Sophocles Oedipus Tyrannus 216-462

ed. Francis Storr

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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)) — 216 focus
αἰτεῖς· ἃ δ᾽ αἰτεῖς, τἄμ᾽ ἐὰν θέλῃς ἔπη
κλύων δέχεσθαι τῇ νόσῳ θ' ὑπηρετεῖν,
ἀλκὴν λάβοις ἂν κἀνακούφισιν κακῶν·
ἁγὼ ξένος μὲν τοῦ λόγου τοῦδ᾽ ἐξερῶ,
ξένος δὲ τοῦ πραχθέντος. οὐ γὰρ ἂν μακρὰν
220
ἴχνευον αὐτός, μὴ οὐκ ἔχων τι σύμβολον.
νῦν δ᾽, ὕστερος γὰρ ἀστὸς εἰς ἀστοὺς τελῶ,
ὑμῖν προφωνῶ πᾶσι Καδμείοις τάδε·
ὅστις ποθ᾽ ὑμῶν Λάϊον τὸν Λαβδάκου
κάτοιδεν ἀνδρὸς ἐκ τίνος διώλετο,
225
τοῦτον κελεύω πάντα σημαίνειν ἐμοί·
κεἰ μὲν φοβεῖται, τοὐπίκλημ᾽ ὑπεξελὼν
αὐτὸς καθ᾽ αὑτοῦ· πείσεται γὰρ ἄλλο μὲν
ἀστεργὲς οὐδέν, γῆς δ᾽ ἄπεισιν ἀσφαλής·
εἰ δ᾽ αὖ τις ἄλλον οἶδεν ἐξ ἄλλης χθονὸς
230
τὸν αὐτόχειρα, μὴ σιωπάτω· τὸ γὰρ
κέρδος τελῶ ἐγὼ χἠ χάρις προσκείσεται.
εἰ δ᾽ αὖ σιωπήσεσθε, καί τις ἢ φίλου
δείσας ἀπώσει τοὔπος ἢ χαὐτοῦ τόδε,
ἁκ τῶνδε δράσω, ταῦτα χρὴ κλύειν ἐμοῦ.
235
τὸν ἄνδρ᾽ ἀπαυδῶ τοῦτον, ὅστις ἐστί, γῆς
τῆσδ᾽, ἧς ἐγὼ κράτη τε καὶ θρόνους νέμω,
μήτ᾽ ἐσδέχεσθαι μήτε προσφωνεῖν τινά,
μήτ᾽ ἐν θεῶν εὐχαῖσι μήτε θύμασιν
κοινὸν ποιεῖσθαι, μήτε χέρνιβος νέμειν·
240
ὠθεῖν δ᾽ ἀπ᾿ οἴκων πάντας, ὡς μιάσματος
τοῦδ᾽ ἡμὶν ὄντος, ὡς τὸ Πυθικὸν θεοῦ
[36 a.
μαντεῖον ἐξέφηνεν ἀρτίως ἐμοί.
ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν τοιόσδε τῷ τε δαίμονι
τῷ τ᾿ ἀνδρὶ τῷ θανόντι σύμμαχος πέλω·
245
κατεύχομαι δὲ τὸν δεδρακότʼ, εἴτε τις
εἷς ὢν λέληθεν εἶτε πλειόνων μέτα,
κακὸν κακῶς νιν *ἄμορον ἐκτρῖψαι βίον.
ἐπεύχομαι δ᾽, οἴκοισιν εἰ ξυνέστιος
ἐν τοῖς ἐμοῖς γένοιτ' ἐμοῦ συνειδότος,
250
παθεῖν ἅπερ τοῖσδ᾽ ἀρτίως ἠρασάμην.
ὑμῖν δὲ ταῦτα πάντ᾽ ἐπισκήπτω τελεῖν,
ὑπέρ τ᾿ ἐμαυτοῦ, τοῦ θεοῦ τε, τῆσδέ τε
γῆς ὧδ᾽ ἀκάρπως κἀθέως ἐφθαρμένης.
οὐδ᾽ εἰ γὰρ ἦν τὸ πρᾶγμα μὴ θεήλατον,
255
ἀκάθαρτον ὑμᾶς εἰκὸς ἦν οὕτως ἐᾶν,
ἀνδρός γ᾽ ἀρίστου βασιλέως τ᾿ ὀλωλότος,
ἀλλ᾽ ἐξερευνᾶν· νῦν δ᾽ ἐπεὶ κυρῶ *γ᾿ ἐγὼ
ἔχων μὲν ἀρχάς, ἃς ἐκεῖνος εἶχε πρίν,
ἔχων δὲ λέκτρα καὶ γυναῖχ᾽ ὁμόσπορον,
260
κοινῶν τε παίδων κοίν᾿ ἄν, εἰ κείνῳ γένος
μὴ ᾿δυστύχησεν, ἦν ἂν ἐκπεφυκότα,
νῦν δ᾽ ἐς τὸ κείνου κρᾶτ᾽ ἐνήλαθ᾽ ἡ τύχης
ἀνθ᾽ ὧν ἐγὼ τάδ', ὡσπερεὶ τοὐμοῦ πατρός,
ὑπερμαχοῦμαι κἀπὶ πάντ' ἀφίξομαι
265
ζητῶν τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦ φόνου λαβεῖν
τῷ Λαβδακείῳ παιδὶ Πολυδώρου τε καὶ
τοῦ πρόσθε Κάδμου τοῦ πάλαι τ᾿ Ἀγήνορος.
καὶ ταῦτα τοῖς μὴ δρῶσιν εὔχομαι θεοὺς
μήτ᾽ ἄροτον αὐτοῖς *γῆς ἀνιέναι τινὰ
270
μήτ᾽ οὖν γυναικῶν παῖδας, ἀλλὰ τῷ πότμῳ
τῷ νῦν φθερεῖσθαι κἄτι τοῦδ᾽ ἐχθίονι·
ὑμῖν δὲ τοῖς ἄλλοισι Καδμείοις, ὅσοις
τάδ᾽ ἔστ᾽ ἀρέσκονθ', ἥ τε σύμμαχος Δίκη
χοἰ πάντες εὖ ξυνεῖεν εἰσαεὶ θεοί.
275
ὥσπερ μ' ἀραῖον ἔλαβες, ὧδ᾽, ἄναξ, ἐρῶ.
οὔτ᾽ ἔκτανον γὰρ οὔτε τὸν κτανόντ᾽ ἔχω
δεῖξαι. τὸ δὲ ζήτημα τοῦ πέμψαντος ἦν
Φοίβου τόδ' εἰπεῖν, ὅστις εἴργασταί ποτε.
ὦ πάντα νωμῶν Τειρεσία, διδακτά τε
300
ἄρρητά τ', οὐράνιά τε καὶ χθονοστιβῆ,
πόλιν μέν, εἰ καὶ μὴ βλέπεις, φρονεῖς δ᾽ ὅμως
οἵᾳ νόσῳ σύνεστιν· ἧς σε προστάτην
σωτῆρά τ᾽, ὦναξ, μοῦνον ἐξευρίσκομεν.
Φοῖβος γάρ, εἰ καὶ μὴ κλύεις τῶν ἀγγέλων,
305
πέμψασιν ἡμῖν ἀντέπεμψεν, ἔκλυσιν
μόνην ἂν ἐλθεῖν τοῦδε τοῦ νοσήματος,
εἰ τοὺς κτανόντας Λάϊον μαθόντες εὖ
κτείναιμεν, ἢ γῆς φυγάδας ἐκπεμψαίμεθα.
σὺ δ᾽ οὖν φθονήσας μήτ' ἀπ᾿ οἰωνῶν φάτιν
310
μήτ' εἴ τινʼ ἄλλην μαντικῆς ἔχεις ὁδόν,
ῥῦσαι σεαυτὸν καὶ πόλιν, ῥῦσαι δ᾽ ἐμέ,
ῥῦσαι δὲ πᾶν μίασμα τοῦ τεθνηκότος.
ἐν σοὶ γὰρ ἐσμέν· ἄνδρα δ᾽ ὠφελεῖν ἀφ᾽ ὧν
ἔχοι τε καὶ δύναιτο κάλλιστος πόνων.
315
ΤΕΙΡΕΣΙΑΣ.
φεῦ φεῦ, φρονεῖν ὡς δεινὸν ἔνθα μὴ τέλη
λύῃ φρονοῦντι, ταῦτα γὰρ καλῶς ἐγὼ
εἰδὼς διώλεσʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἂν δεῦρ᾽ ἱκόμην.
τί φής; ξυνειδὼς οὐ φράσεις, ἀλλ᾽ ἐννοεῖς
330
ἡμᾶς προδοῦναι καὶ καταφθεῖραι πόλιν;
οὕτως ἀναιδῶς ἐξεκίνησας τόδε
τὸ ῥῆμα; καὶ ποῦ τοῦτο φεύξεσθαι δοκεῖς;
355
ὦ πλοῦτε καὶ τυραννὶ καὶ τέχνη τέχνης
380
ὑπερφέρουσα τῷ πολυζήλῳ βίῳ,
ὅσος παρ᾽ ὑμῖν ὁ φθόνος φυλάσσεται,
εἰ τῆσδέ γ' ἀρχῆς οὕνεχ᾽, ἣν ἐμοὶ πόλις
δωρητόν, οὐκ αἰτητόν, εἰσεχείρισεν,
ταύτης Κρέων ὁ πιστός, οὐξ ἀρχῆς φίλος
385
λάθρα μ᾽ ὑπελθὼν ἐκβαλεῖν ἱμείρεται,
ὑφεὶς μάγον τοιόνδε μηχανορράφον,
δόλιον ἀγύρτην, ὅστις ἐν τοῖς κέρδεσιν
μόνον δέδορκε, τὴν τέχνην δ᾽ ἔφυ τυφλός.
ἐπεί, φέρ᾽ εἰπέ, ποῦ σὺ μάντις εἶ σαφής;
390
πῶς οὐχ, ὅθ᾽ ἡ ῥαψῳδὸς ἐνθάδ᾽ ἦν κύων,
ηὔδας τι τοῖσδ᾽ ἀστοῖσιν ἐκλυτήριον;
καίτοι τό γ' αἴνιγμ᾽ οὐχὶ τοὐπιόντος ἦν
ἀνδρὸς διειπεῖν, ἀλλὰ μαντείας ἔδει·
ἣν οὔτ᾽ ἀπ᾿ οἰωνῶν σὺ προὐφάνης ἔχων
395
οὔτ᾽ ἐκ θεῶν τοῦ γνωτόν· ἀλλ᾽ ἐγὼ μολών,
ὁ μηδὲν εἰδὼς Οἰδίπους, ἔπαυσά νιν,
γνώμῃ κυρήσας οὐδ᾽ ἀπ᾿ οἰωνῶν μαθών·
ὃν δὴ σὺ πειρᾷς ἐκβαλεῖν, δοκῶν θρόνοις
παραστατήσειν τοῖς Κρεοντείοις πέλας.
400
κλαίων δοκεῖς μοι καὶ σὺ χώ συνθεὶς τάδε
ἁγηλατήσειν· εἰ δὲ μὴ ᾿δόκεις γέρων
εἶναι, παθὼν ἔγνως ἂν οἷά περ φρονεῖς.
εἰ καὶ τυραννεῖς, ἐξισωτέον τὸ γοῦν
ἴσ᾽ ἀντιλέξαι· τοῦδε γὰρ κἀγὼ κρατῶ.
οὐ γάρ τι σοὶ ζῶ δοῦλος, ἀλλὰ Λοξίᾳ·
410
ὥστ᾽ οὐ Κρέοντος προστάτου γεγράψομαι.
λέγω δ᾽, ἐπειδὴ καὶ τυφλόν μ' ὠνείδισας·
σὺ καὶ δέδορκας κοὐ βλέπεις ἵνʼ εἶ κακοῦ,
οὐδ᾽ ἔνθα ναίεις, οὐδ᾽ ὅτων οἰκεῖς μέτα.
ἆρ' οἶσθ᾽ ἀφ᾽ ὧν εἶ; καὶ λέληθας ἐχθρὸς ὢν
415
τοῖς σοῖσιν αὐτοῦ νέρθε κἀπὶ γῆς ἄνω,
καί σ᾽ ἀμφιπλὴξ μητρός τε καὶ τοῦ σοῦ πατρὸς
ἐλᾷ ποτ᾿ ἐκ γῆς τῆσδε δεινόπους ἀρά,
βλέποντα νῦν μὲν ὄρθ᾽, ἔπειτα δὲ σκότον.
βοῆς δὲ τῆς σῆς ποῖος οὐκ ἔσται λιμήν,
420
ποῖος Κιθαιρὼν οὐχὶ σύμφωνος τάχα,
ὅταν καταίσθῃ τὸν ὑμέναιον, ὃν δόμοις
ἄνορμον εἰσέπλευσας, εὐπλοίας τυχών;
ἄλλων δὲ πλῆθος οὐκ ἐπαισθάνει κακῶν,
ἅ σ᾽ ἐξισώσει σοί τε καὶ τοῖς σοῖς τέκνοις.
425
πρὸς ταῦτα καὶ Κρέοντα καὶ τοὐμὸν στόμα
προπηλάκιζε. σοῦ γὰρ οὐκ ἔστιν βροτῶν
κάκιον ὅστις ἐκτριβήσεταί ποτε.
ἦ ταῦτα δῆτ᾽ ἀνεκτὰ πρὸς τούτου κλύειν;
οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐχὶ θᾶσσον; οὐ πάλιν
430
ἄψορρος οἴκων τῶνδ᾽ ἀποστραφεὶς ἄπει;
εἰπὼν ἄπειμ᾽ ὧν εἵνεκ᾽ ἦλθον, οὐ τὸ σὸν
δείσας πρόσωπον· οὐ γὰρ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου μ᾽ ὀλεῖς.
λέγω δέ σοι· τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον, ὃν πάλαι
ζητεῖς ἀπειλῶν κἀνακηρύσσων φόνον
450
τὸν Λαΐειον, οὗτός ἐστιν ἐνθάδε,
ξένος λόγῳ μέτοικος, εἶτα δ᾽ ἐγγενὴς
φανήσεται Θηβαῖος, οὐδ᾽ ἡσθήσεται
τῇ ξυμφορᾷ· τυφλὸς γὰρ ἐκ δεδορκότος
καὶ πτωχὸς ἀντὶ πλουσίου ξένην ἔπι
455
σκήπτρῳ προδεικνὺς γαῖαν ἐμπορεύσεται.
φανήσεται δὲ παισὶ τοῖς αὑτοῦ ξυνὼν
ἀδελφὸς αὐτὸς καὶ πατήρ, κἀξ ἧς ἔφυ
γυναικὸς υἱὸς καὶ πόσις, καὶ τοῦ πατρὸς
ὁμόσπορός τε καὶ φονεύς. καὶ ταῦτʼ ἰὼν
460
εἴσω λογίζου· κἂν λάβῃς ἐψευσμένον,
φάσκειν ἔμ᾽ ἤδη μαντικῇ μηδὲν φρονεῖν.
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 216 focus
Your prayers are answered. Succour and relief
Are yours, if ye will heed my voice and yield
What help the plague requires. Hear it from me,
Who am hitherto a stranger to the tale,
As to the crime. Being nought concerned therewith,
I could not of myself divine the truth.
220
But now, as one adopted to your state,
To all of you Cadmeans I speak this:
Whoe’er among you knoweth the murderer
Of Laius, son of royal Labdacus,
Let him declare the deed in full to me.
225
First, if the man himself be touched with fear,
Let him depart, carrying the guilt away;
No harm shall follow him:—he shall go free.
Or if there be who knows another here,
Come from some other country, to have wrought
This murder, let him speak. Reward from me
230
And store of kind remembrance shall be his.
But if ye are silent, and one present here
Who might have uttered this, shall hold his peace,
As fearing for himself, or for his friend,
What then shall be performed, hear me proclaim.
235
I here prohibit all within this realm
Whereof I wield the sceptre and sole sway,
To admit the murderer, whosoe’er he be,
Within their houses, or to speak with him,
Or share with him in vow or sacrifice
240
Or lustral rite. All men shall thrust him forth,
240
Our dark pollution, so to me revealed
By this day’s oracle from Pytho’s cell.
So firm is mine allegiance to the God
And your dead sovereign in this holy war.
Now on the man of blood, whether he lurk
245
In lonely guilt, or with a numerous band,
I here pronounce this curse:—Let his crushed life
Wither forlorn in hopeless misery.
Next, I pray Heaven, should he or they be housed
With mine own knowledge in my home, that I
250
May suffer all I imprecate on them.
Last, I enjoin each here to lend his aid
For my sake, and the God’s, and for your land
Reft of her increase and renounced by Heaven.
It was not right, when your good king had fallen,
Although the oracle were silent still,
255
To leave this inquisition unperformed.
Long since ye should have purged the crime. But now
I, to whom fortune hath transferred his crown,
And given his queen in marriage,—yea, moreover,
His seed and mine had been one family
260
Had not misfortune trampled on his head
Cutting him off from fair posterity,—
All this being so, I will maintain his cause
As if my father’s, racking means and might
To apprehend the author of the death
Of Laius, son to Labdacus, and heir
265
To Polydorus and to Cadmus old,
And proud Agenor of the eldest time.
Once more, to all who disobey in this
May Heaven deny the produce of the ground
And offspring from their wives, and may they pine
270
With plagues more horrible than this to-day.
But for the rest of you Cadmean men,
Who now embrace my word, may Righteousness,
Strong to defend, and all the Gods for aye
Watch over you for blessing in your land.
275
Under the shadow of thy curse, my lord,
I will speak. I slew him not, nor can I show
The man who slew. Phoebus, who gave the word,
Should name the guilty one.
O thou whose universal thought commands
300
All knowledge and all mysteries, in Heaven
And on the earth beneath, thy mind perceives,
Tirésias, though thine outward eye be dark,
What plague is wasting Thebè, who in thee,
Great Sir, finds her one saviour, her sole guide.
305
Phoebus (albeit the messengers perchance
Have told thee this) upon our sending sent
This answer back, that no release might come
From this disaster, till we sought and found
And slew the murderers of king Laius,
310
Or drave them exiles from our land. Thou, then,
Withhold not any word of augury
Or other divination which thou knowest,
But rescue Thebè, and thyself, and me,
And purge the stain that issues from the dead.
315
On thee we lean: and ’tis a noble thing
To use what power one hath in doing good.
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!
O void of shame! What wickedness is this?
What power will give thee refuge for such guilt?
355
O wealth and sovereign power and high success
380
Attained through wisdom and admired of men,
380
What boundless jealousies environ you!
When for this rule, which to my hand the State
Committed unsolicited and free,
Creon, my first of friends, trusted and sure,
Would undermine and hurl me from my throne,
385
Meanly suborning such a mendicant
Botcher of lies, this crafty wizard rogue,
Blind in his art, and seeing but for gain.
Where are the proofs of thy prophetic power?
How came it, when the minstrel-hound was here,
390
This folk had no deliverance through thy word?
Her snare could not be loosed by common wit,
But needed divination and deep skill;
No sign whereof proceeded forth from thee
Procured through birds or given by God, till I,
The unknowing traveller, overmastered her,
395
The stranger Oedipus, not led by birds,
But ravelling out the secret by my thought:
Whom now you study to supplant, and trust
