Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, Richard Jebb (Translator), 999

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Messenger

Was it really for fear of this that you became an exile from that city?

Oedipus

And because I did not wish, old man, to be the murderer of my father.
1000

Messenger

Why have I not relieved you of this second fear, my lord, since I came to give you pleasure?

Oedipus

And indeed you will have worthy thanks from me.

Messenger

And indeed I came specially for this, that

I might profit from your returning home.
1005

Oedipus

But by no means will I ever go near my parents again.

Messenger

My son, it is crystal clear that you do not know what you are doing.

Oedipus

How so, old man? In the name of the gods, tell me.

Messenger

If on account of this you are fleeing from returning home.
1010

Oedipus

Fearing indeed lest Apollo’s prophecy come true in me.

Messenger

Lest you acquire some pollution from your parents?

Oedipus

This very thing, old man, this constantly frightens me.

Messenger

Do you know, then, that your fears are wholly in vain?

Oedipus

How so, if I was born of those parents?
1015

Messenger

Because you had no blood in common with Polybus.

Oedipus

What are you saying? Was Polybus not my father?

Messenger

Just as much, and no more, than he who speaks to you.

Oedipus

And how can my father be equal to him who is as though nothing to me?

Messenger

But he did not father you, any more than I did.
1020

Oedipus

How, then, did he call me his son?

Messenger

Long ago he received you as a gift from my hands.

Oedipus

And yet he loved me so dearly, who came from another’s hand?

Messenger

His former childlessness won him over.

Oedipus

And had you bought me or found me by chance, when you gave me to him?
1025

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)) — 1000 focus

ἦ γὰρ τάδ᾽ ὀκνῶν κεῖθεν ἦσθ᾽ ἀπόπτολις;
1000

Οἰδίπους

πατρός τε χρῄζων μὴ φονεὺς εἶναι, γέρον.

[44 a.

Ἄγγελος

τί δῆτ᾽ *ἐγὼ οὐχὶ τοῦδε τοῦ φόβου σ᾽, ἄναξ,

ἐπείπερ εὔνους ἦλθον, ἐξελυσάμην;

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν χάριν γ᾽ ἂν ἀξίαν λάβοις ἐμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτ᾽ ἀφικόμην, ὅπως
1005

σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ οὔποτ' εἶμι τοῖς φυτεύσασίν γ᾽ ὁμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

ὦ παῖ, καλῶς εἶ δῆλος οὐκ εἰδὼς τί δρᾷς.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς, ὦ γεραιέ; πρὸς θεῶν δίδασκέ με.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τῶνδε φεύγεις οὕνεκʼ εἰς οἴκους μολεῖν.
1010

Οἰδίπους

ταρβῶ γε μή μοι Φοῖβος ἐξέλθῃ σαφής.

Ἄγγελος

ἦ μὴ μίασμα τῶν φυτευσάντων λάβῃς;

Οἰδίπους

τοῦτ᾽ αὐτό, πρέσβυ, τοῦτό μ᾽ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ.

Ἄγγελος

ἆρ᾽ οἶσθα δῆτα πρὸς δίκης οὐδὲν τρέμων;

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δ᾽ οὐχί, παῖς γ' εἰ τῶνδε γεννητῶν ἔφυν;
1015

Ἄγγελος

ὁθούνεκʼ ἦν σοι Πόλυβος οὐδὲν ἐν γένει.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς εἶπας; οὐ γὰρ Πόλυβος ἐξέφυσέ με;

Ἄγγελος

οὐ μᾶλλον οὐδὲν τοῦδε τἀνδρός, ἀλλ᾽ ἴσον.

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς ὁ φύσας ἐξ ἴσου τῷ μηδενί;

Ἄγγελος

ἀλλ᾽ οὔ σ' ἐγείνατ' οὔτ᾽ ἐκεῖνος οὔτ᾽ ἐγώ.
1020

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ ἀντὶ τοῦ δὴ παῖδά μ' ὠνομάζετο;

Ἄγγελος

δῶρόν ποτ', ἴσθι, τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν λαβών.

Οἰδίπους

κᾆθʼ ὧδ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἄλλης χειρὸς ἔστερξεν μέγα;

Ἄγγελος

ἡ γὰρ πρὶν αὐτὸν ἐξέπεισ᾽ ἀπαιδία.

Οἰδίπους

σὺ δ᾽ ἐμπολήσας ἢ τεκών μ' αὐτῷ δίδως;
1025

Ἄγγελος

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1000 focus

Ἄγγελος

ἦ γὰρ τάδʼ ὀκνῶν κεῖθεν ἦσθʼ ἀπόπτολις;
1000

Οἰδίπους

πατρός τε χρῄζων μὴ φονεὺς εἶναι, γέρον.

