Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, ed. Lewis Campbell, 540

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δῶρον, ὃ μήποτʼ ἐγὼ ταλακάρδιος

540

Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. ed. Lewis Campbell. Oxford. 1879.

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)) — 549-667 focus

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδʼ ἡμὶν Αἰγέως γόνος

Θησεὺς κατʼ ὀμφὴν σὴν ἐφʼ ἁστάλη πάρα.
550

Θησεύς

πολλῶν ἀκούων ἔν τε τῷ πάρος χρόνῳ

τὰς αἱματηρὰς ὀμμάτων διαφθορὰς

ἔγνωκά σʼ, ὦ παῖ Λαΐου, τανῦν θʼ ὁδοῖς

ἐν ταῖσδʼ ἀκούων μᾶλλον ἐξεπίσταμαι.

σκευή τε γάρ σε καὶ τὸ δύστηνον κάρα
555

δηλοῦτον ἡμῖν ὄνθʼ ὃς εἶ, καί σʼ οἰκτίσας

θέλω ʼπερέσθαι, δύσμορʼ Οἰδίπους, τίνα

πόλεως ἐπέστης προστροπὴν ἐμοῦ τʼ ἔχων,

αὐτός τε χἠ σὴ δύσμορος παραστάτις.

δίδασκε· δεινὴν γάρ τινʼ ἂν πρᾶξιν τύχοις
560

λέξας ὁποίας ἐξαφισταίμην ἐγώ,

ὃς οἶδα καὐτὸς ὡς ἐπαιδεύθην ξένος,

ὥσπερ σύ, χὢς εἷς πλεῖστʼ ἀνὴρ ἐπὶ ξένης

ἤθλησα κινδυνεύματʼ ἐν τὠμῷ κάρᾳ·

ὥστε ξένον γʼ ἂν οὐδένʼ ὄνθʼ, ὥσπερ σὺ νῦν,
565

ὑπεκτραποίμην μὴ οὐ συνεκσῴζειν· ἐπεὶ

ἔξοιδʼ ἀνὴρ ὢν χὤτι τῆς εἰς αὔριον

οὐδὲν πλέον μοι σοῦ μέτεστιν ἡμέρας.

Οἰδίπους

Θησεῦ, τὸ σὸν γενναῖον ἐν σμικρῷ λόγῳ

παρῆκεν, ὥστε βραχέα μοι δεῖσθαι φράσαι.
570

σὺ γάρ μʼ ὅς εἰμι κἀφʼ ὅτου πατρὸς γεγὼς

καὶ γῆς ὁποίας ἦλθον, εἰρηκὼς κυρεῖς·

ὥστʼ ἐστί μοι τὸ λοιπὸν οὐδὲν ἄλλο πλὴν

εἰπεῖν ἃ χρῄζω, χὠ λόγος διοίχεται.

Θησεύς

τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ νῦν δίδασχʼ, ὅπως ἂν ἐκμάθω.
575

Οἰδίπους

δώσων ἱκάνω τοὐμὸν ἄθλιον δέμας

σοὶ δῶρον, οὐ σπουδαῖον εἰς ὄψιν· τὰ δὲ

κέρδη παρʼ αὐτοῦ κρείσσονʼ ἢ μορφὴ καλή.

579

Θησεύς

ποῖον δὲ κέρδος ἀξιοῖς ἥκειν φέρων;

Οἰδίπους

χρόνῳ μάθοις ἄν, οὐχὶ τῷ παρόντι που.
580

Θησεύς

ποίῳ γὰρ ἡ σὴ προσφορὰ δηλώσεται;

Οἰδίπους

ὅταν θάνω ʼγὼ καὶ σύ μου ταφεὺς γένῃ

Θησεύς

τὰ λοίσθιʼ αἰτεῖ τοῦ βίου, τὰ δʼ ἐν μέσῳ

ἢ λῆστιν ἴσχεις ἢ διʼ οὐδενὸς ποεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

ἐνταῦθα γάρ μοι κεῖνα συγκομίζεται.
585

Θησεύς

ἀλλʼ ἐν βραχεῖ δὴ τήνδε μʼ ἐξαιτεῖ χάριν.

Οἰδίπους

ὅρα γε μήν· οὐ σμικρός, οὔχ, ἁγὼν ὅδε.

Θησεύς

πότερα τὰ τῶν σῶν ἐκγόνων κἀμοῦ λέγεις;—

Οἰδίπους

κεῖνοι κομίζειν κεῖσʼ ἄναξ, χρῄζουσί με.

Θησεύς

ἀλλʼ εἰ θέλοντά γʼ οὐδὲ σοὶ φεύγειν καλόν.
590

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ, ὅτʼ αὐτὸς ἤθελον, παρίεσαν.

Θησεύς

ὦ μῶρε, θυμὸς δʼ ἐν κακοῖς οὐ ξύμφορον.

Οἰδίπους

ὅταν μάθῃς μου, νουθέτει, τανῦν δʼ ἔα.

