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Oedipus
Elders, if it is right for me, who have never met the man, to guess, I think I see the herdsman we have been looking for for a long time. In his venerable old age he tallies with this stranger’s years, and moreover I recognize those who bring him, I think, as servants of mine.
1110
But perhaps you have an advantage in knowledge over me, if you have seen the herdsman before.
1115
Elders, if it is right for me, who have never met the man, to guess, I think I see the herdsman we have been looking for for a long time. In his venerable old age he tallies with this stranger’s years, and moreover I recognize those who bring him, I think, as servants of mine.
1110
But perhaps you have an advantage in knowledge over me, if you have seen the herdsman before.
1115
Chorus
Yes, I know him, be sure. He was in the service of Laius—trusty as any shepherd.
The herdsman is brought in.
Yes, I know him, be sure. He was in the service of Laius—trusty as any shepherd.
Oedipus
I ask you first, Corinthian stranger, if this is the man you mean.
I ask you first, Corinthian stranger, if this is the man you mean.
Messenger
He is, the one you are looking at.
1120
He is, the one you are looking at.
1120
Oedipus
You, old man—look this way and answer all that I ask—were you once in the service of Laius?
You, old man—look this way and answer all that I ask—were you once in the service of Laius?
Servant
I was—not a bought slave, but reared in his house.
I was—not a bought slave, but reared in his house.
Oedipus
Employed in what labor, or what way of life?
Employed in what labor, or what way of life?
Servant
For the better part of my life I tended the flocks.
1125
For the better part of my life I tended the flocks.
1125
Oedipus
And what regions did you most frequently haunt?
And what regions did you most frequently haunt?
Servant
Sometimes Cithaeron, sometimes the neighboring ground.
Sometimes Cithaeron, sometimes the neighboring ground.
Oedipus
Are you aware of ever having seen this man in these parts?
Are you aware of ever having seen this man in these parts?
Servant
Doing what? What man do you mean?
Doing what? What man do you mean?
Oedipus
This man here. Have you ever met him before?
1130
This man here. Have you ever met him before?
1130
Servant
Not so that I could speak at once from memory.
Not so that I could speak at once from memory.
Messenger
And no wonder, master. But I will bring clear recollection to his ignorance. I am sure he knows well of the time we dwelled in the region of Cithaeron
for six month periods, from spring to Arcturus, he with two flocks, and I, his comrade, with one. And then for the winter I used to drive my flock to my own fold, and he took his to the fold of Laius.
1135
Did any of this happen as I tell it, or did it not?
1140
1141
And no wonder, master. But I will bring clear recollection to his ignorance. I am sure he knows well of the time we dwelled in the region of Cithaeron
for six month periods, from spring to Arcturus, he with two flocks, and I, his comrade, with one. And then for the winter I used to drive my flock to my own fold, and he took his to the fold of Laius.
1135
Did any of this happen as I tell it, or did it not?
1140
Servant
You speak the truth, though it was long ago.
You speak the truth, though it was long ago.
Messenger
Come, tell me now: do you remember having given me a boy in those days, to be reared as my own foster-son?
Come, tell me now: do you remember having given me a boy in those days, to be reared as my own foster-son?
Servant
What now? Why do you ask the question?
What now? Why do you ask the question?
Messenger
This man, my friend, is he who then was young.
1145
This man, my friend, is he who then was young.
1145
Servant
Damn you! Be silent once and for all!
Damn you! Be silent once and for all!
Oedipus
Do not rebuke him, old man. Your words need rebuking more than his.
Do not rebuke him, old man. Your words need rebuking more than his.
Servant
And in what way, most noble master, do I offend?
And in what way, most noble master, do I offend?
Oedipus
In not telling of the boy about whom he asks.
1150
In not telling of the boy about whom he asks.
1150
Servant
He speaks without knowledge, but is busy to no purpose.
He speaks without knowledge, but is busy to no purpose.
Oedipus
You will not speak with good grace, but will in pain.
You will not speak with good grace, but will in pain.
Servant
No, in the name of the gods, do not mistreat an old man.
No, in the name of the gods, do not mistreat an old man.
Oedipus
Someone, quick—tie his hands him this instant!
Someone, quick—tie his hands him this instant!
Servant
Alas, why? What do you want to learn?
1155
Alas, why? What do you want to learn?
1155
Oedipus
Did you give this man the child about whom he asks?
Did you give this man the child about whom he asks?
Servant
I did. Would that I had perished that day!
I did. Would that I had perished that day!
Oedipus
Well, you will come to that, unless you tell the honest truth.
Well, you will come to that, unless you tell the honest truth.
Servant
But if I speak I will be destroyed all the more.
But if I speak I will be destroyed all the more.
Oedipus
This man is bent, I think, on more delays.
1160
This man is bent, I think, on more delays.
1160
Servant
No, no! I said before that I gave it to him.
No, no! I said before that I gave it to him.
Oedipus
Where did you get it from? From your own house, or from another?
Where did you get it from? From your own house, or from another?
Servant
It was not my own: I received it from another.
It was not my own: I received it from another.
Oedipus
From whom of the citizens here? From what home?
From whom of the citizens here? From what home?
Servant
For the love of the gods, master, ask no more!
1165
For the love of the gods, master, ask no more!
1165
Oedipus
You are dead if I have to question you again.
You are dead if I have to question you again.
Servant
It was a child, then, of the house of Laius.
It was a child, then, of the house of Laius.
Oedipus
A slave? Or one of his own clan?
A slave? Or one of his own clan?
Servant
Alas! I am on the brink of speaking the dreaded words.
Alas! I am on the brink of speaking the dreaded words.
Oedipus
And I of hearing: I must hear nevertheless.
1170
1171
And I of hearing: I must hear nevertheless.
1170
Servant
You must know then, that it was said to be his own child. But your lady within could say best how these matters lie.
You must know then, that it was said to be his own child. But your lady within could say best how these matters lie.
Oedipus
How? Did she give it to you?
How? Did she give it to you?
Servant
Yes, my lord.
Yes, my lord.
Oedipus
For what purpose?
For what purpose?
Servant
That I should do away with it.
That I should do away with it.
Oedipus
Her own child, the wretched woman?
1175
Her own child, the wretched woman?
1175
Servant
Yes, from fear of the evil prophecies.
Yes, from fear of the evil prophecies.
Oedipus
What were they?
What were they?
Servant
The tale ran that he would slay his father.
The tale ran that he would slay his father.
Oedipus
Why, then, did you give him to this old man?
Why, then, did you give him to this old man?
Servant
Out of pity, master, thinking that he would carry him to another land, from where he himself came. But he saved him for the direst woe.
For if you are what this man says, be certain that you were born ill-fated.
1180
Out of pity, master, thinking that he would carry him to another land, from where he himself came. But he saved him for the direst woe.
For if you are what this man says, be certain that you were born ill-fated.
1180
Oedipus
Oh, oh! All brought to pass, all true. Light, may I now look on you for the last time—I who have been found to be accursed in birth,
accursed in wedlock, accursed in the shedding of blood.
He rushes into the palace.
1185
Oh, oh! All brought to pass, all true. Light, may I now look on you for the last time—I who have been found to be accursed in birth,
accursed in wedlock, accursed in the shedding of blood.
He rushes into the palace.
1185
Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1887.
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