Ἄγγελος

τί δῆτʼ ἐγὼ οὐχὶ τοῦδε τοῦ φόβου σʼ, ἄναξ,

ἐπείπερ εὔνους ἦλθον, ἐξελυσάμην;

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν χάριν γʼ ἂν ἀξίαν λάβοις ἐμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτʼ ἀφικόμην, ὅπως
1005

σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ οὔποτʼ εἶμι τοῖς φυτεύσασίν γʼ ὅμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

ὦ παῖ, καλῶς εἶ δῆλος οὐκ εἰδὼς τί δρᾷς.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς, ὦ γεραιέ; πρὸς θεῶν δίδασκέ με.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τῶνδε φεύγεις οὕνεκʼ εἰς οἴκους μολεῖν.
1010

Οἰδίπους

ταρβῶν γε μή μοι Φοῖβος ἐξέλθῃ σαφής.

Ἄγγελος

ἦ μὴ μίασμα τῶν φυτευσάντων λάβῃς;

Οἰδίπους

τοῦτʼ αὐτό, πρέσβυ, τοῦτό μʼ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ.

Ἄγγελος

ἆρʼ οἶσθα δῆτα πρὸς δίκης οὐδὲν τρέμων;

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δʼ οὐχί, παῖς γʼ εἰ τῶνδε γεννητῶν ἔφυν;
1015

Ἄγγελος

ὁθούνεκʼ ἦν σοι Πόλυβος οὐδὲν ἐν γένει.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς εἶπας; οὐ γὰρ Πόλυβος ἐξέφυσέ με;

Ἄγγελος

οὐ μᾶλλον οὐδὲν τοῦδε τἀνδρός, ἀλλʼ ἴσον.

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς ὁ φύσας ἐξ ἴσου τῷ μηδενί;

Ἄγγελος

ἀλλʼ οὔ σʼ ἐγείνατʼ οὔτʼ ἐκεῖνος οὔτʼ ἐγώ.
1020

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ ἀντὶ τοῦ δὴ παῖδά μʼ ὠνομάζετο;

Ἄγγελος

δῶρόν ποτʼ, ἴσθι, τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν λαβών.

Οἰδίπους

κᾆθʼ ὧδʼ ἀπʼ ἄλλης χειρὸς ἔστερξεν μέγα;

Ἄγγελος

ἡ γὰρ πρὶν αὐτὸν ἐξέπεισʼ ἀπαιδία.

Οἰδίπους

σὺ δʼ ἐμπολήσας ἢ τυχών μʼ αὐτῷ δίδως;
1025

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1000 focus

Did fear of this make thee so long an exile?
1000

OED

Of this and parricide, my aged friend.

COR. SH

I came with kind intent—and, dear my lord,

I fain would rid thee from this haunting dread.

OED

Our gratitude should well reward thy love.

COR. SH

Hope of reward from thee in thy return
1005

Was one chief motive of my journey hither.

OED

Return? Not to my parents’ dwelling-place!

COR. SH

Son, ’tis too clear, you know not what you do.

OED

Wherefore, kind sir? For Heaven’s sake teach me this.

COR. SH

If for these reasons you avoid your home.
1010

OED

The fear torments me, Phoebus may prove true.

COR. SH

Lest from your parents you receive a stain?

OED

That is the life-long torment of my soul.

COR. SH

Will you be certified your fears are groundless?

OED

How groundless, if I am my parents’ child?
1015

COR. SH

Because with Polybus thou hast no kin.

OED

Why? Was not he the author of my life?

COR. SH

As much as I am, and no more than I.

OED

How can my father be no more to me

Than who is nothing?

COR. SH

In begetting thee
1020

Nor I nor he had any part at all.
1020

OED

Why then did he declare me for his son?

COR. SH

Because he took thee once a gift from me.

OED

Was all that love unto a foundling shown?

COR. SH

Heirless affection so inclined his heart.

OED

A gift from you! Your purchase, or your child?
1025

COR. SH

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1000 focus

Und um des Vaters Mörder nicht zu sein, o Greis.

Der Bote.

Warum, o König, sollt' ich dich von dieser Furcht
975

Nicht gleich befreien? Kam ich doch wohlmeinend her!

Oedipus.

Auch nähmst du sicher würdigen Dank von mir dahin.

Der Bote.

In dieser Absicht kam ich auch zunächst zu dir,

Daß schöner Lohn mir würde, wenn du heimgekehrt.

Oedipus.

Doch, traun, zu meinen Eltern geh' ich nimmermehr!
980

Der Bote.

Mein Sohn, du weißt nicht, was du thuſt, ich seh' es klar

Oedipus.

Wie so, mein Alter? Bei den Göttern, sage mir's!

Wenn du dich ihretwegen heimzukommen scheust.

Ich zittre, sicher treffe Phöbos' Wort mir ein.

Der Bote.

Daß Gräul an deinen Eltern dich entheilige?
985

Oedipus.

Dies eben, Alter, dieses schreckt mich fort und fort.

Der Bote.

Nun, weißt du, daß du wider Recht dich ängstigest?

Oedipus.

