Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, Richard Jebb (Translator), 1416

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Chorus

But here is Creon in good time to plan and perform that which you request. He alone is left to guard the land in your place.

Oedipus

Ah, me, how will I address him?

What claim to credence can be shown on my part? For in the past I proved to be wholly false to him.
1420

Enter Creon.

Creon

I have not come to mock or reproach you with any any past fault.

To the Attendants.

But you, if you no longer respect the children of men,

revere at least the all-nurturing flame of our lord the Sun, and don’t show so openly such a pollution as this, one which neither earth, nor holy rain, nor the light itself can welcome. Take him into the house as quickly as you can: it best accords with pity that
1425

kinfolk alone should see and hear a kinsman’s woes.
1430

Oedipus

For the gods’ love—since you have done a gentle violence to my prediction and come in a spirit so noble to me, a man most vile—grant me a favor: I will speak for your own good, not mine.

Creon

And what do you wish so eagerly to get from me?
1435

Oedipus

Cast me out of this land with all speed, to a place where no mortal shall be found to greet me.

Creon

This I could have done, to be sure, except I craved first to learn from the god all my duty.

Oedipus

But his pronouncement has been set forth in full—to let me perish, the parricide, unholy one that I am.
1440

Creon

Thus it was said. But since we have come to such a pass, it is better to learn clearly what should be done.

Oedipus

Will you, then, seek a response on behalf of such a wretch as I?

Creon

Yes, for even you yourself will now surely put faith in the god.
1445

Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1887.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Oedipus Tyrannus (English) (Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 1: The Oedipus Tyrannus. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1887. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1416 focus

ἀλλ᾽ ὧν ἐπαιτεῖς ἐς δέον πάρεσθ᾽ ὅδε

Κρέων τὸ πράσσειν καὶ τὸ βουλεύειν, ἐπεὶ

χώρας λέλειπται μοῦνος ἀντὶ σοῦ φύλαξ.

Οἰδίπους

οἴμοι, τί δῆτα λέξομεν πρὸς τόνδ᾽ ἔπος;

τίς μοι φανεῖται πίστις ἔνδικος; τὰ γὰρ
1420

πάρος πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντ᾽ ἐφεύρημαι κακός.

Κρέων

οὔθ᾽ ὡς γελαστής, Οἰδίπους, ἐλήλυθα,

οὔθ᾽ ὡς ὀνειδιῶν τι τῶν πάρος κακῶν.

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ τὰ θνητῶν μὴ καταισχύνεσθ᾽ ἔτι

γένεθλα, τὴν γοῦν πάντα βόσκουσαν φλόγα
1425

αἰδεῖσθ᾽ ἄνακτος Ἡλίου, τοιόνδ᾽ ἄγος

ἀκάλυπτον οὕτω δεικνύναι, τὸ μήτε γῆ

μήτ᾿ ὄμβρος ἱρὸς μήτε φῶς προσδέξεται.

ἀλλ᾽ ὡς τάχιστ᾽ ἐς οἶκον ἐσκομίζετε·

τοῖς ἐν γένει γὰρ τἀγγενῆ μάλισθ᾽ ὁρᾶν
1430

μόνοις τ᾽ ἀκούειν εὐσεβῶς ἔχει κακά.

Οἰδίπους

πρὸς θεῶν, ἐπείπερ ἐλπίδος μ' ἀπέσπασας,

ἄριστος ἐλθὼν πρὸς κάκιστον ἄνδρ᾽ ἐμέ,

πιθοῦ τί μοι· πρὸς σοῦ γάρ, οὐδ᾽ ἐμοῦ, φράσω.

Κρέων

καὶ τοῦ με χρείας ὧδε λιπαρεῖς τυχεῖν;
1435

Οἰδίπους

ῥῖψόν με γῆς ἐκ τῆσδ᾽ ὅσον τάχισθ᾽, ὅπου

θνητῶν φανοῦμαι μηδενὸς προσήγορος.

Κρέων

ἔδρασ᾽ ἂν εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ἄν, εἰ μὴ τοῦ θεοῦ

πρώτιστ᾽ ἔχρῃζον ἐκμαθεῖν τί πρακτέον.

Οἰδίπους

ἄλλ᾽ ἥ γ᾽ ἐκείνου πᾶσ᾽ ἐδηλώθη φάτις,
1440

τὸν πατροφόντην, τὸν ἀσεβῆ μ᾿ ἀπολλύναι.

Κρέων

οὕτως ἐλέχθη ταῦθ᾽· ὅμως δ᾽, ἵν᾽ ἕσταμεν

χρείας, ἄμεινον ἐκμαθεῖν τί δραστέον.

Οἰδίπους

οὕτως ἄρ᾽ ἀνδρὸς ἀθλίου πεύσεσθ᾽ ὕπερ;

Κρέων

καὶ γὰρ σὺ νῦν τἂν τῷ θεῷ πίστιν φέροις.
1445

Οἰδίπους

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1416 focus

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ὧν ἐπαιτεῖς εἰς δέον πάρεσθʼ ὅδε

Κρέων τὸ πράσσειν καὶ τὸ βουλεύειν, ἐπεὶ

χώρας λέλειπται μοῦνος ἀντὶ σοῦ φύλαξ.

