Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, Richard Jebb (Translator), 950

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Enter Oedipus.

Oedipus

Iocasta, dearest wife, why have you summoned me forth from these doors?
950

Iocasta

Hear this man, and judge, as you listen, what the awful oracles have come to.

Oedipus

Who is he and what news does he have for me?

Iocasta

He comes from Corinth to tell you that your father Polybus lives no longer, but has perished.
955

Oedipus

How, stranger? Let me have it from your own mouth.

Messenger

If I must first make these tidings plain, know indeed that he is dead and gone.

Oedipus

By treachery, or from illness?
960

Messenger

A light tilt of the scale brings the aged to their rest.

Oedipus

Ah, he died, it seems, of sickness?

Messenger

Yes, and of the long years that he had lived.

Oedipus

Alas, alas! Why indeed, my wife, should one look to the

hearth of the Pythian seer, or to the birds that scream above our heads, who declared that I was doomed to slay my father? But he is dead, and lies beneath the earth, and here I am, not having put my hand to any spear—unless, perhaps, he died out of longing for me:
965

thus, indeed, I would be the cause of his death. But as the oracles stand, at least, Polybus has swept them with him to his rest in Hades. They are worth nothing.
970

Iocasta

Did I not long ago foretell this to you?

Oedipus

You did, but I was mislead by my fear.

Iocasta

Now no longer take any of those things to heart.
975

Oedipus

But surely I must fear my mother’s bed.

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)) — 950 focus

ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα,
950

τί μ' ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη

ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων

τὰ σέμν᾽ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτ᾽ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη

ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν
955

ὡς οὐκέτ᾽ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλ᾽ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους

τί φῄς, ξέν᾽; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημήνας γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μ᾿ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς,

εὖ ἴσθ᾽ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους

πότερα δόλοισιν, ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ;
960

Ἄγγελος

σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματ᾿ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους

νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Οἰδίπους

φεῦ φεῦ, τί δῆτʼ ἄν, ὦ γύναι, σκοποῖτό τις

τὴν Πυθόμαντιν ἑστίαν, ἢ τοὺς ἄνω
965

κλάζοντας ὄρνις, ὧν ὑφηγητῶν ἐγὼ

κτανεῖν ἔμελλον πατέρα τὸν ἐμόν; ὁ δὲ θανὼν

[43 b.

κεύθει κάτω δὴ γῆς. ἐγὼ δ᾽ ὅδ᾽ ἐνθάδε

ἄψαυστος ἔγχους, εἴ τι μὴ τὠμῷ πόθῳ

κατέφθιθ᾽· οὕτω δ᾽ ἂν θανὼν εἴη ἐξ ἐμοῦ.
970

τὰ δ᾽ οὖν παρόντα συλλαβὼν θεσπίσματα

κεῖται παρ' Ἅιδῃ Πόλυβος ἄξιʼ οὐδενός.

Ἰοκάστη

οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προὔλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους

ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη

μὴ νῦν ἔτ᾽ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς.
975

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς λέκτρον οὐκ ὀκνεῖν με δεῖ;

Ἰοκάστη

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 950 focus

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα,
950

τί μʼ ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη

ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων

τὰ σέμνʼ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη

ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν
955

ὡς οὐκέτʼ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλʼ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους

τί φῄς, ξένʼ; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημάντωρ γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μʼ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς,

εὖ ἴσθʼ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους

πότερα δόλοισιν ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ;
960

Ἄγγελος

σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματʼ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους

νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Οἰδίπους

φεῦ φεῦ, τί δῆτʼ ἄν, ὦ γύναι, σκοποῖτό τι

τὴν Πυθόμαντιν ἑστίαν ἢ τοὺς ἄνω
965

κλάζοντας ὄρνεις, ὧν ὑφηγητῶν ἐγὼ

κτενεῖν ἔμελλον πατέρα τὸν ἐμόν; ὁ δὲ θανὼν

κεύθει κάτω δὴ γῆς. ἐγὼ δʼ ὅδʼ ἐνθάδε

ἄψαυστος ἔγχους· εἴ τι μὴ τὠμῷ πόθῳ

κατέφθιθʼ· οὕτω δʼ ἂν θανὼν εἴη ʼξ ἐμοῦ.
970

τὰ δʼ οὖν παρόντα συλλαβὼν θεσπίσματα

κεῖται παρʼ Ἅιδῃ Πόλυβος ἄξιʼ οὐδενός.

