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Oedipus
That I will do, for I honor you, lady, above these men. Creon is the cause, and the plots he has laid against me.
700
That I will do, for I honor you, lady, above these men. Creon is the cause, and the plots he has laid against me.
700
Iocasta
Come, tell me how the argument began.
Come, tell me how the argument began.
Oedipus
He says that I stand guilty of Laius’ blood.
He says that I stand guilty of Laius’ blood.
Iocasta
On his own knowledge or on hearsay from another?
On his own knowledge or on hearsay from another?
Oedipus
He has made a rascal seer his mouth piece: as for himself, he keeps his lips wholly pure.
705
He has made a rascal seer his mouth piece: as for himself, he keeps his lips wholly pure.
705
Iocasta
Then absolve yourself of the things about which you are speaking. Listen to me, and take comfort in learning that nothing of mortal birth shares in the science of the seer.
I will give you a pithy proof of this. An oracle came to Laius once—I will not say from Phoebus himself, but from his ministers—saying that he would suffer his doom at the hands of the child to be born to him and me.
710
And Laius—as, at least, the rumor goes—was murdered one day by foreign robbers at a place where the three highways meet. And the child’s birth was not yet three days past, when Laius pinned his ankles together and had him thrown, by others’ hands, on a remote mountain.
715
So, in that case, Apollo did not bring it to pass that the child should become the slayer of his father, or that Laius should suffer that which he feared, death at the hands of his child: thus the messages of the seer’s art had mapped out the future. Pay them no regard. Whatever necessary event
720
the god seeks, he himself will easily bring to light.
725
726
Then absolve yourself of the things about which you are speaking. Listen to me, and take comfort in learning that nothing of mortal birth shares in the science of the seer.
I will give you a pithy proof of this. An oracle came to Laius once—I will not say from Phoebus himself, but from his ministers—saying that he would suffer his doom at the hands of the child to be born to him and me.
710
And Laius—as, at least, the rumor goes—was murdered one day by foreign robbers at a place where the three highways meet. And the child’s birth was not yet three days past, when Laius pinned his ankles together and had him thrown, by others’ hands, on a remote mountain.
715
So, in that case, Apollo did not bring it to pass that the child should become the slayer of his father, or that Laius should suffer that which he feared, death at the hands of his child: thus the messages of the seer’s art had mapped out the future. Pay them no regard. Whatever necessary event
720
the god seeks, he himself will easily bring to light.
725
Oedipus
What restlessness of soul, lady, what tumult has come upon me since I heard you speak!
What restlessness of soul, lady, what tumult has come upon me since I heard you speak!
Iocasta
What anxiety has startled you, that you say this?
What anxiety has startled you, that you say this?
Oedipus
I thought that I heard this from you—that Laius
was slain where the three roads meet.
730
I thought that I heard this from you—that Laius
was slain where the three roads meet.
730
Icasta
Yes, that was the report, and so it is still thought.
Yes, that was the report, and so it is still thought.
Oedipus
And where is the place where this occurred?
And where is the place where this occurred?
Iocasta
Oedipus
And how much time has passed since these events took place?
735
And how much time has passed since these events took place?
735
Iocasta
The news was announced to the town shortly before you first attained power over this land.
The news was announced to the town shortly before you first attained power over this land.
Oedipus
O Zeus, what have you decreed for me?
O Zeus, what have you decreed for me?
Iocasta
Why, Oedipus, does this matter weigh upon your heart?
Why, Oedipus, does this matter weigh upon your heart?
Oedipus
Do not ask me yet. Tell me rather what stature Laius had, and how ripe his manhood was.
740
Do not ask me yet. Tell me rather what stature Laius had, and how ripe his manhood was.
740
Iocasta
He was tall—the silver just lightly strewn among his hair—and his form was not greatly unlike your own.
He was tall—the silver just lightly strewn among his hair—and his form was not greatly unlike your own.
Oedipus
Unhappy that I am! I think that I have
laid myself under a terrible curse without realizing it.
745
Unhappy that I am! I think that I have
laid myself under a terrible curse without realizing it.
745
Iocasta
How do you mean? I tremble when I look at you, my lord.
How do you mean? I tremble when I look at you, my lord.
Oedipus
I have dread fears that the seer can see. But you will reveal the matter better if you tell me one thing more.
I have dread fears that the seer can see. But you will reveal the matter better if you tell me one thing more.
Iocasta
Indeed, though I tremble, I will hear and answer all that you ask.
750
Indeed, though I tremble, I will hear and answer all that you ask.
Oedipus
Did he go with a small force, or like a chieftain, with many armed followers?
750
Did he go with a small force, or like a chieftain, with many armed followers?
750
Iocasta
Five they were in all—a herald among them—and there was one carriage which bore Laius.
Five they were in all—a herald among them—and there was one carriage which bore Laius.
Oedipus
Alas! It is all clear now! Who gave you this information, lady?
755
Alas! It is all clear now! Who gave you this information, lady?
755
Iocasta
A servant, the only survivor who returned home.
A servant, the only survivor who returned home.
Oedipus
Is he by any chance in the house now?
Is he by any chance in the house now?
Iocasta
No. Soon after he returned and found you ruling in Laius’ stead,
he pled with me, with hand laid on mine, to send him to the fields, to the pastures of the flocks, that he might be far from the sight of this town. And I sent him; he was worthy, for a slave, to win even a larger favor than that.
760
No. Soon after he returned and found you ruling in Laius’ stead,
he pled with me, with hand laid on mine, to send him to the fields, to the pastures of the flocks, that he might be far from the sight of this town. And I sent him; he was worthy, for a slave, to win even a larger favor than that.