Οἰδίπους

οἴμοι, τί δῆτα λέξομεν πρὸς τόνδʼ ἔπος;

τίς μοι φανεῖται πίστις ἔνδικος; τὰ γὰρ
1420

πάρος πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντʼ ἐφεύρημαι κακός.

Κρέων

οὐχ ὡς γελαστής, Οἰδίπους, ἐλήλυθα,

οὐδʼ ὡς ὀνειδιῶν τι τῶν πάρος κακῶν.

ἀλλʼ εἰ τὰ θνητῶν μὴ καταισχύνεσθʼ ἔτι

γένεθλα, τὴν γοῦν πάντα βόσκουσαν φλόγα
1425

αἰδεῖσθʼ ἄνακτος Ἡλίου, τοιόνδʼ ἄγος

ἀκάλυπτον οὕτω δεικνύναι, τὸ μήτε γῆ

μήτʼ ὄμβρος ἱερὸς μήτε φῶς προσδέξεται.

ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστʼ ἐς οἶκον ἐσκομίζετε·

τοῖς ἐν γένει γὰρ τἀγγενῆ μάλισθʼ ὁρᾶν
1430

μόνοις τʼ ἀκούειν εὐσεβῶς ἔχει κακά.

Οἰδίπους

πρὸς θεῶν, ἐπείπερ ἐλπίδος μʼ ἀπέσπασας,

ἄριστος ἐλθὼν πρὸς κάκιστον ἄνδρʼ ἐμέ,

πιθοῦ τί μοι· πρὸς σοῦ γὰρ οὐδʼ ἐμοῦ φράσω.

Κρέων

καὶ τοῦ με χρείας ὧδε λιπαρεῖς τυχεῖν;
1435

Οἰδίπους

ῥῖψόν με γῆς ἐκ τῆσδʼ ὅσον τάχισθʼ, ὅπου

θνητῶν φανοῦμαι μηδενὸς προσήγορος.

Κρέων

ἔδρασʼ ἂν εὖ τοῦτʼ ἴσθʼ ἄν, εἰ μὴ τοῦ θεοῦ

πρώτιστʼ ἔχρῃζον ἐκμαθεῖν τί πρακτέαν.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ ἐκείνου πᾶσʼ ἐδηλώθη φάτις,
1440

τὸν πατροφόντην, τὸν ἀσεβῆ μʼ ἀπολλύναι.

Κρέων

οὕτως ἐλέχθη ταῦθʼ· ὅμως δʼ ἵνʼ ἕσταμεν

χρείας, ἄμεινον ἐκμαθεῖν τι δραστέον.

Οἰδίπους

οὕτως ἄρʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀθλίου πεύσεσθʼ ὕπερ;

Κρέων

καὶ γὰρ σὺ νῦν τἂν τῷ θεῷ πίστιν φέροις.
1445

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1416 focus

With timely presence to fulfil thy need

With act and counsel, Creon comes, who now

Is regent o’er this people in thy room.

OED

Alas, what shall I say to him? What plea

For my defence will hold? My evil part
1420

Toward him in all the past is clearly proved.

CR
Enter CREON .

I come not, Oedipus, to mock thy woes,

Nor to reproach thee for thine evils past.

But ye, () if all respect of mortal eye

Be dead, let awe of the universal flame

Of life’s great nourisher, our lord the Sun,
1425

Forbid your holding thus unveiled to view

This huge abomination, which nor Earth

Nor sacred Element, nor light of Heaven

Can once endure. Convey him in with speed.

Religion bids that kindred eyes and ears
1430

Alone should witness kindred crime and woe.

OED

By Heaven, since thou hast reft away my fear,

So nobly meeting my unworthiness,

I pray thee, hear me for thine own behoof.

CR

What boon dost thou desire so earnestly?
1435

OED

Fling me with speediest swiftness from the land,

Where nevermore I may converse with men.

CR

Doubt not I would have done it, but the God

Must be inquired of, ere we act herein.

OED

His sacred utterance was express and clear,
1440

The parricide, the unholy, should be slain.

CR

Ay, so ’twas spoken: but, in such a time,

We needs must be advised more perfectly.

OED

Will ye then ask him for a wretch like me?

CR

Yea. For even thou methinks wilt now believe.
1445

OED

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1416 focus

Gelegen deiner Bitte kommt schon Kreon hier,

Zu Rath und That gewärtig; denn er bleibt allein

Als Schuz des Landes übrig noch an deiner Statt.
1380

Oedipus.

Weh mir! Mit welchem Worte red' ich diesen an?

Wie kann ich hoffen auf Vertrau'n, nachdem ich erst

An ihm in Allem ungerecht erfunden ward?

Kreon. Die Vorigen.

Kreon.