Ἰοκάστη

οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προύλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους

ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη

μὴ νῦν ἔτʼ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς.
975

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς οὐκ ὀκνεῖν λέχος με δεῖ;

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 950 focus

Jocasta, my dear queen, why didst thou send
950

To bring me hither from our palace-hall?

JO

Hear that man’s tale, and then consider well

The end of yonder dreadful prophecy.

OED

Who is the man, and what his errand here?

JO

He comes from Corinth, to make known to thee
955

That Polybus, thy father, is no more.

OED

How, stranger? Let me learn it from thy mouth.

COR. SH

If my first duty be to make this clear,

Know beyond doubt that he is dead and gone.

OED

By illness coming o’er him, or by guile?
960

COR. SH

Light pressure lays to rest the timeworn frame.

OED

He was subdued by sickness then, poor soul!

COR. SH

By sickness and the burden of his years.

OED

Ah! my Jocasta, who again will heed

The Pythian hearth oracular, and birds

Screaming in air, blind guides! that would have made
965

My father’s death my deed; but he is gone,

Hidden underneath the ground, while I stand hero

Harmless and weaponless:—unless, perchance,

My absence killed him,—so he may have died

Through me. But be that as it may, the grave
970

That covers Polybus, hath silenced, too,

One voice of prophecy, worth nothing now.

JO

Did I not tell thee so, long since?

OED

Thou didst.

But I was drawn to error by my fear.

JO

Now cast it altogether out of mind.
975

OED

Must I not fear my mother’s marriage-bed?

JO

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 950 focus

Mein trautes Weib, Iokaste, vielgeliebtes Haupt,

In welcher Absicht riefst du mich vom Haus hieher?

Jokaste.

Vernimm den Mann hier, und erwäge dann, wohin
925

Es mit des Gottes hohem Spruch gekommen ist.

Und dieser Mann

Oedipus.

wer ist er, und was bringt er mir?

Jokaste.

Vom Land Korinthos meldet er, daß Polybos,

Dein Vater, nicht mehr lebe, nein, des Todes sei.

Oedipus.

Was sagst du, Fremdling? Künde du mir selbst es an.
930

Der Bote.

Nun, wenn ich dies vor Allem deutlich sagen soll,

So wisse: jener ging dahin des Todes Weg.

Oedipus.

Und hat ihn Arglist oder Krankheit hingerafft?

Der Bote.

Ein leichter Anstoß wiegt in Ruh' ein greises Haupt.

Oedipus.

An einer Krankheit, scheint es, starb der Arme wohl?
935

Der Bote.

Und wie's gemäß des Lebens langer Dauer war.

Oedipus.

Weh, weh! Warum denn, mein Gemahl, beachten wir

Den Seherherd in Pytho, was die Vögel noch,

Die droben kreischen, die verkündet, daß ich einst

Den eignen Vater tödten soll? Ihn birgt der Schooß
940

Der Erde jezt als Todten, und ich weile hier,

Kein Schwert berührt' ich, - wenn ihn nicht Sehnsucht um mich

Verzehrte - so wohl kam er um durch meine Schuld.

Nein, diese Sehersprüche, die nahm Polybos

Mit sich hinab zum Hades; nichts bedeuten sie.
945

Jokaste.

Hab' ich dir das nicht lange schon vorhergesagt?

