Sophocles Oedipus Tyrannus 121

Robert Potter (Translator)

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Creon
583
Dost thou appear a base and faithless friend.
Not so; wou'dst thou, like me, with temperate thought
Ponder things well. For first reflect, what man
Would choose to be a king, with all the fears
585
On royalty awaiting, might he sleep
Secure of fear, yet kingly pow'r possess ?
It is not in my nature, nor in his
Who knows what wisdom is, to form a wish
To be a monarch, rather than to use
590
A monarch's potency. All things from thee
I now obtain, nor feel the pangs of fear.
Were I a king, I should do many things
Against my will: can then the regal state
Be sweeter to me than my princely rank,
595
And pow'r that knows not care? Nor is my mind
By falsehood so beguiled, that it aspires
To honours which no real good procure.
Now all things give me pleasure; all men now
Greet me with courtesy; now all, who want
600
Favours from thee, address me, for their suits
Through me they all obtain. And shall I quit
These solid pleasures for the empty pomp
Of royalty? A mind to wisdom train'd
Can not be so depraved: I never loved
To form such measures, nor in such would deign
605
To share with others. Dost thou want a proof?
Go to the Pythian shrine, and there inquire
If faithfully the answer of the god
I have reported: if thou find me leagued
In counsels with the Seer, put me to death,
610
And in the sentence shall my voice assent
With thine: but on suspicion void of proof
Condemn me not: the just not lightly deem
The base man honest, or the honest base.
For he, that throws a faithful friend away,
615
616
Doth himself equal wrong as if he threw
His life away, which is most dear to him.
625
This thou wilt know in time; for time alone
Shows a just man; the base a day unveils.

Oedipus Tyrannus. Sophocles. Robert Potter (Translator). London. 1820.

Current edition Experimental

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Robert Potter, 1788))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 121 focus
ἀρχὴν βραχεῖαν εἰ λάβοιμεν ἐλπίδος.
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 151-215 focus
Translations (4)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 121 focus
CR
What? I do not catch your drift.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 132 focus
Von Anbeginn denn werde dies von mir enthüllt.
Denn würdig war's des Phöbos, würdig deiner war's,
Daß ihr dem Todten diese Sorge zugewandt.
Drum sollt ihr mich auch billig seh'n in eurem Bund
135
Die Noth des Landes sühnen und den Gott zugleich.
Und nicht für ferne Freunde ja vollbring' ich das;
Vom eignen Haupte schaff' ich mir den Gräuel fort.
Denn wer es war, der ihn erschlug, er will vielleicht 1
Sich auch an mir vergreifen mit derselben Hand.
140
Drum wenn ich jenem diene, dien' ich mir zugleich.
Nun flugs erhebt euch, Kinder, von den Stufen hier,
Und nehmt den Schmuck der Fleh'nden, eure Zweige, mit;
Ein Andrer aber sammle hier des Kadmos Volk; 2
Denn jezt versuch' ich Alles; bald wird's offenbar,
145
Ob uns der Gott Glück sendet oder Untergang.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 121 focus
Oedipus
Thou art a traitor.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 151-215 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-383-1 διδοίης λόγον 1

mvp-comment-384-1 οὔτ’ αὐτὸς 2

mvp-comment-385-1 ἐκ σοῦ 3

mvp-comment-385-2 φέρω 4

mvp-comment-386-1 κἂν ἄκων 5 καὶ 6

mvp-comment-387-1 οὔπω 7

mvp-comment-387-2 τὰ σὺν κέρδει καλά 8

mvp-comment-388-1 πᾶσι χαίρω 9 πᾶσι χαίρω 10

mvp-comment-389-1 ἐκκαλοῦσι 11

mvp-comment-390-1 τὸ … τυχεῖν 12 ἅπαντ’ 13 τυχεῖν 14 αὐτοῖσι 15 αὐτοῖς, πᾶν 16 ἅπαν 17 ἐνταῦθα 18

mvp-comment-391-1 πῶς δῆτ’ 19

mvp-comment-392-1 οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο 20 καλῶς φρονῶν 21

