Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, ed. Francis Storr, 679

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Χορός

γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδʼ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη

μαθοῦσά γʼ ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680

Χορός

δόκησις ἀγνὼς λόγων ἦλθε, δάπτει δὲ καὶ τὸ μὴ ʼνʼδικον.

Ἰοκάστη

ἀμφοῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός

ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός

ἅλις ἔμοιγʼ, ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685

φαίνεται ἔνθʼ ἔληξεν αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ,

τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ;

Χορός

ὦναξ, εἶπον μὲν οὐχ ἅπαξ μόνον,
690

ἴσθι δὲ παραφρόνιμον, ἄπορον ἐπὶ φρόνιμα

πεφάνθαι μʼ ἄν, εἴ σʼ ἐνοσφιζόμαν,

ὅς τʼ ἐμὰν γᾶν φίλαν ἐν πόνοις

ἀλύουσαν κατʼ ὀρθὸν οὔρισας,
695

τανῦν τʼ εὔπομπος, ἂν γένοιο.

Ἰοκάστη

πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ

μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

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)) — 679 focus

γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδ᾽ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη

μαθοῦσά γ' ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680

Χορός

δόκησις ἀγνὼς λόγων ἦλθε, δάπτει δὲ καὶ τὸ μὴ ἐνδικον.

Ἰοκάστη

ἀμφοῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός

ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός

ἅλις ἔμοιγ', ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685

φαίνεται ἔνθ᾽ ἔληξεν, αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ,

τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ.

β

Χορός

ὦναξ, εἶπον μὲν οὐχ ἅπαξ μόνον,

ἴσθι δὲ παραφρόνιμον, ἄπορον ἐπὶ φρόνιμα
690

πεφάνθαι μ' ἄν, εἴ σε νοσφίζομαι,

ὅς τ᾿ ἐμὰν γᾶν φίλαν ἐν πόνοισιν

ἀλύουσαν κατ᾿ ὀρθὸν οὔρισας,
695

τανῦν δ᾽ εὔπομπος, εἰ δύναιο.

Ἰοκάστη

πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ

μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

Οἰδίπους

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 679 focus

Lady, why tarriest thou

To lead thy husband in?

JO

Not till I learn what mischief is befallen.
680

CH. 2

A dim, unproved debate.

Reproach, though unfounded, stings.

JO

From both?

CH. 3

From both alike.

JO

How caused?

CH. 4

Enough for me,
685

Amply enough it seems, when our poor land
685

Is vexed already, not to wake what sleeps.

OED

().

See where thine honest zeal hath landed thee,

Bating my wrath, and blunting my desire!

CH. 5

My prince, I say it again:

Assure thee, I were lost to sense,

Infatuate, void of wholesome thought,
690

Could I be tempted now

To loose my faith from thee,

Who, when the land I love

Laboured beneath a wildering load,
695

Didst speed her forth anew with favouring gale.
695

Now, too, if but thou may’st, be her good guide.

JO

Let not thy queen be left in ignorance

What cause thou hadst to lift thy wrath so high.

OED

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 679 focus

Warum, o Frau, säumst du noch, führst den Mann nicht in's Haus?

Jokaste.

Erst möcht' ich wissen, was gescheh'n.

Der Chor.

Verdacht entspann sich ohne Grund;

Denn es kränkt auch das ungerechte Wort.

Jokaste.

Durch Schuld der Beiden?
670

Der Chor.

Freilich.

Jokaste.

Und wie kam es so?

Der Chor.

Sei es genug, genug bei der gemeinen Noth!

Ruhe der Hader dort, wo er sein Ende fand!

Oedipus.

Sieh, wo du hinkommst, wenn du, Mann von edler Art,

Von mir dich abkehrst, meinen Zorn zu brechen suchst.

Der Chor.

Nicht Einmal nur, o König, sagt' ich es; wisse denn:
675

Ein sinnloser Thor müßt' ich sein,

Fürst, hielt' ich nicht an dir fest und treu,

Der du mein theures Land, das in Noth umhertrieb,

Unter guten Wind gelenkt:

Auch jezt führ' uns auf rechtem Pfade!
680

Jokaste.

Bei allen Göttern, offenbar' auch mir, o Fürst,

Um welche That dir solcher Groll die Brust erfüllt.

Oedipus.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 679 focus

(EdIPUS, ChORUS.

