Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, ed. Francis Storr, 330

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Οἰδίπους

τί φής; ξυνειδὼς οὐ φράσεις, ἀλλʼ ἐννοεῖς
330

ἡμᾶς προδοῦναι καὶ καταφθεῖραι πόλιν;

Τειρεσίας

ἐγὼ οὔτʼ ἐμαυτὸν οὔτε σʼ ἀλγυνῶ. τί ταῦτʼ

ἄλλως ἐλέγχεις; οὐ γὰρ ἂν πύθοιό μου.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ, ὦ κακῶν κάκιστε, καὶ γὰρ ἂν πέτρου

φύσιν σύ γʼ ὀργάνειας, ἐξερεῖς ποτε,
335

ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἄτεγκτος κἀτελεύτητος φανεῖ;

Τειρεσίας

ὀργὴν ἐμέμψω τὴν ἐμήν, τὴν σὴν δʼ ὁμοῦ

ναίουσαν οὐ κατεῖδες, ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ ψέγεις.

Οἰδίπους

τίς γὰρ τοιαῦτʼ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ὀργίζοιτʼ ἔπη

κλύων, ἃ νῦν σὺ τήνδʼ ἀτιμάζεις πόλιν;
340

Τειρεσίας

ἥξει γὰρ αὐτά, κἂν ἐγὼ σιγῇ στέγω.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκοῦν ἅ γʼ ἥξει καὶ σὲ χρὴ λέγειν ἐμοί.

Τειρεσίας

οὐκ ἂν πέρα φράσαιμι. πρὸς τάδʼ, εἰ θέλεις,

θυμοῦ διʼ ὀργῆς ἥτις ἀγριωτάτη.

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν παρήσω γʼ οὐδέν, ὡς ὀργῆς ἔχω,
345

ἅπερ ξυνίημʼ· ἴσθι γὰρ δοκῶν ἐμοὶ

καὶ ξυμφυτεῦσαι τοὔργον εἰργάσθαι θʼ, ὅσον

μὴ χερσὶ καίνων· εἰ δʼ ἐτύγχανες βλέπων,

καὶ τοὔργον ἂν σοῦ τοῦτʼ, ἔφην εἶναι μόνου.

Τειρεσίας

ἄληθες; ἐννέπω σὲ τῷ κηρύγματι
350

ᾧπερ προεῖπας ἐμμένειν, κἀφʼ ἡμέρας

τῆς νῦν προσαυδᾶν μήτε τούσδε μήτʼ ἐμέ,

ὡς ὄντι γῆς τῆσδʼ ἀνοσίῳ μιάστορι.

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)) — 330 focus

τί φής; ξυνειδὼς οὐ φράσεις, ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖς
330

ἡμᾶς προδοῦναι καὶ καταφθεῖραι πόλιν;

Τειρεσίας

ἐγὼ οὔτ᾽ ἐμαυτὸν οὔτε σ᾽ ἀλγυνῶ. τί ταῦτ᾽

ἄλλως ἐλέγχεις; οὐ γὰρ ἂν πύθοιό μου.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ, ὦ κακῶν κάκιστε, καὶ γὰρ ἂν πέτρου

φύσιν σύ γ᾽ ὀργάνειας, ἐξερεῖς ποτέ,
335

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἄτεγκτος κατελεύτητος φανεῖ;

Τειρεσίας

ὀργὴν ἐμέμψω τὴν ἐμήν, τὴν σὴν δ᾽ ὁμοῦ

ναίουσαν οὐ κατεῖδες, ἀλλ᾿ ἐμὲ ψέγεις.

Οἰδίπους

τίς γὰρ τοιαῦτ᾽ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ὀργίζοιτ᾽ ἔπη

κλύων, ἃ νῦν σὺ τήνδ᾽ ἀτιμάζεις πόλιν;
340

Τειρεσίας

ἥξει γὰρ αὐτά, κἂν ἐγὼ σιγῇ στέγω.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκοῦν ἅ γ' ἥξει καὶ σὲ χρὴ λέγειν ἐμοί.

Τειρεσίας

οὐκ ἂν πέρα φράσαιμι. πρὸς τάδ', εἰ θέλεις,

θυμοῦ διʼ ὀργῆς ἥτις ἀγριωτάτη.

Οἰδίπους

καὶ μὴν παρήσω γ᾽ οὐδέν, ὡς ὀργῆς ἔχω,
345

ἅπερ ξυνίημʼ. ἴσθι γὰρ δοκῶν ἐμοὶ

καὶ ξυμφυτεῦσαι τοὔργον, εἰργάσθαι θ᾽, ὅσον

μὴ χερσὶ καίνων· εἰ δ᾽ ἐτύγχανες βλέπων,

καὶ τοὔργον ἂν σοῦ τοῦτ᾽ ἔφην εἶναι μόνου.