Nicht dein zu spotten, Dedipus, erschein' ich hier,

Noch vorzurücken, was ich erst von dir erlitt.
1385

Ihr Andern aber, wenn ihr auch der Sterblichen

Geschlechter nicht mehr achtet, scheut die Flamme doch

Des Allernährers Helios, ihm solchen Fluch

So hüllenlos zu zeigen, den die Erde nicht,

Noch heiliger Regen, noch das Licht aufnehmen wird!
1390

Nein, ohne Säumen führet ihn in's Haus hinein.

Dem eignen Stamme ziemt's allein nach frommem Brauch

Zu schauen und zu hören stammverwandtes Leid.

Oedipus.

Ihr Götter alle! Nun du mich der Furcht entnahmst,

Und mir verworfnem Manne so voll Güte nahst:
1395

Gewähre mir noch Eines, dir, nicht mir, zum Heil.

Kreon.

Und welches Wunsches wegen liegst du so mir an?

Oedipus.

Flugs, ohne Säumen stoße mich aus diesem Land,

Hin, wo mich keines Menschen Laut fortan begrüßt!

Kreon.

Vertraue mir, schon that ich's, wollt' ich nicht zuvor
1400

Den Gott befragen, was zu thun das Beste sei.

Oedipus.

Doch deutlich hat er seinen Spruch uns offenbart :

Er will des Vatermörders, will des Frevlers Tod.

Kreon.

So klang der Spruch; doch nun es dahin sich gewandt,

Ist's besser, anzufragen, was sein Wille sei.
1405

Oedipus.

So wollt ihr forschen über mich verlornen Mann?

Kreon.

Auch du ja schenkst dem Gotte jezt doch wohl Vertrau'n.

Oedipus.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1416 focus

The loss of sight is worse than death itself.

Oedipus

What shall I sayl

Can I apply to him for aid whom late

I deeply injured by unjust suspicion?

Creon
Scene III.

(Edipus, Chorus.

Creon

I come not, prince, to triumph o'er thy woes
1435

With vile reproach ; I pity thy misfortunes.
1435

But, O my Thebans ! if you do not fear
1435

The censure of your fellow-citizens,
1435

At least respect the all-creating eye
1435

Of Phoebus, who beholds you thus exposing
1435

To public view a wretch accursed, polluted,
1435

Whom neither earth can bear, nor sun behold,
1435

Nor holy shower besprinkle. Take hira hence
1435

Within the palace ; those who are by blood
1435

United should alone be witnesses
1435

Of such calamity.
1435

The best of men, and I the worst, how kind
1435

Thou art to visit me ! Oh ! by the gods
1435

Let me entreat thee, since beyond my hopes
1435

Thou art so good, now hear me ; what I ask,
1435

Concerns thee most.
1435

Creon
(Edi. O Creon ! thou,

What is it thou desirest

Thus ardently?

Oedipus

I beg thee, banish me
1440

From Thebes this moment, to some land remote,
1440

Wliere I may ne'er converse with man again.

Creon

Myself long since had done it, but the gods

Must be consulted first.

Oedipus

Their \vill is known

Already, and their oracle declared

The guilty parricide should die.

Creon

It hatli ;
1445

But, as it is, 'twere better to inquire
1445

What must be done.
1445

Oedipus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1416 focus

Let me prevail; why should you fear? my ills

Of all mankind none but myself can bear.

Chorus

But Creon comes, at thy request to grant,

By counsel or by deed, whate'er is right:

He now is left sole sovereign of this land.

Oedipus

To him how can I speak ? from him what grace

With justice can I hope? for he before

Found me injurious, and in all things vile.

I come not to insult thee, Edipus,

Nor to reproach thee for thy former wrongs.

But you, respecting mortals if you feel

No touch of shame, revere th' all-feeding flame

Of yon imperial sun; nor thus expose

Unveil'd such dire pollution, which nor earth,

Nor sacred water, nor heav'n's light receives.

But quickly bear him hence, beneath this roof

Conceal'd; for piety demands that those

By blood allied alone should see, should hear

The ills of those from the same blood derived.

Oedipus
CREON, CEDIPUS, CHORUS.

Now by the gods, since all my fears from thee

Thou hast rent from me, and benevolent

Comest to a wretch thus vile, grant me one grace:

What I shall ask concerns thy good, not mine.

Creon

Of me thus warmly what wou'dst thou request?

Oedipus

With all speed cast me from this land where ne'er
1440

With mortal man I may hold converse more.

Creon

That I would grant, be thou assured; but first

Behoves me what the god requires to know.

Oedipus

Long since have all his dictates been declared,

This parricide, this monster to destroy.

These things have been declared; but better now

In this our state to learn what must be done.

