Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, ed. Francis Storr, 513

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Κρέων

ἄνδρες πολῖται, δείνʼ ἔπη πεπυσμένος

κατηγορεῖν μου τὸν τύραννον Οἰδίπουν,

πάρειμʼ ἀτλητῶν. εἰ γὰρ ἐν ταῖς ξυμφοραῖς
515

ταῖς νῦν νομίζει πρός γʼ ἐμοῦ πεπονθέναι

λόγοισιν εἴτʼ ἔργοισιν εἰς βλάβην φέρον,

οὔτοι βίου μοι τοῦ μακραίωνος πόθος,

φέροντι τήνδε βάξιν. οὐ γὰρ εἰς ἁπλοῦν

ἡ ζημία μοι τοῦ λόγου τούτου φέρει,
520

ἀλλʼ ἐς μέγιστον, εἰ κακὸς μὲν ἐν πόλει,

κακὸς δὲ πρὸς σοῦ καὶ φίλων κεκλήσομαι.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ἦλθε μὲν δὴ τοῦτο τοὔνειδος τάχʼ ἂν

ὀργῇ βιασθὲν μᾶλλον ἢ γνώμῃ φρενῶν.

Κρέων

τοὔπος δʼ ἐφάνθη, ταῖς ἐμαῖς γνώμαις ὅτι
525

πεισθεὶς ὁ μάντις τοὺς λόγους ψευδεῖς λέγοι;

Χορός

ηὐδᾶτο μὲν τάδʼ, οἶδα δʼ οὐ γνώμῃ τίνι.

Κρέων

ἐξ ὀμμάτων δʼ ὀρθῶν τε κἀξ ὀρθῆς φρενὸς

κατηγορεῖτο τοὐπίκλημα τοῦτό μου;

Χορός

οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἃ γὰρ δρῶσʼ, οἱ κρατοῦντες οὐχ ὁρῶ.
530

αὐτὸς δʼ ὅδʼ ἤδη δωμάτων ἔξω περᾷ.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος σύ, πῶς δεῦρʼ ἦλθες; ἦ τοσόνδʼ ἔχεις

τόλμης πρόσωπον ὥστε τὰς ἐμὰς στέγας

ἵκου, φονεὺς ὢν τοῦδε τἀνδρὸς ἐμφανῶς

λῃστής τʼ ἐναργὴς τῆς ἐμῆς τυραννίδος;
535

φέρʼ εἰπὲ πρὸς θεῶν, δειλίαν ἢ μωρίαν

ἰδών τινʼ ἔν μοι ταῦτʼ ἐβουλεύσω ποεῖν;

ἢ τοὔργον ὡς οὐ γνωριοῖμί σου τόδε

δόλῳ προσέρπον ἢ οὐκ ἀλεξοίμην μαθών;

ἆρʼ οὐχὶ μῶρόν ἐστι τοὐγχείρημά σου,
540

ἄνευ τε πλήθους καὶ φίλων τυραννίδα

θηρᾶν, ὃ πλήθει χρήμασίν θʼ ἁλίσκεται;

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)) — 513 focus

ἄνδρες πολῖται, δείνʼ ἔπη πεπυσμένος

κατηγορεῖν μου τὸν τύραννον Οἰδίπουν

πάρειμ᾿ ἀτλητῶν. εἰ γὰρ ἐν ταῖς ξυμφοραῖς
515

ταῖς νῦν νομίζει πρός γ᾿ ἐμοῦ πεπονθέναι

λόγοισιν εἴτ' ἔργοισιν εἰς βλάβην φέρον,

οὔτοι βίου μοι τοῦ μακραίωνος πόθος,

φέροντι τήνδε βάξιν. οὐ γὰρ εἰς ἁπλοῦν

ἡ ζημία μοι τοῦ λόγου τούτου φέρει,
520

ἀλλ᾽ ἐς μέγιστον, εἰ κακὸς μὲν ἐν πόλει,

κακὸς δὲ πρὸς σοῦ καὶ φίλων κεκλήσομαι.