Τειρεσίας

ἄληθες; ἐννέπω σὲ τῷ κηρύγματι
350

ᾧπερ *προεῖπας ἐμμένειν, κἀφ᾽ ἡμέρας

τῆς νῦν προσαυδᾶν μήτε τούσδε μήτ᾿ ἐμέ,

ὡς ὄντι γῆς τῆσδ᾽ ἀνοσίῳ μιάστορι.

Οἰδίπους

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 330 focus

So, then, thou hast the knowledge of the crime
330

And wilt not tell, but rather wouldst betray
330

This people, and destroy thy fatherland!

TI

You press me to no purpose. I’ll not pain

Thee, nor myself. Thou wilt hear nought from me.

OED

How? Miscreant! Thy stubbornness would rouse

Wrath in a breast of stone. Wilt thou yet hold
335

That silent, hard, impenetrable mien?

TI

You censure me for my harsh mood. Your own

Dwells unsuspected with you. Me you blame!

OED

Who can be mild and gentle, when thou speakest

Such words to mock this people?
340

TI

It will come:

Although I bury it in silence here.

OED

Must not the King be told of what will come?

TI

No word from me. At this, an if thou wilt,

Rage to the height of passionate vehemence.

OED

Ay, and my passion shall declare my thought.
345

’Tis clear to me as daylight, thou hast been

The arch-plotter of this deed; yea, thou hast done

All but the actual blow. Hadst thou thy sight,

I had proclaimed thee the sole murderer.

TI

Ay, say’st thou so?—I charge thee to abide
350

By thine own ordinance; and from this hour

Speak not to any Theban nor to me.

Thou art the vile polluter of the land.

OED

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 330 focus

Was sagst du? Willst du, was du weißt, nicht sagen, denkst

Uns hinzugeben und die Stadt dem Fluch zu weih'n?

Teiresias.

Ich will mir selbst nicht wehe thun noch dir. Wozu

Dies eitle Fragen? Nie vernimmst du's doch von mir.

Oedipus.

Was, du, der Schlimmen Schlimmster! - denn des Steines Art
335

Magst du zur Wuth aufregen, - offenbarst du's nicht?

Willst stumm verharren, ungerührt und ungebeugt?

Teiresias.

Du tadelst meine Sinnesart; die, welche dir

Beiwohnt, die deine, kennst du nicht und schmähest mich.

Oedipus.

Wer sollte nicht ergrimmen, wenn er solches Wort
340

Vernimmt, womit du diese Stadt zu höhnen wagst?

Teiresias.

Selbst wird's ja kommen, hüllt es auch mein Schweigen ein.

Oedipus.

So mußt du mir auch sagen, was da kommen wird.

Teiresias.

Nicht weiter werd' ich reden; mun, wenn dir's gefällt,

Ras' auf im Zorne, wär' er auch der wildeste.
345

Oedipus.

Und Nichts verhalten werd' ich, traun, in meinem Zorn,

Was ich erkannte. Wisse denn, ich glaube, du

Hast mitersonnen, mitgethan die That, und nur

Nicht selbst den Mann erschlagen. Wenn du sehend wärst,

Dann würd' ich sagen: dir allein gehört die That.
350

Teiresias.

Wahrhaftig? - Bei dem Fluche, den du früherhin

Verkündet, bleibe, rath' ich dir, und wende nicht

An diese Männer oder mich forthin das Wort,

Du, der, ein Frevler, dieses Land entheiligt hat!

Oedipus.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 330 focus

0]di. It is ingratitude to Tiiebes, who bore
330

And cherished thee — ^^it is unjust to all,
330

To hide the will of heaven.

Tiresias

'Tis rash in thee

To ask, and rash I fear will prove my answer.

Chorus

Oh ! do not, by the gods, conceal it from us,

Suppliant we all request, we all conjure thee.

Tiresias

You know not what you ask ; I'll not unveil

Your miseries to you.

Oedipus

Knowst thou then our fate,

And wilt not tell it? Meanst thou to betray

Thy country and thy king ?
340

Tiresias

I would not make

Myself and thee unhappy ; why thus blame

My tender care, nor listen to my caution?

Oedipus

Wretch as thou art, thou wouldst provoke a

stone—

Inflexible and cruel — still implored

And still refusing.

Tiresias

Thou condemn'st my warmth,

Forgetful of thy own.

Oedipus

Who would not rage
345

To see an injured people ti-eated thus

With vile contempt ?

Tiresias

What is decreed by heaven
350

Must come to pa,ss, though I reveal it not.
350

aCDlPUS TVRANNUS.

