Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, Richard Jebb (Translator), 429

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Oedipus

Are these taunts to be endured from him?

Be gone, to your ruin; be gone this instant! Will you not turn your back and leave this house?
430

Teiresias

I would not have come if you had not called me.

Oedipus

I did not know you would speak foolishly, for otherwise it would have been a long time before I summoned you to my home.

Teiresias

I was born like this—as you think, a fool, but in the opinion of the parents who bore you, quite sane.
435

Oedipus

What parents? Wait. What man is my father?

Teiresias

This day will reveal your birth and bring your ruin.

Oedipus

What riddles, what dark words you always say.

Teiresias

Are you not the best at unravelling mysteries?
440

Oedipus

Reproach me in what you will find me to be great.

Teiresias

Yet it was just that fortune that undid you.

Oedipus

But if it saved this city I care not.

Teiresias

I will take my leave. You, boy, lead me.

Oedipus

Yes, let him take you: while here, you are a hindrance, a source of trouble. When you have gone, you will vex me no more.
445

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)) — 429 focus

ἦ ταῦτα δῆτ᾽ ἀνεκτὰ πρὸς τούτου κλύειν;

οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐχὶ θᾶσσον; οὐ πάλιν
430

ἄψορρος οἴκων τῶνδ᾽ ἀποστραφεὶς ἄπει;

Τειρεσίας

οὐδ᾽ ἱκόμην ἔγωγ᾽ ἄν, εἰ σὺ μὴ ᾿κάλεις.

Οἰδίπους

οὐ γάρ τί σ' ᾔδη μῶρα φωνήσοντ᾽, ἐπεὶ

σχολῇ σ᾽ ἂν οἴκους τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐστειλάμην.

Τειρεσίας

ἡμεῖς τοιοίδ᾽ ἔφυμεν, ὡς μὲν σοὶ δοκεῖ,
435

μῶροι, γονεῦσι δ', οἵ σ᾽ ἔφυσαν, ἔμφρονες.

Οἰδίπους

ποίοισι; μεῖνον. τίς δέ μ' ἐκφύει βροτῶν;

Τειρεσίας

ἥδ᾽ ἡμέρα φύσει σε καὶ διαφθερεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

ὡς πάντ᾿ ἄγαν αἰνικτὰ κἀσαφῆ λέγεις.

Τειρεσίας

οὔκουν σὺ ταῦτ᾽ ἄριστος εὑρίσκειν ἔφυς;
440

Οἰδίπους

τοιαῦτ᾽ ὀνείδιζ', οἷς ἔμ' εὑρήσεις μέγαν.

Τειρεσίας

αὕτη γε μέντοι σ᾽ ἡ τύχη διώλεσεν.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ πόλιν τήνδ᾽ ἐξέσωσ', οὔ μοι μέλει.

Τειρεσίας

ἄπειμι τοίνυν· καὶ σύ, παῖ, κόμιζέ με.

Οἰδίπους

κομιζέτω δῆθ᾽· ὡς παρὼν σύ μ᾿ ἐμποδὼν
445

ὀχλεῖς, συθείς τ᾽ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ἀλγύναις πλέον.

Τειρεσίας

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 429 focus

Οἰδίπους

ἦ ταῦτα δῆτʼ ἀνεκτὰ πρὸς τούτου κλύειν;

οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐχὶ θᾶσσον; οὐ πάλιν
430

ἄψορρος οἴκων τῶνδʼ ἀποστραφεὶς ἄπει;

Τειρεσίας

οὐδʼ ἱκόμην ἔγωγʼ ἄν, εἰ σὺ μὴ ʼκάλεις.

Οἰδίπους

οὐ γάρ τί σʼ ᾔδη μῶρα φωνήσοντʼ, ἐπεὶ

σχολῇ σʼ ἂν οἴκους τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐστειλάμην.

Τειρεσίας

ἡμεῖς τοιοίδʼ ἔφυμεν, ὡς μὲν σοὶ δοκεῖ,
435

μῶροι, γονεῦσι δʼ, οἵ σʼ ἔφυσαν, ἔμφρονες.

