Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, Richard Jebb (Translator), 1249

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Antigone

Look, the stranger, it seems, is coming here to us.

Yes, without attendants, father, with tears streaming from his eyes.
1250

Oedipus

Who is he?

Antigone

The very man who was in our thoughts from the first. Polyneices has come to us.

Enter Polyneices.

Polyneices

Ah, me, what should I do? Should I weep first

for my own woes, sisters, or for those of my father here, in his old age? I have found him in a foreign land, here with you two as an exile, clad in such garments as these. Their unfriendly filth has resided with the old man for long,
1255

wasting his flesh; while above the sightless eyes the unkempt hair flutters in the breeze; and matching with these things, it seems, is the food that he carries, sustenance for his poor stomach.
Wretch that I am! I learn all this too late.
1260

And I bear witness that I have proved the worst of men in all that concerns care for you; from my own lips hear what I am. But seeing that Zeus himself in all his actions has Shame beside him to share his throne, may she come to your aid too, father. For the sins committed can be healed,
1265

but can never be made worse.
Why are you silent? Speak, father. Do not turn away from me. Do you not have any answer at all for me? Will you dismiss me without a word, dishonored, and not tell me why you are angry?
1270

Seed of this man, my sisters, you at least must try to move our father’s implacable, inexorable silence, so that he may not send me away like this, dishonored and with no word in return, when I am the suppliant of the god.
1275

Antigone

Tell him yourself, unhappy man, what you have come to seek. When words flow, you know, they may give joy, or incite anger or pity, and so they may give a voice to the mute.
1280

Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. Richard Jebb (Translator). Cambridge. 1889.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Oedipus at Colonus (English) (Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 2: The Oedipus at Colonus. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1889. (Modernized by Perseus.))

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1249 focus

καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἡμῖν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ὁ ξένος,

—ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος, ὦ πάτερ, - διʼ ὄμματος
1250

ἀστακτὶ λείβων δάκρυον ὧδʼ ὁδοιπορεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

τίς οὗτος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ὅνπερ καὶ πάλαι κατείχομεν

γνώμῃ, πάρεστι δεῦρο Πολυνείκης ὅδε.

Πολυνείκης
[112 a.

οἴμοι, τί δράσω; πότερα τἀμαυτοῦ κακὰ

πρόσθεν δακρύσω, παῖδες, ἢ τὰ τοῦδʼ ὁρῶν
1255

πατρὸς γέροντος; ὃν ξένης ἐπὶ χθονὸς

σὺν σφῷν ἐφεύρηκʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐκβεβλημένον

ἐσθῆτι σὺν τοιᾷδε, τῆς ὁ δυσφιλὴς

γέρων γέροντι συγκατῴκηκεν πίνος

πλευρὰν μαραίνων, κρατὶ δʼ ὀμματοστερεῖ
1260

κόμη διʼ αὔρας ἀκτένιστος ᾄσσεται·

ἀδελφὰ δʼ, ὡς ἔοικε, τούτοισιν φορεῖ

τὰ τῆς ταλαίνης νηδύος θρεπτήρια.

ἁγὼ πανώλης ὄψʼ ἄγαν ἐκμανθάνω·

καὶ μαρτυρῶ κάκιστος ἀνθρώπων τροφαῖς
1265

ταῖς σαῖσιν ἥκειν· τἀμὰ μὴ ἐξ ἄλλων πύθῃ.

ἄλλʼ ἔστι γὰρ καὶ Ζηνὶ σύνθακος θρόνων

Αἰδὼς ἐπʼ ἔργοις πᾶσι, καὶ πρὸς σοί, πάτερ,

παρασταθήτω. τῶν γὰρ ἡμαρτημένων

ἄκη μέν ἐστι, προσφορὰ δʼ οὐκ ἔστʼ ἔτι.
1270

τί σιγᾷς;

φώνησον, ὦ πάτερ, τι· μή μʼ ἀποστραφῇς.

οὐδʼ ἀνταμείβει μʼ οὐδέν; ἀλλʼ ἀτιμάσας

πέμψεις ἄναυδος, οὐδʼ ἃ μηνίεις φράσας;

ὦ σπέρματʼ ἀνδρὸς τοῦδʼ, ἐμαὶ δʼ ὁμαίμονες,
1275

πειράσατʼ ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς γε κινῆσαι πατρὸς

τὸ δυσπρόσοιστον κἀπροσήγορον στόμα,

ὡς μή μʼ ἄτιμον, τοῦ θεοῦ γε προστάτην,

οὕτως *ἀφῇ γε μηδὲν ἀντειπὼν ἔπος.

