Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, Richard Jebb (Translator), 834

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Chorus

To us, king, these things are fraught with fear. Yet have hope, until at least you have gained full knowledge

from the one who saw the deed.
835

Oedipus

I have, in truth, this much hope alone: I await the man summoned from the pastures.

Iocasta

And what do you want from him when he appears?

Oedipus

I will tell you. If his story is found

to match withwith yours, I at least, will stand clear of disaster.
840

Iocasta

And what special note did you hear from me?

Oedipus

You said that he spoke of Laius as slain by robbers. If, then, he still speaks of several as before, I was not the slayer:

a solitary man could not be considered the same as that band. But if he names one lonely wayfarer, then beyond doubt this guilt rests upon me.
845

Iocasta

Be assured that thus, at least, the tale was first told. He cannot revoke that,

for the city heard it, not I alone. But even if he should diverge somewhat from his former story, never, king, can he show that the murder of Laius, at least, is truly square with the prophecy, for Loxias plainly said that he was to die at the hand of my child.
850

How was it then that that poor innocent never slew him, but perished first? From now on then, as far as divination goes, I would not look to my right hand or my left.
855

Oedipus

You are right. But nevertheless send someone to fetch the peasant,

and do not neglect this matter.
860

Iocasta

I will send for him without delay. But let us go into the house: I will do nothing which does not please you. Exeunt Oedipus and Iocasta.

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)) — 834 focus

ἡμῖν μέν, ὦναξ, ταῦτ᾽ ὀκνήρ᾽· ἕως δ᾽ ἂν οὖν

πρὸς τοῦ παρόντος ἐκμάθῃς, ἔχ᾿ ἐλπίδα.
835

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν τοσοῦτόν γ᾽ ἐστί μοι τῆς ἐλπίδος,

τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν βοτῆρα προσμεῖναι μόνον.

Ἰοκάστη

πεφασμένου δὲ τίς ποθ᾽ ἡ προθυμία;

Οἰδίπους

ἐγὼ διδάξω σ· ἢν γὰρ εὑρεθῇ λέγων

σοὶ ταὔτ᾽, ἔγωγ᾽ ἂν ἐκπεφευγοίην πάθος.
840

Ἰοκάστη

ποῖον δέ μου περισσὸν ἤκουσας λόγον;

Οἰδίπους

λῃστὰς ἔφασκες αὐτὸν ἄνδρας ἐννέπειν

ὥς νιν κατακτείναιεν. εἰ μὲν οὖν ἔτι

λέξει τὸν αὐτὸν ἀριθμόν, οὐκ ἐγὼ ᾿κτανον·

οὐ γὰρ γένοιτ' ἂν εἷς γε τοῖς πολλοῖς ἴσος·
845

εἰ δ᾽ ἄνδρ᾽ ἕνʼ οἰόζωνον αὐδήσει, σαφῶς

τοῦτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἤδη τοὔργον εἰς ἐμὲ ῥέπον.

Ἰοκάστη

ἀλλ᾽ ὡς φανέν γε τοὔπος ὧδ᾽ ἐπίστασο,

κοὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ τοῦτό γ᾽ ἐκβαλεῖν πάλιν·

πόλις γὰρ ἤκουσ᾽, οὐκ ἐγὼ μόνη, τάδε.
850

εἰ δ᾽ οὖν τι κἀκτρέποιτο τοῦ πρόσθεν λόγου,

οὔτοι ποτ', ὦναξ, τόν γε Λαΐου φόνον

φανεῖ δικαίως ὀρθόν, ὅν γε Λοξίας

διεῖπε χρῆναι παιδὸς ἐξ ἐμοῦ θανεῖν.

καίτοι νιν οὐ κεῖνός γ᾽ ὁ δύστηνός ποτε
855

κατέκτανʼ, ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὸς πάροιθεν ὤλετο.