Wie wäre das? Von diesen Eltern stamm' ich doch.

Der Bote.

Weil Polybos nicht deines Stammes war, o Herr.

Oedipus.

Wie sagst du? Hätte Polybos mich nicht gezeugt?
990

Der Bote.

Nicht mehr, o Herr, noch minder, als ich selber hier.

Oedipus.

Wie wär' ein Vater Einem gleich, der keiner ist?

Der Bote.

Er war so wenig, als ich selbst, dein Vater, Herr.

Oedipus.

Weßwegen aber nannt' er denn mich seinen Sohn?

Der Bote.

Aus meinen Händen nahm er als Geschenk dich einst.
995

Oedipus.

Und liebte dennoch mich so sehr aus fremder Hand?

Der Bote.

Ein kinderloses Leben hieß ihn also thun.

Oedipus.

Du kauftest oder fandest mich und gabst mich ihm?

Der Bote.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1000 focus

If touching this thou fii'St desir'st my answer ;
1000

Know, he is dead.
1000

Or some disease ?
1000

Shepherd
(Edi. How died he % Say, by treason.

Alas ! a little force

Will lay to rest the weary limbs of age.

Shepherd
(Edi. Distemper then did kill him ?

That in part,

And part a length of years that wore him down.

To prophecies, and seers, and clanioious birds

With their vain omens — they who had decreed

That T should kill my father. He thou seest

r

Beneath the earth lies buried, whilst I live

In safety here and guiltless of his blood :

Unless perhaps sorrow for loss of me

Shortened his days, thus only could I kill

My father. But ho's gone, and to the shades

Hath cariied with him those vain oracles

Of fancied ills, no longer worth my care.

Joe. Did I not say it would be thus?

Oedipus
(Edi. Now, my Jocasta, who shall henceforth trust

Thou didst ;

But I was full of fears.

Joe. Henceforth, no more

Indulge them.

Must be avoided. I must fly from that.

Joe. Why should man fear, whom chance, and chance

alone,

Doth ever rule 1 Foreknowledge, all is vain,

And can determine nothing. Therefore best

It is to live as fancy leads, at large,

Uncurbed, and only subject to our will.

Fear not thy mother's bed. Oftimes in dreams

Have men committed incest. But his life

Will ever be most happy who contemns

Such idle phantoms.

Did not my mother live. But as it is,

Spite of thy words, I must be anxious still.

Joe. Think on thy father's death ; it is a light

To guide thee here.

Oedipus
(Edi. But my mother's bed — that still (Edi. Thou wert right, Jocasta,

It is so. Yet I fear

Whilst she survives him.

Shepherd

Who is it you mean ?

What woman fear you ?

Oedipus

Merope, the wife

Of Polybus.

Shepherd

And wherefore fear you her?

QHdi. Know, stranger, a most dreadful oracle

Concerning her affrights me.

Shepherd

May I know it.

Or must it be revealed to none but thee?

Oedipus

Oh no ! I'll tell thee. Phoebus hath declared

Tliat (EcHpuR should stain his motlier's })e(l, 1

And dip his h.'inds in his own fatlier's blootl ;

Wherefore 1 iled from Corinth, and lived here,

In happiness indeed. But still thou knowst

It is a blessing to behold our parents,

And that I had not.

Shepherd
(ED! PUS TV R ANNUS,

Was it for this cause

Thou wert an exile then?

That I might one day prove my father's murderer.

SiiEP. What if I come, O king ! to banish hence

Thy terrors, and restore thy peace?

Oedipus
(Edi. It was. I feared

Oh stranger!
1015

Couldst thou do this, I would reward thee nobly.
1015

SiiEP. Know then, for this I came. I came to serve,
1015

And make thee happy.
1015

Oedipus

But I will not go

Back to my parents.

Shepherd

Son, I see thou knowst not

What thou art doing.

By heaven I beg thee then do thou instruct me.

Shepherd
(Edi. Wlierefore thinkst thou so ?

If thou didst fly from Corinth for this cause
1020

Shepherd
(Edi. Apollo's dire predictions still affright me.

Fearst thou pollution from thy parents ?

And that alone I dread.

Shepherd
(Edi. That,

Thy fears are vain.

Shepherd
(Edi. Not if they are my parents.

Polybus

Was not akin to thee.

Say, was not Polybus my father ?

Shepherd
(Edi. What sayst thou % Speak

No ;

No more than he is mine.

His son?

Shepherd
(Edi. Why call me then

Because long since I gave thee to him —
1025

He did receive thee from these hands.
1025

And could he love another's child so well ?
1025

Shepherd
(Edi. Indeed !

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1000 focus

To be divulg'd? Or may not strangers know?
1000

Oedipus

They may: and thus the Pythian god declared,

That I am doom'd to mount my mother's bed,

And with these hands to shed my father's blood.

Dreading these things from Corinth far I fled

Long since, by fortune bless'd indeed, but sweet

The pleasure to behold a parent's face.