Οἰδίπους

ποίοισι; μεῖνον, τίς δέ μʼ ἐκφύει βροτῶν;

Τειρεσίας

ἥδʼ ἡμέρα φύσει σε καὶ διαφθερεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

ὡς πάντʼ ἄγαν αἰνικτὰ κἀσαφῆ λέγεις.

Τειρεσίας

οὔκουν σὺ ταῦτʼ ἄριστος εὑρίσκειν ἔφυς;
440

Οἰδίπους

τοιαῦτʼ ὀνείδιζʼ, οἷς ἔμʼ εὑρήσεις μέγαν.

Τειρεσίας

αὕτη γε μέντοι σʼ ἡ τύχη διώλεσεν.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ εἰ πόλιν τήνδʼ ἐξέσωσʼ, οὔ μοι μέλει.

Τειρεσίας

ἄπειμι τοίνυν· καὶ σύ, παῖ, κόμιζέ με.

Οἰδίπους

κομιζέτω δῆθʼ· ὡς παρὼν σύ γʼ ἐμποδὼν
445

ὀχλεῖς, συθείς τʼ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ἀλγύνοις πλέον.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 429 focus

Must I endure such words from him? Begone!

Off to thy ruin, and with speed! Away,
430

And take thy presence from our palace-hall!

TI

Had you not sent for me, I ne’er had come.

OED

I knew not thou wouldst utter folly here,

Else never had I brought thee to my door.

TI

To thee I am foolish, then; but to the pair
435

Who gave thee life, I was wise.

OED

Hold, go not! who?

Who gave me being?

TI

To-day shall bring to light

Thy birth and thy destruction.

OED

Wilt thou still

Speak all in riddles and dark sentences?

TI

Methought thou wert the man to find them out.
440

OED

Ay! Taunt me with the gift that makes me great.

TI

And yet this luck hath been thy overthrow.

OED

I care not, since I rescued this fair town.

TI

Then I will go. Come, sirrah, guide me forth!

OED

Be it so! For standing here you vex our eye,
445

But, you being gone, our trouble goes with you.

TI

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 429 focus

Noch lange sollt' ich dulden, was der Mann mir beut?
430

Tod über dich! Was säumst du? Wirst du nicht sofort

Zurück dich wenden, eilend flieh'n von diesem Haus?

Teiresias.

Wenn du mir nicht gerufen, kam ich wahrlich nicht.

Oedipus.

Mir ahnte nicht, du werdest Unsinn schwazen; denn

Sonst hätt' ich dich zu meinem Hause nicht bestellt.
435

Teiresias.

Ein Thor bin ich geworden, so bedünkt es dich;

Den Eltern, die dich zeugten, galt ich weise wohl.

(will gehen.)

Oedipus.

Wie? Welchen? - Bleibe! - Welcher Mensch erzeugte mich?

Teiresias.

Dich zeugt und dich vernichtet heut der eine Tag.

Oedipus.

Wie dunkel Alles, was du sagst, wie räthselhaft!
440

Teiresias.

Nun, wärst du, das zu lösen, nicht der Tüchtigste?

Oedipus.

Verhöhne das nur, wo du groß mich finden kannst!

Teiresias.

Doch dieser Glücksfall eben war dein Untergang.¹

Oedipus.

Hab' ich gerettet diese Stadt, sei's immerhin!

Teiresias.

So will ich geh'n; du, Knabe, führe mich hinweg.
445

Oedipus.

Ja, laß hinweg dich führen! Deine Gegenwart

Verwirrt nur; gehend wirst du nicht mehr lästig sein.

Teiresias.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 429 focus

Had I thought thou wouldst have thus

Insulted me, I had not called thee hither.

Tiresias

Perhaps thou holdst I'iresias as a fool

And madman ; but th/ parents thought me wise.

parents ?

Tiresias
(Edj. My parents, saidst thou ? Speak, who were my

This day, that gives thee life, shall give thee
435

death.

Oedipus

Still dark, and still perplexing are the words

Thou utter'st.

Tiresias

'Tis thy business to unriddle,

And therefore thou canst best interpret them.

Oedipus

Thou dost reproach me for my virtues.