Χορός

ἀλλ᾽ ἦλθε μὲν δὴ τοῦτο τοὔνειδος τάχ᾽ ἂν

ὀργῇ βιασθὲν μᾶλλον ἢ γνώμῃ φρενῶν.

Κρέων

τοῦ πρὸς δ᾽ ἐφάνθη ταῖς ἐμαῖς γνώμαις ὅτι
525

πεισθεὶς ὁ μάντις τοὺς λόγους ψευδεῖς λέγοι;

Χορός

ηὐδᾶτο μὲν τάδ', οἶδα δ᾽ οὐ γνώμῃ τίνι.

Κρέων

ἐξ ὀμμάτων δ᾽ ὀρθῶν τε κἀξ ὀρθῆς φρενὸς

κατηγορεῖτο τοὐπίκλημα τοῦτό μου;

Χορός

οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ἃ γὰρ δρῶσ᾽ οἱ κρατοῦντες οὐχ ὁρῶ.
530

αὐτὸς δ᾽ ὅδ᾽ ἤδη δωμάτων ἔξω περᾷ.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος, σὺ πῶς δεῦρ᾽ ἦλθες; ἦ τοσόνδ᾽ ἔχεις

τόλμης πρόσωπον ὥστε τὰς ἐμὰς στέγας

ἵκου, φονεὺς ὢν τοῦδε τἀνδρὸς ἐμφανῶς

λῃστής τ᾽ ἐναργὴς τῆς ἐμῆς τυραννίδος;
535

φέρ᾽ εἰπὲ πρὸς θεῶν, δειλίαν ἢ μωρίαν

ἰδών τινʼ ἐν ἐμοὶ ταῦτ᾽ ἐβουλεύσω ποιεῖν;

ἢ τοὔργον ὡς οὐ γνωρίσοιμί σου τόδε

δόλῳ προσέρπον *ἢ οὐκ ἀλεξοίμην μαθών;

ἆρ᾽ οὐχὶ μῶρόν ἐστι τοὐγχείρημά σου,
540

ἄνευ τε πλήθους καὶ φίλων τυραννίδα

θηρᾶν, ὃ πλήθει χρήμασίν θ᾽ ἁλίσκεται;

Κρέων

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 513 focus

Citizens, hearing of dire calumny

Denounced on me by Oedipus the King,

I am here to make loud protest. If he think,
515

In this embroilment of events, one word

Or deed of mine hath wrought him injury,

I am not careful to prolong my life

Beneath such imputation. For it means

No trifling danger, but disastrous harm,
520

Making my life dishonoured in the state,

And meanly thought of by my friends and you.

CH

Perchance ’twas but the sudden flash of wrath,

Not the deliberate judgement of the soul.

CR

Who durst declare it, that Tirésias spake
525

False prophecies, set on to this by me?

CH

Such things were said, I know not how advised.

CR

And were the eyes and spirit not distraught,

When the tongue uttered this to ruin me?

CH

I cannot say. To what my betters do
530

I am blind. But see, the King comes forth again.

OED
Enter OEDIPUS .

Insolent, art thou here? Hadst thou the face

To bring thy boldness near my palace-roof,

Proved as thou art to have contrived my death

And laid thy robber hands upon my state?
535

Tell me, by heaven, had you seen in me

A coward or a fool, when you planned this?—

Deemed you I should be blind to your attempt

Craftily creeping on, or, when perceived,

Not ward it off? Is’t not a silly scheme,
540

To think to compass without troops of friends

Power, that is only won by wealth and men?

