Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, ed. Francis Storr, 354

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Οἰδίπους

οὕτως ἀναιδῶς ἐξεκίνησας τόδε

τὸ ῥῆμα; καὶ ποῦ τοῦτο φεύξεσθαι δοκεῖς;
355

Τειρεσίας

πέφευγα· τἀληθὲς γὰρ ἰσχῦον τρέφω.

Οἰδίπους

πρὸς τοῦ διδαχθείς; οὐ γὰρ ἔκ γε τῆς τέχνης.

Τειρεσίας

πρὸς σοῦ· σὺ γάρ μʼ ἄκοντα προυτρέψω λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους

ποῖον λόγον; λέγʼ αὖθις, ὡς μᾶλλον μάθω.

Τειρεσίας

οὐχὶ ξυνῆκας πρόσθεν; ἢ ʼκπειρᾷ λέγων;
360

Οἰδίπους

οὐχ ὥστε γʼ εἰπεῖν γνωστόν· ἀλλʼ αὖθις φράσον.

Τειρεσίας

φονέα σε φημὶ τἀνδρὸς οὗ ζητεῖς κυρεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ οὔ τι χαίρων δίς γε πημονὰς ἐρεῖς.

Τειρεσίας

εἴπω τι δῆτα κἄλλʼ, ἵνʼ ὀργίζῃ πλέον;

Οἰδίπους

ὅσον γε χρῄζεις· ὡς μάτην εἰρήσεται.
365

Τειρεσίας

λεληθέναι σε φημὶ σὺν τοῖς φιλτάτοις

αἴσχισθʼ ὁμιλοῦντʼ, οὐδʼ ὁρᾶν ἵνʼ εἶ κακοῦ.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ καὶ γεγηθὼς ταῦτʼ ἀεὶ λέξειν δοκεῖς;

Τειρεσίας

εἴπερ τί γʼ ἐστὶ τῆς ἀληθείας σθένος.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ ἔστι, πλὴν σοί· σοὶ δὲ τοῦτʼ οὐκ ἔστʼ ἐπεὶ
370

τυφλὸς τά τʼ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τʼ ὄμματʼ εἶ.

Τειρεσίας

σὺ δʼ ἄθλιός γε ταῦτʼ ὀνειδίζων, ἃ σοὶ

οὐδεὶς ὃς οὐχὶ τῶνδʼ ὀνειδιεῖ τάχα.

Οἰδίπους

μιᾶς τρέφει πρὸς νυκτός, ὥστε μήτʼ ἐμὲ

μήτʼ ἄλλον, ὅστις φῶς ὁρᾷ, βλάψαι ποτʼ ἄν.
375

Τειρεσίας

οὐ γάρ σε μοῖρα πρός γʼ ἐμοῦ πεσεῖν, ἐπεὶ

ἱκανὸς Ἀπόλλων, ᾧ τάδʼ ἐκπρᾶξαι μέλει.

Οἰδίπους

Κρέοντος ἢ σοῦ ταῦτα τἀξευρήματα;

Τειρεσίας

Κρέων δέ σοι πῆμʼ οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς σὺ σοί.

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)) — 354 focus

οὕτως ἀναιδῶς ἐξεκίνησας τόδε

τὸ ῥῆμα; καὶ ποῦ τοῦτο φεύξεσθαι δοκεῖς;
355

Τειρεσίας

πέφευγα· τἀληθὲς γὰρ ἰσχῦον τρέφω.

Οἰδίπους

πρὸς τοῦ διδαχθείς; οὐ γὰρ ἔκ γε τῆς τέχνης.

Τειρεσίας

πρὸς σοῦ· σὺ γάρ μ᾽ ἄκοντα προὐτρέψω λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους

ποῖον λόγον; λέγ᾽ αὖθις, ὡς μᾶλλον μάθω.

Τειρεσίας

οὐχὶ ξυνῆκας πρόσθεν; ἢ ἐκπειρᾷ *λόγῳ;
360

Οἰδίπους

οὐχ ὥστε γ' εἰπεῖν γνωστόν· ἀλλ᾽ αὖθις φράσον.

Τειρεσίας

φονέα σε φημὶ τἀνδρὸς οὗ ζητεῖς κυρεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ οὔ τι χαίρων δίς γε πημονὰς ἐρεῖς.

Τειρεσίας

εἴπω τι δῆτα κἄλλ᾽, ἵνʼ ὀργίζῃ πλέον;

Οἰδίπους

ὅσον γε χρῄζεις· ὡς μάτην εἰρήσεται.
365

Τειρεσίας

λεληθέναι σε φημὶ σὺν τοῖς φιλτάτοις

αἴσχισθ᾽ ὁμιλοῦντ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁρᾶν ἵνʼ εἶ κακοῦ.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ καὶ γεγηθὼς ταῦτ᾽ ἀεὶ λέξειν δοκεῖς;

Τειρεσίας

εἴπερ τί γ᾽ ἐστὶ τῆς ἀληθείας σθένος.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ ἔστι, πλὴν σοί· σοὶ δὲ τοῦτ᾽ οὐκ ἔστ᾽, ἐπεὶ
370

τυφλὸς τά τ᾽ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τ' ὄμματ᾿ εἶ.

Τειρεσίας

σὺ δ᾽ ἄθλιός γε ταῦτ᾽ ὀνειδίζων, ἃ σοὶ

οὐδεὶς ὃς οὐχὶ τῶνδ᾽ ὀνειδιεῖ τάχα.