To stand as a supporter of the throne
Of lordly Creon,—To your bitter pain
400
Thou and the man who plotted this will hunt
Pollution forth.—But for thy reverend look
Thou hadst atoned thy trespass on the spot.
Though thou art king and lord, I claim no less
Lordly prerogative to answer thee.
Speech is my realm; Apollo rules my life,
Not thou. Nor need I Creon to protect me.
410
Now, then: my blindness moves thy scorn:—thou hast
Thy sight, and seest not where thou art sunk in evil,
What halls thou dost inhabit, or with whom:
Know’st not from whence thou art—nay, to thy kin,
Buried in death and here above the ground,
415
Unwittingly art a most grievous foe.
415
And when thy father’s and thy mother’s curse
With fearful tread shall drive thee from the land,
On both sides lashing thee,—thine eye so clear
Beholding darkness in that day,—oh, then,
What region will not shudder at thy cry?
420
What echo in all Cithaeron will be mute,
When thou perceiv’st, what bride-song in thy hall
Wafted thy gallant bark with nattering gale
To anchor,—where? And other store of ill
Thou seest not, that shall show thee as thou art,
Merged with thy children in one horror of birth.
425
Then rail at noble Creon, and contemn
My sacred utterance! No life on earth
More vilely shall be rooted out, than thine.
Must I endure such words from him? Begone!
Off to thy ruin, and with speed! Away,
430
And take thy presence from our palace-hall!
I go, but I will speak. Why should I fear
Thy frown? Thou ne’er canst ruin me. The word
Wherefore I came, is this: The man you seek
With threatening proclamation of the guilt
Of Laius’ blood, that man is here to-day,
450
An alien sojourner supposed from far,
But by-and-by he shall be certified
A true-born Theban: nor will such event
Bring him great joy; for, blind from having sight
And beggared from high fortune, with a staff
455
In stranger lands he shall feel forth his way;
Shown living with the children of his loins,
Their brother and their sire, and to the womb
That bare him, husband-son, and, to his father,
Parricide and corrival. Now go in,
460
Ponder my words; and if thou find them false,
then say my power is naught in prophecy.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 216 focus
Du flehst, und was du flehest, wird, wofern du mich
Anhörst und willig förderst, was der Seuche wehrt,
Dir werden - Rettung und der Noth Erleichterung.
Und also red' ich, weil ich fremd der Kunde bin,
220
Wie fremd der Unthat: ich allein, ich käme ja
Nicht weit im Forschen, ohne Spur und Zeichen sonst.
Nun (denn ich trat auch später erst als Bürger ein)
Erklär' ich frei vor allem Kadmosvolke dies.
Wenn euer Einem Kunde ward, von wessen Hand
225
Getroffen fiel der Labdakide Laïos,
Gebiet' ich, daß er Alles mir verkündige,
Selbst wenn davor ihm bangte, weil er wider sich
Zeugschaft erheben müßte; denn ihm widerfährt
Nichts Arges, straflos soll er aus dem Lande zieh'n.
230
Kennt aber Iemand einen Mann aus fremdem Land
Als Thäter, er verschweig' es nicht; ich werde selbst
Den Lohn an ihn bezahlen, und noch Dank dazu.
Doch wenn ihr schweigt, und Einer, um den Freund besorgt,
Mein Wort verachtet, oder um sich selber bang;
235
So sollt ihr hören, was ich dann zu thun beschloß.
Den Mann verbiet' ich, wer er sei, in diesem Land,
Worin Gewalt mir und der Thron beschieden ward,
Gastfreundlich aufzunehmen, noch zu grüßen ihn,
Noch bei der Götter Dienste, noch an Opfern ihm
240
Antheil zu gönnen oder an geweihter Flut: 1
Von eurer Schwelle stoßet ihn als einen Gräul,
Der uns verunreint, wie des Gottes pythisches
Orakel heute deutlich uns geoffenbart.
245-So Jedes ordnend, will ich treu dem Gotte, will
245
Dem hingeschiednen Manne treu zur Seite steh'n.
Dem Thäter aber fluch' ich, ob er seine That
Allein verübt im Dunkel, ob mit Mehreren:
Er friste schnöd ein schnödes Leben ohne Glück!
Ich flehe, mir, wofern ich selber wissentlich
250
An meinem Herd als Hausgenossen ihn gepflegt,
Das Leid zu senden, das ich jezt ihm angewünscht.
Doch euch gebiet' ich dringend, daß ihr alles dies
Für mich vollendet, für den Gott und dieses Land,
Das blütenlos und gottverlassen untergeht.
255
Denn traun, geböte solches Werk auch nicht der Gott,
Es ungesühnt zu lassen ziemt' euch dennoch nicht,
Daß so des Todes Opfer ward der beste Fürst:
Ihr müßt es ausspäh'n. Aber mun ward mir das Amt
Des Oberherrschers, welches er zuvor besaß,
260
Ward mein die Gattin, die an seiner Seite lag,
Und unsre Kinder würden sich Geschwister sein,
Hätt' ihm ein Unstern nicht mißgönnt der Kinder Glück:
Nun aber brach dies Schicksal auf sein Haupt herein.
Deßwegen will ich diesen Kampf für ihn besteh'n,
265
Wie für den eignen Vater, Alles will ich thun,
Den Frevler auszuspüren, der den Mord verübt
Am Labdakiden, der von Polydoros stamunt, 2
Vom Ahn, dem Kadmos, aus Agenors altem Blut.
Die Götter aber fleh' ich an: wer nicht gehorcht,
270
Dem spende niemals eine Saat der Erde Schooß,
Noch schenk' ihm Kinder sein Gemahl; nein, dies Geschick
Von heut verderb' ihn und ein noch graunvolleres!
Doch euch, ihr Andern, welchen dies, wie mir, gefällt,
Ihr Kadmossöhne, bleibe stets der Dike Schuz, 3
275
Und seien alle Götter hold auf immerdar!
Wie mich dein Fluch gebunden, also red' ich, Herr.
Nicht ich erschlug ihn, weiß dir auch den Mörder nicht
Zu nennen. Er, der solche Forschung uns gebot,
Apollon mußte sagen, wer die That verübt.
280
Du, der in Alles spähend dringt, Teiresias,
In Klares, Dunkles, was in Erd' und Himmel ist,
Du kannst die Stadt nicht schauen, doch erkennst du wohl,
Welch schwere Noth sie heimgesucht; in dir allein
Erschien für uns ihr Helfer, lebt ihr Retter, Herr.
305
Denn Phöbos (wenn die Boten dir's nicht schon gesagt)
Gab den Bescheid auf unsre Frage: dann allein
Werd' uns Erlösung werden aus der Seuche Noth,
Wenn wir des Laïos Mörder glücklich ausgespäht,
Getödtet, oder flüchtig aus dem Land gebannt.
310
Mißgönne du mir also nicht der Vögel Spruch,
Noch andre Seherzeichen, sind dir welche kund,
Und rette dich und diese Stadt, und rette mich,
Und was der Mord besudelt, Herr, entsündige!
Auf dich vertrau'n wir. Helfen ja, so weit die Kraft,
315
Die Mittel reichen, ist des Mannes schönste Pflicht.
(für sich)
Was sagst du? Willst du, was du weißt, nicht sagen, denkst
Uns hinzugeben und die Stadt dem Fluch zu weih'n?
So kühn, so schamlos schüttest du dies Wort heraus,
355
Und wähnst vielleicht, du werdest meiner Nach' entflieh'n?
Reichthümer, Herrschaft, und o Kunst, der keine Kunst
Im neiderfüllten Leben sich zur Seite stellt,
Welch schnöde Mißgunst heget ihr in eurem Schooß,
Wenn um des Thrones willen, den mir diese Stadt
Unaufgefordert übergab als freien Lohn,
385
Mir Kreon, jener treue Freund aus alter Zeit,
Nachschleicht im Rücken und mich auszutreiben strebt,
Anstellend diesen Zaubermann, den Ränkeschmid,
Den listenreichen Gaukler, der in Wucher nur
Scharfsichtig und in seiner Kunst ein Blinder ist!
390
Denn sage, wo bewährst du deine Seherkraft?
Als hier die Hündin ihre Räthsel sang, warum 7
Sprachst du für unsre Bürger kein erlösend Wort?
Doch war es nicht des nächsten besten Mannes Werk,
Den Spruch zu deuten, nein, bedurfte Seherkunst;
395
Die lerntest du von deinen Vogelzeichen nicht,
Noch offenbarte dir's ein Gott: ich, Dedipus,
Erschien, ein Ziel ihr sezend, ich Unkundiger,
Durch Geist es treffend, nicht belehrt vom Vogelflug.
Und den versuchst du fortzutreiben, weil du dann
400
Kreon's erhabnem Throne nah zu stehen hoffst.
Ihr werdet weinend, hoff' ich, du wie dein Genoß,
Den Bann vollstrecken: säh' ich nicht in dir den Greis,
Du würd'st in Leid erkennen, was du mir ersannst.
Wohl bist du Herrscher; doch besteh'n muß gleiches Recht
Zu gleicher Antwort; hiezu ward auch mir Gewalt.
410
Nicht dir ja, nur dem Phöbos bin ich unterthan, 8
Daß nicht als Beistand Kreon mich vertreten muß. 9
Doch ich verkünde, weil du mich als Blinden höhnst:
Du siehst, und sehend siehst du nicht, wie tief du sankst,
Nicht wo du weilest, noch mit wem zusammenwohnst.
415
Von wem du stammest, weißt du das? Nichtwissend bist
Du Feind den Deinen, drunten und auf Erden hier.
Und doppelt treffend treibt dich einst aus diesem Land
Mit grausem Schritt des Vaters und der Mutter Fluch,
Und wie du jezt hell siehest, schaust du Dunkel dann.
420
Ia, welcher Hafen widerhallt nicht dein Geschrei,
Wo tönt Kithäron deinen Nuf nicht bald zurück, 10
Erkennst du deinen Chebund als Leidensport,
In den du, glücklich segelnd, eingelaufen bist?
Noch andern Unheils Fülle wirst du nicht gewahr,
425
Das gleiche Schrecken dir erschafft und deinem Stamm. 11
So schmähe denn auf Kreon, schilt mein Seherwort
In stolzem Hohne; Keiner lebt auf Erden ja,
Der grauenvoller untergeht als du dereinst.
Noch lange sollt' ich dulden, was der Mann mir beut?
430
Tod über dich! Was säumst du? Wirst du nicht sofort
Zurück dich wenden, eilend flieh'n von diesem Haus?
Warum ich kam, ich sag' es scheidend, ohne Furcht
Vor deinem Antliz; denn dein Arm erreicht mich nicht.
Ich sage dir denn: jener Mann, nach welchem du
450
Schon lange spähest, drohend und des Laïos Mord
Durch's Land verkündend, dieser Mann ist hier und gilt
Als Schuzgenoß, als Fremdling; bald erkennt man ihn
Als Eingebornen Thebe's, und nicht freuen wird
Ihn solche Schickung; blind ja, der einst sehend war,
455
Einst reich, ein Bettler, wird er zieh'n in fremdes Land,
Voraus die Wege tastend mit dem Wanderstab.
Den eignen Kindern offenbart er sich zugleich
Als Bruder und als Vater, der, die ihn gebar,
Als Sohn und Ehegatten, der des Vaters Weib
460
Beiwohnt und ihn ermordet. Und nun geh' hinein,
Dem nachzusinnen; wenn du mich auf Lügen triffst,
Dann sage, völlig mangle mir die Seherkunst.
(Teiresias mit dem Knaben ab; Dedipus geht in den Palast.
Der Chor bleibt allein zurück.)
Erste Strophe.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 216 focus
CHORUS, the People assembled.
Your prayers are heard : and if you will obey
280
Your king, and hearken to his words, you soon
280
Shall find relief ; myself will heal your woes.
280
I was a stranger to the dreadful deed,
280
A stranger e'en to the report till now ;
280
And yet without some traces of the crime
280
I should not urge this matter ; therefore hear me.
280
I speak to all the citizens of Thebes,
280
Myself a citizen — observe me Avell :
280
If any know the murderer of Laius,
280
Let him reveal it ; I command you all.
280
But if restrained by dread of punishment
280
He hide the secret, let him fear no more ;
280
For nought but exile shall attend the crime
280
Whene'er confessed ; if by a foreign hand
280
The horrid deed was done, who points him out
280
Commands our thanks, and meets a sure reward ;
280
But if there be who knows the murderer,
280
And yet conceals him from us, mark his fate.
Which here I do pronounce : Let none receive
Throughout my kingdom, none hold converse with him,
Nor offer prayer, nor sprinkle o'er his head
The sacred cup ; let him be driven from all,
By all abandoned, and by all accursed,
For so the Delphic oracle declared ;
And therefore to the gods I pay this duty
And to the dead. Oh ! may the guilty wretch,
Whether alone, or by his impious friends
Assisted, he performed the horrid deed,
Denied the common benefits of nature,
Wear out a painful life ! And oh ! if here,
