Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, Richard Jebb (Translator), 642

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Oedipus

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

Theseus

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

Oedipus

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

Theseus

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

Oedipus

—Where I will conquer those who cast me out.

Theseus

The promised gift of your presence would be great.

Oedipus

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

Theseus

Have courage concerning me; never will I betray you.

Oedipus

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

Theseus

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

Oedipus

What will you do, then?

Theseus

What is it that you fear?

Oedipus

Men will come—

Theseus

But these men here will see to that.

Oedipus

Beware that if you leave me—

Theseus

Do not instruct me in my duties.

Oedipus

Fear constrains me—
655

Theseus

My heart feels no fear.

Oedipus

You do not know the threats—

Theseus

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

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

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

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)) — 642 focus

ὦ Ζεῦ, διδοίης τοῖσι τοιούτοισιν εὖ.

Θησεύς

τί δῆτα χρῄζεις; ἢ δόμους στείχειν ἐμούς;

Οἰδίπους

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

Θησεύς

ἐν ᾧ τί πράξεις; οὐ γὰρ ἀντιστήσομαι.
645

Οἰδίπους

ἐν ᾧ κρατήσω τῶν ἔμʼ ἐκβεβληκότων.

Θησεύς

μέγʼ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα τῆς συνουσίας.

Οἰδίπους

εἰ σοί γʼ ἅπερ φῂς ἐμμενεῖ τελοῦντί μοι.

Θησεύς

θάρσει τὸ τοῦδέ γʼ ἀνδρός· οὔ σε μὴ προδῶ.

Οἰδίπους

οὔτοι σʼ ὑφʼ ὅρκου γʼ ὡς κακὸν πιστώσομαι.
650

Θησεύς

οὔκουν πέρα γʼ ἂν οὐδὲν ἢ λόγῳ φέροις.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς οὖν ποιήσεις;

Θησεύς

τοῦ μάλιστʼ ὄκνος σʼ ἔχει;

Οἰδίπους

ἥξουσιν ἄνδρες

Θησεύς

ἀλλὰ τοῖσδʼ ἔσται μέλον.

Οἰδίπους

ὅρα με λείπων

Θησεύς

μὴ δίδασχʼ ἃ χρή με δρᾶν.

Οἰδίπους

ὀκνοῦντʼ ἀνάγκη.
655

Θησεύς

τοὐμὸν οὐκ ὀκνεῖ κέαρ. 655

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀπειλὰς

Θησεύς

οἶδʼ ἐγώ σε μή τινα

ἐνθένδʼ ἀπάξοντʼ ἄνδρα πρὸς βίαν ἐμοῦ.

πολλαὶ δʼ ἀπειλαὶ πολλὰ δὴ μάτην ἔπη

θυμῷ κατηπείλησαν, ἀλλʼ ὁ νοῦς ὅταν

αὑτοῦ γένηται, φροῦδα τἀπειλήματα.
660

κείνοις δʼ ἴσως κεἰ δείνʼ ἐπερρώσθη λέγειν

τῆς σῆς ἀγωγῆς, οἶδʼ ἐγώ, φανήσεται

μακρὸν τὸ δεῦρο πέλαγος οὐδὲ πλώσιμον.

θαρσεῖν μὲν οὖν ἔγωγε κἄνευ τῆς ἐμῆς

γνώμης ἐπαινῶ, Φοῖβος εἰ προὔπεμψέ σε·
665

ὅμως δὲ κἀμοῦ μὴ παρόντος οἶδʼ ὅτι

τοὐμὸν φυλάξει σʼ ὄνομα μὴ πάσχειν κακῶς.

Χορός
α

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 642 focus

Οἰδίπους

ὦ Ζεῦ, διδοίης τοῖσι τοιούτοισιν εὖ.

Θησεύς

τί δῆτα χρῄζεις; ἦ δόμους στείχειν ἐμούς;

Οἰδίπους

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

Θησεύς

ἐν ᾧ τί πράξεις; οὐ γὰρ ἀντιστήσομαι.
645

Οἰδίπους

ἐν ᾧ κρατήσω τῶν ἔμʼ ἐκβεβληκότων.

