Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
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Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Greek) (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879))
Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.
Editions (1)
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1447-1496 focus
Χορός
νέα τάδε νεόθεν ἦλθέ μοι
κακὰ βαρύποτμὰ παρʼ ἀλαοῦ ξένου,
εἴ τι μοῖρα μὴ κιγχάνει.
1450
μάταν γὰρ οὐδὲν ἀξίωμα δαιμόνων ἔχω φράσαι.
ὁρᾷ ὁρᾷ ταῦτʼ ἀεὶ χρόνος, τρέχων μὲν ἕτερα,
τὰ δὲ παρʼ ἦμαρ αὖθις αὔξων ἄνω.
1455
ἔκτυπεν αἰθήρ, ὦ Ζεῦ.
Οἰδίπους
ὦ τέκνα τέκνα, πῶς ἄν, εἴ τις ἔντοπος,
τὸν πάντʼ ἄριστον δεῦρο Θησέα πόροι;
Ἀντιγόνη
πάτερ, τί δʼ ἐστὶ τἀξίωμʼ ἐφʼ ᾧ καλεῖς;
Οἰδίπους
Διὸς πτερωτὸς ἥδε μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἄξεται
1460
βροντὴ πρὸς Ἅιδην· ἀλλὰ πέμψαθʼ ὡς τάχος.
Χορός
μέγας, ἴδε, μάλʼ ὅδʼ ἐρείπεται
κτύπος ἄφατος διόβολος· ἐς δʼ ἄκραν
δεῖμʼ ὑπῆλθε κρατὸς φόβαν.
1465
ἔπτηξα θυμόν· οὐρανία γὰρ ἀστραπὴ φλέγει πάλιν.
τί μὰν ἀφήσει τέλος; δέδοικα δʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἅλιον
ἀφορμᾷ ποτʼ, οὐκ ἄνευ ξυμφορᾶς.
1470
ὦ μέγας αἰθήρ, ὦ Ζεῦ.
Οἰδίπους
ὦ παῖδες, ἥκει τῷδʼ ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ θέσφατος
βίου τελευτὴ κοὐκέτʼ ἔστʼ ἀποστροφή.
Ἀντιγόνη
πῶς οἶσθα; τῷ δὲ τοῦτο συμβαλὼν ἔχεις;
Οἰδίπους
καλῶς κάτοιδʼ· ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστά μοι μολὼν
1475
ἄνακτα χώρας τῆσδέ τις πορευσάτω.
Χορός
ἔα ἔα, ἰδοὺ μάλʼ αὖθις ἀμφίσταται διαπρύσιος ὄτοβος.
ἵλαος, ὦ δαίμων, ἵλαος εἴ τι γᾷ
1480
ματέρι τυγχάνεις ἀφεγγὲς φέρων.
ἐναισίου δὲ σοῦ τύχοιμι, μηδʼ ἄλαστον ἄνδρʼ ἰδὼν
ἀκερδῆ χάριν μετάσχοιμί πως. Ζεῦ ἄνα σοὶ φωνῶ.
Οἰδίπους
ἆρʼ ἐγγὺς ἁνήρ; ἆρʼ ἔτʼ ἐμψύχου, τέκνα,
κιχήσεταί μου καὶ κατορθοῦντος φρένα;
Ἀντιγόνη
τί δʼ ἂν θέλοις τὸ πιστὸν ἐμφῦναι φρενί;
Οἰδίπους
ἀνθʼ ὧν ἔπασχον εὖ, τελεσφόρον χάριν
δοῦναί σφιν, ἥνπερ τυγχάνων ὑπεσχόμην.
1490
Χορός
ἰὼ ἰὼ παῖ, βᾶθι βᾶθʼ, εἴτʼ ἄκρα,
περὶ γύαλʼ ἐναλίῳ Ποσειδωνίῳ θεῷ, τυγχάνεις
βούθυτον ἑστίαν ἁγίζων, ἱκοῦ.
ὁ γὰρ ξένος σε καὶ πόλισμα καὶ φίλους ἐπαξιοῖ
δικαίαν χάριν παρασχεῖν παθών.
1495
σπεῦσον ἄϊσσʼ, ὦναξ.
Translations (2)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1397 focus
Wir können deines Ganges uns nicht freu'n mit dir,
Polyneikes; eilig wende dich nunmehr zurück!
Polyneikes.
Weh, Pfad des Grauens, weh mir, daß dies Werk mißlang!
1390
Und weh um euch Genossen! Welches Ziel errang
Uns dieser Zug aus Argos? (Ich Unseliger!)
Ein solches, daß ich keinem Kampfgenossen es
Jemals verkünden, noch zurück mich wenden darf!
Nein, schweigend muß ich meinem Loos entgegengeh'n!
1395
meine trauten Schwestern - ihr vernahmet ja
Den unerbittlich harten Fluch des Vaters euch
Beschwör' ich bei den Göttern: wenn sich einst an mir
Des Vaters Fluch vollendet und euch Wiederkehr
Nach Haus gewährt ist, o verwerft, entehrt mich nicht;
1400
Nein, gönnt Bestattung und die Todtenehren mir!