Within my palace, I conceal the traitoi-,
On me and mine alight the vengeful curse !
To you, my people, I commit the care
Of this important business ; 'tis my cause.
The cause of Heaven, and your expii'ing country.
E'en if the god had nought declared, to leave
This crime unexpiated were most ungrateful.
He was the best of kings, the best of men ;
That sceptre now is mine which Laius boie ;
His wife is mine ; so would his children be
Did any live ; and therefore am I bound.
E'en as he were my father, to revenge him.
Yes, I will try to find this murderer,
I owe it to the son of Labdacus,
To Polydorus, Cadmus, and the race
If great Agenor. Oh ! if yet there are,
Who will not join me in the pious deed.
From such may earth withhold her annual store,
And barren be their bed, their life most wretched,.
And their death cruel as the pestilence
That wastes our city ! But on you, my Thebans,
Who wish us fair success, may justice smile
Propitious, and the gods for ever bless !
despise.
'Tis said some travellers did attack the king
QEdi. It is; but still no proof appears.
295
Behold he comes, who will discover all.
The holy prophet. See ! they lead him hither ;
He knows the truth and will reveal it to us.
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.
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
Must I bear this from thee ? Away, begone !
Home, villain, home !
I did not come to thee
Unsent for.
Had I thought thou wouldst have thus
Insulted me, I had not called thee hither.
famed for wisdom's lore.
Hath dreadful ills to CEdipus divined ;
And as his words mysterious I explore.
Unnumbered doubts perplex my anxious mind.
Now raised by hope, and now with fears oppressed,
450
Sorrow and joy alternate till my breast :
450
How should these hapless kings be foes.
When never strife between them rose ?
Or why should Laius, slain by hands unknown.
Bring foul disgrace on Polybus' unhappy son ?
From Phoebus and all-seeing Jove
Nought can be hid of actions here below ;
455
But earthly prophets may deceitful prove.
And little more than other mortals know :
'riiough much in wisdom man doth man excel.
In all that 's human error still must dwell :
Could he commit the bloody deed.
Who from the Sphinx our city freed?
Ob, no ! he never shed the guiltless blood ;
460
The Sphynx declares him wise, and innocent^ and good.
Ckeon, Otiorus
'Twas th' effect
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 276 focus
This god, to gods an odious name,
This lurid Pest destroy !
Well are thy vows address'd; nor vain those vows,
But of much force, and lenient of our ills,
Wou'dst thou with deep regard attend my words,
Which I, to each related circumstance
A stranger, and a stranger to the deed,
220
Shall speak; for far my search could not extend,
Having no mark to guide my steps. But now
A Theban late enroll'd, to all of Thebes
I give this charge. Whoe'er among you knows
By whom the son of Labdacus was slain,
225
Him I command t' unfold the whole to me.
But if, through conscious guilt, he fears t' avow
The deed, and charge himself; no harsher doom
Awaits him, than to leave this land, unhurt.
But if among you be a man, who knows
230
Another, of another realm, whose hand
Was with this blood polluted, let him speak,
And not conceal the murderer; for from me
Ample shall be his recompense, and thanks
Added besides. But if ye will not speak,
235
If fearing for himself, or for a friend,
There be a man that disregards my words,
What then shall be my solemn mandate hear.
That man let none within this realm, whose throne,
Whose empire I command, beneath his roof
240
The altars round a mournful band,
The wives, the hoary matrons, stand,
And heave the suppliant sigh.
With deep sighs mix'd the hallow'd strain
Bursts fervent to the skies :
Deign then, O radiant Pallas, deign
In all thy might to rise.
From this fierce pow'r which raging round
Unarm'd inflicts thy fiery wound,
250
Daughter of Jove, my country save;
Hence, goddess, hence the fury sweep
To Amphitrite's chambers deep,
Or the rough Euxine wave!
Doth aught the Night from ruin spare?
255
The Morning's sickly ray,
Pregnant with death, inflames the air,
And gives disease its prey,
Father of gods, whose matchless force
Wings the red lightning's vengeful course,
260
With all thy thunders crush this foe!
Potent to aid, Lycéan king,
Thy shafts secure of conquest wing,
And bend thy golden bow!
Thy beams around, Diana, throw,
265
And pierce this gloom of night,
As on Lyceum's moss-clad brow
Thou pour'st thy silver light!
Thy nymphs, O Theban Bacchus lead,
The golden mitre round thy head,
270
Greef-soothing god of wine and joy;
Wave thy bright torch, and with its flame
This god, to gods an odious name,
This lurid Pest destroy !
Well are thy vows address'd; nor vain those vows,
280
But of much force, and lenient of our ills,
280
Wou'dst thou with deep regard attend my words,
280
Which I, to each related circumstance
280
A stranger, and a stranger to the deed,
280
Shall speak; for far my search could not extend,
280
Having no mark to guide my steps. But now
280
A Theban late enroll'd, to all of Thebes
280
I give this charge. Whoe'er among you knows
280
By whom the son of Labdacus was slain,
280
Him I command t' unfold the whole to me.
280
But if, through conscious guilt, he fears t' avow
280
The deed, and charge himself; no harsher doom
280
Awaits him, than to leave this land, unhurt.
280
But if among you be a man, who knows
280
Another, of another realm, whose hand
280
Was with this blood polluted, let him speak,
280
And not conceal the murderer; for from me
280
Ample shall be his recompense, and thanks
280
Added besides. But if ye will not speak,
280
If fearing for himself, or for a friend,
280
There be a man that disregards my words,
280
What then shall be my solemn mandate hear.
280
That man let none within this realm, whose throne,
280
Whose empire I command, beneath his roof
280
The same
280
Receive, let none hold converse with him, none
280
Admit him at the altars of the gods
280
His vows, his offerings to partake, or share
280
The cleansing laver; from your houses all
280
Chase this pollution of our land; for thus
280
To me the Pythian oracle declared
280
Its will; thus therefore with the god I join
280
Confederate, and the dead. But on the wretch
280
Who did the deed, whether he lies conceal'd
A single ruffian, or with many leagued,
I imprecate this curse; his wretched days,
Cut off from all the social joys of life,
Let him wear out in misery. In my house
If I protect him, conscious of the deed,
May all these curses fall on me.
I charge on you; make you these solemn vows,
In zeal for me, for Phœbus, and this land
Thus of its fruits, and its protecting gods
Bereft. Nor ought we, though no voice divine
Impell'd us, unatoned to leave the blood
Of one so noble, of a monarch slain.
To trace this murderous deed my fortune now
Assigns to me, for mine the regal pow'r
Which once was his; his bed, his wife is mine;
Our children too, but that the adverse gods
Denied him children, had in common ties
Been close conjoin'd: but now disastrous fate
Hath burst upon his head. Therefore for him,
As for my father, vengeful will I rise,
Unwearied in th' attempt to find the man
That slew the son of Labdacus, whose blood
From Polydorus its illustrious 'stream
Derived, from Cadmus, and Agenor old.
To those who act not thus, I pray the gods
That the till'd earth may never yield its fruits,
And barren be their bed; beneath the ills,
Which now oppress us, let them waste, and feel
A fate yet more severe. But to the sons
Of Thebes, who with applause these things receive,
May justice join her aid, and all the gods
Be present always with propitious pow'r!
This I have heard; who saw it none can say.
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
O greatness, empire, and thou noblest art
380
That giv'st to life its glory most desired,
380
What baleful envy on your splendour waits,
Since for this royal pow'r by me unsought,
But by the state presented a free gift,
The faithful Creon, who the first appear'd
My friend, with dark and secret malice works,
385
Wishing my ruin, and suborns this wretch,
This sorcerer, this artificer of wiles,
Whose trains delude the people, sharp of sight
To lucre only, to his science blind.
Where hast thou e'er display'd a prophet's skill ?
Why, when the ravening hound of hell her charm
390
Mysterious chanted, for thy country wise
Didst thou not solve it? Of no vulgar mind
Was this the task; the prophet this required.
No knowledge then from birds didst thou receive,
None from the gods t' enfold it: but I came,
395
This nothing-knowing Edipus, and quell'd
The monster, piercing through her dark device
By reason's force, not taught by flight of birds.
Yet dost thou now assay to drive me out,
Weening to have thy stand next Creon's throne.
But thou, and he who form'd this base design
400
With thee, shall feel my pow'r: but that thine age
Some reverence claims, thou shou'dst e'en now be taught,
And feel the madness of thine enterprise.
To answer thee; this pow'r is mine; to these
I am no vassal; Phœbus is my lord :
Nor will I be enroll'd amongst those who wait
On Creon for support. I tell thee then,
410
Me since with taunts thou hast reviled as blind,
Thou hast indeed thine eyes, yet canst not see
What ills inclose thee round, nor where thou hast
Thy habitation, nor with whom thou livest.
Know'st thou who gave thee birth? Thou art a foe,
And know'st it not, to those allied to thee
415
Most closely, whom the realms beneath contain,
And who behold the light of heav'n. The curse
Of father and of mother on each side
With dreadful steps pursues thee, and ere long
Will chase thee from this land, now blest with sight,
Then blind. How will Cithæron, how each strand
420
Ere long re-echo to thy mournful cries,
When thou shalt know that, driv'n by swelling gales,
The port of marriage thou hast gain'd, thy bark
Where anchor cannot hold! The numerous train
Of other ills thou seest not which will rank
In the same line thee and thy sons alike.
425
Go to; with foul revilings Creon taunt,
And my true voice; yet thing more vile than thou
Is not 'mong mortals that shall e'er be crush'd.
From him these piercing insults must I bear?
Perdition on thee! hence, away, begone.
Our care: begone, and trouble us no more.
I go: but first will speak for what I came,
Nor dread thy frown; thy vengeance hath no pow'r
To touch my life. I tell thee that the man,
Whom thou hast sought, 'gainst whom thy solemn charge,
450
Thy threats have been proclaim'd, that man is here;
Of foreign birth now deem'd, his residence
Here fixing; but full soon he shall be found
A Theban born, nor in his fortune long
Rejoice; his visual ray in darkness quench'd,
455
His high state sunk to beggary, a staff
455
Shall to a foreign land his steps direct.
A brother and a father to his sons
Shall he appear; to her, that gave him birth,
A son and husband; to his father found
A rival and a murderer. Go thou in;
460
Muse on these things; say, if thou find them false,
No portion of a prophet's skill is mine.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 216-460 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-157-1 αἰτεῖς 1 ἃ δ’ αἰτεῖς 2 τἄμ’ 3

