Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, ed. Francis Storr, 1139

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Θησεύς

οὔτʼ εἴ τι μῆκος τῶν λόγων ἔθου πλέον,

τέκνοισι τερφθεὶς τοῖσδε, θαυμάσας ἔχω,
1140

οὔτʼ εἰ πρὸ τοὐμοῦ προύλαβες τὰ τῶνδʼ ἔπη.

βάρος γὰρ ἡμᾶς οὐδὲν ἐκ τούτων ἔχει.

οὐ γὰρ λόγοισι τὸν βίον σπουδάζομεν

λαμπρὸν ποεῖσθαι μᾶλλον ἢ τοῖς δρωμένοις.

δείκνυμι δʼ· ὧν γὰρ ὤμοσʼ οὐκ ἐψευσάμην
1145

οὐδέν σε, πρέσβυ· τάσδε γὰρ πάρειμʼ ἄγων

ζώσας, ἀκραιφνεῖς τῶν κατηπειλημένων.

χὤπως μὲν ἁγὼν ᾑρέθη, τί δεῖ μάτην

κομπεῖν, ἅ γʼ εἴσει καὐτὸς ἐκ ταύταιν ξυνών;

λόγος δʼ ὃς ἐμπέπτωκεν ἀρτίως ἐμοὶ
1150

στείχοντι δεῦρο, συμβαλοῦ γνώμην, ἐπεὶ

σμικρὸς μὲν εἰπεῖν, ἄξιος δὲ θαυμάσαι·

πρᾶγος δʼ ἀτίζειν οὐδὲν ἄνθρωπον χρεών.

Οἰδίπους

τί δʼ ἔστι, τέκνον Αἰγέως; δίδασκέ με

ὡς μὴ εἰδότʼ αὐτὸν μηδὲν ὧν σὺ πυνθάνει.
1155

Θησεύς

φασίν τινʼ ἡμῖν ἄνδρα, σοὶ μὲν ἔμπολιν

οὐκ ὄντα, συγγενῆ δέ, προσπεσόντα πως

βωμῷ καθῆσθαι τῷ Ποσειδῶνος, παρʼ ᾧ

θύων ἔκυρον, ἡνίχʼ ὡρμώμην ἐγώ.

Οἰδίπους

ποδαπόν; τί προσχρῄζοντα τῷ θακήματι·
1160

Θησεύς

οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· σοῦ γάρ, ὡς λέγουσί μοι,

βραχύν τινʼ αἰτεῖ μῦθον οὐκ ὄγκου πλέων.

Οἰδίπους

ποῖόν τινʼ; οὐ γὰρ ἥδʼ ἕδρα σμικροῦ λόγου.

Θησεύς

σοὶ φασὶν αὐτὸν ἐς λόγους ἐλθεῖν μόνον

αἰτεῖν ἀπελθεῖν τʼ ἀσφαλῶς τῆς δεῦρʼ ὁδοῦ.
1165

Οἰδίπους

τίς δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη τήνδʼ ὁ προσθακῶν ἕδραν;

Θησεύς

ὅρα κατʼ Ἄργος εἴ τις ὑμὶν ἐγγενὴς

ἔσθʼ, ὅστις ἄν σου τοῦτο προσχρῄζοι τυχεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατε, σχὲς οὗπερ εἶ.

Θησεύς

τί δʼ ἔστι σοι;

Οἰδίπους

μή μου δεηθῇς.
1170

Θησεύς

πράγματος ποίου; λέγε.

Οἰδίπους

ἔξοιδʼ ἀκούων τῶνδʼ ὅς ἐσθʼ ὁ προστάτης.

Θησεύς

καὶ τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶν ὅν γʼ ἐγὼ ψέξαιμί τι;

Οἰδίπους

παῖς οὑμός, ὦναξ, στυγνός, οὗ λόγων ἐγὼ

ἄλγιστʼ ἂν ἀνδρῶν ἐξανασχοίμην κλύων.