Corinthian

Urged by this fear from Corinth didst thou fly?

Oedipus

And anxious not to shed my father's blood.

Corinthian

Why, since benevolent to thee I came,
1005

Should I not free thee from this anxious fear?

Oedipus

Grateful requital, stranger, this would claim.

Corinthian

For this I chiefly came, at thy return

That from thy hand some boon I might receive.

Oedipus

It may not be to those who gave me birth

I never will return.

Corinthian

This clearly shows
1010

Thou know'st not what thou dost.
1010

Oedipus

Now by the gods

Old man, explain these words.

Corinthian

If thy return

For their sake be denied.

Oedipus

My fears are strong,

Lest by th' event the oracle be found

Prophetic of the truth.

Corinthian

Dost thou then fear

Pollution from thy parents?

Oedipus

That, old man,
1015

That always gives me fear.
1015

Then be assured
1015

Corinthian

Thou hast no cause for fear:

Oedipus

No cause, if they

My parents, I their son?

Corinthian

Nought to thy blood

Was Polybus allied.

Oedipus

What mean thy words?

Was he not then my father ?

Corinthian

E'en as much
1020

As I, no more.
1020

Oedipus

Was he, who gave me birth,

Not more than thou my father ?

Corinthian

Nor to him

Owest thou thy birth; no, nor to me.

Oedipus

Why then

Did he avow me as his son?

Corinthian

A gift

He from my hands received thee.

Oedipus

And such love
1025

Bore to an infant from another's hands
1025

Received!
1025

Corinthian

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-621-1 ἀπόπτολις ¹

mvp-comment-622-1 πατρός τε ² γε ³

mvp-comment-623-1 ἐγὼ οὐχὶ ⁴

mvp-comment-624-1 ἐξελυσάμην ⁵

mvp-comment-625-1 καὶ μὴν ⁶ καὶ μὴν ⁷

mvp-comment-626-1 τοῦτ’ ἀφικόμην ⁸

mvp-comment-627-1 καλῶς ⁹

mvp-comment-628-1 With Erfurdt I think that ταρβῶν ¹⁰ ταρβῶ ¹¹

mvp-comment-629-1 Cp. Soph. Trach. 408

τοῦτ’ αὔτ’ ἔχρῃζον, τοῦτό σου μαθεῖν.

mvp-comment-630-1 πρὸς δίκης ¹² πρὸς ¹³

mvp-comment-631-1 ἐν γένει ¹⁴

mvp-comment-632-1 τῷ μηδενί, ¹⁵

mvp-comment-633-1 ἀπ’ ἄλλης χειρὸς ¹⁶

mvp-comment-634-1 ἐμπολήσας … ἢ τυχών ¹⁷ ἐμπολήσας ¹⁸ τυχών ¹⁹ τεκών ²⁰

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

999. mvp-comment-574-1 The natural simplicity of these words, said in the presence of Jocasta, contrasts terribly to the spectator with the unconsciousness of them. See 1371, foll., ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐκ οἶδ᾽ ὄμμασιν ποίοις βλέπων, κ.τ.λ. And cp. Aesch. Cho. 690-691, τὸν τεκόντα δ᾽ εἰκὸς εἰδέναι, said by Orestes before Clytemnestra.

1002-1003. mvp-comment-575-1 τί οὐχὶ . . ἐξελυσάμην ;] Had I not better, etc.? For this common idiom, cp. Aesch. Prom. 747-748, τί. . οὐκ ἐν τάχει | ἔρριψ᾿ ἐμαύτην, κ.τ.λ.

1004. mvp-comment-576-1 ἀξίαν Worth having, i. e. ample. For this absolute use of ἄξιος, cp. Od. 20. 383, ὅθεν κέ τοι ἄξιον ἄλφοι : Plat. Rep. 6. 504 Ε, ἄξιον τὸ διανόημα. 1005 τοῦτ᾽ ἀφικόμην] For this I came. The accusative in apposition, expressing purpose. Cp. O. C. 1291, ἃ δ' ἦλθον ἤδη σοι θέλω λέξαι, πάτερ.

1006. mvp-comment-577-1 That I might reap some benefit from you in your returning home.' σοῦ is (1) genitive of origin, (2) gen. absolute. Essay on Language § 9. P. 14.

1007. mvp-comment-578-1 τοῖς φυτεύσασιν 1012. τῶν φυτευσάντων] He expresses his particular fear in the general form which the prophecy (793) had originally suggested. See 1012, 1013, τοῦτό μ' εἰσαεὶ φοβεί.

1008. mvp-comment-579-1 ὦ παὶ This address comes somewhat strangely from the servant to the king, but is explained by the simplicity of heroic times, and by the circumstance that the aged speaker claims to have been a kind of fosterfather to Oedipus. Cp. El. 1220, where Electra, in addressing the supposed young stranger, uses in her excitement the address suitable for her brother.

1008. mvp-comment-579-2 καλῶς Clearly. O. C. 269-270, καλῶς | ἔξοιδα : Plat. Rep. 6, p. 506 В.