Θησεύς

δίδασκʼ· ἄνευ γνώμης γὰρ οὔ με χρὴ λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους

πέπονθα, Θησεῦ, δεινὰ πρὸς κακοῖς κακά.
595

Θησεύς

ἦ τὴν παλαιὰν ξυμφορὰν γένους ἐρεῖς;

Οἰδίπους

οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ πᾶς τοῦτό γʼ Ἑλλήνων θροεῖ.

Θησεύς

τί γὰρ τὸ μεῖζον ἢ κατʼ ἄνθρωπον νοσεῖς;

Οἰδίπους

οὕτως ἔχει μοι. γῆς ἐμῆς ἀπηλάθην

πρὸς τῶν ἐμαυτοῦ σπερμάτων· ἔστιν δέ μοι
600

πάλιν κατελθεῖν μήποθʼ, ὡς πατροκτόνῳ.

Θησεύς

πῶς δῆτα σʼ ἂν πεμψαίαθʼ, ὥστʼ οἰκεῖν δίχα;

Οἰδίπους

τὸ θεῖον αὐτοὺς ἐξαναγκάσει στόμα.

Θησεύς

ποῖον πάθος δείσαντας ἐκ χρηστηρίων;

Οἰδίπους

ὅτι σφʼ ἀνάγκη τῇδε πληγῆναι χθονί.
605

Θησεύς

καὶ πῶς γένοιτʼ ἂν τἀμὰ κἀκείνων πικρά;

607

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατʼ Αἰγέως παῖ, μόνοις οὐ γίγνεται

θεοῖσι γῆρας οὐδὲ κατθανεῖν ποτε.

τὰ δʼ ἄλλα συγχεῖ πάνθʼ ὁ παγκρατὴς χρόνος.

φθίνει μὲν ἰσχὺς γῆς, φθίνει δὲ σώματος,
610

θνῄσκει δὲ πίστις, βλαστάνει δʼ ἀπιστία,

καὶ πνεῦμα ταὐτὸν οὔποτʼ οὔτʼ ἐν ἀνδράσιν

φίλοις βέβηκεν οὔτε πρὸς πόλιν πόλει.

τοῖς μὲν γὰρ ἤδη, τοῖς δʼ ἐν ὑστέρῳ χρόνῳ

τὰ τερπνὰ πικρὰ γίγνεται καὖθις φίλα.
615

καὶ ταῖσι Θήβαις εἰ τανῦν εὐημερεῖ

καλῶς τὰ πρὸς σέ, μυρίας ὁ μυρίος

χρόνος τεκνοῦται νύκτας ἡμέρας τʼ ἰών,

ἐν αἷς τὰ νῦν ξύμφωνα δεξιώματα

δόρει διασκεδῶσιν ἐκ σμικροῦ λόγου·
620

ἵνʼ οὑμὸς εὕδων καὶ κεκρυμμένος νέκυς

ψυχρός ποτʼ αὐτῶν θερμὸν αἷμα πίεται,

εἰ Ζεὺς ἔτι Ζεὺς χὠ Διὸς Φοῖβος σαφής.

ἀλλʼ οὐ γὰρ αὐδᾶν ἡδὺ τἀκίνητʼ ἔπη,

ἔα μʼ ἐν οἷσιν ἠρξάμην, τὸ σὸν μόνον
625

πιστὸν φυλάσσων, κοὔποτʼ Οἰδίπουν ἐρεῖς

ἀχρεῖον οἰκητῆρα δέξασθαι τόπων

τῶν ἐνθάδʼ, εἴπερ μὴ θεοὶ ψεύσουσί με.

Χορός

ἄναξ, πάλαι καὶ ταῦτα καὶ τοιαῦτʼ ἔπη

γῇ τῇδʼ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ ὡς τελῶν ἐφαίνετο.
630

Θησεύς

τίς δῆτʼ ἂν ἀνδρὸς εὐμένειαν ἐκβάλοι

τοιοῦδʼ, ὅτῳ πρῶτον μὲν ἡ δορύξενος

κοινή παρʼ ἡμῖν αἰέν ἐστιν ἑστία;

ἔπειτα δʼ ἱκέτης δαιμόνων ἀφιγμένος

γῇ τῇδε κἀμοὶ δασμὸν οὐ σμικρὸν τίνει.
635

ἁγὼ σεβισθεὶς οὔποτʼ ἐκβαλῶ χάριν

τὴν τοῦδε, χώρᾳ δʼ ἔμπολιν κατοικιῶ.

εἰ δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἡδὺ τῷ ξένῳ μίμνειν, σέ νιν

τάξω φυλάσσειν, εἴτʼ ἐμοῦ στείχειν μέτα,

τόδʼ ἡδύ, τούτων, Οἰδίπους, δίδωμί σοι
640

κρίναντι χρῆσθαι· τῇδε γὰρ ξυνοίσομαι.