Θησεύς

τί δʼ; οὐκ ἀκούειν ἔστι καὶ μὴ δρᾶν ἃ μὴ
1175

χρῄζεις; τί σοι τοῦτʼ ἐστὶ λυπηρὸν κλύειν;

Οἰδίπους

ἔχθιστον, ὦναξ, φθέγμα τοῦθʼ ἥκει πατρί·

καὶ μή μʼ ἀνάγκῃ προσβάλῃς τάδʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Θησεύς

ἀλλʼ εἰ τὸ θάκημʼ ἐξαναγκάζει, σκόπει

μή σοι πρόνοιʼ ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ φυλακτέα.
1180

Oedipus at Colonus. Sophocles. ed. Francis Storr. London. 1912.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Experimental

Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ Κολωνῷ (Greek) (Sophocles, Volume 1. Storr, Francis, editor. London; New York: William Heinemann Ltd.; The Macmillan Company, 1912.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1139 focus

οὔτʼ εἴ τι μῆκος τῶν λόγων ἔθου πλέον,

τέκνοισι τερφθεὶς τοῖσδε, θαυμάσας ἔχω,
1140

οὐδʼ εἰ πρὸ τοὐμοῦ προὔλαβες τὰ τῶνδʼ ἔπη.

βάρος γὰρ ἡμᾶς οὐδὲν ἐκ τούτων ἔχει.

οὐ γὰρ λόγοισι τὸν βίον σπουδάζομεν

λαμπρὸν ποιεῖσθαι μᾶλλον ἢ τοῖς δρωμένοις.

δείκνυμι δʼ· ὧν γὰρ ὤμοσʼ οὐκ ἐψευσάμην
1145

οὐδέν σε, πρέσβυ, τάσδε γὰρ πάρειμʼ ἄγων

ζώσας, ἀκραιφνεῖς τῶν κατηπειλημένων.

χὤπως μὲν ἁγὼν ᾑρέθη τί δεῖ μάτην

κομπεῖν, ἅ γʼ εἴσει καὐτὸς ἐκ ταύταιν ξυνών;

λόγος δʼ ὃς ἐμπέπτωκεν ἀρτίως ἐμοὶ
1150

στείχοντι δεῦρο, συμβαλοῦ γνώμην, ἐπεὶ

σμικρὸς μὲν εἰπεῖν, ἄξιος δὲ θαυμάσαι.

πρᾶγος δʼ ἀτίζειν οὐδὲν ἄνθρωπον χρεών.

Οἰδίπους

τί δʼ ἔστι, τέκνον Αἰγέως; δίδασκέ με,

ὡς μὴ εἰδότʼ αὐτὸν μηδὲν ὧν σὺ πυνθάνει.
1155

Θησεύς

φασίν τινʼ ἡμῖν ἄνδρα, σοὶ μὲν ἔμπολιν

οὐκ ὄντα, συγγενῆ δέ, προσπεσόντα πως

βωμῷ καθῆσθαι τῷ Ποσειδῶνος, παρʼ ᾧ

θύων ἔκυρον ἡνίχʼ ὡρμώμην ἐγώ.

Οἰδίπους

ποδαπόν; τί προσχρῄζοντα τῷ θακήματι ;
1160

Θησεύς

οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· σοῦ γάρ, ὡς λέγουσί μοι,

βραχύν τινʼ αἰτεῖ μῦθον οὐκ ὄγκου πλέων.

Οἰδίπους

ποῖόν τινʼ; οὐ γὰρ ἥδʼ ἕδρα σμικροῦ λόγου.

Θησεύς

σοὶ φασὶν αὐτὸν ἐς λόγους ἐλθεῖν μόνον

αἰτεῖν ἀπελθεῖν τʼ ἀσφαλῶς τῆς δεῦρʼ ὁδοῦ.
1165

Οἰδίπους

τίς δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη τήνδʼ ὁ προσθακῶν ἕδραν ;

Θησεύς

ὅρα κατʼ Ἄργος εἴ τις ὑμὶν ἐγγενὴς

ἔσθʼ, ὅστις ἄν σου τοῦτο προσχρῄζοι τυχεῖν.

[111 a.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατε, *σχὲς οὗπερ εἶ.

Θησεύς

τί δʼ ἔστι σοι;

Οἰδίπους

μή μου δεηθῇς.
1170

Θησεύς

πράγματος ποίου; λέγε. 1170

Οἰδίπους

ἔξοιδʼ ἀκούων τῶνδʼ ὅς ἐσθʼ ὁ προστάτης.

Θησεύς

καὶ τίς ποτʼ ἐστίν, ὅν γʼ ἐγὼ ψέξαιμί τι;

Οἰδίπους

παῖς οὑμός, ὦναξ, στυγνός, οὗ λόγων ἐγὼ

ἄλγιστʼ ἂν ἀνδρῶν ἐξανασχοίμην κλύων.