mvp-comment-158-1 κλύων 4 δέχεσθαι 5 τῇ νόσῳ ὑπηρετεῖν 6

mvp-comment-159-1 ἀλκὴν 7 ἀνακούφισιν 8 κακῶν 9

mvp-comment-160-1 ἁγὼ ξένος μὲν 10

mvp-comment-161-1 ξένος 11

mvp-comment-162-1 τοῦ πραχθέντος 12

mvp-comment-163-1 οὐ γὰρ ἂν μακρὰν … ἴχνευον 13 αὐτός 14

mvp-comment-164-1 νῦν δ’ 15 ὕστερος 16 εἰς ἀστοὺς τελῶ 18 ἀστὸς εἰς ἀστοὺς 19

mvp-comment-165-1 κεἰ μὲν φοβεῖται τοὐπίκλημ’ ὑπεξελεῖν 20 ὑπεξελεῖν | αὐτὸν καθ’ αὑτοῦ 21 κελεύω 22 ὑπεξελεῖν τὸ ἐπίκλημα 23

mvp-comment-166-1 ἀβλαβής 24

mvp-comment-167-1 ἄλλον … ἐξ ἄλλης χθονὸς 25

mvp-comment-168-1 τὸ κέρδος 26

mvp-comment-169-1 προσκείσεται 27

mvp-comment-170-1 φίλου, αὑτοῦ 28

mvp-comment-170-2 φίλου δείσας 29 τοὔπος … τόδε 30

mvp-comment-171-1 ἀπαυδῶ 31 τινα γῆς τῆσδε 32 μήτ’ ἐσδέχεσθαι μήτε προσφωνεῖν 33 τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον, ὅστις ἐστί 34 γῆς 35 μήτε … μήτε 36 ἐσδέχεσθαι 37 προσφωνεῖν 38 εὐχαῖσι 39 θύμασιν 40 θύμασιν 41 εὐχαῖσι 42 μήτε κοινὸν ποιεῖσθαι 43 ἐν … εὐχαῖσι μήτε θύμασιν 44

mvp-comment-172-1 κοινὸν 45 χέρνιβος 46

mvp-comment-173-1 ὠθεῖν δὲ 47

mvp-comment-174-1 These six verses are placed by some editors between 272 and 273. See Appendix.

mvp-comment-175-1 κατεύχομαι 48 κατεύχομαι 49 εἴτε τις 50 τις 51 εἷς 52 τις 53

mvp-comment-176-1 νιν ἄμορον 54 νιν 55 κακὸν κακῶς 56

mvp-comment-177-1 ἐπεύχομαι 57 οἴκοισιν … ξυνέστιος 58

mvp-comment-178-1 τοῖσδ’ 59

mvp-comment-179-1 ἀκάρπως κἀθέως 60

mvp-comment-180-1 εἰκὸς ἦν 61

mvp-comment-180-2 οὕτως 62

mvp-comment-181-1 βασιλέως τ’ 63

mvp-comment-182-1 κυρῶ τ’ ἐγὼ 64

mvp-comment-183-1 ὁμόσπορον 65

mvp-comment-184-1 κοινῶν παίδων κοινὰ ἦν ἂν ἐκπεφυκότα 66 κοινῶν 67 εἰ κείνῳ γένος | μὴ δυστύχησεν 68

mvp-comment-185-1 νῦν δ’ 69

mvp-comment-185-2 ἐνήλατο 70

mvp-comment-186-1 ἀνθ’ ὧν 71 ὦν 72

mvp-comment-186-2 τάδ’ 73 ὑπερμαχοῦμαι 74

mvp-comment-187-1 ὑπερμαχοῦμαι 75

mvp-comment-187-2 κἀπὶ πάντ’ ἀφίξομαι 76 ζητῶν 77

mvp-comment-188-1 τῷ Λαβδακείῳ παιδὶ 78 Λαβδακείῳ—Πολυδώρου 79

mvp-comment-189-1 construe: καὶ εὔχομαι τοῖς ταῦτα μὴ δρῶσιν 80 θεοὺς ἀνιέναι αὐτοῖς μήτ’ ἄροτόν τινα γῆς, μήτ’ οὖν γυναικῶν παῖδας 81 θεοὺς 82 ἀνιέναι 83 εὔχομαι 84

mvp-comment-190-1 μήτ’ οὖν 85

mvp-comment-191-1 φθερεῖσθαι 86

mvp-comment-192-1 τοῖς ἄλλοισι 87

mvp-comment-192-2 ἔστ’ ἀρέσκοντ’ 88 ἥ τε σύμμαχος Δίκη 89

mvp-comment-193-1 εὖ 90

mvp-comment-193-2 ὥσπερ μ’ ἀραῖον 91 ὧδε 92

mvp-comment-193-3 ἀραῖον 93

mvp-comment-194-1 γὰρ 94 ἔκτανον 95

mvp-comment-195-1 δεῖξαι 96 τὸ ζήτημα 97 τόδ’ εἰπεῖν 98 ὅστις εἴργασται 99 τὸ ζήτημα 100

mvp-comment-196-1 ἃν μὴ θέλωσιν 101 ἃν 102 οὐδ’ ἂν εἷς 103

mvp-comment-197-1 ἐκ τῶνδε 104 δεύτερα 105

mvp-comment-197-2 ἂν λέγοιμι 106

mvp-comment-198-1 τὸ μὴ οὐ 107

mvp-comment-199-1 ἄνακτ’ 108

mvp-comment-199-2 ταὐτὰ ὁρῶντα 109 ὁρῶντα 110 ταὐτὰ 111 ἄνακτ’ 112

mvp-comment-200-1 οὐκ ἐν ἀργοῖς τοῦτο 113 ἐπραξάμην 114 ἐν 115 ἀργοῖς 116

mvp-comment-201-1 διπλοῦς | πομπούς 117

mvp-comment-202-1 μὴ παρὼν θαυμάζεται 118

mvp-comment-203-1 τά γ’ ἄλλα … ἔπη 119 κωφὰ 120

mvp-comment-204-1 τὰ ποῖα 121

mvp-comment-205-1 ὁδοιπόρων 122

mvp-comment-206-1 τὸν δ’ ἰδόντ’ 123 ἰδόντα 124

mvp-comment-207-1 The subject to ἔχει 125

mvp-comment-207-2 δείματός γ’ 126

mvp-comment-208-1 τὰς σὰς … ἀράς 127 τοιάσδε 128

mvp-comment-208-2 οὑξελέγξων 129

mvp-comment-209-1 ᾧ 130

mvp-comment-210-1 ἐμπέφυκεν 131

mvp-comment-210-2 ἀνθρώπων μόνῳ 132

mvp-comment-211-1 ὦ πάντα νωμῶν 133

mvp-comment-211-2 διδακτά τε—ἄρρητά τε 134

mvp-comment-212-1 οὐράνιά τε καὶ χθονοστιβῆ 135

mvp-comment-213-1 μέν 136 φρονεῖς δ’ 137 δὲ 138 φρονεῖς 139

mvp-comment-214-1 ἧς 140 προστάτην 141

mvp-comment-215-1 μοῦνον 142

mvp-comment-216-1 εἰ καὶ μὴ κλύεις 143

mvp-comment-217-1 μαθόντες εὖ 144

mvp-comment-218-1 ἀπ’ οἰωνῶν φάτιν 145 φάτιν 146

mvp-comment-218-2 ἄλλην ὁδόν 147

mvp-comment-219-1 ῥῦσαι σεαυτὸν 148 ῥῦσαι μίασμα 149

mvp-comment-219-2 πᾶν μίασμα 150

mvp-comment-219-3 τοῦ τεθνηκότος 151 πᾶν 152 μίασμα 153 ῥῦσαι 154

mvp-comment-220-1 ἐν σοὶ 155

mvp-comment-220-2 ἄνδρα 156 ὠφελεῖν 157 ἀφ’ ὦν ἔχοι τε καὶ δύναιτο 158

mvp-comment-221-1 λύῃ 159 τέλη λύῃ 160

mvp-comment-221-2 ταῦτα γὰρ 161

mvp-comment-222-1 διώλεσ’ 162

mvp-comment-223-1 τί δ’ ἔστιν; 163

mvp-comment-224-1 διοίσω 164

mvp-comment-224-2 πίθῃ 165

mvp-comment-225-1 οὔτ’ ἔννομ’ 166

mvp-comment-226-1 ἀποστερῶν 167

mvp-comment-226-2 φάτιν 168

mvp-comment-227-1 ὁρῶ γὰρ 169

mvp-comment-228-1 πρὸς καιρόν 170

mvp-comment-228-2 ὡς οὖν 171 μηδέ 172 μηδ’ ἐγώ 173 μὴ λέγων 174

mvp-comment-229-1 μὴ πρὸς θεῶν 175

mvp-comment-229-2 φρονῶν γ’ 176

mvp-comment-230-1 ἐγὼ δ’ οὐ μή ποτε ἐκφήνω τὰ ἐμὰ (ὡς ἂν μὴ εἴπω τὰ σἂ κακά 177 τὰ ἐμὰ κακά 178 τὰ σὰ κακά 179 ὡς ἂν 180 ὡς ἂν μή 181 ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ 182 τἄμ’ 183 ἐκφήνω 184 εἴπω 185

mvp-comment-231-1 ξυνειδὼς 186

mvp-comment-232-1 ἐγὼ οὔτ’ 187

mvp-comment-232-2 ταῦτ’ 188

mvp-comment-233-1 πέτρου | φύσιν 189

mvp-comment-234-1 ποτέ 190

mvp-comment-235-1 ἀτελεύτητος 191

mvp-comment-236-1 ἐμέμψω 192 ὁμοῦ | ναίουσαν 193 τὴν σὴν 194 ὁμοῦ ναίουσαν 195 κατεῖδες 196

mvp-comment-237-1 ἀλλ’ ἐμὲ ψέγεις 197

mvp-comment-238-1 The emphasis on τοιαῦτα 198 οὐκ 199 ἂν 200

mvp-comment-239-1 ἃ … ἀτιμάζεις πόλιν 201 ἀτιμάζεις 202

mvp-comment-240-1 ἥξει γὰρ αὐτά 203 ἥξει 204 αὐτά 205

mvp-comment-241-1 οὐκοῦν ἅ γ’ ἥξει 206 χρὴ 207 καὶ σὲ 208 καὶ 209 σὲ 210 λέγειν 211 ἥξει 212 ἅ γ’ ἥξει 213 γε 214

mvp-comment-242-1 οὐκ ἂν πέρα φράσαιμι 215

mvp-comment-242-2 ἥτις ἀγριωτάτη 216

mvp-comment-243-1 καὶ μὴν 217 γε 218

mvp-comment-243-2 ὡς ὀργῆς ἔχω 219 παρήσω … οὐδὲν 220 ἅπερ ξυνίημ’ 221 ξυνίημι 222 γὰρ 223 ἴσθι 224

mvp-comment-244-1 καὶ ξυμφυτεῦσαι … εἰργάσθαι θ’. καί … τε 225 καί 226 ξυμφυτεῦσαι 227

mvp-comment-244-2 ὅσον 228 μὴ καίνων 229

mvp-comment-245-1 καὶ τοὔργον … τοῦτο 230

mvp-comment-246-1 ἄληθες; 231 ἐννέπω σὲ … ἐμμένειν 232

mvp-comment-247-1 ᾦπερ προεῖπας 233 ᾦπερ 234

mvp-comment-248-1 ὡς ὄντι … μιάστορι 235 ἐμέ 236

mvp-comment-249-1 ἐξεκίνησας 237

mvp-comment-250-1 καὶ ποῦ 238 ποῦ 239 καί 240 τοῦτο φεύγειν 241

mvp-comment-251-1 ἰσχῦον 242

mvp-comment-251-2 τρέφω 243

mvp-comment-251-3 τέχνης 244

mvp-comment-252-1 προὐτρέψω 245

mvp-comment-253-1 ἢ κπειρᾷ λέγων; 246 λέγων 247 λέγων 248 λέγων 249

mvp-comment-254-1 οὐχ ὥστε γ’ 250 γνωστόν 251

mvp-comment-255-1 οὖ ζητεῖς 252

mvp-comment-256-1 ἀλλ’ οὔ τι χαίρων 253 πημονὰς 254

mvp-comment-257-1 εἴπω 255

mvp-comment-258-1 σὺν τοῖς φιλτάτοις 256

mvp-comment-259-1 ἵν’ εἶ κακοῦ 257

mvp-comment-260-1 ἦ καὶ 258

mvp-comment-261-1 πλὴν σοί· σοὶ δὲ 259

mvp-comment-262-1 ἄθλιος 260

mvp-comment-263-1 οὐδεὶς 261 ὃς οὐχὶ 262

mvp-comment-264-1 μιᾶς τρέφει πρὸς νυκτός 263 μιᾶς 264

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

mvp-comment-266-1 ἐκπρᾶξαι 266 τάδε 267

mvp-comment-267-1 Κρέων δὲ 268

mvp-comment-268-1 τῷ πολυζήλῳ βίῳ 269 ὑπερφέρουσα 270 πολυζήλῳ 271 τέχνη τέχνης | ὑπερφέρουσα 272

mvp-comment-269-1 παρ’ ὑμῖν … φυλάσσεται 273 φυλάσσεται 274

mvp-comment-270-1 δωρητόν, οὐκ αἰτητόν 275

mvp-comment-271-1 ταύτης 276

mvp-comment-272-1 ὑφεὶς 277 μάγος 278 ἀγύρτης 279

mvp-comment-273-1 ἀγύρτην 280

mvp-comment-273-2 ἐν τοῖς κέρδεσιν 281

mvp-comment-274-1 ἐπεὶ 282

mvp-comment-274-2 ποῦ; 283

mvp-comment-274-3 εἶ σαφής 284

mvp-comment-275-1 κύων 285

mvp-comment-275-2 ῥαψῳδὸς 286

mvp-comment-276-1 τό γ’ αἴνιγμ’ 287 ὁ ἐπιών 288

mvp-comment-276-2 διειπεῖν 289

mvp-comment-277-1 ἣν οἴτ’ ἀπ’ οἰωνῶν ἔχων οὔτ’ ἐκ θεῶν του γνωτὸν 290 προὐφάνης 291 ἀπ’ 292 ἐκ 293 προὐφάνης 294 ἀπό 295 ἐκ 296 θεῶν του 297 γνωτόν 298

mvp-comment-277-2 μολών 299

mvp-comment-278-1 ὁ μηδὲν εἰδὼς 300

mvp-comment-279-1 πέλας 301

mvp-comment-280-1 κλαίων 302

mvp-comment-280-2 ὁ συνθεὶς 303

mvp-comment-281-1 ἀγηλατεῖν = τὸ ἄγος ἐλαύνειν(see on 98), in this case ἀνδρηλατεῖν (100), to expel the μιάστωρ. Hdt. 5.72

