ἔα ἔα· ἴδου μάλʼ αὖθις ἀμφίσταται
Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
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Current edition Experimental
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)) — 1500-1555 focus
Θησεύς
τίς αὖ παρʼ ὑμῶν κοινὸς ἠχεῖται κτύπος,
1500
σαφὴς μὲν ἀστῶν, ἐμφανὴς δὲ τοῦ ξένου;
μή τις Διὸς κεραυνὸς ἤ τις ὀμβρία
χάλαζʼ ἐπιρράξασα; πάντα γὰρ θεοῦ
τοιαῦτα χειμάζοντος εἰκάσαι πάρα.
τίς αὖ παρʼ ὑμῶν κοινὸς ἠχεῖται κτύπος,
1500
σαφὴς μὲν ἀστῶν, ἐμφανὴς δὲ τοῦ ξένου;
μή τις Διὸς κεραυνὸς ἤ τις ὀμβρία
χάλαζʼ ἐπιρράξασα; πάντα γὰρ θεοῦ
τοιαῦτα χειμάζοντος εἰκάσαι πάρα.
Οἰδίπους
ἄναξ, ποθοῦντι προυφάνης, καί σοι θεῶν
1505
τύχην τις ἐσθλὴν τῆσδʼ ἔθηκε τῆς ὁδοῦ.
ἄναξ, ποθοῦντι προυφάνης, καί σοι θεῶν
1505
τύχην τις ἐσθλὴν τῆσδʼ ἔθηκε τῆς ὁδοῦ.
Θησεύς
τί δʼ ἐστίν, ὦ παῖ Λαΐου, νέορτον αὖ;
τί δʼ ἐστίν, ὦ παῖ Λαΐου, νέορτον αὖ;
Οἰδίπους
ῥοπὴ βίου μοι· καί σʼ ἅπερ ξυνῄνεσα
θέλω πόλιν τε τήνδε μὴ ψεύσας θανεῖν.
ῥοπὴ βίου μοι· καί σʼ ἅπερ ξυνῄνεσα
θέλω πόλιν τε τήνδε μὴ ψεύσας θανεῖν.
Θησεύς
τῷ δʼ ἐκπέπεισαι τοῦ μόρου τεκμηρίῳ;
1510
τῷ δʼ ἐκπέπεισαι τοῦ μόρου τεκμηρίῳ;
1510
Οἰδίπους
αὐτοὶ θεοὶ κήρυκες ἀγγέλλουσί μοι,
ψεύδοντες οὐδὲν σῆμα τῶν προκειμένων.
αὐτοὶ θεοὶ κήρυκες ἀγγέλλουσί μοι,
ψεύδοντες οὐδὲν σῆμα τῶν προκειμένων.
Θησεύς
πῶς εἶπας, ὦ γεραιέ, δηλοῦσθαι τάδε;
πῶς εἶπας, ὦ γεραιέ, δηλοῦσθαι τάδε;
Οἰδίπους
αἱ πολλὰ βρονταὶ διατελεῖς τὰ πολλά τε
στράψαντα χειρὸς τῆς ἀνικήτου βέλη.
1515
αἱ πολλὰ βρονταὶ διατελεῖς τὰ πολλά τε
στράψαντα χειρὸς τῆς ἀνικήτου βέλη.
1515
Θησεύς
πείθεις με· πολλὰ γάρ σε θεσπίζονθʼ ὁρῶ
κοὐ ψευδόφημα· χὤ τι χρὴ ποιεῖν λέγε.
πείθεις με· πολλὰ γάρ σε θεσπίζονθʼ ὁρῶ
κοὐ ψευδόφημα· χὤ τι χρὴ ποιεῖν λέγε.
Οἰδίπους
ἐγὼ διδάξω, τέκνον Αἰγέως, ἅ σοι
γήρως ἄλυπα τῇδε κείσεται πόλει.
