Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, Richard Jebb (Translator), 660

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Chorus

No, by the god that stands at the head of all the host of the gods, no, by the sun. Unblest, unbefriended, may I die the worst possible death, if I have this thought!
660

But my unhappy soul is worn by the withering of the land, as well as by the thought that our old sorrows should be crowned by new ones arising from the two of you.
665

Oedipus

Then let him go, though I am surely doomed to be killed

or thrust dishonored from the land. Your words, not his, move me to compassion; but he, wherever he be, shall be hated.
670

Creon

You are truly sullen in yielding, as you are vehement in the excesses of your wrath. But such natures are

justly most difficult for themselves to bear.
675

Oedipus

Will you not be gone and leave me in peace?

Creon

I will go on my way. I have found you undiscerning, but in the view of these men I am just. He exits.

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)) — 660 focus

οὐ τὸν πάντων θεῶν θεὸν πρόμον
660

Ἅλιον· ἐπεὶ ἄθεος ἄφιλος ὅ τι πύματον

ὀλοίμαν, φρόνησιν εἰ τάνδ᾽ ἔχω.

ἀλλά μοι δυσμόρῳ γᾶ φθίνουσα
665

τρύχει ψυχάν, *τάδ᾽ εἰ κακοῖς κακὰ

προσάψει τοῖς πάλαι τὰ πρὸς σφῶν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁ δ᾽ οὖν ἰτω, κεἰ χρή με παντελῶς θανεῖν,

ἢ γῆς ἄτιμον τῆσδ᾽ ἀπωσθῆναι βίᾳ.
670

τὸ γὰρ σόν, οὐ τὸ τοῦδ᾽, ἐποικτείρω στόμα

ἐλεινόν· οὗτος δ᾽, ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ, στυγήσεται.

Κρέων

στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δ᾽, ὅταν

θυμοῦ περάσῃς, αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις

αὐταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675

Οἰδίπους

οὔκουν μ᾽ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἴσος.

α

Χορός

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 660 focus

Χορός

οὐ τὸν πάντων θεῶν θεὸν πρόμον
660

Ἅλιον· ἐπεὶ ἄθεος ἄφιλος ὅ τι πύματον

ὀλοίμαν, φρόνησιν εἰ τάνδʼ ἔχω.

ἀλλά μοι δυσμόρῳ γᾶ φθινὰς
665

τρύχει ψυχάν, τάδʼ εἰ κακοῖς κακὰ

προσάψει τοῖς πάλαι τὰ πρὸς σφῷν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁ δʼ οὖν ἴτω, κεἰ χρή με παντελῶς θανεῖν

ἢ γῆς ἄτιμον τῆσδʼ ἀπωσθῆναι βίᾳ.
670

τὸ γὰρ σόν, οὐ τὸ τοῦδʼ, ἐποικτίρω στόμα

ἐλεινόν· οὗτος δʼ ἔνθʼ ἂν ᾖ στυγήσεται.

Κρέων

στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δʼ, ὅταν

θυμοῦ περάσῃς· αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις

αὑταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675

Οἰδίπους

οὔκουν μʼ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 660 focus

No, by the Sun I swear,
660

Vaunt-courier of the host of heaven.
660

For may I die the last of deaths,

Unblest of God or friend,

If e’er such thought were mine.

But oh! this pining land
665

Afflicts my sorrow-burdened soul,

To think that to her past and present woe

She must add this, which springs to her from you.

OED

Then let him range, though I must die outright,

Or be thrust forth with violence from the land!
670

—Not for his voice, but thine, which wrings my heart:

He, wheresoe’er he live, shall have my hate.

CR

You show yourself as sullen when you yield,

As unendurable in your fury’s height.

Such natures justly give themselves most pain.
675

OED

Let me alone, then, and begone!

CR

I go,

Untainted in their sight, though thou art blind.

CH. 1

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 660 focus

Nein, bei'm Gott, aller Götter erstem, dem Helios!¹

Freundlos, ohne Gott, mög' in Graus

Ich hinsterben, heg' ich solch argen Sinn!

Doch das Land schmerzt mich tief, das in Sammer schwindet,²

Wenn sich noch zur alten Noth
655

Gesellt dies neue Leid von euch her.

Oedipus.

So mag er gehen, müßt' ich ganz verderben auch,

Und würd' ich ehrlos mit Gewalt vom Land gejagt.