Still 'tis thy duty to inform us of it.

Till. I'll speak no more, not though thine luigor ^

swell

E'en to its utmost.

Oedipus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 330 focus

This I have heard; who saw it none can say.

Chorus

If fear can touch his heart, when he shall hear

Thy imprecations, he will shrink at them.

Oedipus

The deed who fear'd not, will not shrink at words.

Chorus

Here comes who will convict him; for they lead

The reverend Seer, in whom, of mortal men

Alone, from inborn knowledge truth shines clear.

Oedipus
ŒDIPUS, TIRESIAS, CHORUS.

sage Tiresias, whose enlighten'd mind

Notes all things, whether such as may be taught

To mortals, or require the sacred seal

Of silence, things of heav'n, or things of earth,

Though quench'd thy visual beam, yet not unknown

To thee the baleful pestilence that wastes

The city; from whose rage our sole relief,

Our sole defence, illustrious Seer, is found

In thee; for Phœbus, though perchance thine ear

His mandate hath not reach'd, thus gave response

Tiresias

To our inquiries, that this pest shall hence

Alone its ravage cease, if, clearly known

The murderers of Laius, we avenge

On them, by exile or by death, his blood.

Refuse not then, from what of augury

From birds on wing thou draw'st, or from aught else

Of thy prophetic art, to save thyself,

To save the city; save me too, and put

All the pollution of the dead away.

In thee are all our hopes: t' exert his pow'r

In doing good is man's most glorious task.

Alas, alas, how dreadful to be wise,

From wisdom when no profit is derived!

Mine is this knowledge, fatal to thy peace.

I should not then have come.

What may this mean?

And why this gloomy sadness on thy brow?

Dismiss me to my house; thy llls more light

Wilt thou sustain, I mine, this grace obtain'd.

Oedipus
TIR. TIR. TIR.

Nor just, nor friendly to thy country thou,
345

Thus to deprive her of thy sage advice.

Nothing of good to thee thy speech, I see,

Portends: of ill productive be not mine.

Chorus

Now by the gods, whate'er thy wisdom knows
350

Suppress it not, we suppliant all implore.
350

For you are all unwise. Ne'er shall my voice

For this find utterance, nor disclose thy ills.

MEDIP. To know, and not to speak! Implies not this

Treachery to us, and ruin to the realm?

TIR. My peace I will not hurt, nor thine. In vain

Why wilt thou urge? From me thou shalt not know.

Oedipus
TIR.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 330 focus

Oedipus

What are you saying? Do you know the secret and refuse to tell it? Will you betray and destroy the state?
330

Teiresias

I will grieve neither myself nor you. Why do you ask these things in vain? You will not learn the answers from me.

Oedipus

Will you not, basest of the base—

you would anger a stone—speak out? can nothing touch you? Will you never make an end?
335

Teiresias

You blame my anger, but do not perceive your own: no, you blame me.

Oedipus

Who would not be angry hearing such words,

with which you now are slighting the city?
340

Teiresias

The future will come of itself, though I shroud it in silence.

Oedipus

Since it must come anyway, it is right that you tell it to me.

Teiresias

I will speak no further: rage, if you wish, with the fiercest wrath your heart knows.

Oedipus

In my anger I will not spare to speak all my thoughts. Know that you seem to me to have helped in plotting the deed, and to have done it, short of performing the actual murder with your own hands: if you had eyesight, I would have said that you had done even this by yourself.
345

Teiresias

In truth? I order you to abide by you own decree, and from this day forth not to speak to these men or to me: you are the accursed defiler of this land.
350

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-231-1 ξυνειδὼς ¹

mvp-comment-232-1 ἐγὼ οὔτ’ ²

mvp-comment-232-2 ταῦτ’ ³

mvp-comment-233-1 πέτρου | φύσιν ⁴

mvp-comment-234-1 ποτέ ⁵

mvp-comment-235-1 ἀτελεύτητος ⁶

mvp-comment-236-1 ἐμέμψω ⁷ ὁμοῦ | ναίουσαν ⁸ τὴν σὴν ⁹ ὁμοῦ ναίουσαν ¹⁰ κατεῖδες ¹¹

mvp-comment-237-1 ἀλλ’ ἐμὲ ψέγεις ¹²

mvp-comment-238-1 The emphasis on τοιαῦτα ¹³ οὐκ ¹⁴ ἂν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-239-1 ἃ … ἀτιμάζεις πόλιν ¹⁶ ἀτιμάζεις ¹⁷

