Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, ed. Francis Storr, 649-698

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Χορός

πιθοῦ θελήσας φρονήσας τʼ, ἄναξ, λίσσομαι.

Οἰδίπους

τί σοι θέλεις δῆτʼ εἰκάθω;
650

Χορός

τὸν οὔτε πρὶν νήπιον νῦν τʼ ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν καταίδεσαι.

Οἰδίπους

οἶσθʼ οὖν ἃ χρῄζεις;

Χορός

οἶδα.

Οἰδίπους

φράζε δὴ τί φής.

Χορός

τὸν ἐναγῆ φίλον μήποτʼ ἐν αἰτίᾳ
655

σὺν ἀφανεῖ λόγῳ σʼ ἄτιμον βαλεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

εὖ νυν ἐπίστω, ταῦθʼ ὅταν ζητῇς, ἐμοὶ

ζητῶν ὄλεθρον ἢ φυγὴν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

660

Χορός

οὐ τὸν πάντων θεῶν θεὸν πρόμον
660

Ἅλιον· ἐπεὶ ἄθεος ἄφιλος ὅ τι πύματον

ὀλοίμαν, φρόνησιν εἰ τάνδʼ ἔχω.

ἀλλά μοι δυσμόρῳ γᾶ φθινὰς
665

τρύχει ψυχάν, τάδʼ εἰ κακοῖς κακὰ

προσάψει τοῖς πάλαι τὰ πρὸς σφῷν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁ δʼ οὖν ἴτω, κεἰ χρή με παντελῶς θανεῖν

ἢ γῆς ἄτιμον τῆσδʼ ἀπωσθῆναι βίᾳ.
670

τὸ γὰρ σόν, οὐ τὸ τοῦδʼ, ἐποικτίρω στόμα

ἐλεινόν· οὗτος δʼ ἔνθʼ ἂν ᾖ στυγήσεται.

Κρέων

στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δʼ, ὅταν

θυμοῦ περάσῃς· αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις

αὑταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675

Οἰδίπους

οὔκουν μʼ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.

679

Χορός

γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδʼ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη

μαθοῦσά γʼ ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680

Χορός

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

Ἰοκάστη

ἀμφοῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός

ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός

ἅλις ἔμοιγʼ, ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685

φαίνεται ἔνθʼ ἔληξεν αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ,

τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ;

Χορός

ὦναξ, εἶπον μὲν οὐχ ἅπαξ μόνον,
690

ἴσθι δὲ παραφρόνιμον, ἄπορον ἐπὶ φρόνιμα

πεφάνθαι μʼ ἄν, εἴ σʼ ἐνοσφιζόμαν,

ὅς τʼ ἐμὰν γᾶν φίλαν ἐν πόνοις

ἀλύουσαν κατʼ ὀρθὸν οὔρισας,
695

τανῦν τʼ εὔπομπος, ἂν γένοιο.

Ἰοκάστη

πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ

μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles. ed. Francis Storr. London. 1912.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Οἰδίπους Τύραννος (Greek) (Sophocles, Volume 1. Storr, Francis, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann Ltd.; The Macmillan Company, 1912.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 649 focus

πιθοῦ θελήσας φρονήσας τ᾽, ἄναξ, λίσσομαι.

Οἰδίπους

τί σοι θέλεις δῆτ᾽ εἰκάθω;
650

Χορός

τὸν οὔτε πρὶν νήπιον νῦν τ᾽ ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν καταίδεσαι.

Οἰδίπους

οἶσθ᾽ οὖν ἃ χρῄζεις;

Χορός

οἶδα.

Οἰδίπους

φράζε δή, τί φής.

Χορός

τὸν ἐναγῆ φίλον μήποτ᾽ ἐν αἰτίᾳ

σὺν ἀφανεῖ λόγῳ †ἄτιμον βαλεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

εὖ νυν ἐπίστω, ταῦθ᾽ ὅταν ζητῇς, ἐμοὶ

ζητῶν ὄλεθρον ἢ φυγὴν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

β

Χορός

οὐ τὸν πάντων θεῶν θεὸν πρόμον
660

Ἅλιον· ἐπεὶ ἄθεος ἄφιλος ὅ τι πύματον

ὀλοίμαν, φρόνησιν εἰ τάνδ᾽ ἔχω.

ἀλλά μοι δυσμόρῳ γᾶ φθίνουσα
665

τρύχει ψυχάν, *τάδ᾽ εἰ κακοῖς κακὰ

προσάψει τοῖς πάλαι τὰ πρὸς σφῶν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁ δ᾽ οὖν ἰτω, κεἰ χρή με παντελῶς θανεῖν,

ἢ γῆς ἄτιμον τῆσδ᾽ ἀπωσθῆναι βίᾳ.
670

τὸ γὰρ σόν, οὐ τὸ τοῦδ᾽, ἐποικτείρω στόμα

ἐλεινόν· οὗτος δ᾽, ἔνθ᾽ ἂν ᾖ, στυγήσεται.