1010. mvp-comment-580-1 φεύγεις Here, as in supr. 948, the notion of exile is combined with the more general notion of avoidance.

1011. mvp-comment-581-1 Aldus and some MSS. have ταρβῶν. The variation of reading is like that in O. C. 1300: L. κλύω, Par. Α. κλύων. In both places the indicative is more forcible.

1011. mvp-comment-581-2 σαφής True, as in 390, ποῦ σὺ μάντις εἶ σαφής;

1012. mvp-comment-582-1 τῶν φυτευσάντων Here, as in supr. 988, τῆς ζώσης, the gen. expresses rather arising from,' than appertaining to. ' A pollution arising to you from your parents.' For the construction, see Essay on Language § 10. p. 14.

1013. mvp-comment-583-1 τοῦτο. φοβεῖ That is just the fear which is ever haunting me.

1014. mvp-comment-584-1 Then shall I tell you that your apprehensions are unreasonable?

1014. mvp-comment-584-2 πρὸς δίκης, like πρὸς τρόπου, etc., justly. So in El. 1211, πρὸς δίκης γὰρ οὐ στένεις.

1015. mvp-comment-585-1 Observe the emphatic position of παῖς and ἔφυν.

1016. mvp-comment-586-1 σοι.. οὐδὲν ἐν γένει Of no kin to thee. Eur. Alc. 904, ἐμοί τις ἦν ἐν γένει, ᾧ, κ.τ.λ.

1018. mvp-comment-587-1 The rusticity of the messenger shows itself in this blunt speech.

1019. mvp-comment-588-1 And how can a father be held equal to one who is no father?'

1019. mvp-comment-588-2 τῷ μηδενί μηδενί is probably masculine='ei, qui nullus est,' and may be best explained as = τῷ μηδὲν (i. e. μηδαμῶς) φύσαντι. To one who is nothing of the kind. The pronoun helps to make the negative more absolute. Cp. Theaet. 169 Α, ἐμὲ μὲν τῷ σῷ ἑταίρῳ . . ἐπαμύνειν, σὲ δὲ μηδενί : i. e. That I am bound to help and you not at all.' The negative is similarly strengthened in El. 276, ἐρινὸν οὔτιν᾽ ἐκφοβουμένη. Ib. 1215, ἄτιμος οὐδενὸς σύ. Aesch. Ag. 185, μάντιν οὔτινα ψέγων. Hdt. 3. 135, ἀπ᾿ οὐδενὸς δολεροῦ νόου. See Essay on Language § 22. p. 36. καὶ πῶς expresses incredulity; cp. Aesch. Suppl. 509, καὶ πῶς βέβηλον ἄλσος ἂν ῥύοιτό με ;

1021. mvp-comment-589-1 ἀντὶ τοῦ .. ὠνομάζετο 'Why ἐπεστάτουν] then did he call me his child? For the use of the middle voice, see Essay on Language § 31. p. 53, 6.

1025. mvp-comment-590-1 ἢ τεκών For this use of the aor. part. active of τίκτω, cp. О. С. 1108, τῷ τεκόντι πᾶν φίλον. The question is inconsistent with the assertion of the ἄγγελος in 1020, and hence the reading has been suspected and τυχών (from 1039) or κιχών, which of the two is more probable, has been substituted. But Oedipus need not be supposed to have weighed the words οὔτ᾽ ἐκεῖνος οὔτ᾽ ἐγώ. Cp. supr. 360 and note. And the same train of thought which leads him to ask this question, reappears in his colloquy with the βοτήρ, 1. 1162, πόθεν λαβών ; οἰκεῖον, ἢ ἐξ ἄλλου τινός; See also ll. 1062-1063. He is ready for any disclosure. When Caesar, who has just consented that Decius shall tell the senators he is not well, says immediately afterwards Shall Caesar send a lie? no one is found to complain of dramatic inconsistency. Shak. Jul. Caes. 1, 3.

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Messenger Was it really for fear of this that you became an exile from that city?

Oedipus And because I did not wish, old man, to be the murderer of my father. 1000

Messenger Why have I not relieved you of this second fear, my lord, since I came to give you pleasure?

Oedipus And indeed you will have worthy thanks from me.

Messenger And indeed I came specially for this, that I might profit from your returning home. 1005

Oedipus But by no means will I ever go near my parents again.

Messenger My son, it is crystal clear that you do not know what you are doing.

Oedipus How so, old man? In the name of the gods, tell me.

Messenger If on account of this you are fleeing from returning home. 1010

Oedipus Fearing indeed lest Apollo’s prophecy come true in me.

Messenger Lest you acquire some pollution from your parents?

Oedipus This very thing, old man, this constantly frightens me.

Messenger Do you know, then, that your fears are wholly in vain?

Oedipus How so, if I was born of those parents? 1015

Messenger Because you had no blood in common with Polybus.

Oedipus What are you saying? Was Polybus not my father?