CR

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 513 focus

Ihr Bürger, weil ich höre, daß mich Dedipus,

Der König, schwerer Thaten angeschuldigt hat,

Erschein' ich hier von Schmerz erfüllt. Denn wenn er glaubt,

Ich habe, was zu Schaden führt, in dieser Noth

Mit Worten oder durch die That ihm angethan:
510

Dann lange fortzuleben, traun, verlang' ich nicht,

Mit solchem Ruf belastet. Einfach wäre nicht

Der Schaden, der aus diesem Leumund mir ersteht,

Nein, unermeßlich, wenn ich schlecht in dieser Stadt,

Und schlecht vor dir und meinen Freunden heißen soll.
515

Der Chor.

Doch diese Schmähung wurde mehr vielleicht im Zorn

Gewaltsam ausgestoßen als mit Vorbedacht.

Kreon.

Woraus erhellte, daß, verführt durch meinen Rath,

Des Sehers Mund die Lügenworte reden soll?

Der Chor.

So ward gesagt; aus welchem Grunde, weiß ich nicht.
520

Kreon.

Mit offnem Blick des Auges und mit offnem Sinn

Ward solcher Vorwurf ausgesprochen wider mich?

Der Chor.

Ich weiß nicht; was die Herrscher thun, bemerk' ich nicht;

Doch eben tritt er selber aus dem Hause schon.

Oedipus. Die Vorigen.

Oedipus.

Du wagst hieher zu kommen? Hast du solche Stirn
525

Schamloser Frechheit, daß du meiner Schwelle nahst,

Du, der an dieses Mannes Haupt zum Mörder wird,

Und offen sich als Räuber meines Thrones zeigt?

Sprich, bei den Göttern, ob du feigen Sinn an mir,

Ob Aberwiz gewahrtest, daß du dies ersanmst?
530

Nicht ahnen würd' ich, wähntest du, solch tückisches

Vermessen, noch ihm wehren, wenn ich's auch geahnt?

Ist also dein Beginnen nicht ein thörichtes,

Ganz ohne Volk und Freunde nach dem Königthum

Zu jagen, das mit Volk und Gold erobert wird?
535

Kreon.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 513 focus

O citizens ! with grief T hear your king

Hath blasted the fair fame of guiltless Creon !

And most unjustly brands me with a crime

My soul abhors : whilst desolation spreads
515

On every side, and universal ruin

Hangs o'er the land, if I in word or deed

Could join to swell the woes of hapless Thebes,

T were unworthy — nay, I would not wish —

To live another day : alas ! my friends.

Thus to be deemed a traitor to my country,

To you my fellow- citizens, to all
520

That hear me, 'tis infamy and shame ;

I cannot, will not bear it.

Chorus

Who told him I suborned
525

The prophet to speak falsely 1 What could raise
525

This vile suspicion ?

Chorus

Such he had, but whence

I know not.

Creon

Talked he thus with firm composure

I cannot say ;
530

'Tis not for me to know the thoughts of kings,
530

Or judge their actions ! But behold ! he comes.

Oedipus
Scene II.

Creon, Chorus.

Oedipus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 513 focus

Jove, high ruler of the skies,

And the Pythian god are wise ;

They the deeds of mortals know,

All whate'er is done below :

Of knowledge doth the Seer a brighter ray,

Than illumines me, display?
515

Some deeper drink of wisdom's spring;
515

But proofs, that flash conviction I demand.

The Sphinx display'd her dreadful wing,

His wisdom saved the sinking land;

Then let my grateful soul disdain

To rank the hero with the murderer's train.

Ye citizens of Thebes, th' atrocious crime,

Charged on me by the royal Edipus,

Hath reach'd my ear: my soul disdains the charge.

If in the present ills he deems that aught

Of injury to him by word or deed

By me hath been attempted, let me breathe
520

This vital air no longer, such ill fame
520

Sustaining: for no trivial damage brings

This accusation, but of import high

To me, if I shall be reputed base

By thee, and by my friends, and by the state.

Chorus
CREON, CHORUS.

From violence of passion this reproach

Creon

Haply burst forth, more than from sober thought.

Whence his persuasion that the Seer, with me

Such things were said, I know not with what thought.