Tiresias

They,
440

And thy good fortune, have undone thee.
440

I saved the city, I'm content.
440

Tiresias
(Edi. Since

Farewell.

Boy, lead me hence.

Oedipus

Away with him, for here

His presence but disturbs us ; being gone,
445

We shall be happier.

Tiresias

(Edipus, I go.

But first inform me, for I fear thee not,

Wherefore I came. Know then, I came to tell thee,

The man thou seekst, the man on whom thou pouredst

Thy execrations, e'en the murderer

Of Laius, now is here — a seeming stranger

And yet a Theban. He shall suffer soon

For all his crimes ; from light and affluence driven

To penury and darkness, poor and blind.

Propped on his staff, and from his native land

Expelled, I see him in a foreign clime

A helpless wanderer ; to his sons at once

A father and a brother ; child and husband

Of her from whom he sprang. Adulterous,

Incestuous parricide, now fare thee well !

Go, learn the truth, and if it be not so.

Say I have ne'er deserved the name of prophet.

When will the guilty wretch appear.

Whom Delphi's sacred oracle demands ;

Author of crimes too black for mortal ear,

Dipping in royal blood his sacrilegious hands'?

Swift as the storm by rapid whirlwinds driven ;

Quick let him fly th' impending wrath of Heaven ;

For lo ! the angry son of Jove,

Armed with red lightnings from above.

Pursues the murderer with immortal hate,

And round him spreads the snares of unrelenting fate.

From steep Parnassus' rocky cave,

Covered with snow, came forth tlie di-ead command ;

Apollo thence his sacred mandate gave,

To search the man of blood through every land :

Silent and sad, the weary wanderer roves

O'er pathless rocks and solitary groves,

Hoping to 'scape the wrath divine.

Denounced from great Apollo's shrine ;

Vain hopes to 'scape the fate by Heaven decreed.

For vengeance hovers still o'er his devoted head.

Tiresias
Strophe I. Antistrophe i. Strojyhe 2.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 429 focus

From him these piercing insults must I bear?

Perdition on thee! hence, away, begone.

Tiresias

TIR. I had not come, hadst thou not sent for me.

Oedipus

I knew thee not in speech so void of sense,

Or here thy presence I had scarce required.

Tiresias

TIR. Such thou may'st deem my spirit, void of sense:
435

But they, who gave thee birth, esteem'd me wise.

Oedipus

Who are they? Stay. Of those that breathe to whom

Owe I my birth?

Tiresias

Thy birth this day will show,

This day will show the horrors of thy fate.

Oedipus
TIR.

How dark, how full of mystery all thy words!

Tiresias

Such to unfold well suits thy piercing mind.
440

Oedipus
TIR. TIR. TIR.

My glory thou wou'dst turn to my reproach.

Tiresias

TIR. That glory hath brought ruin on thy head.

Oedipus

If I have saved this realm, I reck not that.

Tiresias

Well then, I now depart. Boy, lead me hence.

Oedipus

Ay, let him lead thee; for thy presence throws
445

Confusion on th' affairs that now engage

Tiresias

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-299-1 οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; ¹

mvp-comment-299-2 πάλιν ἄψορρος ² οἴκων τῶνδ’ ³ ἀποστραφείς ⁴

mvp-comment-301-1 σχολῇ σ’ ἄν ⁵

mvp-comment-301-2 οἴκους ⁶

mvp-comment-301-3 ἐστειλάμην ⁷

mvp-comment-302-1 τοιοίδ’ ⁸ μῶροι … ἔμφρονες ⁹

mvp-comment-302-2 ὡς μὲν σοὶ δοκεῖ. σοὶ ¹⁰ σοὶ ¹¹ γονεῦσι ¹² δοκεῖ ¹³ σοὶ ¹⁴ δοκεῖ ¹⁵ ὡς μὲν σοὶ ¹⁶ ὡς δοκεῖ ¹⁷