Οἰδίπους

μιᾶς τρέφει πρὸς νυκτός, ὥστε μήτ᾿ ἐμὲ

μήτ᾽ ἄλλον, ὅστις φῶς ὁρᾷ, βλάψαι ποτ᾿ ἄν.
375

Τειρεσίας

*οὐ γάρ σε μοῖρα πρός γ᾽ ἐμοῦ πεσεῖν, ἐπεὶ

ἱκανὸς Ἀπόλλων, ᾧ τάδ' ἐκπρᾶξαι μέλει.

Οἰδίπους

Κρέοντος, ἢ σοῦ ταῦτα τἀξευρήματα;

Τειρεσίας

Κρέων δέ σοι πῆμ᾽ οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὸς σὺ σοί.

Οἰδίπους

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 354 focus

O void of shame! What wickedness is this?

What power will give thee refuge for such guilt?
355

TI

The might of truth is scatheless. I am free.

OED

Whence came the truth to thee? Not from thine art.

TI

From thee, whose rage impelled my backward tongue.

OED

Speak it once more, that I may know the drift.

TI

Was it so dark? Or wouldst thou tempt me further?
360

OED

I cannot say ’twas clear. Speak it again.

TI

I say thou art the murderer whom thou seekest.

OED

Again that baleful word! But thou shalt rue.

TI

Shall I add more, to aggravate thy wrath?

OED

All is but idleness. Say what thou wilt.
365

TI

I tell thee thou art living unawares

In shameful commerce with thy near’st of blood,

Ignorant of the abyss wherein thou liest.

OED

Think you to triumph in offending still?

TI

If Truth have power.

OED

She hath, but not for thee.
370

Blind as thou art in eyes and ears and mind.

TI

O miserable reproach, which all who now

Behold thee, soon shall thunder forth on thee!

OED

Nursed in unbroken night, thou canst not harm

Or me, or any man who seeth the day.
375

TI

No, not from me proceeds thy fall; the God,

Who cares for this, is able to perform it.

OED

Came this device from Creon or thyself?

TI

Not Creon: thou art thy sole enemy.

OED

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 354 focus

So kühn, so schamlos schüttest du dies Wort heraus,
355

Und wähnst vielleicht, du werdest meiner Nach' entflieh'n?

Teiresias.

Ich bin entfloh'n. Die Kraft der Wahrheit pfleg' ich ja.

Oedipus.

Von wem belehrt denn? Schwerlich doch von deiner Kunst!

Teiresias.

Von dir: ich sag's ungerne, doch du zwangest mich.

Oedipus.

Welch Wort? Noch Einmal sage mir's und deutlicher.
360

Teiresias.

Verstand'st du's nicht schon? Prüfst du mich, suchst mich zu fah'n?

Oedipus.

Nicht, daß ich's klar erkannte; wiederhol' es denn.¹

Teiresias.

Du bist des Mannes Mörder, den du suchen gingſt.

Oedipus.

Dir nicht zur Freude lästerst du zum zweitenmal!

Teiresias.

So soll ich Andres sagen, daß du mehr ergrimmst?
365

So viel dich lüstet; ungehört verhallt dein Wort.

Unwissend, sag' ich, pflegst du mit den Theuersten

Ruchlosen Umgang, siehest nicht, wie tief du sankst.

Oedipus.

Und so zu reden denkst du stets mit frohem Muth?

Teiresias.

Sa, wenn der Wahrheit irgend Kraft beschieden ist.
370

Oedipus.

Sie ward ihr, aber nicht in dir; dir blieb sie fremd,

Der blind an Ohren und an Geist und Augen ist.

Teiresias.

Bejammernswerther, daß du schmähen magst an mir,

Womit in Kurzem Jeder hier dich schmähen wird!

Oedipus.

Dich bindet ewigdunkle Nacht, daß weder mir
375

Du schaden kannst noch Andern, die zum Lichte schau'n.

Teiresias.

Von mir zu fallen ist ja nicht dein Loos; genügt

Doch Phöbos' Macht hier, dem die Sorg' obliegt dafür.

Oedipus.

Hat Kreon oder hast du selbst dies ausgedacht?

Teiresias.

Nicht Kreon schafft dir Leides, nein, du schaffst dir's selbst.
380

Oedipus.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 354 focus

Nor will I be silent.

1 tell thee once for all thou wert thyself

Accomplice in thi.s deed. Nay, more, 1 think,

But for thy blindness, wouldst with thy own hand
355

Have done it too.
355

Tiresias

'Tis well. Now hear, Tiresius.

The sentence, which thou didst thyself proclaim,

Falls on thyself. Henceforth shall never man

Hold converse with thee, for thou art accursed —

The guilty cause of all this city's woes.

Oedipus

Audacious traitor ! thinkst thou to escape

The hand of vengeance ?

Tiresias

Yes, I fear thee not ;

For truth is stronger than a tyi-ant's ai-m.

Oedipus

Whence didst thou learn this ? Was it from

thy art?

Tiresias

I learned it from thyself. Thou didst compel
360

me
360

To speak, unwilHng as I was.
360

Oedipus

Once more

Ilepeat it then, that I may know my fate

More plainly still.

Tiresias

Is it not plain already ?

Or meanst thou but to tempt me ?

Oedipus

No, but say,

©'peak it again.

Tiresias

Again then I declare

Thou art thyself the murderer whom thou seekst.

Oedipus

A second time thou shalt not pass unpunished.

Tiresias

What wouldst thou say, if I should tell thee all?

Tiresias
(Edi. Say what thou wilt. For all is false.

Know then,

That CEdipus, in shameful bonds united

With those he loves, unconscious of his guilt,

Is yet most guilty.