Roll'd his eye wild, disorder'd seem'd his sense,

Against me when this hated charge was urged?

Chorus

I know not; for it is not mine to see
530

What princes do. But this way comes the king.

Oedipus

Darest thou come hither? In thy insolence

Art thou so harden'd, as again to tread

My courts, detected in thy base design

To murder me, and from my brows to rend

The regal crown? Now tell me, by the gods,
535

Hast thou mark'd in me aught of cowardice

Or folly, that encouraged thee to form

Such daring thoughts? Or deem'st thou that the deed,

Creeping with dark insidious step, mine eye

Would not observe; or if observed, my hand

Would not chastise? How frentic thy attempt,
540

Nor friends nor forces thine, at sovereign pow'r,

By multitudes and treasures gain'd, to aim?

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 513 focus

Creon

Fellow citizens, having learned that Oedipus the king lays dire charges against me, I have come in indignation.

If he thinks that in the present troubles he has suffered from me, by word or by deed, anything harmful, truly I do not desire my full term of years, when I must bear such blame as this. The wrong of this rumor
515

touches me not in one point alone, but has the largest scope, if I am to be called a traitor in the city, a traitor by you and by my friends.
520

Chorus

But perhaps this taunt came under the stress of anger, rather than from the purpose of his heart.

Creon

Was the opinion given that my counsels had brought the seer to utter his falsehoods?
525

Chorus

Such things were said—I do not know with what meaning.

Creon

And was this charge laid against me with steady eyes and steady mind?

Chorus

I do not know. I see not what my masters do. But here comes our lord from the house.
530

Oedipus enters.

Oedipus

You, how did you get here? Are you so boldfaced that you have come to my house, you who are manifestly the murderer of its master,

the palpable thief of its crown? Come, tell me, in the name of the gods, was it cowardice or folly which you saw in me and which led you to plot this thing? Did you think that I would not notice this deed of yours creeping upon me by stealth, or that if I became aware of it I would not ward it off?
535

Is your attempt not foolish, to seek the throne without followers or friends—a prize which followers and wealth must win?
540

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-344-1 ἀτλητῶν ¹

mvp-comment-345-1 πρός γ’ ἐμοῦ ² φέρον ³

mvp-comment-346-1 For the single εἴτε ⁴

mvp-comment-346-2 φέρον ⁵

mvp-comment-347-1 βίου τοῦ μακρ ⁶ βίος μακραίων ⁷

mvp-comment-348-1 εἰς ἁπλοῦν ⁸ φέρει ἐς μέγιστον ⁹

mvp-comment-349-1 ἀλλὰ … μὲν δὴ ¹⁰

mvp-comment-349-2 ἦλθε … τάχ’ ἂν ¹¹

mvp-comment-350-1 I formerly kept τοῦ πρὸς δ’, with L. But the anastrophe of πρός seems to be confined to instances in which it is immediately followed by an attributive genitive, equiv. to an epithet: see on 178. For πρὸς τοῦ δ’ we could indeed cite Aesch. Eum. 593

πρὸς τοῦ δ’ ἐπείσθης καὶ τίνος βουλεύμασιν;

But I now prefer τοὔπος δ’ ¹²

mvp-comment-351-1 ηὐδᾶτο ¹³

mvp-comment-352-1 The reading ἐξ ὀμμάτων δ’ ὀρθῶν τε ¹⁴ ἐξ ὀμμάτων ὀρθῶν δὲ ¹⁵ δ’ ¹⁶ τε ¹⁷ δέ ¹⁸ τε ¹⁹ ἐξ ²⁰ ὀμμάτων ὀρθῶν ²¹