Θησεύς

τί δʼ; οὐκ ἀκούειν ἔστι, καὶ μὴ δρᾶν ἃ μὴ
1175

χρῄζεις; τί σοι τοῦτʼ ἐστὶ λυπηρόν, κλύειν;

Οἰδίπους

ἔχθιστον, ὦναξ, φθέγμα τοῦθʼ ἥκει πατρί·

καὶ μή μʼ ἀνάγκῃ προσβάλῃς τάδʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Θησεύς

ἀλλʼ εἰ τὸ θάκημʼ ἐξαναγκάζει, σκόπει·

μή σοι πρόνοιʼ ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ φυλακτέα.
1180

Ἀντιγόνη

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1139 focus

I marvel not at all if mere delight

In these thy daughters lengthened thy discourse,

Or led thee to address them before me.
1140

That gives me not the shadow of annoy.

Nor am I careful to adorn my life

With words of praise, but with the light of deeds.

And thou hast proof of this. For I have failed

In nought of all I promised, agèd King!
1145

Here stand I with thy children in full life

Unharmed in aught the foe had threatened them.

And now why vaunt the deeds that won the day,

When these dear maids will tell them in thine ear?

But let me crave thy counsel on a thing
1150

That crossed me as I came. Small though it seem

When told, ’tis worthy of some wonder, too.

Be it small or great, men should not let things pass.

OED

What is it, O son of Aegeus? Let me hear,

I am wholly ignorant herein.
1155

THE

We are told

One, not thy townsman, but of kin to thee,

Hath come in unawares, and now is found

Kneeling at great Poseidon’s altar, where

I sacrificed, what time ye called me hither.

OED

What countryman, and wherefore suppliant there?
1160

THE

One thing alone I know. He craves of thee

Some speech, they say, that will not hold thee long.

OED

His kneeling there imports no trivial suit.

THE

All he desires, they tell me, is to come,

Have speech with thee, and go unharmed away.
1165

OED

Who can he be that kneels for such a boon?

THE

Think, if at Argos thou a kinsman hast

Who might desire to obtain so much of thee.

OED

Dear friend! Hold there! No more!

THE

What troubles thee?

OED

Ask it not of me!
1170

THE

What? Speak plainly forth.

OED

Thy words have shown me who the stranger is.

THE

And who is he that I should say him nay?

OED

My son, O King,—hateful to me, whose tongue

Least of the world I could endure to hear.

THE

What pain is there in hearing? Canst thou not
1175

Hear, and refuse to do what thou mislikest?

OED

My Lord, I have come to loathe his very voice.

I pray thee, urge me not to yield in this.

THE

Think that the God must be considered too,

The right of suppliants may compel thy care.
1180

ANT

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1139 focus

Nicht Wunder nimmt mich's, daß du, deiner Kinder hier
1130

Dich freuend, länger ausgedehnt der Rede Maß,

Noch daß das Wort des Vaters sie vor mir begrüßt.

Um solche Dinge wandelt uns kein Kummer an.

Und nicht mit Worten mühen wir uns eifriger

Dem Leben Glanz zu leihen als mit unsrer That.
1135

Denn siehe: was ich schwörend dir gelobt, o Greis,

Erfüllt' ich treu; die Töchter bring' ich dir zurück

Gerettet, ungefährdet, troz der Feinde Droh'n.

Und wie der Kampf gelungen, was bedarf es hier

Unnüzen Prahlens? Hörst du's doch von ihnen selbst.
1140

Auf eine Botschaft aber, die mich eben traf,

Als ich hieher ging, achte wohl und denke nach;

Wohl kurz an Inhalt ist sie, doch beachtenswerth,

Und Nichts verachten soll ein Mensch, was Menschen gilt.

Oedipus.

Was ist es, Aegeus' edler Sohn? Belehre mich,
1145

Dem keine Kunde dessen ward, was du vernahmst.

Theseus.

Ein fremder Mann, so heißt es, nicht aus deiner Stadt,

Doch deines Stammes, habe (weßhalb, weiß ich nicht,)

Am Herd Poseidons, wo ich eben opferte,

Sich hingeworfen, während ich von dannen zog.
1150

Oedipus.

Wo kommt er her? Was heischt er, jenem Siz genaht?

Theseus.