mvp-comment-302-3 γονεῦσι ¹⁸

mvp-comment-303-1 ἐκφύει ¹⁹

mvp-comment-304-1 οὔκουν κ.τ.λ. ²⁰

mvp-comment-304-2 τοιαῦτ’ ὀνείδιζέ (μοι ²¹

mvp-comment-304-3 τοιαῦτα … οἷς ²²

mvp-comment-305-1 αὕτη γε μέντοι ²³ γε ²⁴ μέντοι ²⁵ γε ²⁶

mvp-comment-305-2 τύχη ²⁷

mvp-comment-305-3 ἐξέσωσ’ ²⁸

mvp-comment-306-1 κομιζέτω δῆθ’ ²⁹

mvp-comment-306-2 ἐμποδὼν ³⁰ παρὼν ³¹ σύ γε ³²

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

430. mvp-comment-260-1 The two pauses in the same line mark intense excitement.

431. mvp-comment-261-1 οἴκων The genitive is to be taken with both phrases, ἄψορρος ἄπει and ἀποστραφείς. Will you not return and begone from the house? Observe the angry repetition both of sound and meaning.

434. mvp-comment-262-1 ἐστειλάμην Would have had thee conducted to my house; referring to the διπλοί πομποί. The verb is causa- tive as in Ant. 164-165, πομποῖσιν ..

434. mvp-comment-262-2 ἔστειλα. The middle voice here expresses more of personal feeling and is in harmony with οἴκους τοὺς ἐμούς.

436. mvp-comment-263-1 οἱ σ᾽ ἔφυσαν The repetition of the same verb (ἔφυμεν, l. 435 ) is another instance of accidental tautology. Cp. infr. 519. The double phrase (γον. οἵ σ' ἔφν.) is intended to draw the attention of Oedipus to the mystery of his birth. The construction of the dative has to be supplied from ἔφυμεν, ὡς .. δοκεῖ, SC. ἐδοκοῦμεν φῦναι.

437. mvp-comment-264-1 μεῖνον. (430, note.) Teiresias had turned to go. δé connects the question immediately with the speech of Teiresias. ἐκφύει, historical present.

438. mvp-comment-265-1 This day shall give thee birth and bring thee to nought.' 441. Reproach me with these things if you will, but you will find me great in them. For the sarcastic imperative, cp. Εl. 794, ὕβριζε, κ.τ.λ.: Aj. 971, ὑβριζέτω : Aesch. Prom. 82, ἐνταῦθα νῦν ὕβριζε.

442. mvp-comment-266-1 That glory of yours has been your ruin.' τύχη refers to μέγαν. The glory of which you speak. The word is much more appropriate than τέχνη (Bentley), which implies praise, and is rather applicable to the μαντική of Teiesias than to the γνώμη of Oedipus. Gravius est τύχη ut plura complectens. Erfurdt. Cp. supr. 423, εὐπλοίας τυχών. Teiresias assigns to Fortune what Oedipus (supr. 398) attributed to Wit. Cp. Thuc. 1. 144, γνώμῃ πλείονι ἢ τύχῃ καὶ τόλμῃ μείζονι ἢ δυνάμει.

443. mvp-comment-267-1 Oedipus, although curious about his parentage, cares not to ask further about the threat of ruin, but falls back on his devotion to the state.

445. mvp-comment-268-1 ὡς .. ὀχλεῖς Being present and in our way, you trouble us. σύ is brought in to mark the antithesis. Essay on Language § 41. e. p. 79. The reading of most MSS, σύ γ', may be defended if γε belongs to the whole sentence, assenting to l. 444. 447 ff. I will tell my message ere I go, not fearing thy frown, for thou hast no power to destroy me.' The speech of Teiresias is now as clear as his former words were dark; although his meaning is still an enigma to Oedipus.

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Oedipus Are these taunts to be endured from him? Be gone, to your ruin; be gone this instant! Will you not turn your back and leave this house? 430

Teiresias I would not have come if you had not called me.

Oedipus I did not know you would speak foolishly, for otherwise it would have been a long time before I summoned you to my home.

Teiresias I was born like this—as you think, a fool, but in the opinion of the parents who bore you, quite sane. 435

Oedipus What parents? Wait. What man is my father?

Teiresias This day will reveal your birth and bring your ruin.

Oedipus What riddles, what dark words you always say.