mvp-comment-353-1 οὐκ οἶδ’ ²²

mvp-comment-354-1 Join οὗτος σύ ²³

mvp-comment-354-2 τόλμης ²⁴

mvp-comment-354-3 τοσόνδε τόλμης‐πρόσωπον ²⁵

mvp-comment-355-1 φονεὺς ὢν κ.τ.λ. ²⁶

mvp-comment-356-1 τῆς ἐμῆς ²⁷ τοῦδε τἀνδρός ²⁸

mvp-comment-357-1 ἔν μοι ²⁹ ἐν ἐμοί ³⁰ ἐμοὶ ³¹ μοι ³² μοι ³³ ἰδών ³⁴

mvp-comment-357-2 ἰδών … ἐν ³⁵ ποεῖν; ³⁶

mvp-comment-358-1 ἢ τοὔργον ³⁷ ἰδών ³⁸

mvp-comment-358-2 γνωριοῖμι ³⁹ γνωριοῖμι ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-359-1 ἢ οὐκ ⁴¹

mvp-comment-359-2 ἀλεξοίμην ⁴²

mvp-comment-360-1 πλήθους ⁴³ Φίλων ⁴⁴ χρήμασιν ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-361-1 ὃ ⁴⁶

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

513. mvp-comment-305-1 Creon enters (right) from the city. In the first episode the action was strikingly rapid. It contained the two great movements of the proclamation of Oedipus and the prophecy of Teiresias, with only sufficient pause between them (ll. 276-296) to give effect to the latter. Now follows a period of suspense, for which the wavering tones of the last chorus have prepared the way. The scene is of unusual length, ll. 512-862, but is divided by the short lyric measures (commatica) in 11. 649-668, 678-696. Cp. O. C. 833 ff, 876 ff. The entrance of Jocasta (1. 634) prepares new complications.

515. mvp-comment-306-1 ἀτλητών Unable to endure it. The verb is formed after the analogy οἱ ἀλαστέω, ἀελπτέω, etc.

515. mvp-comment-306-2 ἐν ταῖς ξυμφοραῖς ταῖς νῦν In the present crisis.

516. mvp-comment-307-1 πρός γ᾿ ἐμοῦ The variety of reading has been caused by the ellipse of τι, for which cp. El. 1322-1323, ὡς ἐπ᾿ ἐξόδῳ κλύω | τῶν ἔνδοθεν χωροῦντος, SC.

516. mvp-comment-307-2 τινός. The emphatic ἐμοῦ is better here than μου. That in this emergency he has suffered at my hands aught tending to his harm by word or deed.

518. mvp-comment-308-1 I care not to prolong my life.'

518. mvp-comment-308-2 τοῦ μακραίωνος. The article as with words of number and quantity, e.g. Ο. C. 1211, τοῦ πλέονος μέρους. Cp. Αj. 473, τοῦ μακροῦ χρήζειν βίου. For the use of the compound, see Essay on Language p. 101.

519. mvp-comment-309-1 ἁπλοῦν, though opposed to μέγιστον, is not = σμικρόν, but points to the manifold nature of the injury as expressed in 521-522, This word affects me with loss not only in one respect, but does me the most serious injury.' For the unconscious tautology in the repetition of φέρει after φέρον, φέροντι, cp. infr. 524-527, γνώμῃ, γνώμαις, γνώμῃ.

522. mvp-comment-310-1 The leader of the chorus is allied to the royal house, infr. 1225.

524. mvp-comment-311-1 βιασθέν is not to be repeated with γνώμῃ, which is dative of cause. The charge may have been made in the violence of anger, and not advisedly.

525. mvp-comment-312-1 τοῦ πρός From whom proceeded this? i. e. On whose authority was it said? The inversion in this passage has suggested the v. r. τοῦπος found in FL³, which is also supposed to correspond better with the answer of the chorus. But the change is unnecessary. The order of words is singular, but is suited to express the excitement of Creon. Cp. the position of ὅτι, and Ar. Εq. 32, ποῖον βρέτας πρός; There is no real difficulty in reconciling the question to the answer. Creon asks, 'From whom came the intimation?" To which the chorus answers, The thing was said, but I cannot tell you on what ground or authority: γνώμῃ τίνι referring to τοῦ πρός, κ.τ.λ. For γνώμῃ φρενῶν, cp. Ant. 1090, τὸν νοῦν .. τῶν φρενῶν.