Messenger Just as much, and no more, than he who speaks to you.

Oedipus And how can my father be equal to him who is as though nothing to me?

Messenger But he did not father you, any more than I did. 1020

Oedipus How, then, did he call me his son?

Messenger Long ago he received you as a gift from my hands.

Oedipus And yet he loved me so dearly, who came from another’s hand?

Messenger His former childlessness won him over.

Oedipus And had you bought me or found me by chance, when you gave me to him? 1025

Current edition Experimental

ἦ γὰρ τάδ᾽ ὀκνῶν κεῖθεν ἦσθ᾽ ἀπόπτολις; 1000

Οἰδίπους πατρός τε χρῄζων μὴ φονεὺς εἶναι, γέρον. [44 a.

Ἄγγελος τί δῆτ᾽ *ἐγὼ οὐχὶ τοῦδε τοῦ φόβου σ᾽, ἄναξ, ἐπείπερ εὔνους ἦλθον, ἐξελυσάμην;

Οἰδίπους καὶ μὴν χάριν γ᾽ ἂν ἀξίαν λάβοις ἐμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτ᾽ ἀφικόμην, ὅπως 1005 σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλ᾽ οὔποτ' εἶμι τοῖς φυτεύσασίν γ᾽ ὁμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος ὦ παῖ, καλῶς εἶ δῆλος οὐκ εἰδὼς τί δρᾷς.

Οἰδίπους πῶς, ὦ γεραιέ; πρὸς θεῶν δίδασκέ με.

Ἄγγελος εἰ τῶνδε φεύγεις οὕνεκʼ εἰς οἴκους μολεῖν. 1010

Οἰδίπους ταρβῶ γε μή μοι Φοῖβος ἐξέλθῃ σαφής.

Ἄγγελος ἦ μὴ μίασμα τῶν φυτευσάντων λάβῃς;

Οἰδίπους τοῦτ᾽ αὐτό, πρέσβυ, τοῦτό μ᾽ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ.

Ἄγγελος ἆρ᾽ οἶσθα δῆτα πρὸς δίκης οὐδὲν τρέμων;

Οἰδίπους πῶς δ᾽ οὐχί, παῖς γ' εἰ τῶνδε γεννητῶν ἔφυν; 1015

Ἄγγελος ὁθούνεκʼ ἦν σοι Πόλυβος οὐδὲν ἐν γένει.

Οἰδίπους πῶς εἶπας; οὐ γὰρ Πόλυβος ἐξέφυσέ με;

Ἄγγελος οὐ μᾶλλον οὐδὲν τοῦδε τἀνδρός, ἀλλ᾽ ἴσον.

Οἰδίπους καὶ πῶς ὁ φύσας ἐξ ἴσου τῷ μηδενί;

Ἄγγελος ἀλλ᾽ οὔ σ' ἐγείνατ' οὔτ᾽ ἐκεῖνος οὔτ᾽ ἐγώ. 1020

Οἰδίπους ἀλλ᾽ ἀντὶ τοῦ δὴ παῖδά μ' ὠνομάζετο;

Ἄγγελος δῶρόν ποτ', ἴσθι, τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν λαβών.

Οἰδίπους κᾆθʼ ὧδ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἄλλης χειρὸς ἔστερξεν μέγα;

Ἄγγελος ἡ γὰρ πρὶν αὐτὸν ἐξέπεισ᾽ ἀπαιδία.

Οἰδίπους σὺ δ᾽ ἐμπολήσας ἢ τεκών μ' αὐτῷ δίδως; 1025

Ἄγγελος

Ἄγγελος ἦ γὰρ τάδʼ ὀκνῶν κεῖθεν ἦσθʼ ἀπόπτολις; 1000

Οἰδίπους πατρός τε χρῄζων μὴ φονεὺς εἶναι, γέρον.

Ἄγγελος τί δῆτʼ ἐγὼ οὐχὶ τοῦδε τοῦ φόβου σʼ, ἄναξ, ἐπείπερ εὔνους ἦλθον, ἐξελυσάμην;

Οἰδίπους καὶ μὴν χάριν γʼ ἂν ἀξίαν λάβοις ἐμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτʼ ἀφικόμην, ὅπως 1005 σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλʼ οὔποτʼ εἶμι τοῖς φυτεύσασίν γʼ ὅμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος ὦ παῖ, καλῶς εἶ δῆλος οὐκ εἰδὼς τί δρᾷς.

Οἰδίπους πῶς, ὦ γεραιέ; πρὸς θεῶν δίδασκέ με.

Ἄγγελος εἰ τῶνδε φεύγεις οὕνεκʼ εἰς οἴκους μολεῖν. 1010

Οἰδίπους ταρβῶν γε μή μοι Φοῖβος ἐξέλθῃ σαφής.

Ἄγγελος ἦ μὴ μίασμα τῶν φυτευσάντων λάβῃς;

Οἰδίπους τοῦτʼ αὐτό, πρέσβυ, τοῦτό μʼ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ.

