τοὐμοῦ πόθου προὔθεντο τὴν τυραννίδα;
Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.
Table of Contents
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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)) — 510-548 focus
Χορός
δεινὸν μὲν τὸ πάλαι κείμενον ἤδη κακόν, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεγείρειν·
510
ὅμως δʼ ἔραμαι πυθέσθαι
δεινὸν μὲν τὸ πάλαι κείμενον ἤδη κακόν, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεγείρειν·
510
ὅμως δʼ ἔραμαι πυθέσθαι
Οἰδίπους
τί τοῦτο;
τί τοῦτο;
Χορός
τᾶς δειλαίας ἀπόρου φανείσας
ἀλγηδόνος, ᾇ ξυνέστας.
τᾶς δειλαίας ἀπόρου φανείσας
ἀλγηδόνος, ᾇ ξυνέστας.
Οἰδίπους
μὴ πρὸς ξενίας ἀνοίξῃς
515
τᾶς σᾶς ἃ πέπονθʼ ἀναιδῆ.
μὴ πρὸς ξενίας ἀνοίξῃς
515
τᾶς σᾶς ἃ πέπονθʼ ἀναιδῆ.
Χορός
τό τοι πολὺ καὶ μηδαμὰ λῆγον
χρῄζω, ξεῖνʼ, ὀρθὸν ἄκουσμʼ ἀκοῦσαι.
τό τοι πολὺ καὶ μηδαμὰ λῆγον
χρῄζω, ξεῖνʼ, ὀρθὸν ἄκουσμʼ ἀκοῦσαι.
Οἰδίπους
ὤμοι.
ὤμοι.
Χορός
στέρξον, ἱκετεύω.
στέρξον, ἱκετεύω.
Οἰδίπους
φεῦ φεῦ.
φεῦ φεῦ.
Χορός
πείθου· κἀγὼ γὰρ ὅσον σὺ προσχρῄζεις.
520
πείθου· κἀγὼ γὰρ ὅσον σὺ προσχρῄζεις.
520
Οἰδίπους
ἤνεγκʼ οὖν κακότατʼ, ὦ ξένοι, ἤνεγκʼ ἀέκων μέν,
θεὸς ἴστω,
τούτων δʼ αὐθαίρετον οὐδέν.
ἤνεγκʼ οὖν κακότατʼ, ὦ ξένοι, ἤνεγκʼ ἀέκων μέν,
θεὸς ἴστω,
τούτων δʼ αὐθαίρετον οὐδέν.
Χορός
ἀλλʼ ἐς τί;
ἀλλʼ ἐς τί;
Οἰδίπους
κακᾷ μʼ εὐνᾷ πόλις οὐδὲν ἴδριν
525
γάμων ἐνέδησεν ἄτᾳ.
κακᾷ μʼ εὐνᾷ πόλις οὐδὲν ἴδριν
525
γάμων ἐνέδησεν ἄτᾳ.
Χορός
ἦ ματρόθεν, ὡς ἀκούω,
δυσώνυμα λέκτρʼ ἐπλήσω;
ἦ ματρόθεν, ὡς ἀκούω,
δυσώνυμα λέκτρʼ ἐπλήσω;
Οἰδίπους
ὤμοι θάνατος μὲν τάδʼ ἀκούειν,
ὦ ξεῖνʼ· αὗται δὲ δύʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ μὲν
530
ὤμοι θάνατος μὲν τάδʼ ἀκούειν,
ὦ ξεῖνʼ· αὗται δὲ δύʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ μὲν
530
Χορός
πῶς φῄς;
πῶς φῄς;
Οἰδίπους
παῖδε, δύο δʼ ἄτα
παῖδε, δύο δʼ ἄτα
Χορός
ὦ Ζεῦ.
ὦ Ζεῦ.
Οἰδίπους
ματρὸς κοινᾶς ἀπέβλαστον ὠδῖνος.
ματρὸς κοινᾶς ἀπέβλαστον ὠδῖνος.
Χορός
σαί τʼ εἴσʼ ἄρʼ ἀπόγονοί τε καὶ
535
σαί τʼ εἴσʼ ἄρʼ ἀπόγονοί τε καὶ
535
Οἰδίπους
κοιναί γε πατρὸς ἀδελφεαί.
κοιναί γε πατρὸς ἀδελφεαί.