ὥστ᾽ οὐχὶ μαντείας γ᾽ ἂν οὔτε τῇδ᾽ ἐγὼ

βλέψαιμ᾽ ἂν εἵνεκ᾿ οὔτε τῇδ᾽ ἂν ὕστερον.

Οἰδίπους

καλῶς νομίζεις. ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως τὸν ἐργάτην

[42 b.

πέμψον τινὰ στελοῦντα μηδὲ τοῦτ᾽ ἀφῇς.
860

Ἰοκάστη

πέμψω ταχύνασʼ· ἀλλ᾽ ἴωμεν ἐς δόμους.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἂν πράξαιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν οὐ σοὶ φίλον.

Χορός

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 834 focus

Χορός

ἡμῖν μέν, ὦναξ, ταῦτʼ ὀκνήρʼ· ἕως δʼ ἂν οὖν

πρὸς τοῦ παρόντος ἐκμάθῃς, ἔχʼ ἐλπίδα.
835

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν τοσοῦτόν γʼ ἐστί μοι τῆς ἐλπίδος,

τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν βοτῆρα προσμεῖναι μόνον.

Ἰοκάστη

πεφασμένου δὲ τίς ποθʼ ἡ προθυμία;

Οἰδίπους

ἐγὼ διδάξω σʼ· ἢν γὰρ εὑρεθῇ λέγων

σοὶ ταὔτʼ, ἔγωγʼ ἂν ἐκπεφευγοίην πάθος.
840

Ἰοκάστη

ποῖον δέ μου περισσὸν ἤκουσας λόγον;

Οἰδίπους

λῃστὰς ἔφασκες αὐτὸν ἄνδρας ἐννέπειν

ὥς νιν κατακτείνειαν. εἰ μὲν οὖν ἔτι

λέξει τὸν αὐτὸν ἀριθμόν, οὐκ ἐγὼ ʼκτανον·

οὐ γὰρ γένοιτʼ ἂν εἷς γε τοῖς πολλοῖς ἴσος·
845

εἰ δʼ ἄνδρʼ ἕνʼ οἰόζωνον αὐδήσει, σαφῶς

τοῦτʼ ἐστὶν ἤδη τοὔργον εἰς ἐμὲ ῥέπον.

Ἰοκάστη

ἀλλʼ ὡς φανέν γε τοὔπος ὧδʼ ἐπίστασο,

κοὐκ ἔστιν αὐτῷ τοῦτό γʼ ἐκβαλεῖν πάλιν·

πόλις γὰρ ἤκουσʼ, οὐκ ἐγὼ μόνη, τάδε.
850

εἰ δʼ οὖν τι κἀκτρέποιτο τοῦ πρόσθεν λόγου,

οὔτοι ποτʼ, ὦναξ, σόν γε Λαΐου φόνον

φανεῖ δικαίως ὀρθόν, ὅν γε Λοξίας

διεῖπε χρῆναι παιδὸς ἐξ ἐμοῦ θανεῖν.

καίτοι νιν οὐ κεῖνός γʼ ὁ δύστηνός ποτε
855

κατέκτανʼ, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς πάροιθεν ὤλετο.

ὥστʼ οὐχὶ μαντείας γʼ ἂν οὔτε τῇδʼ ἐγὼ

βλέψαιμʼ ἂν εἵνεκʼ οὔτε τῇδʼ ἂν ὕστερον.

Οἰδίπους

καλῶς νομίζεις· ἀλλʼ ὅμως τὸν ἐργάτην

πέμψον τινὰ στελοῦντα μηδὲ τοῦτʼ ἀφῇς.
860

Ἰοκάστη

πέμψω ταχύνασʼ· ἀλλʼ ἴωμεν ἐς δόμους·

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἂν πράξαιμʼ ἂν ὧν οὐ σοὶ φίλον.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 834 focus

Thy fear is ours, O king: yet lose not hope,

Till thou hast heard the witness of the deed.
835

OED

Ay, that is all I still have left of hope,

To bide the coming of the shepherd man.

JO

What eager thought attends his presence here?