760
Oedipus
Would, then, that he return to us without delay!
765
Would, then, that he return to us without delay!
765
Iocasta
That is easy. But why do you enjoin this?
That is easy. But why do you enjoin this?
Oedipus
I fear, lady, that my words have been rash, and therefore I wish to see him.
I fear, lady, that my words have been rash, and therefore I wish to see him.
Iocasta
He will come. But I think that
I too have a claim to learn what lies heavy on your heart, my king.
770
771
He will come. But I think that
I too have a claim to learn what lies heavy on your heart, my king.
770
Oedipus
It will not be kept from you, now that my forebodings have advanced so far. To whom more than to you would I speak in suffering such a fortune as this? My father was Polybus of
Corinth
,
my mother the Dorian Merope. I was considered the greatest of the folk in that town, until a chance event befell me, worthy, indeed, of wonder, though not of my overreaction regarding it. At a banquet, a man drunk with wine
775
cast it at me that I was not the true son of my father. And I, vexed, restrained myself for that day as best as I could, but on the next went to my mother and father and questioned them. They were angry at the one who had let this taunt fly.
780
So I had comfort about them, but the matter rankled in my heart, for such a rumor still spread widely. I went to
Delphi
without my parents’ knowledge, and Phoebus sent me forth disappointed of the knowledge for which I had come,
785
but in his response set forth other things, full of sorrow and terror and woe: that I was fated to defile my mother’s bed, that I would reveal to men a brood which they could not endure to behold, and that I would slay the father that sired me. When I heard this, I turned in flight from the land of
Corinth
,
790
from then on thinking of it only by its position under the stars, to some spot where I should never see fulfillment of the infamies foretold in my evil fate. And on my way I came to the land in which you say that this prince perished.
795
800
It will not be kept from you, now that my forebodings have advanced so far. To whom more than to you would I speak in suffering such a fortune as this? My father was Polybus of
Corinth
,
my mother the Dorian Merope. I was considered the greatest of the folk in that town, until a chance event befell me, worthy, indeed, of wonder, though not of my overreaction regarding it. At a banquet, a man drunk with wine
775
cast it at me that I was not the true son of my father. And I, vexed, restrained myself for that day as best as I could, but on the next went to my mother and father and questioned them. They were angry at the one who had let this taunt fly.
780
So I had comfort about them, but the matter rankled in my heart, for such a rumor still spread widely. I went to
Delphi
without my parents’ knowledge, and Phoebus sent me forth disappointed of the knowledge for which I had come,
785
but in his response set forth other things, full of sorrow and terror and woe: that I was fated to defile my mother’s bed, that I would reveal to men a brood which they could not endure to behold, and that I would slay the father that sired me. When I heard this, I turned in flight from the land of
Corinth
,
790
from then on thinking of it only by its position under the stars, to some spot where I should never see fulfillment of the infamies foretold in my evil fate. And on my way I came to the land in which you say that this prince perished.
795
Now, lady, I will tell you the truth. When on my journey I was near those three roads, there I met a herald, and a man in a carriage drawn by colts, as you have described. The leader and the old man
800
himself tried to thrust me rudely from the path. Then, in anger, I struck the one pushing me aside, the driver, and the old man, when he saw this, watched for the moment I was passing, and from his carriage, brought his double goad straight down on my head.
805
Yet he was paid back with interest: with one swift blow from the staff in this hand he rolled right out of the carriage onto his back. I slew every one of them. But if this stranger had any tie of kinship to Laius,
810
who is now more wretched than this man before you? What mortal could be proved more hateful to the gods? No stranger, no citizen, is allowed to receive him at home, it is unlawful for anyone to accost him, and all must push him from their homes. And this—this curse—
815
was laid on me by no other mouth than my own. And I pollute the bed of the slain man with the hands by which he perished. Am I now vile? Oh, am I not utterly unclean, seeing that I must be banished, and in banishment neither see my own people,
820
nor set foot in my own land, or else be joined in wedlock to my mother, and slay my father Polybus, who sired and reared me? Then would he who judged these things to be sent down by some cruel divinity not be right about Oedipus?
825
Prevent, prevent, you pure and awful gods, me from ever seeing that day! No, may I be swept away from all men, before I see myself visited with that brand of doom.
830
834
Now, lady, I will tell you the truth. When on my journey I was near those three roads, there I met a herald, and a man in a carriage drawn by colts, as you have described. The leader and the old man
800
himself tried to thrust me rudely from the path. Then, in anger, I struck the one pushing me aside, the driver, and the old man, when he saw this, watched for the moment I was passing, and from his carriage, brought his double goad straight down on my head.
805
Yet he was paid back with interest: with one swift blow from the staff in this hand he rolled right out of the carriage onto his back. I slew every one of them. But if this stranger had any tie of kinship to Laius,
810
who is now more wretched than this man before you? What mortal could be proved more hateful to the gods? No stranger, no citizen, is allowed to receive him at home, it is unlawful for anyone to accost him, and all must push him from their homes. And this—this curse—
815
was laid on me by no other mouth than my own. And I pollute the bed of the slain man with the hands by which he perished. Am I now vile? Oh, am I not utterly unclean, seeing that I must be banished, and in banishment neither see my own people,
820
nor set foot in my own land, or else be joined in wedlock to my mother, and slay my father Polybus, who sired and reared me? Then would he who judged these things to be sent down by some cruel divinity not be right about Oedipus?
825
Prevent, prevent, you pure and awful gods, me from ever seeing that day! No, may I be swept away from all men, before I see myself visited with that brand of doom.
830
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
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.
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?
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
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?
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
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
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
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.
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.
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Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.