Κρέων

στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δ᾽, ὅταν

θυμοῦ περάσῃς, αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις

αὐταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675

Οἰδίπους

οὔκουν μ᾽ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἴσος.

α

Χορός

γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδ᾽ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη

μαθοῦσά γ' ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680

Χορός

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

Ἰοκάστη

ἀμφοῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός

ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός

ἅλις ἔμοιγ', ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685

φαίνεται ἔνθ᾽ ἔληξεν, αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ,

τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ.

β

Χορός

ὦναξ, εἶπον μὲν οὐχ ἅπαξ μόνον,

ἴσθι δὲ παραφρόνιμον, ἄπορον ἐπὶ φρόνιμα
690

πεφάνθαι μ' ἄν, εἴ σε νοσφίζομαι,

ὅς τ᾿ ἐμὰν γᾶν φίλαν ἐν πόνοισιν

ἀλύουσαν κατ᾿ ὀρθὸν οὔρισας,
695

τανῦν δ᾽ εὔπομπος, εἰ δύναιο.

Ἰοκάστη

πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ

μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

Οἰδίπους

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 649 focus

Incline to our request

Thy mind and heart, O King!

OED

What would you I should yield unto your prayer?
650

CH. 2

Respect one ever wise,

Whose oath protects him now.

OED

Know ye what thing ye ask?

CH. 3

I know.

OED

Then plainly tell.

CH. 4

Thy friend, who is rendered sacred by his oath,

Rob not of honour through obscure surmise.

OED

In asking that, you labour for my death

Or banishment. Of this be well assured.

CH. 5

No, by the Sun I swear,
660

Vaunt-courier of the host of heaven.
660

For may I die the last of deaths,

Unblest of God or friend,

If e’er such thought were mine.

But oh! this pining land
665

Afflicts my sorrow-burdened soul,

To think that to her past and present woe

She must add this, which springs to her from you.

OED

Then let him range, though I must die outright,

Or be thrust forth with violence from the land!
670

—Not for his voice, but thine, which wrings my heart:

He, wheresoe’er he live, shall have my hate.

CR

You show yourself as sullen when you yield,

As unendurable in your fury’s height.

Such natures justly give themselves most pain.
675

OED

Let me alone, then, and begone!

CR

I go,

Untainted in their sight, though thou art blind.

CH. 1

Lady, why tarriest thou

To lead thy husband in?

JO

Not till I learn what mischief is befallen.
680

CH. 2

A dim, unproved debate.

Reproach, though unfounded, stings.

JO

From both?

CH. 3

From both alike.

JO

How caused?

CH. 4

Enough for me,
685

Amply enough it seems, when our poor land
685

Is vexed already, not to wake what sleeps.

OED

().

See where thine honest zeal hath landed thee,

Bating my wrath, and blunting my desire!

CH. 5

My prince, I say it again:

Assure thee, I were lost to sense,

Infatuate, void of wholesome thought,
690

Could I be tempted now

To loose my faith from thee,

Who, when the land I love

Laboured beneath a wildering load,
695

Didst speed her forth anew with favouring gale.
695

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

JO

Let not thy queen be left in ignorance

What cause thou hadst to lift thy wrath so high.

OED

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 649 focus

Gib willig nach, Herr, o gib klüglich nach, fleh' ich dir!

Oedipus.

Wo, willst du, daß ich folgen soll?

Der Chor.

Der nie zuvor thöricht war,

Nun durch Eid heilig ist, veracht' ihn nicht!¹
645

Oedipus.

Bedenkst du, was du forderst?

Der Chor.

Ia!

Oedipus.

So rede denn!

Der Chor.

wirf auf den Freund, der durch den Fluch sich band,

Nicht ehrlose Schuld in grundlosem Wahn.

Oedipus.

So wisse: wenn du dieses willst, so willst du mein

Verderben oder meine Flucht aus diesem Land.
650

Der Chor.

Nein, bei'm Gott, aller Götter erstem, dem Helios!²

Freundlos, ohne Gott, mög' in Graus

Ich hinsterben, heg' ich solch argen Sinn!

Doch das Land schmerzt mich tief, das in Sammer schwindet,³

Wenn sich noch zur alten Noth
655

Gesellt dies neue Leid von euch her.

Oedipus.

So mag er gehen, müßt' ich ganz verderben auch,

Und würd' ich ehrlos mit Gewalt vom Land gejagt.

Die Klage deines Mundes, nicht die seine, stimmt

Mich milder; dieser, wo er sei, bleibt mir verhaßt.
660

Kreon.

Voll Hasses, seh' ich, gibst du nach; doch wann der Zorn

Verbraust, bereust du. Solcher Art Naturen sind

Sich selbst mit Recht unleidlich und die herbste Qual.

Oedipus.

So laß mich und entferne dich!

Kreon.

Ich eile fort,

Von dir verkannt, vor diesen aber rein, wie sonst.
665
Oedipus. Jokaste. Der Chor. (ab.)