OED

I’ll tell thee. Should his speech accord with thine,

My life stands clear from this calamity.
840

JO

What word of mine agreed not with the scene?

OED

You said he spake of robbers in a band

As having slain him. Now if he shall still

Persist in the same number, I am free.

One man and many cannot be the same.
845

But should he tell of one lone traveller,

Then, unavoidably, this falls on me.

JO

So ’twas given out by him, be sure of that.

He cannot take it back. Not I alone

But all the people heard him speak it so.
850

And should he swerve in aught from his first tale,

He ne’er can show the murder of the king

Rightly accordant with the oracle.

For Phoebus said expressly he should fall

Through him whom I brought forth. But that poor babe
855

Ne’er slew his sire, but perished long before.

Wherefore henceforth I will pursue my way

Regardless of all words of prophecy.

OED

Wisely resolved. But still send one to bring

The labourer swain, and be not slack in this.
860

JO

I will, and promptly. Go we now within!

My whole desire is but to work thy will.

CHORUS
CHORUS

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 834 focus

Uns, König, macht dies auch besorgt; doch ehe du

Den Augenzeugen ausgeforscht, verzage nicht.

Oedipus.

Und diese Hoffnung wahrlich bleibt mir noch allein

Des Mannes nur, des Hirten, will ich warten noch.
820

Jokaste.

Und wenn er ankommt, welcher Trost erstände dir?

Oedipus.

Das höre: find' ich, daß er mir das Gleiche sagt,

Was du, so möcht' ich dieser Angst entronnen sein.

Jokaste.

Und was Besond'res hast du denn von mir gehört?

Oedipus.

Gemeldet habe dir der Hirt, so sagtest du,
825

Daß Räuber ihn gemordet. Wohl, und wenn er nun

Dieselbe Zahl nennt, dann bin ich der Mörder nicht;

Denn Einer ist ja nimmermehr den Vielen gleich.

Doch spricht er nur von einem einzlen Wandersmann,

Dann wird die Mordthat offenbar auf mich gewälzt.
830

Jokaste.

Daß seine Rede so gelautet, glaube mir,

Und widerrufen kann er nicht sein erstes Wort;

Denn alle Bürger hörten's an, nicht ich allein.

Doch, spräch' er auch abweichend, von dem Früheren,

Nie wird er doch erweisen, Herr, daß du den Mord
835

An Laïos verübtest, dem ja Loxias

Den Tod von meines Sohnes Hand verkündet hat.

Doch hat ihn auch nicht dieser Unglückselige

Gemordet; denn zuvor ja kam er selber um.

Drum weder hierher wend' ich noch dorthin den Blick
840

Hinfort um dessen willen, was ein Seher sprach.

Oedipus.

Da denkst du richtig; aber dennoch sende hin,

Den Hirten herzurufen; das versäume nicht.

Jokaste.

Gleich will ich senden; aber geh'n wir jezt in's Haus!

Denn nichts beginnen möcht' ich, was dir nicht gefällt.
845
(Dedipus und Jokaste ab. Der Chor bleibt allein zurück.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 834 focus

Oh ! rise once more, protect, preserve thy country 1

Joe. O king ! inform me, whence this strange dissen-

sion ?
835

Oedipus

Oh ! much

1 fear the prophet saw too well ; but say,

One thing will make it clear.

Joe. I dread to hear it ;

Yet speak, and I will tell thee'.

GEdi. Went he forth

With few attendants, or a numerous train.

In kingly pomp?

Joe. They were but tive in all.

The herald with them ; but one chariot there.

Which carried Laius.

CEdt, Oh ! 'tis but too plain.

Who brought the news?

Joe. A servant, who alone

Escaped with Ufe.

Oedipus

That servant, is he here 1

Joe. Oh no ! His master slain, when he returned

And saw thee on the throne of Thebes, with piayer

Most earnest he beseeched me to dismiss him,

That he might leave this city, where he wished

No longer to be seen, but to retire,
840

And feed my flocks ; I granted his request,
840

For that and more his honest services
840

Had merited.
840

Oedipus

I beg he may be sent for

Immediately.