Chorus

Princess, now

Persuade him to retire.

Joe. First, let me know

The cause of this dissension.

Chorus

From reports

Uncertain, and suspicions most injurious.

The quarrel rose.

Joe. Was th' accusation mutual 1

Chorus

It was.
685

Joe. AVhat followed then ?

Chorus

Ask me no more ;

Enough 's already known ; we '11 not repeat
690

The woes of hapless Thebes.

. CEdi. You are all blind,

Insensible, unjust; you love me not,
695

Yet boast your piety.

Jocasta

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 679 focus

Why, lady, this delay to lead him hence ?

Jocasta

First what hath happen'd here I wish to know.

Chorus

Words of dark import gave suspicion birth :

Hence an injurious charge which gnaws the heart.

Jocasta

From each to each?

E'en so.

And what the cause?

Chorus

Enough, for me enough, my country sunk
685

With such afflictions, where they cease to cease.

Oedipus

I know thee wise and good; why then persist

Thus to depress me, and to damp my heart?

Chorus

Let me repeat what I before declared.

Know then, O king, I must be deem'd of sense

Bereft, and lost to wisdom, if in thought
690

I could abandon thee. Thou once didst raise

This my dear country when with ills depress'd;

If thou hast pow'r, to safety guide us now.

Now, by the gods, inform me whence this rage,
695

That with such fury flames, O king, arose.

Oedipus

I reverence thee) of Creon's base designs.

Speak, if accusing him thy proof be clear.

Oedipus

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 678 focus

Chorus

Lady, why do you hesitate to take this man into the house?

Iocasta

I will, when I have learned what has happened.
680

Chorus

Blind suspicion, bred of talk, arose, and injustice inflicts wounds.

Iocasta

On both sides?

Chorus

Yes.

Iocasta

And what was the story?

Chorus

It is enough, I think, enough, when our land is already vexed, that the matter should rest where it stopped.
685

Oedipus

Do you see to what you have come, for all your noble intent, in seeking to slacken and blunt my zeal?

Chorus

King, I have said it more than once—

be sure that I would have proved myself a madman, bankrupt in sane counsel, if I forsook you—you, who gave a true course to my beloved country when it was
690

distraught with troubles, and who now are likely to prove our prospering guide.
695

Iocasta

In the name of the gods, tell me, king, the reason that you have conceived this steadfast wrath.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-423-1 μαθοῦσά γ’ ¹

mvp-comment-424-1 δόκησις … λόγων ² ἀγνὼς ³

mvp-comment-424-2 δάπτει δὲ ⁴ δὲ ⁵ καὶ ⁶

mvp-comment-424-3 δάπτει ⁷

mvp-comment-425-1 ἀμφοῖν ἀπ’ αὐτοῖν ⁸

mvp-comment-425-2 λόγος ⁹

mvp-comment-426-1 προπονουμένας ¹⁰

mvp-comment-427-1 The evasive answer of the Chorus has nettled Oedipus by implying that the blame was divided, and that both parties ought to be glad to forget it. He could never forget it (672).

mvp-comment-427-2 ὁρᾷς ἵν’ ἥκεις ¹¹

mvp-comment-428-1 παριεὶς ¹² τοὐμὸν κέαρ ¹³ καταμβλύνων ¹⁴ παριεὶς ¹⁵ τοὐμὸν ¹⁶ κέαρ ¹⁷

mvp-comment-429-1 ἐπὶ φρόνιμα ¹⁸

mvp-comment-430-1 πεφάνθαι ἂν ¹⁹ ἐνοσφιζόμαν ²⁰

mvp-comment-431-1 ὅς τε ²¹ οὔρισας ²²

mvp-comment-432-1 ἀλύουσαν ²³

mvp-comment-433-1 ἂν γένοιο ²⁴ εἰ δύναιο γενοῦ ²⁵ εἰ δύνᾳ γενοῦ ²⁶ εἰ δύναιο ²⁷ δύνᾀ γενοῦ ²⁸ εἰ δύναιο ²⁹ εἰ γένοιο ³⁰ ἂν γένοιο ³¹ εἰ δύναιο ³² ἂν γένοιο ³³ εἰ δύναιο ³⁴ εἶ τό γ’ ἔν σοι ³⁵

mvp-comment-434-1 κἄμ’ ³⁶

mvp-comment-434-2 ὅτου … πράγματος ³⁷

mvp-comment-434-3 στήσας ἔχεις ³⁸

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

680. mvp-comment-395-1 μαθοῦσά γ'.. τύχη Sc. ἐσκομιῶ αὐτόν. I will do so when I hear what has happened. Cp. Plat. Phaedr. 228 D, δείξας γε πρῶτον, ὦ φιλότης, κ.τ.λ. ..