Χορός
ἰώ.
ἰώ.
Οἰδίπους
ἰὼ δῆτα μυρίων γʼ ἐπιστροφαὶ κακῶν.
ἰὼ δῆτα μυρίων γʼ ἐπιστροφαὶ κακῶν.
Χορός
ἔπαθες
ἔπαθες
Οἰδίπους
ἔπαθον ἄλαστʼ ἔχειν.
ἔπαθον ἄλαστʼ ἔχειν.
Χορός
ἔρεξας
ἔρεξας
Οἰδίπους
οὐκ ἔρεξα.
οὐκ ἔρεξα.
Χορός
τί γάρ;
τί γάρ;
Οἰδίπους
ἐδεξάμην
δῶρον, ὃ μήποτʼ ἐγὼ ταλακάρδιος
540
ἐπωφέλησας πόλεος ἐξελέσθαι.
ἐδεξάμην
δῶρον, ὃ μήποτʼ ἐγὼ ταλακάρδιος
540
ἐπωφέλησας πόλεος ἐξελέσθαι.
Χορός
δύστανε, τί γάρ; ἔθου φόνον
δύστανε, τί γάρ; ἔθου φόνον
Οἰδίπους
τί τοῦτο; τί δʼ ἐθέλεις μαθεῖν;
τί τοῦτο; τί δʼ ἐθέλεις μαθεῖν;
Χορός
πατρός;
πατρός;
Οἰδίπους
παπαῖ. δευτέραν ἔπαισας, ἐπὶ νόσῳ νόσον,
παπαῖ. δευτέραν ἔπαισας, ἐπὶ νόσῳ νόσον,
Χορός
ἔκανες
545
ἔκανες
545
Οἰδίπους
ἔκανον. ἔχει δέ μοι
ἔκανον. ἔχει δέ μοι
Χορός
τί τοῦτο;
τί τοῦτο;
Οἰδίπους
πρὸς δίκας τι.
πρὸς δίκας τι.
Χορός
τί γάρ;
τί γάρ;
Οἰδίπους
ἐγὼ φράσω.
καὶ γὰρ ἄν, οὓς ἐφόνευσʼ, ἔμʼ ἀπώλεσαν·
νόμῳ δὲ καθαρός, ἄϊδρις εἰς τόδʼ ἦλθον.
ἐγὼ φράσω.
καὶ γὰρ ἄν, οὓς ἐφόνευσʼ, ἔμʼ ἀπώλεσαν·
νόμῳ δὲ καθαρός, ἄϊδρις εἰς τόδʼ ἦλθον.
Translations (4)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 419 focus
OED
Ay, were it not the lord of all this land
Theseus, that brought him to me and desired
He might hear words from me,—never again
Had these tones fallen upon his ear. But now
1350
That boon is granted him: he shall obtain,
Ere he depart, such utterance of my tongue,
As ne’er shall give him joy,—ne’er comfort thee,
Villain, who when possessed of the chief power
Which now thy brother holds o’er Theban land,
1355
Didst banish me, thy father, who stand here,
To live in exile, clothed with such attire,
That moves thy tears now that thine own estate
Is fallen into like depth of struggling woe.
But tears are bootless. Howsoe’er I live,
I must endure, and hold thee still my murderer.
1360
’Tis thou hast girt me round with misery,
’Tis thou didst drive me forth, and driven by thee
I beg my bread, a wandering sojourner.
Yea, had these daughters not been born to me
To tend me, I were dead, for all thou hast done.
1365
They have rescued, they have nursed me. They are men,
Not women, in the strength of ministry.
Ye are another’s, not my sons—For this
The eye of Destiny pursues thee still
Eager to light on thee with instant doom
If once that army move toward the town
1370
Of ancient Thebes,—the town, no dearer name,
‘City’ or ‘Country’ shall beseem thy lip
Till ye both fall, stained with fraternal gore
Long since I launched that curse against you twain
Which here again I summon to mine aid,
1375
That ye may learn what duty children owe
To a parent, nor account it a light thing
That ye were cruel sons to your blind sire.
These maidens did not so. Wherefore my curse
Prevails against thy prayer for Thebe’s throne,
If ancient Zeus, the eternal lawgiver,
1380
Have primal Justice for his counsellor.