Θησεύς

μέγʼ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα τῆς συνουσίας.

Οἰδίπους

εἰ σοί γʼ ἅπερ φῂς ἐμμενεῖ τελοῦντί μοι.

Θησεύς

θάρσει τὸ τοῦδέ γʼ ἀνδρός· οὔ σε μὴ προδῶ.

Οἰδίπους

οὔτοι σʼ ὑφʼ ὅρκου γʼ ὡς κακὸν πιστώσομαι.
650

Θησεύς

οὔκουν πέρα γʼ ἂν οὐδὲν ἢ λόγῳ φέροις.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς οὖν ποήσεις;

Θησεύς

τοῦ μάλιστʼ ὄκνος σʼ ἔχει;

Οἰδίπους

ἥξουσιν ἄνδρες

Θησεύς

ἀλλὰ τοῖσδʼ ἔσται μέλον.

Οἰδίπους

ὅρα με λείπων

Θησεύς

μὴ δίδασχʼ ἃ χρή με δρᾶν.

Οἰδίπους

ὀκνοῦντʼ ἀνάγκη.
655

Θησεύς

τοὐμὸν οὐκ ὀκνεῖ κέαρ.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀπειλὰς

Θησεύς

οἶδʼ ἐγώ σε μή τινα

ἐνθένδʼ ἀπάξοντʼ ἄνδρα πρὸς βίαν ἐμοῦ.

πολλαὶ δʼ ἀπειλαὶ πολλὰ δὴ μάτην ἔπη

θυμῷ κατηπείλησαν, ἀλλʼ ὁ νοῦς ὅταν

αὑτοῦ γένηται, φροῦδα τἀπειλήματα.
660

κείνοις δʼ ἴσως κεἰ δείνʼ ἐπερρώσθη λέγειν

τῆς σῆς ἀγωγῆς, οἶδʼ ἐγώ, φανήσεται

μακρὸν τὸ δεῦρο πέλαγος οὐδὲ πλώσιμον.

θαρσεῖν μὲν οὖν ἔγωγε κἂν ἐμῆς ἄνευ

γνώμης ἐπαινῶ, Φοῖβος εἰ προὔπεμψέ σε·
665

ὅμως δὲ κἀμοῦ μὴ παρόντος οἶδʼ ὅτι

τοὐμὸν φυλάξει σʼ ὄνομα μὴ πάσχειν κακῶς.

Translations (4)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 642 focus

Ye Heavens, reward such excellence!

THE

How, then?

Is it thy choice now to go home with me?

OED

Yea, were it lawful. But in this same spot—

THE

What wouldst thou do? I’ll not withstand thy will.
645

OED

I must have victory o’er my banishers.

THE

Thy dwelling with us, then, is our great gain?

OED

Yes, if thou fail me not, but keep thy word.

THE

Nay, fear not me! I will aye be true to thee.

OED

I will not bind thee, like a knave, with oaths.
650

THE

Oaths were no stronger than my simple word.

OED

What will ye do, then?

THE

What is that thou fearest?

OED

They will come hither.

THE

Thy guards will see to that.

OED

Beware, lest, if you leave me—

THE

Tell not me,

I know my part.

OED

Terror will have me speak.
655

THE

Terror and I are strangers.

OED

But their threats!

Thou canst not know—

THE

I know that none shall force

Thee from this ground against thy will. Full oft

Have threatening words in wrath been voluble,

Yet, when the mind regained her place again,

The threatened evil vanished. So to-day
660

Bold words of boastful meaning have proclaimed

Thy forcible abduction by thy kin.

Yet shall they find (I know it) the voyage from Thebes,

On such a quest, long and scarce navigable.

Whate’er my thought, if Phoebus sent thee forth,
665

I would bid thee have no fear. And howsoe’er,

My name will shield thee from all injury.

CHORUS
CHORUS .