Oedipus.

Wohl sagtest du's; doch irre führte mich die Furcht.

Jokaste.

Nun komme nichts von diesem dir zu Sinne mehr!

Oedipus.

Wie? Darf der Mutter Ehe mich nicht ängstigen?

Jokaste.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 950 focus

That shepherd is my only hope : Jocasta,
950

Would he were here !

Joe. Suppose he were ; what then ?

What wouldst thou do ?

Oedipus

I'll tell thee : if he says

The same as thou dost, I am safe and guiltless.

Joe. What said I, th&n ?

Oedipus

Thou saidst he did report

Laius was slain by robbers ; if 'tis true

He fell by numbers, I am innocent,

For I was unattended ; if but one

Attacked and slew him, doubtless I am he.

Joe. Be satisfied it must be as he first

Reported it ; he cannot cliange the tale :

Xot I alone, but the whole city heard it.

Falfilled ; for Phoebus said, JocSsta's son

Should slay his father. That could never be ;

For, oh ! Jocasta's son long since is dead.

ITe could not murder Laius ; therefore never

Will I attend to prophecies again.

Oedipus
( )r ^rant he should, the oracle was ne'er

Right, my Jocasta ; but, I beg thee, send

And fetch this shepherd ; do not fail.

Joe. I will

This moment ; come, my lord, let us go in ••

I will do nothing but what pleases thee, - [Exeunt.

Grant me henceforth, ye powers divine,

In virtue's purest paths to tread !

In every word, in every deed.

May sanctity of manners ever shine !

Obedient to the laws of Jove,

Chorus.

Jocasta

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 950 focus

O my Jocasta, dearest to my soul,
950

Why hast thou sent my presence to require?

Jocasta

Hear thou this man; then ponder well what end

The gods' high-honour'd oracles have found.

Oedipus

Who is this stranger? With what tidings fraught?

Jocasta

From Corinth is he come, to tell thee this,
955

That Polybus thy father is no more.

Oedipus

Speak, stranger; I would be inform'd by thee.

Corinthian

If this I plainly must at first declare,

Know thou that he hath trod the path to death.

Oedipus

By treachery, or th' attack of some disease ?
960

Slight force will sink the limbs of age to rest.
960

Oedipus

Wasted by sickness then, it seems, he died.

Corinthian

And weary progress through a length of years.

Oedipus

Alas, alas! Why, lady, should we pay

To Delphi's fate-foretelling shrine regard,

Or to the flight of birds that clang aloft?
965

I by their auspices was doom'd to slay

My father: but beneath the earth he lies

In death; and I am here, the sword not touch'd:

Unless perchance through fond desire of me

He wasted, so from me he had his death.
970

But, bearing with him all those oracles

Of no account, he lies among the dead.

Jocasta

All this did I not tell thee long ago?

Oedipus

Thou didst; but I was borne away by fears.

Jocasta

Now then let none of them disturb thy mind.
975

Oedipus

Behoves me not to fear my mother's bed?

Jocasta

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-589-1 ἐξεπέμψω ¹

mvp-comment-590-1 τί μοι λέγει; ²

mvp-comment-591-1 ὡς ³

mvp-comment-592-1 σημάντωρ ⁴ σημήνας γενοῦ ⁵

mvp-comment-593-1 εὖ ἴσθ’ ⁶ σαφῶς ⁷

mvp-comment-593-2 θανάσιμον βεβηκότα ⁸

mvp-comment-594-1 ξυναλλαγῇ ⁹

mvp-comment-595-1 σμικρὰ ῥοπή ¹⁰ εὐνάζει ¹¹

mvp-comment-596-1 Yes, he died of infirmities (νόσοις ἔφθιτὀ, and of the long years (τῷ μακρῷ χρόνῳ, causal dat.), in accordance with their term ( συμμετρούμενος ¹²