Κλεομένης … ἀγηλατέει ἑπτακόσια ἐπίστια
(households) Ἀθηναίων. The smooth breathing is supported by Hesychius, by the grammarians in Bekker's Anecd. 1.328.32, and by most MSS. of Soph.; while the aspirate is given by L here, by Eustathius (1704, 5), and by Suidas, who quotes this verse. Curtius distinguishes (1) ἀγ‐, ἄγ‐ος, guilt, object of awe, whence ἐναγής: Skt. ag-as, vexation, offence: Etym. sect. 116: (2) root ἅγ, ἅζ‐ο‐μαι reverence, ἅγ‐ιο‐ς holy, ἁγ‐νό‐ς pure: Skt. jage(jaegea_-mi), reverence, consecrate: Etym. sect. 118. In Aesch. Lib. 154 and Soph. Ant. 775 he would with Herm. write ἅγος as = “consecrated offering.” In both places, however, ἄγος(= piaculum) satisfies the sense (see n. on Soph. Ant. 775 ); and for ἅγος there is no other evidence. But this, at least, seems clear: the compound synonym for τὸ ἄγος ἐλαύνειν( Thuc. 1.126 ) should be written ἀγηλατεῖν. δόκεις 304

mvp-comment-282-1 παθὼν 305

mvp-comment-282-2 οἶά 306 περ φρονεῖς 307

mvp-comment-283-1 ὀργῇ 308

mvp-comment-283-2 καὶ τὰ σ’ 309

mvp-comment-284-1 τόδε 310 λύσομεν 311

mvp-comment-285-1 εἰ καὶ 312 εἰ καὶ 313

mvp-comment-285-2 ἐξισωτέον 314

mvp-comment-286-1 Λοξίᾳ 315

mvp-comment-286-2 ὥστ’ οὐ κρέοντος 316

mvp-comment-286-3 γεγράψομαι 317 Κρέοντος 318

mvp-comment-287-1 λέγω δ’ 319

mvp-comment-287-2 τυφλόν μ’ ὠνείδισας 320

mvp-comment-288-1 σὺ καὶ δέδορκας 321

mvp-comment-289-1 ἔνθα ναίεις 322

mvp-comment-290-1 ἆρ’ οἶσθα 323 καὶ 324

mvp-comment-291-1 ἀμφιπλὴξ 325 μητρός, πατρός 326

mvp-comment-292-1 δεινόπους 327

mvp-comment-293-1 Βλέποντα 328 βλέπειν σκότον 329

mvp-comment-294-1 βοῆς δὲ 330 λιμήν 331

mvp-comment-295-1 ποῖος Κιθαιρὼν 332

mvp-comment-295-2 τὸν ὑμέναιον ὃν εἰσέπλευσας 333 δόμοις 334

mvp-comment-295-3 εὐπλοίας τυχών 335

mvp-comment-296-1 ἄλλων δὲ 336 ἄλλων πλῆθος κακῶν 337

mvp-comment-297-1 ἅ σ’ ἐξισώσει 338 ἅ σ’ 339

mvp-comment-298-1 τοὐμὸν στόμα 340

mvp-comment-298-2 προπηλάκιζε 341

mvp-comment-298-3 ἐκτριβήσεται 342

mvp-comment-299-1 οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; 343

mvp-comment-299-2 πάλιν ἄψορρος 344 οἴκων τῶνδ’ 345 ἀποστραφείς 346

mvp-comment-301-1 σχολῇ σ’ ἄν 347

mvp-comment-301-2 οἴκους 348

mvp-comment-301-3 ἐστειλάμην 349

mvp-comment-302-1 τοιοίδ’ 350 μῶροι … ἔμφρονες 351

mvp-comment-302-2 ὡς μὲν σοὶ δοκεῖ. σοὶ 352 σοὶ 353 γονεῦσι 354 δοκεῖ 355 σοὶ 356 δοκεῖ 357 ὡς μὲν σοὶ 358 ὡς δοκεῖ 359

mvp-comment-302-3 γονεῦσι 360

mvp-comment-303-1 ἐκφύει 361

mvp-comment-304-1 οὔκουν κ.τ.λ. 362

mvp-comment-304-2 τοιαῦτ’ ὀνείδιζέ (μοι 363

mvp-comment-304-3 τοιαῦτα … οἷς 364

mvp-comment-305-1 αὕτη γε μέντοι 365 γε 366 μέντοι 367 γε 368

mvp-comment-305-2 τύχη 369

mvp-comment-305-3 ἐξέσωσ’ 370

mvp-comment-306-1 κομιζέτω δῆθ’ 371

mvp-comment-306-2 ἐμποδὼν 372 παρὼν 373 σύ γε 374

mvp-comment-307-1 ἀλγύνοις 375

mvp-comment-308-1 πρόσωπον 376

mvp-comment-308-2 οὐκ ἔσθ’ ὅπου 377

mvp-comment-309-1 λέγω δέ σοι 378

mvp-comment-309-2 τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον … οὗτός ἐστιν 379

mvp-comment-310-1 ἀνακηρύσσων φόνον 380

mvp-comment-311-1 τὸν Λαΐειον 381

mvp-comment-311-2 ξένος μέτοικος 382

mvp-comment-311-3 εἶτα δὲ 383 ἐνθάδε. —ἐγγενὴς 384

mvp-comment-312-1 τῇ ξυμφορᾷ 385

mvp-comment-312-2 ἐκ δεδορκότος 386

mvp-comment-313-1 ξένην ἔπι 387

mvp-comment-313-2 γαῖαν 388 προδεικνὺς 389 ξένην 390 γαῖαν 391

mvp-comment-314-1 ξυνὼν 392

mvp-comment-314-2 ἀδελφὸς αὑτὸς 393 ἀδελφὸς 394 αὐτὸς 395 ἀδελφὸς καὶ πατὴρ 396 αὑτός 397

mvp-comment-315-1 ὁμόσπορος 398

mvp-comment-316-1 λάβῃς ἐψ. 399

mvp-comment-317-1 φάσκειν 400

mvp-comment-317-2 μαντικῇ 401

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

219. mvp-comment-148-1 Oed. has reentered before the last words of the chorus, to whose leader he gives an authoritative answer, as being now possessed through Creon of the mind of Apollo. In reading this speech it is necessary to bear in mind the importance which the Greeks attached to a curse and to words spoken in unconsciousness of their real import.

219. mvp-comment-148-2 ἁγὼ .. ἐξερῶ ἅ, sc. ἔπη from 216.

216. mvp-comment-149-1 ἃ δ' αἰτεῖς The antecedent to the relative is in no definite construction. The sentence is broken off and resumed in ἀλκὴν λάβοις ἄν (cp. El. 1364, τοὺς γὰρ ἐν μέσῳ λόγους, κ.τ.λ.), and the antec. of a may be regarded as the remote accusative of the sentence, governed by the notion of obtaining' implied in ἀλκὴν λάβοις ἄν, κ.τ.λ.

217. mvp-comment-150-1 τῇ νόσῳ θ᾽ ὑπηρετεῖν And to obey the requirements of the disease. Cp. El. 1305-1306, οὐ γὰρ ἂν καλῶς ὑπηρετοίην τῷ παρόντι δαίμονι.

219-220. mvp-comment-151-1 ξένος μὲν . . πραχθέντος] Who am a stranger with respect to this affair; ay, and to the rumour concerning it. ξένος, i. e. ignorant, as one who at the time of the murder, and of the talk which followed it, was not a citizen of Thebes. Cp. Plat Apol. 17 D, ξένως ἔχω τῆς ἐνθάδε λέξεως. The formal emphasis with which Oedipus dwells on his relation to the inquiry, (ξένος μὲν .. ξένος δέ) throws a strong light on his unconsciousness of the real situation. Cp. infr. 259-260, ἔχων μὲν .. ἔχων δέ, κ.τ.λ.

220-221. mvp-comment-152-1 οὐ γὰρ ἂν .. σύμβολον These words assign a further reason why Oedipus has remained a stranger to the affair. For I had no clue to guide me and so could not have followed an inquiry far. He offers this excuse for having hitherto neglected what he now feels to be an imperative duty. Cp. supr. 108-109, 128. 9. 133-134, infr. 566-567. It has been objected to this interpretation that οὐ γὰρ ἄν necessarily means, Else had I not, (sc. εἰ μὴ ξένος ἦν). Cp. infr. 11. 318, 1456-1457. But no such rule is absolute in tragic Greek, and no tenable interpretation has been based on this way of taking the words. The suppressed clause is εἰ ἴχνευον, and the general meaning is I could not be otherwise than a stranger. Although the more usual mode of connexion would be πῶς γὰρ-; the negative form, οὐ γάρ, κ.τ.λ., is here more dignified. For μακράν, cp. Tr. 317, οὐδ᾽ ἀνιστόρουν μακράν.

220-221. mvp-comment-152-2 αὐτός By myself, unaided. Cp. Ο. C. 1154-1155, δίδασκέ με | ὡς μὴ εἰδότ᾽ αὐτόν. κ.τ.λ. This is more pointed than αὐτό, the reading of L and most MSS.

220-221. mvp-comment-152-3 μὴ οὐκ ἔχων τι σύμβολον Having no clue. These words are epexegetic of αὐτός. For μὴ οὐ with the participle, μη see Essay on Language p. 49, and cp. Hdt. 6.106, μὴ οὐ πλήρεος ἔοντος τοῦ κύκλου, i. e. If the disk were not full, which it was not.' So here, Unless I had something to guide me, and I had nothing.' The word σύμβολον (for which see Ar. Pol. 4. 7, Pind. Ol. 12. 7), would cause a thrill of horror to the spectators, when they reflected that Oedipus had Laius' blood upon his hand, and the stamp of his likeness upon his person.

222. mvp-comment-153-1 νῦν δ᾽ i.e. since the oracle has come.

222. mvp-comment-153-2 ὕστερος γὰρ ἀστὸς εἰς ἀστοὺς τελῶ Oedipus, as a popular ruler, bases his proclamation on his right of citizenship, rather than on any higher pretension. But now I proclaim to you no longer as a stranger but as a citizen, though subsequently enrolled. Sc. ὕστερος τῶν ἄλλων ἀστῶν and ὕστερος τοῦ πραχθέντος. ἀστός is said with allusion to ξένος. Teiresias includes both in ξένος.. μέτοικος, infr. 452. αὐτός. (I too') occurs for ἀστός in some MSS. But see Essay on Language § 44 f. p. 83.

222. mvp-comment-153-3 τελῶ Cp. Hdt. 2. 51, Ἀθηναίοισι ..

222. mvp-comment-153-4 ἤδη τηνικαῦτα ἐς Ἕλληνας τελέουσι.

223. mvp-comment-154-1 προφωνῶ resumes ἐξερῶ (1. 219) after the digression.

227-229. mvp-comment-155-1 The apodosis of this sentence is dropped in Oedipus' haste to give the assurance contained in πείσεται, κ.τ.λ., and is imperfectly resumed in ἄπεισιν. The subject is changed from anyone who has knowledge of the deed, to the murderer, to whom αὐτός refers. Some obscurity also arises from the appeal to fear (cp. infr. 234, 294) being combined with the attempt to soothe it (cp. Τr. 457, κεὶ μὲν δέδοικας, οὐ καλῶς ταρβεῖς). μέν in 227 points to the opposite supposition:-'he may be one incapable of fear.' (1) And let the man himself, if he be touched with fear, inform against himself, by taking the guilt away with him. For he shall suffer no further penalty, but shall be unmolested in his departure from the land.' i. e. Instead of waiting for others to convict him, let him convict himself by going into voluntary exile, and taking the offence from the land. The words καθ' αὑτοῦ are to be construed κατὰ σύνεσιν with l. 226, sc. ποιείτω τάδε, self-banishment being in this case equivalent to self-impeachment :- Let Or (2) ὑπεξελών may be understood proleptically, and σημαινέτω supplied from κελεύω σημαίνειν, supra. him inform against himself, and clear the guilt away.

227-229. mvp-comment-155-2 Οι (3) ὑπεξελών is to be taken in the unusual sense of drawing forth from concealment. Let him obey me by divulging the crime against himself. The last interpretation (3) is the simplest (cp. Pind. N. 4. 8); but the first (1) is on the whole the most probable. The gentleness of Oedipus towards the supposed self-convicted criminal is contrasted with the fierceness of his self-reproach in 11. 1369 foll., 1449 foll., infra.

229. mvp-comment-156-1 ἀσφαλής Unharmed. ἀβλα βής, which occurs in the text of A, and most MSS, and has been written as a v. r. by a hand of the 15th century on the mg. of L, although a good word (see esp. Thuc. 5. 18, § 3), is more likely to be a gloss than ἀσφαλής, which is therefore preferred. ἀβλαβής would have required no explanation, whereas ἀσφαλής here and in O. C. 1288 =ἄνευ τοῦ σφαλῆναι, without receiving hurt. Cp. Pind. Pyth. 3. 86.