Oedipus

Dar'st thou utter mwe,
370

And hope for pardon?
370

Tie. Yes, if there be strength

In sacred truth.

Oedipus

But truth dwells not in thee :

Thy body and thy mind are dark alike,

For both are blind. Thy ev'ry sense is lost.
375

Tiresias

Thou dost upbraid me with the loss of that

For which thyself ere long shall meet reproach

From every tongue.

Oedipus

Thou blind and impious traitor !

Thy darkness is thy safeguard, or this hour

Had been thy last.

Tie. It is not in my fate

To fall by thee. Apollo guards his priest.

Tie. Creon is guiltless, and the crime is thine.

Above them all, the best of human blessings,

Excelling wisdom, how doth envy love

To follow and oppress you ! This fair kingdom,

Which by the nation's choice, and not my own,

I here possess, Creon, my faithful friend.

For such I thought him once, would now wrest from me.

And hath suborned this vile impostor here.

This wandering hypocrite, of sharpest sight

When interest prompts, but ignorant and blind

When fools consult him. Tell me, prophet, where

Was all thy art when the abhorred Sphynx

Alarmed our city 1 Wherefore did not then

Thy wisdom save us? Then the man divine

Was wanting. But thy birds refused their omens,

Thy god was silent. Then came (Edipus,

This poor, unlearned, uninstructed sage ;

Who not from birds uncertain omens drew,

But by his own sagacious mind explored

The hidden mystery. And now thou com'st

To cast me from the throne my wisdom gained,

And share with Creon my divided empire.

But you should both lament your ill-got power,

You and your bold compeer. For thee, this moment.

But that I bear respect unto thy age,

I'd make thee rue thy execrable purpose.

CiiOR. You both are angry, tlierefore both to blame ;

Much rather should you join, witli friendly zeal

And mutual ardour, to explore the will

Of all-deciding Heaven.

Till. What though thou lul'st

O'er Thebes despotic, we are equal here :

I am Apollo's subj(>ct, and not thine,

I^or w'Awi J C^-eon to protect me. No ;

I tell thee, king, this blind Tiresias tells thee,

Seeing thou seest not, knowst not where thou art,

What, or with whom. Canst thou inform me who

Thy parents are, and what thy horrid crimes

'Gainst thy own race, the living and the dead ?

A father's and a mother's curse attend thee ;

Soon shall their furies drive thee from the land,

And leave thee dark like me. Whnt mountain then,

Or conscious shore, shall not return the groans

Of Ql^dipus, and echo to his woes ?

When thou shalt look on the detested bed,

And in that haven where thou hop'st to rest,

Shalt meet with storm and tempest, then what ills

Shall fall on thee and thine ! Now vent thy rage

On old Tiresias and the guiltless Creon ;

We shall be soon avenged, for ne'er did Heaven

Cut off a wTetch so base, so vile as thou art.

Oedipus
(Edi. Was this the tale of Creon, or thy own % (Edi. 0 riches, power, dominion ! and thou far

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 354 focus

Thou vilest of the vile---for thou wou'dst raise

Th' insensate rock to rage---wilt thou not speak,

But show thyself unfeeling and unmoved?
355

Tiresias

TIR. My passion thou hast blamed; but dost not see

That which with thee resides, while me thou blamest.

Oedipus

Who would not be enraged to hear thy words,

Which cast dishonour on this injured state?

Tiresias

TIR. These things will come, though silent be my voice.

Oedipus

Then what will come, to me thou shou'dst disclose.

Further I will not speak; so let thy rage,

Tiresias

If such thy will, in all its fierceness rise.
360

Oedipus
TIR.

Then I will speak, as anger prompts my tongue,

Withuot reserve whate'er my thoughts suggest.

Know then I deem thee complice in this act;

I deem the deed was thine, save that thy hand

Struck not the blow: hadst thou enjoy'd thy sight,

Tiresias

I should pronounce the act were thine alone.

Indeed! Nay then I warn thee to abide

By thine own solemn charge, and from this day

Hold converse nor with these, nor me; for thou

Art the accurs'd polluter of this land.

Oedipus
TIR.

Hast thou no sense of shame, that thou hast dared

Utter such taunt? How think'st thou to escape?

I have escaped, e'en by the potent truth

Which I maintain.

By whom hast thou been taught?

Not by thy art divine.

By thee, constrain'd

Unwillingly to speak.

Tiresias

What? Speak the words

Again; my knowledge so will be more clear.

TIR. Were they abstruse ? Or dost thou bid me speak

To try me?

Not to speak it as a thing

Known; yet repeat thy words.

Again I say

Thou art the much-sought murderer of the king.

Oedipus
TIR. TIR. TIR.

Thou shalt not triumph for this second taunt.
365

TIR. More shalt I speak then, and enrage thee more?
365

Tiresias

EPID. Say what thou wilt, it will be said in vain.

I say flagitious is thy intercourse

With those most dear to thee; thou know'st not this,

Nor seest the ills in which thou art involved.

Oedipus
TIR.

Think'st thou no vengeance such reproach awaits ?

Tiresias

TIR.. I have no fear, if truth hath aught of pow'r.

Oedipus

It hath, but not for thee; it is not thine;
370

Thy ears, thy soul, e'en as thine eyes, are blind.

Tiresias

Unhappy thou in thus reproaching me,

For soon on thee the same reproach shall fall.

Oedipus
TIR.

Confiding in thy blindness thou from me,

Or any that have eyes, no vengeance fearest.
375

Tiresias

TIR. To fall by thee is not my fate; those things

Belong to Phœbus; ample is his pow'r.

