Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, Richard Jebb (Translator), 300

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Teiresias enters, led by a boy.

Oedipus

Teiresias, whose soul grasps all things, both that which may be told and that which is unspeakable, the Olympian secrets and the affairs of the earth, you feel, though you cannot see, what a huge plague haunts our state. From which, great prophet, we find you to be our protector and only savior.
300

Now, Phoebus—if indeed you have not already heard the news—sent answer to our question that the only way to rid ourselves of this pest that afflicts us is to discover the slayers of Laius, and then to slay them or banish them from our land.
305

So do not begrudge us the voice of the birds or any other path of prophecy, but save yourself and your state, save me, save all that is defiled by the dead. We are in your hands, and man’s noblest task is to help others
310

to the best of his means and powers.
315

Teiresias

Alas, how terrible it is to have wisdom when it does not benefit those who have it. I knew this well, but let it slip from my mind: otherwise I would not have come here.

Oedipus

What now? How disheartened you have come!

Teiresias

Let me go home. For you will bear your own burden to the end, and I will bear mine, if you consent.
320

Oedipus

Your words are strange and unkind to the state which nurtured you, since you withhold this response.

Teiresias

I see that you, for your part, speak inappropriately.

Therefore do not speak, so I will not suffer the same.
325

Oedipus

For the love of the gods, do not turn away, if you have knowledge: all we suppliants implore you on our knees.

Teiresias

For all of you are without knowledge. But never will I reveal my troubles—not to call them yours.

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)) — 300 focus

ὦ πάντα νωμῶν Τειρεσία, διδακτά τε
300

ἄρρητά τ', οὐράνιά τε καὶ χθονοστιβῆ,

πόλιν μέν, εἰ καὶ μὴ βλέπεις, φρονεῖς δ᾽ ὅμως

οἵᾳ νόσῳ σύνεστιν· ἧς σε προστάτην

σωτῆρά τ᾽, ὦναξ, μοῦνον ἐξευρίσκομεν.

Φοῖβος γάρ, εἰ καὶ μὴ κλύεις τῶν ἀγγέλων,
305

πέμψασιν ἡμῖν ἀντέπεμψεν, ἔκλυσιν

μόνην ἂν ἐλθεῖν τοῦδε τοῦ νοσήματος,

εἰ τοὺς κτανόντας Λάϊον μαθόντες εὖ

κτείναιμεν, ἢ γῆς φυγάδας ἐκπεμψαίμεθα.

σὺ δ᾽ οὖν φθονήσας μήτ' ἀπ᾿ οἰωνῶν φάτιν
310

μήτ' εἴ τινʼ ἄλλην μαντικῆς ἔχεις ὁδόν,

ῥῦσαι σεαυτὸν καὶ πόλιν, ῥῦσαι δ᾽ ἐμέ,

ῥῦσαι δὲ πᾶν μίασμα τοῦ τεθνηκότος.

ἐν σοὶ γὰρ ἐσμέν· ἄνδρα δ᾽ ὠφελεῖν ἀφ᾽ ὧν

ἔχοι τε καὶ δύναιτο κάλλιστος πόνων.
315
ΤΕΙΡΕΣΙΑΣ.

φεῦ φεῦ, φρονεῖν ὡς δεινὸν ἔνθα μὴ τέλη

λύῃ φρονοῦντι, ταῦτα γὰρ καλῶς ἐγὼ

εἰδὼς διώλεσʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἂν δεῦρ᾽ ἱκόμην.

Οἰδίπους

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν; ὡς ἄθυμος εἰσελήλυθας.

Τειρεσίας

ἄφες μ᾿ ἐς οἴκους· ῥᾷστα γὰρ τὸ σόν τε σὺ
320

κἀγὼ διοίσω τοὐμόν, ἢν ἐμοὶ πίθῃ.

Οἰδίπους

οὔτ᾽ ἔννομ' εἶπας οὔτε προσφιλῆ πόλει

τῇδ᾽, ἥ σ᾽ ἔθρεψε, τήνδ' ἀποστερῶν φάτιν.

Τειρεσίας

ὁρῶ γὰρ οὐδὲ σοὶ τὸ σὸν φώνημ᾿ ἰὸν

πρὸς καιρόν· ὡς οὖν μηδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταυτὸν πάθω.
325

Οἰδίπους

μὴ πρὸς θεῶν φρονῶν γ᾽ ἀποστραφῇς, ἐπεὶ

πάντες σε προσκυνοῦμεν οἵδ᾽ ἱκτήριοι.

Τειρεσίας

πάντες γὰρ οὐ φρονεῖτʼ. ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὐ μή ποτε

τἄμ᾿ ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ τὰ σ᾽ ἐκφήνω κακά.