mvp-comment-597-1 σκοποῖτο ¹³

mvp-comment-597-2 τὴν Π. ἑστίαν ¹⁴ ἑστίαν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-598-1 κλάζοντας ¹⁶

mvp-comment-598-2 ὧν ὑφηγητῶν ¹⁷

mvp-comment-599-1 κτενεῖν ¹⁸

mvp-comment-600-1 κεύθει ¹⁹

mvp-comment-600-2 δὴ ²⁰

mvp-comment-601-1 ἄψαυστος ²¹

mvp-comment-601-2 εἴ τι μὴ ²²

mvp-comment-602-1 εἴη ξ ²³

mvp-comment-603-1 τὰ δ’ οὖν παρόντα ²⁴ δ’ οὖν ²⁵ ἄξῑ οὐδενός ²⁶

mvp-comment-603-2 τὰ παρόντα ²⁷

mvp-comment-603-3 συλλαβὼν ²⁸

mvp-comment-604-1 ηὔδας ²⁹

mvp-comment-605-1 νυν ³⁰

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

951. mvp-comment-553-1 ἐξεπέμψω Hast thou had me called forth? The middle voice as in μεταπέμπεσθαι, of that which is done through others. In Ant. 19, where Antigone herself brings Ismene forth, the active is used.

954. mvp-comment-554-1 τί μοι λέγει What, pray, has he to tell? rather than, What has he to tell me?'

955. mvp-comment-555-1 ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου Answers not quite exactly to τίς ποτ' ἐστί; cp. supr. 936

957. mvp-comment-556-1 σημήνας γενοῦ Εssay on Language p. 51.

957. mvp-comment-556-2 σημήνας The periphrasis is more courteous than σήμηνον here.

958. mvp-comment-557-1 The messenger would rather tell first the accession of Oedipus to the Corinthian throne. Supr. 939.

959. mvp-comment-558-1 εἰ ἴσθ᾽ Porson corrected this το σάφ'᾽ ἴσθ'. But the hiatus is sufficiently defended by the recurrence of the open vowel after φεῦ, τί, ὦ.

960. mvp-comment-559-1 νόσου ξυναλλαγή By visitation of disease. 961. A little touch lays low the aged frame. σμ. δ = A slight inclination of the balance. Cp. Plat. Rep. 8. 556 E, ὥσπερ σῶμα νοσῶδες μικρᾶς ῥοπῆς ἔξωθεν δεῖται προσλαβέσθαι πρὸς τὸ κάμνειν.

963. mvp-comment-560-1 Yes, and by the length of years which his life had measured.' The dative is first instrumental, and then joined with συμμετρούμενοs in a supplementary construction.

964. mvp-comment-561-1 τί.. σκοποῖτο Cp. Phil. 428, τί δῆτα δεῖ σκοπεῖν; and for the middle v., infr. 1487, νοούμενος.

966. mvp-comment-562-1 κλάζοντας ὄρνις The informants of Teiresias, supr. 350 foll., cp. Ant. 998, foll.

967. mvp-comment-563-1 κτανεῖν On the aor. inf. after μέλλω, see L. and S. s. v. μέλλω. The resolved feet have here the effect of a crescendo.

969. mvp-comment-564-1 ἄψαυστος ἔγχους Without having laid hand to sword.

971. mvp-comment-565-1 τὰ.. παρόντα i. e. Well, and so he is in his grave, and has taken with him those prophecies which were troubling us, worth nothing now. There is no special emphasis on παρόντα; δ᾽ οὖν merely marking the return from the digression εἴ τι μὴ.. εἴη ἐξ ἐμοῦ. The new fear of Oedipus (976) is inconsistent with this speech, but the inconsistency is natural, and in keeping with his irresolution and excitement. See l. 914, and cp. Shakespeare, Macbeth, 3. 4,

Then comes my fit again; I had else been perfect, | Whole as the marble, founded as the rock, | As broad and general as the casing air; | But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in | To saucy doubts and fears.