Nur Eines weiß ich: er erbitte sich von dir

Ein kurzes Wort nur, hieß es, das nicht lästig sei.

Oedipus.

Worüber? Nicht um Kleines wählt er diesen Siz.

Theseus.

Er komm' und wünsche, heißt es, ein Gespräch mit dir,
1155

Und ungefährdet möcht' er dann von hinnen zieh'n.

Oedipus.

Wer aber ist es, der sich dort den Siz erkor?

Theseus.

Besinne dich, ob Einer eures Stamms, o Greis,

Nicht lebt in Argos, welcher dies von dir erfleht.

Oedipus.

Mein Bester, weiter rede nicht!
1160

Theseus.

Was ist dir denn?

Oedipus.

fordre das nicht länger!

Theseus.

Was? Erkläre mir.

Oedipus.

Ich weiß, belehrt von diesen, wer der Flüchtling ist.

Theseus.

Und wer denn ist es, den ich so verwerfen soll?

Oedipus.

Mein böser Sohn, Herr, dessen Rede meinem Ohr

Schmerzvoller kläng' als jedes andern Mannes Wort.
1165

Theseus.

Wie? Kannst du's nicht anhören und, was dir mißfällt,

Versagen? Kann das Hören dir so peinlich sein?

Oedipus.

Feindselig tönt dem Vater diese Stimm', o Herr;

Nicht opfre mich dem Zwange, solches einzugeh'n!

Theseus.

Doch, legt der Altar Zwang dir auf, so siehe zu,
1170

Ob dir des Gottes Würde nicht zu scheu'n geziemt.

Antigone.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1139 focus

Thus happy as thou must be in thy children,

Hadst thou said more, much more, and talked to them
1140

Rather than me, it had not moved my wonder ;

Nor think I should resent it. Not by w^ords

Would Theseus be distinguished, but by deeds

Illustrious. This thou knowst, for what I swore

I have performed — restored thy daughters to thee,
1145

Safe from the tyrant's threats. How passed the conflict

Why should I boast ? They at their leisure best

May tell you all. Meantime to what I heard

As hither coming, CEdipus, attend.

Of little import seemed the circumstance.
1150

And yet 'twas strange ; but nought should mortal man

Deem or beneath his notice or his care.

For nothing have I heard.

Theseus
(Edi. What is it, son of ^geus ? Oh ! inform me,

a man, they say.

Who boasts himself by blood allied to thee.

At Neptune's altar, whilst I sacrificed,

In humblest posture stood.

Oedipus

What could it mean?
1160

Whence came he?
1160

Theseus

That I know not \ this alone

They told me : suppliant he requested much

To talk a while with thee.

Oedipus

With me? 'Tis strange,

And yet methinks important.

Theseus

He desired

But to converse with thee, and then depart.
1165

Oedipus

Who can it be ?

Theseus

Hast thou no friend at Argos,

None of thy kindred there who wished to see thee ?

Oedipus

No more, my friend.

Theseus

What sayst thou ?

Oedipus

Do not ask me.
1170

Theseus

Ask what

Oedipus

I know him now ; I know too well

Who 's at the altar.

Theseus

Who is it ?

Oedipus

My son —

That hateful son, whose voice I loathe to hear.

Theseus

But why not hear him? Still thou mayst refuse
1175

What he shall ask.

Oedipus

I cannot, cannot bear it :

Do not oblige me.

Theseus

But the sacred place

Where now he stands, and reverence to the gods,

Demand it of thee.
1180

Antigone

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1139 focus

who sav'd us; it is meet

Thou learn from him: so shall my words be brief.

Oedipus

My daughters thus beyond my hopes restored,

Marvel not, generous Theseus, if my words.

Exceed due measure. Well I know from thee,

And thee alone, this dear delight, in them

Which I receive, is giv'n me; for thy hand,

And thine alone, preserved them. May the gods

On thee and on thy state their blessings pour

Ample as my warm wishes; for 'mongst you

Only of all mankind have I discern'd

A reverence for the gods, a fix'd regard

For justice, and a manly love of truth.