Oedipus

The fiction this of Creon, or thine own?

Tiresias

Creon ne'er wrought thee ill: the work is thine.

Oedipus
TIR.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 354 focus

Oedipus

So brazen with your blustering taunt?

Where do you think to escape to?
355

Teiresias

I have escaped. There is strength in my truth.

Oedipus

Who taught you this? Not your skill, at any rate.

Teiresias

You yourself. For you spurred me on to speak against my will.

Oedipus

What did you say? Speak again, so I may learn it better.

Teiresias

Did you not understand before, or are you talking to test me?
360

Oedipus

I cannot say I understood fully. Tell me again.

Teiresias

I say that you are the killer of the man whose slayer you seek.

Oedipus

Now you will regret that you have said such dire words twice.

Teiresias

Should I tell you more, that you might get more angry?

Oedipus

Say as much as you want: it will be said in vain.
365

Teiresias

I say that you have been living in unguessed shame with your closest kin, and do not see into what woe you have fallen.

Oedipus

Do you think that you will always be able to speak like this without smarting for it?

Teiresias

Yes, if indeed there is any strength in truth.

Oedipus

But there is, except not for you. You do not have that strength, since you are maimed in your ears, in your wit, and in your eyes.
370

Teiresias

And you are a poor wretch to utter taunts that every man here will soon hurl at you.

Oedipus

Night, endless night has you in her keeping, so that you can never hurt me,

or any man that sees the light of the sun.
375

Teiresias

No, it is not your fate to fall at my hands, since Apollo, to whom this matter is a concern, is sufficient.

Oedipus

Are these Creon’s devices, or your own?

Teiresias

Creon is no trouble for you: you are your own.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-249-1 ἐξεκίνησας ¹

mvp-comment-250-1 καὶ ποῦ ² ποῦ ³ καί ⁴ τοῦτο φεύγειν ⁵

mvp-comment-251-1 ἰσχῦον ⁶

mvp-comment-251-2 τρέφω ⁷

mvp-comment-251-3 τέχνης ⁸

mvp-comment-252-1 προὐτρέψω ⁹

mvp-comment-253-1 ἢ κπειρᾷ λέγων; ¹⁰ λέγων ¹¹ λέγων ¹² λέγων ¹³

mvp-comment-254-1 οὐχ ὥστε γ’ ¹⁴ γνωστόν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-255-1 οὖ ζητεῖς ¹⁶

mvp-comment-256-1 ἀλλ’ οὔ τι χαίρων ¹⁷ πημονὰς ¹⁸

mvp-comment-257-1 εἴπω ¹⁹

mvp-comment-258-1 σὺν τοῖς φιλτάτοις ²⁰

mvp-comment-259-1 ἵν’ εἶ κακοῦ ²¹

mvp-comment-260-1 ἦ καὶ ²²

mvp-comment-261-1 πλὴν σοί· σοὶ δὲ ²³

mvp-comment-262-1 ἄθλιος ²⁴

mvp-comment-263-1 οὐδεὶς ²⁵ ὃς οὐχὶ ²⁶

mvp-comment-264-1 μιᾶς τρέφει πρὸς νυκτός ²⁷ μιᾶς ²⁸

mvp-comment-265-1 ( οὐκ ἐγώ σε βλάψω), οὐ γὰρ μοῖρα ²⁹

mvp-comment-266-1 ἐκπρᾶξαι ³⁰ τάδε ³¹

mvp-comment-267-1 Κρέων δὲ ³²

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

354. mvp-comment-217-1 ἐξεκίνησας expresses the surprise of Oedipus at the astounding boldness of the accusation. The same astonishment is expressed in καὶ ποῦ; which is much more suitable to the passion of Oedipus than the ironical καί που. Have you so shamelessly broken silence with such a word as this? And what escape then can you hope to find? ἐκκινεῖν is to start or put in motion. Cp. El. 567. The word which Teiresias has set going will not easily be laid to rest.

356-361. mvp-comment-218-1 'I have escaped, for I keep in my bosom the might of truth.'-'By whom instructed? You never learnt this from your art.'-'By you; you prompted my unwilling tongue.'-'To utter έ λέγειν cett.

356-361. mvp-comment-218-2 προὐτρέψω C2A. προύγρ. ἦν ξυνῆκας ΑΕ. ἢ πειρᾷ Γ. (359-360 in mg. Vat. a.) what? Repeat, that I may better understand.'- Was my speech so dark, or are you tempting me in talk?' (or, reading λέγειν, ' to speak further').- I cannot say it was intelligible, speak it again.'

360. mvp-comment-219-1 λόγῳ is nearer to the first hand of L. than λέγειν, which has, however, considerable authority. For οὐχ ὥστε γ' εἰπεῖν, cp. 1128, (τὸν ἄνδρα .. οἶσθά που μαθών; οὐχ ὥστε γ' εἰπεῖν ἐν τάχει μνήμης ὕπο). The reply refers, as often elsewhere (supr. 100), to the former of the two alternative questions, i. e. I did not understand in such a sense as to say that I know. The words of Teiresias (350-353) were not obscure, but their meaning was too strange to be received at once, and Oedipus in his anger affects to treat them as a riddling utterance of the seer. The apparent platitude indicates the difficulty that Oedipus has in receiving the new idea. Cp. infr. 439, Τr. 184, τίν' εἶπας, ὦ γεραιέ, τόνδε μοι λόγον; Aesch. Agam. 268, πῶς φής; πέφευγε τούπος ἐξ ἀπιστίας. Oι οὐχ ὥστε, κ.τ.λ., may be otherwise explained, I am not likely to provoke you to an intelligible utterance. For the form γνωστόν, see on O. C. 1360.