528. mvp-comment-313-1 Were his eyes and his mind clear, when this accusation was uttered against : me by him?' Most MSS. omitting δ' in the first place, waver between ὀρθῶν τε and ὀρθῶν δέ. But δ' before ὀρθῶν is not devoid of authority.

529. mvp-comment-314-1 Observe the continued use of the passive voice. Essay on Language §. 31. pp. 53-54. Creon still avoids the direct mention of Oedipus as his accuser; and the chorus use the same reserve.

530. mvp-comment-315-1 ἃ γὰρ .. οὐχ ὁρῶ I have no eye to see what rulers do. 532 foll. Insolent, what mean you by coming hither, you that have aimed at my life and sought to subvert my sovereignty? Unsupported by friends, how could you expect to succeed or to elude my vigilance? Did you take me for a coward or a fool?'

530. mvp-comment-315-2 οὗτος, σύ This punctuation is more forcible than οὗτος σύ, and has also better authority. The inversion of πῶς σύ accords with the feeling of the speech. Essay on Language § 41. p. 78. See below, l. 1121 .

532. mvp-comment-316-1 τοσόνδ᾽ ἔχεις τόλμης πρόσωπον Have you such a face of brass? i. e. τοσαύτης τόλμης πρόσωπον. A case of hypallage.

534. mvp-comment-317-1 The ind. ἵκου is more forcible than the infinitive, as dwelling on the 542.8] fact, and not merely marking its connexion with the preceding statement. The words ἐμφανῶς, ἐναργής, in what follows, are very characteristic of the passionate self-confidence of Oedipus.

537. mvp-comment-318-1 ἐν ἐμοί, like ἃ δ᾽ ἂν ἔρῃ, infr. 749, is an apparent violation of the rule that the 2nd and 3rd syllables of a trisyllabic foot must be in the same word. But ev is a preposition which adheres to its case.

538. mvp-comment-319-1 ὡς, κ.τ.λ. depends, κατὰ τὸ σημαινόμενον, οη καταφρονήσας, or the like, implied in ἰδὼν . . ἐν ἐμοί. Either supposing that I would not detect the stealthy approaches of this plot of yours, or that I would not resist it when observed.' The MS. reading -κούκ may be compared with Il. 2. 289, ἢ παῖδες νεαροὶ χῆραί τε γυναῖκες, or ἤ in this case may be explained as = ' or;' but the correction ἢ ἡ οὐκ seems far more probable. The former alternative implies μωρίαν, the latter δειλίαν. For the synizesis, cp. infr. 555, ἢ οὐκ ἔπειθες.

538. mvp-comment-319-2 γνωρίσοιμι follows the MSS. against the Atticists.

541. mvp-comment-320-1 πλήθους καὶ φίλων Cp. supr. 470, πυρὶ καὶ στεροπαῖς.

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Χορός ἀλλʼ ἦλθε μὲν δὴ τοῦτο τοὔνειδος τάχʼ ἂν ὀργῇ βιασθὲν μᾶλλον ἢ γνώμῃ φρενῶν.

Κρέων τοὔπος δʼ ἐφάνθη, ταῖς ἐμαῖς γνώμαις ὅτι 525 πεισθεὶς ὁ μάντις τοὺς λόγους ψευδεῖς λέγοι;

Χορός ηὐδᾶτο μὲν τάδʼ, οἶδα δʼ οὐ γνώμῃ τίνι.

Κρέων ἐξ ὀμμάτων δʼ ὀρθῶν τε κἀξ ὀρθῆς φρενὸς κατηγορεῖτο τοὐπίκλημα τοῦτό μου;

Χορός οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἃ γὰρ δρῶσʼ, οἱ κρατοῦντες οὐχ ὁρῶ. 530 αὐτὸς δʼ ὅδʼ ἤδη δωμάτων ἔξω περᾷ.