χῶρον μὲν αὐτὸς αὐτίκʼ ἐξηγήσομαι,
1520
ἄθικτος ἡγητῆρος, οὗ με χρὴ θανεῖν.
τοῦτον δὲ φράζε μή ποτʼ ἀνθρώπων τινί,
μήθʼ οὗ κέκευθε μήτʼ ἐν οἷς κεῖται τόποις·
ὥς σοι πρὸ πολλῶν ἀσπίδων ἀλκὴν ὅδε
δορός τʼ ἐπακτοῦ γειτονῶν ἀεὶ τιθῇ.
1525
ἃ δʼ ἐξάγιστα μηδὲ κινεῖται λόγῳ,
αὐτὸς μαθήσει, κεῖσʼ ὅταν μόλῃς μόνος·
ὡς οὔτʼ ἂν ἀστῶν τῶνδʼ ἂν ἐξείποιμί τῳ
οὔτʼ ἂν τέκνοισι τοῖς ἐμοῖς, στέργων ὅμως.
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς αἰεὶ σῷζε, χὤταν εἰς τέλος
1530
τοῦ ζῆν ἀφικνῇ, τῷ προφερτάτῳ μόνῳ
σήμαινʼ, ὁ δʼ αἰεὶ τὠπιόντι δεικνύτω.
χοὔτως ἀδῇον τήνδʼ ἐνοικήσεις πόλιν
σπαρτῶν ἀπʼ ἀνδρῶν· αἱ δὲ μυρίαι πόλεις,
κἂν εὖ τις οἰκῇ, ῥᾳδίως καθύβρισαν.
1535
θεοὶ γὰρ εὖ μέν, ὀψὲ δʼ εἰσορῶσʼ, ὅταν
τὰ θεῖʼ ἀφείς τις εἰς τὸ μαίνεσθαι τραπῇ·
ὃ μὴ σύ, τέκνον Αἰγέως, βούλου παθεῖν.
τὰ μὲν τοιαῦτʼ οὖν εἰδότʼ ἐκδιδάσκομεν.
χῶρον δʼ, ἐπείγει γάρ με τοὐκ θεοῦ παρόν,
1540
στείχωμεν ἤδη μηδʼ ἔτʼ ἐντρεπώμεθα.
ὦ παῖδες, ὧδʼ ἕπεσθʼ· ἐγὼ γὰρ ἡγεμὼν
σφῷν αὖ πέφασμαι καινός, ὥσπερ σφὼ πατρί.
χωρεῖτε καὶ μὴ ψαύετʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐᾶτέ με
αὐτὸν τὸν ἱερὸν τύμβον ἐξευρεῖν, ἵνα
1545
μοῖρʼ ἀνδρὶ τῷδε τῇδε κρυφθῆναι χθονί.
τῇδʼ ὧδε, τῇδε βᾶτε· τῇδε γάρ μʼ ἄγει
Ἑρμῆς ὁ πομπὸς ἥ τε νερτέρα θεός.
ὦ φῶς ἀφεγγές, πρόσθε πού ποτʼ ἦσθʼ ἐμόν,
νῦν δʼ ἔσχατόν σου τοὐμὸν ἅπτεται δέμας.
1550
ἤδη γὰρ ἕρπω τὸν τελευταῖον βίον
κρύψων παρʼ Ἅιδην. ἀλλά, φίλτατε ξένων,
αὐτός τε χώρα θʼ ἥδε πρόσπολοί τε σοὶ
εὐδαίμονες γένοισθε, κἀπʼ εὐπραξίᾳ
μέμνησθέ μου θανόντος εὐτυχεῖς ἀεί.
1555
ἐγὼ διδάξω, τέκνον Αἰγέως, ἅ σοι
γήρως ἄλυπα τῇδε κείσεται πόλει.
χῶρον μὲν αὐτὸς αὐτίκʼ ἐξηγήσομαι,
1520
ἄθικτος ἡγητῆρος, οὗ με χρὴ θανεῖν.
