Sophocles Oedipus Tyrannus 131

Robert Potter (Translator)

Table of Contents

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Card
← Previous Next →
Jocasta
JOCASTA, CŒDIPUS, CREON, CHORUS. 634
Why, indiscreetly why this strife of words,
Unhappy princes, have you raised, nor blush,

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)) — 131 focus
μεθέντας ἡμᾶς τἀφανῆ προσήγετο.
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)) — 131 focus
CR
I cannot answer, for I do not know.
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)) — 131 focus
Chorus
649
Hear, O king !
Consider, we entreat thee.
Think you I'll e'er submit to him?
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-404-1 οἴκους 1 εἶ 2 κατὰ 3 στέγας 4

mvp-comment-405-1 τὸ μηδὲν ἄλγος 5 εἰς μέγα φέρειν 6

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

634. mvp-comment-371-1 5. What mean you, miserable men, by raising this senseless altercation?' For the article, cp. Phil. 327, 8, τίνος γὰρ ὧδε τὸν μέγαν χόλον κατ᾿ αὐτῶν ἐγκαλῶν ἐλήλυθας; The conjecture τί τήνδ' ἄβουλον, though plausible at first sight, has the effect of weakening the natural emphasis on ἄβουλον.

634. mvp-comment-371-2 στάσιν γλώσσης War of words.

634. mvp-comment-371-3 οὐδ᾽ ἐπαισχύνεσθε And are not ashamed. The force of τί is continued. For this punctuation, which on the whole seems preferable to ἐπήρασθ᾽; οὐδ'-cp. Αj. 1307, ὠθεῖς-, οὐδ᾽ ἐπαισχύνει λέγων; For the other way of dividing the sentence, And are ye not ashamed, cp. Phil. 929, οἱ' ἠπάτηκας· οὐδ᾽ ἐπαισχύνει μ᾿ ὁρῶν; The former is more suitable to the reproachful tone of Jocasta here.

637. mvp-comment-372-1 σύ τ' The omission of the noun vocative in addressing Oedipus gives a peremptory tone to Jocasta's speech. For the prep. with the 2nd word, cp. supr. 93, 4.

638. mvp-comment-373-1 τὸ μηδὲν ἄλγος ‘And do not raise into importance a trouble which is not worth speaking of;'-because all private griefs are as nothing in the calamity of the state. The full expression would be τὸ μηδὲν ὂν ἄλγος. Essay on Language §39. p. 72, c. ib. p. 48.