681. mvp-comment-396-1 δόκησις λόγων Α vague suspicion arose in talk.' λόγων, a descriptive genitive, arising out of, connected with. ἀγνώς] = ἄνευ γνώσεως, Without knowledge. δάπτει δέ καί implies There was a vague suspicion, which, although unjust, nevertheless stings. Schol. κἂν τὸ συνειδὸς ἐρρωμένον ἡ. For δάπτει, cp. Od. 16. 92, καταδάπτετ᾿ ἀκούοντος φίλον ἦτορ: Pind. Nem. 8. 23.

682. mvp-comment-397-1 ἀμφοῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῖν Sc. ἦλθε;

682. mvp-comment-397-2 καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος And what was in dispute? 684. This line is divided like 655, to which it is antistrophic.

686. mvp-comment-398-1 αὐτοῦ μένειν That the dispute should remain where it is, an evasive answer. The v. rr. here are curious.

687-688. mvp-comment-399-1 Do you see what you have come to, honest man as you are, in trying to assuage and blunt my wrath?" I.e. Do you see in what a dilemma your well meant intercession has placed you? You are pressed to rehearse the charge against me, which you durst not support, but which you would not allow me to repel.

687-688. mvp-comment-399-2 παριείς Endeavouring to slacken or divert. Cp. Eur. Cycl. 310, πάρες τὸ μάργον σῆς γνάθου. Cp. also the use of the passive voice in El. 545, παίδων πόθος παρεῖτο. The chorus again earnestly disclaim the imputation of disloyalty. My king, I have said it not once alone, but let me assure thee, that I were clearly insensate, void of wisdom, to cast off thee, who gavest good speed to my dear land, when distraught with miseries, and now, too, if thou canst, be our good guide.

691. mvp-comment-400-1 εἰ . . νοσφίζομαι Το desert thee, lit. to put thee from me. The present indicative with ei, by representing the supposed case as actual, adds emphasis. Cp. the use of the present for the future. And see Essay on Language § 28. p. 46. Herm. conjectured σ᾽ ἐνοσφιζόμαν.

695. mvp-comment-401-1 ἀλύουσαν =' At her wit's end,' has been plausibly but unnecessarily changed to σαλεύουσαν.

695. mvp-comment-401-2 κατ᾿ ὀρθὸν οὔρισας Didst speed on her right course. The image is rather that of a breeze, or of a favouring deity, than of a good pilot. For τε followed by δé, see Essay on Language p. 65. Others read ὅστ' in 694.

696. mvp-comment-402-1 εἰ δύναιο The reading is not certain; but, for the ellipse of the imperative of εἰμί or γίγνομαι in supplication, see Essay on Language § 39. p. 72. Ср. Ο. C. 1480, ἵλαος, ὦ δαίμων, ἵλαος : El. 1434, τάδ᾽ ὡς πάλιν.

698. mvp-comment-403-1 καμ i. e. Let not me be ignorant of what the elders know.

698. mvp-comment-403-2 ὅτου .. πράγματος] For what reason. For the separation of the words, giving emphasis to the interrogative, cp. Phil. 598-599, τίνος δ' Ἀτρείδαι τοῦδ᾽ ἄγαν οὕτω χρόνῳ | τοσῷδ᾽ ἐπεστρέφοντο πράγματος χάριν ;

699. mvp-comment-404-1 μῆνιν.. στήσας Cp. Phil. 1263, τίς αὖ παρ᾿ ἄντροις θόρυβος ἵσταται βοῆς;

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Χορός γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδʼ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη μαθοῦσά γʼ ἥτις ἡ τύχη. 680

Χορός δόκησις ἀγνὼς λόγων ἦλθε, δάπτει δὲ καὶ τὸ μὴ ʼνʼδικον.