Οἰδίπους

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 300 focus

Οἰδίπους

ὦ πάντα νωμῶν Τειρεσία, διδακτά τε
300

ἄρρητά τʼ, οὐράνιά τε καὶ χθονοστιβῆ,

πόλιν μέν, εἰ καὶ μὴ βλέπεις, φρονεῖς δʼ ὅμως

οἵᾳ νόσῳ σύνεστιν· ἧς σὲ προστάτην

σωτῆρά τʼ, ὦναξ, μοῦνον ἐξευρίσκομεν.

Φοῖβος γάρ, εἴ τι μὴ κλύεις τῶν ἀγγέλων,
305

πέμψασιν ἡμῖν ἀντέπεμψεν, ἔκλυσιν

μόνην ἂν ἐλθεῖν τοῦδε τοῦ νοσήματος,

εἰ τοὺς κτανόντας Λάϊον μαθόντες εὖ

κτείναιμεν ἢ γῆς φυγάδας ἐκπεμψαίμεθα.

σύ νυν φθονήσας μήτʼ ἀπʼ οἰωνῶν φάτιν
310

μήτʼ εἴ τινʼ ἄλλην μαντικῆς ἔχεις ὁδόν,

ῥῦσαι σεαυτὸν καὶ πόλιν, ῥῦσαι δʼ ἐμέ,

ῥῦσαι δὲ πᾶν μίασμα τοῦ τεθνηκότος.

ἐν σοὶ γὰρ ἐσμέν· ἄνδρα δʼ ὠφελεῖν ἀφʼ ὧν

ἔχοι τε καὶ δύναιτο, κάλλιστος πόνων.
315

Τειρεσίας

φεῦ φεῦ, φρονεῖν ὡς δεινὸν ἔνθα μὴ τέλη

λύῃ φρονοῦντι· ταῦτα γὰρ καλῶς ἐγὼ

εἰδὼς διώλεσʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἂν δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην.

Οἰδίπους

τί δʼ ἔστιν; ὡς ἄθυμος εἰσελήλυθας.

Τειρεσίας

ἄφες μʼ ἐς οἴκους· ῥᾷστα γὰρ τὸ σόν τε σὺ
320

κἀγὼ διοίσω τοὐμόν, ἢν ἐμοὶ πίθῃ.

Οἰδίπους

οὔτʼ ἔννομʼ εἶπας οὔτε προσφιλῆ πόλει

τῇδʼ, ἥ σʼ ἔθρεψε, τήνδʼ ἀποστερῶν φάτιν.

Τειρεσίας

ὁρῶ γὰρ οὐδὲ σοὶ τὸ σὸν φώνημʼ ἰὸν

πρὸς καιρόν· ὡς οὖν μηδʼ ἐγὼ ταὐτὸν πάθω—
325

Οἰδίπους

μὴ πρὸς θεῶν φρονῶν γʼ ἀποστραφῇς, ἐπεὶ

πάντες σε προσκυνοῦμεν οἵδʼ ἱκτήριοι.

Τειρεσίας

πάντες γὰρ οὐ φρονεῖτʼ· ἐγὼ δʼ οὐ μή ποτε

τἄμʼ, ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ τὰ σʼ, ἐκφήνω κακά.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 300 focus

O thou whose universal thought commands
300

All knowledge and all mysteries, in Heaven

And on the earth beneath, thy mind perceives,

Tirésias, though thine outward eye be dark,

What plague is wasting Thebè, who in thee,

Great Sir, finds her one saviour, her sole guide.
305

Phoebus (albeit the messengers perchance

Have told thee this) upon our sending sent

This answer back, that no release might come

From this disaster, till we sought and found

And slew the murderers of king Laius,
310

Or drave them exiles from our land. Thou, then,

Withhold not any word of augury

Or other divination which thou knowest,

But rescue Thebè, and thyself, and me,

And purge the stain that issues from the dead.
315

On thee we lean: and ’tis a noble thing

To use what power one hath in doing good.

TIRESIAS

Ah! terrible is knowledge to the man

Whom knowledge profits not. This well I knew,

But had forgotten. Else I ne’er had come.

OED

Why dost thou bring a mind so full of gloom?

TI

Let me go home. Thy part and mine to-day
320

Will best be borne, if thou obey me in that.

OED

Disloyal and ungrateful! to deprive

The state that reared thee of thine utterance now.

TI

Thy speech, I see, is foiling thine intent;

And I would shield me from the like mishap. ()
325

OED

Nay, if thou knowest, turn thee not away:

All here with suppliant hands importune thee.