mvp-comment-393-1 ἔλεγχον 22

mvp-comment-394-1 τοῦτ’ ἄλλο 23

mvp-comment-394-2 τῷ τερασκόπῳ 24

mvp-comment-395-1 χωρὶς 25

mvp-comment-396-1 τὸν παρ’ αὑτῷ βίοτον 26

mvp-comment-396-2 φιλεῖ 27 αὑτῷ 28

mvp-comment-397-1 χρόνος 29

mvp-comment-397-2 κακὸν δὲ 30

mvp-comment-398-1 The infin. Φρονεῖν 31

mvp-comment-399-1 ταχύς τις χωρῇ 32

mvp-comment-400-1 τί δῆτα χρῄζεις; … τὸ γοῦν ἐμόν 33 ὡς ἂν 34 οὐ γὰρ 35 οὐ γὰρ 36

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

583. mvp-comment-346-1 The argument of Creon resembles that with which Histiaeus soothes the suspicion of Darius, Hdt. 5.106, τί δ' ἂν ἐπιδιζήμενος ποιέοιμι ταῦτα; τεῦ δὲ ἐνδεὴς ἐών; τῷ πάρα μὲν πάντα ὅσα περ σοί, πάντων δὲ πρὸς σέο βουλευμάτων ἐπακούειν ἀξιεῦμαι.

583. mvp-comment-346-2 Not so; if you would but reason with yourself, as I reason with you.' σοί is absorbed in σαντῷ : i. e. σαυτῷ ὡς ἐγὼ σοί. For the expression, cp. Hdt. 1. 209; 2. 162; 3.25; 4. 102; 6.138.

586. mvp-comment-347-1 ἄτρεστον εὔδοντ Hom. Od. 13. 92, δὴ τότε γ᾿ ἀτρέμας εἶδε.

587-589. mvp-comment-348-1 For the position of the words οὔτ᾽ αὐτὸς .. οὔτ᾽ ἄλλος, cp. Phil. 88, 9, ἔφυν γὰρ οὐδὲν ἐκ τέχνης πράσσειν κακῆς | οὔτ᾽ αὐτός, οὔθ᾽, ὥς φασιν, οὑκφύσας ἐμέ.

588. mvp-comment-349-1 τύραννα For τύραννος adj. cp. Ant. 1169, τύραννον σχῆμα.

590. mvp-comment-350-1 φέρω Ι obtain.' Cp. О. С. 5, 6, τοῦ μικροῦ δ᾽ ἔτι μεῖον φέροντα,

592. mvp-comment-351-1 How then can the possession of sovereignty be pleasanter to me than to have a power and authority that is free from annoyance?'

594. mvp-comment-352-1 οὔπω Surely I am not so far gone in self-deceit. πω adds emphasis to the negative. See note on 105, οὐ γὰρ εἰσεῖδόν γέ πω.

595. mvp-comment-353-1 τὰ σὺν κέρδει καλά Glory with advantage. Creon's present δυναστεία had the reality of both. Sovereignty might bring him outward brilliancy, but not solid gain.

596. mvp-comment-354-1 πᾶσι χαίρω (1) I am happy in the sight of all. Cp. Eur. Med. 509, πολλαῖς μακαρίαν. The recognition of happiness is an element of happiness to the sensitive Greek (as to Croesus in the story of Herodotus); and the happy man is saluted by all (πᾶς ἀσπάζεται), just as the unfortunate is passed by without regard. Cp Thuc. 6. 16, ὥσπερ δυστυχοῦντες οὐδὲ προσαγορευόμεθα. Or (2) I take pleasure in all men' (as having no enemy). Cp. Od. 19. 462-463, τῷ μὲν χαῖρον νοστήσαντι. Other renderings are, I am happy in my relations with all; I am happy in all ways (πᾶσι neuter); and, All bid me rejoice. (Cp. χαῖρέ μοι.) 597. ἐκκαλοῦσί με is Invite me forth, or, Take me aside, e. g. from the palace or the council for private conference, as an important person. Cp. 951, τί μ' ἐξεπέμψω δεῦρο τῶνδε δωμάτων; Ant. 18: Eur. Bacch. 170, τίς ἐν πύλαισι; Κάδμον ἐκκάλει δόμων: Αj. 749-750, ἐκ γὰρ ξυνέδρου καὶ τυραννικοῦ κύκλου | Κάλχας μεταστὰς οἷος Ἀτρειδῶν δίχα, κ.τ.λ. Aristoph. Ach. 400-402: Hdt. 8. 79, ἐξεκαλέετο. The conjecture of L. Dindorf, αἰκάλλουσι, suggests a disagreeable association of mean flattery. The word αἰκάλλω occurs only once in tragedy, and then in reproach. Eur. Andr. 630, πρόδοτιν αἰκάλλων κύνα.