The worth, which I have proved, my words extol,

For what I have, I have from thee alone.
1155

Disdain not then, O king, to stretch the hand
1155

That I may touch it, and, with leave obtain'd,
1155

Kiss thee. What have I said? How then can I,
1155

Born wretched, wish to touch a man, whom stain
1155

Of ill hath ne'er approach'd? It shall not be:
1155

Such grace must be refused. Of all mankind
1155

Those only, who have suffer'd ills, can feel
1155

A touch of pity for my ills. I now
1155

Bid thee henceforth farewell; and let thy care,
1155

Thus far extended to a wretch like me,
1155

Through what of life is left me, yet extend.
1155

Theseus

I marvel not that many are thy words

Through pleasure that thy daughters are restored;

Nor that, ere mine, thou joy'dst in their address.

These things with me are trivial, of no weight,

I have no care aught splendid in my life

To show in words, but honourable deeds;

And let these speak: I pledged to thee my faith;

In nothing I deceived thee, but have brought

These virgins back alive, and from his threats

Uninjured: how this contest was achieved

Why should I vaunt? In private thou may'st learn

From them. But to an incident which late

Occurr'd, as hither I return'd, attend.

Things of small semblance oft with import high

Are pregnant: prudence slights no circumstance.

Oedipus

Of this, O son of Ægeus, uninform'd
1160

I wish a full relation and distinct.
1160

Theseus

A man, they say, no habitant of Thebes,

But to thy blood allied, a suppliant sits

At Neptune's altar, where the victim slain

I offer'd when I hasten'd at your cries.

Oedipus

Whence is he? In this hallow'd seat why placed?

Theseus

I know but this, short conference he requests

With thee, in nothing to molest thee more.
1165

Oedipus

Why this? No trivial cause hath placed him there.

Theseus

With thee he wishes to converse, and asks

Permission thence in safety to return.

Oedipus

Who can this be that near the altar sits?

Theseus

At Argos is there none to thee allied,

Who may with ardour wish this grace from thee?

Oedipus

My honour'd friend, forbear.

Oedipus

No more entreat......
1170

Theseus

Why thus disturb'd?i

What may I not entreat?

Oedipus

What I have heard shows who the suppliant is.

Theseus

Say who, that his attempt I may rebuke.

Oedipus

It is my hated son: of all mankind

Him with most pain should I endure to hear...

Theseus

Yet thou may'st hear, nor yield to his request,
1175

Thy will averse: to hear can give no pain.

Oedipus

His voice, O king, is to a father's ear

Most hateful: urge me not perforce to yield.

Theseus

But if his seat compels to this, take heed,

The sanction of the god must be revered.

Hear me, my father, nor despise my youth.

Indulge this man, assenting to his wish
1180

And to the god, in what his soul desires...
1180

Antigone

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1139 focus

Theseus

I feel no amazement, if you have had a lengthy conversation

from joy in these children, or if your first concern has been for their words rather than for me. Indeed, there is nothing to vex me in that. Not with words so much as with deeds would I add luster to my life. You have this proof:
1140

I have cheated you in none of my sworn promises, old man. Here am I, with the maidens living, uninjured by those threats. As to how the struggle was won, what need have I vainly to boast of what you will learn from these two when you are together?
1145

But there is a matter that has just presented itself to me, as I came here. Give me your counsel regarding it; for, though it is small, it is food for wonder. And mortal man must consider nothing beneath his concern.
1150

Oedipus

What is it, son of Aegeus? Tell me; I myself know nothing of what you inquire.
1155

Theseus

They say a man—not from your city, yet of your race—has somehow thrown himself down, as a suppliant, at our altar of Poseidon, where I was sacrificing when I first set out here.

Oedipus

What land does he come form? What does he desire by his supplication?
1160

Theseus

I know one thing only: they tell me he asks to speak briefly with you, a thing of no great burden.

Oedipus

On what topic? That suppliant state is of no small account.

Theseus

He asks, they say, no more than that he may confer with you,

and return unharmed from his journey here.
1165

Oedipus

Who can he be that implores the god in this way?

Theseus

Consider whether there is anyone in your race at Argos , who might desire this favor from you.

Oedipus

Dearest friend, say no more!

Theseus

What is wrong?

Oedipus

Do not ask me for—
1170

Theseus

For what? Speak!

Oedipus

From hearing these things I know who the suppliant is.

Theseus

And who can he be, that I should have an objection to him?

Oedipus

My son, lord, a hated son whose words would vex my ear like the words of no man besides.

Theseus

What? Can you not listen, without doing what you do not wish to do? Why does it pain you to hear him?
1175

Oedipus

Lord, that voice has become most hateful to his father. Do not constrain me to yield in this.