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 642 focus

Zeus, solchen Männern lohne du mit Wohlergeh'n!
640

Theseus.

Nun was verlangt dich? Willst du geh'n nach meinem Haus?

Oedipus.

Wohl, wenn ich dürfte; doch es ist die Stätte hier

Theseus.

Was willst du hier beginnen? Denn ich wehr' es nicht.

Oedipus.

Hier werd' ich sie besiegen, die mich einst verbannt.¹

Theseus.

Groß nenne dann den Segen deines Aufenthalts.
645

Oedipus.

Ja, wenn du treu vollendest, was du mir versprachst.

Theseus.

Vertraue meinem Worte; nie verlass' ich dich.

Oedipus.

Durch keinen Eidschwur bind' ich dich, dem Schlechten gleich.

Theseus.

Nicht mehr auch, als mit meinem Wort, gewönnest du.

Oedipus.

Was wirst du denn beginnen?
650

Theseus.

Weßhalb zagst du so?

Oedipus.

Die Männer kommen

(auf den Chor deutend)

Theseus.

Diese steh'n zu deinem Schuz.

Oedipus.

Sieh, du verläßt mich

Theseus.

Lehre mir nicht meine Pflicht.

Oedipus.

Es zwingt die Furcht mich

Theseus.

Mein Gemüth kennt keine Furcht.

Oedipus.

Du weißt ihr Droh'n nicht -

Theseus.

Doch ich weiß, daß Keiner dich

Von hier gewaltsam mir zum Troz entführen wird.
655

Denn drohend hat ja Mancher schon manch eitles Wort

Gedroht im Zorneseifer; doch sobald der Geist

Sein wieder Herr ward, floh'n hinweg die Drohungen.

Und haben jen' auch kühn mit schwerem Eid gelobt,

Dich wegzuführen, weiß ich doch, scheint ihrem Blick
660

Der Weg hieher ein unbeschiffbar weites Meer.

So darfst du, spendet' ich dir auch nicht meinen Schuz,

Doch fest vertrauen, wenn Apollon dich gesandt.

Und ob ich selbst auch ferne sei, so weiß ich doch :

Vor jeder Unbill schüzen wird mein Name dich.
665
(ab.) Dedipus. Antigone. Der Chor. Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 642 focus

Once more confirm, and never shalt thou say

The wretched OEdipus to Theseus came

An useless and unprofitable guest,

If the immortal gods have not deceived me.

Chorus

For what ? I'll not deny thee-
645

Theseus
(Edi. Where I mast conquer those who banished me.

That would be glory and renown to this

Thy place of refuge.

O^Di. If I may depend

On thy fair piomise.

Theseus

Fear not, I shall ne'er

Betray my friend.

Oedipus

I will not bind thee to it

By oath, like those whom we suspect of ill.

Theseus

Thou needst not, CEdipus ; my word 's my oath.

Theseus
(Edi. How must I act then 1

Fear'st thou aught 1

A force will come against me.

Theseus
(Edi. I do.

[pomting to the Chorus]. Here 's thy guard ;

These shall protect thee.

And save me, Theseus.

Theseus
(Edi. If thou goest, remember

Teach not me my duty.

Theseus
(Edi. Still am I fearful.

Theseus is not so.

Theseus
(Edi. Knowest thou not what they threatened?

This I know,

No power on earth shall wrest thee from this place.

Oftimes the angry soul will vent its wrath

In idle threats, with high and empty words,

Which ever, as the mind is to itself

Restored, are — nothing. They may boast their strength,

And say they '11 tear thee from me ; but I tell thee

The journey would be long and tedious to them ;

They will not hazard it — they dare not : therefore

Be comforted, for if by Phcebus sent

Thou hither cam'st, thou'rt safe without my aid,

E'en if I leave thee safe ; for know, the name

Of Theseus here sufficeth to protect thee.

Thou art come in happy time,

Stranger, to this blissful clime,

Long for swiftest steeds renowned,

Fertilest of the regions round ;

Where, beneath the ivy shade.