Der Chor.

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

Jokaste.

Erst möcht' ich wissen, was gescheh'n.

Der Chor.

Verdacht entspann sich ohne Grund;

Denn es kränkt auch das ungerechte Wort.

Jokaste.

Durch Schuld der Beiden?
670

Der Chor.

Freilich.

Jokaste.

Und wie kam es so?

Der Chor.

Sei es genug, genug bei der gemeinen Noth!

Ruhe der Hader dort, wo er sein Ende fand!

Oedipus.

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

Von mir dich abkehrst, meinen Zorn zu brechen suchst.

Der Chor.

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

Ein sinnloser Thor müßt' ich sein,

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

Der du mein theures Land, das in Noth umhertrieb,

Unter guten Wind gelenkt:

Auch jezt führ' uns auf rechtem Pfade!
680

Jokaste.

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

Um welche That dir solcher Groll die Brust erfüllt.

Oedipus.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 649 focus

Hear, O king !

Consider, we entreat thee.

Think you I'll e'er submit to him?

Chorus
(Em. What wouldst have ?

Revere

His character, his oath, both pleading for him.

Oedipus

But know you what you ask?

Chorus

We do.

Chorus
(Edi. What is it ?

We ask thee to believe a guiltless friend,

Nor cast him forth dishonoured thus, on slight

Suspicion's weak surmise.

Oedipus

Bequesting this,

You do request my banishment, or death.

Chorus

No ; by yon leader of the heavenly host,
660

iao

Th' immortal sun, 1 liail not such a thought ;

I only felt for Thebes' distressful state,
665

And would not have it by domestic strife

Embittered thus.

Oedipus

Why, let liim then depart :

If G^dipus must die, or leave his country

For shameful exile, be it so ; 1 yield
670

To thy request, not his ; for hateful still

Shall Cieon ever be.

Creon

Thy stubborn soul

Bends with reluctance, and when anger fiies it

Is terrible ; but natures formed like thine

Are their own punishment.
675

Oedipus

Wilt thou not hence 1

I go ; thou knowst me not ;

But these will do me justice. [Exit Creon.

Jocasta
Scene IV.

(EdIPUS, ChORUS.

Chorus

Princess, now

Persuade him to retire.

Joe. First, let me know

The cause of this dissension.

Chorus

From reports

Uncertain, and suspicions most injurious.

The quarrel rose.

Joe. Was th' accusation mutual 1

Chorus

It was.
685

Joe. AVhat followed then ?

Chorus

Ask me no more ;

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

The woes of hapless Thebes.

. CEdi. You are all blind,

Insensible, unjust; you love me not,
695

Yet boast your piety.

Jocasta

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 649 focus

I too entreat thee, be persuaded, king:

What wou'dst thou I should yield?

With wisdom yield.

Chorus

To reverence him, not weakly justified

Oedipus

Know'st thou what thou wou'dst ask?

Chorus

Full well.

Oedipus

Then speak..

Before, but by his oath more strongly now.

Chorus

On dark suspicion charge not, nor disgrace

With blame a friend, who thus attests the gods.

Oedipus

Now be assured that, seeking this, thou seek'st

My ruin, or my exile from this land.

Chorus

No: by the brightest of the pow'rs of heav'n,
660

The Sun, of every god, of every friend
660

Abandon'd may I perish, sunk in deep

Perdition, if I e'er had such a thought.

My country's ruin rends my bleeding heart:
665

And greater were my grief, to former ills,

If ills were added from your contest sprung.

Oedipus

Then let him go, e'en though I needs must die,

Or from this country with disgrace be driven.
670

Thy mournful plea, not his, my pity moves;

Him shall my hate, where'er he goes, pursue..

Creon

Harsh art thou e'en in yielding; when thy rage

Works its fell purpose, dreadful: souls like thine

Justly bring keenest tortures on themselves.
675

Oedipus

Then leave me to myself: begone.

Creon

I go,

To thee perchance not known; but still by these,

Just to my innocence, in honour held.

Chorus
CEDIPUS, JOCASTA, CHORUS.

Why, lady, this delay to lead him hence ?

Jocasta

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

Chorus

Words of dark import gave suspicion birth :

Hence an injurious charge which gnaws the heart.

Jocasta

From each to each?

E'en so.

And what the cause?

Chorus

Enough, for me enough, my country sunk
685

With such afflictions, where they cease to cease.

Oedipus

I know thee wise and good; why then persist

Thus to depress me, and to damp my heart?

Chorus

Let me repeat what I before declared.

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

Bereft, and lost to wisdom, if in thought
690

I could abandon thee. Thou once didst raise

This my dear country when with ills depress'd;

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

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

That with such fury flames, O king, arose.

Oedipus

I reverence thee) of Creon's base designs.

Speak, if accusing him thy proof be clear.

Oedipus

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 649-698 focus

Chorus

Consent, reflect, listen, my king, I beg you.