598. mvp-comment-355-1 τὸ γὰρ . . ἔνι For their success all depends on this; viz. on paying court to me. The text is uncertain, but here, as in a few other passages (cp. supr. 221), Flor. F. may have preserved an older reading. The absence of caesura is not a fatal objection to the reading αὐτοὺς ἅπαντ᾽. Cp. infr. 856. And for the accus. cp. Eur. Or. 761, τύχοις ἂν .. ὅσον θέλεις. But Flor. F. certainly gives a better line, and the correction ἅπαντ' may be conjectural.

599. mvp-comment-356-1 κεῖν κεῖνο, τὸ ἄρχειν ξὺν φόβοισι, τὴν τυραννίδα.

599. mvp-comment-356-2 ἀφεὶς τάδε] Cp. Macb. 1. 7, I have won | Golden opinions from all sorts of people | That would be worn now in their newest gloss, | Not cast aside so soon.' Ib. 2. 1, 'M. It shall make honour for you. B. So I lose none | In seeking to augment it, .... | I shall be counselled. But Creon's notion of honour' is more external than Banquo's.

600. mvp-comment-357-1 No mind that has a right sense of things can turn to evil. For the order of words, see Essay on Language § 41, p. 77. Creon thus sums up his previous argument. None can have wicked schemes whose judgment is not blind.' L

601. mvp-comment-358-1 τῆσδε τῆς γνώμης Sc. τῆς τῶν ἐρώντων τυραννίδος.

602. mvp-comment-359-1 τλαίην Sc. τοῦτο, implied in τῆσδε τῆς γνώμης. It is unnecessary to supply an infinitive.

603. mvp-comment-360-1 ἔλεγχον For proof. Accusative in apposition to the sentence.

603. mvp-comment-360-2 τοῦτο μὲν .. τοῦτ᾽ ἄλλο are also in the same construction.

603. mvp-comment-360-3 Πυθώδ᾽ ἰὼν πεύθου Cp. supr. 70, 71, and note.

605. mvp-comment-361-1 τοῦτ᾽ ἄλλο This more, with passionate emphasis instead oἱ τοῦτο δέ. Cp. the Homeric ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω. Α different variation occurs in Ant. 165-168, τοῦτο μὲν .. τοῦτ᾽ αὖθις.

605. mvp-comment-361-2 τῷ τερασκόπῳ The diviner. Creon, to soothe Oedipus, joins with him in speaking lightly of the seer.

606. mvp-comment-362-1 Then take and slay me,-not by thy single voice, for thou shalt have mine as well.' 608. The meaning of χωρίς, which is used absolutely, must be determined from the antithesis of the preceding lines. Without inquiry.The latter word is implied in ἐάν με τῷ τερασκόπῳ λάβῃς, κ.τ.λ.

606. mvp-comment-362-2 γνώμῃ The dative is causal, By reason of an unproved suspicion.' Be not led by a vague notion to accuse me of your own mere will.

609. mvp-comment-363-1 μάτην Without cause.

