Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, ed. Francis Storr, 1171

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Θεράπων

κείνου γέ τοι δὴ παῖς ἐκλῄζεθʼ· ἡ δʼ ἔσω

κάλλιστʼ ἂν εἴποι σὴ γυνὴ τάδʼ ὡς ἔχει.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ γὰρ δίδωσιν ἥδε σοι;

Θεράπων

μάλιστʼ, ἄναξ.

Οἰδίπους

ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας;

Θεράπων

ὡς ἀναλώσαιμί νιν.

Οἰδίπους

τεκοῦσα τλήμων;
1175

Θεράπων

θεσφάτων γʼ ὄκνῳ κακῶν.

Οἰδίπους

ποίων;

Θεράπων

κτενεῖν νιν τοὺς τεκόντας ἦν λόγος.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δῆτʼ ἀφῆκας τῷ γέροντι τῷδε σύ;

Θεράπων

κατοικτίσας, ὦ δέσποθʼ, ὡς ἄλλην χθόνα

δοκῶν ἀποίσειν, αὐτὸς ἔνθεν ἦν· ὁ δὲ

κάκʼ εἰς μέγιστʼ ἔσωσεν. εἰ γὰρ οὗτος εἶ
1180

ὅν φησιν οὗτος, ἴσθι δύσποτμος γεγώς.

Οἰδίπους

ἰοὺ ἰού· τὰ πάντʼ ἂν ἐξήκοι σαφῆ.

ὦ φῶς, τελευταῖόν σε προσβλέψαιμι νῦν,

ὅστις πέφασμαι φύς τʼ ἀφʼ ὧν οὐ χρῆν, ξὺν οἷς τʼ

οὐ χρῆν ὁμιλῶν, οὕς τέ μʼ οὐκ ἔδει κτανών.
1185

Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles. ed. Francis Storr. London. 1912.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Οἰδίπους Τύραννος (Greek) (Sophocles, Volume 1. Storr, Francis, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann Ltd.; The Macmillan Company, 1912.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1171 focus

κείνου γέ τοι δὴ παῖς ἐκλῄζεθ᾽· ἡ δ᾽ ἔσω

κάλλιστ᾽ ἂν εἴποι σὴ γυνὴ τάδ᾽ ὡς ἔχει.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ γὰρ δίδωσιν ἥδε σοι;

Θεράπων

μάλιστ᾽, ἄναξ.

Οἰδίπους

ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας;

Θεράπων

ὡς ἀναλώσαιμί νιν.

Οἰδίπους

τεκοῦσα τλήμων;
1175

Θεράπων

θεσφάτων γ᾽ ὄκνῳ κακῶν. 1175

Οἰδίπους

ποίων;

Θεράπων

κτενεῖν νιν τοὺς τεκόντας ἦν λόγος.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δῆτ᾽ ἀφῆκας τῷ γέροντι τῷδε σύ;

Θεράπων

κατοικτίσας, ὦ δέσποθ', ὡς ἄλλην χθόνα

δοκῶν ἀποίσειν, αὐτὸς ἔνθεν ἦν· ὁ δὲ

κάκ' ἐς μέγιστ᾽ ἔσωσεν. εἰ γὰρ οὗτος εἶ
1180

ὅν φησιν οὗτος, ἴσθι δύσποτμος γεγώς.

Οἰδίπους

ἰοὺ ἰού· τὰ πάντ᾽ ἂν ἐξήκοι σαφῆ.

ὦ φῶς, τελευταῖόν σε προσβλέψαιμι νῦν,

ὅστις πέφασμαι φύς τ᾿ ἀφ᾽ ὧν οὐ χρῆν, ξὺν οἷς τ᾽

οὐ χρῆν ὁμιλῶν, οὕς τέ μ᾽ οὐκ ἔδει κτανών.
1185

Χορός
α

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1171 focus

He was given out for Laius’ son: but she,

Thy queen, within the palace, best can tell.

OED

How? Did she give it thee?

THEB. SH

My lord, she did.