Ἄγγελος ἆρʼ οἶσθα δῆτα πρὸς δίκης οὐδὲν τρέμων;

Οἰδίπους πῶς δʼ οὐχί, παῖς γʼ εἰ τῶνδε γεννητῶν ἔφυν; 1015

Ἄγγελος ὁθούνεκʼ ἦν σοι Πόλυβος οὐδὲν ἐν γένει.

Οἰδίπους πῶς εἶπας; οὐ γὰρ Πόλυβος ἐξέφυσέ με;

Ἄγγελος οὐ μᾶλλον οὐδὲν τοῦδε τἀνδρός, ἀλλʼ ἴσον.

Οἰδίπους καὶ πῶς ὁ φύσας ἐξ ἴσου τῷ μηδενί;

Ἄγγελος ἀλλʼ οὔ σʼ ἐγείνατʼ οὔτʼ ἐκεῖνος οὔτʼ ἐγώ. 1020

Οἰδίπους ἀλλʼ ἀντὶ τοῦ δὴ παῖδά μʼ ὠνομάζετο;

Ἄγγελος δῶρόν ποτʼ, ἴσθι, τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν λαβών.

Οἰδίπους κᾆθʼ ὧδʼ ἀπʼ ἄλλης χειρὸς ἔστερξεν μέγα;

Ἄγγελος ἡ γὰρ πρὶν αὐτὸν ἐξέπεισʼ ἀπαιδία.

Οἰδίπους σὺ δʼ ἐμπολήσας ἢ τυχών μʼ αὐτῷ δίδως; 1025

Did fear of this make thee so long an exile? 1000

OED Of this and parricide, my aged friend.

COR. SH I came with kind intent—and, dear my lord, I fain would rid thee from this haunting dread.

OED Our gratitude should well reward thy love.

Messenger

Was it really for fear of this that you became an exile from that city?

Oedipus

And because I did not wish, old man, to be the murderer of my father.
1000

Messenger

Why have I not relieved you of this second fear, my lord, since I came to give you pleasure?

Oedipus

And indeed you will have worthy thanks from me.

Messenger

And indeed I came specially for this, that

I might profit from your returning home.
1005

Oedipus

But by no means will I ever go near my parents again.

Messenger

My son, it is crystal clear that you do not know what you are doing.

Oedipus

How so, old man? In the name of the gods, tell me.

Messenger

If on account of this you are fleeing from returning home.
1010

Oedipus

Fearing indeed lest Apollo’s prophecy come true in me.

Messenger

Lest you acquire some pollution from your parents?

Oedipus

This very thing, old man, this constantly frightens me.

Messenger

Do you know, then, that your fears are wholly in vain?

Oedipus

How so, if I was born of those parents?
1015

Messenger

Because you had no blood in common with Polybus.

Oedipus

What are you saying? Was Polybus not my father?

Messenger

Just as much, and no more, than he who speaks to you.

Oedipus

And how can my father be equal to him who is as though nothing to me?

Messenger

But he did not father you, any more than I did.
1020

Oedipus

How, then, did he call me his son?

Messenger

Long ago he received you as a gift from my hands.

Oedipus

And yet he loved me so dearly, who came from another’s hand?

Messenger

His former childlessness won him over.

Oedipus

And had you bought me or found me by chance, when you gave me to him?
1025

ἦ γὰρ τάδ᾽ ὀκνῶν κεῖθεν ἦσθ᾽ ἀπόπτολις;
1000

Οἰδίπους

πατρός τε χρῄζων μὴ φονεὺς εἶναι, γέρον.

[44 a.

Ἄγγελος

τί δῆτ᾽ *ἐγὼ οὐχὶ τοῦδε τοῦ φόβου σ᾽, ἄναξ,

ἐπείπερ εὔνους ἦλθον, ἐξελυσάμην;

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν χάριν γ᾽ ἂν ἀξίαν λάβοις ἐμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτ᾽ ἀφικόμην, ὅπως
1005

σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ οὔποτ' εἶμι τοῖς φυτεύσασίν γ᾽ ὁμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

ὦ παῖ, καλῶς εἶ δῆλος οὐκ εἰδὼς τί δρᾷς.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς, ὦ γεραιέ; πρὸς θεῶν δίδασκέ με.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τῶνδε φεύγεις οὕνεκʼ εἰς οἴκους μολεῖν.
1010

Οἰδίπους

ταρβῶ γε μή μοι Φοῖβος ἐξέλθῃ σαφής.

Ἄγγελος

ἦ μὴ μίασμα τῶν φυτευσάντων λάβῃς;

Οἰδίπους

τοῦτ᾽ αὐτό, πρέσβυ, τοῦτό μ᾽ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ.