975. mvp-comment-566-1 ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς Take to heart, — allow to weigh upon your spirit. Cp. Hdt. 7.51, ἐς θυμὸν ὧν βαλεῦ καὶ τὸ παλαιὸν ἔπος, ὡς εὖ εἴρηται, κ.τ.λ. Supr. 739, τί δ᾽ ἐστί σοι τοῦτ᾽, Οἰδίπους, ἐνθύμιον;

976. mvp-comment-567-1 λέχος cannot be retained without altering the order of the words, which is best as it is.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

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Oedipus Iocasta, dearest wife, why have you summoned me forth from these doors? 950

Iocasta Hear this man, and judge, as you listen, what the awful oracles have come to.

Oedipus Who is he and what news does he have for me?

Iocasta He comes from Corinth to tell you that your father Polybus lives no longer, but has perished. 955

Oedipus How, stranger? Let me have it from your own mouth.

Messenger If I must first make these tidings plain, know indeed that he is dead and gone.

Oedipus By treachery, or from illness? 960

Messenger A light tilt of the scale brings the aged to their rest.

Oedipus Ah, he died, it seems, of sickness?

Messenger Yes, and of the long years that he had lived.

Iocasta Did I not long ago foretell this to you?

Oedipus You did, but I was mislead by my fear.

Iocasta Now no longer take any of those things to heart. 975

Oedipus But surely I must fear my mother’s bed.

Current edition Experimental

ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα, 950 τί μ' ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων τὰ σέμν᾽ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτ᾽ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν 955 ὡς οὐκέτ᾽ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλ᾽ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους τί φῄς, ξέν᾽; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημήνας γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μ᾿ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς, εὖ ἴσθ᾽ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους πότερα δόλοισιν, ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ; 960

Ἄγγελος σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματ᾿ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Ἰοκάστη οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προὔλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη μὴ νῦν ἔτ᾽ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς. 975

Οἰδίπους καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς λέκτρον οὐκ ὀκνεῖν με δεῖ;

Ἰοκάστη

Οἰδίπους ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα, 950 τί μʼ ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων τὰ σέμνʼ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν 955 ὡς οὐκέτʼ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλʼ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους τί φῄς, ξένʼ; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημάντωρ γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μʼ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς, εὖ ἴσθʼ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους πότερα δόλοισιν ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ; 960

Ἄγγελος σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματʼ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Ἰοκάστη οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προύλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη μὴ νῦν ἔτʼ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς. 975

Οἰδίπους καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς οὐκ ὀκνεῖν λέχος με δεῖ;

Jocasta, my dear queen, why didst thou send 950 To bring me hither from our palace-hall?

JO Hear that man’s tale, and then consider well The end of yonder dreadful prophecy.

OED Who is the man, and what his errand here?

JO He comes from Corinth, to make known to thee 955 That Polybus, thy father, is no more.

OED How, stranger? Let me learn it from thy mouth.

COR. SH If my first duty be to make this clear, Know beyond doubt that he is dead and gone.

OED By illness coming o’er him, or by guile? 960

COR. SH Light pressure lays to rest the timeworn frame.

OED He was subdued by sickness then, poor soul!

COR. SH By sickness and the burden of his years.

JO Did I not tell thee so, long since?

OED Thou didst. But I was drawn to error by my fear.

JO Now cast it altogether out of mind. 975

OED Must I not fear my mother’s marriage-bed?

JO

Mein trautes Weib, Iokaste, vielgeliebtes Haupt, In welcher Absicht riefst du mich vom Haus hieher?

Jokaste. Vernimm den Mann hier, und erwäge dann, wohin 925 Es mit des Gottes hohem Spruch gekommen ist. Und dieser Mann

Oedipus. wer ist er, und was bringt er mir?

Jokaste. Vom Land Korinthos meldet er, daß Polybos, Dein Vater, nicht mehr lebe, nein, des Todes sei.