τοῦτον δὲ φράζε μή ποτʼ ἀνθρώπων τινί,
μήθʼ οὗ κέκευθε μήτʼ ἐν οἷς κεῖται τόποις·
ὥς σοι πρὸ πολλῶν ἀσπίδων ἀλκὴν ὅδε
δορός τʼ ἐπακτοῦ γειτονῶν ἀεὶ τιθῇ.
1525
ἃ δʼ ἐξάγιστα μηδὲ κινεῖται λόγῳ,
αὐτὸς μαθήσει, κεῖσʼ ὅταν μόλῃς μόνος·
ὡς οὔτʼ ἂν ἀστῶν τῶνδʼ ἂν ἐξείποιμί τῳ
οὔτʼ ἂν τέκνοισι τοῖς ἐμοῖς, στέργων ὅμως.
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς αἰεὶ σῷζε, χὤταν εἰς τέλος
1530
τοῦ ζῆν ἀφικνῇ, τῷ προφερτάτῳ μόνῳ
σήμαινʼ, ὁ δʼ αἰεὶ τὠπιόντι δεικνύτω.
χοὔτως ἀδῇον τήνδʼ ἐνοικήσεις πόλιν
σπαρτῶν ἀπʼ ἀνδρῶν· αἱ δὲ μυρίαι πόλεις,
κἂν εὖ τις οἰκῇ, ῥᾳδίως καθύβρισαν.
1535
θεοὶ γὰρ εὖ μέν, ὀψὲ δʼ εἰσορῶσʼ, ὅταν
τὰ θεῖʼ ἀφείς τις εἰς τὸ μαίνεσθαι τραπῇ·
ὃ μὴ σύ, τέκνον Αἰγέως, βούλου παθεῖν.
τὰ μὲν τοιαῦτʼ οὖν εἰδότʼ ἐκδιδάσκομεν.
χῶρον δʼ, ἐπείγει γάρ με τοὐκ θεοῦ παρόν,
1540
στείχωμεν ἤδη μηδʼ ἔτʼ ἐντρεπώμεθα.
ὦ παῖδες, ὧδʼ ἕπεσθʼ· ἐγὼ γὰρ ἡγεμὼν
σφῷν αὖ πέφασμαι καινός, ὥσπερ σφὼ πατρί.
χωρεῖτε καὶ μὴ ψαύετʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐᾶτέ με
αὐτὸν τὸν ἱερὸν τύμβον ἐξευρεῖν, ἵνα
1545
μοῖρʼ ἀνδρὶ τῷδε τῇδε κρυφθῆναι χθονί.
τῇδʼ ὧδε, τῇδε βᾶτε· τῇδε γάρ μʼ ἄγει
Ἑρμῆς ὁ πομπὸς ἥ τε νερτέρα θεός.
ὦ φῶς ἀφεγγές, πρόσθε πού ποτʼ ἦσθʼ ἐμόν,
νῦν δʼ ἔσχατόν σου τοὐμὸν ἅπτεται δέμας.
1550
ἤδη γὰρ ἕρπω τὸν τελευταῖον βίον
κρύψων παρʼ Ἅιδην. ἀλλά, φίλτατε ξένων,
αὐτός τε χώρα θʼ ἥδε πρόσπολοί τε σοὶ
εὐδαίμονες γένοισθε, κἀπʼ εὐπραξίᾳ
μέμνησθέ μου θανόντος εὐτυχεῖς ἀεί.
1555
Translations (2)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1477 focus
Osieh!
Zweite Strophe.
Osieh!
Der Chor.
sich! Wiederum erdröhnt hallend rings
Ein machtvoller Schlag.
Gnädig, o Gott, sei mir gnädig, verhüllst du jezt
1465
In Grau'n düstrer Nacht mein mütterliches Land!
wär' ich unter Keinen stets, und bringe, weil ihn Gräul befleckt,
Der Anblick des Manns mir nie schlimmen Dank!