In the dew-sprinkled glade.

Many a love-lorn nightingale

Warbles sweet her plaintive tale ;
660

Where the vine in clusters pours
660

Her sweets, secured from wintry showers
660

Nor scorching suns, nor raging storm
660

The beauties of the year deform.
660

Where the sweet narcissus growing.

Where the yellow crocus blowing,

Round the sacred altars twine.

Offering to the powers divine ;

Where the pure springs perpetual flow^

Watering the verdant meads below.

Which with its earth-enriching waves

The fair Cephisus ever laves ;

Where, with his ever-sporting train,

Bacchus wantons on the plain,

Pleased with the Muses still to rove,

And golden Venus, queen of love.

Alone within this happy land,

Planted here by Nature's hand.

Which, nor Asia's fertile plains.

Nor Pelops' spacious isle contains,

Pallas, thy sacred olive grows,

Striking terror on our foes ;

Ever free from hostile rage,

From wanton youth or greedy age ;

Happy in sage Minerva's love,
665

And guarded still by Morian Jove.
665

But nobler gifts and fairer fame,
665

Athens, yet adorn thy name ;
665

Such wondrous gifts hath poured on thee,
665

Thy great protecting deity.

Here first obedient to command,

Formed by Neptune's skilful hand,

The steed was taught to know the rein,

And bear the chariot o'er the plain ;

Here first along the rapid tide

The stately vessels learned to ride,

And swifter down the currents flow

Than Nereids cut the waves below. [Exeunt.

Antigone
[Exit Theseus. Scene IX. (Edipus, Antigone, Chorus Arttistrophe i. Strophe 2. Antistrophe 2. ACT II. Scene I.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 642 focus

Wilt thou with me to Athens ?

Oedipus

Would the fates

Allow it: but my place is here.

Theseus

And here
645

What wilt thou do? I shall not check thy will.
645

Oedipus

Here will I vanquish those, who drove me forth

An outcast.

Theseus

Great requital hast thou named

For thy reception here.

Oedipus

If firm thy faith,

And to thy promise just.

Theseus

Confide in me;

I never will betray thee.

With an oath

Oedipus

Thee, like one base of soul, I will not bind.
650

Theseus

My word is pledged: there is no surer tie.

Oedipus

HOW wilt thou act-

Theseus

What chiefly dost thou fear ?

Oedipus

The men will come.

Theseus

These will sustain that care.

Oedipus

Take heed lest if thou leave me...

Theseus

Teach not me

Oedipus

One, who fears...
655

To act as best behoves me..
655

Theseus

My heart ne'er knew to fear.

Oedipus

Know'st thou their threats ?

Theseus

I know that no man to my will opposed.......

Shall force thee hence. I know that many threats,

Many vain words in rage are vaunted loud;

But when cool reason reassumes the sway,

These menaces sink forceless. So, though now
660

Perchance these threaten high, they soon shall find

Th' attempt to drag thee hence is but to dare

A wide rough sea, on which their bark will sink.

Nay, I exhort thee, e'en without my care

Be confident, if Phoebus be thy guide...
665

Though I may hence be distant, yet I know

My name shall guard thee from the assault of ill.

Chorus
STRO. 1. CŒDIPUS, ANTIGONE, CHORUS.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-481-1 διδοίης … εὖ ¹