Teiresias Are you not the best at unravelling mysteries? 440

Oedipus Reproach me in what you will find me to be great.

Teiresias Yet it was just that fortune that undid you.

Oedipus But if it saved this city I care not.

Teiresias I will take my leave. You, boy, lead me.

Oedipus Yes, let him take you: while here, you are a hindrance, a source of trouble. When you have gone, you will vex me no more. 445

Current edition Experimental

ἦ ταῦτα δῆτ᾽ ἀνεκτὰ πρὸς τούτου κλύειν; οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐχὶ θᾶσσον; οὐ πάλιν 430 ἄψορρος οἴκων τῶνδ᾽ ἀποστραφεὶς ἄπει;

Τειρεσίας οὐδ᾽ ἱκόμην ἔγωγ᾽ ἄν, εἰ σὺ μὴ ᾿κάλεις.

Οἰδίπους οὐ γάρ τί σ' ᾔδη μῶρα φωνήσοντ᾽, ἐπεὶ σχολῇ σ᾽ ἂν οἴκους τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐστειλάμην.

Τειρεσίας ἡμεῖς τοιοίδ᾽ ἔφυμεν, ὡς μὲν σοὶ δοκεῖ, 435 μῶροι, γονεῦσι δ', οἵ σ᾽ ἔφυσαν, ἔμφρονες.

Οἰδίπους ποίοισι; μεῖνον. τίς δέ μ' ἐκφύει βροτῶν;

Τειρεσίας ἥδ᾽ ἡμέρα φύσει σε καὶ διαφθερεῖ.

Οἰδίπους ὡς πάντ᾿ ἄγαν αἰνικτὰ κἀσαφῆ λέγεις.

Τειρεσίας οὔκουν σὺ ταῦτ᾽ ἄριστος εὑρίσκειν ἔφυς; 440

Οἰδίπους τοιαῦτ᾽ ὀνείδιζ', οἷς ἔμ' εὑρήσεις μέγαν.

Τειρεσίας αὕτη γε μέντοι σ᾽ ἡ τύχη διώλεσεν.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλ᾽ εἰ πόλιν τήνδ᾽ ἐξέσωσ', οὔ μοι μέλει.

Τειρεσίας ἄπειμι τοίνυν· καὶ σύ, παῖ, κόμιζέ με.

Οἰδίπους κομιζέτω δῆθ᾽· ὡς παρὼν σύ μ᾿ ἐμποδὼν 445 ὀχλεῖς, συθείς τ᾽ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ἀλγύναις πλέον.

Τειρεσίας

Οἰδίπους ἦ ταῦτα δῆτʼ ἀνεκτὰ πρὸς τούτου κλύειν; οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐχὶ θᾶσσον; οὐ πάλιν 430 ἄψορρος οἴκων τῶνδʼ ἀποστραφεὶς ἄπει;

Τειρεσίας οὐδʼ ἱκόμην ἔγωγʼ ἄν, εἰ σὺ μὴ ʼκάλεις.

Οἰδίπους οὐ γάρ τί σʼ ᾔδη μῶρα φωνήσοντʼ, ἐπεὶ σχολῇ σʼ ἂν οἴκους τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐστειλάμην.

Τειρεσίας ἡμεῖς τοιοίδʼ ἔφυμεν, ὡς μὲν σοὶ δοκεῖ, 435 μῶροι, γονεῦσι δʼ, οἵ σʼ ἔφυσαν, ἔμφρονες.

Οἰδίπους ποίοισι; μεῖνον, τίς δέ μʼ ἐκφύει βροτῶν;

Τειρεσίας ἥδʼ ἡμέρα φύσει σε καὶ διαφθερεῖ.

Οἰδίπους ὡς πάντʼ ἄγαν αἰνικτὰ κἀσαφῆ λέγεις.

Τειρεσίας οὔκουν σὺ ταῦτʼ ἄριστος εὑρίσκειν ἔφυς; 440

Οἰδίπους τοιαῦτʼ ὀνείδιζʼ, οἷς ἔμʼ εὑρήσεις μέγαν.

Τειρεσίας αὕτη γε μέντοι σʼ ἡ τύχη διώλεσεν.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλʼ εἰ πόλιν τήνδʼ ἐξέσωσʼ, οὔ μοι μέλει.

