Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, Thomas Francklin (Translator), 1

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Antigone

O G^dipus ! my poor, unliappy fatlier,

Far as my eyes can reach I see a city,
15

With lofty turrets crowned, and, if I err not,

This place is sacred, by the laurel shade

Olive and vine thick-planted, and the songs

Of nightingales sweet warbling through the grove

Here sit thee down, and rest thy wearied limbs
20

On this rude stone ; 'tis a long way for age

Like thine to travel.

Oedipus

Place me here, and guard

A sightless wretch.

Antigone

Alas ! at such a time

Thou needst not tell Antigone her duty.

Oedipus

Knowst thou not where we are ?
30

Antigone

As I have learned

From passing travellers, not far from Athens ;

The place I know not ; would you that I go

And straight inquire ? But now I need not leave thee,

i^'or, lo ! a stranger comes this way, e'en now

He stands before you, he will soon inform us.

Oedipus
Scene II.

Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. Thomas Francklin (Translator). London. 1758–1759.

Current edition Experimental

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) (English) (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1 focus

τέκνον τυφλοῦ γέροντος Ἀντιγόνη, τίνας
1

χώρους ἀφίγμεθʼ, ἢ τίνων ἀνδρῶν πόλιν ;

τίς τὸν πλανήτην Οἰδίπουν καθʼ ἡμέραν

τὴν νῦν σπανιστοῖς δέξεται δωρήμασιν

σμικρὸν μὲν ἐξαιτοῦντα, τοῦ σμικροῦ δʼ ἔτι
5

μεῖον φέροντα, καὶ τόδʼ ἐξαρκοῦν ἐμοί;

στέργειν γὰρ αἱ πάθαι με χὠ χρόνος ξυνὼν

μακρὸς διδάσκει καὶ τὸ γενναῖον τρίτον.

ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, θάκησιν εἴ τινα βλέπεις,

ἢ πρὸς βεβήλοις ἢ πρὸς ἄλσεσιν θεῶν,
10

στῆσόν με κἀξίδρυσον, ὡς πυθοίμεθα

ὅπου ποτʼ ἐσμέν. μανθάνειν γὰρ ἥκομεν

ξένοι πρὸς ἀστῶν, ἃν *δʼ ἀκούσωμεν τελεῖν.

Ἀντιγόνη

πάτερ ταλαίπωρʼ Οἰδίπους, πύργοι μὲν οἳ

πόλιν στέγουσιν, ὡς ἀπʼ ὀμμάτων, πρόσω·
15

χῶρος δʼ ὅδʼ ἱρός, ὡς ἀπεικάσαι, βρύων

δάφνης, ἐλαίας, ἀμπέλου· πυκνόπτεροι δʼ

εἴσω κατʼ αὐτὸν εὐστομοῦσʼ ἀηδόνες.

οὗ κῶλα κάμψον τοῦδʼ ἐπʼ ἀξέστου πέτρου·

μακρὰν γὰρ ὡς γέροντι προὐστάλης ὁδόν.
20

Οἰδίπους

κάθιζέ νύν με καὶ φύλασσε τὸν τυφλόν.

Ἀντιγόνη

χρόνου μὲν οὕνεκʼ οὐ μαθεῖν με δεῖ τόδε.

Οἰδίπους

ἔχεις διδάξαι δή μʼ ὅποι καθέσταμεν;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὰς γοῦν Ἀθήνας οἶδα, τὸν δὲ χῶρον οὔ.

Οἰδίπους

πᾶς γάρ τις ηὔδα τοῦτό *γʼ ἡμὶν ἐμπόρων.
25

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ ὅστις ὁ τόπος ἦ μάθω μολοῦσά ποι;

Οἰδίπους

ναί, τέκνον, εἴπερ ἐστί γʼ ἐξοικήσιμος.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ ἐστὶ μὴν οἰκητός. οἴομαι δὲ δεῖν

οὐδέν· πέλας γὰρ ἄνδρα τόνδε νῷν ὁρῶ.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ δεῦρο προσστείχοντα κἀξορμώμενον ;
30

Ἀντιγόνη

καὶ δὴ μὲν οὖν παρόντα· χὤ τι σοι λέγειν

εὔκαιρόν ἐστιν, ἔννεφʼ, ὡς ἀνὴρ ὅδε.

Οἰδίπους

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1-116 focus

Οἰδίπους

τέκνον τυφλοῦ γέροντος Ἀντιγόνη, τίνας
1

χώρους ἀφίγμεθʼ ἢ τίνων ἀνδρῶν πόλιν;

τίς τὸν πλανήτην Οἰδίπουν καθʼ ἡμέραν

τὴν νῦν σπανιστοῖς δέξεται δωρήμασιν;

σμικρὸν μὲν ἐξαιτοῦντα, τοῦ σμικροῦ δʼ ἔτι
5

μεῖον φέροντα, καὶ τόδʼ ἐξαρκοῦν ἐμοί·

στέργειν γὰρ αἱ πάθαι με χὠ χρόνος ξυνὼν

μακρὸς διδάσκει καὶ τὸ γενναῖον τρίτον.

ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, θάκησιν εἴ τινα βλέπεις

ἢ πρὸς βεβήλοις ἢ πρὸς ἄλσεσιν θεῶν,
10

στῆσόν με κἀξίδρυσον, ὡς πυθώμεθα

ὅπου ποτʼ ἐσμέν· μανθάνειν γὰρ ἥκομεν

ξένοι πρὸς ἀστῶν, ἃν δʼ ἀκούσωμεν τελεῖν.

Ἀντιγόνη

πάτερ ταλαίπωρʼ Οἰδίπους, πύργοι μέν, οἳ

πόλιν στέγουσιν, ὡς ἀπʼ ὀμμάτων, πρόσω·
15

χῶρος δʼ ὅδʼ ἱερός, ὡς ἀπεικάσαι, βρύων

δάφνης, ἐλαίας, ἀμπέλου· πυκνόπτεροι δʼ

εἴσω κατʼ αὐτὸν εὐστομοῦσʼ ἀηδόνες·

οὗ κῶλα κάμψον τοῦδʼ ἐπʼ ἀξέστου πέτρου·

μακρὰν γὰρ ὡς γέροντι προὐστάλης ὁδόν.
20

Οἰδίπους

κάθιζέ νύν με καὶ φύλασσε τὸν τυφλόν.

Ἀντιγόνη

χρόνου μὲν οὕνεκʼ οὐ μαθεῖν με δεῖ τόδε.

Οἰδίπους

ἔχεις διδάξαι δή μʼ ὅποι καθέσταμεν;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὰς γοῦν Ἀθήνας οἶδα, τὸν δὲ χῶρον οὔ.