Begone, renounced and fatherless for me,
And take with thee, vilest of villanous men,
This imprecation:—Vain be thine attempt
In levying war against thy father’s race,
1385
Frustrate be thy return to Argos’ vale:
Die foully by a fratricidal hand
And foully slay him who hath banished thee!
Further, I bid the horror breathing gloom
Tartarean, of the vault that holds my sire,
To banish thee from that last home: I invoke
1390
The Spirits who haunt this ground, and the fierce God
Who hath filled you both with this unnatural hate.—
Go now with all this in thine ears, and tell
The people of Cadmus and thy firm allies
In whom thou trustest, what inheritance
1395
Oedipus hath divided to his sons.
Ay, were it not the lord of all this land
Theseus, that brought him to me and desired
He might hear words from me,—never again
Had these tones fallen upon his ear. But now
1350
That boon is granted him: he shall obtain,
Ere he depart, such utterance of my tongue,
As ne’er shall give him joy,—ne’er comfort thee,
Villain, who when possessed of the chief power
Which now thy brother holds o’er Theban land,
1355
Didst banish me, thy father, who stand here,
To live in exile, clothed with such attire,
That moves thy tears now that thine own estate
Is fallen into like depth of struggling woe.
But tears are bootless. Howsoe’er I live,
I must endure, and hold thee still my murderer.
1360
’Tis thou hast girt me round with misery,
’Tis thou didst drive me forth, and driven by thee
I beg my bread, a wandering sojourner.
Yea, had these daughters not been born to me
To tend me, I were dead, for all thou hast done.
1365
They have rescued, they have nursed me. They are men,
Not women, in the strength of ministry.
Ye are another’s, not my sons—For this
The eye of Destiny pursues thee still
Eager to light on thee with instant doom
If once that army move toward the town
1370
Of ancient Thebes,—the town, no dearer name,
‘City’ or ‘Country’ shall beseem thy lip
Till ye both fall, stained with fraternal gore
Long since I launched that curse against you twain
Which here again I summon to mine aid,
1375
That ye may learn what duty children owe
To a parent, nor account it a light thing
That ye were cruel sons to your blind sire.
These maidens did not so. Wherefore my curse
Prevails against thy prayer for Thebe’s throne,
If ancient Zeus, the eternal lawgiver,
1380
Have primal Justice for his counsellor.
Begone, renounced and fatherless for me,
And take with thee, vilest of villanous men,
This imprecation:—Vain be thine attempt
In levying war against thy father’s race,
1385
Frustrate be thy return to Argos’ vale:
Die foully by a fratricidal hand
And foully slay him who hath banished thee!
Further, I bid the horror breathing gloom
Tartarean, of the vault that holds my sire,
To banish thee from that last home: I invoke
1390
The Spirits who haunt this ground, and the fierce God
Who hath filled you both with this unnatural hate.—
Go now with all this in thine ears, and tell
The people of Cadmus and thy firm allies
In whom thou trustest, what inheritance
1395
Oedipus hath divided to his sons.
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 421 focus
So mag den Zwiespalt, über sie vom Loos verhängt,
Niemals die Gottheit löschen, und bei mir allein
Das Ende ruh'n des Kampfes, der die Brüder theilt,
Die nun mit aufgehob'nem Speer einander droh'n,
Daß weder er, den heute Thron und Scepter schmückt,
420
Fest stehe, noch der Ausgetrieb'ne je zurück
Zur Stadt gelange! Haben sie den Vater doch,
Der aus dem Land so schmählich ausgestoßen ward,
Nicht aufgehalten, nicht geschirmt; ich ward verjagt,
Verbannt mit Heroldsrufen, und sie duldeten's.
425
Man könnte sagen, daß die Stadt in jener Zeit
Mir das mit Recht gewährte, was ich selbst erbat.
In keiner Weise: denn an jenem Tage gleich,
1
Da noch der Unmuth glühte, ja das Liebste mir
Gewesen wäre jäher Tod und Steinigung,
430
Erschien mir Niemand diesen Liebesdienst zu thun.
Doch als die Zeit schon allen Harm besänftiget,
Und ich erkannte, daß der Zorn mir ausgeschweift
Zu Züchtigungen, schwerer noch denn meine Schuld :
Da trieb gewaltsam aus dem Lande mich die Stadt
435
Nach langer Zeit erst, und des Vaters Söhne, die
Dem Vater helfen konnten, sie verweigerten
Die Hülfe, ließen, statt mit kurzem Worte mich
Zu schirmen, mich als Bettler flieh'n in fremdes Land.