mvp-comment-240-1 ἥξει γὰρ αὐτά ¹⁸ ἥξει ¹⁹ αὐτά ²⁰

mvp-comment-241-1 οὐκοῦν ἅ γ’ ἥξει ²¹ χρὴ ²² καὶ σὲ ²³ καὶ ²⁴ σὲ ²⁵ λέγειν ²⁶ ἥξει ²⁷ ἅ γ’ ἥξει ²⁸ γε ²⁹

mvp-comment-242-1 οὐκ ἂν πέρα φράσαιμι ³⁰

mvp-comment-242-2 ἥτις ἀγριωτάτη ³¹

mvp-comment-243-1 καὶ μὴν ³² γε ³³

mvp-comment-243-2 ὡς ὀργῆς ἔχω ³⁴ παρήσω … οὐδὲν ³⁵ ἅπερ ξυνίημ’ ³⁶ ξυνίημι ³⁷ γὰρ ³⁸ ἴσθι ³⁹

mvp-comment-244-1 καὶ ξυμφυτεῦσαι … εἰργάσθαι θ’. καί … τε ⁴⁰ καί ⁴¹ ξυμφυτεῦσαι ⁴²

mvp-comment-244-2 ὅσον ⁴³ μὴ καίνων ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-245-1 καὶ τοὔργον … τοῦτο ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-246-1 ἄληθες; ⁴⁶ ἐννέπω σὲ … ἐμμένειν ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-247-1 ᾦπερ προεῖπας ⁴⁸ ᾦπερ ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-248-1 ὡς ὄντι … μιάστορι ⁵⁰ ἐμέ ⁵¹

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

330. mvp-comment-206-1 ξυνειδὼς οὐ φράσεις 'Being privy to the deed, will you refuse to tell?"

332. mvp-comment-207-1 ταῦτ᾽ | ἄλλως (MSS, as in all similar cases, ταῦ | τ᾿ ἄλλως). The running together of the verses here is expressive of of risi rising passion. Cp. Phil. 263. The only other instance of such an elision, except with the particles δ' and 7', is in O. C. 1164, μολόντ' αἰτεῖν, where, however, the reading is questioned. This freedom is peculiar to Sophocles.

334. mvp-comment-208-1 καὶ γάρ, κ.τ.λ. Oedipus says this to excuse the strong words ὦ κακῶν κάκιστε. For the transitive use of op- γαίνω here, cp. Ο. C. 1282, δυσχεράναντα.

336. mvp-comment-209-1 άτεγκτος κατελεύτητος Immovable and impracticable.

337. mvp-comment-210-1 ὀργήν My harsh or stubborn temper, referring really to ἄτεγκτος, whilst echoing the sound of ὀργάνειας.

337. mvp-comment-210-2 τὴν σὴν δ᾽ ὁμοῦ ναίουσαν οὐ κατεῖδες Thine own that dwells at hand thou seest not. Oedipus is ignorant of his own passion, as he is of other things and persons that are too close to him.- You blame me, but know not the consequences in which your own intemperate haste will involve you. These words do not, as the Schol. frigidly suggests, contain a direct allusion to Jocasta. Cp. infr. 612 and note.

340. mvp-comment-211-1 ἅ is accusative in apposition; i.e. ἀτιμάζεις = λέγεις ἀτιμάζων. The repetition of av gives emphasis to τοιαῦτα.

341. mvp-comment-212-1 ἥξει... αὐτά (My silence makes no difference) for it will come of itself, i. e. without the intervention of my prophecy. For the vague subject, which here assists the effect of mystery, cp. Hdt. 7. 8. § 11.

342. mvp-comment-213-1 καί to be taken ὑπερβάτως with λέγειν, And what will happen, ought you not also to tell?

345. mvp-comment-214-1 οὐδὲν .. ἅπερ οὐδέν is not adverbial. Supply τούτων. And I certainly will not refrain in my anger from uttering fully what I perceive. ὡς ὁ. ἔ. = οὕτως ὀργῆς ἔχων, ὡς ἔχω. Now that I am roused so far. Cp. Phil. 374-376.

347. mvp-comment-215-1 ξυμφυτεῦσαι.. καίνων ‘Τo have been privy to the plot and to have done the murder, all but the fatal stroke.' Cp. Τr. 1214, ὅσον .. μὴ ποτιψαύων.

350. mvp-comment-216-1 ἄληθες Indeed! The anger of Teiresias becomes uncontrollable, as that of Creon does where he uses the same expression in Ant. 758. It is an idiomatic utterance of extreme impatience, and nearly corresponds to the 'Is't possible?' of Cassius in J. C. 4, 3: i. e. it does not ask ironically, Is such a statement true? but indignantly, Has such a thing really been said? 353. For the change to the dative, which avoids ambiguity, see Essay on Language p.64.