230-232. mvp-comment-157-1 The duty of the citizens generally is clear. The only cases requiring special mention are those of the murderer (αὐτός), should conscience incline him to obey, and of information against a foreigner by one of his fellows. Cp. l. 233. ἢ φίλου. This is the case contemplated in these lines. Α μέτοικος might hesitate to do what was required of the citizens, unless specially assured that he would equally receive the reward. And some one resident in Thebes might be a fellow countryman of the stranger-robbers (1. 715), who had killed Laius in the triple way. The obscurity of expression arises from the effort to adapt the language to the case of Oedipus. The οἰκέτης was in the position of knowing another from another land. Contrast ll. 231-232, with ll. 1159, 1160, and cp. 1004. For the form of expression, ἄλλον ἐξ ἄλλης χθονός, cp. Eur. Ion 1057, ἄλλος ἄλλων ἀπ᾿ οἴκων .. πλὴν τῶν εὐγενετᾶν Ἐρεχθειδᾶν. 231. The transitive use of σιωπάω is later than Sophocles.

232. mvp-comment-158-1 χή χάρις προσκείσεται And he shall have store of gratitude besides, i. e. he will be regarded as a benefactor of the city. Cp. Thuc. 1. 129, κεῖταί σοι εὐεργεσία ἐν τῷ ἡμετέρῳ οἴκῳ ἐσαεὶ ἀνάγραπτος : Phil. 557-558, ἡ χάρις ...

232. mvp-comment-158-2 προσφιλὴς μενεῖ: Plat. Rep. 1. 345 A, οὔτοι κακῶς σοι κείσεται ὅ τι ἂν ἡμᾶς τοσούσδε ὄντας εὐεργετήσῃς.

234. mvp-comment-159-1 ἀπώσει τούπος (1) Shall repel this charge either from a friend for whom he fears, or from himself. τούπος, SC. τὸ ἐπίκλημα τοῦ φύνου. Or (2), Shall reject my word in fear either for a friend or for himself. ἀπώσει opp. to δέχεσθαι, l. 217 . (1) is best. The words φίλου and αὐτοῦ are each in a double construction with δείσας and ἀπώσει.

235. mvp-comment-160-1 This might be construed to mean, My own lips shall declare my future; and δράσω marks that all which follows is delivered by Oedipus as his act and deed. Cp. infr. 819-820.

236. mvp-comment-161-1 τὸν ἄνδρα.. τοῦτον It appears doubtful at first sight whether this refers to the murderer or to the concealer of the crime. That the first is the correct explanation is proved by the following reasons. (1) That no sufficient meaning can otherwise be given to τοῦδε in line 242. (2) That in 11. 817 foll., ᾧ μὴ ξένων ἔξεστι μηδ᾽ ἀστῶν τινὰ | δόμοις δέχεσθαι, μηδὲ προσφωνεῖν τινά, | ὠθεῖν δ᾽ ἀπ᾿ οἴκων, Oedipus applies 11. 235 foll. to himself, if guilty of the murder. (3) This gives more point to ὅστις ἐστί. ἄνδρα is governed by εἰσδέχεσθαι. γῆς τῆσδε is partitive genitive governed by τινά. Anyone in all this land.

240. mvp-comment-162-1 χέρνιβος For this gen. sing. (which besides coming from the first hand of L, better suits with κοινόν than χέρνιβας does), see L. and S. s. v.

241. mvp-comment-163-1 ὠθεῖν Sc. κελεύω understood from ἀπανδῶ. Essay on Language p. 64. 1 а.

246-251. mvp-comment-164-1 The formality of the language marks the solemnity of the curse. Some editors, following Ribbeck, have placed these lines after l. 272, on the ground that the plural τοῖσδε in the words ἅπερ τοῖσδ᾽ ἀρτίως ἠρασάμην, has no proper antecedent, for Oedipus is speaking of one murderer not of many; and they would suppose the error to have been caused by the recurrence of ὑμῖν δὲ in l. 273. But the plural, referring to some person or persons unknown, is sufficiently justified by εἴτε πλειόνων μέτα, and for the vague reference of the pronoun ὅde, see Essay on Language § 22. p. 34. Oedipus is careless about the number; cp. supr. 107, 124 and note. The curse also falls indirectly on those who disobey the commands in 11. 224-232, and 236-241. A slight inaccuracy of language is no sufficient reason for such a transposition. The conjecture requires a further conjecture: ie. the words must (1) have been omitted, then (2) have been written in the margin, and then (3) must have been wrongly inserted before ὑμῖν δέ, l. 252 , instead of before ὑμῖν δέ, l. 273 . It may be observed, in defence of the existing text, that the curse on the malefactor naturally precedes the curse on those who disobey the edict. The emphasis is on κατεύχομαι. τὸν δεδρακότα is added instead of a pronoun, referring to τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦτον, because of τῷ δαίμονι and τῷ θανόντι coming between. The words ἅπερ .. ἠρασάμην include 11. 236 ff.

248. mvp-comment-165-1 κακὸν κακῶς .. βίον Wear out his wretched life in wretchedness and misfortune.

249-251. mvp-comment-166-1 ἐπεύχομαι .. παθεῖν And I pray, moreover, that I may suffer. Cp. Plat. Critias, p. 120 B.

249-251. mvp-comment-166-2 εἰ .. γένοιτο If at any moment he were to be-. The unconsciousness of Oedipus is again strongly indicated.

254. mvp-comment-167-1 Ruined with sterility and the frown of Heaven. Essay on Language p. 40. a.

256. mvp-comment-168-1 ἀκάθαρτον Sc. τὸ πρᾶγμα, repeated in a slightly different sense. τὸ πρᾶγμα is (1) the duty of expiating, (2) the pollution itself.

257-269. mvp-comment-169-1 Every line calls attention to the real position of Oedipus, of which he is profoundly unconscious. (1) ὁμόσπορον, cp. 1. 460; (2) κοινῶν παίδων, cp. Ο. C. 535, κοιναί γε πατρὸς ἀδελφεαί; (3) εἰ κείνῳ γένος μὴ ᾿δυστύχησεν (Oedipus says this in ignorance of Laius having had a child; but he unwittingly expresses the fact of his own misfortune); (4) 1. 263. which points to the curse pursuing Laius and his offspring; (5) the words ὡσπερεὶ τοὺμοῦ πατρός. The effect of all this on the spectators may be imagined. Yet every word is suitable to the apparent situation and to the generous character of Oedipus.

257. mvp-comment-170-1 The death of the monarch was not like a common death.

258. mvp-comment-171-1 ἐπεὶ κυρῶ *γ' ἐγώ The MSS. read 7', which may be explained on the supposition that the subordinate anti- thesis with μέν and δέ in 259-260, has superseded the primary structure of the sentence. But perhapsy' should be read, giving a slight emphasis to κυρῶ, Since it so happens that I, Oedipus modestly referring his position to fortune.

260. mvp-comment-172-1 ὁμόσπορον = ὑπ᾿ ἀμφοῖν σπειρομένην. Essay on Language p. 98.

261. mvp-comment-173-1 κοινῶν τε παίδων κοίν᾿ ἄν For the repetition of κοινός, see Essay on Language § 44. P. 75, f. And had he but prospered in his issue, there had been the common bond between us of a common family. These words are the continuation of ὁμόσπορον. The emphatic repetition suggests the horror of the real situation. For the gen., cp. О. С. 923, φωτῶν ἀθλίων ἱκτήρια.

263. mvp-comment-174-1 But now Fortune has smitten him:' i. e. he has died without having children.

264. mvp-comment-175-1 ἀνθ᾽ ὧν Resuming the deferred apodosis of 258 foll. ἐπεί, κ.τ.λ. after the digression (κοινῶν .. τύχη); i. e. And being his successor and having these common interests with him, etc.

264. mvp-comment-175-2 τάδ᾽ .. ὑπερμαχοῦμαι For the accusative, cp. O. C. 344-345, τἀμὰ δυστήνου κακὰ | ὑπερπονεῖτον

267. mvp-comment-176-1 τῷ Λαβδακείῳ παιδί The dative either (1) depends on the notion of help or vindication continued from ὑπερμαχοῦμαι, to which the mind reverts as the chief word, or (2) is dependent on τὸν αὐτόχειρα τοῦ φόνου. For (2), cp. Ar. Poet. 1452 α. τὸν αἴτιον τοῦ θανάτου τῷ Μίτυϊ. 267-268. Cp. Hdt. 5. 59, ταῦτα ἡλικίην ἂν εἴη κατὰ Λάϊον τὸν Λαβδάκου τοῦ Πολυδώρου τοῦ Κάδμου. The genealogy belongs to the formal style of the proclamation.

269. mvp-comment-177-1 τοῖς μὴ δρῶσιν, governed by εὔχομαι, is resumed in αὐτοῖς after ἀνιέναι, and is the subject (i. e. αὐτούς) of φθερείσθαι.

269. mvp-comment-177-2 θεούς The dative (θεοῖς), which would be the natural case after εὔχομαι, is attracted to the subject of ἀνιέναι. I pray the gods not to let any harvest spring for them from the ground, nor fruit of the womb from their women. For ἀνιέναι in the latter sense, cp. infr. 1405, ἀνεῖτε ταὐτὸν σπέρμα. The MS. reading γῆν involves too harsh a change of subject in what follows (μήτ᾽ οὖν γυναικῶν παῖδας), and would require θεοῖς, as in Vat. a. For the tenor of these words, cp. the curse of Cambyses in Hdt. 3. 65, καὶ ταῦτα μὲν ποιεῦσι ὑμῖν γῆ τε καρπὸν ἐκφέροι, κ.τ.λ. 274-275. May justice, taking your part, and all the gods dwell with you evermore to bless you. σύμμαχος occurs frequently in Aeschylus as an attribute of Δίκη. See esp. Cho. 497, δίκην ἴαλλε σύμμαχον φίλοις. The tone of the preceding speech as a royal proclamation may be contrasted with that of Creon in Ant. 163-210. In both there is a mixture of self-confidence with the strain of patriotism. But in Creon these motives appear as the bare assertion of a right, in Oedipus as a spirit of generous readiness to serve the state. In both there is an unconsciousness of the situation. But whereas Creon's unconsciousness involves moral blindness and ignorance of self, that of Oedipus is rendered more pathetic by the purity of his intentions.

276. mvp-comment-178-1 ὥσπερ μ' ἀραῖον ἔλαβες Ας feeling the power of your curse.' Cp. Aesch. Cho. 108, λέγοις ἂν ὥσπερ ᾐδέσω, κ.τ.λ. For ἔλαβες, cp. Hdt. 3. 74. πίστι τε λαβόντες καὶ ὁρκίοισι; and for the construction with the adjective, O. C. 284, ὥσπερ ἔλαβες τὸν ἱκέτην ἐχέγγυον. See also Ant. 305, ὅρκιος δέ σοι λέγω. For the redundant antecedent in ὧδε,

278. mvp-comment-179-1 τὸ δὲ ζήτημα is the subject of what follows, in which εἰπεῖν is epexegetic.

279. mvp-comment-180-1 τόδε is to be taken separately, as acc. after εἰπεῖν, referring to ὅστις εἴργασταί ποτε. But for the inquiry, it behoved Phoebus, who imposed it, to tell this, who can have wrought the deed. Cp. supr. 150, infr. 306. 282-283. I would mention what seems to me the next best thing after that. Next or third best, leave it not unsaid. Logical exactness is not required in such idiomatic expressions. Cp. Eur. Hel. 1417, αὖθις κελεύω, καὶ τρίτον γ', εἴ σοι φίλον. Be it second or third best, out with what you have to say. 284, foll. I know one above other men. who being a king, sees with the eyes of king Phoebus, of whose lips one inquiring into this may learn the very truth.'

284. mvp-comment-181-1 ἄνακτ' Od. 11. 144 (Τειρεσίη), εἰπέ, ἄναξ, πῶς, κ.τ.λ.

285-286. mvp-comment-182-1 παρ' οὗ .. σκοπῶν παρ' οὗ is in two constructions: (1) with ἐκμάθοι, from whom one might learn this clearly; (2) with σκοπών, if we viewed it in the light of his words.

287. mvp-comment-183-1 ἐν ἀργοῖς .. ἐπραξάμην A verbal contrast like ἐν σκότῳ.. ὀψοίατο (infr. 1273). But neither have I done this as one of my omissions, i. e. I have not left this undone. Essay on Language p. 69. For the subjective use of the middle voice in ἐπραξάμην, see Essay on Language § 31. p. 53, d, and for ἀργοῖς, cp. O. C.1605; Eur. Phoen. 766, ἓν δ᾽ ἐστὶν ἡμῖν ἀργόν, εἴ τι θέσφατον | οἰωνόμαντις Τειρεσίας ἔχει φράσαι. but the possibility of finding and questioning this man does not yet occur to Oedipus. The general effect of 11. 116 119, was to reduce the available evidence to the lowest point. It is only afterwards, when he begins to suspect the truth, that Oedipus catches at straws.

288. mvp-comment-184-1 Κρέοντος εἰπόντος Cp. 1. 555.

289. mvp-comment-185-1 I have long been wondering he should not be here. μὴ παρὼν = εἰ μὴ πάρεστι. Teiresias is slow to come, as when he comes he is slow to speak. For the use of the passive in θαυμάζεται, see Essay on L, § 31. p. 53. He has long been wondered at by me; i. e. I have long been wondering about him.

290. mvp-comment-186-1 Certainly what other rumours there were, told nothing, and are forgotten.

290. mvp-comment-186-2 ἄλλα, i. e. other than we may hope to hear from Phoebus or his prophet.

290. mvp-comment-186-3 κωφά, lit. dumb, i.e. giving no clear intelligence. The chorus allude for a moment to the report which Creon spoke of ll. 122-123; but this slight clue is again broken off by the entrance of Teiresias, to be resumed afterwards.

292-293. mvp-comment-187-1 He was said to have been murdered by some unknown travellers (coming towards Thebes). Creon spoke (1. 118) of one eye-witness having escaped, and bringing a confused account,

293. mvp-comment-188-1 ἤκουσα κἀγώ Supr. 122.