Ἀντιγόνη

λέγʼ, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ, αὐτὸς ὧν χρείᾳ πάρει.
1280

τὰ πολλὰ γάρ τοι ῥήματʼ ἢ τέρψαντά τι,

ἢ δυσχεράναντʼ, ἢ κατοικτίσαντά πως,

παρέσχε φωνὴν τοῖς ἀφωνήτοις τινά.

Πολυνείκης

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1249 focus

Ἀντιγόνη

καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἡμῖν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ὁ ξένος

ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος, ὦ πάτερ, διʼ ὄμματος
1250

ἀστακτὶ λείβων δάκρυον ὧδʼ ὁδοιπορεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

τίς οὗτος;

Οἰδίπους

ὅνπερ καὶ πάλαι κατείχομεν

γνώμῃ, πάρεστι δεῦρο Πολυνείκης ὅδε.

Πολυνείκης

οἴμοι, τί δράσω; πότερα τἀμαυτοῦ κακὰ

πρόσθεν δακρύσω, παῖδες, ἢ τὰ τοῦδʼ ὁρῶν
1255

πατρὸς γέροντος; ὃς ξένης ἐπὶ χθονὸς

σὺν σφῷν ἐφηύρηκʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐκβεβλημένον

ἐσθῆτι σὺν τοιᾷδε, τῆς ὁ δυσφιλὴς

γέρων γέροντι συγκατῴκηκεν πίνος

πλευρὰν μαραίνων, κρατὶ δʼ ὀμματοστερεῖ
1260

κόμη διʼ αὔρας ἀκτένιστος ᾄσσεται·

ἀδελφὰ δʼ, ὡς ἔοικε, τούτοισιν φορεῖ

τὰ τῆς ταλαίνης νηδύος θρεπτήρια.

ἁγὼ πανώλης ὄψʼ ἄγαν ἐκμανθάνω·

καὶ μαρτυρῶ κάκιστος ἀνθρώπων τροφαῖς
1265

ταῖς σαῖσιν ἥκειν· τἀμὰ μὴ ʼξ ἄλλων πύθῃ.

ἀλλʼ ἔστι γὰρ καὶ Ζηνὶ σύνθακος θρόνων

Αἰδὼς ἐπʼ ἔργοις πᾶσι, καὶ πρὸς σοί, πάτερ,

παρασταθήτω· τῶν γὰρ ἡμαρτημένων

ἄκη μέν ἐστι, προσφορὰ δʼ οὐκ ἔστʼ ἔτι.
1270

τί σιγᾷς;

φώνησον, ὦ πάτερ, τι· μή μʼ ἀποστραφῇς.

οὐδʼ ἀνταμείβει μʼ οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἀτιμάσας

πέμψεις ἄναυδος, οὐδʼ ἃ μηνίεις φράσας;

ὦ σπέρματʼ ἀνδρὸς τοῦδʼ, ἐμαὶ δʼ ὁμαίμονες,
1275

πειράσατʼ ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς γε κινῆσαι πατρὸς

τὸ δυσπρόσοιστον κἀπροσήγορον στόμα,

ὡς μή μʼ ἄτιμον, τοῦ θεοῦ γε προστάτην,

οὕτως ἀφῇ με μηδὲν ἀντειπὼν ἔπος.

Ἀντιγόνη

λέγʼ, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ, αὐτὸς ὧν χρείᾳ πάρει·
1280

τὰ πολλὰ γάρ τοι ῥήματʼ ἢ τέρψαντά τι,

ἢ δυσχεράναντʼ ἢ κατοικτίσαντά πως,

παρέσχε φωνὴν τοῖς ἀφωνήτοις τινά.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1249 focus

Ah! Who comes here? Sure ’tis the Argive man

Approaching hitherward, weeping amain.
1250

And, father, it is he!

OED

Whom dost thou mean?

ANT

The same our thoughts have dwelt on all this while,

Polynices. He is here.

POLYNICES

What shall I do?

I stand in doubt which first I should lament,

My own misfortune or my father’s woe,
1255

Whom here I find an outcast in his age

With you, my sisters, in the stranger land,

Clothed in such raiment, whose inveterate filth

Horridly clings, wasting his reverend form,

While the grey locks over the eye-reft brow
1260

Wave all unkempt upon the ruffling breeze.