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Οἰδίπους τί φής; ξυνειδὼς οὐ φράσεις, ἀλλʼ ἐννοεῖς 330 ἡμᾶς προδοῦναι καὶ καταφθεῖραι πόλιν;

Τειρεσίας ἐγὼ οὔτʼ ἐμαυτὸν οὔτε σʼ ἀλγυνῶ. τί ταῦτʼ ἄλλως ἐλέγχεις; οὐ γὰρ ἂν πύθοιό μου.

Οἰδίπους οὐκ, ὦ κακῶν κάκιστε, καὶ γὰρ ἂν πέτρου φύσιν σύ γʼ ὀργάνειας, ἐξερεῖς ποτε, 335 ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἄτεγκτος κἀτελεύτητος φανεῖ;

Τειρεσίας ὀργὴν ἐμέμψω τὴν ἐμήν, τὴν σὴν δʼ ὁμοῦ ναίουσαν οὐ κατεῖδες, ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ ψέγεις.

Οἰδίπους τίς γὰρ τοιαῦτʼ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ὀργίζοιτʼ ἔπη κλύων, ἃ νῦν σὺ τήνδʼ ἀτιμάζεις πόλιν; 340

Τειρεσίας ἥξει γὰρ αὐτά, κἂν ἐγὼ σιγῇ στέγω.

Οἰδίπους οὐκοῦν ἅ γʼ ἥξει καὶ σὲ χρὴ λέγειν ἐμοί.

Τειρεσίας οὐκ ἂν πέρα φράσαιμι. πρὸς τάδʼ, εἰ θέλεις, θυμοῦ διʼ ὀργῆς ἥτις ἀγριωτάτη.

Τειρεσίας ἄληθες; ἐννέπω σὲ τῷ κηρύγματι 350 ᾧπερ προεῖπας ἐμμένειν, κἀφʼ ἡμέρας τῆς νῦν προσαυδᾶν μήτε τούσδε μήτʼ ἐμέ, ὡς ὄντι γῆς τῆσδʼ ἀνοσίῳ μιάστορι.

Current edition Experimental

τί φής; ξυνειδὼς οὐ φράσεις, ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖς 330 ἡμᾶς προδοῦναι καὶ καταφθεῖραι πόλιν;

Τειρεσίας ἐγὼ οὔτ᾽ ἐμαυτὸν οὔτε σ᾽ ἀλγυνῶ. τί ταῦτ᾽ ἄλλως ἐλέγχεις; οὐ γὰρ ἂν πύθοιό μου.

Οἰδίπους οὐκ, ὦ κακῶν κάκιστε, καὶ γὰρ ἂν πέτρου φύσιν σύ γ᾽ ὀργάνειας, ἐξερεῖς ποτέ, 335 ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἄτεγκτος κατελεύτητος φανεῖ;

Τειρεσίας ὀργὴν ἐμέμψω τὴν ἐμήν, τὴν σὴν δ᾽ ὁμοῦ ναίουσαν οὐ κατεῖδες, ἀλλ᾿ ἐμὲ ψέγεις.

Οἰδίπους τίς γὰρ τοιαῦτ᾽ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ὀργίζοιτ᾽ ἔπη κλύων, ἃ νῦν σὺ τήνδ᾽ ἀτιμάζεις πόλιν; 340

Τειρεσίας ἥξει γὰρ αὐτά, κἂν ἐγὼ σιγῇ στέγω.

Οἰδίπους οὐκοῦν ἅ γ' ἥξει καὶ σὲ χρὴ λέγειν ἐμοί.

Τειρεσίας οὐκ ἂν πέρα φράσαιμι. πρὸς τάδ', εἰ θέλεις, θυμοῦ διʼ ὀργῆς ἥτις ἀγριωτάτη.

Οἰδίπους

So, then, thou hast the knowledge of the crime 330 And wilt not tell, but rather wouldst betray 330 This people, and destroy thy fatherland!

TI You press me to no purpose. I’ll not pain Thee, nor myself. Thou wilt hear nought from me.

OED How? Miscreant! Thy stubbornness would rouse Wrath in a breast of stone. Wilt thou yet hold 335 That silent, hard, impenetrable mien?

TI You censure me for my harsh mood. Your own Dwells unsuspected with you. Me you blame!

OED Who can be mild and gentle, when thou speakest Such words to mock this people? 340

TI It will come: Although I bury it in silence here.

OED Must not the King be told of what will come?

TI No word from me. At this, an if thou wilt, Rage to the height of passionate vehemence.

OED Ay, and my passion shall declare my thought. 345 ’Tis clear to me as daylight, thou hast been The arch-plotter of this deed; yea, thou hast done All but the actual blow. Hadst thou thy sight, I had proclaimed thee the sole murderer.