Oedipus

What would you have me grant you?
650

Chorus

Respect him who was in the past not foolish, and who now is strong in his oath.

Oedipus

Do you understand what you crave?

Chorus

I do.

Oedipus

Tell me, then, what you mean.
655

Chorus

That you should never use an unproved rumor to cast a dishonoring charge on the friend who has bound himself with a curse.

Oedipus

Then be quite aware that when you seek this you are seeking death or exile from this land for me.

660

Chorus

No, by the god that stands at the head of all the host of the gods, no, by the sun. Unblest, unbefriended, may I die the worst possible death, if I have this thought!
660

But my unhappy soul is worn by the withering of the land, as well as by the thought that our old sorrows should be crowned by new ones arising from the two of you.
665

Oedipus

Then let him go, though I am surely doomed to be killed

or thrust dishonored from the land. Your words, not his, move me to compassion; but he, wherever he be, shall be hated.
670

Creon

You are truly sullen in yielding, as you are vehement in the excesses of your wrath. But such natures are

justly most difficult for themselves to bear.
675

Oedipus

Will you not be gone and leave me in peace?

Creon

I will go on my way. I have found you undiscerning, but in the view of these men I am just. He exits.

678

Chorus

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

Iocasta

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

Chorus

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

Iocasta

On both sides?

Chorus

Yes.

Iocasta

And what was the story?

Chorus

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

Oedipus

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

Chorus

King, I have said it more than once—

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

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

Iocasta

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

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-410-1 The κομμός (see p. 9) has a composite strophic arrangement: (1) 1st strophe, 649-659, (2) 2nd strophe, 660-668; answering respectively to (3) 1st antistr., 678-688, (4) 2nd antistr., 689-697.

mvp-comment-411-1 θελήσας ¹

mvp-comment-411-2 φρονήσας ²

mvp-comment-412-1 εἰκάθω ³

mvp-comment-413-1 οὔτε πρὶν … νῦν τε ⁴

mvp-comment-413-2 μέγαν ⁵ ἐν ὅρκῳ ⁶

mvp-comment-414-1 “That thou shouldest never lay under an accusation ( ἐν αἰτίᾳ βαλεῖν ⁷ ἄτιμον ⁸ σὺν ἀφανεῖ λόγῳ ⁹ ἐναγἦ” ¹⁰ ἐν αἰτίᾳ βαλεῖν ¹¹

mvp-comment-415-1 οὐ τὸν ¹²

mvp-comment-415-2 πρόμον ¹³

mvp-comment-416-1 ὅ τι πύματόν ¹⁴ ὀλοίμαν ¹⁵

mvp-comment-417-1 τὰ δ’—σφῷν ¹⁶ τὰ δ’ ¹⁷ γᾶ φθίνουσα ¹⁸ τάδ’ ¹⁹

mvp-comment-417-2 προσάψει ²⁰ τὰ δ’ ²¹

mvp-comment-418-1 ὁ δ’ οὖν ²²

mvp-comment-419-1 ἐλεινόν ²³

mvp-comment-419-2 στυγήσεται ²⁴

mvp-comment-420-1 στυγνὸς … περάσῃς ²⁵

mvp-comment-420-2 βαρὺς ²⁶

mvp-comment-420-3 περάσῃς ²⁷

mvp-comment-420-4 θυμοῦ ²⁸ μὲν ²⁹ δὲ ³⁰

mvp-comment-421-1 ἀγνῶτος ³¹

mvp-comment-421-2 ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ’ ἴσος· ἐν ³²

mvp-comment-421-3 ἴσος ³³

mvp-comment-422-1 Creon leaves the scene. The Chorus wish Iocasta to withdraw Oedipus also, that he may be soothed in the house: but she wishes first to learn how the dispute began.

mvp-comment-423-1 μαθοῦσά γ’ ³⁴

mvp-comment-424-1 δόκησις … λόγων ³⁵ ἀγνὼς ³⁶

mvp-comment-424-2 δάπτει δὲ ³⁷ δὲ ³⁸ καὶ ³⁹

mvp-comment-424-3 δάπτει ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-425-1 ἀμφοῖν ἀπ’ αὐτοῖν ⁴¹

mvp-comment-425-2 λόγος ⁴²

mvp-comment-426-1 προπονουμένας ⁴³

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

mvp-comment-427-2 ὁρᾷς ἵν’ ἥκεις ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-428-1 παριεὶς ⁴⁵ τοὐμὸν κέαρ ⁴⁶ καταμβλύνων ⁴⁷ παριεὶς ⁴⁸ τοὐμὸν ⁴⁹ κέαρ ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-429-1 ἐπὶ φρόνιμα ⁵¹

