Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus 41

Lewis Campbell (Translator)

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OED
I will be silent, and thine arm shall guide
My footstep under covert of the grove
Out of the path, till I make sure what words
These men will utter. Warily to observe
115
Is the prime secret of the prudent mind.

Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. Lewis Campbell (Translator). London, New York and Toronto. 1906.

Current edition Experimental

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 41 focus
τίνων τὸ σεμνὸν ὄνομʼ ἂν εὐξαίμην κλύων ;
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1-116 focus
Translations (4)
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 33 focus
Ich höre, Freund, von dieser, die für mich zugleich
Und sich umherschaut, daß du ganz gelegen kommst,
Bericht von dem zu geben, was uns dunkel blieb
35
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 41 focus
Antigone
Obey the citizens ;
Give me thy hand.
Confiding thus in you, and thus removing
As you directed, let me not be injured.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 41 focus
Chorus
117
Who may this be? Where is he? Look around :
Where now abides he? He hath left his seat,
Of mortals the most restless. See you him?
120
Look on each side; call to him; this old man
Hath rov'd with wandering steps, with wandering steps
Hath roved; a stranger surely; else he ne'er
Had enter'd, where no foot may tread, the grove
125
Of these infuriate virgins, whom we dread
To name, and awe-struct pass without a look,
Without addressing them, without a word,
130
Save what of happy omen from our mouths
Caution permits. Now we are told that one
Revering nothing hath approach'd this place.
Through all the grove I cast my searching eye,
135
But cannot see where now he makes abode.
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1-115 focus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-97-1 καὶ σύ μ’ ἐξ ὁδοῦ πόδα κρύψον 1

mvp-comment-98-1 τῶνδ’ … ἐκμάθω τίνας λόγους ἐροῦσιν 2

mvp-comment-99-1 ἐν γὰρ τῷ μαθεῖν 3

mvp-comment-100-1 τῶν ποιουμένων 4

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

1-116. mvp-comment-1-1 The scene of the πρόλογος, ll. 1-116, is probably on the north side of Colonus, with Athens in the distance. See Introduction, p. 282. The spot so familiar to the audience (οὐ λόγοις τιμώμεν' ἀλλὰ τῇ συνουσίᾳ, infr. 63-64) would probably be recalled by the representation on the stage of some striking objects, especially those which marked the religio loci. Oedipus enters (right?), led by Antigone, and sits down in the middle of the proscenium, where he remains until Antigone descries the approach of the chorus.

114. mvp-comment-78-1 τῶνδε.. ἐκμάθω Until I learn of these men.' Gen. of perception and also of respect.' Essay on Language pp. 16, 13. For ἐκμανθάνειν, to learn perfectly, cp. Ο. Τ. 575, ἐκμάνθαν᾽. 115-116. For in being fully informed lies the secret of cautious proceeding.' Oedipus has the timidity of age. For the spondee in ἐν γὰρ τῷ μαθεῖν, cp. Εl. 376, εἰ γὰρ τῶνδε μοι. The four words are very closely bound together. 117 ff. Exit Oedipus and Antigone leading him. The scene is changed (?) to the entrance of the sacred grove. The chorus enter from the spectators' right. See Introduction, p. 282.