TI

Yea, for ye all are blind. Never will I

Reveal my woe;—mine, that I say not, thine.

OED

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 300 focus

Du, der in Alles spähend dringt, Teiresias,

In Klares, Dunkles, was in Erd' und Himmel ist,

Du kannst die Stadt nicht schauen, doch erkennst du wohl,

Welch schwere Noth sie heimgesucht; in dir allein

Erschien für uns ihr Helfer, lebt ihr Retter, Herr.
305

Denn Phöbos (wenn die Boten dir's nicht schon gesagt)

Gab den Bescheid auf unsre Frage: dann allein

Werd' uns Erlösung werden aus der Seuche Noth,

Wenn wir des Laïos Mörder glücklich ausgespäht,

Getödtet, oder flüchtig aus dem Land gebannt.
310

Mißgönne du mir also nicht der Vögel Spruch,

Noch andre Seherzeichen, sind dir welche kund,

Und rette dich und diese Stadt, und rette mich,

Und was der Mord besudelt, Herr, entsündige!

Auf dich vertrau'n wir. Helfen ja, so weit die Kraft,
315

Die Mittel reichen, ist des Mannes schönste Pflicht.

(für sich)

Teiresias.

Weh! Schrecklich ist es, weise sein, wo's keinen Lohn

Dem Weisen bringt! Ich habe dieses wohl gewußt;

Doch nun vergaß ich's; sonst erschien ich nimmer hier.

Oedipus.

Was ist geschehen, daß du so voll Zagen kommst?
320

Teiresias.

Laß mich nach Hause! Leichter trägst du dein Geschick

Und ich das meine, wenn du diesem Rathe folgst.

Oedipus.

Du redest nicht verständig, noch als Freund der Stadt,¹

Die dich erzogen, weigerst du ihr deinen Spruch.

Teiresias.

Auch dir ja, wohl erkenn' ich's, dient dein Reden nicht
325

Zum Segen: Gleiches, fürcht' ich, widerfährt auch mir

(will gehen.)

Oedipus.

Bei'm Himmel, weißt du's, wende dich nicht ab von uns:

Zu deinen Füßen fleh'n wir all' um Hülfe hier.

Teiresias.

Ihr alle seid ja Thoren; ich enthülle Nichts,

Damit ich dein Verderben nicht enthüllen muß.
330

Oedipus.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 300 focus

despise.

Chorus

Behold he comes, who will discover all.

The holy prophet. See ! they lead him hither ;

He knows the truth and will reveal it to us.

Tiresias
Scene II.

(Edipus, Chorus.
320

CKdi. O sage Tiresias, thou who knowest all
320

That can be known, the things of heaven above
320

And earth below, whose mental eye beholds,
320

BUnd as thou art, the state of dying Thebes,
320

And weeps her fate, to thee we look for aid,

On thee alone for safety we depend.

This answer, which perchance thou hast not heard,

Apollo gave : the plague, he said, should cease

When those who murdered Laius w^ere discovered

And paid the forfeit of their crime by death

Or banishment. Oh ! do not then conceal

Aught that thy art prophetic from the flight

Of birds or other omens may disclose.

Oh ! save thyself, save this afflicted city,

Save CEdipus, avenge the guiltless dead
325

From this pollution ! Thou art all our hope ;
325

Remember, 'tis the privilege of man,
325

His noblest function, to assist the wretched.
325

Tiresias

Alas ! what misery it is to know

When knowledge is thus fatal ! O Tiresias !

Thou art undone ! Would I had never come !

Oedipus

What sayst thou ? Whence this strange

dejection ? Speak.

Till. Let me be gone ; 'twere better for us both

That I retire in silence : be advised.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 276 focus

This god, to gods an odious name,

This lurid Pest destroy !

Oedipus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-211-1 ὦ πάντα νωμῶν ¹

mvp-comment-211-2 διδακτά τε—ἄρρητά τε ²

mvp-comment-212-1 οὐράνιά τε καὶ χθονοστιβῆ ³

mvp-comment-213-1 μέν ⁴ φρονεῖς δ’ ⁵ δὲ ⁶ φρονεῖς ⁷

mvp-comment-214-1 ἧς ⁸ προστάτην ⁹

mvp-comment-215-1 μοῦνον ¹⁰

mvp-comment-216-1 εἰ καὶ μὴ κλύεις ¹¹

mvp-comment-217-1 μαθόντες εὖ ¹²

mvp-comment-218-1 ἀπ’ οἰωνῶν φάτιν ¹³ φάτιν ¹⁴

mvp-comment-218-2 ἄλλην ὁδόν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-219-1 ῥῦσαι σεαυτὸν ¹⁶ ῥῦσαι μίασμα ¹⁷