Die Klage deines Mundes, nicht die seine, stimmt

Mich milder; dieser, wo er sei, bleibt mir verhaßt.
660

Kreon.

Voll Hasses, seh' ich, gibst du nach; doch wann der Zorn

Verbraust, bereust du. Solcher Art Naturen sind

Sich selbst mit Recht unleidlich und die herbste Qual.

Oedipus.

So laß mich und entferne dich!

Kreon.

Ich eile fort,

Von dir verkannt, vor diesen aber rein, wie sonst.
665
Oedipus. Jokaste. Der Chor. (ab.)

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 660 focus

No ; by yon leader of the heavenly host,
660

iao

Th' immortal sun, 1 liail not such a thought ;

I only felt for Thebes' distressful state,
665

And would not have it by domestic strife

Embittered thus.

Oedipus

Why, let liim then depart :

If G^dipus must die, or leave his country

For shameful exile, be it so ; 1 yield
670

To thy request, not his ; for hateful still

Shall Cieon ever be.

Creon

Thy stubborn soul

Bends with reluctance, and when anger fiies it

Is terrible ; but natures formed like thine

Are their own punishment.
675

Oedipus

Wilt thou not hence 1

I go ; thou knowst me not ;

But these will do me justice. [Exit Creon.

Jocasta
Scene IV.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 660 focus

No: by the brightest of the pow'rs of heav'n,
660

The Sun, of every god, of every friend
660

Abandon'd may I perish, sunk in deep

Perdition, if I e'er had such a thought.

My country's ruin rends my bleeding heart:
665

And greater were my grief, to former ills,

If ills were added from your contest sprung.

Oedipus

Then let him go, e'en though I needs must die,

Or from this country with disgrace be driven.
670

Thy mournful plea, not his, my pity moves;

Him shall my hate, where'er he goes, pursue..

Creon

Harsh art thou e'en in yielding; when thy rage

Works its fell purpose, dreadful: souls like thine

Justly bring keenest tortures on themselves.
675

Oedipus

Then leave me to myself: begone.

Creon

I go,

To thee perchance not known; but still by these,

Just to my innocence, in honour held.

Chorus
CEDIPUS, JOCASTA, CHORUS.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-415-1 οὐ τὸν ¹

mvp-comment-415-2 πρόμον ²

mvp-comment-416-1 ὅ τι πύματόν ³ ὀλοίμαν ⁴

mvp-comment-417-1 τὰ δ’—σφῷν ⁵ τὰ δ’ ⁶ γᾶ φθίνουσα ⁷ τάδ’ ⁸

mvp-comment-417-2 προσάψει ⁹ τὰ δ’ ¹⁰

mvp-comment-418-1 ὁ δ’ οὖν ¹¹

mvp-comment-419-1 ἐλεινόν ¹²

mvp-comment-419-2 στυγήσεται ¹³

mvp-comment-420-1 στυγνὸς … περάσῃς ¹⁴

mvp-comment-420-2 βαρὺς ¹⁵

mvp-comment-420-3 περάσῃς ¹⁶

mvp-comment-420-4 θυμοῦ ¹⁷ μὲν ¹⁸ δὲ ¹⁹

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

660. mvp-comment-386-1 οὐ τόν Cp. 1088, Ant. 758, Ε1. 1063, 1239, Eur. Ion 870.

660. mvp-comment-386-2 πρόμον Foremost of the hosts of heaven. It is not easy to say in what sense the sun is spoken of as first or foremost. He is invoked as the god who brings all things to light (Hymn. Hom. Dem. 62, θεῶν σκοπὸν ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν: Il. 3.277, Ἠέλιός θ᾽, ὃς πάντ᾽ ἐφορᾶς καὶ πάντ᾽ ἐπακούεις), and with reference to the intention of the person speaking, may be regarded as first of Gods; i. e. the author of light and illumination in all things. Cp. O. C. 868-870, ὁ πάντα λεύσσων “Ἥλιος δοίη βίον, κ.τ.λ. Or he is imagined as the vanguard of Heaven, standing before the rest as the champion. Welcker compares Fr. 875, Ἠέ- λιος οἰκτείρειέ με, | ὃν οἱ σοφοὶ λέγουσι γεννητὴν θεῶν | καὶ πατέρα πάντων. But this is a philosophical conceit, which could not properly find place here.

661. mvp-comment-387-1 ὅ τι πύματον i. e. as the Scholiast explains, ἀπώλειαν ἥτις ἐσχάτη. Cp. supr. 344. For πύματον, cp. O. С. 1235, ἐπιλέλογχε πύματον.