Oedipus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-861-1 ὧν ἐπαιτεῖς ἐς δέον ¹ ὧν ²

mvp-comment-861-2 τὸ πράσσειν καὶ τὸ βουλεύειν ³

mvp-comment-862-1 μοῦνος ⁴

mvp-comment-863-1 τίς μοι φανεῖται πίστις ἔνδικος; ⁵

mvp-comment-864-1 πάντ’ ⁶

mvp-comment-865-1 Cp. the words of Tennyson's Arthur to Guinevere: “Yet think not that I come to urge thy crimes. ”

mvp-comment-866-1 Nauck gives these verses to Oedipus, making them follow 1415. He regards τοιόνδ’ ἄγος ⁷

mvp-comment-867-1 βόσκουσαν ⁸

mvp-comment-868-1 δεικνύναι ⁹ αἰδεῖσθε ¹⁰

mvp-comment-868-2 τὸ ¹¹ μήτε ¹² γῆ—ὄμβρος—φῶς ¹³ προσδέξεται ¹⁴ ὄμβρος ¹⁵

mvp-comment-869-1 The original sense of ἱερός ¹⁶

mvp-comment-870-1 The objection to taking μάλιστα ¹⁷ τοῖς ἐν γένει ¹⁸ τἀγγενῆ ¹⁹ εὐσεβῶς ἔχει ²⁰

mvp-comment-871-1 ἐλπίδος μ’ ἀπέσπασας ²¹

mvp-comment-872-1 ἄριστος ἐλθὼν πρὸς … ἐμέ ²²

mvp-comment-873-1 πρὸς σοῦ ²³

mvp-comment-874-1 χρείας ²⁴

mvp-comment-875-1 μηδενὸς προσήγορος ²⁵

mvp-comment-876-1 For the double ἄν ²⁶ τοῦτ’ ²⁷

mvp-comment-877-1 φάτις ²⁸ πᾶσ’ ²⁹

mvp-comment-878-1 ἀπολλύναι ³⁰

mvp-comment-879-1 ἵνα … χρείας ³¹

mvp-comment-880-1 οὕτως ³² ἀθλίου ³³

mvp-comment-881-1 The καὶ ³⁴ σύ ³⁵ πίστιν φέροις ³⁶

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

1416. mvp-comment-789-1 ὧν ἐπαιτεῖς i. e. τούτων (genitive of respect) ἃ ἐπαιτεῖς.

1417. mvp-comment-790-1 τὸ πράσσειν For the article with the epexegetical infinitive, cp. El. 1030, μακρὸς τὸ κρίναι ταῦτα χώ λοιπὸς χρόνος. Essay on Language § 33. p. 58.

1420. mvp-comment-791-1 πίστις is here used in the later meaning of persuasive argument. Cp. Ar. Rhet. 1. 1-11. What assurance of mine will appear true?' Oedipus is humiliated and softened. Cp. Shak. Lear, 4. 3.

.. The poor distressed Lear, by no means.. | Will see his daugh ter.. A sovereign shame so elbows him,.. his own unkindness .. these things sting | His mind so venomously, that burning shame | Detains him from Cordelia.

1424. Creon, after briefly re-assuring Oedipus, turns abruptly to the attend. ants, whom he reproaches with not leading Oedipus within-doors. This is natural and characteristic, though it has given offence to several critics. Cp. Shak. Macbeth, 2. 3, And when we have our naked frailties hid, | That suffer in exposure, let us meet, | And question this most bloody piece of work, To know it further.

1425. mvp-comment-792-1 πάντα βόσκουσαν Cp. Plat. Rep. 6. 509 Β, τὸν ἥλιον τοῖς ὁρωμένοις οὐ μόνον, οἶμαι, τὴν τοῦ ὁρᾶσθαι δύναμιν παρέχειν φήσεις, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν γένεσιν καὶ αὔξην καὶ τροφήν : Aesch. Ag. 633, πλὴν τοῦ τρέφοντος ἡλίου χθονὸς φύσιν.

1427. mvp-comment-793-1 δεικνύναι Epexegetic inf. (= ὥστε μὴ δ.) governed by αἰδεῖσθε, which has a double construction. Essay on Language p. 63.

1427. mvp-comment-793-2 τὸ μήτε γῆ μή implies a reason, i. e. Seeing it is one which neither Earth, etc. Cp. the use of the indefinite ὅστις, supra 1184, ὅστις πέφασμαι, κ.τ.λ. Seeing that I am, etc.

1428. mvp-comment-794-1 μήτ᾿ ὄμβρος The showers (Heaven's χέρνιβες) which represent the sacred element of water. The sanctities of earth and sky are violated by the presence of Oedipus. Essay on Language p. 98. ἱρός marks the purity or sacredness of the element as it exists in nature. Cp. κνέφας ἱερόν, Il. 17.455.

1430. mvp-comment-795-1 μάλιστα is to be joined with εὐσεβῶς ἔχει, May with least impropriety.

1433. mvp-comment-796-1 ἄριστος ἐλθών Having shown thyself so noble to one so base as I am.' Cp. 1357, 1358, φονεὺς ἦλθον : and, for ἐλπίδος, κ.τ.λ. Αj. 1382, καί μ' ἔψευσας ἐλπίδος πολύ.

1435. mvp-comment-797-1 τοῦ .. χρείας What request?' rather than A request for what?