Οἰδίπους

πᾶς γάρ τις ηὔδα τοῦτό γʼ ἡμὶν ἐμπόρων.
25

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ ὅστις ὁ τόπος ἦ μάθω μολοῦσά ποι;

Οἰδίπους

ναί, τέκνον, εἴπερ ἐστί γʼ ἐξοικήσιμος.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ ἐστὶ μὴν οἰκητός· οἴομαι δὲ δεῖν

οὐδέν· πέλας γὰρ ἄνδρα τόνδε νῷν ὁρῶ.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ δεῦρο προσστείχοντα κἀξορμώμενον;
30

Ἀντιγόνη

καὶ δὴ μὲν οὖν παρόντα· χὤ τί σοι λέγειν

εὔκαιρόν ἐστιν, ἔννεφʼ, ὡς ἀνὴρ ὅδε.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἀκούων τῆσδε τῆς ὑπέρ τʼ ἐμοῦ

αὑτῆς θʼ ὁρώσης, οὕνεχʼ ἡμὶν αἴσιος

σκοπὸς προσήκεις ὧν ἀδηλοῦμεν φράσαι—
35

Ξένος

πρὶν νῦν τὰ πλείονʼ ἱστορεῖν, ἐκ τῆσδʼ ἕδρας

ἔξελθʼ· ἔχεις γὰρ χῶρον οὐχ ἁγνὸν πατεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

τίς δʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ χῶρος; τοῦ θεῶν νομίζεται;

Ξένος

ἄθικτος οὐδʼ οἰκητός· αἱ γὰρ ἔμφοβοι

θεαί σφʼ ἔχουσι, Γῆς τε καὶ Σκότου κόραι.
40

Οἰδίπους

τίνων τὸ σεμνὸν ὄνομʼ ἂν εὐξαίμην κλύων;

Ξένος

τὰς πάνθʼ ὁρώσας Εὐμενίδας ὅ γʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἂν

εἴποι λεώς νιν· ἄλλα δʼ ἀλλαχοῦ καλά.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ ἵλεῳ μὲν τὸν ἱκέτην δεξαίατο·

ὡς οὐχ ἕδρας γῆς τῆσδʼ ἂν ἐξέλθοιμʼ ἔτι.
45

Ξένος

τί δʼ ἐστὶ τοῦτο;

Οἰδίπους

ξυμφορᾶς ξύνθημʼ ἐμῆς.

Ξένος

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἐμοί τοι τοὐξανιστάναι πόλεως

δίχʼ ἐστὶ θάρσος, πρίν γʼ ἂν ἐνδείξω τί δρῶ.

Οἰδίπους

πρός νυν θεῶν, ὦ ξεῖνε, μή μʼ ἀτιμάσῃς,

τοιόνδʼ ἀλήτην, ὧν σε προστρέπω φράσαι.
50

Ξένος

σήμαινε, κοὐκʼ ἄτιμος ἔκ γʼ ἐμοῦ φανεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

τίς ἔσθʼ ὁ χῶρος δῆτʼ, ἐν ᾧ βεβήκαμεν;

Ξένος

ὅσʼ οἶδα κἀγὼ πάντʼ ἐπιστήσει κλύων·

χῶρος μὲν ἱερὸς πᾶς ὅδʼ ἔστʼ· ἔχει δέ νιν

σεμνὸς Ποσειδῶν· ἐν δʼ ὁ πυρφόρος θεὸς
55

Τιτὰν Προμηθεύς· ὃν δʼ ἐπιστείβεις τόπον,

χθονὸς καλεῖται τῆσδε χαλκόπους ὀδός,

ἔρεισμʼ Ἀθηνῶν· οἱ δὲ πλησίοι γύαι

τόνδʼ ἱππότην Κολωνὸν εὔχονται σφίσιν

ἀρχηγὸν εἶναι καὶ φέρουσι τοὔνομα
60

τὸ τοῦδε κοινὸν πάντες ὠνομασμένοι.

τοιαῦτά σοι ταῦτʼ ἐστίν, ὦ ξένʼ, οὐ λόγοις

τιμώμενʼ, ἀλλὰ τῇ ξυνουσίᾳ πλέον.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ γάρ τινες ναίουσι τούσδε τοὺς τόπους;

Ξένος

καὶ κάρτα, τοῦδε τοῦ θεοῦ γʼ ἐπώνυμοι.
65

Οἰδίπους

ἄρχει τις αὐτῶν ἢ ʼπὶ τῷ πλήθει λόγος;

Ξένος

ἐκ τοῦ κατʼ ἄστυ βασιλέως τάδʼ ἄρχεται.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος δὲ τίς λόγῳ τε καὶ σθένει κρατεῖ;

Ξένος

Θησεὺς καλεῖται, τοῦ πρὶν Αἰγέως τόκος.

Οἰδίπους

ἆρʼ ἄν τις αὐτῷ πομπὸς ἐξ ὑμῶν μόλοι;
70

Ξένος

ὡς πρὸς τί λέξων ἢ καταρτύσων μολεῖν;

Οἰδίπους

ὡς ἂν προσαρκῶν σμικρὰ κερδάνῃ μέγα.

Ξένος

καὶ τίς πρὸς ἀνδρὸς μὴ βλέποντος ἄρκεσις;

Οἰδίπους

ὅσʼ ἂν λέγωμεν πάνθʼ ὁρῶντα λέξομεν.

Ξένος

οἶσθʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ὡς νῦν μὴ σφαλῇς; ἐπείπερ εἰ
75

γενναῖος, ὡς ἰδόντι, πλὴν τοῦ δαίμονος,

αὐτοῦ μένʼ οὗπερ κἀφάνης, ἕως ἐγὼ

τοῖς ἐνθάδʼ αὐτοῦ μὴ κατʼ ἄστυ δημόταις

λέξω τάδʼ ἐλθών· οἵδε γὰρ κρινοῦσί σοι

εἰ χρή σε μίμνειν ἢ πορεύεσθαι πάλιν.
80

Οἰδίπους

ὦ τέκνον, ἦ βέβηκεν ἡμὶν ὁ ξένος;

Ἀντιγόνη

βέβηκεν, ὥστε πᾶν ἐν ἡσύχῳ, πάτερ,

ἔξεστι φωνεῖν, ὡς ἐμοῦ μόνης πέλας.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ πότνιαι δεινῶπες, εὖτε νῦν ἕδρας

πρώτων ἐφʼ ὑμῶν τῆσδε γῆς ἔκαμψʼ ἐγώ,
85

Φοίβῳ τε κἀμοὶ μὴ γένησθʼ ἀγνώμονες,

ὅς μοι, τὰ πόλλʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ὅτʼ ἐξέχρη κακά,

ταύτην ἔλεξε παῦλαν ἐν χρόνῳ μακρῷ,

ἐλθόντι χώραν τερμίαν, ὅπου θεῶν

σεμνῶν ἕδραν λάβοιμι καὶ ξενόστασιν,
90

ἐνταῦθα κάμψειν τὸν ταλαίπωρον βίον,

κέρδη μὲν οἰκήσαντα τοῖς δεδεγμένοις,

ἄτην δὲ τοῖς πέμψασιν, οἵ μʼ ἀπήλασαν·

σημεῖα δʼ ἥξειν τῶνδέ μοι παρηγγύα,

ἢ σεισμὸν ἢ βροντήν τινʼ ἢ Διὸς σέλας,
95

ἔγνωκα μέν νυν ὥς με τήνδε τὴν ὁδὸν

οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως οὐ πιστὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν πτερὸν

ἐξήγαγʼ εἰς τόδʼ ἄλσος· οὐ γὰρ ἄν ποτε

πρώταισιν ὑμῖν ἀντέκυρσʼ ὁδοιπορῶν,

νήφων ἀοίνοις, κἀπὶ σεμνὸν ἑζόμην
100

βάθρον τόδʼ ἀσκέπαρνον. ἀλλά μοι, θεαί,

βίου κατʼ ὀμφὰς τὰς Ἀπόλλωνος δότε

πέρασιν ἤδη καὶ καταστροφήν τινα,

εἰ μὴ δοκῶ τι μειόνως ἔχειν, ἀεὶ

μόχθοις λατρεύων τοῖς ὑπερτάτοις βροτῶν.
105

ἴτʼ, ὦ γλυκεῖαι παῖδες ἀρχαίου Σκότου,

ἴτʼ, ὦ μεγίστης Παλλάδος καλούμεναι

πασῶν Ἀθῆναι τιμιωτάτη πόλις,

οἰκτίρατʼ ἀνδρὸς Οἰδίπου τόδʼ ἄθλιον

εἴδωλον· οὐ γὰρ δὴ τόδʼ ἀρχαῖον δέμας.
110

Ἀντιγόνη

σίγα· πορεύονται γὰρ οἵδε δή τινες

χρόνῳ παλαιοί, σῆς ἕδρας ἐπίσκοποι.