Dann folgt dem Lobe, das ihr jezt für eure Müh'n
Um diesen Greis hier erntet, noch ein anderes,
Nicht minder schönes für den Liebesdienst an mir.
Antigone.
folge mir, Polyneikes, ich beschwöre dich.
1405
Polyneikes.
Worin, geliebte Schwester? Sprich, Antigone.
Antigone.
Zurück nach Argos wende flugs mit deinem Heer,
Und nicht verderbe dich zugleich und unsre Stadt!
Polyneikes.
Es ist unmöglich! Könnt ich je dasselbe Heer
Zum Kampfe wieder führen, wenn ich Einmal floh?
1410
Antigone.
Was hegst du wieder neuen Groll? Wie kann es dir,
Mein Bruder, frommen, stürztest du die Vaterstadt?
Polyneikes.
Schmach ist es mir, zu weichen, Schmach dem ältern Sohn,
Vom jüngern Bruder also sich verhöhnt zu seh'n.
Antigone.
Nun sich, zur Wahrheit machst du selbst den Seherspruch
1415
Des Greises, der euch durch einander Tod verheißt.
Polyneikes.
So droht er: aber weichen kann ich nimmermehr.
O weh mir Armen! Aber wer wird's wagen, dir
Zu folgen, hört er, wie der Vater dir geflucht?
Ich melde nicht das Schlimme; denn ein tüchtiger
1420
Heerführer thut das Gute, nicht das Böse kund.
Antigone.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1448-1495 focus
Chorus
Behold, new ills of heavy fate have newly come from the blind stranger,
unless, perhaps, fate is finding its goal. I cannot say that a purpose of the divinities is ever vain. Time sees all things forever, and raises up some things,
1450
then on the next day raises others back up again. The sky resounds! Zeus!
1455
Thunder.
Oedipus
Children, children! If there is any man still here, send him forth to bring back Theseus, excellent in all respects.
Antigone
And what, father, is the purpose of your summons?
Oedipus
This winged thunder of Zeus will soon lead me to Hades. So send someone with speed.
1460
Chorus
Listen! With a louder noise this one crashes down unspeakably,
hurled by Zeus! The hair of my head stands up for fear, my soul is dismayed; for again the lightning flashes in the sky. What end will it release?
1465
I fear it, for never does it fly forth in vain, or without serious results. O great Sky! O Zeus!
1470
Oedipus
Children, the appointed end of life has reached this man; he can turn from it no more.
Antigone
How do you know? By what means do you understand this?
Oedipus
I know it well. But let some one go, I pray you, as quickly as he can, and bring back the lord of this land.
1475
Chorus
Look! Look! Once again the piercing din is around us!
Be merciful, divinity, be merciful, if you are bringing anything of gloom for the land which is our mother! May I find you well disposed, and may I not, because I have cared for a man accursed, somehow obtain a favor without profit!
1480
Lord Zeus, to you I cry!
1485
Oedipus
Is the man near? Will he find me still alive, children, and master of my senses?
Antigone
And what is the pledge that you would like to have firm in your mind?
Oedipus
In return for his benefits,
I would grant him the fulfillment of the favor that I promised.
1490
Chorus
Hurry, my son, come to us! If you chance to be in the glade sacrificing an ox to the sea-god Poseidon,
then come! For the stranger thinks you worthy, you and your city and your friends, to receive just return for benefits. Hasten quickly, lord!
1495
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
1380-1381. mvp-comment-727-1 Therefore they have power to frustrate thy supplication and thy claim upon the throne.' They, viz. (1) my curses,' which are the main subject, the reflection αΐδε ἔδρων being inserted parenthetically. For this, cp. Phil. 351, οὐ γὰρ εἰδόμην: 668, καὶ δόντι δοῦναι: 1034, αὕτη γὰρ ἦν σοι πρόφασις ἐκβαλεῖν ἐμέ: supra 280, φυγὴν δε του μήπω γενέσθαι φωτὸς ἀνοσίου βροτῶν. Otherwise (2), they, viz. the daughters, whose virtues justify the repulse of the son: sc. αὗται τοιαῦται γενόμεναι. But, although the verb is thus made to agree with the nearer subject, the words do not naturally bear this meaning. τὸ σὸν θάκημα has been interpreted to mean thine enthronement,' the whole line thus recalling the words of Polynices, supr. 1293, τοῖς σοῖς . . ἐνθακεῖν θρόνοις. But θάκημα has been used twice previously of the supplication of Polynices (11. 1160, 1179; cp. also 1163, 1166); and this meaning is here in point. Polynices has appealed not only to his right of primogeniture, but to the protection of Poseidon, from whose altar Theseus raised him with a solemn promise (supr. 1285-1290, 1293-1294). Оеdipus rejoins that both these claims are quashed by the righteousness of his paternal curse, which is justified by the filial ingratitude of both his sons, ap- 1380 1385 pearing still darker when contrasted with the piety of Antigone and Ismene.