642

Οἰδίπους

ὦ Ζεῦ, διδοίης τοῖσι τοιούτοισιν εὖ.

Θησεύς

τί δῆτα χρῄζεις; ἦ δόμους στείχειν ἐμούς;

Οἰδίπους

εἴ μοι θέμις γʼ ἦν· ἀλλʼ ὁ χῶρός ἐσθʼ ὅδε,

Θησεύς

ἐν ᾧ τί πράξεις; οὐ γὰρ ἀντιστήσομαι.
645

Οἰδίπους

ἐν ᾧ κρατήσω τῶν ἔμʼ ἐκβεβληκότων.

Θησεύς

μέγʼ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα τῆς συνουσίας.

Οἰδίπους

εἰ σοί γʼ ἅπερ φῂς ἐμμενεῖ τελοῦντί μοι.

Θησεύς

θάρσει τὸ τοῦδέ γʼ ἀνδρός· οὔ σε μὴ προδῶ.

Οἰδίπους

οὔτοι σʼ ὑφʼ ὅρκου γʼ ὡς κακὸν πιστώσομαι.
650

Θησεύς

οὔκουν πέρα γʼ ἂν οὐδὲν ἢ λόγῳ φέροις.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς οὖν ποήσεις;

Θησεύς

τοῦ μάλιστʼ ὄκνος σʼ ἔχει;

Οἰδίπους

ἥξουσιν ἄνδρες

Θησεύς

ἀλλὰ τοῖσδʼ ἔσται μέλον.

Οἰδίπους

ὅρα με λείπων

Θησεύς

μὴ δίδασχʼ ἃ χρή με δρᾶν.

Οἰδίπους

ὀκνοῦντʼ ἀνάγκη.
655

Θησεύς

τοὐμὸν οὐκ ὀκνεῖ κέαρ.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀπειλὰς

Θησεύς

οἶδʼ ἐγώ σε μή τινα

ἐνθένδʼ ἀπάξοντʼ ἄνδρα πρὸς βίαν ἐμοῦ.

πολλαὶ δʼ ἀπειλαὶ πολλὰ δὴ μάτην ἔπη

θυμῷ κατηπείλησαν, ἀλλʼ ὁ νοῦς ὅταν

αὑτοῦ γένηται, φροῦδα τἀπειλήματα.
660

κείνοις δʼ ἴσως κεἰ δείνʼ ἐπερρώσθη λέγειν

τῆς σῆς ἀγωγῆς, οἶδʼ ἐγώ, φανήσεται

μακρὸν τὸ δεῦρο πέλαγος οὐδὲ πλώσιμον.

θαρσεῖν μὲν οὖν ἔγωγε κἂν ἐμῆς ἄνευ

γνώμης ἐπαινῶ, Φοῖβος εἰ προὔπεμψέ σε·
665

ὅμως δὲ κἀμοῦ μὴ παρόντος οἶδʼ ὅτι

τοὐμὸν φυλάξει σʼ ὄνομα μὴ πάσχειν κακῶς.

Translations (2)

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 542 focus

Unseliger, und du gabst den Tod
540

Oedipus.

Was meinst du da? Was willst du mehr?

Dem Vater?

Weh, weh! Du schlägst zur ersten Wunde die andre mir!

Der Chor.

Du warst sein Mörder?

Oedipus.

Ich war's; indeß -

Nun?

Nicht mit Unrecht, mein' ich.

Der Chor.

Wie?

Oedipus.

So höre denn:

Wider Gewalt ankämpfend, erschlug ich ihn,¹
545

That's unbewußt und nach der Sazung schuldlos.²

Der Chor.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 549-665 focus

Chorus

Look, there comes our lord, Theseus son of Aegeus,

at the sound of your voice, to do that for which he was summoned.
550

Enter Theseus.

Theseus

Through hearing from many in the past about the bloody marring of your sight, I recognized it was you, son of Laius; and now on coming here, through sight I am more fully certain.

For your clothing and that heart-rending face alike assure me that it is you. And in all compassion I ask you, ill-fated Oedipus, with what petition to the city and to me have you taken your place here, you and the poor maiden at your side. Declare it. Dire indeed must be the fortune which you tell,
555

for me to stand aloof from it; since I know that I myself also was reared in exile, just as you, and that in foreign lands I wrestled with perils to my life, like no other man.
560

Never, then, would I turn aside from a stranger, such as you are now, or refuse to help in his deliverance. For I know well that I am a man, and that my portion of tomorrow is no greater than yours.
565

Oedipus

Theseus, in a few words your nobleness has come to such a point

that I need make only a brief reply. You have said who I am, from what father I am sprung, and from what land I have come; and so nothing else remains for me but to speak my wish, and the tale is told.
570

Theseus

Then inform me of this very thing, so that I may learn it.
575

Oedipus

I come to offer you my care-worn body as a gift—not one fine to look on, but the gains from it are better than beauty.

579

Theseus

And what gain do you claim to have brought?