1437. mvp-comment-798-1 φανούμαι i. e. γενήσομαι. Cp. supra 790, προὐφάνη λέγων: Αj. 739, ἢ φάνην ἐγὼ βραδύς: Τr. 251, Ζεὺς ὅτου πράκτωρ φανῇ: infra 1485, πατὴρ ἐφάνθην. Where I am sure to be addressed by none.

1438. mvp-comment-799-1 i.e. ἔδρασ᾽ ἂν τοῦτο, εὖ ἴσθι, ἔδρασ᾽ ἄν. See Essay on Language § 41. p. 77.

1440. mvp-comment-800-1 But the declaration of his voice was wholly for destroying me.' For πᾶσα, which is adverbial, cp. El. 596, 597, ἢ πᾶσαν ἵης γλῶσσαν ὡς τὴν μητέρα κακοστομοῦμεν. ('Who dost talk of nothing else,' etc.)

1442. mvp-comment-801-1 ἵν᾿ ἕσταμεν Cp. Τr. 1145, φρονῶ δὴ ξυμφορᾶς ἵν᾽ ἔσταμεν.

1443. mvp-comment-802-1 ἐκμαθεῖν Το learn fully.' Cp. supr. 576, ἐκμάνθαν', and note.

1445. mvp-comment-803-1 ταν = τοι ἄν. expressive than ye.

1445. mvp-comment-803-2 τοι is here more πίστιν φέροις] Cp. Εl. 735, τῷ τέλει πίστιν φέρων.

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Chorus But here is Creon in good time to plan and perform that which you request. He alone is left to guard the land in your place.

Oedipus Ah, me, how will I address him? What claim to credence can be shown on my part? For in the past I proved to be wholly false to him. 1420

Creon I have not come to mock or reproach you with any any past fault.

Oedipus For the gods’ love—since you have done a gentle violence to my prediction and come in a spirit so noble to me, a man most vile—grant me a favor: I will speak for your own good, not mine.

Creon And what do you wish so eagerly to get from me? 1435

Oedipus Cast me out of this land with all speed, to a place where no mortal shall be found to greet me.

Creon This I could have done, to be sure, except I craved first to learn from the god all my duty.

Oedipus But his pronouncement has been set forth in full—to let me perish, the parricide, unholy one that I am. 1440

Creon Thus it was said. But since we have come to such a pass, it is better to learn clearly what should be done.

Oedipus Will you, then, seek a response on behalf of such a wretch as I?

Creon Yes, for even you yourself will now surely put faith in the god. 1445

Current edition Experimental

ἀλλ᾽ ὧν ἐπαιτεῖς ἐς δέον πάρεσθ᾽ ὅδε Κρέων τὸ πράσσειν καὶ τὸ βουλεύειν, ἐπεὶ χώρας λέλειπται μοῦνος ἀντὶ σοῦ φύλαξ.

Οἰδίπους οἴμοι, τί δῆτα λέξομεν πρὸς τόνδ᾽ ἔπος; τίς μοι φανεῖται πίστις ἔνδικος; τὰ γὰρ 1420 πάρος πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντ᾽ ἐφεύρημαι κακός.

Οἰδίπους πρὸς θεῶν, ἐπείπερ ἐλπίδος μ' ἀπέσπασας, ἄριστος ἐλθὼν πρὸς κάκιστον ἄνδρ᾽ ἐμέ, πιθοῦ τί μοι· πρὸς σοῦ γάρ, οὐδ᾽ ἐμοῦ, φράσω.

Κρέων καὶ τοῦ με χρείας ὧδε λιπαρεῖς τυχεῖν; 1435

Οἰδίπους ῥῖψόν με γῆς ἐκ τῆσδ᾽ ὅσον τάχισθ᾽, ὅπου θνητῶν φανοῦμαι μηδενὸς προσήγορος.

Κρέων ἔδρασ᾽ ἂν εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ἄν, εἰ μὴ τοῦ θεοῦ πρώτιστ᾽ ἔχρῃζον ἐκμαθεῖν τί πρακτέον.

Οἰδίπους ἄλλ᾽ ἥ γ᾽ ἐκείνου πᾶσ᾽ ἐδηλώθη φάτις, 1440 τὸν πατροφόντην, τὸν ἀσεβῆ μ᾿ ἀπολλύναι.

Κρέων οὕτως ἐλέχθη ταῦθ᾽· ὅμως δ᾽, ἵν᾽ ἕσταμεν χρείας, ἄμεινον ἐκμαθεῖν τί δραστέον.

Οἰδίπους οὕτως ἄρ᾽ ἀνδρὸς ἀθλίου πεύσεσθ᾽ ὕπερ;

Κρέων καὶ γὰρ σὺ νῦν τἂν τῷ θεῷ πίστιν φέροις. 1445

Οἰδίπους

Χορός ἀλλʼ ὧν ἐπαιτεῖς εἰς δέον πάρεσθʼ ὅδε Κρέων τὸ πράσσειν καὶ τὸ βουλεύειν, ἐπεὶ χώρας λέλειπται μοῦνος ἀντὶ σοῦ φύλαξ.