362. mvp-comment-220-1 τἀνδρὸς οὐ ζητεῖς Sc. τὸν φονέα. Essay on Language § 39. P. 73.

363. mvp-comment-221-1 You shall suffer for thus repeating the word of evil.' For πημονὰς ἐρεῖς, cp. O. C. 542-544, ἔθου φόνον .. πατρός ; Ο. παπαῖ, δευτέραν ἔπαισας, ἐπὶ νόσῳ νόσον. And, for the plural, infr. 571-572.

365. mvp-comment-222-1 μάτην Without result. 367. The participle, ὁμιλοῦντα, has the chief emphasis. Essay on Language p. 77.

368. mvp-comment-223-1 γεγηθώς Stronger than χαίρων. Do you think you will always speak thus and glory in it? Cp. Fr. 526, θάρσει· λέγων τἀληθὲς οὐ σφαλεῖ ποτε.

370. mvp-comment-224-1 πλήν is here used without ἄλλος or a negative preceding. There is (for other men), but not for you, for you are blind, not in eyes only, but in ears and mind.' For the alliteration, of which this is an extreme case, see Essay on Language § 44. p. 82. And for the order of the words, in which what is obvious comes last, ib. § 41. p. 78.

372. mvp-comment-225-1 Unhappy, truly, art thou in uttering this reproach, which all this people will soon cast on thee. γε means Whatever may be true of me.

374. mvp-comment-226-1 μιᾶς.. νυκτός 'Thou livest under one perpetual night. The lives of other men depend on the succession of many nights and days. That of Teiresias is merged in an unbroken night. The surroundings of a life are said to foster it. Cp. Aj. 859-863, Tr. 116. Oedipus understands 372-373 as conveying an idle threat. Cp. Ant. 752, ἢ κἀπαπειλών, κ.τ.λ.

376. mvp-comment-227-1 The erroneous reading in the MSS. may have arisen from a mistimed recollection of infr. 448. ،

377. mvp-comment-228-1 ἐκπρᾶξαι To execute this. For τάδε, cp. supr. 341 and note. The other meaning of ἐκπρᾶξαι, to exact payment or to avenge, is not found elsewhere in Sophocles, and is not wanted here.

378. mvp-comment-229-1 Thy invention.' Cp. infr. 387. Creon had suggested sending for Teiresias, as was mentioned casually supr. 288, and is also associated in the mind of Oedipus with the oracle of Apollo.

379. mvp-comment-230-1 Nay, Creon is no bane to theethou art thine own bane. Note the emphatic use of δέ, connecting the reply immediately with the preceding words. Cp. El. 399, 400, πεσούμεθ', εἰ χρή, πατρὶ τιμωρούμενοι. ΧΡ. πατὴρ δὲ τούτων, οἶδα, συγγνώμην ἔχει. For σοὶ= σαυτῷ, see Essay on Language § 41. p. 79. Without seeming to hear the reply, Oedipus is hurried away by his own preconceived thoughts.

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Οἰδίπους οὕτως ἀναιδῶς ἐξεκίνησας τόδε τὸ ῥῆμα; καὶ ποῦ τοῦτο φεύξεσθαι δοκεῖς; 355

Τειρεσίας πέφευγα· τἀληθὲς γὰρ ἰσχῦον τρέφω.

Οἰδίπους πρὸς τοῦ διδαχθείς; οὐ γὰρ ἔκ γε τῆς τέχνης.

Τειρεσίας πρὸς σοῦ· σὺ γάρ μʼ ἄκοντα προυτρέψω λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους ποῖον λόγον; λέγʼ αὖθις, ὡς μᾶλλον μάθω.

Τειρεσίας οὐχὶ ξυνῆκας πρόσθεν; ἢ ʼκπειρᾷ λέγων; 360

Οἰδίπους οὐχ ὥστε γʼ εἰπεῖν γνωστόν· ἀλλʼ αὖθις φράσον.

Τειρεσίας φονέα σε φημὶ τἀνδρὸς οὗ ζητεῖς κυρεῖν.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλʼ οὔ τι χαίρων δίς γε πημονὰς ἐρεῖς.

Τειρεσίας εἴπω τι δῆτα κἄλλʼ, ἵνʼ ὀργίζῃ πλέον;

Οἰδίπους ὅσον γε χρῄζεις· ὡς μάτην εἰρήσεται. 365

Τειρεσίας λεληθέναι σε φημὶ σὺν τοῖς φιλτάτοις αἴσχισθʼ ὁμιλοῦντʼ, οὐδʼ ὁρᾶν ἵνʼ εἶ κακοῦ.

Οἰδίπους ἦ καὶ γεγηθὼς ταῦτʼ ἀεὶ λέξειν δοκεῖς;

Τειρεσίας εἴπερ τί γʼ ἐστὶ τῆς ἀληθείας σθένος.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλʼ ἔστι, πλὴν σοί· σοὶ δὲ τοῦτʼ οὐκ ἔστʼ ἐπεὶ 370 τυφλὸς τά τʼ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τʼ ὄμματʼ εἶ.

Τειρεσίας σὺ δʼ ἄθλιός γε ταῦτʼ ὀνειδίζων, ἃ σοὶ οὐδεὶς ὃς οὐχὶ τῶνδʼ ὀνειδιεῖ τάχα.