Ἄγγελος

ἆρ᾽ οἶσθα δῆτα πρὸς δίκης οὐδὲν τρέμων;

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δ᾽ οὐχί, παῖς γ' εἰ τῶνδε γεννητῶν ἔφυν;
1015

Ἄγγελος

ὁθούνεκʼ ἦν σοι Πόλυβος οὐδὲν ἐν γένει.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς εἶπας; οὐ γὰρ Πόλυβος ἐξέφυσέ με;

Ἄγγελος

οὐ μᾶλλον οὐδὲν τοῦδε τἀνδρός, ἀλλ᾽ ἴσον.

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς ὁ φύσας ἐξ ἴσου τῷ μηδενί;

Ἄγγελος

ἀλλ᾽ οὔ σ' ἐγείνατ' οὔτ᾽ ἐκεῖνος οὔτ᾽ ἐγώ.
1020

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ ἀντὶ τοῦ δὴ παῖδά μ' ὠνομάζετο;

Ἄγγελος

δῶρόν ποτ', ἴσθι, τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν λαβών.

Οἰδίπους

κᾆθʼ ὧδ᾽ ἀπ᾿ ἄλλης χειρὸς ἔστερξεν μέγα;

Ἄγγελος

ἡ γὰρ πρὶν αὐτὸν ἐξέπεισ᾽ ἀπαιδία.

Οἰδίπους

σὺ δ᾽ ἐμπολήσας ἢ τεκών μ' αὐτῷ δίδως;
1025

Ἄγγελος

ἦ γὰρ τάδʼ ὀκνῶν κεῖθεν ἦσθʼ ἀπόπτολις;
1000

Οἰδίπους

πατρός τε χρῄζων μὴ φονεὺς εἶναι, γέρον.

Ἄγγελος

τί δῆτʼ ἐγὼ οὐχὶ τοῦδε τοῦ φόβου σʼ, ἄναξ,

ἐπείπερ εὔνους ἦλθον, ἐξελυσάμην;

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν χάριν γʼ ἂν ἀξίαν λάβοις ἐμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

καὶ μὴν μάλιστα τοῦτʼ ἀφικόμην, ὅπως
1005

σοῦ πρὸς δόμους ἐλθόντος εὖ πράξαιμί τι.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ οὔποτʼ εἶμι τοῖς φυτεύσασίν γʼ ὅμοῦ.

Ἄγγελος

ὦ παῖ, καλῶς εἶ δῆλος οὐκ εἰδὼς τί δρᾷς.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς, ὦ γεραιέ; πρὸς θεῶν δίδασκέ με.

Ἄγγελος

εἰ τῶνδε φεύγεις οὕνεκʼ εἰς οἴκους μολεῖν.
1010

Οἰδίπους

ταρβῶν γε μή μοι Φοῖβος ἐξέλθῃ σαφής.

Ἄγγελος

ἦ μὴ μίασμα τῶν φυτευσάντων λάβῃς;

Οἰδίπους

τοῦτʼ αὐτό, πρέσβυ, τοῦτό μʼ εἰσαεὶ φοβεῖ.

Ἄγγελος

ἆρʼ οἶσθα δῆτα πρὸς δίκης οὐδὲν τρέμων;

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δʼ οὐχί, παῖς γʼ εἰ τῶνδε γεννητῶν ἔφυν;
1015

Ἄγγελος

ὁθούνεκʼ ἦν σοι Πόλυβος οὐδὲν ἐν γένει.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς εἶπας; οὐ γὰρ Πόλυβος ἐξέφυσέ με;

Ἄγγελος

οὐ μᾶλλον οὐδὲν τοῦδε τἀνδρός, ἀλλʼ ἴσον.

Οἰδίπους

καὶ πῶς ὁ φύσας ἐξ ἴσου τῷ μηδενί;

Ἄγγελος

ἀλλʼ οὔ σʼ ἐγείνατʼ οὔτʼ ἐκεῖνος οὔτʼ ἐγώ.
1020

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ ἀντὶ τοῦ δὴ παῖδά μʼ ὠνομάζετο;

Ἄγγελος

δῶρόν ποτʼ, ἴσθι, τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν λαβών.

Οἰδίπους

κᾆθʼ ὧδʼ ἀπʼ ἄλλης χειρὸς ἔστερξεν μέγα;

Ἄγγελος

ἡ γὰρ πρὶν αὐτὸν ἐξέπεισʼ ἀπαιδία.

Οἰδίπους

σὺ δʼ ἐμπολήσας ἢ τυχών μʼ αὐτῷ δίδως;
1025

Did fear of this make thee so long an exile?
1000

OED

Of this and parricide, my aged friend.

COR. SH

I came with kind intent—and, dear my lord,

I fain would rid thee from this haunting dread.

OED

Our gratitude should well reward thy love.

COR. SH

Hope of reward from thee in thy return
1005

Was one chief motive of my journey hither.

OED

Return? Not to my parents’ dwelling-place!

COR. SH

Son, ’tis too clear, you know not what you do.

OED

Wherefore, kind sir? For Heaven’s sake teach me this.