Τειρεσίας ἄπειμι τοίνυν· καὶ σύ, παῖ, κόμιζέ με.

Οἰδίπους κομιζέτω δῆθʼ· ὡς παρὼν σύ γʼ ἐμποδὼν 445 ὀχλεῖς, συθείς τʼ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ἀλγύνοις πλέον.

Must I endure such words from him? Begone! Off to thy ruin, and with speed! Away, 430 And take thy presence from our palace-hall!

TI Had you not sent for me, I ne’er had come.

OED I knew not thou wouldst utter folly here, Else never had I brought thee to my door.

TI To thee I am foolish, then; but to the pair 435 Who gave thee life, I was wise.

OED Hold, go not! who? Who gave me being?

TI To-day shall bring to light Thy birth and thy destruction.

OED Wilt thou still Speak all in riddles and dark sentences?

TI Methought thou wert the man to find them out. 440

OED Ay! Taunt me with the gift that makes me great.

TI And yet this luck hath been thy overthrow.

OED I care not, since I rescued this fair town.

TI Then I will go. Come, sirrah, guide me forth!

OED Be it so! For standing here you vex our eye, 445 But, you being gone, our trouble goes with you.

TI

Noch lange sollt' ich dulden, was der Mann mir beut? 430 Tod über dich! Was säumst du? Wirst du nicht sofort Zurück dich wenden, eilend flieh'n von diesem Haus?

Teiresias. Wenn du mir nicht gerufen, kam ich wahrlich nicht.

Oedipus. Mir ahnte nicht, du werdest Unsinn schwazen; denn Sonst hätt' ich dich zu meinem Hause nicht bestellt. 435

Teiresias. Ein Thor bin ich geworden, so bedünkt es dich; Den Eltern, die dich zeugten, galt ich weise wohl. (will gehen.)

Oedipus. Wie? Welchen? - Bleibe! - Welcher Mensch erzeugte mich?

Teiresias. Dich zeugt und dich vernichtet heut der eine Tag.

Oedipus. Wie dunkel Alles, was du sagst, wie räthselhaft! 440

Teiresias. Nun, wärst du, das zu lösen, nicht der Tüchtigste?

Oedipus. Verhöhne das nur, wo du groß mich finden kannst!

Teiresias. Doch dieser Glücksfall eben war dein Untergang. 1

Oedipus. Hab' ich gerettet diese Stadt, sei's immerhin!

Teiresias. So will ich geh'n; du, Knabe, führe mich hinweg. 445

Oedipus. Ja, laß hinweg dich führen! Deine Gegenwart Verwirrt nur; gehend wirst du nicht mehr lästig sein.

Teiresias.

Had I thought thou wouldst have thus Insulted me, I had not called thee hither.

Tiresias Perhaps thou holdst I'iresias as a fool And madman ; but th/ parents thought me wise. parents ?

Tiresias (Edj. My parents, saidst thou ? Speak, who were my This day, that gives thee life, shall give thee 435 death.

Oedipus Still dark, and still perplexing are the words Thou utter'st.

Tiresias 'Tis thy business to unriddle, And therefore thou canst best interpret them.

Oedipus Thou dost reproach me for my virtues.

Tiresias They, 440 And thy good fortune, have undone thee. 440 I saved the city, I'm content. 440

Tiresias (Edi. Since Farewell. Boy, lead me hence.

Oedipus Away with him, for here His presence but disturbs us ; being gone, 445 We shall be happier.

Oedipus

Are these taunts to be endured from him?

Be gone, to your ruin; be gone this instant! Will you not turn your back and leave this house?
430

Teiresias

I would not have come if you had not called me.

Oedipus

I did not know you would speak foolishly, for otherwise it would have been a long time before I summoned you to my home.

Teiresias

I was born like this—as you think, a fool, but in the opinion of the parents who bore you, quite sane.
435

Oedipus

What parents? Wait. What man is my father?

Teiresias

This day will reveal your birth and bring your ruin.

Oedipus

What riddles, what dark words you always say.

