπὶ θητείᾳ πλάνης;

Ἄγγελος

σοῦ τʼ, ὦ τέκνον, σωτήρ γε τῷ τότʼ ἐν χρόνῳ.
1030