Οἰδίπους μιᾶς τρέφει πρὸς νυκτός, ὥστε μήτʼ ἐμὲ μήτʼ ἄλλον, ὅστις φῶς ὁρᾷ, βλάψαι ποτʼ ἄν. 375

Τειρεσίας οὐ γάρ σε μοῖρα πρός γʼ ἐμοῦ πεσεῖν, ἐπεὶ ἱκανὸς Ἀπόλλων, ᾧ τάδʼ ἐκπρᾶξαι μέλει.

Οἰδίπους Κρέοντος ἢ σοῦ ταῦτα τἀξευρήματα;

Τειρεσίας Κρέων δέ σοι πῆμʼ οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς σὺ σοί.

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οὕτως ἀναιδῶς ἐξεκίνησας τόδε τὸ ῥῆμα; καὶ ποῦ τοῦτο φεύξεσθαι δοκεῖς; 355

Τειρεσίας πέφευγα· τἀληθὲς γὰρ ἰσχῦον τρέφω.

Οἰδίπους πρὸς τοῦ διδαχθείς; οὐ γὰρ ἔκ γε τῆς τέχνης.

Τειρεσίας πρὸς σοῦ· σὺ γάρ μ᾽ ἄκοντα προὐτρέψω λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους ποῖον λόγον; λέγ᾽ αὖθις, ὡς μᾶλλον μάθω.

Τειρεσίας οὐχὶ ξυνῆκας πρόσθεν; ἢ ἐκπειρᾷ *λόγῳ; 360

Οἰδίπους οὐχ ὥστε γ' εἰπεῖν γνωστόν· ἀλλ᾽ αὖθις φράσον.

Τειρεσίας φονέα σε φημὶ τἀνδρὸς οὗ ζητεῖς κυρεῖν.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλ᾽ οὔ τι χαίρων δίς γε πημονὰς ἐρεῖς.

Τειρεσίας εἴπω τι δῆτα κἄλλ᾽, ἵνʼ ὀργίζῃ πλέον;

Οἰδίπους ὅσον γε χρῄζεις· ὡς μάτην εἰρήσεται. 365

Τειρεσίας λεληθέναι σε φημὶ σὺν τοῖς φιλτάτοις αἴσχισθ᾽ ὁμιλοῦντ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁρᾶν ἵνʼ εἶ κακοῦ.

Οἰδίπους ἦ καὶ γεγηθὼς ταῦτ᾽ ἀεὶ λέξειν δοκεῖς;

Τειρεσίας εἴπερ τί γ᾽ ἐστὶ τῆς ἀληθείας σθένος.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλ᾽ ἔστι, πλὴν σοί· σοὶ δὲ τοῦτ᾽ οὐκ ἔστ᾽, ἐπεὶ 370 τυφλὸς τά τ᾽ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τ' ὄμματ᾿ εἶ.

Τειρεσίας σὺ δ᾽ ἄθλιός γε ταῦτ᾽ ὀνειδίζων, ἃ σοὶ οὐδεὶς ὃς οὐχὶ τῶνδ᾽ ὀνειδιεῖ τάχα.

Οἰδίπους μιᾶς τρέφει πρὸς νυκτός, ὥστε μήτ᾿ ἐμὲ μήτ᾽ ἄλλον, ὅστις φῶς ὁρᾷ, βλάψαι ποτ᾿ ἄν. 375

Τειρεσίας *οὐ γάρ σε μοῖρα πρός γ᾽ ἐμοῦ πεσεῖν, ἐπεὶ ἱκανὸς Ἀπόλλων, ᾧ τάδ' ἐκπρᾶξαι μέλει.

Οἰδίπους Κρέοντος, ἢ σοῦ ταῦτα τἀξευρήματα;

Τειρεσίας Κρέων δέ σοι πῆμ᾽ οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὸς σὺ σοί.

Οἰδίπους

O void of shame! What wickedness is this? What power will give thee refuge for such guilt? 355

TI The might of truth is scatheless. I am free.

OED Whence came the truth to thee? Not from thine art.

TI From thee, whose rage impelled my backward tongue.

OED Speak it once more, that I may know the drift.

TI Was it so dark? Or wouldst thou tempt me further? 360

OED I cannot say ’twas clear. Speak it again.

TI I say thou art the murderer whom thou seekest.

OED Again that baleful word! But thou shalt rue.

TI Shall I add more, to aggravate thy wrath?

OED All is but idleness. Say what thou wilt. 365

TI I tell thee thou art living unawares In shameful commerce with thy near’st of blood, Ignorant of the abyss wherein thou liest.

OED Think you to triumph in offending still?

TI If Truth have power.

OED She hath, but not for thee. 370 Blind as thou art in eyes and ears and mind.

TI O miserable reproach, which all who now Behold thee, soon shall thunder forth on thee!

OED Nursed in unbroken night, thou canst not harm Or me, or any man who seeth the day. 375

TI No, not from me proceeds thy fall; the God, Who cares for this, is able to perform it.

OED Came this device from Creon or thyself?

TI Not Creon: thou art thy sole enemy.

OED

So kühn, so schamlos schüttest du dies Wort heraus, 355 Und wähnst vielleicht, du werdest meiner Nach' entflieh'n?

Teiresias. Ich bin entfloh'n. Die Kraft der Wahrheit pfleg' ich ja.

Oedipus. Von wem belehrt denn? Schwerlich doch von deiner Kunst!

Teiresias. Von dir: ich sag's ungerne, doch du zwangest mich.

Oedipus. Welch Wort? Noch Einmal sage mir's und deutlicher. 360

Teiresias. Verstand'st du's nicht schon? Prüfst du mich, suchst mich zu fah'n?