mvp-comment-430-1 πεφάνθαι ἂν ⁵² ἐνοσφιζόμαν ⁵³

mvp-comment-431-1 ὅς τε ⁵⁴ οὔρισας ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-432-1 ἀλύουσαν ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-433-1 ἂν γένοιο ⁵⁷ εἰ δύναιο γενοῦ ⁵⁸ εἰ δύνᾳ γενοῦ ⁵⁹ εἰ δύναιο ⁶⁰ δύνᾀ γενοῦ ⁶¹ εἰ δύναιο ⁶² εἰ γένοιο ⁶³ ἂν γένοιο ⁶⁴ εἰ δύναιο ⁶⁵ ἂν γένοιο ⁶⁶ εἰ δύναιο ⁶⁷ εἶ τό γ’ ἔν σοι ⁶⁸

mvp-comment-434-1 κἄμ’ ⁶⁹

mvp-comment-434-2 ὅτου … πράγματος ⁷⁰

mvp-comment-434-3 στήσας ἔχεις ⁷¹

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

649. mvp-comment-381-1 πιθοῦ θελήσας, κ.τ.λ. We pray thee bend thy will to our request, and calm thy mind, O king. The chorus are encouraged by Jocasta's reference to them in l. 648.

649. mvp-comment-381-2 φρονήσας = returning to a proper of thi things. Cp. Aj. 371, ὕπεικε καὶ φρόνησον εὖ. See above l. 626. sense

654. mvp-comment-382-1 ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν Great in the power of his oath. Cp. Phil. 185-186, ἕν τ᾽ ὀδύναις ὁμοῦ λιμῷ τ' οἰκτρός.

655. mvp-comment-383-1 Otherwise φράζε δή τί φής; But cp. Phil. 559, φράσον δ᾽ ἅπερ γ᾽ ἔλεξας.

656. mvp-comment-384-1 Cp. Stephanus. Thes. v. ἐναγῆ.

656. mvp-comment-384-2 ἐναγής, like ἀραῖος (276) or ὅρκιος (Ant. 305) = ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγας, i. e. the curse which he has invoked should protect him from rash accusation. Some editors have preferred ἀναγῆ, which is a conjecture supported by the mention of the word in Hesychius as = καθαρός, but the word is pointless and unmeaning here.

657. mvp-comment-385-1 Antiphon. p. 136, ἐγὼ μὲν γάρ σοι φανερὰν τὴν πρόνοιαν εἰς ἐμὲ ἀποδείκνυμι, σὺ δὲ με ἐν ἀφανεῖ λόγῳ ζητεῖς ἀπολέσαι. This parallel supports the reading λόγῳ, and the hiatus may be obviated by reading λόγῳ σ᾽ ἄτιμον βαλεῖν (Herm.). Others read μηδέποτ' αἰτίᾳ σὺν ἀφανεῖ λόγων. But the hiatus at the end of a dochmiac metre is not impossible. Join βαλεῖν ἄτιμον ἐν αἰτίᾳ. The reading ἐκβαλεῖν may have arisen from an attempt to explain βαλεῖν. That you should never accuse and dishonour with an obscure suspicion your friend, who has invoked a curse upon his head. Cp. 648, γνώμῃ ἀδήλῳ. 658-659. Because Oedipus believes that Creon has conspired with Teiresias to charge him with the murder of Laius.

660. mvp-comment-386-1 οὐ τόν Cp. 1088, Ant. 758, Ε1. 1063, 1239, Eur. Ion 870.

660. mvp-comment-386-2 πρόμον Foremost of the hosts of heaven. It is not easy to say in what sense the sun is spoken of as first or foremost. He is invoked as the god who brings all things to light (Hymn. Hom. Dem. 62, θεῶν σκοπὸν ἠδὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν: Il. 3.277, Ἠέλιός θ᾽, ὃς πάντ᾽ ἐφορᾶς καὶ πάντ᾽ ἐπακούεις), and with reference to the intention of the person speaking, may be regarded as first of Gods; i. e. the author of light and illumination in all things. Cp. O. C. 868-870, ὁ πάντα λεύσσων “Ἥλιος δοίη βίον, κ.τ.λ. Or he is imagined as the vanguard of Heaven, standing before the rest as the champion. Welcker compares Fr. 875, Ἠέ- λιος οἰκτείρειέ με, | ὃν οἱ σοφοὶ λέγουσι γεννητὴν θεῶν | καὶ πατέρα πάντων. But this is a philosophical conceit, which could not properly find place here.

661. mvp-comment-387-1 ὅ τι πύματον i. e. as the Scholiast explains, ἀπώλειαν ἥτις ἐσχάτη. Cp. supr. 344. For πύματον, cp. O. С. 1235, ἐπιλέλογχε πύματον.

665. mvp-comment-388-1 φθίνουσα here does not correspond with the line 694 in the antistrophe. Dindorf has therefore proposed to read φθινάς for φθίνουσα. But as a still slighter alteration in the antistrophe, πόνοισι for πόνοις, reconciles the two lines, it has been adopted. For the combination of cretic and trochaic metre, cp. 1. 651. καὶ in 666 is against metre.