Οἰδίπους

σιγήσομαί τε καὶ σύ μʼ ἐξ ὁδοῦ πόδα

κρύψον κατʼ ἄλσος, τῶνδʼ ἕως ἂν ἐκμάθω

τίνας λόγους ἐροῦσιν· ἐν γὰρ τῷ μαθεῖν
115

ἔνεστιν ηὑλάβεια τῶν ποιουμένων.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1 focus

Antigone, child of the old blind sire,
1

What land is here, what people? Who to-day

Shall dole to Oedipus, the wandering exile,

Their meagre gifts? Little I ask, and less

Receive with full contentment; for my woes,
5

And the long years ripening the noble mind,

Have schooled me to endure.—But, O my child,

If thou espiest where we may sit, though near

Some holy precinct, stay me and set me there,
10

Till we may learn where we are come. ’Tis ours

To hear the will of strangers and to obey.

ANTIGONE

Woe-wearied father, yonder city’s wall

That shields her, looks far distant; but this ground
15

Is surely sacred, thickly planted over

With olive, bay and vine, within whose bowers

Thick-fluttering song-birds make sweet melody.

Here then repose thee on this unhewn stone.

Thou hast travelled far to-day for one so old.
20

OED

Seat me, my child, and be the blind man’s guard.

ANT

Long time hath well instructed me in that.

OED

Now, canst thou tell me where we have set our feet?

ANT

Athens I know, but not the nearer ground.

OED

Ay, every man that met us in the way
25

Named Athens.
25

ANT

Shall I go, then, and find out

The name of the spot?

OED

Yes, if ’tis habitable.

ANT

It is inhabited. Yet I need not go.

I see a man even now approaching here.

OED

How? Makes he towards us? Is he drawing nigh?

ANT

He is close beside us. Whatsoe’er thou findest

Good to be spoken, say it. The man is here.

OED
Enter an Athenian .

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1 focus

Wohin, des blinden Greises Kind, Antigone,¹
1

In welche Landschaft kamen wir, zu welcher Stadt?

Wer wird auf seinem irren Pfad den Dedipus

An diesem Tag mit karger Liebesgab' empfah'n,

Ihn, der um wenig bittet und noch weniger,
5

Als dieses, hinnimmt? Doch auch so genügt es mir.

Denn still zu dulden lehrte mich mein Mißgeschick,

Des Lebens lange Dauer und ein edler Sinn.

Wohlan, o Tochter, wenn du einen Siz gewahrst

An Götterhainen oder ungeweihter Statt,
10

So laß mich niedersizen, daß uns Kunde wird,

Wohin wir kamen; müssen wir als Fremde doch

Von Bürgern lernen und nach ihrem Worte thun.

Antigone.

Mein armer Vater Dedipus, mit Thürmen ist

Dort eine Stadt umgürtet, fern dem Auge noch;
15

Doch dieser Ort ist heilig, (leicht erkennt man es)

Von Rebe, Lorbeer, Del umgrünt; anmuthig tönt

Zahlloser Nachtigallen Lied im tiefen Hain.

Beug' hier die Glieder auf den unbehau'nen Fels;

Denn lang für dich, den Greisen, war die Wanderung.
20

Oedipus.

So seze mich und nimm des blinden Mannes wahr.

Antigone.

Das brauch' ich nicht zu lernen nach so langer Zeit.

(sich niederlassend)

Oedipus.

Kind, kannst du mir nun sagen, wo wir hingelangt?

Antigone.

Daß dort Athen ist, weiß ich, doch die Gegend nicht.

Oedipus.

Das hat ja jeder Wandrer uns bereits gesagt.
25

Antigone.

Nun, soll ich geh'n und fragen, wie der Ort sich nennt?

Oedipus.

Ja, Tochter, wenn er anders nur Bewohner hat.

Antigone.

Er ist bewohnt; doch, glaub' ich, braucht es weiter nichts

Denn eben seh' ich einen Mann uns nahe dort.

Oedipus.

Der, wandelnd hierher, gegen uns die Schritte lenkt?
30

Antigone.

Und schon bei uns anlangte. Was zu sagen dir

Am Orte scheint, das rede; denn hier steht der Mann.

Ein Bewohner von Kolonos. Die Vorigen.

Oedipus.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1 focus

TELL me, thou daughter of a blind old man,
1

Or to what city? Who th' inhabitants ?
1

Who with a slender pittance will relieve,

I ask indeed but little, and receive

Less than that little; yet for me e'en that

Suffices; my afflictions, the long course
5

Of years so pass'd, and fortitude of soul
5

Teach me with cheerfulness to bear my ills.

But, O my daughter, some one if thou seest

Or in the sacred groves, or on the seats

Not hallow'd, lead me thither, place me there,

That in what land we are we may inquire;
10

For of the natives, strangers as we are,
10

We come to learn, and as instructed act.

My father, woe-enduring Edipus,

Tow'rs, the strong bulwarks of some city, rise

In distant view. This place, if right I judge,

Antigone

Is sacred, flourishing with laurels, vines,

And olives close enwoven; in the midst

Thick-fluttering nightingales their sweet notes tune.

Rest therefore seated on this unhewn stone,

For tiresome to thine age the length of way.

Oedipus

Then seat me there, and guide a blind old man.

That tender office length of time hath made

Familiar to me.

What the place, where now

We rest our steps? Canst thou inform me?

Antigone

Well

I know we tread Athenian ground; the place

I know not.

Oedipus

From each passing traveller
25

Of that we are inform'd.
25

Antigone

Wilt thou I go,

And what the place inquire?

Oedipus

Such is my wish,

Antigone

If near us it hath habitants, my child.

It is inhabited: but that I go

Needs not; for near us I behold a man.

Oedipus

Doth he advance, and hither speed his steps?

Antigone

He is e'en present; what th' occasion then

Prompts thee to say, speak, for the man is here.

'ŒDIP. Stranger, I hear from her who sees for me

And for herself, that thou in happy hour

Art come to teach us what we wish to know.