Oedipus. Nicht, daß ich's klar erkannte; wiederhol' es denn. 1

Teiresias. Du bist des Mannes Mörder, den du suchen gingſt.

Oedipus. Dir nicht zur Freude lästerst du zum zweitenmal!

Teiresias. So soll ich Andres sagen, daß du mehr ergrimmst? 365 So viel dich lüstet; ungehört verhallt dein Wort. Unwissend, sag' ich, pflegst du mit den Theuersten Ruchlosen Umgang, siehest nicht, wie tief du sankst.

Oedipus. Und so zu reden denkst du stets mit frohem Muth?

Teiresias. Sa, wenn der Wahrheit irgend Kraft beschieden ist. 370

Oedipus. Sie ward ihr, aber nicht in dir; dir blieb sie fremd, Der blind an Ohren und an Geist und Augen ist.

Teiresias. Bejammernswerther, daß du schmähen magst an mir, Womit in Kurzem Jeder hier dich schmähen wird!

Oedipus. Dich bindet ewigdunkle Nacht, daß weder mir 375 Du schaden kannst noch Andern, die zum Lichte schau'n.

Οἰδίπους

οὕτως ἀναιδῶς ἐξεκίνησας τόδε

τὸ ῥῆμα; καὶ ποῦ τοῦτο φεύξεσθαι δοκεῖς;
355

Τειρεσίας

πέφευγα· τἀληθὲς γὰρ ἰσχῦον τρέφω.

Οἰδίπους

πρὸς τοῦ διδαχθείς; οὐ γὰρ ἔκ γε τῆς τέχνης.

Τειρεσίας

πρὸς σοῦ· σὺ γάρ μʼ ἄκοντα προυτρέψω λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους

ποῖον λόγον; λέγʼ αὖθις, ὡς μᾶλλον μάθω.

Τειρεσίας

οὐχὶ ξυνῆκας πρόσθεν; ἢ ʼκπειρᾷ λέγων;
360

Οἰδίπους

οὐχ ὥστε γʼ εἰπεῖν γνωστόν· ἀλλʼ αὖθις φράσον.

Τειρεσίας

φονέα σε φημὶ τἀνδρὸς οὗ ζητεῖς κυρεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ οὔ τι χαίρων δίς γε πημονὰς ἐρεῖς.

Τειρεσίας

εἴπω τι δῆτα κἄλλʼ, ἵνʼ ὀργίζῃ πλέον;

Οἰδίπους

ὅσον γε χρῄζεις· ὡς μάτην εἰρήσεται.
365

Τειρεσίας

λεληθέναι σε φημὶ σὺν τοῖς φιλτάτοις

αἴσχισθʼ ὁμιλοῦντʼ, οὐδʼ ὁρᾶν ἵνʼ εἶ κακοῦ.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ καὶ γεγηθὼς ταῦτʼ ἀεὶ λέξειν δοκεῖς;

Τειρεσίας

εἴπερ τί γʼ ἐστὶ τῆς ἀληθείας σθένος.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ ἔστι, πλὴν σοί· σοὶ δὲ τοῦτʼ οὐκ ἔστʼ ἐπεὶ
370

τυφλὸς τά τʼ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τʼ ὄμματʼ εἶ.

Τειρεσίας

σὺ δʼ ἄθλιός γε ταῦτʼ ὀνειδίζων, ἃ σοὶ

οὐδεὶς ὃς οὐχὶ τῶνδʼ ὀνειδιεῖ τάχα.

Οἰδίπους

μιᾶς τρέφει πρὸς νυκτός, ὥστε μήτʼ ἐμὲ

μήτʼ ἄλλον, ὅστις φῶς ὁρᾷ, βλάψαι ποτʼ ἄν.
375

Τειρεσίας

οὐ γάρ σε μοῖρα πρός γʼ ἐμοῦ πεσεῖν, ἐπεὶ

ἱκανὸς Ἀπόλλων, ᾧ τάδʼ ἐκπρᾶξαι μέλει.

Οἰδίπους

Κρέοντος ἢ σοῦ ταῦτα τἀξευρήματα;

Τειρεσίας

Κρέων δέ σοι πῆμʼ οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς σὺ σοί.

οὕτως ἀναιδῶς ἐξεκίνησας τόδε

τὸ ῥῆμα; καὶ ποῦ τοῦτο φεύξεσθαι δοκεῖς;
355

Τειρεσίας

πέφευγα· τἀληθὲς γὰρ ἰσχῦον τρέφω.

Οἰδίπους

πρὸς τοῦ διδαχθείς; οὐ γὰρ ἔκ γε τῆς τέχνης.

Τειρεσίας

πρὸς σοῦ· σὺ γάρ μ᾽ ἄκοντα προὐτρέψω λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους

ποῖον λόγον; λέγ᾽ αὖθις, ὡς μᾶλλον μάθω.

Τειρεσίας

οὐχὶ ξυνῆκας πρόσθεν; ἢ ἐκπειρᾷ *λόγῳ;
360

Οἰδίπους

οὐχ ὥστε γ' εἰπεῖν γνωστόν· ἀλλ᾽ αὖθις φράσον.

Τειρεσίας

φονέα σε φημὶ τἀνδρὸς οὗ ζητεῖς κυρεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ οὔ τι χαίρων δίς γε πημονὰς ἐρεῖς.