Oedipus

Later you may learn it—but not yet.
580

Theseus

At what time, then, will the benefit become clear?

Oedipus

When I am dead, and you have given me burial.

Theseus

You crave life’s last service; but for all between you have no memory, or no care.

Oedipus

Indeed, for by that service I gather in all the rest.
585

Theseus

Well then, this favor you crave from me is brief indeed.

Oedipus

Yet take care; the struggle here is no light one. No, indeed.

Theseus

Do you mean in respect to your sons, or to me?

Oedipus

They will compel you to convey me there to Thebes .

Theseus

But if you are willing, then exile is not becoming.
590

Oedipus

No, when I was willing, they refused.

Theseus

Foolish man, anger amidst woes is not suitable.

Oedipus

When you have heard my story, admonish; till then, forbear.

Theseus

Speak. I must not pronounce without knowledge.

Oedipus

I have suffered, Theseus, terrible woes upon woes.
595

Theseus

Will you speak of the ancient trouble of your race?

Oedipus

No, indeed; all Greeks speak of that.

Theseus

How, then, do you suffer beyond what is mortal?

Oedipus

The circumstance is this: from my country I have been driven by my own sons;

and I may not return, since I am guilty of a father’s blood.
600

Theseus

Why would they have you brought back, if you must dwell apart?

Oedipus

The word of the god will compel them.

Theseus

What suffering do they fear from the oracles?

Oedipus

That they must be struck down in this land.
605

Theseus

And how should bitterness come between them and me?

607

Oedipus

Dearest son of Aegeus, to the gods alone old age and death never come, but everything else sinks into chaos from time which overpowers all.

Earth’s strength decays, and so too the strength of the body; trust dies; distrust is born; and the same spirit is never steadfast among friends, or between city and city. For some now, for others tomorrow, sweet feelings turn to bitter, and then once more to being dear.
610

And if now the sun shines brightly between Thebes and you, yet time in his course gives birth to days and nights untold, in which from a small cause they will
615

scatter with the spear today’s pledges of concord. Then one day my slumbering and buried corpse, cold in death, will drink their warm blood, if Zeus is still Zeus, and Phoebus, the son of Zeus, speaks clear.
But, since I would not break silence concerning words that must not spoken, allow me to cease where I began.
620

Only keep your own pledge good, and never will you say that in vain you welcomed Oedipus to dwell in this land—if indeed the gods do not deceive me.
625

Chorus

Lord, from the first this man has shown a

will to bring these words, or similar ones, to completion for our land.
630

Theseus

Who, then, would reject the goodwill of such a one? To whom, first, the hearth of a spear-friend is always available on our side, by reciprocal right; then too he has come as a suppliant to our gods,

paying no small recompense to this land and to me. In reverence for these claims, I will never spurn his favor, and I will establish a dwelling for him as a citizen in the land. And if it is the pleasure of the stranger to remain here, I will command you to
635

protect him; or, if it pleases him, to come with me. This choice or that, Oedipus, you may take; your desire will be mine.
640

642

Oedipus

O Zeus, may you be good to men such as these!

Theseus

What is your wish, then? Will you come to my house?

Oedipus

Yes, I would, if it were right. But this is the place—

Theseus

What will you do here? Speak, for I will not hinder you.
645

Oedipus

—Where I will conquer those who cast me out.

Theseus

The promised gift of your presence would be great.

Oedipus

It shall be, if you keep your pledge with me.

Theseus

Have courage concerning me; never will I betray you.

Oedipus

I will not bind you with an oath as if an evil man.
650

Theseus

Well, you would win nothing more than by my word.

Oedipus

What will you do, then?

Theseus

What is it that you fear?

Oedipus

Men will come—

Theseus

But these men here will see to that.

Oedipus

Beware that if you leave me—

Theseus

Do not instruct me in my duties.

Oedipus

Fear constrains me—
655

Theseus

My heart feels no fear.

Oedipus

You do not know the threats—

Theseus

I know that none will lead you from here against my will. Often threats have blustered in men’s hearts with words loud and vain; but when the mind comes to itself once more,

the threats have vanished. For those men, too, perhaps—yes, even if in boldness they have spoken dreadful things of bringing you back, the voyage here will prove long and hard to sail. Now I exhort you, apart from any decision of mine, to take heart,
660

if indeed Phoebus has been your escort here. Even if I am not present, still my name, I know, will shield you from harm.
665

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-407-1 δῶρον ¹

mvp-comment-407-2 The MS. ἐπωφέλησα ,

"I benefited,"

"succoured"

(cp. 441), cannot be right. The sense required is

μήποτε ὤφελον ἐξελέσθαι

"would that I had never won!"

cp. Ph. 969

μήποτ’ ὤφελον λιπεῖν | τὴν Σκῦρον

: Od. 11.548

ὡς δὴ μὴ ὄφελον νικᾶν

: where

μή

, though thus placed, belongs to the infinitives. See Appendix for the attempted explanations of

ἐπωφέλησα

, and for some proposed emendations.

mvp-comment-407-3 I would read the partic. ἐπωφελήσας (which the iambic metre allows), and take ἐξελέσθαι as the absol. infin. expressing a wish:—

"and would that I had never received that choice gift from the city, for having served her."