Zu dir ruf' ich, Zeus!
Ist uns der König nahe?
1470
Mich treffen, Kinder, und
sich! Wiederum erdröhnt hallend rings
Ein machtvoller Schlag.
Gnädig, o Gott, sei mir gnädig, verhüllst du jezt
1465
In Grau'n düstrer Nacht mein mütterliches Land!
wär' ich unter Keinen stets, und bringe, weil ihn Gräul befleckt,
Der Anblick des Manns mir nie schlimmen Dank!
Zu dir ruf' ich, Zeus!
Ist uns der König nahe?
1470
Mich treffen, Kinder, und
Oedipus.
Wird er lebend noch
mit ungetrübtem Geist?
Wird er lebend noch
mit ungetrübtem Geist?
Antigone.
Und welch Geheimniß willst du denn ihm anvertrau'n?
Und welch Geheimniß willst du denn ihm anvertrau'n?
Oedipus.
Für alle Wohlthat möcht' ich ihm in vollem Maß
Den Dank bezahlen, den ich flehend ihm verhieß.
1
Heran!
1475
Zweite Gegenstrophe.
Für alle Wohlthat möcht' ich ihm in vollem Maß
Den Dank bezahlen, den ich flehend ihm verhieß.
1
Heran!
1475
Der Chor.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1500-1555 focus
Enter Theseus.
Theseus
What din is this that once more rings forth from you all, from my people as clearly as from the stranger? Can a thunderbolt from Zeus be the cause, or rushing hail in its fierce onset? When the god sends such a storm, forebodings of every sort may find a place.
1500
What din is this that once more rings forth from you all, from my people as clearly as from the stranger? Can a thunderbolt from Zeus be the cause, or rushing hail in its fierce onset? When the god sends such a storm, forebodings of every sort may find a place.
1500
Oedipus
Lord, you have appeared at my desire, and to you some god granted noble fortune at this coming.
1505
Lord, you have appeared at my desire, and to you some god granted noble fortune at this coming.
1505
Theseus
And what new thing has now occurred, son of Laius?
And what new thing has now occurred, son of Laius?
Oedipus
My life hangs in the balance; and I wish to die without cheating you and this city of the promises I made.
My life hangs in the balance; and I wish to die without cheating you and this city of the promises I made.
Theseus
And what is the proof of your fate that you depend on?
1510
And what is the proof of your fate that you depend on?
1510
Oedipus
The gods themselves herald the news to me, nor do they cheat me of any of the appointed signs.
The gods themselves herald the news to me, nor do they cheat me of any of the appointed signs.
Theseus
What makes these things clear? Tell me, old man.
What makes these things clear? Tell me, old man.
Oedipus
The thunder, crash after crash; the lightning, flash after flash,
hurled from the unconquered hand.
1515
The thunder, crash after crash; the lightning, flash after flash,
hurled from the unconquered hand.
1515
Theseus
I am persuaded, for in much I find you a prophet whose voice is not false. Then say what must be done.
I am persuaded, for in much I find you a prophet whose voice is not false. Then say what must be done.
Oedipus
I will expound myself, son of Aegeus, the treasures which will be laid up for this city, such as age can never hurt.
Immediately, with no hand to guide me, I will lead to the place where I must die. But as to that place, never reveal it to another man, neither where it is hidden, nor in what region it lies, so that it may be an eternal defence for you, better than many shields, better than the spear of neighbors which brings relief.
1520
But as for mysteries which speech may not profane, you will learn them yourself when you come to that place alone, since I cannot declare them either to any of these people, or even to my own children, though I love them.
1525
Reserve them always to yourself, and when you reach the end of life, reveal them to your eldest son alone, and let him reveal them to his successor in turn forever.
In this way you will keep this city unscathed by the men born of the Dragon’s teeth. Countless cities commit outrage
1530
even though their neighbor commits no sin. For the gods are slow to punish, yet they are sure, when men scorn holiness and turn to frenzy. Do not desire this, son of Aegeus! But you know such things as these without my teaching.