293. mvp-comment-188-2 τὸν δ᾽ ἰδόντ᾽ οὐδεὶς ὁρᾷ But no eyewitness is forthcoming. The article is general, not referring to the individual mentioned in l. 119, whom Oedipus has for the present forgotten. This suits the place better than the conjecture τὸν δὲ δρῶντα, which is weak and tautological. For ἰδόντα ὁρᾷ, cp. 1133-1134, εὐ γὰρ οἶδ᾽ ὅτι | κάτοιδεν.

294. mvp-comment-189-1 ἀλλ᾽ .. μέρος But if he is at all capable of fear. The plural expresses the general notion. Others read δείματός γ' (see v. rr.), in which ye must be taken with the whole sentence. ἔχει, sc. ὁ φονεύς. The transition to the murderer as being the foremost person in the thoughts of all present (supr. 227) is again easily made, without requiring the correction δρῶντ' in 293.

296. mvp-comment-190-1 When a man is not afraid to do the deed, words do not daunt him.' 297. Authorities are nearly balanced between οὐξελέγχων and οὐξελέγξων. The former has a slight preponderance in being the first hand of L, and appearing (with the variant of.) in most of the earlier MSS. This, however, is not sufficient to decide between letters so often confounded as ξ and χ. Common usage is in favour of the future (Ant. 261, οὐδ᾽ ὁ κωλύσων παρῆν). The present tense, if genuine, is expressive of certainty. There is one who convicts him; i. e. He is already convicted, for Teiresias is here. Cp. 356, πέφευγα. For the use of the present participle without special reference to present time, see Essay on Language § 32. p. 55.

300. mvp-comment-191-1 This use of νωμῶν, without τῇ φρενί or the like addition, is perhaps assisted by a supposed connection with νοέω. See Essay on Language p. 100, and cp. Plat. Crat. 411 D, ἡ γνώμη παντάπασι δηλοῖ γονῆς σκέψιν καὶ νώμησιν, τὸ γὰρ νωμᾶν καὶ τὸ σκοπεῖν ταὐτόν: Hdt. 4. 128, νωμῶντες σῖτα ἀναιρεομένους. Cp. Od. 13. 255, αἰὲν ἐνὶ στήθεσσι νόον πολυκερδέα νωμῶν: Aesch. S. c. T. 24, ἐν ὠσὶ νωμῶν καὶ φρεσὶν πυρὸς δίχα χρηστηρίους ὄρνιθας ἀψευδεῖ τέχνη. Ο thou that wieldest in thy thought all knowledge and all mysteries, both of things in Heaven, and things on earth.

303. mvp-comment-192-1 νόσῳ Not the plague only, but the distress generally. Cp. supr. 60, νοσεῖτε πάντες, 305. εἰ καὶ μὴ κλύεις τῶν ἀγγέλων] (1) Even if the messengers have not told you, which I dare say they have; i. e. The report is true, even if it has not reached you yet. Or, (2) If you have not heard from the messengers as well as from me;' i. e. I tell you, in case your guides have not. In the latter case, which is the more probable (cp. supr. 329, note, 325), καί is used ὑπερβάτως. For this, cp. Thuc. 5. 45, καὶ ἦν εἰς τὸν δῆμον ταῦτα λέγωσιν. Nothing is gained by transposing εἰ μὴ καί; still less by reading εἴ τι μή. The repetition of the same words (supr. 302) is no cause for suspicion. Essay on Language § 44.

307. mvp-comment-193-1 μόνην Emphatic: this, and no other. Cp. 68, ἴασιν μόνην: Phil. 61, μόνην ἔχοντες τήνδ' ἅλωσιν Ἰλίου: Thuc. 8.81, πιστεῦσαι δ᾽ ἂν μόνως Ἀθηναίοις εἰ, κ.τ.λ.

308. mvp-comment-194-1 μαθόντες εὐ Having carefully ascertained. εὖ as in εὖ σκοπῶν (68): the order as in Ant. 166, σέβοντας εὖ. 310, foll. δ' οὖν resumes from 304. δé is slightly adversative between Φοῖβος and σύ, οὖν connects the human prophecy with the divine. Phoebus answers thus and do not thou withhold any intimation, whether derived from birds or from any other way of divination at thy command.' For the coordination of εἴ τιν'.. ὁδόν, with ἀπ᾿ οἰωνῶν, cp. Phil. 468-469, πρὸς νῦν σε πατρὸς .. πρός τ᾽ εἴ τί σοι κατ' οἶκών ἐστι προσφιλές: and for μαντικῆς ὁδόν cp. 67, πολλὰς δ᾽ ὁδοὺς ἐλθόντα φροντίδος πλάνοις : Aesch. Prom. 484, τρόπους δὲ πολλοὺς μαντικῆς ἐστοίχισα: ib. 497, δυστέκμαρτον εἰς τέχνην ὥδωσα θνητούς.

313. mvp-comment-195-1 ῥῦσαι δέ And clear away. The double application of ῥῦσαι cannot be expressed in one word in English. The evil from which deliverance is sought is made the object of the verb of deliverance. Cp. Eur. Iph. A. 1383, ταῦτα πάντα κατθανοῦσα ῥύσομαι. Although this involves a slight change of construction, it is better than to take μίασμα ας = τὸ μεμιασμένον, what lies under pollution. Even if such a rendering be not impossible, the line so explained adds nothing to what is already said.

314-315. mvp-comment-196-1 ἀφ᾽ ὧν ἔχοι For the mood, cp. 979, ὅπως δύναιτό τις, and see Essay on Language § 36. p. 61. ἄνδρα is subject: cp. Ant. 710, ἀλλ᾽ ἄνδρα, κεἴ τις ἢ σοφός, τὸ μανθάνειν | πόλλ᾽ αἰσχρὸν οὐδέν. 'It is a man's noblest endeavour to use whatever power he may have in doing benefits.' 316 ff. The presence and voice of Oedipus make Teiresias feel the impossibility of speaking his message. Cp. infr. 447.

314-315. mvp-comment-196-2 φεῦ, φεῦ .. φρονοῦντι How terrible it is to know, when knowing profits not! φρονεῖν often implies a feeling or intelligence of the situation. Essay on Language p. 93, 6, Τr. 1145, φρονῶ δὴ ξυμφορᾶς ἵν᾽ ἕσταμεν : Αj. 942, σοὶ μὲν δοκεῖν ταῦτ᾽ ἔστ᾽, ἐμοὶ δ᾽ ἄγαν φρονεῖν. So in this play, 302, фро- νεῖς δ᾽ ὅμως, 326, μὴ .. φρονῶν γ᾽ ἀποσταφῇς, 328, πάντες γὰρ οὐ φρονεῖτε. Cp. with the present passage, Hdt. I. 46, where Croesus tries the oracles, ὅ τι φρονέοιεν .. εἰ φρονέοντα τὴν ἀληθηΐην εὑρεθείη. For the subjunct. in a relative clause without av, see Essay on Language §27. p. 45. The indicative λύει would make the application of the maxim too pointed. This is the only place where the expression, τέλη λύειν, occurs. λυσιτελεῖν is frequent in prose writers, and Euripides has repeatedly used the simple λύειν in this sense. The present expression appears to be an etymological analysis of λυσιτελέω. The use of λύει in El. 1005, λύει γὰρ ἡμᾶς οὐδέν, This tends not at all to free us, is not really similar. With the sentiment, cp. Hdt. 9. 16, ἐχθίστη ὀδύνη πολλὰ φρονέοντα μηδενὸς κρατέειν.

317. mvp-comment-197-1 ταῦτα γάρ γάρ assigns a reason for φεῦ, κ.τ.λ. Why do I speak thus? Because had I remembered this, which I well knew, I had not come hither.

319. mvp-comment-198-1 What is the matter? How gloomily thou comest in!' Cp. Ant. 997, τί δ᾽ ἔστιν; ὡς .. φρίσσω.

320-321. mvp-comment-199-1 Let me go home. If you grant me this, you and I will bear our part in the sequel more easily. Cp. Hdt. 1. 25, τὸν .. πόλεμον διενείκας.

322. mvp-comment-200-1 οὔτ᾽ ἔννομα Unlawful, namely, for the prophet of the state to refuse his service to the state.

322. mvp-comment-200-2 προσφιλή The correction -és may have been suggested by ἔννομον, which is against metre.

324. mvp-comment-201-1 φώνημα refers not only to the earnest entreaty in the last speech, but also to 305-315.

325. mvp-comment-202-1 It is needless to suppose an aposiopesis. The implied clause is to be sought from what precedes; viz. ταῦτ' εἶπον, or τήνδ' ἀποστερῶ φάτιν, My motive is, that I may not be in the same case with you. I see that thy word is against thy interest, and I would not fall into the same error. Cp. ὅπως μή. ὡς μηδέ here = ὡς μὴ καί, i. e. μηδὲ = μὴ δέ.

326. mvp-comment-203-1 φρονῶν γ' Referring to φροveῖν, supr. 316, which has raised Oedipus' hopes.

327. mvp-comment-204-1 ἱκτήριοι The chorus also (having been engaged in supplication in various parts of the city, supr. 19) are in the guise of suppliants.

328. mvp-comment-205-1 πάντες .. οὐ φρονεῖτ Cp. Ant. 1048, Τειρ. ἆρ' οἶδεν ἀνθρώπων τις, ἆρα φράζεται; 328-329. ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὐ μή ποτε τἄμ᾽ ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ τὰ σ᾽ ἐκφήνω κακά] But I will never disclose my evils: (I say mine) that I may not say thine. (τὰ ἐμὰ κακά, the evils that I know, τὰ σὰ κ., the evils that you have to suffer.) Unless μή in l. 329 is taken as a mere rhetorical repetition of the former μή, like οὐκ in Ant. 6, (which does not seem probable after οὐ μή, and gives a poor meaning to the preceding words, as if the motive Teiresias had for speaking were merely that he might say his say, or as if he could speak and yet be silent), the only tenable explanation of the words as they stand is (1) to take ὡς ἂν εἴπω μὴ τὰ σὰ as a separate clause, with the ellipse of λέγω, as in the familiar idioms ὡς ἂν εἰδῆτε (Aesch. Cho. 1021) and ἵνα μὴ εἴπω (Lat. ne dicam, Eng. 'Not to say-') Plat. Rep. 6. 487. D etc. (For ὡς ἂν μή, cp. Fr. 736, l. 11 , and, for μή postponed, Phil. 653, ὡς λίπω μή τῳ λαβεῖν. And this is probably right, although a simpler context may be obtained (2) by transposing εἴπω and changing one letter: ἐγὼ δ᾽ οὐ μή ποτε | εἴπω τάδ', ὡς ἂν μὴ τὰ σ᾽ ἐκφήνω κακά. (For τάδε = τήνδε τὴν φάτιν, cp. infr. 377.) τἄμ᾽ ἐξενείπω was the conjecture of Brunck.

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.

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.

380-403. mvp-comment-231-1 The general meaning of these lines is as follows. Yes, Creon has set him on, for envy, to hurl me from power. Creon, my right hand! O how the success of another awakes ambition and poisons hearts! And what an instrument! Thou crafty seer, whose eyes are only open for gain, am I not a truer prophet than thou ever wast? Did not the Sphinx fall before my simple skill, when thy magic and thy inspiration failed? And you think to stand at Creon's right hand, when you have ousted me? He and you alike will soon repent your hypocrisy. Nothing but your age protects you from immediate punishment.'

380. mvp-comment-232-1 τέχνη τέχνης ὑπερφέρουσα Skill surpassing skill. Cp. Phil. 138-140, τέχνα γὰρ τέχνας ἑτέρας προὔχει καὶ γνώμα παρ' ὅτῳ τὸ θεῖον Διὸς σκῆπτρον ἀνάσσεται. Oedipus alludes to his success in solving the riddle, γνώμῃ κυρήσας, 398. τῷ πολυζήλῳ βίῳ is the dative of place transferred to circumstance. (1) In the muchenvied life,' i. e. In a brilliant state of life such as mine.' To this ὁ φθόνος in the lines following seems to correspond. Or perhaps (2) more generally, In life which is full of contention. (3) Others make the genitive equivalent to a dative ='belonging to,' cp. Pind. N. 3. 10. ὁ φθόνος = sc. ὃν ἔχετε, How great is the envy that is stored up with you. To be envied, according to Greek notions, was fortunate, but perilous. Cp. Thuc. 2. 64, ὅστις δ᾽ ἐπὶ μεγίστοις τὸ ἐπίφθονον λαμβάνει, ὀρθῶς βουλεύεται : Pind. P. 1. 85, κρείσσων γὰρ οἰκτιρμοῦ φθόνος.

382. mvp-comment-233-1 φυλάσσεται Is treasured up. An Homeric expression. (II. 16. 30, χόλος ὃν σὺ φυλάσσεις.) Cp. O. C. 1212, σκαιοσύναν φυλάσσων. For the passive, see Essay on Language § 31. p. 54.

383. mvp-comment-234-1 γε implies This rule of mine, which surely might have been free from envy, since I never asked for it, but the city gave it me.'

385. mvp-comment-235-1 ὁ πιστός Ironical. Cp. Tr. 540, Ἡρακλῆς | ὁ πιστός, κ.τ.λ.

385. mvp-comment-235-2 οὐξ ἀρχῆς φίλος Cp. Aesch. Prom. 304-305, τὸν Διὸς φίλον, τὸν συγκαταστήσαντα τὴν τυραννίδα. ταύτης is ablative genitive after ἐκβαλεῖν, but the poet passes almost unconsciously from the one genitive to the other.

386-388. mvp-comment-236-1 Desires secretly to undermine and dethrone me, suborning this weaver of intrigues, this wizard, this crafty mendicant, who has an eye for his gains only, but has no eye for his art.' μάγον, as properly applicable to a barbarian soothsayer, and ἀγύρτην, to the lowest class of priests in Greece, are opprobrious words.

387. mvp-comment-237-1 ὑφείς Suborning. Cp. ὑποβάλλω.

388-389. mvp-comment-238-1 Cp. Ant. 1055, τὸ μαντικὸν γὰρ πᾶν φιλάργυρον γένος.