TI Ay, say’st thou so?—I charge thee to abide 350 By thine own ordinance; and from this hour Speak not to any Theban nor to me. Thou art the vile polluter of the land.

OED

Was sagst du? Willst du, was du weißt, nicht sagen, denkst Uns hinzugeben und die Stadt dem Fluch zu weih'n?

Teiresias. Ich will mir selbst nicht wehe thun noch dir. Wozu Dies eitle Fragen? Nie vernimmst du's doch von mir.

Oedipus. Was, du, der Schlimmen Schlimmster! - denn des Steines Art 335 Magst du zur Wuth aufregen, - offenbarst du's nicht? Willst stumm verharren, ungerührt und ungebeugt?

Teiresias. Du tadelst meine Sinnesart; die, welche dir Beiwohnt, die deine, kennst du nicht und schmähest mich.

Oedipus. Wer sollte nicht ergrimmen, wenn er solches Wort 340 Vernimmt, womit du diese Stadt zu höhnen wagst?

Teiresias. Selbst wird's ja kommen, hüllt es auch mein Schweigen ein.

Oedipus. So mußt du mir auch sagen, was da kommen wird.

Teiresias. Nicht weiter werd' ich reden; mun, wenn dir's gefällt, Ras' auf im Zorne, wär' er auch der wildeste. 345

Oedipus. Und Nichts verhalten werd' ich, traun, in meinem Zorn, Was ich erkannte. Wisse denn, ich glaube, du Hast mitersonnen, mitgethan die That, und nur Nicht selbst den Mann erschlagen. Wenn du sehend wärst, Dann würd' ich sagen: dir allein gehört die That. 350

Teiresias. Wahrhaftig? - Bei dem Fluche, den du früherhin Verkündet, bleibe, rath' ich dir, und wende nicht An diese Männer oder mich forthin das Wort, Du, der, ein Frevler, dieses Land entheiligt hat!

Oedipus.

0]di. It is ingratitude to Tiiebes, who bore 330 And cherished thee — ^^it is unjust to all, 330 To hide the will of heaven.

Tiresias 'Tis rash in thee To ask, and rash I fear will prove my answer.

Chorus Oh ! do not, by the gods, conceal it from us, Suppliant we all request, we all conjure thee.

Tiresias You know not what you ask ; I'll not unveil Your miseries to you.

Oedipus Knowst thou then our fate, And wilt not tell it? Meanst thou to betray Thy country and thy king ? 340

Tiresias I would not make Myself and thee unhappy ; why thus blame My tender care, nor listen to my caution?

Oedipus Wretch as thou art, thou wouldst provoke a stone— Inflexible and cruel — still implored And still refusing.

Tiresias Thou condemn'st my warmth, Forgetful of thy own.

Oedipus Who would not rage 345 To see an injured people ti-eated thus With vile contempt ?

Tiresias What is decreed by heaven 350 Must come to pa,ss, though I reveal it not. 350 aCDlPUS TVRANNUS. Still 'tis thy duty to inform us of it. Till. I'll speak no more, not though thine luigor ^ swell E'en to its utmost.

Oedipus

This I have heard; who saw it none can say.

Chorus If fear can touch his heart, when he shall hear Thy imprecations, he will shrink at them.

Oedipus The deed who fear'd not, will not shrink at words.

Chorus Here comes who will convict him; for they lead The reverend Seer, in whom, of mortal men Alone, from inborn knowledge truth shines clear.

Oedipus TIR. TIR. TIR. Nor just, nor friendly to thy country thou, 345 Thus to deprive her of thy sage advice. Nothing of good to thee thy speech, I see, Portends: of ill productive be not mine.

Oedipus TIR.

Oedipus What are you saying? Do you know the secret and refuse to tell it? Will you betray and destroy the state? 330

Teiresias I will grieve neither myself nor you. Why do you ask these things in vain? You will not learn the answers from me.

Oedipus Will you not, basest of the base— you would anger a stone—speak out? can nothing touch you? Will you never make an end? 335

Teiresias You blame my anger, but do not perceive your own: no, you blame me.

Oedipus Who would not be angry hearing such words, with which you now are slighting the city? 340

Teiresias The future will come of itself, though I shroud it in silence.

Oedipus Since it must come anyway, it is right that you tell it to me.

Teiresias I will speak no further: rage, if you wish, with the fiercest wrath your heart knows.