Teiresias

Are you not the best at unravelling mysteries?
440

Oedipus

Reproach me in what you will find me to be great.

Teiresias

Yet it was just that fortune that undid you.

Oedipus

But if it saved this city I care not.

Teiresias

I will take my leave. You, boy, lead me.

Oedipus

Yes, let him take you: while here, you are a hindrance, a source of trouble. When you have gone, you will vex me no more.
445

ἦ ταῦτα δῆτ᾽ ἀνεκτὰ πρὸς τούτου κλύειν;

οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐχὶ θᾶσσον; οὐ πάλιν
430

ἄψορρος οἴκων τῶνδ᾽ ἀποστραφεὶς ἄπει;

Τειρεσίας

οὐδ᾽ ἱκόμην ἔγωγ᾽ ἄν, εἰ σὺ μὴ ᾿κάλεις.

Οἰδίπους

οὐ γάρ τί σ' ᾔδη μῶρα φωνήσοντ᾽, ἐπεὶ

σχολῇ σ᾽ ἂν οἴκους τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐστειλάμην.

Τειρεσίας

ἡμεῖς τοιοίδ᾽ ἔφυμεν, ὡς μὲν σοὶ δοκεῖ,
435

μῶροι, γονεῦσι δ', οἵ σ᾽ ἔφυσαν, ἔμφρονες.

Οἰδίπους

ποίοισι; μεῖνον. τίς δέ μ' ἐκφύει βροτῶν;

Τειρεσίας

ἥδ᾽ ἡμέρα φύσει σε καὶ διαφθερεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

ὡς πάντ᾿ ἄγαν αἰνικτὰ κἀσαφῆ λέγεις.

Τειρεσίας

οὔκουν σὺ ταῦτ᾽ ἄριστος εὑρίσκειν ἔφυς;
440

Οἰδίπους

τοιαῦτ᾽ ὀνείδιζ', οἷς ἔμ' εὑρήσεις μέγαν.

Τειρεσίας

αὕτη γε μέντοι σ᾽ ἡ τύχη διώλεσεν.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ εἰ πόλιν τήνδ᾽ ἐξέσωσ', οὔ μοι μέλει.

Τειρεσίας

ἄπειμι τοίνυν· καὶ σύ, παῖ, κόμιζέ με.

Οἰδίπους

κομιζέτω δῆθ᾽· ὡς παρὼν σύ μ᾿ ἐμποδὼν
445

ὀχλεῖς, συθείς τ᾽ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ἀλγύναις πλέον.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ ταῦτα δῆτʼ ἀνεκτὰ πρὸς τούτου κλύειν;

οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐχὶ θᾶσσον; οὐ πάλιν
430

ἄψορρος οἴκων τῶνδʼ ἀποστραφεὶς ἄπει;

Τειρεσίας

οὐδʼ ἱκόμην ἔγωγʼ ἄν, εἰ σὺ μὴ ʼκάλεις.

Οἰδίπους

οὐ γάρ τί σʼ ᾔδη μῶρα φωνήσοντʼ, ἐπεὶ

σχολῇ σʼ ἂν οἴκους τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐστειλάμην.

Τειρεσίας

ἡμεῖς τοιοίδʼ ἔφυμεν, ὡς μὲν σοὶ δοκεῖ,
435

μῶροι, γονεῦσι δʼ, οἵ σʼ ἔφυσαν, ἔμφρονες.

Οἰδίπους

ποίοισι; μεῖνον, τίς δέ μʼ ἐκφύει βροτῶν;

Τειρεσίας

ἥδʼ ἡμέρα φύσει σε καὶ διαφθερεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

ὡς πάντʼ ἄγαν αἰνικτὰ κἀσαφῆ λέγεις.

Τειρεσίας

οὔκουν σὺ ταῦτʼ ἄριστος εὑρίσκειν ἔφυς;
440

Οἰδίπους

τοιαῦτʼ ὀνείδιζʼ, οἷς ἔμʼ εὑρήσεις μέγαν.

Τειρεσίας

αὕτη γε μέντοι σʼ ἡ τύχη διώλεσεν.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ εἰ πόλιν τήνδʼ ἐξέσωσʼ, οὔ μοι μέλει.