Joe. He shall ; but wherefore is it ?

Oedipus

I fear thou 'st said too much, and therefore wish

To see him.

Joe. He shall come ; but, O my lord !

Am I not worthy to be told the cause
860

Of this distress ?
860

Oedipus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 834 focus

These things, O king, our consternation raise:

Yet see this herdsman, hear him; meanwhile hope:
835

Oedipus

With eager expectation I await

Jocasta

His presence; hope till his arrival lives.

What doth thy thought, when he appears, intend?

Oedipus

I will inform thee: if his words be found

With thine according, I escape these woes.
840

Jocasta

What of high import heard'st thou in my words?

Oedipus

From his report thou saidst that Laius fell

By ruffians slain: that number if he still

Assert, I slew him not; it can not be

That one be many; by a single arm

If he declares the monarch fell, on me
845

The dreadful deed with all its guilt will fall.

Of his relation be assured; his words

Jocasta

He cannot now retract; not I alone,

But all Thebes heard them: with his former tale

Be his tongue now at variance, yet, O king,
850

Not of the death of Laius will he speak

As by the God foretold, that he must fall

Slain by my son; him my unhappy child

Slew not, but perish'd, ere his death, himself.
855

What then the faith of oracles? Nor that

To thee denounced, nor this will I regard.

Oedipus

Thy sentiments are just; yet send with speed

This I will haste to do: but go we in.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-513-1 δ’ οὖν ¹

mvp-comment-514-1 τοῦ παρόντος ²

mvp-comment-515-1 τῆς ἐλπίδος ³

mvp-comment-516-1 πεφασμένου ⁴

mvp-comment-517-1 πάθος ⁵ ἄγος ⁶ πάθος ⁷

mvp-comment-518-1 περισσόν ⁸

mvp-comment-519-1 τὸν αὐτὸν ἀριθμόν ⁹

mvp-comment-519-2 ἴσος ¹⁰ τοῖς πολλοῖς ¹¹

mvp-comment-520-1 οἰόζωνον ¹² οἰόζωνος ¹³

mvp-comment-521-1 εἰς ἐμὲ ῥέπον ¹⁴

mvp-comment-522-1 ἐπίστασο φανὲν τοὔπος ὦδε ¹⁵ ἐπίστασο ὡς φανὲν τοὔπος ὧδε ¹⁶ ὡς ¹⁷ ἐπίστασο ¹⁸

mvp-comment-523-1 ἐκβαλεῖν ¹⁹

mvp-comment-524-1 εἰ κἀκτρέποιτο ²⁰

mvp-comment-525-1 τόν γε Λαΐου φόνον ²¹ σόν ²² γε ²³

mvp-comment-526-1 δικαίως ὀρθόν ²⁴ ὀρθόν ²⁵

mvp-comment-526-2 λοξίας ²⁶

mvp-comment-527-1 διεῖπε ²⁷

mvp-comment-528-1 οὔτε τῇδε—οὔτε τῇδε ²⁸

mvp-comment-528-2 μαντείας γ’ … οὕνεκα ²⁹

mvp-comment-529-1 καλῶς νομίζεις ³⁰

mvp-comment-529-2 στελοῦντα ³¹

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

834. mvp-comment-492-1 ὀκνήρ᾽ Ε. on L. § 39. 1, p. 72.

834. mvp-comment-492-2 δ'.. οὖν However.

835. mvp-comment-493-1 τοῦ παρόντος • The man who was present at the deed.' Viz. the servant, to whom Oedipus presently refers ας τὸν βοτῆρα, because of his present occupation. Cp. supr. 761, ἀγρούς σφε πέμψαι κἀπὶ ποιμνίων νομάς. For the κατακτείν.. εν C.

835. mvp-comment-493-2 κατακτείνειεν Pal. use of the present in παρόντος, see Essay on Language § 32. p. 55.