And likewise miserable appears the store

He bears to nourish that time-wasted frame.

Wretch that I am! Too late I learn the truth,

And here give witness to mine own disgrace,
1265

Which is as deep as thy distress. Myself

Declare it. Ask not others of my guilt.

But seeing that Zeus on his almighty throne

Keeps Mercy in all he doth to counsel him,

Thou, too, my father, let her plead with thee!

The evil that is done may yet be healed;
1270

It cannot be augmented. Art thou silent?

O turn not from me, father! Speak but once!

Wilt thou not answer, but with shame dismiss me

Voiceless, nor make known wherefore thou art wroth?

O ye his daughters, one with me in blood,
1275

Say, will not ye endeavour to unlock

The stern lips of our unrelenting sire?

Let him not thus reject in silent scorn

Without response the suppliant of Heaven!

ANT

Thyself, unhappy one, say why thou camest.
1280

Speech ofttimes, as it flows, touching some root

Of pity or joy, or even of hate, hath stirred

The dumb to utterance.

POL

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1249 focus

Das ist gewiß der Fremde, wie mir, Vater, dünkt,
1240

Der dort allein und einsam hergeschritten kommt,

Und dem die Thräne strömend aus dem Auge stürzt.

Wer ist es?

Erblickten,

Jener, den wir längst im Geiste schon

Polyneikes ist zur Stelle hier.

Polyneikes. Die Vorigen.

Polyneikes.

Weh! Was beginnen? Wein' ich meine Noth zuvor,
1245

Ihr Schwestern, oder daß ich also sehen muß

Den greisen Vater? Den mit euch im fremden Land

Ich endlich hier fand, seit er ausgestoßen ward,

In solchem Kleide, dessen häßlich trüber Schmuz

Sich alt dem alten Körper angesezt, die Kraft
1250

Der Glieder zehrend, während ungekämmt das Haar

Im Winde flattert um das augenlose Haupt!

Und dem entsprechend hat er, wie ich fürchten muß,

Die karge Nahrung, welche kaum den Hunger stillt.

Das wurde mir Verlor'nen allzuspät bekannt,
1255

Und selbst bezeug' ich meine Schuld an deiner Noth,

Der Menschen schlimmster, daß du's nicht von Andern hörst.

Doch auf Kronions Throne sizt, ihm beigesellt,

Für jeden Fehl' die Gnade: sie, mein Vater, sei

Auch dir zur Seite! Was ich schwer an dir verbrach,
1260

Läßt noch sich sühnen, aber nicht vergrößern mehr.

Du schweigst?

O sprich ein Wort nur! Wende dich nicht ab von mir!

Du willst mir nichts erwidern, willst, lautlos und stumm,

Mich schnöd entlassen, nicht erklären, was du grollst?
1265

Ihr, dieses Mannes Töchter, meine Schwestern, ach!

Versuchet ihr's doch, rühret ihr des Vaters Mund,

Den unerbittlich harten, unzugänglichen,

Auf daß er mich, des Gottes Schuzbefohl'nen, nicht

So schnöd entlasse, nicht erwidernd Einen Laut!
1270

Antigone.

Sprich selbst, o Jammervoller, was dich hergeführt.

Wohl haben viele Worte, die nun Freude, nun

Unlust und Ekel oder auch Mitleid erweckt,

Sprachlosen oftmals aufgeregt der Sprache Laut.

Polyneikes.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1249 focus

Antigone, Ismene, Chorus.

Antigone

This way, my father. Lo ! the wretched man

Oedipus

Approaches, unattended, and in tears.

Antigone
(Edi. Who comes, my child %

E'en he I told thee of-

Poor Polj^nices.

Polynices
Scene II.

CEdipus, Antigone, Ismene, Chorus.

Pol. O my sisters ! see

Of all mankind the most unhappy. Where
1255

Shall I begin? shall I lament my own,

Or shall I weep an aged parent's fate?

For, oh ! 'tis horrible to find him thus

A wandering exile in a foreign land ;

In this moan garb, with wild dishevelled hair,
1260

Bereft of sight, and destitute, perhaps,

Of needful food and nourishment. Alas !

Too late I know it ; worthless jus I am,

I flew to succour him, to plead my cause.

That not from others he might hear the talo
1265

Of my misfortunes. Sacred pity sits

Fast by the throne of Jove, o'er all his works

Presiding gracious. Oh ! let her inspire

Thy breast, my father. Ciimes already done.

Which cannot be recalled, may still be healed

By kind forgiveness : why, then, art thou silent 1
1270

Oh ! speak, my father ; do not turn aside.

Wilt thou not answer ? Wilt thou let me go

Without one word ; nor tell me whence thy wrath

Contemptuous springs 1 My sisters, you at least

Will try to move his unrelenting heart.
1275

And loosen his closed lips, that not thus spurned

And thus unanswered, though a suppliant here

At Neptune's altar, I return with shame

And foul disgrace.

Antigone

Say, wherefore didst thou come,
1280

My hapless brother 1 Tell thy mournful tale ;
1280

Such is the power of words, that whether sweet

They move soft pity, or when bitter urge

To violence and wrath, at least they ope

Th' unwilling lips, and make the silent speak.

Polynices

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1249 focus

Back to return whence late he came,

Is heav'n's next blessing to man's wretched race.

Youth comes, and with him leads a train

Of idle follies, pleasures vain:

Thence rugged toil attends his mazy way,

And Misery marks him for her prey...:

Sedition, Envy, Murder, Passion, Strife
1250

Spread horror o'er his path of life;
1250

These to the hated mansions lead
1250

Where cheerless, friendless Age reclines his drooping head.
1250

Not mine alone these ills to know,
1250

But on some bleak and rocky shore
1250

As storms and dashing billows roar, ..

So on his hapless, hoary brow

Waves heap'd on waves without control

The tempests of affliction roll:

Some from those tracts impetuous sweep,

Where the sun skirts the western deep;

Some, where he gilds the orient day;

Some, where he beams his noontide ray;

..... Some, where Arcturus in his height

Flames o'er the bosom of the night.

Hither the stranger takes his way; alone

He comes, my father; gushing from his eyes

Fast flow the tears.

Who is he?

Whom before

We deem'd him, Polynices: he is here.

Polynices
POLYNICES, CŒDIPUS, ANTIGONE, ISMENE,

Alas, my sisters, 'midst these various ills

My own misfortunes shall I first bewail,

Or those which on my father's hoary head

Antigone

I see have fall'n, whom, in a foreign land,
1280

Exiled, by you attended I have found ?
1280

But how attired! his mean and squalid garb,
1280

Worn bare by length of time, his aged limbs
1280

Contaminates; and on his eyeless head
1280

His matted locks by each rude gale are waved;
1280

And to his garb akin his wretched food
1280

But ill supports him. Late, too late I know
1280

The ruin I have caused. I call the gods

To witness, vile, flagitious as I am,

I come with wholesome food to cherish thee,

And lighten thy accumulated woes.

E'en by the side of Jove and on his throne

Sits Moderation tempering every act:

Nigh thee, my father, let her stand.. Offence,

Though not to be extinguish'd, may be heal'd.

Why art thou silent? O my father speak,

Speak something to me; turn hot from me thus.

Wilt thou not answer me, not e'en a word,

But send me thus with mute contempt away,

Nor why thine anger burns declare? But you,

Ye daughters of this man, my sisters, speak,

Plead with my father for me, try to move

His unrelenting heart; nor let him send..

The suppliant of the god dishonour'd hence, ...

A word to me disdaining to reply.

Speak, my unhappy brother, speak thyself

What sad occasion brought thee hither. Oft

Words as they flow delighting, or perchance

Offending, or to pity soothing mild,

Have giv'n a voice e'en to a speechless tongue.

Polynices

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-885-1 καὶ μὴν ¹

mvp-comment-885-2 ἡμῖν ²

mvp-comment-886-1 ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος ³

mvp-comment-887-1 ἀστακτὶ ⁴

mvp-comment-887-2 ἀστακτὶ ⁵

mvp-comment-887-3 ὧδε ⁶

mvp-comment-888-1 κατείχομεν γνώμῃ ⁷

mvp-comment-889-1 δράσω ⁸

mvp-comment-890-1 ἐνθάδ’ ἐκβεβλημένον ⁹

mvp-comment-891-1 σὺν ¹⁰

mvp-comment-891-2 τῆς ¹¹

mvp-comment-891-3 γέρων … πίνος ¹²

mvp-comment-891-4 συγκατῴκηκεν ¹³

mvp-comment-892-1 πλευρὰν μαραίνων ¹⁴

mvp-comment-892-2 κρατὶ ὀμματοστερεῖ ¹⁵

mvp-comment-892-3 ἀκτένιστος ¹⁶

mvp-comment-892-4 ᾄσσεται ¹⁷

mvp-comment-893-1 ἀδελφὰ … τούτοισιν ¹⁸

mvp-comment-893-2 φορεῖ ¹⁹

mvp-comment-894-1

"And I testify that I have come to be, have proved myself, most vile in regard to thy maintenance"

mvp-comment-894-2 ἥκειν ²⁰

mvp-comment-894-3 τροφ. ταῖς σαῖσιν ²¹

mvp-comment-894-4 μὴ )ξ ἄλλων ²²

mvp-comment-895-1 ἀλλὰ … γὰρ ²³

mvp-comment-895-2 Ζηνὶ σύνθακος θρόνων ²⁴

mvp-comment-895-3 Αἰδὼς ²⁵

mvp-comment-895-4 ἐπ’ ἔργοις πᾶσι ²⁶

mvp-comment-895-5 καὶ πρὸς σοί ²⁷

mvp-comment-896-1 τῶν γὰρ ἡμαρτημένων ²⁸

mvp-comment-896-2 προσφορὰ ²⁹

mvp-comment-897-1 τί σιγᾷς ³⁰

mvp-comment-898-1 μή μ’ ἀποστραφῇς ³¹

mvp-comment-898-2 ἀτιμάσας ³²

mvp-comment-899-1 ὦ σπέρματ’ ³³

mvp-comment-899-2 ἐμαὶ δ’ ³⁴

mvp-comment-900-1 ἀλλ’ ὑμεῖς γε ³⁵

mvp-comment-901-1 δυσπρόσοιστον ³⁶

mvp-comment-901-2 στόμα ³⁷

mvp-comment-902-1 ὡς μή μ’ ἄτιμον … οὕτως ἀφῇ με ³⁸

mvp-comment-902-2 Elmsley's conjecture

οὕτως ἀφιῇ

, which Hartung adopts, is unmetrical.

ἵημι

has ι^ always in pres. subj. and opt.: Il. 13.234

μεθίῃσι μάχεσθαι

: Hom. Hymn. 4.152

προίῃ βέλεα στονόεντα

: Theogn. 94

γλῶσσαν ἱῇσι κακήν

: Od. 2.185

ὧδ’ ἀνιείης

. In Aristoph. Lys. 157

τί δ); ἢν ἀφίωσιν ἄνδρες ἡμᾶς, ὦ μέλε

(so the MSS.), Kuster brought in a gratuitous error by writing

ἀφίωσ’

, which Dindorf has adopted. (As Chandler says,

ἀφίωσι

is a false accent for

ἀφιῶσι

. Accent. , 2nd ed. § 794, cp. § 820.) In the pres. indic., imper., inf., and part., ι— is normal, but Homeric verse usually has ι^ in thesis (as when

ἵενται

ends a line); and the part.

ἱείς

(

ι—

in Aristoph. Eq. 522 ) occurs with

ι^

in Trag. ( Aesch. Th. 493 , etc.). Cp. El. 131 n.

mvp-comment-902-3 ἀφῆται ³⁹

mvp-comment-902-4 τοῦ θεοῦ γε ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-902-5 προστάτην ⁴¹

mvp-comment-902-6 οὕτως ⁴²

mvp-comment-903-1 χρείᾳ ⁴³

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

1250. mvp-comment-666-1 Here comes, as it would seem, the man from Argos, shedding copious tears:-and, father, it is indeed no other-. For ἡμῖν, cp. esp. supr. 81, and note. Here we have approaching to disturb us.' ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος] (1) Some appear to take this with λείβων δάκρυον, Weeping, unlike other men. Praeter morem virorum.' (Hermann.) But, besides the poverty of such a sense, the weeping of men is not uncommon in Greek poetry, or even in Greek history. Others (Schndw.) take μοῦνος = μονωθείς, Without companions, referring to the apprehension expressed in 1206-1207. This is rightly rejected by Dindorf. Antigone does not at once name Polynices, for fear of offending her father, but she cannot help ejaculating It is indeed no other; i. e. than Polynices, whom you supposed him to be (1. 1171). Cp. supra 321, μόνης τόδ᾽ ἐστὶ δῆλον Ἰσμήνης κάρα (' Ismene and no other'), 319, οὔκ ἐστιν ἄλλη: Τr. 261, μόνον βροτῶν : 355, μόνος θεῶν : Εl. 531, μοῦνος Ἑλλήνων. The imperfect expression makes the question of Oedipus more natural, τίς ούτος; Whom do you mean? 1252-1253. ὅνπερ καὶ πάλαι κατείχομεν γνώμῃ] Supra 1171.

1254. mvp-comment-667-1 Cp. the first words of Ismene, 11. 324-326.

1255. mvp-comment-668-1 τὰ τοῦδ᾽ ὁρῶν τά is in the same construction with κακά, governed by δακρύσω: but is also governed by ὁρῶν, which is added epexegetically. 1258, foll. In such raiment, whose hateful soilure hath grown old and settled on his aged frame, withering his side.' The conjectural emendation πίνος, which is due to Scaliger, agrees admirably with the context as well as with l. 1597, and the MS. reading is here indefensible.

1260. mvp-comment-669-1 The rhythm here curiously resembles that of supr. 314. 5.

1260. mvp-comment-669-2 κρατί is a locative dative, and ὀμματοστερής has a passive meaning.

1261. mvp-comment-670-1 ᾄσσεται The middle or passive form is used as in the Homeric expression ἀμφὶ δὲ χαῖται | ὤμοις ἀΐσσονται, ΙΙ. 6.510. 1263-1264. 'And of a piece with these miseries, as it would seem. is the provision for the poor belly's nourishment which he carries with him.' The word φορεῖ, taken in connection with the preceding context, shows that the remark of Polynices refers to the appearance of the scrip or wallet in which Oedipus, like the Telephus of Euripides, carried the scanted gifts which he received. (1. 3.)

1265-1266. mvp-comment-671-1 And I declare that thy neglected condition proves me basest of Ask not others about me. For the correction, cp. El. 1225, μηκέτ᾽ ἄλλοθεν πύθῃ. The confusion of µ and λλ would easily occur with μὴ ἐξ ἄλλων following. For the meaning of ἥκειν, see Essay on Language § 52. p. 97; and for the dative τροφαῖς, ib. § 14. p. 21 (2).

1267. mvp-comment-672-1 But seeing that even Zeus has Mercy at his side in all his counsels, let her have place also by thee, O my father.'

1269-1270. mvp-comment-673-1 For while it is possible to remedy the errors that have been committed, to add to them is now impossible; i.e. We can restore you to some comforts, but you cannot be made more miserable. For the expression, cp. Aesch. Eum. 645, πέδας μὲν ἂν λύσειεν, ἔστι τοῦδ᾽ ἄκος.

1269-1270. mvp-comment-673-2 μέν ἐστι .. οὐκ ἔστ' This accentuation was retained by Elmsley from previous editions. The stress in the first clause is on ἄκη, in the second on οὐκ ἔστι.

1271. mvp-comment-674-1 The interrupted verse marks the solemn pause in which Polynices waits for his father to break silence.

1274. mvp-comment-675-1 ἃ μηνίεις Ε. on L. § 17. p. 25.

1277. mvp-comment-676-1 To unlock our father's lips, that will not speak nor be spoken to.' δυσπρόσοιστον = χαλεπὸν προσφέρεσθαι.

1277. mvp-comment-676-2 ἀπροσήγορον has rather a reciprocal than either an active or a passive meaning. Cp. Phil. 1353, τῷ προσήγορος; Eur. Alc. 195, ὃν οὐ προσείπε καὶ προσερρήθη πάλιν. Cp. supr. 1141 and note. For κινεῖν = ‘Τo excite to speech,' cp. Plat. Rep. 329 D, βουλόμενος ἔτι λέγειν αὐτὸν ἐκίνουν.

1279. mvp-comment-677-1 οὕτως *ἀφῇ γε The second με was rightly rejected by Turnebus. The second γε, on the other hand, gives an intelligible emphasis to οὕτως, which is further explained by μηδέν.. ἔπος. 1280 ff. The wisdom of this counsel is in keeping with the tact, beyond her years, which Antigone herself elsewhere displays.

Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus 1249

Richard Jebb (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Antigone

Look, the stranger, it seems, is coming here to us.

Yes, without attendants, father, with tears streaming from his eyes.
1250

Oedipus

Who is he?

Antigone

The very man who was in our thoughts from the first. Polyneices has come to us.

Antigone

Tell him yourself, unhappy man, what you have come to seek. When words flow, you know, they may give joy, or incite anger or pity, and so they may give a voice to the mute.
1280

Current edition Experimental

καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἡμῖν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ὁ ξένος,

—ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος, ὦ πάτερ, - διʼ ὄμματος
1250

ἀστακτὶ λείβων δάκρυον ὧδʼ ὁδοιπορεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

τίς οὗτος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ὅνπερ καὶ πάλαι κατείχομεν

γνώμῃ, πάρεστι δεῦρο Πολυνείκης ὅδε.

Πολυνείκης

Ἀντιγόνη

καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἡμῖν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ὁ ξένος

ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος, ὦ πάτερ, διʼ ὄμματος
1250

ἀστακτὶ λείβων δάκρυον ὧδʼ ὁδοιπορεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

τίς οὗτος;

Οἰδίπους

ὅνπερ καὶ πάλαι κατείχομεν

γνώμῃ, πάρεστι δεῦρο Πολυνείκης ὅδε.

Ah! Who comes here? Sure ’tis the Argive man

Approaching hitherward, weeping amain.
1250

And, father, it is he!

OED

Whom dost thou mean?

ANT

The same our thoughts have dwelt on all this while,

Polynices. He is here.

ANT

Thyself, unhappy one, say why thou camest.
1280

Speech ofttimes, as it flows, touching some root

Of pity or joy, or even of hate, hath stirred

The dumb to utterance.

POL

Das ist gewiß der Fremde, wie mir, Vater, dünkt,
1240

Der dort allein und einsam hergeschritten kommt,

Und dem die Thräne strömend aus dem Auge stürzt.

Wer ist es?

Erblickten,

Jener, den wir längst im Geiste schon

Polyneikes ist zur Stelle hier.

Polyneikes. Die Vorigen.

Antigone.

Sprich selbst, o Jammervoller, was dich hergeführt.

Wohl haben viele Worte, die nun Freude, nun

Unlust und Ekel oder auch Mitleid erweckt,

Sprachlosen oftmals aufgeregt der Sprache Laut.

Polyneikes.

Antigone, Ismene, Chorus.

Antigone

This way, my father. Lo ! the wretched man

Oedipus

Approaches, unattended, and in tears.

Antigone
(Edi. Who comes, my child %

E'en he I told thee of-

Poor Polj^nices.

Antigone

Say, wherefore didst thou come,
1280

My hapless brother 1 Tell thy mournful tale ;
1280

Such is the power of words, that whether sweet

They move soft pity, or when bitter urge

To violence and wrath, at least they ope

Th' unwilling lips, and make the silent speak.

Polynices

Polynices
POLYNICES, CŒDIPUS, ANTIGONE, ISMENE,

Alas, my sisters, 'midst these various ills

My own misfortunes shall I first bewail,

Or those which on my father's hoary head

Polynices

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Antigone Look, the stranger, it seems, is coming here to us. Yes, without attendants, father, with tears streaming from his eyes. 1250

Oedipus Who is he?

Antigone The very man who was in our thoughts from the first. Polyneices has come to us.

Antigone Tell him yourself, unhappy man, what you have come to seek. When words flow, you know, they may give joy, or incite anger or pity, and so they may give a voice to the mute. 1280

Current edition Experimental

καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἡμῖν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ὁ ξένος, —ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος, ὦ πάτερ, - διʼ ὄμματος 1250 ἀστακτὶ λείβων δάκρυον ὧδʼ ὁδοιπορεῖ.

Οἰδίπους τίς οὗτος;

Ἀντιγόνη ὅνπερ καὶ πάλαι κατείχομεν γνώμῃ, πάρεστι δεῦρο Πολυνείκης ὅδε.

Πολυνείκης

Ἀντιγόνη καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἡμῖν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ὁ ξένος ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος, ὦ πάτερ, διʼ ὄμματος 1250 ἀστακτὶ λείβων δάκρυον ὧδʼ ὁδοιπορεῖ.

Οἰδίπους τίς οὗτος;

Οἰδίπους ὅνπερ καὶ πάλαι κατείχομεν γνώμῃ, πάρεστι δεῦρο Πολυνείκης ὅδε.

Ah! Who comes here? Sure ’tis the Argive man Approaching hitherward, weeping amain. 1250 And, father, it is he!

OED Whom dost thou mean?

ANT The same our thoughts have dwelt on all this while, Polynices. He is here.

ANT Thyself, unhappy one, say why thou camest. 1280 Speech ofttimes, as it flows, touching some root Of pity or joy, or even of hate, hath stirred The dumb to utterance.

POL

Das ist gewiß der Fremde, wie mir, Vater, dünkt, 1240 Der dort allein und einsam hergeschritten kommt, Und dem die Thräne strömend aus dem Auge stürzt. Wer ist es? Erblickten, Jener, den wir längst im Geiste schon Polyneikes ist zur Stelle hier. Polyneikes. Die Vorigen.

Antigone. Sprich selbst, o Jammervoller, was dich hergeführt. Wohl haben viele Worte, die nun Freude, nun Unlust und Ekel oder auch Mitleid erweckt, Sprachlosen oftmals aufgeregt der Sprache Laut.

Polyneikes.

Antigone, Ismene, Chorus.

Antigone This way, my father. Lo ! the wretched man

Oedipus Approaches, unattended, and in tears.

Antigone (Edi. Who comes, my child % E'en he I told thee of- Poor Polj^nices.

Antigone Say, wherefore didst thou come, 1280 My hapless brother 1 Tell thy mournful tale ; 1280 Such is the power of words, that whether sweet They move soft pity, or when bitter urge To violence and wrath, at least they ope Th' unwilling lips, and make the silent speak.

Polynices

Polynices POLYNICES, CŒDIPUS, ANTIGONE, ISMENE, Alas, my sisters, 'midst these various ills My own misfortunes shall I first bewail, Or those which on my father's hoary head

Polynices

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Antigone

Look, the stranger, it seems, is coming here to us.

Yes, without attendants, father, with tears streaming from his eyes.
1250

Oedipus

Who is he?

Antigone

The very man who was in our thoughts from the first. Polyneices has come to us.

Antigone

Tell him yourself, unhappy man, what you have come to seek. When words flow, you know, they may give joy, or incite anger or pity, and so they may give a voice to the mute.
1280

καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἡμῖν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ὁ ξένος,

—ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος, ὦ πάτερ, - διʼ ὄμματος
1250

ἀστακτὶ λείβων δάκρυον ὧδʼ ὁδοιπορεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

τίς οὗτος;

Ἀντιγόνη

ὅνπερ καὶ πάλαι κατείχομεν

γνώμῃ, πάρεστι δεῦρο Πολυνείκης ὅδε.

Ἀντιγόνη

καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἡμῖν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ὁ ξένος

ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος, ὦ πάτερ, διʼ ὄμματος
1250

ἀστακτὶ λείβων δάκρυον ὧδʼ ὁδοιπορεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

τίς οὗτος;

Οἰδίπους

ὅνπερ καὶ πάλαι κατείχομεν

γνώμῃ, πάρεστι δεῦρο Πολυνείκης ὅδε.

Ah! Who comes here? Sure ’tis the Argive man

Approaching hitherward, weeping amain.
1250

And, father, it is he!

OED

Whom dost thou mean?

ANT

The same our thoughts have dwelt on all this while,

Polynices. He is here.

ANT

Thyself, unhappy one, say why thou camest.
1280

Speech ofttimes, as it flows, touching some root

Of pity or joy, or even of hate, hath stirred

The dumb to utterance.

Das ist gewiß der Fremde, wie mir, Vater, dünkt,
1240

Der dort allein und einsam hergeschritten kommt,

Und dem die Thräne strömend aus dem Auge stürzt.

Wer ist es?

Erblickten,

Jener, den wir längst im Geiste schon

Polyneikes ist zur Stelle hier.

Polyneikes. Die Vorigen.

Antigone.

Sprich selbst, o Jammervoller, was dich hergeführt.

Wohl haben viele Worte, die nun Freude, nun

Unlust und Ekel oder auch Mitleid erweckt,

Sprachlosen oftmals aufgeregt der Sprache Laut.

Antigone

This way, my father. Lo ! the wretched man

Oedipus

Approaches, unattended, and in tears.

Antigone
(Edi. Who comes, my child %

E'en he I told thee of-

Poor Polj^nices.

Antigone

Say, wherefore didst thou come,
1280

My hapless brother 1 Tell thy mournful tale ;
1280

Such is the power of words, that whether sweet

They move soft pity, or when bitter urge

To violence and wrath, at least they ope

Th' unwilling lips, and make the silent speak.

Polynices
POLYNICES, CŒDIPUS, ANTIGONE, ISMENE,

Alas, my sisters, 'midst these various ills

My own misfortunes shall I first bewail,

Or those which on my father's hoary head