mvp-comment-482-1 δόμους στείχειν ²

mvp-comment-483-1 εἰ … ἦν ³

mvp-comment-484-1 ἐν ᾧ τί πράξεις ⁴

mvp-comment-485-1 κρατήσω ⁵

mvp-comment-486-1 μέγ’ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα ⁶

mvp-comment-486-2 τῆς συνουσίας ⁷

mvp-comment-486-3 τῆς ς. ⁸

mvp-comment-487-1 εἰ σοί γ’ | ἅπερ φὴς ἐμμενεῖ ⁹

mvp-comment-488-1 τὸ τοῦδέ γ’ ἀνδρ ¹⁰

mvp-comment-489-1 ὡς κακὸν ¹¹

mvp-comment-490-1 ἢ λόγῳ ¹²

mvp-comment-491-1 τοῦ μάλιστ’ ὄκνος σ’ ἔχει ¹⁴

mvp-comment-492-1 ὅρα με λείπων ¹⁵

mvp-comment-493-1 ὀκνοῦντ’ ἀνάγκη ¹⁶

mvp-comment-494-1 οὐκ οἶσθ’ ¹⁷

mvp-comment-494-2 μή ¹⁸

mvp-comment-495-1 — 660 Many emendations of 658 f. have been proposed, and Wecklein would reject the three verses altogether. To me they seem not only authentic but textually sound. They picture a tumult of passions in the soul, presently quelled by reason. The angry threats and the sobering reason are alike personified. The genuineness of the nominative πολλαὶ δ’ ἀπειλαὶ is confirmed by the imagery of the second clause, ἀλλ’ ὁ νοῦς ὅταν . For this animated personification of speech or passion, cp. Aesch. Cho. 845

ἢ πρὸς γυναικῶν δειματούμενοι λόγοι

πεδάρσιοι θρώσκουσι, θνῄσκοντες μάτην

: Eur. Hipp. 1416

οὐδὲ γῆς ὑπὸ ζόφῳ

θεᾶς ἄτιμοι Κύπριδος ἐκ προθυμίας

ὀργαὶ κατασκήψουσιν ἐς τὸ σὸν δέμας

. The cognate verb κατηπείλησαν (gnomic aorist), instead of the simple

ἔλεξαν

, gives an emphasis like that which the cogn. accus. would give in

πολλοὶ ἀπειλὰς κατηπείλησαν.

mvp-comment-495-2 θυμῷ ¹⁹

mvp-comment-496-1 αὑτοῦ ²⁰

mvp-comment-496-2 φροῦδα ²¹

mvp-comment-497-1 κείνοις ²²

mvp-comment-497-2 καὶ εἰ ἐπερρώσθη ²³

mvp-comment-497-3 λέγειν ²⁴

mvp-comment-497-4 We cannot read

κεῖνος

, since the pl. is needed. The best solution would be

κείνοις δέ, κεἴ τις

, from which

ἴσως κεἰ

might have come through a transposition. But the sarcastic

mvp-comment-497-5 ἴσως ²⁵

mvp-comment-497-6 κεἰ ²⁶

mvp-comment-498-1 τὸ δεῦρο ²⁷

mvp-comment-499-1 θαρσεῖν μὲν οὖν ²⁸

mvp-comment-499-2 κἄνευ τῆς ἐμῆς γνώμης ²⁹

mvp-comment-499-3 ἐπαινῶ ³⁰

mvp-comment-499-4 Φοῖβος ³¹

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

648. mvp-comment-356-1 If you abide by your words and make them good to me. τελοῦντι, with σοί, proleptic. Cp. O. Τ. 863, εἴ μοι ξυνείη φέροντι | μοῖρα τὰν εὔσεπτον ἁγνείαν λόγων, κ.τ.λ. Some take 76- λοῦντι as agreeing with μοι (cp. 630). But Oedipus has only to remain where he is. The fulfilment of his promise does not take place till after his death. There is no meaning in a condition which is so far in the future.

650. mvp-comment-357-1 Cp. the line attributed to Aeschylus, Fr. 385, οὐκ ἀνδρὸς ὅρκοι πίστις, ἀλλ᾿ ὅρκων ἀνήρ.

651. mvp-comment-358-1 You would gain nought more by that than by my simple word.' 652. Herm. reads άνδρες. But cp. 656, where if the sense was not unfinished the article would be equally required.