Oedipus In my anger I will not spare to speak all my thoughts. Know that you seem to me to have helped in plotting the deed, and to have done it, short of performing the actual murder with your own hands: if you had eyesight, I would have said that you had done even this by yourself. 345

Teiresias In truth? I order you to abide by you own decree, and from this day forth not to speak to these men or to me: you are the accursed defiler of this land. 350

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Οἰδίπους

τί φής; ξυνειδὼς οὐ φράσεις, ἀλλʼ ἐννοεῖς
330

ἡμᾶς προδοῦναι καὶ καταφθεῖραι πόλιν;

Τειρεσίας

ἐγὼ οὔτʼ ἐμαυτὸν οὔτε σʼ ἀλγυνῶ. τί ταῦτʼ

ἄλλως ἐλέγχεις; οὐ γὰρ ἂν πύθοιό μου.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ, ὦ κακῶν κάκιστε, καὶ γὰρ ἂν πέτρου

φύσιν σύ γʼ ὀργάνειας, ἐξερεῖς ποτε,
335

ἀλλʼ ὧδʼ ἄτεγκτος κἀτελεύτητος φανεῖ;

Τειρεσίας

ὀργὴν ἐμέμψω τὴν ἐμήν, τὴν σὴν δʼ ὁμοῦ

ναίουσαν οὐ κατεῖδες, ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ ψέγεις.

Οἰδίπους

τίς γὰρ τοιαῦτʼ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ὀργίζοιτʼ ἔπη

κλύων, ἃ νῦν σὺ τήνδʼ ἀτιμάζεις πόλιν;
340

Τειρεσίας

ἥξει γὰρ αὐτά, κἂν ἐγὼ σιγῇ στέγω.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκοῦν ἅ γʼ ἥξει καὶ σὲ χρὴ λέγειν ἐμοί.

Τειρεσίας

οὐκ ἂν πέρα φράσαιμι. πρὸς τάδʼ, εἰ θέλεις,

θυμοῦ διʼ ὀργῆς ἥτις ἀγριωτάτη.

τί φής; ξυνειδὼς οὐ φράσεις, ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖς
330

ἡμᾶς προδοῦναι καὶ καταφθεῖραι πόλιν;

Τειρεσίας

ἐγὼ οὔτ᾽ ἐμαυτὸν οὔτε σ᾽ ἀλγυνῶ. τί ταῦτ᾽

ἄλλως ἐλέγχεις; οὐ γὰρ ἂν πύθοιό μου.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ, ὦ κακῶν κάκιστε, καὶ γὰρ ἂν πέτρου

φύσιν σύ γ᾽ ὀργάνειας, ἐξερεῖς ποτέ,
335

ἀλλ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἄτεγκτος κατελεύτητος φανεῖ;

Τειρεσίας

ὀργὴν ἐμέμψω τὴν ἐμήν, τὴν σὴν δ᾽ ὁμοῦ

ναίουσαν οὐ κατεῖδες, ἀλλ᾿ ἐμὲ ψέγεις.

Οἰδίπους

τίς γὰρ τοιαῦτ᾽ ἂν οὐκ ἂν ὀργίζοιτ᾽ ἔπη

κλύων, ἃ νῦν σὺ τήνδ᾽ ἀτιμάζεις πόλιν;
340

Τειρεσίας

ἥξει γὰρ αὐτά, κἂν ἐγὼ σιγῇ στέγω.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκοῦν ἅ γ' ἥξει καὶ σὲ χρὴ λέγειν ἐμοί.

Τειρεσίας

οὐκ ἂν πέρα φράσαιμι. πρὸς τάδ', εἰ θέλεις,

θυμοῦ διʼ ὀργῆς ἥτις ἀγριωτάτη.

So, then, thou hast the knowledge of the crime
330

And wilt not tell, but rather wouldst betray
330

This people, and destroy thy fatherland!

TI

You press me to no purpose. I’ll not pain

Thee, nor myself. Thou wilt hear nought from me.

OED

How? Miscreant! Thy stubbornness would rouse

Wrath in a breast of stone. Wilt thou yet hold
335

That silent, hard, impenetrable mien?

TI

You censure me for my harsh mood. Your own

Dwells unsuspected with you. Me you blame!

OED

Who can be mild and gentle, when thou speakest

Such words to mock this people?
340

TI

It will come:

Although I bury it in silence here.

OED

Must not the King be told of what will come?

TI

No word from me. At this, an if thou wilt,

Rage to the height of passionate vehemence.

OED

Ay, and my passion shall declare my thought.
345

’Tis clear to me as daylight, thou hast been

The arch-plotter of this deed; yea, thou hast done

All but the actual blow. Hadst thou thy sight,

I had proclaimed thee the sole murderer.

TI

Ay, say’st thou so?—I charge thee to abide
350

By thine own ordinance; and from this hour

Speak not to any Theban nor to me.