OED

With what commission?

THEB. SH

I was to destroy him.

OED

And could a mother’s heart be steeled to this?
1175

THEB. SH

With fear of evil prophecies.

OED

What were they?

THEB. SH

’Twas said the child should be his father’s death.

OED

What then possessed thee to give up the child

To this old man?

THEB. SH

Pity, my sovereign lord!

Supposing he would take him far away

Unto the land whence he was come. But he

Preserved him to great sorrow. For if thou
1180

Art he this man hath said, be well assured
1180

Thou bear’st a heavy doom.

OED

O horrible!

Horrible! All fulfilled, as sunlight clear!

Oh may I nevermore behold the day,

Since proved accursèd in my parentage,

In those I live with, and in him I slew!
1185

CHORUS
CHORUS .

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1171 focus

Wohl hieß das Kind sein eig'nes; doch am besten sagt
1140

Dir Alles, wie's geschehen, dein Gemahl im Haus.

Oedipus.

Sie übergab den Knaben dir?

Der Hirte.

Sie selbst, o Fürst.

Oedipus.

Mit welcher Weisung?

Der Hirte.

Daß ich ihn ermordete.

Oedipus.

Ihr Kind, die Arge?

Der Hirte.

Ja, geschreckt von bösem Spruch.

Oedipus.

Der hieß?
1145

Der Hirte.

Den Vater mord' es einst, so hieß das Wort.
1145

Oedipus.

Wie kam es, daß du diesem Greis den Knaben gabst?

Der Hirte.

Mitleid bewog mich, daß er ihn in fremdes Land,

Woher er selbst war, trüge, Herr; doch der erhielt

Ihn nun zum höchsten Jammer. Denn bist du das Kind,

Das dieser meinte, bist du, traun, zu Gram gezeugt!
1150

Oedipus.

Götter, Götter! Alles kommt nun klar zu Tag!

Licht, zum leztenmale schau' ich heute dich,

Der sproß, von wem er nicht gesollt, - mit wem er nicht

Gedurst, verkehrte, wen er nicht gedurst, erschlug!

(Ab in den Palast. Die Diener folgen. Der Chor bleibt allein zurücď.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1171 focus

Perdition on thee !

Oedipus

Did she then give the child to thee ?

Old Shep. She did.

Oedipus

For what ?

Old Shep. To kill him.

Oedipus

Kill her child ! Inhuman
1175

And barbarous mother !
1175

Old Shep. A dire oracle
1175

Affrighted, and constrained her to it.
1175

Oedipus

Ha !

What oracle ?

Old Shep. Which said, her son should slay

His parents.

Oedipus

Wherefore gav'st thou then the infant

To this old shepherd 1

Old Shep. Pity moved me to it :

I hoped he would have soon conveyed his charge

To some far distant country ; he, alas !

Preserved him but for misery and woe ;

For, O my lord ! if thou indeed art he,

Thou art of all mankind the most unhappy.

Oedipus

O me ! at length the mystery 's unravelled j

'Tis plain, 'tis clear ; my fate is all determined.

Those are my parents who should not have been

Allied to me ; she is my wife, e'en she

Whom Nature had forbidden me to wed ;

I have slain him who gave me life ; and now

Of thee, O light ! I take my last farewell,

For (Edipus shall ne'er behold thee more. [Exeunt.

O hapless state of human race !

How quick the fleeting shadows pass

Of transitory bliss below,

Where all is vanity and woe !

By thy example taught, O prince ! we see

Man was not made for true felicity.

Thou, CEdipus, beyond the rest

Of mortals wert supremely blest ;

Whom every hand conspired to raise.

Whom every tongue rejoiced to praise,

Wlien from the Sphinx thy all preserving hand

Stretched forth its aid to save a sinking Innd.

Thy virtues raised thee to a throne,

And grateful Thebes was all thy own ;

Alas ! how changed that glorious name !

Lost are thy virtues and thy fame ;

How couldst thou thus pollute thy father's bed ?