1535
Let us now set forth to that place—the divine summons urges me—and hesitate no longer.
1540
As if suddenly inpired, he moves with slow but firm steps towards the left of the stage, beckoning the others onward.
Children, follow me. For now in turn it is I that shine forth wondrously as a leader for you, as you were your father’s. Onward. Do not touch me, but
allow me unaided to find the sacred tomb where it is my fate to be buried in this land.
This way, here—come this way! Hermes the Conductor and the goddess of the dead lead me in this direction.
Light of day, no light to me, once you were mine,
1545
but now my body feels you for the last time! For now I go to hide the end of my life in the house of Hades. But you, dearest of strangers, may you yourself be prosperous, and this land, and your followers. In your prosperity,
1550
remember me in my death, and be fortunate evermore.
He exits, followed by his daughters, Theseus, and attendants.
1555
I will expound myself, son of Aegeus, the treasures which will be laid up for this city, such as age can never hurt.
Immediately, with no hand to guide me, I will lead to the place where I must die. But as to that place, never reveal it to another man, neither where it is hidden, nor in what region it lies, so that it may be an eternal defence for you, better than many shields, better than the spear of neighbors which brings relief.
1520
But as for mysteries which speech may not profane, you will learn them yourself when you come to that place alone, since I cannot declare them either to any of these people, or even to my own children, though I love them.
1525
Reserve them always to yourself, and when you reach the end of life, reveal them to your eldest son alone, and let him reveal them to his successor in turn forever.
In this way you will keep this city unscathed by the men born of the Dragon’s teeth. Countless cities commit outrage
1530
In this way you will keep this city unscathed by the men born of the Dragon’s teeth. Countless cities commit outrage
even though their neighbor commits no sin. For the gods are slow to punish, yet they are sure, when men scorn holiness and turn to frenzy. Do not desire this, son of Aegeus! But you know such things as these without my teaching.
1535
Let us now set forth to that place—the divine summons urges me—and hesitate no longer.
1540
Children, follow me. For now in turn it is I that shine forth wondrously as a leader for you, as you were your father’s. Onward. Do not touch me, but
allow me unaided to find the sacred tomb where it is my fate to be buried in this land.
This way, here—come this way! Hermes the Conductor and the goddess of the dead lead me in this direction.
Light of day, no light to me, once you were mine,
1545
This way, here—come this way! Hermes the Conductor and the goddess of the dead lead me in this direction.
Light of day, no light to me, once you were mine,
but now my body feels you for the last time! For now I go to hide the end of my life in the house of Hades. But you, dearest of strangers, may you yourself be prosperous, and this land, and your followers. In your prosperity,
1550
remember me in my death, and be fortunate evermore.
He exits, followed by his daughters, Theseus, and attendants.
1555
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
1478. mvp-comment-787-1 ἰδού Cp. Αj. 870, ἰδού, δοῦπον αὖ κλύω τινά.
1478. mvp-comment-787-2 ἀμφίσταται Envelopes me. Cp. Hom. Od. 17. 261, περὶ δέ σφεας ἤλυθ᾽ ἰωὴ | φόρμιγγος: 19.444, περὶ δὲ κτύπος ἦλθε ποδοῖῖν: 1. 352, ἥτις ἀκουόντεσσι νεωτάτη ἀμφιπέληται: Phil. 1263, τίς αὖ παρ᾿ ἄντροις θόρυβος ἵσταται βοῆς; Eur. Her. 73, τίς ἡ βοὴ βωμοῦ πέλας ἕστηκεν ;
1479. mvp-comment-788-1 διαπρύσιος ότοβος The deafening, booming sound. Sophocles and Euripides revived this adjective, of which (except in Hymn to Aphrodite, 1. 19) only the neuter in an adverbial sense is found in Homer.