Stranger
CŒDIPUS, ANTIGONE, A COLONIATE.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1-115 focus

Oedipus

Child of a blind old man, Antigone, to what region have we come, or to what city of men? Who will entertain the wandering Oedipus today with scanty gifts?
1

Little do I crave, and obtain still less than that little, and with that I am content. For patience is the lesson of suffering, and of the long years upon me, and lastly of a noble mind. My child, if you see any resting-place,
5

either on profane ground or by groves of the gods, stop me and set me down, so that we may inquire where we are. We have come to learn as foreigners from the townsmen, and to bring to completion whatever we hear.
10

Antigone

Father, toil-worn Oedipus, the towers that

ring the city, to judge by sight, are far off; and this place is sacred, to judge from its appearance: laurel, olive, and vine grow thick-set; and a feathered crowd of nightingales makes music within. So sit here on this unshaped stone;
15

you have travelled a long way for an old man.
20

Oedipus

Seat me, then, and watch over the blind.

Antigone

If time can teach, I need not learn that.

Oedipus

Can you tell me, now, where we have arrived?

Antigone

Athens I know, but not this place.

Oedipus

Yes, so much every traveller told us.
25

Antigone

Well, shall I go and learn what the spot is called?

Oedipus

Yes, child, if indeed it is inhabited.

Antigone

It surely is inhabited. But I think there is no need—I see a man nearby.

Oedipus

Setting off and coming toward us?
30

Antigone

He is at our side already. Speak whatever seems timely to you, for the man is here.

Oedipus

Stranger, hearing from this maiden, who has sight both for herself and for me,

that you have arrived as a scout of good fortune for the solving of our doubts—
35

Enter a stranger, a man of Colonus .

Stranger

Now, before you question me at length, leave this seat. You occupy ground which is unholy to tread upon.

Oedipus

And what is this ground? To which of the gods is it sacred?

Stranger

Ground inviolable, on which no one may dwell. The dread

goddesses hold it, the daughters of Earth and Darkness.
40

Oedipus

Who are they? Whose awful name might I hear and invoke in prayer?

Stranger

The all-seeing Eumenides the people here would call them: but other names please elsewhere.

Oedipus

Then graciously may they receive their suppliant!

Nevermore will I depart from my seat in this land.
45

Stranger

What does this mean?

Oedipus

The watchword of my fate.

Stranger

I dare not remove you without warrant from the city, until I report what I am doing.

Oedipus

Now by the gods, stranger, do not deny me, hapless wanderer as you see,

the honor of the knowledge for which I beg you.
50

Stranger

Tell me, and you will not be without honor from me.

Oedipus

What, then, is the place that we have entered?

Stranger

All that I myself know, you will hear and learn. This whole place is sacred;

august Poseidon holds it, and in it lives the fire-bearing god, the Titan Prometheus. But as for the spot on which you tread, it is called the bronze threshold of this land, the support of Athens . And the neighboring fields claim Colonus , the horse-rider, for their ancient ruler;
55

and all the people bear his name in common as their own. Such, you see, stranger, are these haunts. They receive their honor not through story, but rather through our living with them.
60

Oedipus

Are there indeed dwellers in this region?

Stranger

Yes indeed, the namesakes of that god there Colonus .
65

Oedipus

Have they a king? Or does speaking in assembly rest with the masses?

Stranger

These parts are ruled by the king in the city.

Oedipus

And who is he that is sovereign in counsel and in might?

Stranger

Theseus he is called, son of Aegeus who was before him.

Oedipus

Could a messenger go to him from among you?
70

Stranger

With what aim? To speak, or to prepare his coming?

Oedipus

So that by a small service he may find a great gain.

Stranger

And what help can come from one who cannot see?

Oedipus

In all that I speak there will be vision.

Stranger

Take care now, stranger, that you come to no harm; for you are noble, if I may judge by your looks, leaving your ill-fortune aside. Stay here, where I found you, until I go and tell these things to the people of this district—not in the city.
75

They will decide for you whether you should stay or go back. Stranger exits.
80

Oedipus

My child, has the stranger left us?

Antigone

He is gone, and so you can speak what you wish, father, fully at ease, knowing that I alone am near.

Oedipus

Ladies of dread aspect, since your seat is

the first in this land at which I have bent my knee, show yourselves not ungracious to Phoebus or to myself; who, when he proclaimed that doom of many woes, spoke to me of this rest after long years: on reaching my goal in a land where I should find a seat of the Awful Goddesses
85

and a shelter for foreigners, there I should close my weary life, with profit, through my having fixed my abode there, for those who received me, but ruin for those who sent me forth, who drove me away. And he went on to warn me that signs of these things would come,
90

in earthquake, or in thunder, or in the lightning of Zeus.
Now I perceive that in this journey some trusty omen from you has surely led me home to this grove; never otherwise could I have met with you, first of all, in my wanderings—I, in my sobriety, with you who touch no wine,
95

—or taken this august seat not shaped by men.
Then, goddesses, according to the word of Apollo, give me at last some way to accomplish and close my course—unless, perhaps, I seem too lowly,
100

enslaved as I am evermore to woes the sorest on the earth. Hear, sweet daughters of primeval Darkness! Hear, you that are called the city of great Pallas, Athens , given most honor of all cities! Pity this poor ghost of the man Oedipus!
105

For in truth it is the former living body no more.
110

Antigone

Hush! Here come some aged men to spy out your resting-place.

Oedipus

I will be mute. But hide me in the grove, apart from the road, till I learn

how these men will speak. For in learning is the safeguard of our course. They exit.
115

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-3-1 γέροντος ¹

mvp-comment-3-2 Ἀντιγόνη ²

mvp-comment-4-1 χώρους ³

mvp-comment-5-1 πλανήτην ⁴

mvp-comment-6-1 σπανιστοῖς ⁵

mvp-comment-6-2 δέξεται ⁶

mvp-comment-6-3 δωρήμασιν ⁷

mvp-comment-7-1 ἐξαιτοῦντα ⁸

mvp-comment-7-2 σμικροῦ ⁹

mvp-comment-8-1 φέροντα ¹⁰

mvp-comment-8-2 καὶ τόδ’ ¹¹ ἐμοί ¹²

mvp-comment-9-1 στέργειν ¹³

mvp-comment-9-2 αἱ πάθαι ¹⁴

mvp-comment-9-3 ὁ χρόνος ¹⁵

mvp-comment-10-1 διδάσκει ¹⁶

mvp-comment-10-2 τρίτον ¹⁷

mvp-comment-11-1 θάκησιν ¹⁸

mvp-comment-12-1 βεβήλοις ¹⁹

mvp-comment-12-2 ἢ πρὸς ἄλσεσιν ²⁰

mvp-comment-13-1 ἐξίδρυσον ²¹

mvp-comment-13-2 πυθώμεθα ²²

mvp-comment-14-1 μανθάνειν … ἥκομεν ²³

mvp-comment-15-1 ξένοι πρὸς ἀστῶν ²⁴

mvp-comment-16-1 Οἰδίπους ²⁵

mvp-comment-16-2 οἳ ²⁶

mvp-comment-17-1 στέγουσιν ²⁷

mvp-comment-17-2 ὡς ἀπ’ ὀμμάτων ²⁸

mvp-comment-18-1 χῶρος δ’ ὅδ’ ἱρός ²⁹

mvp-comment-18-2 ὡς σάφ’ εἰκάσαι ³⁰

mvp-comment-18-3 βρύων ³¹

mvp-comment-19-1 ἀμπέλου ³²

mvp-comment-19-2 πυκνόπτεροι ³³

mvp-comment-19-3 δ’ ³⁴

mvp-comment-20-1 ὡς γέροντι ³⁵

mvp-comment-20-2 προὐστάλης ³⁶

mvp-comment-21-1 Χρόνου … οὕνεκ’ ³⁷

mvp-comment-22-1 ὅποι ³⁸

mvp-comment-23-1 γοῦν ³⁹

mvp-comment-24-1 ἡμὶν ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-25-1 ἀλλ’ ὅστις ὁ τόπος ⁴¹

mvp-comment-25-2 ἦ μάθω ⁴²

mvp-comment-26-1 ἐξοικήσιμος ⁴³

mvp-comment-27-1 ἀλλ’ ἐστὶ μὴν ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-28-1 Impatient for more light, Oed. asks, "Is he coming forth towards us,— so that it is really needless for thee to move?" δεῦρο denotes the goal, προς‐ the direction, and ἐξ‐ the starting-point. δεῦρο goes with both participles, which form a single expression,="coming towards us from the abodes" implied by οἰκητός (28) . Cp. Ai. 762