Oedipus. Was sagst du, Fremdling? Künde du mir selbst es an. 930

Der Bote. Nun, wenn ich dies vor Allem deutlich sagen soll, So wisse: jener ging dahin des Todes Weg.

Oedipus. Und hat ihn Arglist oder Krankheit hingerafft?

Der Bote. Ein leichter Anstoß wiegt in Ruh' ein greises Haupt.

Oedipus. An einer Krankheit, scheint es, starb der Arme wohl? 935

Der Bote. Und wie's gemäß des Lebens langer Dauer war.

Jokaste. Hab' ich dir das nicht lange schon vorhergesagt?

Oedipus. Wohl sagtest du's; doch irre führte mich die Furcht.

Jokaste. Nun komme nichts von diesem dir zu Sinne mehr!

Oedipus. Wie? Darf der Mutter Ehe mich nicht ängstigen?

Jokaste.

That shepherd is my only hope : Jocasta, 950 Would he were here ! Joe. Suppose he were ; what then ? What wouldst thou do ?

Oedipus I'll tell thee : if he says The same as thou dost, I am safe and guiltless. Joe. What said I, th&n ?

Chorus.

Jocasta

Oedipus

Iocasta, dearest wife, why have you summoned me forth from these doors?
950

Iocasta

Hear this man, and judge, as you listen, what the awful oracles have come to.

Oedipus

Who is he and what news does he have for me?

Iocasta

He comes from Corinth to tell you that your father Polybus lives no longer, but has perished.
955

Oedipus

How, stranger? Let me have it from your own mouth.

Messenger

If I must first make these tidings plain, know indeed that he is dead and gone.

Oedipus

By treachery, or from illness?
960

Messenger

A light tilt of the scale brings the aged to their rest.

Oedipus

Ah, he died, it seems, of sickness?

Messenger

Yes, and of the long years that he had lived.

Iocasta

Did I not long ago foretell this to you?

Oedipus

You did, but I was mislead by my fear.

Iocasta

Now no longer take any of those things to heart.
975

Oedipus

But surely I must fear my mother’s bed.

ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα,
950

τί μ' ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη

ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων

τὰ σέμν᾽ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτ᾽ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη

ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν
955

ὡς οὐκέτ᾽ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλ᾽ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους

τί φῄς, ξέν᾽; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημήνας γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μ᾿ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς,

εὖ ἴσθ᾽ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους

πότερα δόλοισιν, ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ;
960

Ἄγγελος

σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματ᾿ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους

νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Ἰοκάστη

οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προὔλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους

ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη

μὴ νῦν ἔτ᾽ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς.
975

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς λέκτρον οὐκ ὀκνεῖν με δεῖ;

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατον γυναικὸς Ἰοκάστης κάρα,
950

τί μʼ ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων;

Ἰοκάστη

ἄκουε τἀνδρὸς τοῦδε, καὶ σκόπει κλύων

τὰ σέμνʼ ἵνʼ ἥκει τοῦ θεοῦ μαντεύματα.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος δὲ τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶ καὶ τί μοι λέγει;

Ἰοκάστη

ἐκ τῆς Κορίνθου, πατέρα τὸν σὸν ἀγγελῶν
955

ὡς οὐκέτʼ ὄντα Πόλυβον, ἀλλʼ ὀλωλότα.

Οἰδίπους

τί φῄς, ξένʼ; αὐτός μοι σὺ σημάντωρ γενοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τοῦτο πρῶτον δεῖ μʼ ἀπαγγεῖλαι σαφῶς,

εὖ ἴσθʼ ἐκεῖνον θανάσιμον βεβηκότα.

Οἰδίπους

πότερα δόλοισιν ἢ νόσου ξυναλλαγῇ;
960

Ἄγγελος

σμικρὰ παλαιὰ σώματʼ εὐνάζει ῥοπή.