mvp-comment-219-2 πᾶν μίασμα ¹⁸

mvp-comment-219-3 τοῦ τεθνηκότος ¹⁹ πᾶν ²⁰ μίασμα ²¹ ῥῦσαι ²²

mvp-comment-220-1 ἐν σοὶ ²³

mvp-comment-220-2 ἄνδρα ²⁴ ὠφελεῖν ²⁵ ἀφ’ ὦν ἔχοι τε καὶ δύναιτο ²⁶

mvp-comment-221-1 λύῃ ²⁷ τέλη λύῃ ²⁸

mvp-comment-221-2 ταῦτα γὰρ ²⁹

mvp-comment-222-1 διώλεσ’ ³⁰

mvp-comment-223-1 τί δ’ ἔστιν; ³¹

mvp-comment-224-1 διοίσω ³²

mvp-comment-224-2 πίθῃ ³³

mvp-comment-225-1 οὔτ’ ἔννομ’ ³⁴

mvp-comment-226-1 ἀποστερῶν ³⁵

mvp-comment-226-2 φάτιν ³⁶

mvp-comment-227-1 ὁρῶ γὰρ ³⁷

mvp-comment-228-1 πρὸς καιρόν ³⁸

mvp-comment-228-2 ὡς οὖν ³⁹ μηδέ ⁴⁰ μηδ’ ἐγώ ⁴¹ μὴ λέγων ⁴²

mvp-comment-229-1 μὴ πρὸς θεῶν ⁴³

mvp-comment-229-2 φρονῶν γ’ ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-230-1 ἐγὼ δ’ οὐ μή ποτε ἐκφήνω τὰ ἐμὰ (ὡς ἂν μὴ εἴπω τὰ σἂ κακά ⁴⁵ τὰ ἐμὰ κακά ⁴⁶ τὰ σὰ κακά ⁴⁷ ὡς ἂν ⁴⁸ ὡς ἂν μή ⁴⁹ ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ ⁵⁰ τἄμ’ ⁵¹ ἐκφήνω ⁵² εἴπω ⁵³

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

300. mvp-comment-191-1 This use of νωμῶν, without τῇ φρενί or the like addition, is perhaps assisted by a supposed connection with νοέω. See Essay on Language p. 100, and cp. Plat. Crat. 411 D, ἡ γνώμη παντάπασι δηλοῖ γονῆς σκέψιν καὶ νώμησιν, τὸ γὰρ νωμᾶν καὶ τὸ σκοπεῖν ταὐτόν: Hdt. 4. 128, νωμῶντες σῖτα ἀναιρεομένους. Cp. Od. 13. 255, αἰὲν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόον πολυκερδέα νωμῶν: Aesch. S. c. T. 24, ἐν ὠσὶ νωμῶν καὶ φρεσὶν πυρὸς δίχα χρηστηρίους ὄρνιθας ἀψευδεῖ τέχνη. Ο thou that wieldest in thy thought all knowledge and all mysteries, both of things in Heaven, and things on earth.

303. mvp-comment-192-1 νόσῳ Not the plague only, but the distress generally. Cp. supr. 60, νοσεῖτε πάντες, 305. εἰ καὶ μὴ κλύεις τῶν ἀγγέλων] (1) Even if the messengers have not told you, which I dare say they have; i. e. The report is true, even if it has not reached you yet. Or, (2) If you have not heard from the messengers as well as from me;' i. e. I tell you, in case your guides have not. In the latter case, which is the more probable (cp. supr. 329, note, 325), καί is used ὑπερβάτως. For this, cp. Thuc. 5. 45, καὶ ἦν εἰς τὸν δῆμον ταῦτα λέγωσιν. Nothing is gained by transposing εἰ μὴ καί; still less by reading εἴ τι μή. The repetition of the same words (supr. 302) is no cause for suspicion. Essay on Language § 44.

307. mvp-comment-193-1 μόνην Emphatic: this, and no other. Cp. 68, ἴασιν μόνην: Phil. 61, μόνην ἔχοντες τήνδ' ἅλωσιν Ἰλίου: Thuc. 8.81, πιστεῦσαι δ᾽ ἂν μόνως Ἀθηναίοις εἰ, κ.τ.λ.