For this absol. infin., with the subject in the nominative, cp. Aesch. Cho. 363:

ΗΛ. μηδ’ ὑπὸ Τρωΐας

τείχεσι φθίμενος, πάτερ,

μετ’ ἄλλων δουρικμῆτι λαῷ

παρὰ Σκαμάνδρου πόρον τεθάφθαι,

πάρος δ’ οἱ κτανόντες νιν οὕτως δαμῆναι

. Orestes had uttered the wish that Agamemnon had fallen in war at Troy:

εἰ γὰρ ὑπ’ Ἰλίῳ | … κατηναρίσθης

(345 ff.) . Electra modifies it:

"I would not have had thee to perish e'en beneath Troy's walls, and to be buried by Scamander's stream; would rather that the murderers (Aegisthus and Clytaemnestra) had first been slain as they slew thee!"

Here the MSS. have

τέθαψαι

and

δαμῆναι

. On the latter the schol. has

λείπει τὸ ὄφελον

, and on the former

λείπει τὸ ὤφελες

, thus indicating the certain correction of H. L. Ahrens,

τεθάφθαι

. Cp. also Od. 24.376

αἲ γάρ, Ζεῦ τε πάτερ καὶ Ἀθηναίη καὶ Ἄπολλον,

οἷος Νήρικον εἷλον, …

τοῖος ἐών τοι χθιζὸς ἐν ἡμετέροισι δόμοισιν,

τεύχε’ ἔχων ὤμοισιν, ἐφεστάμεναι καὶ ἀμύνειν,

"Ah, would to father Zeus,...that, such as I was when I took Nericus,...in such might, and with armour on my shoulders, I had stood by thee , and had been aiding thee , yesterday in our house!"

A criticism by Wecklein is discussed in the Appendix.

mvp-comment-407-4 ἐξελέσθαι ²

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

539-541. mvp-comment-300-1 I received a gift, which would that I, the much-enduring one, had never so benefited the state as to receive from her the privilege of choosing.' i. e. Would that I had not benefited the state so as to be honoured with the choice gift of Jocasta. In this rendering. which takes the words in a natural order, it is assumed that μή, with the past tenses of the indicative in a relative clause, may express the wish to reverse a fact in past time. Cp. Aesch. Cho. 363-366, μηδ' ὑπὸ κ.τ.λ. .. τέθαψαι. The analogy of the uses of the historical tenses with εἰ, ἄν, ἵνα, ὡς, ὅπως, to express an impossible supposition, inference, motive, or result, is all that can be urged in favour of this, except the comparison of a passage which has generally been thought corrupt, infr. 1713, ἰώ, μὴ γᾶς ἐπὶ ξένας θανεῖν ἔχρηζες. It may be further suggested, that in both these instances the unusual construction is assisted by an echo (or harmonic) of ὤφελον in ἐπωφέλησα, and of ἐχρῆν in ἔχρηζες. If this hypothesis is rejected, we must fall back on Hermann's interpretation of the words: Accepi, inquit Oedipus, donum, uxorem dicens, quod ego ut nunquam a civitate debuerim accipere, ei profui, i. e. quod ut mihi non unquam daret civitas, merui. quum eam a Sphinge liberavi. ταλακάρδιος is a poetical expansion of τάλας: cp. πυκνόπτερος, μελάμφυλλος, etc.

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Χορός καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδʼ ἡμὶν Αἰγέως γόνος Θησεὺς κατʼ ὀμφὴν σὴν ἐφʼ ἁστάλη πάρα. 550

Θησεύς τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ νῦν δίδασχʼ, ὅπως ἂν ἐκμάθω. 575

Οἰδίπους δώσων ἱκάνω τοὐμὸν ἄθλιον δέμας σοὶ δῶρον, οὐ σπουδαῖον εἰς ὄψιν· τὰ δὲ κέρδη παρʼ αὐτοῦ κρείσσονʼ ἢ μορφὴ καλή.

Θησεύς ποῖον δὲ κέρδος ἀξιοῖς ἥκειν φέρων;

Οἰδίπους χρόνῳ μάθοις ἄν, οὐχὶ τῷ παρόντι που. 580

Θησεύς ποίῳ γὰρ ἡ σὴ προσφορὰ δηλώσεται;

Οἰδίπους ὅταν θάνω ʼγὼ καὶ σύ μου ταφεὺς γένῃ

Θησεύς τὰ λοίσθιʼ αἰτεῖ τοῦ βίου, τὰ δʼ ἐν μέσῳ ἢ λῆστιν ἴσχεις ἢ διʼ οὐδενὸς ποεῖ.