ἀπ’ οἴκων... ἐξορμώμενος

. Other explanations are:— (1) "approaching" ( δεῦρο being taken with προσστ . only) "and setting out," as a "prothysteron" for "setting out and approaching." This is impossible. (2) "Moving, and hastening , hither": but this obliterates ἐξ‐ , and strains ὁρμώμενον .

mvp-comment-29-1 καὶ δὴ ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-29-2 μὲν οὖν ⁴⁶

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.

1. mvp-comment-2-1 Ἀντιγόνη ... Οἰδίπουν A word or two in the dialogue serves to introduce the persons, as in O. T. 8, ὁ πᾶσι κλεινὸς Οἰδίπους, with which τὸν πλανήτην Οἰδίπουν is intentionally contrasted.

1. mvp-comment-2-2 τίνας .. πόλιν Cp. Hom. Od. 6. 119, alib., τεῶν αὖτε βροτῶν εἰς γαῖαν ἱκάνω;

3. mvp-comment-3-1 τὸν πλανήτην Oedipus, like Orestes, before coming to Athens, has wandered far since the pollution was first found upon him. Cp. Aesch. Eum. 337.8, οὐ προστρόπαιον οὐδ᾽ ἀφοίβαντον χέρα, | ἀλλ᾿ ἀμβλὺν ἤδη προστετριμμένον τε πρὸς | ἄλλοισιν οἶκοις καὶ πορεύμασιν βροτῶν.

3. mvp-comment-3-2 καθ᾿ ἡμέραν τὴν νῦν His place of sojourn changed from day to day.

4. mvp-comment-4-1 σπανιστοῖς . . δωρήμασιν With scanted alms. Cp. Shak. Lear, 3. 2, 67, their scanted courtesy. The verbal σπανιστός, made small, is explained by the words which follow, σμικρὸν .. φέροντα. For the situation, cp. Od. 15. 312, πλάγξομαι, αἴ κέν τις κοτύλην καὶ πύρνον ὀρέξῃ.

5. mvp-comment-5-1 σμικρὸν.. σμικροῦ It is difficult to suppose that two forms of the same word can have occurred in the same line, although μικροῦ, the reading of L, is supported by the alliteration of μεῖον, which is opposed to it.

6. mvp-comment-6-1 φέροντα Cp. Ο. Τ. 590, ἐκ σοῦ πάντ᾽ ἄνευ φόβου φέρω. For καὶ = καίτοι, see Essay on Language § 25. p. 42.

7-8. mvp-comment-7-1 . For my sufferings, and the long time which I have lived, and also a noble nature, teach me resignation.

7-8. mvp-comment-7-2 χὠ χρόνος ξυνὼν μακρός. And the length of the time that is with me. Time is partly personified; Essay on Language p. 19. Cp. οἱ συγγενεῖς μῆνες, Ο. Τ. 1082, Shak. Tro. and Cress. 4, 5, That hast so long walked hand in hand with time. The position of μακρός is emphatic. Essay on Language § 41. p. 76. τρίτον is added by a familiar pleonasm. Ib. pp. 69, 75.

9. mvp-comment-8-1 θάκησιν Ricc. 34 has θάκοισιν, anticipating Seidler's conjecture. The reading θάκοισιν admits of a possible explanation. At some sitting place, if you see any seat-either by a place where all may sit, or by a sacred grove, let me stop and sit down. θάκοισιν, dat. of place, supplemented by πρὸς βεβήλοις (θάκοισιν), and in construction with στῆσον. But the reading in the text is simpler and smoother, and the corruption may have arisen from a very simple itacism. Cp. Phil. 17, 18, ἡλίου διπλῆ | πάρεστιν ἐνθάκησις, where, as here, θάκησις is opportunity of sitting. And this is exactly the meaning which the context requires. Essay on Language p. 94, δ.

10. mvp-comment-9-1 πρὸς βεβήλοις For the neut. adj., cp. 167, ἀβάτων ἀποβάς. The line prepares the way for what is to follow. Oedipus is led by a divine presentiment towards the sacred grove of the Eumenides; cp. infr. 97, οὐκ ἔσθ᾽ ὅπως οὐ πιστὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν πτερὸν | ἐξήγαγ᾽ ἐς τόδ' ἄλσος. See also the second ὑπόθεσις to this play, οὗ μὴ ἐστιν ἑτέρῳ βεβήλῳ τόπος, αὐτόθι κάθηται. The suppliant in clinging to the altar, etc., inevitably trespassed on things sacred. Cp. Eur. Suppl. 63, ὁσίως οὐχ, ὑπ' ἀνάγκας δὲ προσπίπτουσα . . θεῶν θυμέλας.

11. mvp-comment-10-1 ὡς πυθοίμεθα And then, haply, we may learn. Cp. Aesch. Suppl. 675, καὶ γεραροῖσι πρεσβυτοδόκοι | γεμόντων θυμέλαι φλεγόντων θ', | ὡς πόλις εὖ νέμοιτο. Where the optative expresses a remote intention. Here the uncertainty of the mood accords with the feeling of the blind and weary Oedipus.

12. mvp-comment-11-1 μανθάνειν γὰρ ἥκομεν ἥκειν, like other verbs of motion, is used with a mixed literal and figurative meaning: We are come where we must learn, i. e. partly we are here to learn, partly we are reduced to the point of learning. Cp. O. Τ. 1433, ἄριστος ἐλθών: El. 1201, μόνος γὰρ ἥκω τοῖς ἴσοις ἀλγῶν κακοῖς. Ε. on. L. § 52. p. 97.

13. mvp-comment-12-1 The omission of δé in L is indefensible. χἂν has some MS. authority, and may be right, notwithstanding the objection which is made to the double crasis (for καὶ ἃ ἄν). But Elmsley's correction is more probable.

14-15. mvp-comment-13-1 This answers τίνων ἀνδρῶν πόλιν; i. e. We are not yet come to the city, whose towers are seen from far.

15. mvp-comment-14-1 στέγουσιν Protect. Cp. Aesch. Sept. 216, 797, where, however, the word is used without the acc. of that which is protected. This is a simpler and more natural expression than στέφουσιν, which is therefore an unnecessary conjecture.