665. mvp-comment-388-1 φθίνουσα here does not correspond with the line 694 in the antistrophe. Dindorf has therefore proposed to read φθινάς for φθίνουσα. But as a still slighter alteration in the antistrophe, πόνοισι for πόνοις, reconciles the two lines, it has been adopted. For the combination of cretic and trochaic metre, cp. 1. 651. καὶ in 666 is against metre.

667. mvp-comment-389-1 προσάψει Sc. γᾶ. If she is to add to her former evils these which come from you. Cp. Eur. Med. 78, εἰ κακὸν προσοίσομεν νέον παλαιῷ. Ε. on L. p. 52.

672. mvp-comment-390-1 ἐλεινόν Which does move me. The adjective is so placed, with pathos, in order to increase the antithesis to what follows. Essay on Language § 23. p. 37.

673. mvp-comment-391-1 You show yourself to be sullen in yielding. ὤν is dropped dropped or absorbed in the participle. στυγνός echoes στυγήσεται and has a neuter meaning = tristis, morose.

673. mvp-comment-391-2 βαρὺς δ', ὅταν θυμοῦ περάσῃς And intolerable when you exceed in wrath. θυμοῦ is genitive of place, like σοφίας in πόρρω σοφίας ἐλαύνειν (Plat. Crat. 410 E). Essay on Language p 16, 3, d. βαρύς expresses the something dangerous in a passionate man. Cp. 546, Ant. 767, νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς. The other explanation: You are dangerous even when you come to an end of your wrath (ὅταν ἐπὶ πέρας ἔλθῃς τῆς ὀργῆς Schol.)-is objectionable on two grounds-(1) because presenting a mere repetition under the form of antithesis; (2) because θυμοῦ περᾶν, in the sense of to pass out of anger, is too harsh for Sophocles. Also (3) because some Greek word is needed to give the sense of even. The use of περâν in either case is metaphorical. For περᾶν, to go far, cp. О. С. 155, περῖς γάρ, περᾷς.

674-675. mvp-comment-392-1 Nature justly ordains that such dispositions shall be most grievous to themselves, i. e. ἑαυταῖς μάλιστα ἀλγειναί.

676. mvp-comment-393-1 οὔκουν 'Will you not, then,'i. e. Since I am so disagreeable.

Sophocles Oedipus Tyrannus 660

Richard Jebb (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Oedipus

Then let him go, though I am surely doomed to be killed

or thrust dishonored from the land. Your words, not his, move me to compassion; but he, wherever he be, shall be hated.
670

Creon

You are truly sullen in yielding, as you are vehement in the excesses of your wrath. But such natures are

justly most difficult for themselves to bear.
675

Oedipus

Will you not be gone and leave me in peace?

Creon

I will go on my way. I have found you undiscerning, but in the view of these men I am just. He exits.

Current edition Experimental

Κρέων

στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δ᾽, ὅταν

θυμοῦ περάσῃς, αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις

αὐταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675

Οἰδίπους

οὔκουν μ᾽ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἴσος.

α

Χορός

Κρέων

στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δʼ, ὅταν

θυμοῦ περάσῃς· αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις

αὑταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675

Οἰδίπους

οὔκουν μʼ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.

OED

Then let him range, though I must die outright,

Or be thrust forth with violence from the land!
670

—Not for his voice, but thine, which wrings my heart:

He, wheresoe’er he live, shall have my hate.

CR

You show yourself as sullen when you yield,

As unendurable in your fury’s height.

Such natures justly give themselves most pain.
675

OED

Let me alone, then, and begone!

CR

I go,

Untainted in their sight, though thou art blind.

CH. 1

Nein, bei'm Gott, aller Götter erstem, dem Helios!¹

Freundlos, ohne Gott, mög' in Graus

Ich hinsterben, heg' ich solch argen Sinn!

Doch das Land schmerzt mich tief, das in Sammer schwindet,²

Wenn sich noch zur alten Noth
655

Gesellt dies neue Leid von euch her.

Oedipus.

So mag er gehen, müßt' ich ganz verderben auch,

Und würd' ich ehrlos mit Gewalt vom Land gejagt.

Die Klage deines Mundes, nicht die seine, stimmt

Mich milder; dieser, wo er sei, bleibt mir verhaßt.
660

Kreon.