Οἰδίπους ἐνταῦθα γάρ μοι κεῖνα συγκομίζεται. 585

Θησεύς ἀλλʼ ἐν βραχεῖ δὴ τήνδε μʼ ἐξαιτεῖ χάριν.

Οἰδίπους ὅρα γε μήν· οὐ σμικρός, οὔχ, ἁγὼν ὅδε.

Θησεύς πότερα τὰ τῶν σῶν ἐκγόνων κἀμοῦ λέγεις;—

Οἰδίπους κεῖνοι κομίζειν κεῖσʼ ἄναξ, χρῄζουσί με.

Θησεύς ἀλλʼ εἰ θέλοντά γʼ οὐδὲ σοὶ φεύγειν καλόν. 590

Οἰδίπους ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ, ὅτʼ αὐτὸς ἤθελον, παρίεσαν.

Θησεύς ὦ μῶρε, θυμὸς δʼ ἐν κακοῖς οὐ ξύμφορον.

Οἰδίπους ὅταν μάθῃς μου, νουθέτει, τανῦν δʼ ἔα.

Θησεύς δίδασκʼ· ἄνευ γνώμης γὰρ οὔ με χρὴ λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους πέπονθα, Θησεῦ, δεινὰ πρὸς κακοῖς κακά. 595

Θησεύς ἦ τὴν παλαιὰν ξυμφορὰν γένους ἐρεῖς;

Οἰδίπους οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ πᾶς τοῦτό γʼ Ἑλλήνων θροεῖ.

Θησεύς τί γὰρ τὸ μεῖζον ἢ κατʼ ἄνθρωπον νοσεῖς;

Οἰδίπους οὕτως ἔχει μοι. γῆς ἐμῆς ἀπηλάθην πρὸς τῶν ἐμαυτοῦ σπερμάτων· ἔστιν δέ μοι 600 πάλιν κατελθεῖν μήποθʼ, ὡς πατροκτόνῳ.

Θησεύς πῶς δῆτα σʼ ἂν πεμψαίαθʼ, ὥστʼ οἰκεῖν δίχα;

Οἰδίπους τὸ θεῖον αὐτοὺς ἐξαναγκάσει στόμα.

Θησεύς ποῖον πάθος δείσαντας ἐκ χρηστηρίων;

Οἰδίπους ὅτι σφʼ ἀνάγκη τῇδε πληγῆναι χθονί. 605

Θησεύς καὶ πῶς γένοιτʼ ἂν τἀμὰ κἀκείνων πικρά;

Χορός ἄναξ, πάλαι καὶ ταῦτα καὶ τοιαῦτʼ ἔπη γῇ τῇδʼ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ ὡς τελῶν ἐφαίνετο. 630

Οἰδίπους ὦ Ζεῦ, διδοίης τοῖσι τοιούτοισιν εὖ.

Θησεύς τί δῆτα χρῄζεις; ἦ δόμους στείχειν ἐμούς;

Οἰδίπους εἴ μοι θέμις γʼ ἦν· ἀλλʼ ὁ χῶρός ἐσθʼ ὅδε,

Θησεύς ἐν ᾧ τί πράξεις; οὐ γὰρ ἀντιστήσομαι. 645

Οἰδίπους ἐν ᾧ κρατήσω τῶν ἔμʼ ἐκβεβληκότων.

Θησεύς μέγʼ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα τῆς συνουσίας.

Οἰδίπους εἰ σοί γʼ ἅπερ φῂς ἐμμενεῖ τελοῦντί μοι.

Θησεύς θάρσει τὸ τοῦδέ γʼ ἀνδρός· οὔ σε μὴ προδῶ.

Οἰδίπους οὔτοι σʼ ὑφʼ ὅρκου γʼ ὡς κακὸν πιστώσομαι. 650

Θησεύς οὔκουν πέρα γʼ ἂν οὐδὲν ἢ λόγῳ φέροις.

Οἰδίπους πῶς οὖν ποήσεις;

Θησεύς τοῦ μάλιστʼ ὄκνος σʼ ἔχει;

Οἰδίπους ἥξουσιν ἄνδρες

Θησεύς ἀλλὰ τοῖσδʼ ἔσται μέλον.

Οἰδίπους ὅρα με λείπων

Θησεύς μὴ δίδασχʼ ἃ χρή με δρᾶν.

Οἰδίπους ὀκνοῦντʼ ἀνάγκη. 655

Θησεύς τοὐμὸν οὐκ ὀκνεῖ κέαρ.

Οἰδίπους οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀπειλὰς

Unseliger, und du gabst den Tod 540

Oedipus. Was meinst du da? Was willst du mehr? Dem Vater? Weh, weh! Du schlägst zur ersten Wunde die andre mir!

Der Chor. Du warst sein Mörder?

Oedipus. Ich war's; indeß - Nun? Nicht mit Unrecht, mein' ich.

Der Chor. Wie?

Oedipus. So höre denn: Wider Gewalt ankämpfend, erschlug ich ihn, 1 545 That's unbewußt und nach der Sazung schuldlos. 2

Der Chor.