Τειρεσίας

ἄπειμι τοίνυν· καὶ σύ, παῖ, κόμιζέ με.

Οἰδίπους

κομιζέτω δῆθʼ· ὡς παρὼν σύ γʼ ἐμποδὼν
445

ὀχλεῖς, συθείς τʼ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ἀλγύνοις πλέον.

Must I endure such words from him? Begone!

Off to thy ruin, and with speed! Away,
430

And take thy presence from our palace-hall!

TI

Had you not sent for me, I ne’er had come.

OED

I knew not thou wouldst utter folly here,

Else never had I brought thee to my door.

TI

To thee I am foolish, then; but to the pair
435

Who gave thee life, I was wise.

OED

Hold, go not! who?

Who gave me being?

TI

To-day shall bring to light

Thy birth and thy destruction.

OED

Wilt thou still

Speak all in riddles and dark sentences?

TI

Methought thou wert the man to find them out.
440

OED

Ay! Taunt me with the gift that makes me great.

TI

And yet this luck hath been thy overthrow.

OED

I care not, since I rescued this fair town.

TI

Then I will go. Come, sirrah, guide me forth!

OED

Be it so! For standing here you vex our eye,
445

But, you being gone, our trouble goes with you.

Noch lange sollt' ich dulden, was der Mann mir beut?
430

Tod über dich! Was säumst du? Wirst du nicht sofort

Zurück dich wenden, eilend flieh'n von diesem Haus?

Teiresias.

Wenn du mir nicht gerufen, kam ich wahrlich nicht.

Oedipus.

Mir ahnte nicht, du werdest Unsinn schwazen; denn

Sonst hätt' ich dich zu meinem Hause nicht bestellt.
435

Teiresias.

Ein Thor bin ich geworden, so bedünkt es dich;

Den Eltern, die dich zeugten, galt ich weise wohl.

(will gehen.)

Oedipus.

Wie? Welchen? - Bleibe! - Welcher Mensch erzeugte mich?

Teiresias.

Dich zeugt und dich vernichtet heut der eine Tag.

Oedipus.

Wie dunkel Alles, was du sagst, wie räthselhaft!
440

Teiresias.

Nun, wärst du, das zu lösen, nicht der Tüchtigste?

Oedipus.

Verhöhne das nur, wo du groß mich finden kannst!

Teiresias.

Doch dieser Glücksfall eben war dein Untergang.¹

Oedipus.

Hab' ich gerettet diese Stadt, sei's immerhin!

Teiresias.

So will ich geh'n; du, Knabe, führe mich hinweg.
445

Oedipus.

Ja, laß hinweg dich führen! Deine Gegenwart

Verwirrt nur; gehend wirst du nicht mehr lästig sein.

Had I thought thou wouldst have thus

Insulted me, I had not called thee hither.

Tiresias

Perhaps thou holdst I'iresias as a fool

And madman ; but th/ parents thought me wise.

parents ?

Tiresias
(Edj. My parents, saidst thou ? Speak, who were my

This day, that gives thee life, shall give thee
435

death.

Oedipus

Still dark, and still perplexing are the words

Thou utter'st.

Tiresias

'Tis thy business to unriddle,

And therefore thou canst best interpret them.

Oedipus

Thou dost reproach me for my virtues.

Tiresias

They,
440

And thy good fortune, have undone thee.
440

I saved the city, I'm content.
440

Tiresias
(Edi. Since

Farewell.

Boy, lead me hence.

Oedipus

Away with him, for here

His presence but disturbs us ; being gone,
445

We shall be happier.

Tiresias
Strophe I. Antistrophe i. Strojyhe 2.

From him these piercing insults must I bear?

Perdition on thee! hence, away, begone.

Tiresias

TIR. I had not come, hadst thou not sent for me.

Oedipus

I knew thee not in speech so void of sense,

Or here thy presence I had scarce required.

Tiresias

TIR. Such thou may'st deem my spirit, void of sense:
435

But they, who gave thee birth, esteem'd me wise.

Oedipus

Who are they? Stay. Of those that breathe to whom

Owe I my birth?