667. mvp-comment-389-1 προσάψει Sc. γᾶ. If she is to add to her former evils these which come from you. Cp. Eur. Med. 78, εἰ κακὸν προσοίσομεν νέον παλαιῷ. Ε. on L. p. 52.

672. mvp-comment-390-1 ἐλεινόν Which does move me. The adjective is so placed, with pathos, in order to increase the antithesis to what follows. Essay on Language § 23. p. 37.

673. mvp-comment-391-1 You show yourself to be sullen in yielding. ὤν is dropped dropped or absorbed in the participle. στυγνός echoes στυγήσεται and has a neuter meaning = tristis, morose.

673. mvp-comment-391-2 βαρὺς δ', ὅταν θυμοῦ περάσῃς And intolerable when you exceed in wrath. θυμοῦ is genitive of place, like σοφίας in πόρρω σοφίας ἐλαύνειν (Plat. Crat. 410 E). Essay on Language p 16, 3, d. βαρύς expresses the something dangerous in a passionate man. Cp. 546, Ant. 767, νοῦς δ᾽ ἐστὶ τηλικοῦτος ἀλγήσας βαρύς. The other explanation: You are dangerous even when you come to an end of your wrath (ὅταν ἐπὶ πέρας ἔλθῃς τῆς ὀργῆς Schol.)-is objectionable on two grounds-(1) because presenting a mere repetition under the form of antithesis; (2) because θυμοῦ περᾶν, in the sense of to pass out of anger, is too harsh for Sophocles. Also (3) because some Greek word is needed to give the sense of even. The use of περâν in either case is metaphorical. For περᾶν, to go far, cp. О. С. 155, περῖς γάρ, περᾷς.

674-675. mvp-comment-392-1 Nature justly ordains that such dispositions shall be most grievous to themselves, i. e. ἑαυταῖς μάλιστα ἀλγειναί.

676. mvp-comment-393-1 οὔκουν 'Will you not, then,'i. e. Since I am so disagreeable.

677. mvp-comment-394-1 ἀγνῶτος Without discernment. ἐν τοῖσδε] In their minds. Cp. Ant. 459, ἐν θεοῖσι τὴν δίκην δώσειν: ib. 925, εἰ τάδ᾽ ἐστὶν ἐν θεοῖς καλά.

677. mvp-comment-394-2 ἴσος Either (1) just (cp. Phil. 685, ἴσος ἔν γ᾽ ἴσοις ἀνήρ), or (2) ‘'as I was before,' = ἴσος καὶ πρὸ τοῦ, cp. supr. 53, ἴσος γενοῦ. (2) is best.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Χορός πιθοῦ θελήσας φρονήσας τʼ, ἄναξ, λίσσομαι.

Οἰδίπους τί σοι θέλεις δῆτʼ εἰκάθω; 650

Χορός τὸν οὔτε πρὶν νήπιον νῦν τʼ ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν καταίδεσαι.

Οἰδίπους οἶσθʼ οὖν ἃ χρῄζεις;

Χορός οἶδα.

Οἰδίπους φράζε δὴ τί φής.

Χορός τὸν ἐναγῆ φίλον μήποτʼ ἐν αἰτίᾳ 655 σὺν ἀφανεῖ λόγῳ σʼ ἄτιμον βαλεῖν.

Οἰδίπους εὖ νυν ἐπίστω, ταῦθʼ ὅταν ζητῇς, ἐμοὶ ζητῶν ὄλεθρον ἢ φυγὴν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

Κρέων στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δʼ, ὅταν θυμοῦ περάσῃς· αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις αὑταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν. 675

Οἰδίπους οὔκουν μʼ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων πορεύσομαι, σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.

Χορός γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδʼ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη μαθοῦσά γʼ ἥτις ἡ τύχη. 680

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

Ἰοκάστη ἀμφοῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

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

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

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

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πιθοῦ θελήσας φρονήσας τ᾽, ἄναξ, λίσσομαι.

Οἰδίπους τί σοι θέλεις δῆτ᾽ εἰκάθω; 650

Χορός τὸν οὔτε πρὶν νήπιον νῦν τ᾽ ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν καταίδεσαι.

Οἰδίπους οἶσθ᾽ οὖν ἃ χρῄζεις;

Χορός οἶδα.

Οἰδίπους φράζε δή, τί φής.

Χορός τὸν ἐναγῆ φίλον μήποτ᾽ ἐν αἰτίᾳ σὺν ἀφανεῖ λόγῳ †ἄτιμον βαλεῖν.

Οἰδίπους εὖ νυν ἐπίστω, ταῦθ᾽ ὅταν ζητῇς, ἐμοὶ ζητῶν ὄλεθρον ἢ φυγὴν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς. β

Χορός

Κρέων στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δ᾽, ὅταν θυμοῦ περάσῃς, αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις αὐταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν. 675

Οἰδίπους οὔκουν μ᾽ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων πορεύσομαι, σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἴσος. α

Χορός

γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδ᾽ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη μαθοῦσά γ' ἥτις ἡ τύχη. 680

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

Ἰοκάστη ἀμφοῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

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

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

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

Οἰδίπους

Incline to our request Thy mind and heart, O King!