308. mvp-comment-194-1 μαθόντες εὐ Having carefully ascertained. εὖ as in εὖ σκοπῶν (68): the order as in Ant. 166, σέβοντας εὖ. 310, foll. δ' οὖν resumes from 304. δé is slightly adversative between Φοῖβος and σύ, οὖν connects the human prophecy with the divine. Phoebus answers thus and do not thou withhold any intimation, whether derived from birds or from any other way of divination at thy command.' For the coordination of εἴ τιν'.. ὁδόν, with ἀπ᾿ οἰωνῶν, cp. Phil. 468-469, πρὸς νῦν σε πατρὸς .. πρός τ᾽ εἴ τί σοι κατ' οἶκών ἐστι προσφιλές: and for μαντικῆς ὁδόν cp. 67, πολλὰς δ᾽ ὁδοὺς ἐλθόντα φροντίδος πλάνοις : Aesch. Prom. 484, τρόπους δὲ πολλοὺς μαντικῆς ἐστοίχισα: ib. 497, δυστέκμαρτον εἰς τέχνην ὥδωσα θνητούς.

313. mvp-comment-195-1 ῥῦσαι δέ And clear away. The double application of ῥῦσαι cannot be expressed in one word in English. The evil from which deliverance is sought is made the object of the verb of deliverance. Cp. Eur. Iph. A. 1383, ταῦτα πάντα κατθανοῦσα ῥύσομαι. Although this involves a slight change of construction, it is better than to take μίασμα ας = τὸ μεμιασμένον, what lies under pollution. Even if such a rendering be not impossible, the line so explained adds nothing to what is already said.

314-315. mvp-comment-196-1 ἀφ᾽ ὧν ἔχοι For the mood, cp. 979, ὅπως δύναιτό τις, and see Essay on Language § 36. p. 61. ἄνδρα is subject: cp. Ant. 710, ἀλλ᾽ ἄνδρα, κεἴ τις ἢ σοφός, τὸ μανθάνειν | πόλλ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὐδέν. 'It is a man's noblest endeavour to use whatever power he may have in doing benefits.' 316 ff. The presence and voice of Oedipus make Teiresias feel the impossibility of speaking his message. Cp. infr. 447.

314-315. mvp-comment-196-2 φεῦ, φεῦ .. φρονοῦντι How terrible it is to know, when knowing profits not! φρονεῖν often implies a feeling or intelligence of the situation. Essay on Language p. 93, 6, Τr. 1145, φρονῶ δὴ ξυμφορᾶς ἵν᾽ ἕσταμεν : Αj. 942, σοὶ μὲν δοκεῖν ταῦτ᾽ ἔστ᾽, ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ἄγαν φρονεῖν. So in this play, 302, фро- νεῖς δ᾽ ὅμως, 326, μὴ .. φρονῶν γ᾽ ἀποσταφῇς, 328, πάντες γὰρ οὐ φρονεῖτε. Cp. with the present passage, Hdt. I. 46, where Croesus tries the oracles, ὅ τι φρονέοιεν .. εἰ φρονέοντα τὴν ἀληθηΐην εὑρεθείη. For the subjunct. in a relative clause without av, see Essay on Language §27. p. 45. The indicative λύει would make the application of the maxim too pointed. This is the only place where the expression, τέλη λύειν, occurs. λυσιτελεῖν is frequent in prose writers, and Euripides has repeatedly used the simple λύειν in this sense. The present expression appears to be an etymological analysis of λυσιτελέω. The use of λύει in El. 1005, λύει γὰρ ἡμᾶς οὐδέν, This tends not at all to free us, is not really similar. With the sentiment, cp. Hdt. 9. 16, ἐχθίστη ὀδύνη πολλὰ φρονέοντα μηδενὸς κρατέειν.

317. mvp-comment-197-1 ταῦτα γάρ γάρ assigns a reason for φεῦ, κ.τ.λ. Why do I speak thus? Because had I remembered this, which I well knew, I had not come hither.

319. mvp-comment-198-1 What is the matter? How gloomily thou comest in!' Cp. Ant. 997, τί δ᾽ ἔστιν; ὡς .. φρίσσω.

320-321. mvp-comment-199-1 Let me go home. If you grant me this, you and I will bear our part in the sequel more easily. Cp. Hdt. 1. 25, τὸν .. πόλεμον διενείκας.

322. mvp-comment-200-1 οὔτ᾽ ἔννομα Unlawful, namely, for the prophet of the state to refuse his service to the state.

322. mvp-comment-200-2 προσφιλή The correction -és may have been suggested by ἔννομον, which is against metre.

324. mvp-comment-201-1 φώνημα refers not only to the earnest entreaty in the last speech, but also to 305-315.

325. mvp-comment-202-1 It is needless to suppose an aposiopesis. The implied clause is to be sought from what precedes; viz. ταῦτ' εἶπον, or τήνδ' ἀποστερῶ φάτιν, My motive is, that I may not be in the same case with you. I see that thy word is against thy interest, and I would not fall into the same error. Cp. ὅπως μή. ὡς μηδέ here = ὡς μὴ καί, i. e. μηδὲ = μὴ δέ.