Theseus

But consider whether his suppliant state constrains you;

what if you have a duty of respect for the god?
1180

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-821-1 οὔτ’ εἴ τι κ.τ.λ. ¹

mvp-comment-821-2 θαυμάσας ἔχω ²

mvp-comment-822-1 οὔτ’ ³

mvp-comment-823-1 γὰρ ⁴

mvp-comment-824-1 δείκνυμι δ’ ⁵

mvp-comment-824-2 The usu. constr. is

ψεύδειν τινά τινος

, while

ψεύδειν τινά τι

is comparatively rare: and so here οὐδέν seems to be adv., while ὧν (=

τούτων ἅ

) is gen. after ἐψευσάμην . So I should take Plat. Legg. 921A

τὴν τιμὴν τῶν ἔργων ὀφειλέτω ὧν ἂν τὸν ἐκδόντα ψεύσηται

"of which he has disappointed the contractor,"

—though an attraction of acc. into gen. is equally possible.

mvp-comment-824-3 ὤμοσα ⁶

mvp-comment-825-1 For the gen. with ἀκραιφνεῖς cp. 1519: Eur. Hipp. 949

κακῶν ἀκήρατος

mvp-comment-826-1 ᾑρέθη ⁷

mvp-comment-827-1 λόγος ⁸

mvp-comment-827-2 λόγος ⁹

mvp-comment-827-3 ἐμπέπτωκεν ¹⁰

mvp-comment-827-4 συμβαλοῦ γνώμην ¹¹

mvp-comment-828-1 εἰπεῖν θαυμάσαι ¹⁴

mvp-comment-829-1 ἄνθρωπον ¹⁵

mvp-comment-830-1 τί δ’ ἔστι ¹⁶

mvp-comment-830-2 δίδασκέ με ὡς μὴ εἰδότ’ ¹⁷

mvp-comment-830-3 ὡς οὐ ¹⁸

mvp-comment-830-4 ὡς ¹⁹

mvp-comment-831-1 ἡμῖν ²⁰

mvp-comment-831-2 ἔμπολιν ²¹

mvp-comment-831-3 προσπεσόντα πως ²²

mvp-comment-831-4 πως ²³

mvp-comment-832-1 βωμῷ ²⁴

mvp-comment-832-2 ἔκυρον ²⁵

mvp-comment-832-3 ἡνίχ’ ὡρμώμην ²⁶

mvp-comment-833-1 τῷ θακήματι ²⁷

mvp-comment-833-2 προς‐ ²⁸

mvp-comment-834-1 σοῦ ²⁹

mvp-comment-835-1 οὐκ ὄγκου πλέων ³⁰

mvp-comment-836-1 Heath's insertion of τ’ after ἀπελθεῖν is necessary, unless we adopt Nauck's ἐλθεῖν θέλοντ’ , i.e.

"they say that, wishing to confer with you, he asks that he may retire safely from his journey hither"

(his journey to Attica from Argos): but this throws too much stress on the return. Vauvilliers seems clearly right in restoring μόνον from the MS. μολόντ’ . The latter would go with ἐλθεῖν :

"they say that he asks that, having approached, he may confer with you"

: but this is weak; and it would be even worse to take μολόντ’ as=

"after his arrival"

(at Colonus). μόνον fits the tone of the context. The suitor prefers his request in as modest a strain as possible.

mvp-comment-837-1 κατ’ Ἄργος ³¹

mvp-comment-837-2 τοῦτο ³²

mvp-comment-838-1 σχὲς οὗπερ εἶ ³³

mvp-comment-838-2 τίδ’ ἔστι σοι ³⁴

mvp-comment-839-1 πράγματος ποίου ³⁵

mvp-comment-840-1 ἀκούων τῶνδ’ ³⁶

mvp-comment-840-2 ὅς ³⁷

mvp-comment-840-3 προστάτης ³⁸

mvp-comment-841-1 ὅν γ’ ἐγὼ ψέξαιμι ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-842-1 στυγνός ⁴¹

mvp-comment-842-2 λόγων ⁴²

mvp-comment-842-3 ἄλγιστα ἀνδρῶν ⁴³

mvp-comment-843-1 ἃ μὴ ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-844-1 The emphasis is on κλύειν , not on τοῦδ’ :

"why is it painful to thee to give this man a hearing? "

Theseus has no need to ask,

"why is it painful to thee to hear this man? "

—for he knows already how Oed. has been treated by his sons (599). The sense is thus the same as if we kept the MS. τοῦτ’ :

"why is this thing painful to thee,—namely, to hear?"