836. mvp-comment-494-1 τῆς ἐλπίδος The article refers to ἐλπίδα in 835. Cp. Tr. 588-590, εἴ τις ἐστὶ πίστις .. οὕτως ἔχει γ' ἡ πίστις.

837. mvp-comment-495-1 The v. 1. of VMAV¹ pr., προσβῆναι, is a curious instance of the probably unintentional substitution for the true reading of a word suggested by the immediate context. Cp. supr. 670, and v. rr.

838. mvp-comment-496-1 And when he has appeared, why are you eager about him? The genitive absolute becoming, as the sentence proceeds. a genitive of respect.

840. mvp-comment-497-1 I shall have escaped the misery.' 841. And what in my description struck you as beside the mark?' i. e. as disagreeing from the fact with which your supposition identifies it?

843. mvp-comment-498-1 εἰ μὲν οὖν If, then, on the one hand.

845. mvp-comment-499-1 τοῖς πολλοῖς 'The many of whom he spoke;'-the article in reference as in 836, τῆς ἐλπίδος. Plat. Rep. 5.453 Ε, τὰς δὲ ἄλλας φύσεις.

846. mvp-comment-500-1 ἄνδρ᾽ ἕν᾽ οἰόζωνον One lonely traveller. The latter part of the compound is merely suggestive. Essay on Language p. 101.

847. mvp-comment-501-1 The scale then turns, and this heavy deed clearly comes home to me.'

848. mvp-comment-502-1 φανέν γε .. ὠδ' The tale was certainly told in this way.

849. mvp-comment-503-1 ἐκβαλεῖν Το strike out,' i.e. to cancel, or retract.

849. mvp-comment-503-2 τοῦτο This particular, -the plural number.

852. mvp-comment-504-1 (1) Will never show the murder of Laius to be truly accomplished,' i. e. in accordance with the prophecy, or (2) can never fairly show the murder of Laius to be in accordance with the prophecy. The former rendering (δικαίως ὀρθόν, sc. ov) is confirmed by 1283, ἣν .. ὄλβος δικαίως: Αj. 547, εἴπερ δικαίως ἔστ᾽ ἐμὸς τὰ πατρόθεν: Ant. 637, ἀξίως .. μείζων φέρεσθαι. Ε. on L. § 24. a. p. 40. For ὀρθόν, of the adequate fulfilment of a prophecy, cp. 506, πρὶν ἴδοιμ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἔπος: Ant. 1178, τοὔπος ὡς ἄρ᾽ ὀρθὸν ἤνυσας: Ο C. 1424-1425, ὁρᾷς τὰ τοῦδ᾽ οὖν ὡς ἐς ὀρθὸν ἐκφέρει μαντεύματα. The reading σόν γε Λαΐου φόνον is without MS. authority, and introduces an unnecessary harshness.

854. mvp-comment-505-1 διεῖπε Said expressly. 857-858.-862. The reduplication of av in each place adds emphasis to μαντείας and οὐδέν.

859. mvp-comment-506-1 καλῶς νομίζεις A wise persuasion. ὅμως] i.e. Let not your disregard of the oracles prevent your doing what is necessary to relieve me about the question of fact. The confidence of Oedipus, when once shaken, is never again whole as the marble, founded as the rock.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

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Chorus To us, king, these things are fraught with fear. Yet have hope, until at least you have gained full knowledge from the one who saw the deed. 835

Oedipus I have, in truth, this much hope alone: I await the man summoned from the pastures.

Iocasta And what do you want from him when he appears?

Oedipus I will tell you. If his story is found to match withwith yours, I at least, will stand clear of disaster. 840

Iocasta And what special note did you hear from me?

Oedipus You said that he spoke of Laius as slain by robbers. If, then, he still speaks of several as before, I was not the slayer: a solitary man could not be considered the same as that band. But if he names one lonely wayfarer, then beyond doubt this guilt rests upon me. 845

Oedipus You are right. But nevertheless send someone to fetch the peasant, and do not neglect this matter. 860

Iocasta I will send for him without delay. But let us go into the house: I will do nothing which does not please you. Exeunt Oedipus and Iocasta.