326. mvp-comment-203-1 φρονῶν γ' Referring to φροveῖν, supr. 316, which has raised Oedipus' hopes.

327. mvp-comment-204-1 ἱκτήριοι The chorus also (having been engaged in supplication in various parts of the city, supr. 19) are in the guise of suppliants.

328. mvp-comment-205-1 πάντες .. οὐ φρονεῖτ Cp. Ant. 1048, Τειρ. ἆρ' οἶδεν ἀνθρώπων τις, ἆρα φράζεται; 328-329. ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὐ μή ποτε τἄμ᾽ ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ τὰ σ᾽ ἐκφήνω κακά] But I will never disclose my evils: (I say mine) that I may not say thine. (τὰ ἐμὰ κακά, the evils that I know, τὰ σὰ κ., the evils that you have to suffer.) Unless μή in l. 329 is taken as a mere rhetorical repetition of the former μή, like οὐκ in Ant. 6, (which does not seem probable after οὐ μή, and gives a poor meaning to the preceding words, as if the motive Teiresias had for speaking were merely that he might say his say, or as if he could speak and yet be silent), the only tenable explanation of the words as they stand is (1) to take ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ τὰ σὰ as a separate clause, with the ellipse of λέγω, as in the familiar idioms ὡς ἂν εἰδῆτε (Aesch. Cho. 1021) and ἵνα μὴ εἴπω (Lat. ne dicam, Eng. 'Not to say-') Plat. Rep. 6. 487. D etc. (For ὡς ἂν μή, cp. Fr. 736, l. 11 , and, for μή postponed, Phil. 653, ὡς λίπω μή τῳ λαβεῖν. And this is probably right, although a simpler context may be obtained (2) by transposing εἴπω and changing one letter: ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὐ μή ποτε | εἴπω τάδ', ὡς ἂν μὴ τὰ σ᾽ ἐκφήνω κακά. (For τάδε = τήνδε τὴν φάτιν, cp. infr. 377.) τἄμ᾽ ἐξενείπω was the conjecture of Brunck.

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Teiresias Alas, how terrible it is to have wisdom when it does not benefit those who have it. I knew this well, but let it slip from my mind: otherwise I would not have come here.

Oedipus What now? How disheartened you have come!

Teiresias Let me go home. For you will bear your own burden to the end, and I will bear mine, if you consent. 320

Oedipus Your words are strange and unkind to the state which nurtured you, since you withhold this response.

Teiresias I see that you, for your part, speak inappropriately. Therefore do not speak, so I will not suffer the same. 325

Oedipus For the love of the gods, do not turn away, if you have knowledge: all we suppliants implore you on our knees.

Teiresias For all of you are without knowledge. But never will I reveal my troubles—not to call them yours.

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Οἰδίπους τί δ᾽ ἔστιν; ὡς ἄθυμος εἰσελήλυθας.

Τειρεσίας ἄφες μ᾿ ἐς οἴκους· ῥᾷστα γὰρ τὸ σόν τε σὺ 320 κἀγὼ διοίσω τοὐμόν, ἢν ἐμοὶ πίθῃ.

Οἰδίπους οὔτ᾽ ἔννομ' εἶπας οὔτε προσφιλῆ πόλει τῇδ᾽, ἥ σ᾽ ἔθρεψε, τήνδ' ἀποστερῶν φάτιν.

Τειρεσίας ὁρῶ γὰρ οὐδὲ σοὶ τὸ σὸν φώνημ᾿ ἰὸν πρὸς καιρόν· ὡς οὖν μηδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταυτὸν πάθω. 325

Οἰδίπους μὴ πρὸς θεῶν φρονῶν γ᾽ ἀποστραφῇς, ἐπεὶ πάντες σε προσκυνοῦμεν οἵδ᾽ ἱκτήριοι.

Τειρεσίας πάντες γὰρ οὐ φρονεῖτʼ. ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὐ μή ποτε τἄμ᾿ ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ τὰ σ᾽ ἐκφήνω κακά.

Οἰδίπους

Τειρεσίας φεῦ φεῦ, φρονεῖν ὡς δεινὸν ἔνθα μὴ τέλη λύῃ φρονοῦντι· ταῦτα γὰρ καλῶς ἐγὼ εἰδὼς διώλεσʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἂν δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην.

Οἰδίπους τί δʼ ἔστιν; ὡς ἄθυμος εἰσελήλυθας.