How couldst thou thus thy hapless mother wed 1

How could that bed unconscious bear

So long the \dle incestuous pair 1

But time, of quick and piercing sight.

Hath brought the horrid deed to light ;

At length Jocasta owns her guilty flame,
1185

And finds a husband and a child the same.
1185

E'pode.
1185

Wretched son of Laius, thee
1185

Henceforth may I never see,
1185

But absent shed the pious tear,
1185

And weep thy fate with grief sincere !
1185

For thou didst raise our eyes to life and light,
1185

To close them now in everlasting night.
1185

Messenger
Scene VIII. Strophe 1. Antistrophe i. Strophe 2. Antistrophe 2. ACT V. Scene I.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1171 focus

For me how terrible to speak !

Oedipus

Ay, and for me to hear: yet I must hear.

Herdsman

The son of Laius he was call'd; of this

Thy queen, Jocasta, can inform thee best.

Oedipus

Gave she the child to thee?

Herdsman

She did, O king.

Oedipus

With what intent?
1175

Herdsman

By me to be destroy'd.

Oedipus

What, she who gave him birth! O wretch!

Through dread

What ill?

Of oracles denouncing ill.

Herdsman

That he should kill his parents: this was said.

Oedipus

Why then to this old man consign thy charge?

Herdsman

Through pity: for, my lord, I thought this man

Would bear him to a distant land, of which

He is a native; but he saved him, saved

To misery: for if thou art he, of whom
1180

He speaks, know this, most wretched is thy fate.

Oedipus

Is there a wretch like me? My dreadful fate

Is now unveil'd. O light, thy beams no more

Let me behold, for I derive my birth

From these, to whom my birth I should not owe;

My dearest commerce I have held with those,

Whose commerce nature starts at; I have slain

Those, from whose blood the foulest stain I draw.
1185

Chorus
STRO. ANTIS.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1171 focus

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.

Oedipus

How? Did she give it to you?

Servant

Yes, my lord.

Oedipus

For what purpose?

Servant

That I should do away with it.

Oedipus

Her own child, the wretched woman?
1175

Servant

Yes, from fear of the evil prophecies.

Oedipus

What were they?

Servant

The tale ran that he would slay his father.

Oedipus

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

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

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-722-1 While γέ τοι, γε μέντοι, γε μὲν δή are comparatively frequent, γέ τοι δή ¹

mvp-comment-723-1 ὡς ²

mvp-comment-724-1 τοὺς τεκόντας ³

mvp-comment-725-1 “I gave up the child through pity,” ὡς … δοκῶν ⁴ ὡς ⁵

mvp-comment-725-2 ἄλλην χθόνα ἀποίσειν ⁶

mvp-comment-726-1 κάκ’ ⁷

mvp-comment-727-1 ἂν ἐξήκοι ⁸

mvp-comment-728-1 ἀφ’ ὧν οὐ χρῆν ⁹

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

1171. mvp-comment-665-1 'Yes, report certainly gave him out to be Laius' child'

1175. mvp-comment-666-1 τλήμων "Unhappy one!' The word expresses strong commiseration, but also implies wonder at the act. Its mother! had she the heart? Cp. Eur. Ion, 960, φεῦ· τλήμων σὺ τόλμης, ὁ δὲ θεὸς μᾶλλον σέθεν, said to Creüsa, who deserted the child she had by Apollo.

1180. mvp-comment-667-1 A few touches now reveal the whole secret. The herdsman is not required to give the information for which he was at first summoned. There is no need to explain the horror further.

1182. mvp-comment-668-1 The despair of Oedipus, which was kept under restraint until he had drawn out every link in the chain of discovery, now bursts forth uncontrolled. For ἰοὺ ἰού, cp. 1071, and note.

