Sophocles, Oedipus Tyrannus, Robert Potter (Translator), 129

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Creon

Mine claims an equal care.
630

But thou art base.
630

What, though no crime thou know'st?
630

Thou shou'dst not be a tyrant.
630

I will be king.
630

Thebes, O Thebes!
630

Thebes is not thine alone: some share is mine.
630

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)) — 129 focus

οὕτω πεσούσης εἶργε τοῦτ᾽ ἐξειδέναι;

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 151-215 focus

Χορός

ὦ Διὸς ἁδυεπὲς φάτι, τίς ποτε τᾶς πολυχρύσου

Πυθῶνος ἀγλαὰς ἔβας

Θήβας; ἐκτέταμαι φοβερὰν φρένα, δείματι πάλλων,

ἰήιε Δάλιε Παιάν,

ἀμφὶ σοὶ ἁζόμενος τί μοι ἢ νέον
155

ἢ περιτελλομέναις ὥραις πάλιν ἐξανύσεις χρέος.

εἰπέ μοι, ὦ χρυσέας τέκνον Ἐλπίδος, ἄμβροτε Φάμα.

159

Χορός

πρῶτα σὲ κεκλόμενος, θύγατερ Διός, ἄμβροτʼ Ἀθάνα
160

γαιάοχόν τʼ ἀδελφεὰν

Ἄρτεμιν, ἃ κυκλόεντʼ ἀγορᾶς θρόνον εὐκλέα θάσσει,

καὶ Φοῖβον ἑκαβόλον, ἰὼ

τρισσοὶ ἀλεξίμοροι προφάνητέ μοι,

εἴ ποτε καὶ προτέρας ἄτας ὕπερ ὀρνυμένας πόλει
165

ἠνύσατʼ ἐκτοπίαν φλόγα πήματος, ἔλθετε καὶ νῦν.

169

Χορός

ὦ πόποι, ἀνάριθμα γὰρ φέρω

πήματα· νοσεῖ δέ μοι πρόπας στόλος, οὐδʼ ἔνι φροντίδος ἔγχος
170

ᾧ τις ἀλέξεται. οὔτε γὰρ ἔκγονα

κλυτᾶς χθονὸς αὔξεται οὔτε τόκοισιν

ἰηίων καμάτων ἀνέχουσι γυναῖκες·

ἄλλον δʼ ἂν ἄλλῳ προσίδοις ἅπερ εὔπτερον ὄρνιν
175

κρεῖσσον ἀμαιμακέτου πυρὸς ὄρμενον

ἀκτὰν πρὸς ἑσπέρου θεοῦ.

179

Χορός

ὧν πόλις ἀνάριθμος ὄλλυται·

νηλέα δὲ γένεθλα πρὸς πέδῳ θαναταφόρα κεῖται ἀνοίκτως·
180

ἐν δʼ ἄλοχοι πολιαί τʼ ἔπι ματέρες

ἀχὰν παραβώμιον ἄλλοθεν ἄλλαν

λυγρῶν πόνων ἱκετῆρες ἐπιστενάχουσιν.

παιὰν δὲ λάμπει στονόεσσά τε γῆρυς ὅμαυλος
185

ὧν ὕπερ, ὦ χρυσέα θύγατερ Διός,

εὐῶπα πέμψον ἀλκάν.

190

Χορός

Ἄρεά τε τὸν μαλερόν, ὃς νῦν ἄχαλκος ἀσπίδων
190

φλέγει με περιβόατον, ἀντιάζω

παλίσσυτον δράμημα νωτίσαι πάτρας

ἔπουρον, εἴτʼ ἐς μέγαν θάλαμον Ἀμφιτρίτας

εἴτʼ ἐς τὸν ἀπόξενον ὅρμων
195

Θρῄκιον κλύδωνα·

τελεῖν γὰρ εἴ τι νὺξ ἀφῇ,

τοῦτʼ ἐπʼ ἦμαρ ἔρχεται·

τόν, ὦ τᾶν πυρφόρων

ἀστραπᾶν κράτη νέμων,
200

ὦ Ζεῦ πάτερ, ὑπὸ σῷ φθίσον κεραυνῷ,

203

Χορός

Λύκειʼ ἄναξ, τά τε σὰ χρυσοστρόφων ἀπʼ ἀγκυλᾶν

βέλεα θέλοιμʼ ἂν ἀδάματʼ ἐνδατεῖσθαι

ἀρωγὰ προσταχθέντα τάς τε πυρφόρους
205

Ἀρτέμιδος αἴγλας, ξὺν αἷς Λύκιʼ ὄρεα διᾴσσει·

τὸν χρυσομίτραν τε κικλήσκω,

τᾶσδʼ ἐπώνυμον γᾶς,
210

οἰνῶπα Βάκχον εὔιον,

Μαινάδων ὁμόστολον,

πελασθῆναι φλέγοντʼ

ἀγλαῶπι ¯ ˘ ¯

πεύκᾳ ʼπὶ τὸν ἀπότιμον ἐν θεοῖς θεόν.
215

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 129 focus

CR

Yes, we inquired, of course: and could not hear.

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 vielleicht¹

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.

Der Oberpriester.

Erheben wir uns, Kinder; deßhalb sind wir ja

Hieher gekommen, was er uns zu thun verheißt.