Current edition Experimental

ἡμῖν μέν, ὦναξ, ταῦτ᾽ ὀκνήρ᾽· ἕως δ᾽ ἂν οὖν πρὸς τοῦ παρόντος ἐκμάθῃς, ἔχ᾿ ἐλπίδα. 835

Οἰδίπους καὶ μὴν τοσοῦτόν γ᾽ ἐστί μοι τῆς ἐλπίδος, τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν βοτῆρα προσμεῖναι μόνον.

Ἰοκάστη πεφασμένου δὲ τίς ποθ᾽ ἡ προθυμία;

Οἰδίπους ἐγὼ διδάξω σ· ἢν γὰρ εὑρεθῇ λέγων σοὶ ταὔτ᾽, ἔγωγ᾽ ἂν ἐκπεφευγοίην πάθος. 840

Ἰοκάστη ποῖον δέ μου περισσὸν ἤκουσας λόγον;

Οἰδίπους καλῶς νομίζεις. ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως τὸν ἐργάτην [42 b. πέμψον τινὰ στελοῦντα μηδὲ τοῦτ᾽ ἀφῇς. 860

Ἰοκάστη πέμψω ταχύνασʼ· ἀλλ᾽ ἴωμεν ἐς δόμους. οὐδὲν γὰρ ἂν πράξαιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν οὐ σοὶ φίλον.

Χορός

Χορός ἡμῖν μέν, ὦναξ, ταῦτʼ ὀκνήρʼ· ἕως δʼ ἂν οὖν πρὸς τοῦ παρόντος ἐκμάθῃς, ἔχʼ ἐλπίδα. 835

Οἰδίπους καὶ μὴν τοσοῦτόν γʼ ἐστί μοι τῆς ἐλπίδος, τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν βοτῆρα προσμεῖναι μόνον.

Ἰοκάστη πεφασμένου δὲ τίς ποθʼ ἡ προθυμία;

Οἰδίπους ἐγὼ διδάξω σʼ· ἢν γὰρ εὑρεθῇ λέγων σοὶ ταὔτʼ, ἔγωγʼ ἂν ἐκπεφευγοίην πάθος. 840

Ἰοκάστη ποῖον δέ μου περισσὸν ἤκουσας λόγον;

Οἰδίπους καλῶς νομίζεις· ἀλλʼ ὅμως τὸν ἐργάτην πέμψον τινὰ στελοῦντα μηδὲ τοῦτʼ ἀφῇς. 860

Ἰοκάστη πέμψω ταχύνασʼ· ἀλλʼ ἴωμεν ἐς δόμους· οὐδὲν γὰρ ἂν πράξαιμʼ ἂν ὧν οὐ σοὶ φίλον.

Thy fear is ours, O king: yet lose not hope, Till thou hast heard the witness of the deed. 835

OED Ay, that is all I still have left of hope, To bide the coming of the shepherd man.

JO What eager thought attends his presence here?

OED I’ll tell thee. Should his speech accord with thine, My life stands clear from this calamity. 840

JO What word of mine agreed not with the scene?

OED You said he spake of robbers in a band As having slain him. Now if he shall still Persist in the same number, I am free. One man and many cannot be the same. 845 But should he tell of one lone traveller, Then, unavoidably, this falls on me.

OED Wisely resolved. But still send one to bring The labourer swain, and be not slack in this. 860

JO I will, and promptly. Go we now within! My whole desire is but to work thy will.

CHORUS CHORUS

Uns, König, macht dies auch besorgt; doch ehe du Den Augenzeugen ausgeforscht, verzage nicht.

Oedipus. Und diese Hoffnung wahrlich bleibt mir noch allein Des Mannes nur, des Hirten, will ich warten noch. 820

Jokaste. Und wenn er ankommt, welcher Trost erstände dir?