Thou art the vile polluter of the land.

Was sagst du? Willst du, was du weißt, nicht sagen, denkst

Uns hinzugeben und die Stadt dem Fluch zu weih'n?

Teiresias.

Ich will mir selbst nicht wehe thun noch dir. Wozu

Dies eitle Fragen? Nie vernimmst du's doch von mir.

Oedipus.

Was, du, der Schlimmen Schlimmster! - denn des Steines Art
335

Magst du zur Wuth aufregen, - offenbarst du's nicht?

Willst stumm verharren, ungerührt und ungebeugt?

Teiresias.

Du tadelst meine Sinnesart; die, welche dir

Beiwohnt, die deine, kennst du nicht und schmähest mich.

Oedipus.

Wer sollte nicht ergrimmen, wenn er solches Wort
340

Vernimmt, womit du diese Stadt zu höhnen wagst?

Teiresias.

Selbst wird's ja kommen, hüllt es auch mein Schweigen ein.

Oedipus.

So mußt du mir auch sagen, was da kommen wird.

Teiresias.

Nicht weiter werd' ich reden; mun, wenn dir's gefällt,

Ras' auf im Zorne, wär' er auch der wildeste.
345

Oedipus.

Und Nichts verhalten werd' ich, traun, in meinem Zorn,

Was ich erkannte. Wisse denn, ich glaube, du

Hast mitersonnen, mitgethan die That, und nur

Nicht selbst den Mann erschlagen. Wenn du sehend wärst,

Dann würd' ich sagen: dir allein gehört die That.
350

Teiresias.

Wahrhaftig? - Bei dem Fluche, den du früherhin

Verkündet, bleibe, rath' ich dir, und wende nicht

An diese Männer oder mich forthin das Wort,

Du, der, ein Frevler, dieses Land entheiligt hat!

0]di. It is ingratitude to Tiiebes, who bore
330

And cherished thee — ^^it is unjust to all,
330

To hide the will of heaven.

Tiresias

'Tis rash in thee

To ask, and rash I fear will prove my answer.

Chorus

Oh ! do not, by the gods, conceal it from us,

Suppliant we all request, we all conjure thee.

Tiresias

You know not what you ask ; I'll not unveil

Your miseries to you.

Oedipus

Knowst thou then our fate,

And wilt not tell it? Meanst thou to betray

Thy country and thy king ?
340

Tiresias

I would not make

Myself and thee unhappy ; why thus blame

My tender care, nor listen to my caution?

Oedipus

Wretch as thou art, thou wouldst provoke a

stone—

Inflexible and cruel — still implored

And still refusing.

Tiresias

Thou condemn'st my warmth,

Forgetful of thy own.

Oedipus

Who would not rage
345

To see an injured people ti-eated thus

With vile contempt ?

Tiresias

What is decreed by heaven
350

Must come to pa,ss, though I reveal it not.
350

aCDlPUS TVRANNUS.

Still 'tis thy duty to inform us of it.

Till. I'll speak no more, not though thine luigor ^

swell

E'en to its utmost.

Chorus

If fear can touch his heart, when he shall hear

Thy imprecations, he will shrink at them.

Oedipus

The deed who fear'd not, will not shrink at words.

Chorus

Here comes who will convict him; for they lead

The reverend Seer, in whom, of mortal men

Alone, from inborn knowledge truth shines clear.

Oedipus
TIR. TIR. TIR.

Nor just, nor friendly to thy country thou,
345

Thus to deprive her of thy sage advice.

Nothing of good to thee thy speech, I see,

Portends: of ill productive be not mine.

Oedipus
TIR.

Oedipus

What are you saying? Do you know the secret and refuse to tell it? Will you betray and destroy the state?
330

Teiresias

I will grieve neither myself nor you. Why do you ask these things in vain? You will not learn the answers from me.

Oedipus

Will you not, basest of the base—

you would anger a stone—speak out? can nothing touch you? Will you never make an end?
335

Teiresias

You blame my anger, but do not perceive your own: no, you blame me.

Oedipus

Who would not be angry hearing such words,

with which you now are slighting the city?
340

Teiresias

The future will come of itself, though I shroud it in silence.

Oedipus

Since it must come anyway, it is right that you tell it to me.

Teiresias

I will speak no further: rage, if you wish, with the fiercest wrath your heart knows.

Oedipus

In my anger I will not spare to speak all my thoughts. Know that you seem to me to have helped in plotting the deed, and to have done it, short of performing the actual murder with your own hands: if you had eyesight, I would have said that you had done even this by yourself.
345

Teiresias

In truth? I order you to abide by you own decree, and from this day forth not to speak to these men or to me: you are the accursed defiler of this land.
350