Οἰδίπους οἴμοι, τί δῆτα λέξομεν πρὸς τόνδʼ ἔπος; τίς μοι φανεῖται πίστις ἔνδικος; τὰ γὰρ 1420 πάρος πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντʼ ἐφεύρημαι κακός.

Οἰδίπους πρὸς θεῶν, ἐπείπερ ἐλπίδος μʼ ἀπέσπασας, ἄριστος ἐλθὼν πρὸς κάκιστον ἄνδρʼ ἐμέ, πιθοῦ τί μοι· πρὸς σοῦ γὰρ οὐδʼ ἐμοῦ φράσω.

Κρέων καὶ τοῦ με χρείας ὧδε λιπαρεῖς τυχεῖν; 1435

Οἰδίπους ῥῖψόν με γῆς ἐκ τῆσδʼ ὅσον τάχισθʼ, ὅπου θνητῶν φανοῦμαι μηδενὸς προσήγορος.

Κρέων ἔδρασʼ ἂν εὖ τοῦτʼ ἴσθʼ ἄν, εἰ μὴ τοῦ θεοῦ πρώτιστʼ ἔχρῃζον ἐκμαθεῖν τί πρακτέαν.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ ἐκείνου πᾶσʼ ἐδηλώθη φάτις, 1440 τὸν πατροφόντην, τὸν ἀσεβῆ μʼ ἀπολλύναι.

Κρέων οὕτως ἐλέχθη ταῦθʼ· ὅμως δʼ ἵνʼ ἕσταμεν χρείας, ἄμεινον ἐκμαθεῖν τι δραστέον.

Οἰδίπους οὕτως ἄρʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀθλίου πεύσεσθʼ ὕπερ;

Κρέων καὶ γὰρ σὺ νῦν τἂν τῷ θεῷ πίστιν φέροις. 1445

With timely presence to fulfil thy need With act and counsel, Creon comes, who now Is regent o’er this people in thy room.

OED Alas, what shall I say to him? What plea For my defence will hold? My evil part 1420 Toward him in all the past is clearly proved.

OED By Heaven, since thou hast reft away my fear, So nobly meeting my unworthiness, I pray thee, hear me for thine own behoof.

CR What boon dost thou desire so earnestly? 1435

OED Fling me with speediest swiftness from the land, Where nevermore I may converse with men.

CR Doubt not I would have done it, but the God Must be inquired of, ere we act herein.

OED His sacred utterance was express and clear, 1440 The parricide, the unholy, should be slain.

CR Ay, so ’twas spoken: but, in such a time, We needs must be advised more perfectly.

OED Will ye then ask him for a wretch like me?

CR Yea. For even thou methinks wilt now believe. 1445

OED

Gelegen deiner Bitte kommt schon Kreon hier, Zu Rath und That gewärtig; denn er bleibt allein Als Schuz des Landes übrig noch an deiner Statt. 1380

Oedipus. Weh mir! Mit welchem Worte red' ich diesen an? Wie kann ich hoffen auf Vertrau'n, nachdem ich erst An ihm in Allem ungerecht erfunden ward? Kreon. Die Vorigen.

Oedipus. Ihr Götter alle! Nun du mich der Furcht entnahmst, Und mir verworfnem Manne so voll Güte nahst: 1395 Gewähre mir noch Eines, dir, nicht mir, zum Heil.

Kreon. Und welches Wunsches wegen liegst du so mir an?

Oedipus. Flugs, ohne Säumen stoße mich aus diesem Land, Hin, wo mich keines Menschen Laut fortan begrüßt!

Kreon. Vertraue mir, schon that ich's, wollt' ich nicht zuvor 1400 Den Gott befragen, was zu thun das Beste sei.

Oedipus. Doch deutlich hat er seinen Spruch uns offenbart : Er will des Vatermörders, will des Frevlers Tod.

Kreon. So klang der Spruch; doch nun es dahin sich gewandt, Ist's besser, anzufragen, was sein Wille sei. 1405

Oedipus. So wollt ihr forschen über mich verlornen Mann?

Kreon. Auch du ja schenkst dem Gotte jezt doch wohl Vertrau'n.

Oedipus.

The loss of sight is worse than death itself.

Oedipus

What shall I sayl Can I apply to him for aid whom late I deeply injured by unjust suspicion?

Creon Scene III. (Edipus, Chorus.

Creon (Edi. O Creon ! thou, What is it thou desirest Thus ardently?

Oedipus I beg thee, banish me 1440 From Thebes this moment, to some land remote, 1440 Wliere I may ne'er converse with man again.

Creon Myself long since had done it, but the gods Must be consulted first.

Oedipus Their \vill is known Already, and their oracle declared The guilty parricide should die.

Creon It hatli ; 1445 But, as it is, 'twere better to inquire 1445 What must be done. 1445

Oedipus

Let me prevail; why should you fear? my ills Of all mankind none but myself can bear.

Chorus But Creon comes, at thy request to grant, By counsel or by deed, whate'er is right: He now is left sole sovereign of this land.