612. mvp-comment-364-1 τὸν παρ᾽ αὑτῷ βίοτον The life which is very near to him. Cp. Plat. Rep. 3. 413 C, τοῦ παρ᾽ αὑτοῖς δόγματος. The preposition assists the figure by which the life (compared to a friend) is represented as an object of affection distinct from the man himself. For the ellipse of τις, see Essay on Language § 39, p. 72-73, and cp. supr. 516. 614-615. Cp. Solon. Fr. 9. Δείξει δὲ μανίην μὲν ἐμὴν βαιὸς χρόνος ἀστοῖς : Chaeremon Fr. 21, χρόνος δίκαιον ἄνδρα μηνύει ποτέ: Pind. Ol. 10. 54· 616. His words are good for one who would avoid falling. Cp. Plat. Rep. 331 Β, εἰς τοῦτο ἀνδρὶ νοῦν ἔχοντι πλοῦτον χρησιμώτατον εἶναι.

617. mvp-comment-365-1 φρονεῖν is to be repeated with both adjectives. Swift is not sure in thought. For the inf. cp. Pind. Ol. 13.48.

618. mvp-comment-366-1 When my secret enemy is one who advances swiftly.' ταχύς τις is supplementary predicate after χωρῇ. Cp. Αj. 1266, φεῦ, τοῦ θανόντος ὡς ταχεῖά τις βροτοῖς | χάρις διαρρεῖ καὶ προδοῦσ᾽ ἁλίσκεται: Phil. 519, μὴ νῦν μέν τις εὐχερὴς παρῇς. And for the article with the subject in such a connection, cp. Ant. 951, ὁ μοιριδία τις δύνασις δεινά. 624-625. The text of these lines is probably defective. Two things seem clear; (1) that line 625 is more appropriate to Creon than to Oedipus, You speak as if you would not relent nor believe me. (MS. Farn. had upe. before this line by p. m.) Cp. infr. 646, πίστευσον, Οἰδίπους, τάδε: 650, τί σοὶ θέλεις δῆτ᾽ εἰκάθω; Αj. 371, ὦ πρὸς θεῶν ὕπεικε καὶ φρόνησον εὖ: and (2) that line 624 is addressed by Oedipus to Creon, and conveys a threat: When you have given an example of the crime of envy. Cp. Ant. 308, πρὶν ἂν | ζῶντες κρεμαστοὶ τήνδε δηλώσηθ ὕβριν: ib. 325-326, έξερεῖθ᾽ ὅτι | τὰ δειλὰ κέρδη πημονὰς ἐργάζεται: Τr. 1110-1111, ἵν᾽ ἐκδιδαχθῇ πᾶσιν ἀγγέλλειν ὅτι | καὶ ζῶν κακούς γε καὶ θανὼν ἐτισάμην: Ant. 1242-1243, δείξας ἐν ἀνθρώποισι τὴν ἀβουλίαν, | ὅσῳ μέγιστον ἀνδρὶ πρόσκειται κακόν (ⅰ.e. προδείξας οἷόν ἐστι τὸ κακῶς βουλεύειν) : Pind. P. 2. 42. By transposing 624-625, as Haase suggested, a kind of meaning may be brought out. My desire for you is death, not banishment. You speak as if you would not relent. I will relent when you are made an example of the sin of envy (and not before). (My envy is) that I see you to be unwise. But the transitions are too violent. Again, 623-624, may be read continuously, and the loss of a single line supposed after 625. I would have you be (not banished but) slain, when you have first been made an example of the crime of envy (in the manner of your death). You speak as if you would not relent nor believe me. ['And you speak like a rebel.'] Because I see you blind. But the insertion (διὰ μέσου) οἱ οὐ φυγεῖν, and the abruptness of ὅταν προδείξῃς, may be thought to prevent the two lines from coalescing into a harmonious sentence. In this case the most probable inference would be that one or more lines have been lost before 624 and after 625. The old explanations of the Scholiast, When you have shown the nature of the grudge I bear you,' sc. oἷός ἐστιν ὁ ἐμὸς πρὸς σὲ φθόνος (cp. supr. 605 ff.), or of Hermann, When you have shown the nature of your grudge against me, or of the ancient gloss, When you have first explained:-oh! what a thing envy is!' are untenable, especially because they afford no natural explanation of l. 625. The broken lines (626 foll.) mark the climax of the altercation. Cp. O. C. 832, 885.