654. mvp-comment-359-1 ὅρα με λείπων Beware, in leaving me. ἃ.. δρᾶν] Nauck conj. ἃ χρή μ᾿ ὁρᾶν. But such a transition from the idiomatic imperative ὅρα to this rare use of the inf. ὁρᾶν, 'to provide for (Phil. 504, τὰ δείν᾽ ὁρᾶν), is very unlikely. For the use of a general word like δρᾶν in such a connexion, cp. Αj. 1373, σοὶ δὲ δρᾶν ἔξεσθ᾽ ἃ χρῆς. 658, foll. And many threats and many vain words have ere now been uttered in anger:' (Lit. 'Many threats have uttered many vain words:') but when the mind has power of herself again, nothing remains of all that was so threatened. For ἀπειλαὶ κατηπείλησαν, cp. infr. 794, τὸ σὸν.. στόμα πολλὴν ἔχον στόμωσιν : 779, ὅτ᾽ οὐδὲν ἡ χάρις χάριν φέροι : Plato, Theaet. 153 D, ἕως ἂν ἡ περιφορὰ ἢ κινουμένη, in all of which instances a process is personified and grammatically regarded as the agent. Also infr. 794, for a similar echo of sound. See Essay on Language § 44. p. 83. The conjecture πολλοὶ δὲ πολλοῖς πολλά gives a misplaced emphasis. Qy. πολλοὶ δ᾽ ἀπειλαῖς, κ.τ.λ.?

660. mvp-comment-360-1 αὑτοῦ In its own possession. For the genitive as predicate, see Essay on Language § 9. p. 12. A similar emphatic use of αὑτοῦ occurs in Tr. 144, τοιοῖσδε. - χώροισιν αὑτοῦ. 661 ff. And with regard to the Thebans, though they have had the audacity to boast great things about carrying you away, they will find, I am well assured, that the way hither would be over a long and dangerous sea.' δείν] δεῖν' L.

660. mvp-comment-360-2 αὑτοῦ αὐτοῦ LA.

660. mvp-comment-360-3 κείνοις is in a twofold construction with ἐπερρώσθη and φανήσεται. ἐπερρώσθη is impersonal, (sc. τὸ λῆμα, ἡ ῥωμή), so that κείνοις ἐπερρώσθη λέγειν is equal το ἐπερρώσθησαν ὥστε λέγειν.

662. mvp-comment-361-1 τῆς σῆς ἀγωγῆς is a genitive of respect.

664. mvp-comment-362-1 ἄνευ, having the force of a preposition, adheres closely to the word which follows it, and the spondee in the 5th foot is thus justified. See on 115 supr. ἐν γὰρ τῷ μαθεῖν.

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

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

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

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

Oedipus —Where I will conquer those who cast me out.

Theseus The promised gift of your presence would be great.

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

Theseus Have courage concerning me; never will I betray you.

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

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

Oedipus What will you do, then?

Theseus What is it that you fear?

Oedipus Men will come—

Theseus But these men here will see to that.

Oedipus Beware that if you leave me—

Theseus Do not instruct me in my duties.

Oedipus Fear constrains me— 655

Theseus My heart feels no fear.

Oedipus You do not know the threats—

Current edition Experimental

ὦ Ζεῦ, διδοίης τοῖσι τοιούτοισιν εὖ.

Θησεύς τί δῆτα χρῄζεις; ἢ δόμους στείχειν ἐμούς;

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

Θησεύς ἐν ᾧ τί πράξεις; οὐ γὰρ ἀντιστήσομαι. 645

Οἰδίπους ἐν ᾧ κρατήσω τῶν ἔμʼ ἐκβεβληκότων.

Θησεύς μέγʼ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα τῆς συνουσίας.

Οἰδίπους εἰ σοί γʼ ἅπερ φῂς ἐμμενεῖ τελοῦντί μοι.

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

Οἰδίπους οὔτοι σʼ ὑφʼ ὅρκου γʼ ὡς κακὸν πιστώσομαι. 650

Θησεύς οὔκουν πέρα γʼ ἂν οὐδὲν ἢ λόγῳ φέροις.

Οἰδίπους πῶς οὖν ποιήσεις;

Θησεύς τοῦ μάλιστʼ ὄκνος σʼ ἔχει;

Οἰδίπους ἥξουσιν ἄνδρες

Θησεύς ἀλλὰ τοῖσδʼ ἔσται μέλον.