1182. mvp-comment-668-2 τὰ πάντ᾽ ἂν ἐξήκοι σαφή So then all is certain. For this use of av with the optative, expressing certain inference in present time, ср. О. С. 1768-1769, ἀλλ᾿ εἰ τάδ ἔχει κατὰ νοῦν κείνῳ, ταῦτ᾽ ἂν ἀπαρκοῖ: El. 797-798, πολλῶν ἂν ἥκοις, ὦ ξέν᾽, ἄξιος τυχεῖν, εἰ τήνδ᾽ ἔπαυσας τῆς πολυγλώσσου βοῆς:-ib. 1372-1373, οὐκ ἂν .. λόγων | .. τόδ' εἴη τοὔργον.

1183. mvp-comment-669-1 ὦ φῶς This exclamation is wholly general, although suggesting the motive of his sudden act; infr. 1271-1274.

1184. mvp-comment-670-1 φύς τ᾿ ἀφ᾽ ὧν οὐ χρῆν This is said partly with reference to the oracle given to Laius, and partly with the same general feeling of horror with which he speaks of himself afterwards, infr. 1383, ας ἐκ θεῶν φανέντ᾽ ἄναγνον καὶ γένους τοῦ Λαΐου. The pauses in this line and in supr. 1179, viz. ---|-cl ||, mark the difficulty with which the horror finds expression.

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Θεράπων κείνου γέ τοι δὴ παῖς ἐκλῄζεθʼ· ἡ δʼ ἔσω κάλλιστʼ ἂν εἴποι σὴ γυνὴ τάδʼ ὡς ἔχει.

Οἰδίπους ἦ γὰρ δίδωσιν ἥδε σοι;

Θεράπων μάλιστʼ, ἄναξ.

Οἰδίπους ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας;

Θεράπων ὡς ἀναλώσαιμί νιν.

Οἰδίπους τεκοῦσα τλήμων; 1175

Θεράπων θεσφάτων γʼ ὄκνῳ κακῶν.

Οἰδίπους ποίων;

Θεράπων κτενεῖν νιν τοὺς τεκόντας ἦν λόγος.

Οἰδίπους πῶς δῆτʼ ἀφῆκας τῷ γέροντι τῷδε σύ;

Current edition Experimental

κείνου γέ τοι δὴ παῖς ἐκλῄζεθ᾽· ἡ δ᾽ ἔσω κάλλιστ᾽ ἂν εἴποι σὴ γυνὴ τάδ᾽ ὡς ἔχει.

Οἰδίπους ἦ γὰρ δίδωσιν ἥδε σοι;

Θεράπων μάλιστ᾽, ἄναξ.

Οἰδίπους ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας;

Θεράπων ὡς ἀναλώσαιμί νιν.

Οἰδίπους τεκοῦσα τλήμων; 1175

Θεράπων θεσφάτων γ᾽ ὄκνῳ κακῶν. 1175

Οἰδίπους ποίων;

Θεράπων κτενεῖν νιν τοὺς τεκόντας ἦν λόγος.

Οἰδίπους πῶς δῆτ᾽ ἀφῆκας τῷ γέροντι τῷδε σύ;

Χορός α

He was given out for Laius’ son: but she, Thy queen, within the palace, best can tell.

OED How? Did she give it thee?

THEB. SH My lord, she did.

OED With what commission?

THEB. SH I was to destroy him.

OED And could a mother’s heart be steeled to this? 1175

THEB. SH With fear of evil prophecies.

OED What were they?

THEB. SH ’Twas said the child should be his father’s death.

OED What then possessed thee to give up the child To this old man?

THEB. SH Pity, my sovereign lord! Supposing he would take him far away Unto the land whence he was come. But he Preserved him to great sorrow. For if thou 1180 Art he this man hath said, be well assured 1180 Thou bear’st a heavy doom.

OED O horrible! Horrible! All fulfilled, as sunlight clear! Oh may I nevermore behold the day, Since proved accursèd in my parentage, In those I live with, and in him I slew! 1185

CHORUS CHORUS .

Wohl hieß das Kind sein eig'nes; doch am besten sagt 1140 Dir Alles, wie's geschehen, dein Gemahl im Haus.

Oedipus. Sie übergab den Knaben dir?

Der Hirte. Sie selbst, o Fürst.