Τειρεσίας

εἴπω τι δῆτα κἄλλ᾽, ἵνʼ ὀργίζῃ πλέον;

Οἰδίπους

ὅσον γε χρῄζεις· ὡς μάτην εἰρήσεται.
365

Τειρεσίας

λεληθέναι σε φημὶ σὺν τοῖς φιλτάτοις

αἴσχισθ᾽ ὁμιλοῦντ᾽, οὐδ᾽ ὁρᾶν ἵνʼ εἶ κακοῦ.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ καὶ γεγηθὼς ταῦτ᾽ ἀεὶ λέξειν δοκεῖς;

Τειρεσίας

εἴπερ τί γ᾽ ἐστὶ τῆς ἀληθείας σθένος.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ ἔστι, πλὴν σοί· σοὶ δὲ τοῦτ᾽ οὐκ ἔστ᾽, ἐπεὶ
370

τυφλὸς τά τ᾽ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τ' ὄμματ᾿ εἶ.

Τειρεσίας

σὺ δ᾽ ἄθλιός γε ταῦτ᾽ ὀνειδίζων, ἃ σοὶ

οὐδεὶς ὃς οὐχὶ τῶνδ᾽ ὀνειδιεῖ τάχα.

Οἰδίπους

μιᾶς τρέφει πρὸς νυκτός, ὥστε μήτ᾿ ἐμὲ

μήτ᾽ ἄλλον, ὅστις φῶς ὁρᾷ, βλάψαι ποτ᾿ ἄν.
375

Τειρεσίας

*οὐ γάρ σε μοῖρα πρός γ᾽ ἐμοῦ πεσεῖν, ἐπεὶ

ἱκανὸς Ἀπόλλων, ᾧ τάδ' ἐκπρᾶξαι μέλει.

Οἰδίπους

Κρέοντος, ἢ σοῦ ταῦτα τἀξευρήματα;

Τειρεσίας

Κρέων δέ σοι πῆμ᾽ οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ αὐτὸς σὺ σοί.

O void of shame! What wickedness is this?

What power will give thee refuge for such guilt?
355

TI

The might of truth is scatheless. I am free.

OED

Whence came the truth to thee? Not from thine art.

TI

From thee, whose rage impelled my backward tongue.

OED

Speak it once more, that I may know the drift.

TI

Was it so dark? Or wouldst thou tempt me further?
360

OED

I cannot say ’twas clear. Speak it again.

TI

I say thou art the murderer whom thou seekest.

OED

Again that baleful word! But thou shalt rue.

TI

Shall I add more, to aggravate thy wrath?

OED

All is but idleness. Say what thou wilt.
365

TI

I tell thee thou art living unawares

In shameful commerce with thy near’st of blood,

Ignorant of the abyss wherein thou liest.

OED

Think you to triumph in offending still?

TI

If Truth have power.

OED

She hath, but not for thee.
370

Blind as thou art in eyes and ears and mind.

TI

O miserable reproach, which all who now

Behold thee, soon shall thunder forth on thee!

OED

Nursed in unbroken night, thou canst not harm

Or me, or any man who seeth the day.
375

TI

No, not from me proceeds thy fall; the God,

Who cares for this, is able to perform it.

OED

Came this device from Creon or thyself?

TI

Not Creon: thou art thy sole enemy.

So kühn, so schamlos schüttest du dies Wort heraus,
355

Und wähnst vielleicht, du werdest meiner Nach' entflieh'n?

Teiresias.

Ich bin entfloh'n. Die Kraft der Wahrheit pfleg' ich ja.

Oedipus.

Von wem belehrt denn? Schwerlich doch von deiner Kunst!

Teiresias.

Von dir: ich sag's ungerne, doch du zwangest mich.

Oedipus.

Welch Wort? Noch Einmal sage mir's und deutlicher.
360

Teiresias.

Verstand'st du's nicht schon? Prüfst du mich, suchst mich zu fah'n?

Oedipus.

Nicht, daß ich's klar erkannte; wiederhol' es denn.¹

Teiresias.

Du bist des Mannes Mörder, den du suchen gingſt.

Oedipus.

Dir nicht zur Freude lästerst du zum zweitenmal!

Teiresias.

So soll ich Andres sagen, daß du mehr ergrimmst?
365

So viel dich lüstet; ungehört verhallt dein Wort.

Unwissend, sag' ich, pflegst du mit den Theuersten

Ruchlosen Umgang, siehest nicht, wie tief du sankst.

Oedipus.

Und so zu reden denkst du stets mit frohem Muth?

Teiresias.

Sa, wenn der Wahrheit irgend Kraft beschieden ist.
370

Oedipus.

Sie ward ihr, aber nicht in dir; dir blieb sie fremd,

Der blind an Ohren und an Geist und Augen ist.

Teiresias.

Bejammernswerther, daß du schmähen magst an mir,

Womit in Kurzem Jeder hier dich schmähen wird!

Oedipus.

Dich bindet ewigdunkle Nacht, daß weder mir
375

Du schaden kannst noch Andern, die zum Lichte schau'n.

Teiresias.

Von mir zu fallen ist ja nicht dein Loos; genügt

Doch Phöbos' Macht hier, dem die Sorg' obliegt dafür.

Oedipus.

Hat Kreon oder hast du selbst dies ausgedacht?

Teiresias.

Nicht Kreon schafft dir Leides, nein, du schaffst dir's selbst.
380

Nor will I be silent.

1 tell thee once for all thou wert thyself

Accomplice in thi.s deed. Nay, more, 1 think,

But for thy blindness, wouldst with thy own hand
355

Have done it too.
355

Tiresias

'Tis well. Now hear, Tiresius.

The sentence, which thou didst thyself proclaim,

Falls on thyself. Henceforth shall never man

Hold converse with thee, for thou art accursed —

The guilty cause of all this city's woes.