Und möge Phöbos, der den Gottesspruch gesandt,

Ein Retter kommen und die Noth bewältigen!
150
(Dedipus und Kreon gehen in's Haus; die Priester führen die Flchenden in ge ordnetem Zuge zur Stadt zurück; der Chor der Greise zieht in die Orchestra ein.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 129 focus

Creon

Sister, thy husband hath most basely used

me;

He threatens me with banishment or death.
640

GEdi. I do confess it ; for he did conspire
640

With vile and Avicked arts against my life.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 151-215 focus

The chorus of Theban elders enters.

Chorus

O sweetly-speaking message of Zeus, in what spirit have you come to glorious Thebes from golden Pytho ? I am on the rack, terror shakes my soul, O Delian healer to whom wild cries rise,

in holy fear of you, wondering what debt you will extract from me, perhaps unknown before, perhaps renewed with the revolving years. Tell me, immortal Voice, child of golden Hope.
155

159

Chorus

First I call on you, daughter of Zeus, immortal Athena,

and on your sister, Artemis, guardian of our earth, who sits on her glorious throne above the circle of our market-place, and on far-shooting Apollo: oh shine forth for me, my three-fold help against death!
160

If ever before you drove a fiery pest from our borders to stop ruin rushing upon our city, come now also!
165

169

Chorus

Alas, countless are the sorrows I bear.

A plague is on all our people, and thought can find no weapon for defense. The fruits of the glorious earth do not grow; by no birth of offspring do women surmount the pangs in which they shriek.
170

You can see life after life speed away, like a bird on the wing, swifter than irresistible fire, to the shore of the western god.
175

179

Chorus

With such deaths, past numbering, the city perishes.

Unpitied, her children lie on the ground, spreading pestilence, with no one to mourn them. Meanwhile young wives and grey-haired mothers raise a wail at the steps of the altars, some here, some there,
180

and groan in supplication for their terrible woes. The prayers to the Healer ring clear, and with them the voice of lamentation. For which things, golden daughter of Zeus, send us the bright face of comfort.
185

190

Chorus

Grant that the fierce god of death, who now without the bronze of shields, though among cries like those of battle, wraps me in the flames of his onset, may turn his back in speedy flight from our land, borne by a favorable wind to the great chamber of Amphitrite,
190

or to the Thracian waves, those waters where none find haven. For if night leaves anything undone in the working of destruction, day follows to accomplish it. You who wield the
195

powers of fiery lightning, Zeus our father, slay him beneath your thunder-bolt.
200

203

Chorus

Lycean Lord, would that the shafts from your bent bow’s string of woven gold might

go forth in their might, our champions in the face of the foe, and the flashing fires of Artemis too, with which she darts through the Lycian hills. I call him whose locks are bound with gold,
205

who is named with the name of this land, ruddy Bacchus to whom Bacchants cry, to draw near with the blaze of his shining torch,
210

our ally against the god unhonored among the gods.
215

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-403-1 πόλεως ¹ μέτεστιν οὐχὶ ²

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

630. mvp-comment-369-1 κἀμοὶ πόλεως μέτεστιν I too have a claim upon the state. Not only as a citizen (cp. Ant. 737, πόλις γὰρ οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ἥτις ἀνδρός ἐσθ᾽ ἑνός), but as the brother of the queen, whose right was prior to that of Oedipus himself. Cp. 577-581. Oedipus appeals to his loyal citizens against the insubordination of Creon, who replies that he also has a right in the state. As his temper rises, he no longer acknowledges that he owes his influence to Oedipus. The disadvantage under which Oedipus labours, as the stranger prince, is subtly maintained throughout. The chorus interpose in their character of mediator, not to take part with either disputant, but to appease the strife.

Sophocles Oedipus Tyrannus 129

Robert Potter (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Creon

Mine claims an equal care.
630

But thou art base.
630

What, though no crime thou know'st?
630

Thou shou'dst not be a tyrant.
630

I will be king.
630

Thebes, O Thebes!
630

Thebes is not thine alone: some share is mine.
630

Current edition Experimental

CR

Yes, we inquired, of course: and could not hear.

Der Chor.

Creon

Sister, thy husband hath most basely used

me;

He threatens me with banishment or death.
640

GEdi. I do confess it ; for he did conspire
640

With vile and Avicked arts against my life.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Creon Mine claims an equal care. 630 But thou art base. 630 What, though no crime thou know'st? 630 Thou shou'dst not be a tyrant. 630 I will be king. 630 Thebes, O Thebes! 630 Thebes is not thine alone: some share is mine. 630

Current edition Experimental

CR Yes, we inquired, of course: and could not hear.

Der Chor.

Creon Sister, thy husband hath most basely used me; He threatens me with banishment or death. 640 GEdi. I do confess it ; for he did conspire 640 With vile and Avicked arts against my life.

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Creon

Mine claims an equal care.
630

But thou art base.
630

What, though no crime thou know'st?
630

Thou shou'dst not be a tyrant.
630

I will be king.
630

Thebes, O Thebes!
630

Thebes is not thine alone: some share is mine.
630

CR

Yes, we inquired, of course: and could not hear.

Creon

Sister, thy husband hath most basely used

me;

He threatens me with banishment or death.
640

GEdi. I do confess it ; for he did conspire
640

With vile and Avicked arts against my life.