Chorus Look, there comes our lord, Theseus son of Aegeus, at the sound of your voice, to do that for which he was summoned. 550

Oedipus Theseus, in a few words your nobleness has come to such a point that I need make only a brief reply. You have said who I am, from what father I am sprung, and from what land I have come; and so nothing else remains for me but to speak my wish, and the tale is told. 570

Theseus Then inform me of this very thing, so that I may learn it. 575

Oedipus I come to offer you my care-worn body as a gift—not one fine to look on, but the gains from it are better than beauty.

Theseus And what gain do you claim to have brought?

Oedipus Later you may learn it—but not yet. 580

Theseus At what time, then, will the benefit become clear?

Oedipus When I am dead, and you have given me burial.

Theseus You crave life’s last service; but for all between you have no memory, or no care.

Oedipus Indeed, for by that service I gather in all the rest. 585

Theseus Well then, this favor you crave from me is brief indeed.

Oedipus Yet take care; the struggle here is no light one. No, indeed.

Theseus Do you mean in respect to your sons, or to me?

Oedipus They will compel you to convey me there to Thebes .

Theseus But if you are willing, then exile is not becoming. 590

Oedipus No, when I was willing, they refused.

Theseus Foolish man, anger amidst woes is not suitable.

Oedipus When you have heard my story, admonish; till then, forbear.

Theseus Speak. I must not pronounce without knowledge.

Oedipus I have suffered, Theseus, terrible woes upon woes. 595

Theseus Will you speak of the ancient trouble of your race?

Oedipus No, indeed; all Greeks speak of that.

Χορός

καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδʼ ἡμὶν Αἰγέως γόνος

Θησεὺς κατʼ ὀμφὴν σὴν ἐφʼ ἁστάλη πάρα.
550

Θησεύς

τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ νῦν δίδασχʼ, ὅπως ἂν ἐκμάθω.
575

Οἰδίπους

δώσων ἱκάνω τοὐμὸν ἄθλιον δέμας

σοὶ δῶρον, οὐ σπουδαῖον εἰς ὄψιν· τὰ δὲ

κέρδη παρʼ αὐτοῦ κρείσσονʼ ἢ μορφὴ καλή.

Θησεύς

ποῖον δὲ κέρδος ἀξιοῖς ἥκειν φέρων;

Οἰδίπους

χρόνῳ μάθοις ἄν, οὐχὶ τῷ παρόντι που.
580

Θησεύς

ποίῳ γὰρ ἡ σὴ προσφορὰ δηλώσεται;

Οἰδίπους

ὅταν θάνω ʼγὼ καὶ σύ μου ταφεὺς γένῃ

Θησεύς

τὰ λοίσθιʼ αἰτεῖ τοῦ βίου, τὰ δʼ ἐν μέσῳ

ἢ λῆστιν ἴσχεις ἢ διʼ οὐδενὸς ποεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

ἐνταῦθα γάρ μοι κεῖνα συγκομίζεται.
585

Θησεύς

ἀλλʼ ἐν βραχεῖ δὴ τήνδε μʼ ἐξαιτεῖ χάριν.

Οἰδίπους

ὅρα γε μήν· οὐ σμικρός, οὔχ, ἁγὼν ὅδε.

Θησεύς

πότερα τὰ τῶν σῶν ἐκγόνων κἀμοῦ λέγεις;—

Οἰδίπους

κεῖνοι κομίζειν κεῖσʼ ἄναξ, χρῄζουσί με.

Θησεύς

ἀλλʼ εἰ θέλοντά γʼ οὐδὲ σοὶ φεύγειν καλόν.
590

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ, ὅτʼ αὐτὸς ἤθελον, παρίεσαν.

Θησεύς

ὦ μῶρε, θυμὸς δʼ ἐν κακοῖς οὐ ξύμφορον.

Οἰδίπους

ὅταν μάθῃς μου, νουθέτει, τανῦν δʼ ἔα.

Θησεύς

δίδασκʼ· ἄνευ γνώμης γὰρ οὔ με χρὴ λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους

πέπονθα, Θησεῦ, δεινὰ πρὸς κακοῖς κακά.
595

Θησεύς

ἦ τὴν παλαιὰν ξυμφορὰν γένους ἐρεῖς;

Οἰδίπους

οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ πᾶς τοῦτό γʼ Ἑλλήνων θροεῖ.

Θησεύς

τί γὰρ τὸ μεῖζον ἢ κατʼ ἄνθρωπον νοσεῖς;

Οἰδίπους

οὕτως ἔχει μοι. γῆς ἐμῆς ἀπηλάθην

πρὸς τῶν ἐμαυτοῦ σπερμάτων· ἔστιν δέ μοι
600

πάλιν κατελθεῖν μήποθʼ, ὡς πατροκτόνῳ.

Θησεύς

πῶς δῆτα σʼ ἂν πεμψαίαθʼ, ὥστʼ οἰκεῖν δίχα;

Οἰδίπους

τὸ θεῖον αὐτοὺς ἐξαναγκάσει στόμα.