Voll Hasses, seh' ich, gibst du nach; doch wann der Zorn

Verbraust, bereust du. Solcher Art Naturen sind

Sich selbst mit Recht unleidlich und die herbste Qual.

Oedipus.

So laß mich und entferne dich!

Kreon.

Ich eile fort,

Von dir verkannt, vor diesen aber rein, wie sonst.
665
Oedipus. Jokaste. Der Chor. (ab.)

Der Chor.

No ; by yon leader of the heavenly host,
660

iao

Th' immortal sun, 1 liail not such a thought ;

I only felt for Thebes' distressful state,
665

And would not have it by domestic strife

Embittered thus.

Oedipus

Why, let liim then depart :

If G^dipus must die, or leave his country

For shameful exile, be it so ; 1 yield
670

To thy request, not his ; for hateful still

Shall Cieon ever be.

Creon

Thy stubborn soul

Bends with reluctance, and when anger fiies it

Is terrible ; but natures formed like thine

Are their own punishment.
675

Oedipus

Wilt thou not hence 1

I go ; thou knowst me not ;

But these will do me justice. [Exit Creon.

Jocasta
Scene IV.

Oedipus

Then let him go, e'en though I needs must die,

Or from this country with disgrace be driven.
670

Thy mournful plea, not his, my pity moves;

Him shall my hate, where'er he goes, pursue..

Creon

Harsh art thou e'en in yielding; when thy rage

Works its fell purpose, dreadful: souls like thine

Justly bring keenest tortures on themselves.
675

Oedipus

Then leave me to myself: begone.

Creon

I go,

To thee perchance not known; but still by these,

Just to my innocence, in honour held.

Chorus
CEDIPUS, JOCASTA, CHORUS.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Oedipus Then let him go, though I am surely doomed to be killed or thrust dishonored from the land. Your words, not his, move me to compassion; but he, wherever he be, shall be hated. 670

Creon You are truly sullen in yielding, as you are vehement in the excesses of your wrath. But such natures are justly most difficult for themselves to bear. 675

Oedipus Will you not be gone and leave me in peace?

Creon I will go on my way. I have found you undiscerning, but in the view of these men I am just. He exits.

Current edition Experimental

Κρέων στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δ᾽, ὅταν θυμοῦ περάσῃς, αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις αὐταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν. 675

Οἰδίπους οὔκουν μ᾽ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων πορεύσομαι, σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἴσος. α

Χορός

Κρέων στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δʼ, ὅταν θυμοῦ περάσῃς· αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις αὑταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν. 675

Οἰδίπους οὔκουν μʼ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων πορεύσομαι, σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.

OED Then let him range, though I must die outright, Or be thrust forth with violence from the land! 670 —Not for his voice, but thine, which wrings my heart: He, wheresoe’er he live, shall have my hate.

CR You show yourself as sullen when you yield, As unendurable in your fury’s height. Such natures justly give themselves most pain. 675

OED Let me alone, then, and begone!

CR I go, Untainted in their sight, though thou art blind.

CH. 1

Nein, bei'm Gott, aller Götter erstem, dem Helios! 1 Freundlos, ohne Gott, mög' in Graus Ich hinsterben, heg' ich solch argen Sinn! Doch das Land schmerzt mich tief, das in Sammer schwindet, 2 Wenn sich noch zur alten Noth 655 Gesellt dies neue Leid von euch her.

Oedipus. So mag er gehen, müßt' ich ganz verderben auch, Und würd' ich ehrlos mit Gewalt vom Land gejagt. Die Klage deines Mundes, nicht die seine, stimmt Mich milder; dieser, wo er sei, bleibt mir verhaßt. 660

Kreon. Voll Hasses, seh' ich, gibst du nach; doch wann der Zorn Verbraust, bereust du. Solcher Art Naturen sind Sich selbst mit Recht unleidlich und die herbste Qual.

Oedipus. So laß mich und entferne dich!

Kreon. Ich eile fort, Von dir verkannt, vor diesen aber rein, wie sonst. 665 Oedipus. Jokaste. Der Chor. (ab.)

Der Chor.

No ; by yon leader of the heavenly host, 660 iao Th' immortal sun, 1 liail not such a thought ; I only felt for Thebes' distressful state, 665 And would not have it by domestic strife Embittered thus.

Oedipus Why, let liim then depart : If G^dipus must die, or leave his country For shameful exile, be it so ; 1 yield 670 To thy request, not his ; for hateful still Shall Cieon ever be.