OED What would you I should yield unto your prayer? 650

CH. 2 Respect one ever wise, Whose oath protects him now.

OED Know ye what thing ye ask?

CH. 3 I know.

OED Then plainly tell.

CH. 4 Thy friend, who is rendered sacred by his oath, Rob not of honour through obscure surmise.

OED In asking that, you labour for my death Or banishment. Of this be well assured.

CH. 5

OED Then let him range, though I must die outright, Or be thrust forth with violence from the land! 670 —Not for his voice, but thine, which wrings my heart: He, wheresoe’er he live, shall have my hate.

CR You show yourself as sullen when you yield, As unendurable in your fury’s height. Such natures justly give themselves most pain. 675

OED Let me alone, then, and begone!

CR I go, Untainted in their sight, though thou art blind.

CH. 1

Lady, why tarriest thou To lead thy husband in?

JO Not till I learn what mischief is befallen. 680

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

JO From both?

CH. 3 From both alike.

JO How caused?

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

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

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

OED

Gib willig nach, Herr, o gib klüglich nach, fleh' ich dir!

Oedipus. Wo, willst du, daß ich folgen soll?

Der Chor. Der nie zuvor thöricht war, Nun durch Eid heilig ist, veracht' ihn nicht! 1 645

Oedipus. Bedenkst du, was du forderst?

Der Chor. Ia!

Oedipus. So rede denn!

Der Chor. wirf auf den Freund, der durch den Fluch sich band, Nicht ehrlose Schuld in grundlosem Wahn.

Oedipus. So wisse: wenn du dieses willst, so willst du mein Verderben oder meine Flucht aus diesem Land. 650

Der Chor.

Nein, bei'm Gott, aller Götter erstem, dem Helios! 2 Freundlos, ohne Gott, mög' in Graus Ich hinsterben, heg' ich solch argen Sinn! Doch das Land schmerzt mich tief, das in Sammer schwindet, 3 Wenn sich noch zur alten Noth 655 Gesellt dies neue Leid von euch her.

Χορός

πιθοῦ θελήσας φρονήσας τʼ, ἄναξ, λίσσομαι.

Οἰδίπους

τί σοι θέλεις δῆτʼ εἰκάθω;
650

Χορός

τὸν οὔτε πρὶν νήπιον νῦν τʼ ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν καταίδεσαι.

Οἰδίπους

οἶσθʼ οὖν ἃ χρῄζεις;

Χορός

οἶδα.

Οἰδίπους

φράζε δὴ τί φής.

Χορός

τὸν ἐναγῆ φίλον μήποτʼ ἐν αἰτίᾳ
655

σὺν ἀφανεῖ λόγῳ σʼ ἄτιμον βαλεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

εὖ νυν ἐπίστω, ταῦθʼ ὅταν ζητῇς, ἐμοὶ

ζητῶν ὄλεθρον ἢ φυγὴν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

Κρέων

στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δʼ, ὅταν

θυμοῦ περάσῃς· αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις

αὑταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675

Οἰδίπους

οὔκουν μʼ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδʼ ἴσος.

Χορός

γύναι, τί μέλλεις κομίζειν δόμων τόνδʼ ἔσω;

Ἰοκάστη

μαθοῦσά γʼ ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680

Χορός

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

Ἰοκάστη

ἀμφοῖν ἀπʼ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός

ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός

ἅλις ἔμοιγʼ, ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685

φαίνεται ἔνθʼ ἔληξεν αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ,

τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ;

Ἰοκάστη

πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ

μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

Οἰδίπους

τί σοι θέλεις δῆτ᾽ εἰκάθω;
650

Χορός

τὸν οὔτε πρὶν νήπιον νῦν τ᾽ ἐν ὅρκῳ μέγαν καταίδεσαι.

Οἰδίπους

οἶσθ᾽ οὖν ἃ χρῄζεις;

Χορός

οἶδα.

Οἰδίπους

φράζε δή, τί φής.

Χορός

τὸν ἐναγῆ φίλον μήποτ᾽ ἐν αἰτίᾳ

σὺν ἀφανεῖ λόγῳ †ἄτιμον βαλεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

εὖ νυν ἐπίστω, ταῦθ᾽ ὅταν ζητῇς, ἐμοὶ

ζητῶν ὄλεθρον ἢ φυγὴν ἐκ τῆσδε γῆς.

β

Κρέων

στυγνὸς μὲν εἴκων δῆλος εἶ, βαρὺς δ᾽, ὅταν

θυμοῦ περάσῃς, αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται φύσεις

αὐταῖς δικαίως εἰσὶν ἄλγισται φέρειν.
675

Οἰδίπους

οὔκουν μ᾽ ἐάσεις κἀκτὸς εἶ;

Κρέων

πορεύσομαι,

σοῦ μὲν τυχὼν ἀγνῶτος, ἐν δὲ τοῖσδ᾽ ἴσος.