Current edition Experimental

Χορός ἀλλ᾽ ἦλθε μὲν δὴ τοῦτο τοὔνειδος τάχ᾽ ἂν ὀργῇ βιασθὲν μᾶλλον ἢ γνώμῃ φρενῶν.

Κρέων τοῦ πρὸς δ᾽ ἐφάνθη ταῖς ἐμαῖς γνώμαις ὅτι 525 πεισθεὶς ὁ μάντις τοὺς λόγους ψευδεῖς λέγοι;

Χορός ηὐδᾶτο μὲν τάδ', οἶδα δ᾽ οὐ γνώμῃ τίνι.

Κρέων ἐξ ὀμμάτων δ᾽ ὀρθῶν τε κἀξ ὀρθῆς φρενὸς κατηγορεῖτο τοὐπίκλημα τοῦτό μου;

Χορός οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ἃ γὰρ δρῶσ᾽ οἱ κρατοῦντες οὐχ ὁρῶ. 530 αὐτὸς δ᾽ ὅδ᾽ ἤδη δωμάτων ἔξω περᾷ.

Κρέων

CH Perchance ’twas but the sudden flash of wrath, Not the deliberate judgement of the soul.

CR Who durst declare it, that Tirésias spake 525 False prophecies, set on to this by me?

CH Such things were said, I know not how advised.

CR And were the eyes and spirit not distraught, When the tongue uttered this to ruin me?

CH I cannot say. To what my betters do 530 I am blind. But see, the King comes forth again.

CR

Der Chor. Doch diese Schmähung wurde mehr vielleicht im Zorn Gewaltsam ausgestoßen als mit Vorbedacht.

Kreon. Woraus erhellte, daß, verführt durch meinen Rath, Des Sehers Mund die Lügenworte reden soll?

Der Chor. So ward gesagt; aus welchem Grunde, weiß ich nicht. 520

Kreon. Mit offnem Blick des Auges und mit offnem Sinn Ward solcher Vorwurf ausgesprochen wider mich?

Der Chor. Ich weiß nicht; was die Herrscher thun, bemerk' ich nicht; Doch eben tritt er selber aus dem Hause schon. Oedipus. Die Vorigen.

Kreon.

Chorus

Who told him I suborned 525 The prophet to speak falsely 1 What could raise 525 This vile suspicion ?

Chorus Such he had, but whence I know not.

Creon Talked he thus with firm composure

I cannot say ; 530 'Tis not for me to know the thoughts of kings, 530 Or judge their actions ! But behold ! he comes.

Oedipus Scene II. Creon, Chorus.

Oedipus

Chorus CREON, CHORUS. From violence of passion this reproach

Creon Haply burst forth, more than from sober thought. Whence his persuasion that the Seer, with me

Such things were said, I know not with what thought. Roll'd his eye wild, disorder'd seem'd his sense, Against me when this hated charge was urged?

Chorus I know not; for it is not mine to see 530 What princes do. But this way comes the king.

Chorus But perhaps this taunt came under the stress of anger, rather than from the purpose of his heart.

Creon Was the opinion given that my counsels had brought the seer to utter his falsehoods? 525

Chorus Such things were said—I do not know with what meaning.

Creon And was this charge laid against me with steady eyes and steady mind?

Chorus I do not know. I see not what my masters do. But here comes our lord from the house. 530

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ἦλθε μὲν δὴ τοῦτο τοὔνειδος τάχʼ ἂν

ὀργῇ βιασθὲν μᾶλλον ἢ γνώμῃ φρενῶν.

Κρέων

τοὔπος δʼ ἐφάνθη, ταῖς ἐμαῖς γνώμαις ὅτι
525

πεισθεὶς ὁ μάντις τοὺς λόγους ψευδεῖς λέγοι;

Χορός

ηὐδᾶτο μὲν τάδʼ, οἶδα δʼ οὐ γνώμῃ τίνι.