Oedipus. Mit welcher Weisung?

Der Hirte. Daß ich ihn ermordete.

Oedipus. Ihr Kind, die Arge?

Der Hirte. Ja, geschreckt von bösem Spruch.

Oedipus. Der hieß? 1145

Der Hirte. Den Vater mord' es einst, so hieß das Wort. 1145

Oedipus. Wie kam es, daß du diesem Greis den Knaben gabst?

Der Hirte. Mitleid bewog mich, daß er ihn in fremdes Land, Woher er selbst war, trüge, Herr; doch der erhielt Ihn nun zum höchsten Jammer. Denn bist du das Kind, Das dieser meinte, bist du, traun, zu Gram gezeugt! 1150

Oedipus. Götter, Götter! Alles kommt nun klar zu Tag! Licht, zum leztenmale schau' ich heute dich, Der sproß, von wem er nicht gesollt, - mit wem er nicht Gedurst, verkehrte, wen er nicht gedurst, erschlug! (Ab in den Palast. Die Diener folgen. Der Chor bleibt allein zurücď.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

Perdition on thee !

Oedipus

Did she then give the child to thee ? Old Shep. She did.

Oedipus For what ? Old Shep. To kill him.

Oedipus Kill her child ! Inhuman 1175 And barbarous mother ! 1175 Old Shep. A dire oracle 1175 Affrighted, and constrained her to it. 1175

Oedipus Ha ! What oracle ? Old Shep. Which said, her son should slay His parents.

Messenger Scene VIII. Strophe 1. Antistrophe i. Strophe 2. Antistrophe 2. ACT V. Scene I.

For me how terrible to speak !

Oedipus Ay, and for me to hear: yet I must hear.

Herdsman The son of Laius he was call'd; of this Thy queen, Jocasta, can inform thee best.

Oedipus Gave she the child to thee?

Herdsman She did, O king.

Oedipus With what intent? 1175

Herdsman By me to be destroy'd.

Oedipus What, she who gave him birth! O wretch! Through dread What ill? Of oracles denouncing ill.

Herdsman That he should kill his parents: this was said.

Oedipus Why then to this old man consign thy charge?

Herdsman Through pity: for, my lord, I thought this man Would bear him to a distant land, of which He is a native; but he saved him, saved To misery: for if thou art he, of whom 1180 He speaks, know this, most wretched is thy fate.

Chorus STRO. ANTIS.

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.

Oedipus How? Did she give it to you?

Servant Yes, my lord.

Oedipus For what purpose?

Servant That I should do away with it.

Oedipus Her own child, the wretched woman? 1175

Servant Yes, from fear of the evil prophecies.

Oedipus What were they?

Servant The tale ran that he would slay his father.

Oedipus 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

Θεράπων

κείνου γέ τοι δὴ παῖς ἐκλῄζεθʼ· ἡ δʼ ἔσω

κάλλιστʼ ἂν εἴποι σὴ γυνὴ τάδʼ ὡς ἔχει.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ γὰρ δίδωσιν ἥδε σοι;

Θεράπων

μάλιστʼ, ἄναξ.

Οἰδίπους

ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας;

Θεράπων

ὡς ἀναλώσαιμί νιν.

Οἰδίπους

τεκοῦσα τλήμων;
1175

Θεράπων

θεσφάτων γʼ ὄκνῳ κακῶν.

Οἰδίπους

ποίων;

Θεράπων

κτενεῖν νιν τοὺς τεκόντας ἦν λόγος.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δῆτʼ ἀφῆκας τῷ γέροντι τῷδε σύ;

κείνου γέ τοι δὴ παῖς ἐκλῄζεθ᾽· ἡ δ᾽ ἔσω

κάλλιστ᾽ ἂν εἴποι σὴ γυνὴ τάδ᾽ ὡς ἔχει.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ γὰρ δίδωσιν ἥδε σοι;

Θεράπων

μάλιστ᾽, ἄναξ.

Οἰδίπους

ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας;

Θεράπων

ὡς ἀναλώσαιμί νιν.