Ἰοκάστη ἀμφοῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός ἅλις ἔμοιγʼ, ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας, 685 φαίνεται ἔνθʼ ἔληξεν αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ, τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ;

Ἰοκάστη πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

Current edition Experimental

γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδ᾽ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη μαθοῦσά γ' ἥτις ἡ τύχη. 680

Χορός δόκησις ἀγνὼς λόγων ἦλθε, δάπτει δὲ καὶ τὸ μὴ ἐνδικον.

Ἰοκάστη ἀμφοῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός ἅλις ἔμοιγ', ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας, 685 φαίνεται ἔνθ᾽ ἔληξεν, αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ, τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ. β

Ἰοκάστη πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

Οἰδίπους

Lady, why tarriest thou To lead thy husband in?

JO Not till I learn what mischief is befallen. 680

CH. 2 A dim, unproved debate. Reproach, though unfounded, stings.

JO From both?

CH. 3 From both alike.

JO How caused?

CH. 4 Enough for me, 685 Amply enough it seems, when our poor land 685 Is vexed already, not to wake what sleeps.

OED (). See where thine honest zeal hath landed thee, Bating my wrath, and blunting my desire!

JO Let not thy queen be left in ignorance What cause thou hadst to lift thy wrath so high.

OED

Warum, o Frau, säumst du noch, führst den Mann nicht in's Haus?

Jokaste. Erst möcht' ich wissen, was gescheh'n.

Der Chor. Verdacht entspann sich ohne Grund; Denn es kränkt auch das ungerechte Wort.

Jokaste. Durch Schuld der Beiden? 670

Der Chor. Freilich.

Jokaste. Und wie kam es so?

Der Chor. Sei es genug, genug bei der gemeinen Noth! Ruhe der Hader dort, wo er sein Ende fand!

Oedipus. Sieh, wo du hinkommst, wenn du, Mann von edler Art, Von mir dich abkehrst, meinen Zorn zu brechen suchst.

Der Chor. Nicht Einmal nur, o König, sagt' ich es; wisse denn: 675 Ein sinnloser Thor müßt' ich sein, Fürst, hielt' ich nicht an dir fest und treu, Der du mein theures Land, das in Noth umhertrieb, Unter guten Wind gelenkt: Auch jezt führ' uns auf rechtem Pfade! 680

Jokaste. Bei allen Göttern, offenbar' auch mir, o Fürst, Um welche That dir solcher Groll die Brust erfüllt.

Oedipus.

(EdIPUS, ChORUS.

Chorus Princess, now Persuade him to retire. Joe. First, let me know The cause of this dissension.

Chorus From reports Uncertain, and suspicions most injurious. The quarrel rose. Joe. Was th' accusation mutual 1

Chorus It was. 685 Joe. AVhat followed then ?

Chorus Ask me no more ; Enough 's already known ; we '11 not repeat 690 The woes of hapless Thebes. . CEdi. You are all blind, Insensible, unjust; you love me not, 695 Yet boast your piety.

Jocasta

Why, lady, this delay to lead him hence ?

Jocasta First what hath happen'd here I wish to know.

Chorus Words of dark import gave suspicion birth : Hence an injurious charge which gnaws the heart.

Jocasta From each to each? E'en so. And what the cause?

Chorus Enough, for me enough, my country sunk 685 With such afflictions, where they cease to cease.

Oedipus I know thee wise and good; why then persist Thus to depress me, and to damp my heart?

Oedipus

I reverence thee) of Creon's base designs. Speak, if accusing him thy proof be clear.

Oedipus

Chorus Lady, why do you hesitate to take this man into the house?

Iocasta I will, when I have learned what has happened. 680

Chorus Blind suspicion, bred of talk, arose, and injustice inflicts wounds.

Iocasta On both sides?

Chorus Yes.

Iocasta And what was the story?

Chorus It is enough, I think, enough, when our land is already vexed, that the matter should rest where it stopped. 685

Oedipus Do you see to what you have come, for all your noble intent, in seeking to slacken and blunt my zeal?

Chorus King, I have said it more than once— be sure that I would have proved myself a madman, bankrupt in sane counsel, if I forsook you—you, who gave a true course to my beloved country when it was 690 distraught with troubles, and who now are likely to prove our prospering guide. 695

Iocasta In the name of the gods, tell me, king, the reason that you have conceived this steadfast wrath.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Χορός

γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδʼ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη

μαθοῦσά γʼ ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680

Χορός

δόκησις ἀγνὼς λόγων ἦλθε, δάπτει δὲ καὶ τὸ μὴ ʼνʼδικον.