Οἰδίπους

νόσοις ὁ τλήμων, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἔφθιτο.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ τῷ μακρῷ γε συμμετρούμενος χρόνῳ.

Ἰοκάστη

οὔκουν ἐγώ σοι ταῦτα προύλεγον πάλαι;

Οἰδίπους

ηὔδας· ἐγὼ δὲ τῷ φόβῳ παρηγόμην.

Ἰοκάστη

μὴ νῦν ἔτʼ αὐτῶν μηδὲν ἐς θυμὸν βάλῃς.
975

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς τὸ μητρὸς οὐκ ὀκνεῖν λέχος με δεῖ;

Jocasta, my dear queen, why didst thou send
950

To bring me hither from our palace-hall?

JO

Hear that man’s tale, and then consider well

The end of yonder dreadful prophecy.

OED

Who is the man, and what his errand here?

JO

He comes from Corinth, to make known to thee
955

That Polybus, thy father, is no more.

OED

How, stranger? Let me learn it from thy mouth.

COR. SH

If my first duty be to make this clear,

Know beyond doubt that he is dead and gone.

OED

By illness coming o’er him, or by guile?
960

COR. SH

Light pressure lays to rest the timeworn frame.

OED

He was subdued by sickness then, poor soul!

COR. SH

By sickness and the burden of his years.

JO

Did I not tell thee so, long since?

OED

Thou didst.

But I was drawn to error by my fear.

JO

Now cast it altogether out of mind.
975

OED

Must I not fear my mother’s marriage-bed?

Mein trautes Weib, Iokaste, vielgeliebtes Haupt,

In welcher Absicht riefst du mich vom Haus hieher?

Jokaste.

Vernimm den Mann hier, und erwäge dann, wohin
925

Es mit des Gottes hohem Spruch gekommen ist.

Und dieser Mann

Oedipus.

wer ist er, und was bringt er mir?

Jokaste.

Vom Land Korinthos meldet er, daß Polybos,

Dein Vater, nicht mehr lebe, nein, des Todes sei.

Oedipus.

Was sagst du, Fremdling? Künde du mir selbst es an.
930

Der Bote.

Nun, wenn ich dies vor Allem deutlich sagen soll,

So wisse: jener ging dahin des Todes Weg.

Oedipus.

Und hat ihn Arglist oder Krankheit hingerafft?

Der Bote.

Ein leichter Anstoß wiegt in Ruh' ein greises Haupt.

Oedipus.

An einer Krankheit, scheint es, starb der Arme wohl?
935

Der Bote.

Und wie's gemäß des Lebens langer Dauer war.

Jokaste.

Hab' ich dir das nicht lange schon vorhergesagt?

Oedipus.

Wohl sagtest du's; doch irre führte mich die Furcht.

Jokaste.

Nun komme nichts von diesem dir zu Sinne mehr!

Oedipus.

Wie? Darf der Mutter Ehe mich nicht ängstigen?

That shepherd is my only hope : Jocasta,
950

Would he were here !

Joe. Suppose he were ; what then ?

What wouldst thou do ?

Oedipus

I'll tell thee : if he says

The same as thou dost, I am safe and guiltless.

Joe. What said I, th&n ?

O my Jocasta, dearest to my soul,
950

Why hast thou sent my presence to require?

Jocasta

Hear thou this man; then ponder well what end

The gods' high-honour'd oracles have found.

Oedipus

Who is this stranger? With what tidings fraught?

Jocasta

From Corinth is he come, to tell thee this,
955

That Polybus thy father is no more.

Oedipus

Speak, stranger; I would be inform'd by thee.

Corinthian

If this I plainly must at first declare,

Know thou that he hath trod the path to death.

Oedipus

By treachery, or th' attack of some disease ?
960

Slight force will sink the limbs of age to rest.
960

Oedipus

Wasted by sickness then, it seems, he died.