390. mvp-comment-239-1 ποῦ = ' On what occasion? i. e. When have you been a true prophet? Cp. supr. 355, infr. 720, ἐνταῦθα.

391. mvp-comment-240-1 ῥαψῳδός = Songstress. but also (with allusion to the supposed etymology from ῥάπτειν ᾠδήν) weaver of intricate songs. Cp. μηχανορράφος. κύων = Monster. Cp. Aesch. Fragm. 252, Σφίγγα δυσαμερίαν πρύτανιν κύνα.

394. mvp-comment-241-1 διειπεῖν To tell distinctly, to explain. 395. (1) And this you showed that you had not either from birds, nor yet had known from any of the gods. οὐ..

394. mvp-comment-241-2 προὐφάνης ἔχων = προὐφάνης οὐκ ἔχων. The ignorance of the prophet on this occasion was a strange phenomenon, to which Oedipus calls attention. Or (2) You were not found to have. 396. There is an intentional assonance here, but without any distinct playing upon the word. Cp. supr. 70, 1, infr. 603-604. See Essay on Language § 44. p. 83, and for μηδέν, ib. p. 48, 2, b. Cp. supr. 367.

394. mvp-comment-241-3 ἔπαυσά νιν The personal pronoun viv refers to the Sphinx and not to her riddle. Hence ἔπαυσα is better than the conjectural ἔλυσα.

401. mvp-comment-242-1 χώ συνθεὶς τάδε Thuc. 8. 68, ὁ .. τὸ πρᾶγμα ξυνθεὶς .. Ἀντιφῶν ἦν. 390 395 400 397. εἰδώς] γνώμῃ CA Pal.

402. mvp-comment-243-1 ἁγηλατήσειν The future tense rather belongs to κλαίων; You shall suffer for attempting to drive out pollution. Cp. Ant. 754, κλαίων φρενώσεις. To your own hurt will you and the plotter of this, methinks, drive out pollution. Cp. Hom. Il. 16. 623, τῷ κε τάχα στυγερῶς πολέμου ἀπερωήσειας.

402. mvp-comment-243-2 εἰ δέ, κ.τ.λ. Cp. Od. 23. 24, σὲ δὲ τοῦτό γε γῆρας ὀνήσει.

402. mvp-comment-243-3 ἐδόκεις γέρων εἶναι] But for the feeling that you are an old man, i. e. If I did not see, or if I did not remember, that you are an old man. δοκεῖν is not intended to throw doubt upon the fact, but simply to express the feeling of Oedipus. Essay on Language § 50. 6. b. p. 95. Ср. Τr. 57, τοῦ καλῶς πράσσειν δοκεῖν: Hdt. 4.114, εἰ βούλεσθε.. δοκέειν εἶναι δικαιότατοι. For the unconscious tautology in δοκῶν, δοκεῖς, ᾿δόκεις, see Essay on Language pp. 83, 84, and cp. infr. 519.

403. mvp-comment-244-1 παθὼν ἔγνως ἄν Cp. Hes. Op. 218, παθὼν δὲ τε νήπιος ἔγνω. You should have learnt from suffering what a spirit you are showing. Cp. Aesch. S. c. Τ. 550, τύχοιεν ὧν φρονοῦσιν. And, for οἷόσπερ in this connection, О. С. 896, οἱάπερ πέπονθ᾽ ἀκήκοας.

404. mvp-comment-245-1 εἰκάζουσι indicates the modest reserve with which the chorus express their view of what is passing between those above them. Cp. infr. 530.

406. mvp-comment-246-1 ὅπως is at first put in construction with δεῖ (cp. Αj. 556), but this being feeble is strengthened by the resumption in the words τόδε σκοπεῖν. For λύειν, = ' to meet effectually,' cp. Plat. Rep. 8. 556 Α, ᾗ αὖ κατὰ ἕτερον νόμον τὰ τοιαῦτα λύεται. Here it is partly to meet an obligation, partly to remove a difficulty.'

408-409. mvp-comment-247-1 ἐξισωτέον .. ἀντιλέξαι One point of equality must be maintained,the right of making full reply. ἴσα is added pleonastically. See Essay on Language § 40. 5. p. 76. τὸ .. ἀντιλέξαι is (1) accusative in regimen, or (2) epexegetic infinitive after ἐξισωτέον. For this impersonal passive, see Essay on Language § 31. 3. c. p. 54, and cp. infr. 628, ἀρκτέον.

409-411. mvp-comment-248-1 τοῦδε .. γεγράψομαι I too am lord of my speech, for my life is bound to Loxias and not to you. And being his servant, I shall not be enrolled under the protection of Creon. In respect of speech the prophet has authority, as the king has in matters of state. Cp. Ant. 993-994. The metic had need of a προστάτης, not the free citizen, still less one who is the retainer of a god.

412. mvp-comment-249-1 λέγω δ' And I reply. Continuing the sense from ἀντιλέξαι.

412. mvp-comment-249-2 τυφλόν, sc. ὡς ὄντα. See Essay on Language § 39, I. c. p. 72.

413. mvp-comment-250-1 A more pointed way of saying, σὺ καὶ δεδορκὼς οὐ βλέπεις ἵν᾽ εἰ κακοῦ. Cp. 419. See Essay on Language § 36, В. 8. p. 68.

414. mvp-comment-251-1 ἔνθα ναίεις i. e. In your own country and in your father's house.

415. mvp-comment-252-1 ἆρ᾽ οἶσθ᾽ ἀφ᾽ ὧν εἰ This question first re-awakens in Oedipus the old desire to know his birth. Cp. 437, 451.

415. mvp-comment-252-2 καί Moreover.

417. mvp-comment-253-1 ἀμφιπλήξ On both sides lashing thee. The twofold curse reminds the poet of the favourite image of the διπλῆ μάστιξ.

417. mvp-comment-253-2 τοῦ σοῦ Ε. on L. p. 33. 6. b, infr. 459.

418. mvp-comment-254-1 As the sentence proceeds. the image of the curse becomes more distinct and personal. Cp. El. 491, χαλκόπους Ἐρινύς.

419. mvp-comment-255-1 Thy now clear sight thenceforth seeing darkness only. Essay on Language p. 70.

420-421. mvp-comment-256-1 ποῖος οὐκ ἔσται λιμήν i. e. τίς τόπος οὐκ ἔσται λιμήν; ποῖος Κιθαιρών, i.e. πῶς οὐχὶ Κιθαιρών, κ.τ.λ. The second ποῖος is used by a sort of attraction or echo from the previous clause, and may be explained by the adverbial use of the pronoun noticed in Essay on Language pp. 59, 83. This is better than to suppose Κιθαιρών to be put by synecdoche for any mountain. Cp. Phil. 451, ποῦ χρὴ τίθεσθαι ταῦτα .. ποῦ δ' αἰνεῖν; where similarly the meaning of ποῦ varies in the two members of the sentence.

422. mvp-comment-257-1 The favorite image of a haven, already present to the mind in another connection (420), is applied to the marriage of Oedipus with the queen. Cp. infr. 1208 foll. The marriage and the marriage-song are identified. as elsewhere. When thou hast learnt the nature of that marriage, into which in yonder halls thou wast carried with full sail, to find no shelter there. δόμοις is added to indicate the meaning of the image that follows. Cp. Tr. 538. (Others take öv as cogn. accus., not = λιμένα but πλοῦν, and δόμοις as = εἰς δόμους. For this cp. Eur. H. F. 242.) 425. 'Which will show you in your true relation to yourself and to your children: i. e. Which will show you what you are, and that you are the brother of your children.

426. mvp-comment-258-1 τοὐμὸν στόμα 'The word in my mouth; i. e. Me and my prophecies. Cp. Ο. C. 794, τὸ σὸν δ᾽ ἀφῖκται δεῦρ᾽ ὑπόβλητον στόμα.

428. mvp-comment-259-1 κάκιον. . ἐκτριβήσεται Shall be more cruelly rooted out. Cp. amongst other places, Hdt. 6. 86, ἐκτέτριπταί τε πρόρριζος ἐκ Σπάρτης: ib. 6. 37. The position of κάκιον is very emphatic.

430. mvp-comment-260-1 The two pauses in the same line mark intense excitement.

431. mvp-comment-261-1 οἴκων The genitive is to be taken with both phrases, ἄψορρος ἄπει and ἀποστραφείς. Will you not return and begone from the house? Observe the angry repetition both of sound and meaning.

434. mvp-comment-262-1 ἐστειλάμην Would have had thee conducted to my house; referring to the διπλοί πομποί. The verb is causa- tive as in Ant. 164-165, πομποῖσιν ..

434. mvp-comment-262-2 ἔστειλα. The middle voice here expresses more of personal feeling and is in harmony with οἴκους τοὺς ἐμούς.

436. mvp-comment-263-1 οἱ σ᾽ ἔφυσαν The repetition of the same verb (ἔφυμεν, l. 435 ) is another instance of accidental tautology. Cp. infr. 519. The double phrase (γον. οἵ σ' ἔφν.) is intended to draw the attention of Oedipus to the mystery of his birth. The construction of the dative has to be supplied from ἔφυμεν, ὡς .. δοκεῖ, SC. ἐδοκοῦμεν φῦναι.

437. mvp-comment-264-1 μεῖνον. (430, note.) Teiresias had turned to go. δé connects the question immediately with the speech of Teiresias. ἐκφύει, historical present.

438. mvp-comment-265-1 This day shall give thee birth and bring thee to nought.' 441. Reproach me with these things if you will, but you will find me great in them. For the sarcastic imperative, cp. Εl. 794, ὕβριζε, κ.τ.λ.: Aj. 971, ὑβριζέτω : Aesch. Prom. 82, ἐνταῦθα νῦν ὕβριζε.

442. mvp-comment-266-1 That glory of yours has been your ruin.' τύχη refers to μέγαν. The glory of which you speak. The word is much more appropriate than τέχνη (Bentley), which implies praise, and is rather applicable to the μαντική of Teiesias than to the γνώμη of Oedipus. Gravius est τύχη ut plura complectens. Erfurdt. Cp. supr. 423, εὐπλοίας τυχών. Teiresias assigns to Fortune what Oedipus (supr. 398) attributed to Wit. Cp. Thuc. 1. 144, γνώμῃ πλείονι ἢ τύχῃ καὶ τόλμῃ μείζονι ἢ δυνάμει.

443. mvp-comment-267-1 Oedipus, although curious about his parentage, cares not to ask further about the threat of ruin, but falls back on his devotion to the state.

445. mvp-comment-268-1 ὡς .. ὀχλεῖς Being present and in our way, you trouble us. σύ is brought in to mark the antithesis. Essay on Language § 41. e. p. 79. The reading of most MSS, σύ γ', may be defended if γε belongs to the whole sentence, assenting to l. 444. 447 ff. I will tell my message ere I go, not fearing thy frown, for thou hast no power to destroy me.' The speech of Teiresias is now as clear as his former words were dark; although his meaning is still an enigma to Oedipus.

447. mvp-comment-269-1 εἰπὼν ἄπειμ᾽ ὧν οὖνεκ᾽ ἦλθον The position of εἰπών here (having the first arsis of the line) is very emphatic. Cp. supr. 428, and see Essay on Language § 41. P. 77.

448. mvp-comment-270-1 πρόσωπον Cp. Hor. Od. 3. 3. 4. Nec vultus instantis tyranni Mente quatit solida.

448. mvp-comment-270-2 οὐ γὰρ . . ὀλεῖς Thou hast no power to ruin me. Cp. supr. 355. Essay on Language § 24. p. 41. Teiresias' habitual respect for Oedipus struggles with his prophetic knowledge, even now that he has help of anger.' ὅπου and ποῦ are used as nearly equivalent to ὅπως, πῶς. Cp. Αj. 1100, ποῦ σὺ στρατηγεῖς τοῦδε; 1103, οὐδ᾽ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπου σοί, κ.τ.λ.

449. mvp-comment-271-1 τοῦτον Essay on Language § 22. p. 35; and § 35. p. 59.

450. mvp-comment-272-1 ἀπειλῶν Supr. 233 foll.

452. mvp-comment-273-1 λόγῳ In appearance. Cp. El. 63, 1217.

452. mvp-comment-273-2 ἐγγενὴς . . Θηβαῖος A native Theban, i.e. not only of Theban extraction, but at once born in the country and belonging to the race. Cp. Hdt. 2. 47, where Αἰγύπτιοι ἐγγενέες means the opposite of τὸ ἀνέκαθεν Αἰγύπτιοι.

453. mvp-comment-274-1 οὐδ᾽ ἡσθήσεται, κ.τ.λ. Nor will he be gladdened by his fortune. The use of the third person adds to the impressiveness of the prophecy.

456. mvp-comment-275-1 Groping his way. σκήπτρῳ προδεικνύς, lit. 'Pointing before him with a staff. For the order of words, see Essay on Language § 41. p. 77.

457. mvp-comment-276-1 αὐτός The MS. reading agrees better with αὑτοῦ in the previous line than αὑτός, which some editors have substituted. He shall prove to be to his own children, with whom he lives, himself their brother as well as father. (αὐτὸς τοῖς αὑτοῦ παισὶν ἀδελφός.) For the slight pleonasm in ξυνών, cp. Aj. 267, κοινὸς ἐν κοινοῖσι λυπεῖσθαι ξυνών. The horror of the relationship is increased by his having lived with them in ignorance of it for so long.

459. mvp-comment-277-1 And of his mother and wife—her husband as well as son. The collocation of γυναικὸς υἱὸς is intentionally suggestive.

459. mvp-comment-277-2 τοῦ πατρός The article points to Laius, his father, of whom so much has been lately said. And of his murdered sire at once the incestuous rival and the murderer.

460. mvp-comment-278-1 ὁμόσπορος τὴν αὐτὴν σπείρων γυναῖκα, Schol. Cp. Eur. Or. 476, where Menelaus says to Tyndareus, χαῖρε, Ζηνὸς ὁμόλεκτρον κάρα. The same word is used passively in 260. The seven καί's have a cumulative force. καί with the imperative = And now. 461. For με omitted see Essay on Language §39. P. 73-

462. mvp-comment-279-1 φρονεῖν To have intelligence, as in 316. Cp. 11. 390-396.