α

Ἰοκάστη

μαθοῦσά γ' ἥτις ἡ τύχη.
680

Χορός

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

Ἰοκάστη

ἀμφοῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῖν;

Χορός

ναίχι.

Ἰοκάστη

καὶ τίς ἦν λόγος;

Χορός

ἅλις ἔμοιγ', ἅλις, γᾶς προπονουμένας,
685

φαίνεται ἔνθ᾽ ἔληξεν, αὐτοῦ μένειν.

Οἰδίπους

ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ἀγαθὸς ὢν γνώμην ἀνήρ,

τοὐμὸν παριεὶς καὶ καταμβλύνων κέαρ.

β

Ἰοκάστη

πρὸς θεῶν δίδαξον κἄμʼ, ἄναξ, ὅτου ποτὲ

μῆνιν τοσήνδε πράγματος στήσας ἔχεις.

Incline to our request

Thy mind and heart, O King!

OED

What would you I should yield unto your prayer?
650

CH. 2

Respect one ever wise,

Whose oath protects him now.

OED

Know ye what thing ye ask?

CH. 3

I know.

OED

Then plainly tell.

CH. 4

Thy friend, who is rendered sacred by his oath,

Rob not of honour through obscure surmise.

OED

In asking that, you labour for my death

Or banishment. Of this be well assured.

OED

Then let him range, though I must die outright,

Or be thrust forth with violence from the land!
670

—Not for his voice, but thine, which wrings my heart:

He, wheresoe’er he live, shall have my hate.

CR

You show yourself as sullen when you yield,

As unendurable in your fury’s height.

Such natures justly give themselves most pain.
675

OED

Let me alone, then, and begone!

CR

I go,

Untainted in their sight, though thou art blind.

Lady, why tarriest thou

To lead thy husband in?

JO

Not till I learn what mischief is befallen.
680

CH. 2

A dim, unproved debate.

Reproach, though unfounded, stings.

JO

From both?

CH. 3

From both alike.

JO

How caused?

CH. 4

Enough for me,
685

Amply enough it seems, when our poor land
685

Is vexed already, not to wake what sleeps.

OED

().

See where thine honest zeal hath landed thee,

Bating my wrath, and blunting my desire!

JO

Let not thy queen be left in ignorance

What cause thou hadst to lift thy wrath so high.

Oedipus.

Wo, willst du, daß ich folgen soll?

Der Chor.

Der nie zuvor thöricht war,

Nun durch Eid heilig ist, veracht' ihn nicht!¹
645

Oedipus.

Bedenkst du, was du forderst?

Der Chor.

Ia!

Oedipus.

So rede denn!

Der Chor.

wirf auf den Freund, der durch den Fluch sich band,

Nicht ehrlose Schuld in grundlosem Wahn.

Oedipus.

So wisse: wenn du dieses willst, so willst du mein

Verderben oder meine Flucht aus diesem Land.
650

Nein, bei'm Gott, aller Götter erstem, dem Helios!²

Freundlos, ohne Gott, mög' in Graus

Ich hinsterben, heg' ich solch argen Sinn!

Doch das Land schmerzt mich tief, das in Sammer schwindet,³

Wenn sich noch zur alten Noth
655

Gesellt dies neue Leid von euch her.

Oedipus.

So mag er gehen, müßt' ich ganz verderben auch,

Und würd' ich ehrlos mit Gewalt vom Land gejagt.

Die Klage deines Mundes, nicht die seine, stimmt

Mich milder; dieser, wo er sei, bleibt mir verhaßt.
660

Kreon.

Voll Hasses, seh' ich, gibst du nach; doch wann der Zorn

Verbraust, bereust du. Solcher Art Naturen sind

Sich selbst mit Recht unleidlich und die herbste Qual.

Oedipus.

So laß mich und entferne dich!

Kreon.

Ich eile fort,

Von dir verkannt, vor diesen aber rein, wie sonst.
665
Oedipus. Jokaste. Der Chor. (ab.)

Jokaste.

Erst möcht' ich wissen, was gescheh'n.

Der Chor.

Verdacht entspann sich ohne Grund;

Denn es kränkt auch das ungerechte Wort.

Jokaste.

Durch Schuld der Beiden?
670

Der Chor.

Freilich.

Jokaste.

Und wie kam es so?

Der Chor.

Sei es genug, genug bei der gemeinen Noth!

Ruhe der Hader dort, wo er sein Ende fand!

Oedipus.

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

Von mir dich abkehrst, meinen Zorn zu brechen suchst.

Der Chor.

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

Ein sinnloser Thor müßt' ich sein,

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

Der du mein theures Land, das in Noth umhertrieb,

Unter guten Wind gelenkt:

Auch jezt führ' uns auf rechtem Pfade!
680

Jokaste.

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

Um welche That dir solcher Groll die Brust erfüllt.