Τειρεσίας ἄφες μʼ ἐς οἴκους· ῥᾷστα γὰρ τὸ σόν τε σὺ 320 κἀγὼ διοίσω τοὐμόν, ἢν ἐμοὶ πίθῃ.

Οἰδίπους οὔτʼ ἔννομʼ εἶπας οὔτε προσφιλῆ πόλει τῇδʼ, ἥ σʼ ἔθρεψε, τήνδʼ ἀποστερῶν φάτιν.

Τειρεσίας ὁρῶ γὰρ οὐδὲ σοὶ τὸ σὸν φώνημʼ ἰὸν πρὸς καιρόν· ὡς οὖν μηδʼ ἐγὼ ταὐτὸν πάθω— 325

Οἰδίπους μὴ πρὸς θεῶν φρονῶν γʼ ἀποστραφῇς, ἐπεὶ πάντες σε προσκυνοῦμεν οἵδʼ ἱκτήριοι.

Τειρεσίας πάντες γὰρ οὐ φρονεῖτʼ· ἐγὼ δʼ οὐ μή ποτε τἄμʼ, ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ τὰ σʼ, ἐκφήνω κακά.

TIRESIAS Ah! terrible is knowledge to the man Whom knowledge profits not. This well I knew, But had forgotten. Else I ne’er had come.

OED Why dost thou bring a mind so full of gloom?

TI Let me go home. Thy part and mine to-day 320 Will best be borne, if thou obey me in that.

OED Disloyal and ungrateful! to deprive The state that reared thee of thine utterance now.

TI Thy speech, I see, is foiling thine intent; And I would shield me from the like mishap. () 325

OED Nay, if thou knowest, turn thee not away: All here with suppliant hands importune thee.

TI Yea, for ye all are blind. Never will I Reveal my woe;—mine, that I say not, thine.

OED

Teiresias. Weh! Schrecklich ist es, weise sein, wo's keinen Lohn Dem Weisen bringt! Ich habe dieses wohl gewußt; Doch nun vergaß ich's; sonst erschien ich nimmer hier.

Oedipus. Was ist geschehen, daß du so voll Zagen kommst? 320

Teiresias. Laß mich nach Hause! Leichter trägst du dein Geschick Und ich das meine, wenn du diesem Rathe folgst.

Oedipus. Du redest nicht verständig, noch als Freund der Stadt, 1 Die dich erzogen, weigerst du ihr deinen Spruch.

Teiresias. Auch dir ja, wohl erkenn' ich's, dient dein Reden nicht 325 Zum Segen: Gleiches, fürcht' ich, widerfährt auch mir (will gehen.)

Oedipus. Bei'm Himmel, weißt du's, wende dich nicht ab von uns: Zu deinen Füßen fleh'n wir all' um Hülfe hier.

Teiresias. Ihr alle seid ja Thoren; ich enthülle Nichts, Damit ich dein Verderben nicht enthüllen muß. 330

Oedipus.

despise.

Chorus

Behold he comes, who will discover all. The holy prophet. See ! they lead him hither ; He knows the truth and will reveal it to us.

Tiresias Alas ! what misery it is to know When knowledge is thus fatal ! O Tiresias ! Thou art undone ! Would I had never come !

Oedipus What sayst thou ? Whence this strange dejection ? Speak. Till. Let me be gone ; 'twere better for us both That I retire in silence : be advised.

This god, to gods an odious name, This lurid Pest destroy !

Oedipus

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Teiresias

Alas, how terrible it is to have wisdom when it does not benefit those who have it. I knew this well, but let it slip from my mind: otherwise I would not have come here.

Oedipus

What now? How disheartened you have come!

Teiresias

Let me go home. For you will bear your own burden to the end, and I will bear mine, if you consent.
320

Oedipus

Your words are strange and unkind to the state which nurtured you, since you withhold this response.

Teiresias

I see that you, for your part, speak inappropriately.

Therefore do not speak, so I will not suffer the same.
325

Oedipus

For the love of the gods, do not turn away, if you have knowledge: all we suppliants implore you on our knees.

Teiresias

For all of you are without knowledge. But never will I reveal my troubles—not to call them yours.

Οἰδίπους

τί δ᾽ ἔστιν; ὡς ἄθυμος εἰσελήλυθας.

Τειρεσίας

ἄφες μ᾿ ἐς οἴκους· ῥᾷστα γὰρ τὸ σόν τε σὺ
320

κἀγὼ διοίσω τοὐμόν, ἢν ἐμοὶ πίθῃ.

Οἰδίπους

οὔτ᾽ ἔννομ' εἶπας οὔτε προσφιλῆ πόλει

τῇδ᾽, ἥ σ᾽ ἔθρεψε, τήνδ' ἀποστερῶν φάτιν.