Κρέων

ἐξ ὀμμάτων δʼ ὀρθῶν τε κἀξ ὀρθῆς φρενὸς

κατηγορεῖτο τοὐπίκλημα τοῦτό μου;

Χορός

οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἃ γὰρ δρῶσʼ, οἱ κρατοῦντες οὐχ ὁρῶ.
530

αὐτὸς δʼ ὅδʼ ἤδη δωμάτων ἔξω περᾷ.

Χορός

ἀλλ᾽ ἦλθε μὲν δὴ τοῦτο τοὔνειδος τάχ᾽ ἂν

ὀργῇ βιασθὲν μᾶλλον ἢ γνώμῃ φρενῶν.

Κρέων

τοῦ πρὸς δ᾽ ἐφάνθη ταῖς ἐμαῖς γνώμαις ὅτι
525

πεισθεὶς ὁ μάντις τοὺς λόγους ψευδεῖς λέγοι;

Χορός

ηὐδᾶτο μὲν τάδ', οἶδα δ᾽ οὐ γνώμῃ τίνι.

Κρέων

ἐξ ὀμμάτων δ᾽ ὀρθῶν τε κἀξ ὀρθῆς φρενὸς

κατηγορεῖτο τοὐπίκλημα τοῦτό μου;

Χορός

οὐκ οἶδ᾽· ἃ γὰρ δρῶσ᾽ οἱ κρατοῦντες οὐχ ὁρῶ.
530

αὐτὸς δ᾽ ὅδ᾽ ἤδη δωμάτων ἔξω περᾷ.

CH

Perchance ’twas but the sudden flash of wrath,

Not the deliberate judgement of the soul.

CR

Who durst declare it, that Tirésias spake
525

False prophecies, set on to this by me?

CH

Such things were said, I know not how advised.

CR

And were the eyes and spirit not distraught,

When the tongue uttered this to ruin me?

CH

I cannot say. To what my betters do
530

I am blind. But see, the King comes forth again.

Der Chor.

Doch diese Schmähung wurde mehr vielleicht im Zorn

Gewaltsam ausgestoßen als mit Vorbedacht.

Kreon.

Woraus erhellte, daß, verführt durch meinen Rath,

Des Sehers Mund die Lügenworte reden soll?

Der Chor.

So ward gesagt; aus welchem Grunde, weiß ich nicht.
520

Kreon.

Mit offnem Blick des Auges und mit offnem Sinn

Ward solcher Vorwurf ausgesprochen wider mich?

Der Chor.

Ich weiß nicht; was die Herrscher thun, bemerk' ich nicht;

Doch eben tritt er selber aus dem Hause schon.

Oedipus. Die Vorigen.

Who told him I suborned
525

The prophet to speak falsely 1 What could raise
525

This vile suspicion ?

Chorus

Such he had, but whence

I know not.

Creon

Talked he thus with firm composure

I cannot say ;
530

'Tis not for me to know the thoughts of kings,
530

Or judge their actions ! But behold ! he comes.

Oedipus
Scene II.

Creon, Chorus.

Chorus
CREON, CHORUS.

From violence of passion this reproach

Creon

Haply burst forth, more than from sober thought.

Whence his persuasion that the Seer, with me

Such things were said, I know not with what thought.

Roll'd his eye wild, disorder'd seem'd his sense,

Against me when this hated charge was urged?

Chorus

I know not; for it is not mine to see
530

What princes do. But this way comes the king.

Chorus

But perhaps this taunt came under the stress of anger, rather than from the purpose of his heart.

Creon

Was the opinion given that my counsels had brought the seer to utter his falsehoods?
525

Chorus

Such things were said—I do not know with what meaning.

Creon

And was this charge laid against me with steady eyes and steady mind?

Chorus

I do not know. I see not what my masters do. But here comes our lord from the house.
530