Οἰδίπους ὅρα με λείπων

Θησεύς μὴ δίδασχʼ ἃ χρή με δρᾶν.

Οἰδίπους ὀκνοῦντʼ ἀνάγκη. 655

Θησεύς τοὐμὸν οὐκ ὀκνεῖ κέαρ. 655

Οἰδίπους οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀπειλὰς

Χορός α

Οἰδίπους ὦ Ζεῦ, διδοίης τοῖσι τοιούτοισιν εὖ.

Θησεύς τί δῆτα χρῄζεις; ἦ δόμους στείχειν ἐμούς;

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

Θησεύς ἐν ᾧ τί πράξεις; οὐ γὰρ ἀντιστήσομαι. 645

Οἰδίπους ἐν ᾧ κρατήσω τῶν ἔμʼ ἐκβεβληκότων.

Θησεύς μέγʼ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα τῆς συνουσίας.

Οἰδίπους εἰ σοί γʼ ἅπερ φῂς ἐμμενεῖ τελοῦντί μοι.

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

Οἰδίπους οὔτοι σʼ ὑφʼ ὅρκου γʼ ὡς κακὸν πιστώσομαι. 650

Θησεύς οὔκουν πέρα γʼ ἂν οὐδὲν ἢ λόγῳ φέροις.

Οἰδίπους πῶς οὖν ποήσεις;

Θησεύς τοῦ μάλιστʼ ὄκνος σʼ ἔχει;

Οἰδίπους ἥξουσιν ἄνδρες

Θησεύς ἀλλὰ τοῖσδʼ ἔσται μέλον.

Οἰδίπους ὅρα με λείπων

Θησεύς μὴ δίδασχʼ ἃ χρή με δρᾶν.

Οἰδίπους ὀκνοῦντʼ ἀνάγκη. 655

Θησεύς τοὐμὸν οὐκ ὀκνεῖ κέαρ.

Οἰδίπους οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀπειλὰς

Ye Heavens, reward such excellence!

THE How, then? Is it thy choice now to go home with me?

OED Yea, were it lawful. But in this same spot—

THE What wouldst thou do? I’ll not withstand thy will. 645

OED I must have victory o’er my banishers.

THE Thy dwelling with us, then, is our great gain?

OED Yes, if thou fail me not, but keep thy word.

THE Nay, fear not me! I will aye be true to thee.

OED I will not bind thee, like a knave, with oaths. 650

THE Oaths were no stronger than my simple word.

OED What will ye do, then?

THE What is that thou fearest?

OED They will come hither.

THE Thy guards will see to that.

OED Beware, lest, if you leave me—

THE Tell not me, I know my part.

OED Terror will have me speak. 655

THE Terror and I are strangers.

OED But their threats! Thou canst not know—

Oedipus

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

Theseus

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

Oedipus

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

Theseus

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

Oedipus

—Where I will conquer those who cast me out.

Theseus

The promised gift of your presence would be great.

Oedipus

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

Theseus

Have courage concerning me; never will I betray you.

Oedipus

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

Theseus

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

Oedipus

What will you do, then?

Theseus

What is it that you fear?

Oedipus

Men will come—

Theseus

But these men here will see to that.

Oedipus

Beware that if you leave me—

Theseus

Do not instruct me in my duties.

Oedipus

Fear constrains me—
655

Theseus

My heart feels no fear.

Oedipus

You do not know the threats—

Θησεύς

τί δῆτα χρῄζεις; ἢ δόμους στείχειν ἐμούς;

Οἰδίπους

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

Θησεύς

ἐν ᾧ τί πράξεις; οὐ γὰρ ἀντιστήσομαι.
645

Οἰδίπους

ἐν ᾧ κρατήσω τῶν ἔμʼ ἐκβεβληκότων.

Θησεύς

μέγʼ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα τῆς συνουσίας.

Οἰδίπους

εἰ σοί γʼ ἅπερ φῂς ἐμμενεῖ τελοῦντί μοι.