(Cp. Ph. 1121

καὶ γὰρ ἐμοὶ τοῦτο μέλει, μὴ φιλότητ’ ἀπώσῃ

: and O. T. 1058 .) But, when the question has already been put in an abstract form (

οὐκ ἀκούειν ἔστι

etc.), it would be tame to reiterate it in the same form. By τοῦδε it is adapted to the particular case. Cp. 1117

τοῦδε χρὴ κλύειν

mvp-comment-845-1 φθέγμα τοῦθ’ ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-845-2 ἥκει ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-846-1 μή μ’ ἀνάγκῃ προσβάλῃς ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-846-2 εἰκαθεῖν ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-847-1 τὸ θάκημ’ ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-847-2 ἐξαναγκάζει ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-847-3 πρόνοια … τοῦ θεοῦ ⁵¹

mvp-comment-847-4 φυλακτέα ⁵²

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

1139. mvp-comment-612-1 μήκος . . ἔθου Essay on Language § 40. p. 75. The slight formality of this expression and of θαυμάσας ἔχω belongs to the dignified courtesy of Theseus manner. It has not moved my wonder, that in the delight of having your children here you have been led to prolong your talk with them. For this use of τίθεσθαι, cp. Ο. Τ. 134, ἐπαξίως γὰρ Φοῖβος, ἀξίως δὲ σὺ | πρὸ τοῦ θανόντος τήνδ᾽ ἔθεσθ᾽ ἐπιστροφήν : Ant. 151, θέσθε λησμοσύναν.

1141. mvp-comment-613-1 Nor that in choosing to converse with them you thought not first of me.' The genitive to be supplied with τοὐμοῦ is not ἔπους, but something more general, e. g. μέρους. Elms. reads οὔτ᾽, perhaps rightly. τῶνδε is objective genitive, or rather expresses a reciprocal relation.

1142. mvp-comment-614-1 γάρ, as in 1121, refers to the general meaning of the preceding sentence. There is no need of an apology, for that gives me no offence.

1145. mvp-comment-615-1 ὧν The genitive is gen. of respect after ἐψευσάμην, and also partitive after οὐδέν.

1145. mvp-comment-615-2 ὤμοσ' Supr. 1039-1040.

1147. mvp-comment-616-1 ἀκραιφνεῖς τῶν κατηπειλημένων Untouched by the harm that VOL. I. CC was threatened them.' 1140 1145 1148. This is not the place for an episode like the description of the Isthmian races in El. 680, foll., or the history of Oedipus in O. T. 777. foll. The end is near, and the interview with Polynices is yet to come. The necessary omission is accounted for by the tender age of Antigone (1116-1118), and the magnanimity of Theseus, who prefers doing to speaking of his deeds. Cp. El. 1364 ff., τοὺς γὰρ ἐν μέσῳ λόγους, κ.τ.λ., Shak. Coriolanus, 1. 9, Pray now, no more: my mother, | Who has a charter to extol her blood, | When she does praise me, grieves me..... I have some wounds upon me, and they smart | To hear themselves remembered. an

1149. mvp-comment-617-1 ἅ γ' εἴσει.. ξυνών Since you will learn this without my telling you in conversation with your children here.Illud quaeri potest, verba τί δεῖ μάτην κομπεῖν utrum cum sequentibus construenda sint, quo facto quasi quaedam aposiopesis erit post ᾑρέθη, sint precedentibus jungenda, quo illa ἅ γ' εἴσει, explicationis causa adjecta esse censendum: an denique cum utrisque sint nexa: quod ego quidem nescio an praeferendum sit, quia saepe ita media inter duas protases est apodosis: de qua figura saepius alibi monitum.' Hermann. ye shows that the words are added in explanation. For αὐτός, cp. infra 1155, ὡς μὴ εἰδότ', αὐτόν, κ.τ.λ.

1150-1151. mvp-comment-618-1 But impart to us your counsel on a matter that has just now fallen in my way as I was coming hither. The construction of the antecedent λόγος is left undetermined, and this imperfect or pendent construction is smoothed over by the attraction, for which see Essay on Language § 35. P. 59, and cp. Eur. Or. 591 ff. Ