Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, Richard Jebb (Translator), 549

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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.

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)) — 549 focus

καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδʼ ἡμὶν Αἰγέως γόνος

Θησεὺς κατʼ ὀμφὴν σὴν * ἀποσταλεὶς 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 Οἰδίπου, 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,

ὡς οἶδά γʼ αὐτὸς ὡς ἐπαιδεύθην ξένος,

ὥσπερ σύ, χὥς τις πλεῖστʼ ἀνὴρ ἐπὶ ξένης

ἤθλησα κινδυνεύματʼ ἐν τὠμῷ κάρᾳ,

ὥστε ξένον γʼ *ἂν οὐδέν ὄνθʼ, ὥσπερ σὺ νῦν,
565

ὑπεκτραποίμην μὴ οὐ συνεκσώζειν· ἐπεὶ

ἔξοιδʼ ἀνὴρ ὢν χὤτι τῆς ἐς αὔριον

οὐδὲν πλέον μοι σοῦ μέτεστιν ἡμέρας.

Οἰδίπους

Θησεῦ, τὸ σὸν γενναῖον ἐν σμικρῷ λόγῳ

παρῆκεν ὥστε βραχέʼ ἐμοὶ δεῖσθαι φράσαι.
570

σὺ γάρ μʼ ὅς εἰμι, κἀφʼ ὅτου πατρὸς γεγώς,

καὶ γῆς ὁποίας ἦλθον, εἰρηκὼς κυρεῖς·

ὥστʼ ἐστί μοι τὸ λοιπὸν οὐδὲν ἄλλο πλὴν

εἰπεῖν ἃ χρῄζω, χώ λόγος διέρχεται.

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

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 549 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.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 549 focus

Enough. For lo! where Aegeus’ princely son,

Theseus, comes hither, summoned at thy word.
550

THESEUS
Enter THESEUS .

From many voices in the former time

Telling thy cruel tale of sight destroyed

I have known thee, son of Laius, and to-day

I know thee anew, in learning thou art here.

Thy raiment, and the sad change in thy face,

Proclaim thee who thou art, and pitying thee,
555

Dark-fated Oedipus, I fain would hear

What prayer or supplication thou preferrest

To me and to my city, thou and this

Poor maid who moves beside thee. Full of dread

Must be that fortune thou canst name, which I
560

Would shrink from, since I know of mine own youth,

How in strange lands a stranger as thou art

I bore the brunt of perilous circumstance

Beyond all others; nor shall any man,

Like thee an alien from his native home,
565

Find me to turn my face from succouring him.

I am a man and know it. To-morrow’s good

Is no more mine than thine or any man’s.

OED

Thy noble spirit, Theseus, in few words

Hath made my task of utterance brief indeed.
570

Thou hast told aright my name and parentage

And native city. Nought remains for me

But to make known mine errand, and our talk

Is ended.

THE

Tell me plainly thy desire.
575

OED

I come to offer thee this woe-worn frame,

As a free boon,—not goodly in outward view.

A better gift than beauty is that I bring.

THE

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 549 focus

Da, siehe, kommt der König, Aegeus' Sohn, heran,

Theseus, gehorsam deinem Ruf, der ihn beschied.

Theseus. Die Vorigen.

Theseus.

Von Vielen hört' ich früher, wie dein Augenlicht

In blut'ger Nacht erloschen, daß ich dich sofort
550

Erkannte, Sohn des Laïos, und noch sichrer jezt

Aus dem erkenne, was ich hört' auf diesem Weg.

Denn dein Gewand und dein entsezenvolles Haupt

Bezeugt mir deutlich, wer du bist; mich jammert dein;

Drum will ich dich befragen, armer Dedipus,'
555

Um was du mich zu bitten und die Bürger hier

Gekommen, du mit deiner armen Führerin.

So sprich: ein ungeheures Werk ja müßtest du

Mir nennen, wollt' ich deinem Dienste mich entzieh'n:

Ich weiß, in fremdem Lande wuchs ich selbst heran,
560

Gleich dir; im Fremdlingslande, wie kein andrer Mann,

Durchkämpft' ich viel Gefahren über meinem Haupt.

Drum steh' ich keinem Fremdling, der, wie heute du,

Mir naht, mit meiner Hülfe fern; ich bin ein Mensch,

Wohl weiß ich dieses, und mir ward am nächsten Tag
565

Kein größrer Antheil, als er dir beschieden ist.

Oedipus.

Dein Adel, Theseus, hat in kurzem Worte sich

Entfaltet, daß mir wenig nur zu sagen bleibt.

Denn wer ich bin und welches Vaters Sohn, woher

Des Landes ich gekommen, hast du selbst gesagt;
570

So bliebe mir nichts übrig, als dir kundzuthun,

Was mein Begehr ist, und die Rede fand ihr Ziel.

Theseus.

Dies eben laß mich hören, dies enthülle mir.

Oedipus.

Ich komme, meinen müden Leib zur Gabe dir

Zu bringen, nicht gar lieblich anzuseh'n; indeß
575

Der Lohn von ihm ist größer, als das Aeußre schön.

Theseus.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 549 focus

{seeh^ Theseus, wJw enters]. But lo ! the king,

-(Egean Theseus, comes ;

The fame of thee bath brought him here already.
550

TheseuSj CEdipus, Antigone, Uiiokus.
550

Theseus
Scene YIII.

O son of Laius ! long ere- this the tal«

Of thy disastrous fate, by many a tongue

Related, I had heard : thy eyes torn forth

By thy own desperate hand : and now I see

It was too true. Thy garb and dreadful aspect

Speak who thou art. Unhappy Qildipus,

I come to ask, in pity to thy woes.
555

What 's thy request to Athens or to me —

Thine, or this hapless virgin on thy steps

Attendant. Speak ; for large must be the boon

1 would refuse thee. I have known too well,

Myself a wretched wanderer, the woes

Of cruel exile, not to pity thine :
560

Of toils and dangers in a foreign land
560

Much have I suffered ; therefore not to me

Shall the poor stranger ever sue in vain

For aid and safety. Mortals as we are,

Uncertain ever is to-morrow's fate,

Alike unknown to Theseus and to thee.

Q^Idi. Theseus, thy words declare thy noble nature,
565

And leave me little to reply. Thou knowst

My story — who and whence I am ; no more

Remains, but that I tell thee my request,

And we have done.

Theseus

Proceed then, and inform me
575

(ipr. I come to give this wretched body to thee,
575

To sight ungracious, but of worth more dear
575

To thee than fairest forms could boast.
575

Theseus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 549 focus

But see, excited by the fame of thee

Our king, the son of Ægeus, Theseus comes.
550

Theseus
THESEUS, CEDIPUS, ANTIGONE, CHORUS.

Hearing reported oft in days long past

The bloody deed that quench'd thy orbs of sight,

I know thee, son of Laius: much more now,

By information on the way received,

I know thee well; those squalid weeds, that head...

So mark'd with misery show me who thou art.
555

Unhappy Œdipus, I pity thee,

And wish to ask with what request to me

And to my people hither thou art come,

Thou, and that hapless virgin on thy steps

Attending: make it known: be it a task
560

Of toil or danger, fear not a repulse;

For I have learn'd, I have been train'd to feel,

Like thee, a stranger's woes; with many toils

And many dangers in a foreign land

Have I conflicted; from no stranger then,
565

As thou art now disdainful will I turn,

Not yielding thee protection; for I know,

Being a man, not more than thine my pow'r

To rule th' events to-morrow may bring forth.
575

Oedipus

Thy generous spirit, Theseus, in few words

Shines forth; behoves me then a brief reply :

For who I am, and of what father born,

And from what country come, thou hast declared.

Nothing for me remains then, but to show

What at thy friendly hands I would request.

Theseus

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-414-1 ὀμφήν ¹

mvp-comment-414-2 ἐφ’ ἁστάλη ²

mvp-comment-415-1 The

σκοπός

, who did not know the name of Oed., could describe the traces of wounds about the sightless eyes, and brought the mysterious message (72). Theseus then set out, surmising who it was. Meanwhile the name of Oed. had become known at Colonus (222), and wayfarers who met Theseus raised his surmise into certain knowledge. Cp. on ff.

mvp-comment-415-2 ἔν τε ³

mvp-comment-416-1 ἔγνωκά ς’ ⁴

mvp-comment-416-2 ἔγνωκα ⁵

mvp-comment-417-1 ἀκούων ⁶

mvp-comment-417-2 For

ἀκούων

it may be pleaded that the sense is at least quite intelligible, and that ancient writers, even the most artistic, were less careful than moderns in avoiding such repetitions of single words. Cp. 631

ἐκβάλοι

, 636

ἐκβαλῶ

: 638, 640

ἡδύ

: 966, 969

ἐπεί

: 1000, 1003

καλόν

, 1004

καλῶς

: 1123, 1129: 1451, 1459: 1487 f.: O. T. 517

φέρον

, 519

φέροντι

, 520

φέρει

: ib. 1276, 1278

ὁμοῦ

: Ant. 73 , 76

κείσομαι

: Ai. 1201 , 1204 (

τέρψιν

mvp-comment-418-1 σκευή ⁷

mvp-comment-418-2 δύστηνον ⁸

mvp-comment-419-1 ὄνθ’ ὃς εἶ ⁹

mvp-comment-420-1 )περέσθαι ¹⁰

mvp-comment-421-1 ἐπέστης ¹¹

mvp-comment-421-2 πόλεως … ἐμοῦ τ; ¹²

mvp-comment-422-1 ἂν … τύχοις … ἐξαφισταίμην ¹³

mvp-comment-422-2 πρᾶξιν ¹⁴

mvp-comment-423-1 ξένος ¹⁵

mvp-comment-424-1 καὶ ὡς ἤθλησα πλεῖστα εἷς ἀνήρ ¹⁶

mvp-comment-424-2 ἐπὶ ξένης ¹⁷

mvp-comment-425-1 κινδυνεύματ’ ¹⁸

mvp-comment-425-2 ἐν τὠμῷ κάρᾳ ¹⁹ κάρᾳ ²⁰

mvp-comment-426-1 ξένον ²¹

mvp-comment-426-2 συνεκσῴζειν ²²

mvp-comment-427-1 ἀνὴρ ²³

mvp-comment-428-1 δοῦ ²⁴

mvp-comment-429-1 τὸ σὸν γενναῖον ²⁵

mvp-comment-430-1 παρῆκεν ²⁶

mvp-comment-430-2 ὥστε ἐμοὶ δεῖσθαι ²⁷

mvp-comment-430-3 δεῖσθαι ²⁸

mvp-comment-430-4 For the dat. ἐμοί with

δεῖσθαι

(instead of

ἐμέ

as subj. to

φράσαι

) cp. Eur. Hipp. 940

θεοῖσι προσβαλεῖν χθονὶ | ἄλλην δεήσει γαῖαν

: and see on . Wecklein takes

ἐμοί

with

παρῆκεν

, permisit mihi , but the interposed ὥστε forbids this. The conject. σοι (for

ἐμοί

"to say little to thee ,"

would be very weak.

mvp-comment-431-1 Theseus has named Oed. (557) and Laïus (553), but not Thebes. A knowledge of the stranger's country was implied by the rest. Cp. on 205

. γῆς could stand with

ἦλθον

(cp. O. T. 152

Πυθῶνος ἔβας

, Ph. 630

νεὼς ἄγοντα

), but is more simply governed by

ἀπὸ

mvp-comment-432-1 χὡ λόγος διοίχεται ²⁹

mvp-comment-432-2 διέρχεται ³¹

mvp-comment-433-1 τοῦτ’ αὐτὸ ³²

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

550. mvp-comment-305-1 κατ᾿ ὀμφὴν σὴν *ἀποσταλείς Brought by thy voice, i. e. by the message sent at the request of Oedipus (1.70). The word ὀμφή has sacred associations, and is used in this play, supr. 102, of Apollo; infr. 1351, of Oedipus again: not elsewhere by Sophocles.

550. mvp-comment-305-2 ἀποσταλείς, the reading of Turnebus, is nearer to the indications of our present MSS. than any other correction, and gives a better sense than ὃς ἐστάλη οι ἐφ᾽ ἁστάλη. See where our lord Theseus, Aegeus son, hath set forth at thy word, and is now come.' 551. The words from ἔν τε to διαφθοράς are introduced by an afterthought, and modify the rest of the sentence. Cp. Phil. 1411, foll., αὐδὴν τὴν Ἡρακλέους ἀκοῇ τε κλύειν λεύσσειν τ᾽ ὄψιν. See Essay on Language p. 65 f. VOL. I. Z

553. mvp-comment-306-1 ὁδοῖς ἐν ταῖσδε In thy present coming. Cp. Εl. 68, δέξασθέ μ᾽ εὐτυχοῦντα ταῖσδε ταῖς ὁδοῖς.

555. mvp-comment-307-1 σκευή Thine apparel: which, though travel-stained, is that of a noble Theban.

556. mvp-comment-308-1 ὃς εἰ A pronominal expression to avoid the repetition of the name. Ср. О. Т. 1036, ὥστ᾽ ὠνομάσθης ἐκ τύχης ταύτης ὃς εἶ.

556. mvp-comment-308-2 καί σ᾽ οἰκτίσας, κ.τ.λ. With a native generosity which Oedipus fully acknowledges (infr. 570), Theseus is ready to protect Oedipus, although not ignorant of the nature of his misfortunes (supr. 305 ff., 551 ff.). But he imagines himself to be conferring a favour, and knows not that the blind wayfarer has more to give than to receive. Once more, therefore, we have a fine contrast between the real and the apparent situation.

557. mvp-comment-309-1 θέλω *' περέσθαι This correction of the Laurentian reading (=τὶ) is more probable than the reading of B, in which o' is awkwardly repeated. For the aphaeresis, cp. Phil. 592, λέγω. 'πὶ τοῦτον, κ.τ.λ.

560. mvp-comment-310-1 δεινήν, κ.τ.λ. Either (r1) 'For that were a hard task indeed from which, on your mentioning it, I should recoil.' Or (2) For that would be a terrible fortune, of which the mention would make me shrink from giving relief. The latter rendering gives a more natural meaning to πρᾶξις (cp. Hdt. 3. 65, ἀπέκλαιε πᾶσαν τὴν ἑωυτοῦ πρήξιν), and is more in accordance with what follows (ὑπεκτραποίμην, κ.τ.λ.). And the usual question addressed to suppliants is, What is your misfortune? rather than, What would you have us do?' For the sentiment, cp. Eur. Suppl. 339. 40, (Θησ.) ὡς τοῖς ἐμοῖσιν οὐχὶ πρόσφορον τρόποις | φεύγειν τὰ δεινά. For the emphatic use of the adj., see Essay on Language p. 80.

562. mvp-comment-311-1 ὡς οἶδά γ᾽ αὐτός Yes, for I know, that I myself was brought up a stranger, as thou art now. Theseus was reared by his grandfather Pittheus at Troezen.

563. mvp-comment-312-1 χώς τις πλεῖστ᾽ ἀνήρ i. e. καὶ ὥς τις ἀνὴρ πλεῖστα (sc. ἤθλησεν). Ι have laboured, as any one hath laboured most:' i. e. as much as any one (ut qui plurima). The more usual expression would be ὅσα τις πλεῖστα.

564. mvp-comment-313-1 ἤθλησα κινδυνεύματα Cognate accusative.

564. mvp-comment-313-2 ἐν τὠμῷ κάρᾳ In my own person : i. e. they were dangers to my own life which I met by my own exertions, referring to the adventure with Sciron, etc. For ev, cp. the expression, ἐν τῷ Καρὶ ὑμῖν ὁ κίνδυνοos, Plat. Lach. 187 B.

565. mvp-comment-314-1 ὥσπερ σὺ νῦν For the nominative, cp. Aj. 525, ἔχειν σ᾽ ἂν οἶκτον ὡς κἀγώ: Il. 6.477, γενέσθαι | παῖδ᾽ ἐμόν, ὡς καὶ ἐγώ περ.

568. mvp-comment-315-1 σοῦ Essay on Language p. 13, 4 a.

569-570. mvp-comment-316-1 Theseus, your nobleness in brief speech hath spared me the necessity of saying much.' Either (1) βραχέα is the subject of δεῖσθαι, or (2) the object of φράσαι, the subject of δεῖσθαι being τὸ πρᾶγμα. The object of παρῆκεν is absorbed in the following clause. Cp. Eur. Fr. 310, πάρες .. ὑπερβῶαι . . νάπη. For δέομαι passive, cp. Hdt. 4. 11, ὡς ἀπαλλάσσεσθαι πρήγμα εἴη, μηδὲ πρὸς πολλοὺς δεόμενον κινδυνεύειν. Essay on Language § 31. p. 54. δεῖται in Plat. Meno, 79 C, although impersonal (sc. τὸ πρᾶγμα ἢ ὁ λόγος), is middle voice and not passive as here.

572. mvp-comment-317-1 καὶ γῆς ὁποίας ἦλθον This was implied in σκευή, l. 555 .

574. mvp-comment-318-1 χώ λόγος διέρχεται ‘And our conference draws to an end." This is the reading of the best MSS. διοίχεται, which is much commoner in this sense (cp. e. g. Eur. Suppl. 530), is given as a various reading in Par. A, and appears in the text of two other MSS. διέρχε ται is best supported by comparing Dem. 541. 22, πάντα δ᾽ ἤδη διεξεληλύθει, and Plat. Rep. 6. 484 Α, διὰ μακροῦ τινος διεξελθόντος λόγου.

Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus 549

Richard Jebb (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

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.

Current edition Experimental

καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδʼ ἡμὶν Αἰγέως γόνος

Θησεὺς κατʼ ὀμφὴν σὴν * ἀποσταλεὶς 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

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.

Enough. For lo! where Aegeus’ princely son,

Theseus, comes hither, summoned at thy word.
550

OED

Thy noble spirit, Theseus, in few words

Hath made my task of utterance brief indeed.
570

Thou hast told aright my name and parentage

And native city. Nought remains for me

But to make known mine errand, and our talk

Is ended.

THE

Tell me plainly thy desire.
575

OED

I come to offer thee this woe-worn frame,

As a free boon,—not goodly in outward view.

A better gift than beauty is that I bring.

THE

Da, siehe, kommt der König, Aegeus' Sohn, heran,

Theseus, gehorsam deinem Ruf, der ihn beschied.

Theseus. Die Vorigen.

Theseus.

Dies eben laß mich hören, dies enthülle mir.

Oedipus.

Ich komme, meinen müden Leib zur Gabe dir

Zu bringen, nicht gar lieblich anzuseh'n; indeß
575

Der Lohn von ihm ist größer, als das Aeußre schön.

Theseus.

{seeh^ Theseus, wJw enters]. But lo ! the king,

-(Egean Theseus, comes ;

The fame of thee bath brought him here already.
550

TheseuSj CEdipus, Antigone, Uiiokus.
550

Theseus

Proceed then, and inform me
575

(ipr. I come to give this wretched body to thee,
575

To sight ungracious, but of worth more dear
575

To thee than fairest forms could boast.
575

Theseus

But see, excited by the fame of thee

Our king, the son of Ægeus, Theseus comes.
550

Oedipus

Thy generous spirit, Theseus, in few words

Shines forth; behoves me then a brief reply :

For who I am, and of what father born,

And from what country come, thou hast declared.

Nothing for me remains then, but to show

What at thy friendly hands I would request.

Theseus

Commentary

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

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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.

Current edition Experimental

καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδʼ ἡμὶν Αἰγέως γόνος Θησεὺς κατʼ ὀμφὴν σὴν * ἀποσταλεὶς 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

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.

Enough. For lo! where Aegeus’ princely son, Theseus, comes hither, summoned at thy word. 550

OED Thy noble spirit, Theseus, in few words Hath made my task of utterance brief indeed. 570 Thou hast told aright my name and parentage And native city. Nought remains for me But to make known mine errand, and our talk Is ended.

THE Tell me plainly thy desire. 575

OED I come to offer thee this woe-worn frame, As a free boon,—not goodly in outward view. A better gift than beauty is that I bring.

THE

Da, siehe, kommt der König, Aegeus' Sohn, heran, Theseus, gehorsam deinem Ruf, der ihn beschied. Theseus. Die Vorigen.

Oedipus. Dein Adel, Theseus, hat in kurzem Worte sich Entfaltet, daß mir wenig nur zu sagen bleibt. Denn wer ich bin und welches Vaters Sohn, woher Des Landes ich gekommen, hast du selbst gesagt; 570 So bliebe mir nichts übrig, als dir kundzuthun, Was mein Begehr ist, und die Rede fand ihr Ziel.

Theseus. Dies eben laß mich hören, dies enthülle mir.

Oedipus. Ich komme, meinen müden Leib zur Gabe dir Zu bringen, nicht gar lieblich anzuseh'n; indeß 575 Der Lohn von ihm ist größer, als das Aeußre schön.

Theseus.

{seeh^ Theseus, wJw enters]. But lo ! the king, -(Egean Theseus, comes ; The fame of thee bath brought him here already. 550 TheseuSj CEdipus, Antigone, Uiiokus. 550

Theseus Proceed then, and inform me 575 (ipr. I come to give this wretched body to thee, 575 To sight ungracious, but of worth more dear 575 To thee than fairest forms could boast. 575

Theseus

But see, excited by the fame of thee Our king, the son of Ægeus, Theseus comes. 550

Oedipus Thy generous spirit, Theseus, in few words Shines forth; behoves me then a brief reply : For who I am, and of what father born, And from what country come, thou hast declared. Nothing for me remains then, but to show What at thy friendly hands I would request.

Theseus

Commentary

Stable identifiers

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.

καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδʼ ἡμὶν Αἰγέως γόνος

Θησεὺς κατʼ ὀμφὴν σὴν * ἀποσταλεὶς 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.

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.

Enough. For lo! where Aegeus’ princely son,

Theseus, comes hither, summoned at thy word.
550

OED

Thy noble spirit, Theseus, in few words

Hath made my task of utterance brief indeed.
570

Thou hast told aright my name and parentage

And native city. Nought remains for me

But to make known mine errand, and our talk

Is ended.

THE

Tell me plainly thy desire.
575

OED

I come to offer thee this woe-worn frame,

As a free boon,—not goodly in outward view.

A better gift than beauty is that I bring.

Da, siehe, kommt der König, Aegeus' Sohn, heran,

Theseus, gehorsam deinem Ruf, der ihn beschied.

Theseus. Die Vorigen.

Theseus.

Dies eben laß mich hören, dies enthülle mir.

Oedipus.

Ich komme, meinen müden Leib zur Gabe dir

Zu bringen, nicht gar lieblich anzuseh'n; indeß
575

Der Lohn von ihm ist größer, als das Aeußre schön.

{seeh^ Theseus, wJw enters]. But lo ! the king,

-(Egean Theseus, comes ;

The fame of thee bath brought him here already.
550

TheseuSj CEdipus, Antigone, Uiiokus.
550

Theseus

Proceed then, and inform me
575

(ipr. I come to give this wretched body to thee,
575

To sight ungracious, but of worth more dear
575

To thee than fairest forms could boast.
575

But see, excited by the fame of thee

Our king, the son of Ægeus, Theseus comes.
550

Oedipus

Thy generous spirit, Theseus, in few words

Shines forth; behoves me then a brief reply :

For who I am, and of what father born,

And from what country come, thou hast declared.

Nothing for me remains then, but to show

What at thy friendly hands I would request.