Oedipus. Das höre: find' ich, daß er mir das Gleiche sagt, Was du, so möcht' ich dieser Angst entronnen sein.

Jokaste. Und was Besond'res hast du denn von mir gehört?

Oedipus. Da denkst du richtig; aber dennoch sende hin, Den Hirten herzurufen; das versäume nicht.

Jokaste. Gleich will ich senden; aber geh'n wir jezt in's Haus! Denn nichts beginnen möcht' ich, was dir nicht gefällt. 845 (Dedipus und Jokaste ab. Der Chor bleibt allein zurück.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Oh ! rise once more, protect, preserve thy country 1 Joe. O king ! inform me, whence this strange dissen- sion ? 835

Oedipus

Oedipus I beg he may be sent for Immediately. Joe. He shall ; but wherefore is it ?

Oedipus I fear thou 'st said too much, and therefore wish To see him. Joe. He shall come ; but, O my lord ! Am I not worthy to be told the cause 860 Of this distress ? 860

Oedipus

These things, O king, our consternation raise: Yet see this herdsman, hear him; meanwhile hope: 835

Oedipus With eager expectation I await

Jocasta His presence; hope till his arrival lives. What doth thy thought, when he appears, intend?

Oedipus I will inform thee: if his words be found With thine according, I escape these woes. 840

Jocasta What of high import heard'st thou in my words?

Oedipus From his report thou saidst that Laius fell By ruffians slain: that number if he still Assert, I slew him not; it can not be That one be many; by a single arm If he declares the monarch fell, on me 845 The dreadful deed with all its guilt will fall. Of his relation be assured; his words

Oedipus Thy sentiments are just; yet send with speed

This I will haste to do: but go we in.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Chorus

To us, king, these things are fraught with fear. Yet have hope, until at least you have gained full knowledge

from the one who saw the deed.
835

Oedipus

I have, in truth, this much hope alone: I await the man summoned from the pastures.

Iocasta

And what do you want from him when he appears?

Oedipus

I will tell you. If his story is found

to match withwith yours, I at least, will stand clear of disaster.
840

Iocasta

And what special note did you hear from me?

Oedipus

You said that he spoke of Laius as slain by robbers. If, then, he still speaks of several as before, I was not the slayer:

a solitary man could not be considered the same as that band. But if he names one lonely wayfarer, then beyond doubt this guilt rests upon me.
845

Oedipus

You are right. But nevertheless send someone to fetch the peasant,

and do not neglect this matter.
860

Iocasta

I will send for him without delay. But let us go into the house: I will do nothing which does not please you. Exeunt Oedipus and Iocasta.

ἡμῖν μέν, ὦναξ, ταῦτ᾽ ὀκνήρ᾽· ἕως δ᾽ ἂν οὖν

πρὸς τοῦ παρόντος ἐκμάθῃς, ἔχ᾿ ἐλπίδα.
835

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν τοσοῦτόν γ᾽ ἐστί μοι τῆς ἐλπίδος,

τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν βοτῆρα προσμεῖναι μόνον.

Ἰοκάστη

πεφασμένου δὲ τίς ποθ᾽ ἡ προθυμία;

Οἰδίπους

ἐγὼ διδάξω σ· ἢν γὰρ εὑρεθῇ λέγων

σοὶ ταὔτ᾽, ἔγωγ᾽ ἂν ἐκπεφευγοίην πάθος.
840

Ἰοκάστη

ποῖον δέ μου περισσὸν ἤκουσας λόγον;

Οἰδίπους

καλῶς νομίζεις. ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως τὸν ἐργάτην

[42 b.

πέμψον τινὰ στελοῦντα μηδὲ τοῦτ᾽ ἀφῇς.
860

Ἰοκάστη

πέμψω ταχύνασʼ· ἀλλ᾽ ἴωμεν ἐς δόμους.

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἂν πράξαιμ᾽ ἂν ὧν οὐ σοὶ φίλον.