Ἰοκάστη

ἀμφοῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός

ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός

ἅλις ἔμοιγʼ, ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685

φαίνεται ἔνθʼ ἔληξεν αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ,

τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ;

Ἰοκάστη

πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ

μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

Ἰοκάστη

μαθοῦσά γ' ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680

Χορός

δόκησις ἀγνὼς λόγων ἦλθε, δάπτει δὲ καὶ τὸ μὴ ἐνδικον.

Ἰοκάστη

ἀμφοῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός

ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός

ἅλις ἔμοιγ', ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685

φαίνεται ἔνθ᾽ ἔληξεν, αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ,

τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ.

β

Ἰοκάστη

πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ

μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

Lady, why tarriest thou

To lead thy husband in?

JO

Not till I learn what mischief is befallen.
680

CH. 2

A dim, unproved debate.

Reproach, though unfounded, stings.

JO

From both?

CH. 3

From both alike.

JO

How caused?

CH. 4

Enough for me,
685

Amply enough it seems, when our poor land
685

Is vexed already, not to wake what sleeps.

OED

().

See where thine honest zeal hath landed thee,

Bating my wrath, and blunting my desire!

JO

Let not thy queen be left in ignorance

What cause thou hadst to lift thy wrath so high.

Jokaste.

Erst möcht' ich wissen, was gescheh'n.

Der Chor.

Verdacht entspann sich ohne Grund;

Denn es kränkt auch das ungerechte Wort.

Jokaste.

Durch Schuld der Beiden?
670

Der Chor.

Freilich.

Jokaste.

Und wie kam es so?

Der Chor.

Sei es genug, genug bei der gemeinen Noth!

Ruhe der Hader dort, wo er sein Ende fand!

Oedipus.

Sieh, wo du hinkommst, wenn du, Mann von edler Art,

Von mir dich abkehrst, meinen Zorn zu brechen suchst.

Der Chor.

Nicht Einmal nur, o König, sagt' ich es; wisse denn:
675

Ein sinnloser Thor müßt' ich sein,

Fürst, hielt' ich nicht an dir fest und treu,

Der du mein theures Land, das in Noth umhertrieb,

Unter guten Wind gelenkt:

Auch jezt führ' uns auf rechtem Pfade!
680

Jokaste.

Bei allen Göttern, offenbar' auch mir, o Fürst,

Um welche That dir solcher Groll die Brust erfüllt.

Chorus

Princess, now

Persuade him to retire.

Joe. First, let me know

The cause of this dissension.

Chorus

From reports

Uncertain, and suspicions most injurious.

The quarrel rose.

Joe. Was th' accusation mutual 1

Chorus

It was.
685

Joe. AVhat followed then ?

Chorus

Ask me no more ;

Enough 's already known ; we '11 not repeat
690

The woes of hapless Thebes.

. CEdi. You are all blind,

Insensible, unjust; you love me not,
695

Yet boast your piety.

Jocasta

First what hath happen'd here I wish to know.

Chorus

Words of dark import gave suspicion birth :

Hence an injurious charge which gnaws the heart.

Jocasta

From each to each?

E'en so.

And what the cause?

Chorus

Enough, for me enough, my country sunk
685

With such afflictions, where they cease to cease.

Oedipus

I know thee wise and good; why then persist

Thus to depress me, and to damp my heart?

I reverence thee) of Creon's base designs.

Speak, if accusing him thy proof be clear.

Chorus

Lady, why do you hesitate to take this man into the house?

Iocasta

I will, when I have learned what has happened.
680

Chorus

Blind suspicion, bred of talk, arose, and injustice inflicts wounds.

Iocasta

On both sides?

Chorus

Yes.

Iocasta

And what was the story?

Chorus

It is enough, I think, enough, when our land is already vexed, that the matter should rest where it stopped.
685

Oedipus

Do you see to what you have come, for all your noble intent, in seeking to slacken and blunt my zeal?

Chorus

King, I have said it more than once—

be sure that I would have proved myself a madman, bankrupt in sane counsel, if I forsook you—you, who gave a true course to my beloved country when it was
690

distraught with troubles, and who now are likely to prove our prospering guide.
695

Iocasta

In the name of the gods, tell me, king, the reason that you have conceived this steadfast wrath.