15. mvp-comment-14-2 ὡς ἀπ᾿ ὀμμάτων (1) Το judge of them by the eye, sc. εἰκάζειν or κρίνειν, or more simply without supplying an infinitive, (2) to the eye. Are far away for the eye to reach, i. e. We have but a distant view of them,

16. mvp-comment-15-1 χῶρος δ᾽ ὅδ' ἱρός Answering to τίνας χώρους ἀφίγμεθα; in l. 2, and to ἢ πρὸς ἄλσεσιν θεῶν in l. 10.

16. mvp-comment-15-2 ὡς ἀπεικάσαι The reading ὡς σάφ' εἰκάσαι, As one may guess with certainty, though it has some MS. authority, is less in keeping with the moderation of the style. Cp. Tr. 141, πεπυσμένη μέν, ὡς ἀπεικάσαι, πάρει | πάθημα τοὐμόν. ἀπο as in ἀπομαντεύεσθαι, ἀποπειρᾶσθαι : i. e. ἀπεικάσαι is to hazard a conjecture.

16. mvp-comment-15-3 βρύων governs the genitive with the general notion of fulness. Ср. О. Т. 83, πολυστεφὴς . . δάφνης.

17. mvp-comment-16-1 πυκνόπτεροι The compound adds picturesqueness to the expression. Many-winged nightingales, i. e. Many fluttering nightingales. See Essay on Language p. 101. For the synaphea, cp. O. T. 29, Ar. Av. 1716.

20. mvp-comment-17-1 Since the way you have travelled is long for an aged man.

21. mvp-comment-18-1 τὸν τυφλόν For the article, cp. Ο. Τ. 1323, τὸν τυφλὸν κηδείων.

22. mvp-comment-19-1 I have had time enough to learn that well.

23. mvp-comment-20-1 When Oedipus is seated, he repeats his inquiry. The repetition is marked by δή. Now, can you tell me-?

25. mvp-comment-21-1 τοῦτό *γ᾽ is obviously right, though only found in one MS, Par. F. τοῦτον has arisen from χῶρον in the preceding line. The verse is given to Antig. by L, but the 2nd hand has put a line against this and the following verse, and a cross in the margin. The initials of the persons after 21 are by a recent hand.

27. mvp-comment-22-1 ἐξοικήσιμος.. οἰκητός If it is habitable. It is indeed inhabited. The latter word is more definite. Antigone sees clear signs of habitation. The compound with ἐξ gives emphasis and completeness to the idea: cp. Thuc. 2. 17, ὑπὸ τῆς παραχρῆμα ἀνάγκης ἐξῳκήθη: also words like ἐξεστεμμένος, ἐκκοσμεῖν, ἐξανδρόομαι. Ε. on L. p. 101. The reason of the condition, εἴπερ κ.τ.λ., is simply that in an uninhabited place there would be no one to ask. Sch. καλῶς δὲ τὰ τῆς οἰκονομίας, ἵνα μὴ μόνος ὁ Οἰδίπους ἀπολειφθῇ.

30. mvp-comment-23-1 Do you mean coming forth from the town and advancing hitherwards? On the inverted order, see Essay on Language § 41, b, p. 78.

31-32. mvp-comment-24-1 Nay: he is actually in our presence: and whatever you think good to say at this moment, say on, for the man is here.

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Oedipus Place me here, and guard A sightless wretch.

Antigone Alas ! at such a time Thou needst not tell Antigone her duty.

Oedipus Knowst thou not where we are ? 30

Antigone As I have learned From passing travellers, not far from Athens ; The place I know not ; would you that I go And straight inquire ? But now I need not leave thee, i^'or, lo ! a stranger comes this way, e'en now He stands before you, he will soon inform us.

Oedipus Scene II.

Current edition Experimental

Οἰδίπους κάθιζέ νύν με καὶ φύλασσε τὸν τυφλόν.

Ἀντιγόνη χρόνου μὲν οὕνεκʼ οὐ μαθεῖν με δεῖ τόδε.

Οἰδίπους ἔχεις διδάξαι δή μʼ ὅποι καθέσταμεν;

Ἀντιγόνη τὰς γοῦν Ἀθήνας οἶδα, τὸν δὲ χῶρον οὔ.

Οἰδίπους πᾶς γάρ τις ηὔδα τοῦτό *γʼ ἡμὶν ἐμπόρων. 25

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλʼ ὅστις ὁ τόπος ἦ μάθω μολοῦσά ποι;

Οἰδίπους ναί, τέκνον, εἴπερ ἐστί γʼ ἐξοικήσιμος.

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλʼ ἐστὶ μὴν οἰκητός. οἴομαι δὲ δεῖν οὐδέν· πέλας γὰρ ἄνδρα τόνδε νῷν ὁρῶ.

Οἰδίπους ἦ δεῦρο προσστείχοντα κἀξορμώμενον ; 30

Ἀντιγόνη καὶ δὴ μὲν οὖν παρόντα· χὤ τι σοι λέγειν εὔκαιρόν ἐστιν, ἔννεφʼ, ὡς ἀνὴρ ὅδε.

Οἰδίπους

Οἰδίπους κάθιζέ νύν με καὶ φύλασσε τὸν τυφλόν.

Ἀντιγόνη χρόνου μὲν οὕνεκʼ οὐ μαθεῖν με δεῖ τόδε.

Οἰδίπους ἔχεις διδάξαι δή μʼ ὅποι καθέσταμεν;

Ἀντιγόνη τὰς γοῦν Ἀθήνας οἶδα, τὸν δὲ χῶρον οὔ.

Οἰδίπους πᾶς γάρ τις ηὔδα τοῦτό γʼ ἡμὶν ἐμπόρων. 25

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλʼ ὅστις ὁ τόπος ἦ μάθω μολοῦσά ποι;

Οἰδίπους ναί, τέκνον, εἴπερ ἐστί γʼ ἐξοικήσιμος.

Ἀντιγόνη ἀλλʼ ἐστὶ μὴν οἰκητός· οἴομαι δὲ δεῖν οὐδέν· πέλας γὰρ ἄνδρα τόνδε νῷν ὁρῶ.

Οἰδίπους ἦ δεῦρο προσστείχοντα κἀξορμώμενον; 30

Ἀντιγόνη καὶ δὴ μὲν οὖν παρόντα· χὤ τί σοι λέγειν εὔκαιρόν ἐστιν, ἔννεφʼ, ὡς ἀνὴρ ὅδε.

Οἰδίπους ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἀκούων τῆσδε τῆς ὑπέρ τʼ ἐμοῦ αὑτῆς θʼ ὁρώσης, οὕνεχʼ ἡμὶν αἴσιος σκοπὸς προσήκεις ὧν ἀδηλοῦμεν φράσαι— 35

Ξένος πρὶν νῦν τὰ πλείονʼ ἱστορεῖν, ἐκ τῆσδʼ ἕδρας ἔξελθʼ· ἔχεις γὰρ χῶρον οὐχ ἁγνὸν πατεῖν.