Oedipus CREON, CEDIPUS, CHORUS. Now by the gods, since all my fears from thee Thou hast rent from me, and benevolent Comest to a wretch thus vile, grant me one grace: What I shall ask concerns thy good, not mine.

Creon Of me thus warmly what wou'dst thou request?

Oedipus With all speed cast me from this land where ne'er 1440 With mortal man I may hold converse more.

Creon That I would grant, be thou assured; but first Behoves me what the god requires to know.

Oedipus Long since have all his dictates been declared, This parricide, this monster to destroy. These things have been declared; but better now In this our state to learn what must be done.

Oedipus

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Chorus

But here is Creon in good time to plan and perform that which you request. He alone is left to guard the land in your place.

Oedipus

Ah, me, how will I address him?

What claim to credence can be shown on my part? For in the past I proved to be wholly false to him.
1420

Creon

I have not come to mock or reproach you with any any past fault.

Oedipus

For the gods’ love—since you have done a gentle violence to my prediction and come in a spirit so noble to me, a man most vile—grant me a favor: I will speak for your own good, not mine.

Creon

And what do you wish so eagerly to get from me?
1435

Oedipus

Cast me out of this land with all speed, to a place where no mortal shall be found to greet me.

Creon

This I could have done, to be sure, except I craved first to learn from the god all my duty.

Oedipus

But his pronouncement has been set forth in full—to let me perish, the parricide, unholy one that I am.
1440

Creon

Thus it was said. But since we have come to such a pass, it is better to learn clearly what should be done.

Oedipus

Will you, then, seek a response on behalf of such a wretch as I?

Creon

Yes, for even you yourself will now surely put faith in the god.
1445

ἀλλ᾽ ὧν ἐπαιτεῖς ἐς δέον πάρεσθ᾽ ὅδε

Κρέων τὸ πράσσειν καὶ τὸ βουλεύειν, ἐπεὶ

χώρας λέλειπται μοῦνος ἀντὶ σοῦ φύλαξ.

Οἰδίπους

οἴμοι, τί δῆτα λέξομεν πρὸς τόνδ᾽ ἔπος;

τίς μοι φανεῖται πίστις ἔνδικος; τὰ γὰρ
1420

πάρος πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντ᾽ ἐφεύρημαι κακός.

Οἰδίπους

πρὸς θεῶν, ἐπείπερ ἐλπίδος μ' ἀπέσπασας,

ἄριστος ἐλθὼν πρὸς κάκιστον ἄνδρ᾽ ἐμέ,

πιθοῦ τί μοι· πρὸς σοῦ γάρ, οὐδ᾽ ἐμοῦ, φράσω.

Κρέων

καὶ τοῦ με χρείας ὧδε λιπαρεῖς τυχεῖν;
1435

Οἰδίπους

ῥῖψόν με γῆς ἐκ τῆσδ᾽ ὅσον τάχισθ᾽, ὅπου

θνητῶν φανοῦμαι μηδενὸς προσήγορος.

Κρέων

ἔδρασ᾽ ἂν εὖ τοῦτ᾽ ἴσθ᾽ ἄν, εἰ μὴ τοῦ θεοῦ

πρώτιστ᾽ ἔχρῃζον ἐκμαθεῖν τί πρακτέον.

Οἰδίπους

ἄλλ᾽ ἥ γ᾽ ἐκείνου πᾶσ᾽ ἐδηλώθη φάτις,
1440

τὸν πατροφόντην, τὸν ἀσεβῆ μ᾿ ἀπολλύναι.

Κρέων

οὕτως ἐλέχθη ταῦθ᾽· ὅμως δ᾽, ἵν᾽ ἕσταμεν

χρείας, ἄμεινον ἐκμαθεῖν τί δραστέον.

Οἰδίπους

οὕτως ἄρ᾽ ἀνδρὸς ἀθλίου πεύσεσθ᾽ ὕπερ;

Κρέων

καὶ γὰρ σὺ νῦν τἂν τῷ θεῷ πίστιν φέροις.
1445

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ὧν ἐπαιτεῖς εἰς δέον πάρεσθʼ ὅδε

Κρέων τὸ πράσσειν καὶ τὸ βουλεύειν, ἐπεὶ

χώρας λέλειπται μοῦνος ἀντὶ σοῦ φύλαξ.

Οἰδίπους

οἴμοι, τί δῆτα λέξομεν πρὸς τόνδʼ ἔπος;

τίς μοι φανεῖται πίστις ἔνδικος; τὰ γὰρ
1420

πάρος πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντʼ ἐφεύρημαι κακός.

Οἰδίπους

πρὸς θεῶν, ἐπείπερ ἐλπίδος μʼ ἀπέσπασας,

ἄριστος ἐλθὼν πρὸς κάκιστον ἄνδρʼ ἐμέ,

πιθοῦ τί μοι· πρὸς σοῦ γὰρ οὐδʼ ἐμοῦ φράσω.