Θησεύς

θάρσει τὸ τοῦδέ γʼ ἀνδρός· οὔ σε μὴ προδῶ.

Οἰδίπους

οὔτοι σʼ ὑφʼ ὅρκου γʼ ὡς κακὸν πιστώσομαι.
650

Θησεύς

οὔκουν πέρα γʼ ἂν οὐδὲν ἢ λόγῳ φέροις.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς οὖν ποιήσεις;

Θησεύς

τοῦ μάλιστʼ ὄκνος σʼ ἔχει;

Οἰδίπους

ἥξουσιν ἄνδρες

Θησεύς

ἀλλὰ τοῖσδʼ ἔσται μέλον.

Οἰδίπους

ὅρα με λείπων

Θησεύς

μὴ δίδασχʼ ἃ χρή με δρᾶν.

Οἰδίπους

ὀκνοῦντʼ ἀνάγκη.
655

Θησεύς

τοὐμὸν οὐκ ὀκνεῖ κέαρ. 655

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀπειλὰς

Χορός
α

Οἰδίπους

ὦ Ζεῦ, διδοίης τοῖσι τοιούτοισιν εὖ.

Θησεύς

τί δῆτα χρῄζεις; ἦ δόμους στείχειν ἐμούς;

Οἰδίπους

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

Θησεύς

ἐν ᾧ τί πράξεις; οὐ γὰρ ἀντιστήσομαι.
645

Οἰδίπους

ἐν ᾧ κρατήσω τῶν ἔμʼ ἐκβεβληκότων.

Θησεύς

μέγʼ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα τῆς συνουσίας.

Οἰδίπους

εἰ σοί γʼ ἅπερ φῂς ἐμμενεῖ τελοῦντί μοι.

Θησεύς

θάρσει τὸ τοῦδέ γʼ ἀνδρός· οὔ σε μὴ προδῶ.

Οἰδίπους

οὔτοι σʼ ὑφʼ ὅρκου γʼ ὡς κακὸν πιστώσομαι.
650

Θησεύς

οὔκουν πέρα γʼ ἂν οὐδὲν ἢ λόγῳ φέροις.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς οὖν ποήσεις;

Θησεύς

τοῦ μάλιστʼ ὄκνος σʼ ἔχει;

Οἰδίπους

ἥξουσιν ἄνδρες

Θησεύς

ἀλλὰ τοῖσδʼ ἔσται μέλον.

Οἰδίπους

ὅρα με λείπων

Θησεύς

μὴ δίδασχʼ ἃ χρή με δρᾶν.

Οἰδίπους

ὀκνοῦντʼ ἀνάγκη.
655

Θησεύς

τοὐμὸν οὐκ ὀκνεῖ κέαρ.

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀπειλὰς

THE

How, then?

Is it thy choice now to go home with me?

OED

Yea, were it lawful. But in this same spot—

THE

What wouldst thou do? I’ll not withstand thy will.
645

OED

I must have victory o’er my banishers.

THE

Thy dwelling with us, then, is our great gain?

OED

Yes, if thou fail me not, but keep thy word.

THE

Nay, fear not me! I will aye be true to thee.

OED

I will not bind thee, like a knave, with oaths.
650

THE

Oaths were no stronger than my simple word.

OED

What will ye do, then?

THE

What is that thou fearest?

OED

They will come hither.

THE

Thy guards will see to that.

OED

Beware, lest, if you leave me—

THE

Tell not me,

I know my part.

OED

Terror will have me speak.
655

THE

Terror and I are strangers.

OED

But their threats!

Thou canst not know—

CHORUS
CHORUS .

Zeus, solchen Männern lohne du mit Wohlergeh'n!
640

Theseus.

Nun was verlangt dich? Willst du geh'n nach meinem Haus?

Oedipus.

Wohl, wenn ich dürfte; doch es ist die Stätte hier

Theseus.

Was willst du hier beginnen? Denn ich wehr' es nicht.