Θησεύς

ποῖον πάθος δείσαντας ἐκ χρηστηρίων;

Οἰδίπους

ὅτι σφʼ ἀνάγκη τῇδε πληγῆναι χθονί.
605

Θησεύς

καὶ πῶς γένοιτʼ ἂν τἀμὰ κἀκείνων πικρά;

Χορός

ἄναξ, πάλαι καὶ ταῦτα καὶ τοιαῦτʼ ἔπη

γῇ τῇδʼ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ ὡς τελῶν ἐφαίνετο.
630

Οἰδίπους

ὦ Ζεῦ, διδοίης τοῖσι τοιούτοισιν εὖ.

Θησεύς

τί δῆτα χρῄζεις; ἦ δόμους στείχειν ἐμούς;

Οἰδίπους

εἴ μοι θέμις γʼ ἦν· ἀλλʼ ὁ χῶρός ἐσθʼ ὅδε,

Θησεύς

ἐν ᾧ τί πράξεις; οὐ γὰρ ἀντιστήσομαι.
645

Οἰδίπους

ἐν ᾧ κρατήσω τῶν ἔμʼ ἐκβεβληκότων.

Θησεύς

μέγʼ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα τῆς συνουσίας.

Οἰδίπους

εἰ σοί γʼ ἅπερ φῂς ἐμμενεῖ τελοῦντί μοι.

Θησεύς

θάρσει τὸ τοῦδέ γʼ ἀνδρός· οὔ σε μὴ προδῶ.

Οἰδίπους

οὔτοι σʼ ὑφʼ ὅρκου γʼ ὡς κακὸν πιστώσομαι.
650

Θησεύς

οὔκουν πέρα γʼ ἂν οὐδὲν ἢ λόγῳ φέροις.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς οὖν ποήσεις;

Θησεύς

τοῦ μάλιστʼ ὄκνος σʼ ἔχει;

Οἰδίπους

ἥξουσιν ἄνδρες

Θησεύς

ἀλλὰ τοῖσδʼ ἔσται μέλον.

Οἰδίπους

ὅρα με λείπων

Θησεύς

μὴ δίδασχʼ ἃ χρή με δρᾶν.

Οἰδίπους

ὀκνοῦντʼ ἀνάγκη.
655

Θησεύς

τοὐμὸν οὐκ ὀκνεῖ κέαρ.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀπειλὰς

Unseliger, und du gabst den Tod
540

Oedipus.

Was meinst du da? Was willst du mehr?

Dem Vater?

Weh, weh! Du schlägst zur ersten Wunde die andre mir!

Der Chor.

Du warst sein Mörder?

Oedipus.

Ich war's; indeß -

Nun?

Nicht mit Unrecht, mein' ich.

Der Chor.

Wie?

Oedipus.

So höre denn:

Wider Gewalt ankämpfend, erschlug ich ihn,¹
545

That's unbewußt und nach der Sazung schuldlos.²

Chorus

Look, there comes our lord, Theseus son of Aegeus,

at the sound of your voice, to do that for which he was summoned.
550

Oedipus

Theseus, in a few words your nobleness has come to such a point

that I need make only a brief reply. You have said who I am, from what father I am sprung, and from what land I have come; and so nothing else remains for me but to speak my wish, and the tale is told.
570

Theseus

Then inform me of this very thing, so that I may learn it.
575

Oedipus

I come to offer you my care-worn body as a gift—not one fine to look on, but the gains from it are better than beauty.

Theseus

And what gain do you claim to have brought?

Oedipus

Later you may learn it—but not yet.
580

Theseus

At what time, then, will the benefit become clear?

Oedipus

When I am dead, and you have given me burial.

Theseus

You crave life’s last service; but for all between you have no memory, or no care.

Oedipus

Indeed, for by that service I gather in all the rest.
585

Theseus

Well then, this favor you crave from me is brief indeed.

Oedipus

Yet take care; the struggle here is no light one. No, indeed.

Theseus

Do you mean in respect to your sons, or to me?

Oedipus

They will compel you to convey me there to Thebes .

Theseus

But if you are willing, then exile is not becoming.
590

Oedipus

No, when I was willing, they refused.

Theseus

Foolish man, anger amidst woes is not suitable.

Oedipus

When you have heard my story, admonish; till then, forbear.

Theseus

Speak. I must not pronounce without knowledge.

Oedipus

I have suffered, Theseus, terrible woes upon woes.
595

Theseus

Will you speak of the ancient trouble of your race?

Oedipus

No, indeed; all Greeks speak of that.

Theseus

How, then, do you suffer beyond what is mortal?

Oedipus

The circumstance is this: from my country I have been driven by my own sons;

and I may not return, since I am guilty of a father’s blood.
600

Theseus

Why would they have you brought back, if you must dwell apart?

Oedipus

The word of the god will compel them.