Von diesen schwachen Mädchen hier wird Iegliches,
440
Wie's ihr Geschlecht verstattet, Lebensunterhalt,
Ein sichrer Siz und Kindeshülfe mir gewährt.
Die Söhne zogen Thron und Stab dem Vater vor,
Und schalten lieber als die Herrn im Lande dort.
Doch meine Hülfe leih' ich ihnen nimmermehr;
445
Nie soll die Herrschaft über Kadmos' Land für sie
Ein Segen sein: das weiß ich, wenn ich diesen Spruch,
Den du verkündest, Tochter, und das alte Wort
Erwäge, das mir Phöbos einst verkündet hat.
2
Drum mögen sie den Kreon, und wenn Einer sonst
450
Im Land Gewalt hat, senden, um nach mir zu späh'n.
Denn wollet ihr nur, Freunde, samt den Göttinnen,
Den Hehren, die in diesem Lande, walten, mir
Beistand gewähren, dann gewinnt ihr eurer Stadt
Den starken Helfer, meinen Feinden Schmach und Noth.
455
So mag den Zwiespalt, über sie vom Loos verhängt,
Niemals die Gottheit löschen, und bei mir allein
Das Ende ruh'n des Kampfes, der die Brüder theilt,
Die nun mit aufgehob'nem Speer einander droh'n,
Daß weder er, den heute Thron und Scepter schmückt,
420
Fest stehe, noch der Ausgetrieb'ne je zurück
Zur Stadt gelange! Haben sie den Vater doch,
Der aus dem Land so schmählich ausgestoßen ward,
Nicht aufgehalten, nicht geschirmt; ich ward verjagt,
Verbannt mit Heroldsrufen, und sie duldeten's.
425
Man könnte sagen, daß die Stadt in jener Zeit
Mir das mit Recht gewährte, was ich selbst erbat.
In keiner Weise: denn an jenem Tage gleich,
1
Da noch der Unmuth glühte, ja das Liebste mir
Gewesen wäre jäher Tod und Steinigung,
430
Erschien mir Niemand diesen Liebesdienst zu thun.
Doch als die Zeit schon allen Harm besänftiget,
Und ich erkannte, daß der Zorn mir ausgeschweift
Zu Züchtigungen, schwerer noch denn meine Schuld :
Da trieb gewaltsam aus dem Lande mich die Stadt
435
Nach langer Zeit erst, und des Vaters Söhne, die
Dem Vater helfen konnten, sie verweigerten
Die Hülfe, ließen, statt mit kurzem Worte mich
Zu schirmen, mich als Bettler flieh'n in fremdes Land.
Von diesen schwachen Mädchen hier wird Iegliches,
440
Wie's ihr Geschlecht verstattet, Lebensunterhalt,
Ein sichrer Siz und Kindeshülfe mir gewährt.
Die Söhne zogen Thron und Stab dem Vater vor,
Und schalten lieber als die Herrn im Lande dort.
Doch meine Hülfe leih' ich ihnen nimmermehr;
445
Nie soll die Herrschaft über Kadmos' Land für sie
Ein Segen sein: das weiß ich, wenn ich diesen Spruch,
Den du verkündest, Tochter, und das alte Wort
Erwäge, das mir Phöbos einst verkündet hat.
2
Drum mögen sie den Kreon, und wenn Einer sonst
450
Im Land Gewalt hat, senden, um nach mir zu späh'n.
Denn wollet ihr nur, Freunde, samt den Göttinnen,
Den Hehren, die in diesem Lande, walten, mir
Beistand gewähren, dann gewinnt ihr eurer Stadt
Den starken Helfer, meinen Feinden Schmach und Noth.
455
Der Chor.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 419 focus
Theseus
I in thy words have faith; for I have mark'd
In many things thy fate-predicting mind,s
In nothing false: say then what must be done..
I in thy words have faith; for I have mark'd
In many things thy fate-predicting mind,s
In nothing false: say then what must be done..