Οἰδίπους τίς δʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ χῶρος; τοῦ θεῶν νομίζεται;

Ξένος ἄθικτος οὐδʼ οἰκητός· αἱ γὰρ ἔμφοβοι θεαί σφʼ ἔχουσι, Γῆς τε καὶ Σκότου κόραι. 40

Οἰδίπους τίνων τὸ σεμνὸν ὄνομʼ ἂν εὐξαίμην κλύων;

Ξένος τὰς πάνθʼ ὁρώσας Εὐμενίδας ὅ γʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἂν εἴποι λεώς νιν· ἄλλα δʼ ἀλλαχοῦ καλά.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλʼ ἵλεῳ μὲν τὸν ἱκέτην δεξαίατο· ὡς οὐχ ἕδρας γῆς τῆσδʼ ἂν ἐξέλθοιμʼ ἔτι. 45

Ξένος τί δʼ ἐστὶ τοῦτο;

Οἰδίπους ξυμφορᾶς ξύνθημʼ ἐμῆς.

Ξένος ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἐμοί τοι τοὐξανιστάναι πόλεως δίχʼ ἐστὶ θάρσος, πρίν γʼ ἂν ἐνδείξω τί δρῶ.

Οἰδίπους πρός νυν θεῶν, ὦ ξεῖνε, μή μʼ ἀτιμάσῃς, τοιόνδʼ ἀλήτην, ὧν σε προστρέπω φράσαι. 50

Ξένος σήμαινε, κοὐκʼ ἄτιμος ἔκ γʼ ἐμοῦ φανεῖ.

Οἰδίπους τίς ἔσθʼ ὁ χῶρος δῆτʼ, ἐν ᾧ βεβήκαμεν;

Οἰδίπους ἦ γάρ τινες ναίουσι τούσδε τοὺς τόπους;

Ξένος καὶ κάρτα, τοῦδε τοῦ θεοῦ γʼ ἐπώνυμοι. 65

Οἰδίπους ἄρχει τις αὐτῶν ἢ ʼπὶ τῷ πλήθει λόγος;

Ξένος ἐκ τοῦ κατʼ ἄστυ βασιλέως τάδʼ ἄρχεται.

Οἰδίπους οὗτος δὲ τίς λόγῳ τε καὶ σθένει κρατεῖ;

Ξένος Θησεὺς καλεῖται, τοῦ πρὶν Αἰγέως τόκος.

Οἰδίπους ἆρʼ ἄν τις αὐτῷ πομπὸς ἐξ ὑμῶν μόλοι; 70

Ξένος ὡς πρὸς τί λέξων ἢ καταρτύσων μολεῖν;

Οἰδίπους ὡς ἂν προσαρκῶν σμικρὰ κερδάνῃ μέγα.

Ξένος καὶ τίς πρὸς ἀνδρὸς μὴ βλέποντος ἄρκεσις;

Οἰδίπους ὅσʼ ἂν λέγωμεν πάνθʼ ὁρῶντα λέξομεν.

Οἰδίπους ὦ τέκνον, ἦ βέβηκεν ἡμὶν ὁ ξένος;

Ἀντιγόνη βέβηκεν, ὥστε πᾶν ἐν ἡσύχῳ, πάτερ, ἔξεστι φωνεῖν, ὡς ἐμοῦ μόνης πέλας.

Ἀντιγόνη σίγα· πορεύονται γὰρ οἵδε δή τινες χρόνῳ παλαιοί, σῆς ἕδρας ἐπίσκοποι.

OED Seat me, my child, and be the blind man’s guard.

ANT Long time hath well instructed me in that.

OED Now, canst thou tell me where we have set our feet?

ANT Athens I know, but not the nearer ground.

OED Ay, every man that met us in the way 25 Named Athens. 25

ANT Shall I go, then, and find out The name of the spot?

OED Yes, if ’tis habitable.

ANT It is inhabited. Yet I need not go. I see a man even now approaching here.

OED How? Makes he towards us? Is he drawing nigh?

ANT He is close beside us. Whatsoe’er thou findest Good to be spoken, say it. The man is here.

OED Enter an Athenian .

Oedipus. So seze mich und nimm des blinden Mannes wahr.

Antigone. Das brauch' ich nicht zu lernen nach so langer Zeit. (sich niederlassend)

Oedipus. Kind, kannst du mir nun sagen, wo wir hingelangt?

Antigone. Daß dort Athen ist, weiß ich, doch die Gegend nicht.

Oedipus. Das hat ja jeder Wandrer uns bereits gesagt. 25

Antigone. Nun, soll ich geh'n und fragen, wie der Ort sich nennt?

Oedipus. Ja, Tochter, wenn er anders nur Bewohner hat.

Antigone. Er ist bewohnt; doch, glaub' ich, braucht es weiter nichts Denn eben seh' ich einen Mann uns nahe dort.

Oedipus. Der, wandelnd hierher, gegen uns die Schritte lenkt? 30

Antigone. Und schon bei uns anlangte. Was zu sagen dir Am Orte scheint, das rede; denn hier steht der Mann. Ein Bewohner von Kolonos. Die Vorigen.

Oedipus.

Antigone Is sacred, flourishing with laurels, vines, And olives close enwoven; in the midst Thick-fluttering nightingales their sweet notes tune. Rest therefore seated on this unhewn stone, For tiresome to thine age the length of way.

Oedipus Then seat me there, and guide a blind old man. That tender office length of time hath made Familiar to me. What the place, where now We rest our steps? Canst thou inform me?

Oedipus

Place me here, and guard

A sightless wretch.

Antigone

Alas ! at such a time

Thou needst not tell Antigone her duty.

Oedipus

Knowst thou not where we are ?
30

Antigone

As I have learned

From passing travellers, not far from Athens ;

The place I know not ; would you that I go

And straight inquire ? But now I need not leave thee,

i^'or, lo ! a stranger comes this way, e'en now

He stands before you, he will soon inform us.

Oedipus
Scene II.

Οἰδίπους

κάθιζέ νύν με καὶ φύλασσε τὸν τυφλόν.

Ἀντιγόνη

χρόνου μὲν οὕνεκʼ οὐ μαθεῖν με δεῖ τόδε.

Οἰδίπους

ἔχεις διδάξαι δή μʼ ὅποι καθέσταμεν;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὰς γοῦν Ἀθήνας οἶδα, τὸν δὲ χῶρον οὔ.

Οἰδίπους

πᾶς γάρ τις ηὔδα τοῦτό *γʼ ἡμὶν ἐμπόρων.
25

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ ὅστις ὁ τόπος ἦ μάθω μολοῦσά ποι;

Οἰδίπους

ναί, τέκνον, εἴπερ ἐστί γʼ ἐξοικήσιμος.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ ἐστὶ μὴν οἰκητός. οἴομαι δὲ δεῖν

οὐδέν· πέλας γὰρ ἄνδρα τόνδε νῷν ὁρῶ.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ δεῦρο προσστείχοντα κἀξορμώμενον ;
30

Ἀντιγόνη

καὶ δὴ μὲν οὖν παρόντα· χὤ τι σοι λέγειν

εὔκαιρόν ἐστιν, ἔννεφʼ, ὡς ἀνὴρ ὅδε.

Οἰδίπους

κάθιζέ νύν με καὶ φύλασσε τὸν τυφλόν.

Ἀντιγόνη

χρόνου μὲν οὕνεκʼ οὐ μαθεῖν με δεῖ τόδε.

Οἰδίπους

ἔχεις διδάξαι δή μʼ ὅποι καθέσταμεν;

Ἀντιγόνη

τὰς γοῦν Ἀθήνας οἶδα, τὸν δὲ χῶρον οὔ.