Χορός

ἡμῖν μέν, ὦναξ, ταῦτʼ ὀκνήρʼ· ἕως δʼ ἂν οὖν

πρὸς τοῦ παρόντος ἐκμάθῃς, ἔχʼ ἐλπίδα.
835

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν τοσοῦτόν γʼ ἐστί μοι τῆς ἐλπίδος,

τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν βοτῆρα προσμεῖναι μόνον.

Ἰοκάστη

πεφασμένου δὲ τίς ποθʼ ἡ προθυμία;

Οἰδίπους

ἐγὼ διδάξω σʼ· ἢν γὰρ εὑρεθῇ λέγων

σοὶ ταὔτʼ, ἔγωγʼ ἂν ἐκπεφευγοίην πάθος.
840

Ἰοκάστη

ποῖον δέ μου περισσὸν ἤκουσας λόγον;

Οἰδίπους

καλῶς νομίζεις· ἀλλʼ ὅμως τὸν ἐργάτην

πέμψον τινὰ στελοῦντα μηδὲ τοῦτʼ ἀφῇς.
860

Ἰοκάστη

πέμψω ταχύνασʼ· ἀλλʼ ἴωμεν ἐς δόμους·

οὐδὲν γὰρ ἂν πράξαιμʼ ἂν ὧν οὐ σοὶ φίλον.

Thy fear is ours, O king: yet lose not hope,

Till thou hast heard the witness of the deed.
835

OED

Ay, that is all I still have left of hope,

To bide the coming of the shepherd man.

JO

What eager thought attends his presence here?

OED

I’ll tell thee. Should his speech accord with thine,

My life stands clear from this calamity.
840

JO

What word of mine agreed not with the scene?

OED

You said he spake of robbers in a band

As having slain him. Now if he shall still

Persist in the same number, I am free.

One man and many cannot be the same.
845

But should he tell of one lone traveller,

Then, unavoidably, this falls on me.

OED

Wisely resolved. But still send one to bring

The labourer swain, and be not slack in this.
860

JO

I will, and promptly. Go we now within!

My whole desire is but to work thy will.

CHORUS
CHORUS

Uns, König, macht dies auch besorgt; doch ehe du

Den Augenzeugen ausgeforscht, verzage nicht.

Oedipus.

Und diese Hoffnung wahrlich bleibt mir noch allein

Des Mannes nur, des Hirten, will ich warten noch.
820

Jokaste.

Und wenn er ankommt, welcher Trost erstände dir?

Oedipus.

Das höre: find' ich, daß er mir das Gleiche sagt,

Was du, so möcht' ich dieser Angst entronnen sein.

Jokaste.

Und was Besond'res hast du denn von mir gehört?

Oedipus.

Da denkst du richtig; aber dennoch sende hin,

Den Hirten herzurufen; das versäume nicht.

Jokaste.

Gleich will ich senden; aber geh'n wir jezt in's Haus!

Denn nichts beginnen möcht' ich, was dir nicht gefällt.
845
(Dedipus und Jokaste ab. Der Chor bleibt allein zurück.) Erste Strophe.

Oh ! rise once more, protect, preserve thy country 1

Joe. O king ! inform me, whence this strange dissen-

sion ?
835

Oedipus

I beg he may be sent for

Immediately.

Joe. He shall ; but wherefore is it ?

Oedipus

I fear thou 'st said too much, and therefore wish

To see him.

Joe. He shall come ; but, O my lord !

Am I not worthy to be told the cause
860

Of this distress ?
860

These things, O king, our consternation raise:

Yet see this herdsman, hear him; meanwhile hope:
835

Oedipus

With eager expectation I await

Jocasta

His presence; hope till his arrival lives.

What doth thy thought, when he appears, intend?

Oedipus

I will inform thee: if his words be found

With thine according, I escape these woes.
840

Jocasta

What of high import heard'st thou in my words?

Oedipus

Thy sentiments are just; yet send with speed