Τειρεσίας

ὁρῶ γὰρ οὐδὲ σοὶ τὸ σὸν φώνημ᾿ ἰὸν

πρὸς καιρόν· ὡς οὖν μηδ᾽ ἐγὼ ταυτὸν πάθω.
325

Οἰδίπους

μὴ πρὸς θεῶν φρονῶν γ᾽ ἀποστραφῇς, ἐπεὶ

πάντες σε προσκυνοῦμεν οἵδ᾽ ἱκτήριοι.

Τειρεσίας

πάντες γὰρ οὐ φρονεῖτʼ. ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὐ μή ποτε

τἄμ᾿ ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ τὰ σ᾽ ἐκφήνω κακά.

Τειρεσίας

φεῦ φεῦ, φρονεῖν ὡς δεινὸν ἔνθα μὴ τέλη

λύῃ φρονοῦντι· ταῦτα γὰρ καλῶς ἐγὼ

εἰδὼς διώλεσʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἂν δεῦρʼ ἱκόμην.

Οἰδίπους

τί δʼ ἔστιν; ὡς ἄθυμος εἰσελήλυθας.

Τειρεσίας

ἄφες μʼ ἐς οἴκους· ῥᾷστα γὰρ τὸ σόν τε σὺ
320

κἀγὼ διοίσω τοὐμόν, ἢν ἐμοὶ πίθῃ.

Οἰδίπους

οὔτʼ ἔννομʼ εἶπας οὔτε προσφιλῆ πόλει

τῇδʼ, ἥ σʼ ἔθρεψε, τήνδʼ ἀποστερῶν φάτιν.

Τειρεσίας

ὁρῶ γὰρ οὐδὲ σοὶ τὸ σὸν φώνημʼ ἰὸν

πρὸς καιρόν· ὡς οὖν μηδʼ ἐγὼ ταὐτὸν πάθω—
325

Οἰδίπους

μὴ πρὸς θεῶν φρονῶν γʼ ἀποστραφῇς, ἐπεὶ

πάντες σε προσκυνοῦμεν οἵδʼ ἱκτήριοι.

Τειρεσίας

πάντες γὰρ οὐ φρονεῖτʼ· ἐγὼ δʼ οὐ μή ποτε

τἄμʼ, ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ τὰ σʼ, ἐκφήνω κακά.

TIRESIAS

Ah! terrible is knowledge to the man

Whom knowledge profits not. This well I knew,

But had forgotten. Else I ne’er had come.

OED

Why dost thou bring a mind so full of gloom?

TI

Let me go home. Thy part and mine to-day
320

Will best be borne, if thou obey me in that.

OED

Disloyal and ungrateful! to deprive

The state that reared thee of thine utterance now.

TI

Thy speech, I see, is foiling thine intent;

And I would shield me from the like mishap. ()
325

OED

Nay, if thou knowest, turn thee not away:

All here with suppliant hands importune thee.

TI

Yea, for ye all are blind. Never will I

Reveal my woe;—mine, that I say not, thine.

Teiresias.

Weh! Schrecklich ist es, weise sein, wo's keinen Lohn

Dem Weisen bringt! Ich habe dieses wohl gewußt;

Doch nun vergaß ich's; sonst erschien ich nimmer hier.

Oedipus.

Was ist geschehen, daß du so voll Zagen kommst?
320

Teiresias.

Laß mich nach Hause! Leichter trägst du dein Geschick

Und ich das meine, wenn du diesem Rathe folgst.

Oedipus.

Du redest nicht verständig, noch als Freund der Stadt,¹

Die dich erzogen, weigerst du ihr deinen Spruch.

Teiresias.

Auch dir ja, wohl erkenn' ich's, dient dein Reden nicht
325

Zum Segen: Gleiches, fürcht' ich, widerfährt auch mir

(will gehen.)

Oedipus.

Bei'm Himmel, weißt du's, wende dich nicht ab von uns:

Zu deinen Füßen fleh'n wir all' um Hülfe hier.

Teiresias.

Ihr alle seid ja Thoren; ich enthülle Nichts,

Damit ich dein Verderben nicht enthüllen muß.
330

Behold he comes, who will discover all.

The holy prophet. See ! they lead him hither ;

He knows the truth and will reveal it to us.

Tiresias

Alas ! what misery it is to know

When knowledge is thus fatal ! O Tiresias !

Thou art undone ! Would I had never come !

Oedipus

What sayst thou ? Whence this strange

dejection ? Speak.

Till. Let me be gone ; 'twere better for us both

That I retire in silence : be advised.

This god, to gods an odious name,

This lurid Pest destroy !