Κρέων

καὶ τοῦ με χρείας ὧδε λιπαρεῖς τυχεῖν;
1435

Οἰδίπους

ῥῖψόν με γῆς ἐκ τῆσδʼ ὅσον τάχισθʼ, ὅπου

θνητῶν φανοῦμαι μηδενὸς προσήγορος.

Κρέων

ἔδρασʼ ἂν εὖ τοῦτʼ ἴσθʼ ἄν, εἰ μὴ τοῦ θεοῦ

πρώτιστʼ ἔχρῃζον ἐκμαθεῖν τί πρακτέαν.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ ἐκείνου πᾶσʼ ἐδηλώθη φάτις,
1440

τὸν πατροφόντην, τὸν ἀσεβῆ μʼ ἀπολλύναι.

Κρέων

οὕτως ἐλέχθη ταῦθʼ· ὅμως δʼ ἵνʼ ἕσταμεν

χρείας, ἄμεινον ἐκμαθεῖν τι δραστέον.

Οἰδίπους

οὕτως ἄρʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀθλίου πεύσεσθʼ ὕπερ;

Κρέων

καὶ γὰρ σὺ νῦν τἂν τῷ θεῷ πίστιν φέροις.
1445

With timely presence to fulfil thy need

With act and counsel, Creon comes, who now

Is regent o’er this people in thy room.

OED

Alas, what shall I say to him? What plea

For my defence will hold? My evil part
1420

Toward him in all the past is clearly proved.

OED

By Heaven, since thou hast reft away my fear,

So nobly meeting my unworthiness,

I pray thee, hear me for thine own behoof.

CR

What boon dost thou desire so earnestly?
1435

OED

Fling me with speediest swiftness from the land,

Where nevermore I may converse with men.

CR

Doubt not I would have done it, but the God

Must be inquired of, ere we act herein.

OED

His sacred utterance was express and clear,
1440

The parricide, the unholy, should be slain.

CR

Ay, so ’twas spoken: but, in such a time,

We needs must be advised more perfectly.

OED

Will ye then ask him for a wretch like me?

CR

Yea. For even thou methinks wilt now believe.
1445

Gelegen deiner Bitte kommt schon Kreon hier,

Zu Rath und That gewärtig; denn er bleibt allein

Als Schuz des Landes übrig noch an deiner Statt.
1380

Oedipus.

Weh mir! Mit welchem Worte red' ich diesen an?

Wie kann ich hoffen auf Vertrau'n, nachdem ich erst

An ihm in Allem ungerecht erfunden ward?

Kreon. Die Vorigen.

Oedipus.

Ihr Götter alle! Nun du mich der Furcht entnahmst,

Und mir verworfnem Manne so voll Güte nahst:
1395

Gewähre mir noch Eines, dir, nicht mir, zum Heil.

Kreon.

Und welches Wunsches wegen liegst du so mir an?

Oedipus.

Flugs, ohne Säumen stoße mich aus diesem Land,

Hin, wo mich keines Menschen Laut fortan begrüßt!

Kreon.

Vertraue mir, schon that ich's, wollt' ich nicht zuvor
1400

Den Gott befragen, was zu thun das Beste sei.

Oedipus.

Doch deutlich hat er seinen Spruch uns offenbart :

Er will des Vatermörders, will des Frevlers Tod.

Kreon.

So klang der Spruch; doch nun es dahin sich gewandt,

Ist's besser, anzufragen, was sein Wille sei.
1405

Oedipus.

So wollt ihr forschen über mich verlornen Mann?

Kreon.

Auch du ja schenkst dem Gotte jezt doch wohl Vertrau'n.

What shall I sayl

Can I apply to him for aid whom late

I deeply injured by unjust suspicion?

Creon
Scene III.

(Edipus, Chorus.

Creon
(Edi. O Creon ! thou,

What is it thou desirest

Thus ardently?

Oedipus

I beg thee, banish me
1440

From Thebes this moment, to some land remote,
1440

Wliere I may ne'er converse with man again.

Creon

Myself long since had done it, but the gods

Must be consulted first.

Oedipus

Their \vill is known

Already, and their oracle declared

The guilty parricide should die.

Creon

It hatli ;
1445

But, as it is, 'twere better to inquire
1445

What must be done.
1445

Let me prevail; why should you fear? my ills

Of all mankind none but myself can bear.

Chorus

But Creon comes, at thy request to grant,

By counsel or by deed, whate'er is right:

He now is left sole sovereign of this land.

Oedipus
CREON, CEDIPUS, CHORUS.

Now by the gods, since all my fears from thee

Thou hast rent from me, and benevolent

Comest to a wretch thus vile, grant me one grace:

What I shall ask concerns thy good, not mine.

Creon

Of me thus warmly what wou'dst thou request?

Oedipus

With all speed cast me from this land where ne'er
1440

With mortal man I may hold converse more.

Creon

That I would grant, be thou assured; but first

Behoves me what the god requires to know.

Oedipus

Long since have all his dictates been declared,

This parricide, this monster to destroy.

These things have been declared; but better now

In this our state to learn what must be done.