Οἰδίπους

πᾶς γάρ τις ηὔδα τοῦτό γʼ ἡμὶν ἐμπόρων.
25

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ ὅστις ὁ τόπος ἦ μάθω μολοῦσά ποι;

Οἰδίπους

ναί, τέκνον, εἴπερ ἐστί γʼ ἐξοικήσιμος.

Ἀντιγόνη

ἀλλʼ ἐστὶ μὴν οἰκητός· οἴομαι δὲ δεῖν

οὐδέν· πέλας γὰρ ἄνδρα τόνδε νῷν ὁρῶ.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ δεῦρο προσστείχοντα κἀξορμώμενον;
30

Ἀντιγόνη

καὶ δὴ μὲν οὖν παρόντα· χὤ τί σοι λέγειν

εὔκαιρόν ἐστιν, ἔννεφʼ, ὡς ἀνὴρ ὅδε.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἀκούων τῆσδε τῆς ὑπέρ τʼ ἐμοῦ

αὑτῆς θʼ ὁρώσης, οὕνεχʼ ἡμὶν αἴσιος

σκοπὸς προσήκεις ὧν ἀδηλοῦμεν φράσαι—
35

Ξένος

πρὶν νῦν τὰ πλείονʼ ἱστορεῖν, ἐκ τῆσδʼ ἕδρας

ἔξελθʼ· ἔχεις γὰρ χῶρον οὐχ ἁγνὸν πατεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

τίς δʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ χῶρος; τοῦ θεῶν νομίζεται;

Ξένος

ἄθικτος οὐδʼ οἰκητός· αἱ γὰρ ἔμφοβοι

θεαί σφʼ ἔχουσι, Γῆς τε καὶ Σκότου κόραι.
40

Οἰδίπους

τίνων τὸ σεμνὸν ὄνομʼ ἂν εὐξαίμην κλύων;

Ξένος

τὰς πάνθʼ ὁρώσας Εὐμενίδας ὅ γʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἂν

εἴποι λεώς νιν· ἄλλα δʼ ἀλλαχοῦ καλά.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ ἵλεῳ μὲν τὸν ἱκέτην δεξαίατο·

ὡς οὐχ ἕδρας γῆς τῆσδʼ ἂν ἐξέλθοιμʼ ἔτι.
45

Ξένος

τί δʼ ἐστὶ τοῦτο;

Οἰδίπους

ξυμφορᾶς ξύνθημʼ ἐμῆς.

Ξένος

ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἐμοί τοι τοὐξανιστάναι πόλεως

δίχʼ ἐστὶ θάρσος, πρίν γʼ ἂν ἐνδείξω τί δρῶ.

Οἰδίπους

πρός νυν θεῶν, ὦ ξεῖνε, μή μʼ ἀτιμάσῃς,

τοιόνδʼ ἀλήτην, ὧν σε προστρέπω φράσαι.
50

Ξένος

σήμαινε, κοὐκʼ ἄτιμος ἔκ γʼ ἐμοῦ φανεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

τίς ἔσθʼ ὁ χῶρος δῆτʼ, ἐν ᾧ βεβήκαμεν;

Οἰδίπους

ἦ γάρ τινες ναίουσι τούσδε τοὺς τόπους;

Ξένος

καὶ κάρτα, τοῦδε τοῦ θεοῦ γʼ ἐπώνυμοι.
65

Οἰδίπους

ἄρχει τις αὐτῶν ἢ ʼπὶ τῷ πλήθει λόγος;

Ξένος

ἐκ τοῦ κατʼ ἄστυ βασιλέως τάδʼ ἄρχεται.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος δὲ τίς λόγῳ τε καὶ σθένει κρατεῖ;

Ξένος

Θησεὺς καλεῖται, τοῦ πρὶν Αἰγέως τόκος.

Οἰδίπους

ἆρʼ ἄν τις αὐτῷ πομπὸς ἐξ ὑμῶν μόλοι;
70

Ξένος

ὡς πρὸς τί λέξων ἢ καταρτύσων μολεῖν;

Οἰδίπους

ὡς ἂν προσαρκῶν σμικρὰ κερδάνῃ μέγα.

Ξένος

καὶ τίς πρὸς ἀνδρὸς μὴ βλέποντος ἄρκεσις;

Οἰδίπους

ὅσʼ ἂν λέγωμεν πάνθʼ ὁρῶντα λέξομεν.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ τέκνον, ἦ βέβηκεν ἡμὶν ὁ ξένος;

Ἀντιγόνη

βέβηκεν, ὥστε πᾶν ἐν ἡσύχῳ, πάτερ,

ἔξεστι φωνεῖν, ὡς ἐμοῦ μόνης πέλας.

Ἀντιγόνη

σίγα· πορεύονται γὰρ οἵδε δή τινες

χρόνῳ παλαιοί, σῆς ἕδρας ἐπίσκοποι.

OED

Seat me, my child, and be the blind man’s guard.

ANT

Long time hath well instructed me in that.

OED

Now, canst thou tell me where we have set our feet?

ANT

Athens I know, but not the nearer ground.

OED

Ay, every man that met us in the way
25

Named Athens.
25

ANT

Shall I go, then, and find out

The name of the spot?

OED

Yes, if ’tis habitable.

ANT

It is inhabited. Yet I need not go.

I see a man even now approaching here.

OED

How? Makes he towards us? Is he drawing nigh?

ANT

He is close beside us. Whatsoe’er thou findest

Good to be spoken, say it. The man is here.

OED
Enter an Athenian .

Oedipus.

So seze mich und nimm des blinden Mannes wahr.

Antigone.

Das brauch' ich nicht zu lernen nach so langer Zeit.

(sich niederlassend)

Oedipus.

Kind, kannst du mir nun sagen, wo wir hingelangt?

Antigone.

Daß dort Athen ist, weiß ich, doch die Gegend nicht.

Oedipus.

Das hat ja jeder Wandrer uns bereits gesagt.
25

Antigone.

Nun, soll ich geh'n und fragen, wie der Ort sich nennt?

Oedipus.

Ja, Tochter, wenn er anders nur Bewohner hat.

Antigone.

Er ist bewohnt; doch, glaub' ich, braucht es weiter nichts

Denn eben seh' ich einen Mann uns nahe dort.

Oedipus.

Der, wandelnd hierher, gegen uns die Schritte lenkt?
30

Antigone.

Und schon bei uns anlangte. Was zu sagen dir

Am Orte scheint, das rede; denn hier steht der Mann.

Ein Bewohner von Kolonos. Die Vorigen.

Antigone

Is sacred, flourishing with laurels, vines,

And olives close enwoven; in the midst

Thick-fluttering nightingales their sweet notes tune.

Rest therefore seated on this unhewn stone,

For tiresome to thine age the length of way.

Oedipus

Then seat me there, and guide a blind old man.

That tender office length of time hath made

Familiar to me.

What the place, where now

We rest our steps? Canst thou inform me?

Antigone

Well

I know we tread Athenian ground; the place

I know not.

Oedipus

From each passing traveller
25

Of that we are inform'd.
25

Antigone

Wilt thou I go,

And what the place inquire?

Oedipus

Such is my wish,

Antigone

If near us it hath habitants, my child.

It is inhabited: but that I go

Needs not; for near us I behold a man.