Οἰδίπους

τεκοῦσα τλήμων;
1175

Θεράπων

θεσφάτων γ᾽ ὄκνῳ κακῶν. 1175

Οἰδίπους

ποίων;

Θεράπων

κτενεῖν νιν τοὺς τεκόντας ἦν λόγος.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δῆτ᾽ ἀφῆκας τῷ γέροντι τῷδε σύ;

Χορός
α

He was given out for Laius’ son: but she,

Thy queen, within the palace, best can tell.

OED

How? Did she give it thee?

THEB. SH

My lord, she did.

OED

With what commission?

THEB. SH

I was to destroy him.

OED

And could a mother’s heart be steeled to this?
1175

THEB. SH

With fear of evil prophecies.

OED

What were they?

THEB. SH

’Twas said the child should be his father’s death.

OED

What then possessed thee to give up the child

To this old man?

THEB. SH

Pity, my sovereign lord!

Supposing he would take him far away

Unto the land whence he was come. But he

Preserved him to great sorrow. For if thou
1180

Art he this man hath said, be well assured
1180

Thou bear’st a heavy doom.

OED

O horrible!

Horrible! All fulfilled, as sunlight clear!

Oh may I nevermore behold the day,

Since proved accursèd in my parentage,

In those I live with, and in him I slew!
1185

CHORUS
CHORUS .

Wohl hieß das Kind sein eig'nes; doch am besten sagt
1140

Dir Alles, wie's geschehen, dein Gemahl im Haus.

Oedipus.

Sie übergab den Knaben dir?

Der Hirte.

Sie selbst, o Fürst.

Oedipus.

Mit welcher Weisung?

Der Hirte.

Daß ich ihn ermordete.

Oedipus.

Ihr Kind, die Arge?

Der Hirte.

Ja, geschreckt von bösem Spruch.

Oedipus.

Der hieß?
1145

Der Hirte.

Den Vater mord' es einst, so hieß das Wort.
1145

Oedipus.

Wie kam es, daß du diesem Greis den Knaben gabst?

Der Hirte.

Mitleid bewog mich, daß er ihn in fremdes Land,

Woher er selbst war, trüge, Herr; doch der erhielt

Ihn nun zum höchsten Jammer. Denn bist du das Kind,

Das dieser meinte, bist du, traun, zu Gram gezeugt!
1150

Did she then give the child to thee ?

Old Shep. She did.

Oedipus

For what ?

Old Shep. To kill him.

Oedipus

Kill her child ! Inhuman
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And barbarous mother !
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Old Shep. A dire oracle
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Affrighted, and constrained her to it.
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Oedipus

Ha !

What oracle ?

Old Shep. Which said, her son should slay

His parents.

Messenger
Scene VIII. Strophe 1. Antistrophe i. Strophe 2. Antistrophe 2. ACT V. Scene I.

Oedipus

Ay, and for me to hear: yet I must hear.

Herdsman

The son of Laius he was call'd; of this

Thy queen, Jocasta, can inform thee best.

Oedipus

Gave she the child to thee?

Herdsman

She did, O king.

Oedipus

With what intent?
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Herdsman

By me to be destroy'd.

Oedipus

What, she who gave him birth! O wretch!

Through dread

What ill?

Of oracles denouncing ill.

Herdsman

That he should kill his parents: this was said.

Oedipus

Why then to this old man consign thy charge?

Herdsman

Through pity: for, my lord, I thought this man

Would bear him to a distant land, of which

He is a native; but he saved him, saved

To misery: for if thou art he, of whom
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He speaks, know this, most wretched is thy fate.

Chorus
STRO. ANTIS.

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.

Oedipus

How? Did she give it to you?

Servant

Yes, my lord.

Oedipus

For what purpose?

Servant

That I should do away with it.

Oedipus

Her own child, the wretched woman?
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Servant

Yes, from fear of the evil prophecies.

Oedipus

What were they?

Servant

The tale ran that he would slay his father.

Oedipus

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.
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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.
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