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 510-546c focus
Chorus
Terrible it is, stranger, to arouse the old woe that has for so long been laid to rest: and yet I yearn to hear—
510
Terrible it is, stranger, to arouse the old woe that has for so long been laid to rest: and yet I yearn to hear—
510
Oedipus
What now?
What now?
Chorus
—Of that grief-filled anguish, cureless, with which you have wrestled.
—Of that grief-filled anguish, cureless, with which you have wrestled.
Oedipus
By your hospitality, do not uncover the shame that I have suffered!
515
By your hospitality, do not uncover the shame that I have suffered!
515
Chorus
Seeing that the tale is wide-spread and in no way weakens, I wish, friend, to hear it straight.
Seeing that the tale is wide-spread and in no way weakens, I wish, friend, to hear it straight.
Oedipus
Ah me!
Ah me!
Chorus
Grant the favor, I beg!
Grant the favor, I beg!
Oedipus
Alas, alas!
Alas, alas!
Chorus
Grant my wish, as I have granted yours to the full.
520
Grant my wish, as I have granted yours to the full.
520
Oedipus
I have suffered the greatest misery, strangers—suffered it through unintended deeds—may the god know it! No part was of my own choice.
I have suffered the greatest misery, strangers—suffered it through unintended deeds—may the god know it! No part was of my own choice.
Chorus
But in what way?
But in what way?
Oedipus
In an evil marriage, the city bound me, unknowing, to ruin.
525
In an evil marriage, the city bound me, unknowing, to ruin.
525
Chorus
Is it true, as I hear, that you made your mother the partner of your bed, to its infamy?
Is it true, as I hear, that you made your mother the partner of your bed, to its infamy?
Oedipus
Ah, me! These words, strangers, are like death to my ears. And those two maidens of mine—
Ah, me! These words, strangers, are like death to my ears. And those two maidens of mine—
Chorus
What will you say?
530
What will you say?
530
Oedipus
—Two daughters—two curses—
—Two daughters—two curses—
Chorus
O Zeus!
O Zeus!
Oedipus
—of mine, sprung from the travail of the womb that bore me too.
—of mine, sprung from the travail of the womb that bore me too.
Chorus
These, then, are at once your daughters, and—
These, then, are at once your daughters, and—
Oedipus
—Sisters, indeed, of their father.
535
—Sisters, indeed, of their father.
535
Chorus
Oh!
Oh!
Oedipus
Indeed, woes untold sweep back upon my soul!
Indeed, woes untold sweep back upon my soul!
Chorus
You have suffered—
You have suffered—
Oedipus
I have suffered woes grievous to bear.
I have suffered woes grievous to bear.
Chorus
You have performed—
You have performed—
Oedipus
I have not performed!
I have not performed!
Chorus
How?
How?
Oedipus
A gift was given to me—O, wretched that I am, if only I had never won from the city that gift for my services!
A gift was given to me—O, wretched that I am, if only I had never won from the city that gift for my services!
Chorus
Cursed man! What of this? Did you commit the murder—
Cursed man! What of this? Did you commit the murder—
Oedipus
What now? What would you learn?
What now? What would you learn?
Chorus
—Of your father?
—Of your father?
Oedipus
Oh! oh! a second stab—wound on wound!
Oh! oh! a second stab—wound on wound!
Chorus
You killed—
545
You killed—
545
Oedipus
I killed—yet I have a plea—
I killed—yet I have a plea—
Chorus
What can you plead?
What can you plead?
Oedipus
—A plea of justice.
—A plea of justice.
Chorus
What?
What?
Oedipus
I will tell you: I killed in ignorance and perished utterly. Pure before the law, without knowledge of my act, I have come to this!
I will tell you: I killed in ignorance and perished utterly. Pure before the law, without knowledge of my act, I have come to this!
Commentary
Commentary (R. C. Jebb) (OCR draft) (Commentary (R. C. Jebb))
mvp-comment-311-1 τοὐμοῦ πόθου 1
Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) (Commentary (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) focus
419-420. mvp-comment-227-1 It may seem unreasonable in Oedipus to expect his sons to disregard the interest and the law of Thebes. But he is absorbed in his own destiny, and is full of indignation at the thought of being taken to the borders of his country without being restored to it. This he thinks that his sons ought to have interfered to prevent. He regards the oracle as expressing the intention of Phoebus to glorify him at the expense of his countrymen if they persist in rejecting him. See Introduction, p. 281, note 2.