Creon Thy stubborn soul Bends with reluctance, and when anger fiies it Is terrible ; but natures formed like thine Are their own punishment. 675

Oedipus Wilt thou not hence 1

I go ; thou knowst me not ; But these will do me justice. [Exit Creon.

Jocasta Scene IV.

Oedipus Then let him go, e'en though I needs must die, Or from this country with disgrace be driven. 670 Thy mournful plea, not his, my pity moves; Him shall my hate, where'er he goes, pursue..

Creon Harsh art thou e'en in yielding; when thy rage Works its fell purpose, dreadful: souls like thine Justly bring keenest tortures on themselves. 675

Oedipus Then leave me to myself: begone.

Creon I go, To thee perchance not known; but still by these, Just to my innocence, in honour held.

Chorus CEDIPUS, JOCASTA, CHORUS.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Oedipus

Then let him go, though I am surely doomed to be killed

or thrust dishonored from the land. Your words, not his, move me to compassion; but he, wherever he be, shall be hated.
670

Creon

You are truly sullen in yielding, as you are vehement in the excesses of your wrath. But such natures are

justly most difficult for themselves to bear.
675

Oedipus

Will you not be gone and leave me in peace?

Creon

I will go on my way. I have found you undiscerning, but in the view of these men I am just. He exits.

Κρέων

στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δ᾽, ὅταν

θυμοῦ περάσῃς, αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις

αὐταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675

Οἰδίπους

οὔκουν μ᾽ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἴσος.

α

Κρέων

στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δʼ, ὅταν

θυμοῦ περάσῃς· αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις

αὑταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675

Οἰδίπους

οὔκουν μʼ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.

OED

Then let him range, though I must die outright,

Or be thrust forth with violence from the land!
670

—Not for his voice, but thine, which wrings my heart:

He, wheresoe’er he live, shall have my hate.

CR

You show yourself as sullen when you yield,

As unendurable in your fury’s height.

Such natures justly give themselves most pain.
675

OED

Let me alone, then, and begone!

CR

I go,

Untainted in their sight, though thou art blind.

Nein, bei'm Gott, aller Götter erstem, dem Helios!¹

Freundlos, ohne Gott, mög' in Graus

Ich hinsterben, heg' ich solch argen Sinn!

Doch das Land schmerzt mich tief, das in Sammer schwindet,²

Wenn sich noch zur alten Noth
655

Gesellt dies neue Leid von euch her.

Oedipus.

So mag er gehen, müßt' ich ganz verderben auch,

Und würd' ich ehrlos mit Gewalt vom Land gejagt.

Die Klage deines Mundes, nicht die seine, stimmt

Mich milder; dieser, wo er sei, bleibt mir verhaßt.
660

Kreon.

Voll Hasses, seh' ich, gibst du nach; doch wann der Zorn

Verbraust, bereust du. Solcher Art Naturen sind

Sich selbst mit Recht unleidlich und die herbste Qual.

Oedipus.

So laß mich und entferne dich!

Kreon.

Ich eile fort,

Von dir verkannt, vor diesen aber rein, wie sonst.
665
Oedipus. Jokaste. Der Chor. (ab.)

No ; by yon leader of the heavenly host,
660

iao

Th' immortal sun, 1 liail not such a thought ;

I only felt for Thebes' distressful state,
665

And would not have it by domestic strife

Embittered thus.

Oedipus

Why, let liim then depart :

If G^dipus must die, or leave his country

For shameful exile, be it so ; 1 yield
670

To thy request, not his ; for hateful still

Shall Cieon ever be.

Creon

Thy stubborn soul

Bends with reluctance, and when anger fiies it

Is terrible ; but natures formed like thine

Are their own punishment.
675

Oedipus

Wilt thou not hence 1

I go ; thou knowst me not ;

But these will do me justice. [Exit Creon.

Jocasta
Scene IV.

Oedipus

Then let him go, e'en though I needs must die,

Or from this country with disgrace be driven.
670

Thy mournful plea, not his, my pity moves;

Him shall my hate, where'er he goes, pursue..

Creon

Harsh art thou e'en in yielding; when thy rage

Works its fell purpose, dreadful: souls like thine

Justly bring keenest tortures on themselves.
675

Oedipus

Then leave me to myself: begone.

Creon

I go,

To thee perchance not known; but still by these,

Just to my innocence, in honour held.

Chorus
CEDIPUS, JOCASTA, CHORUS.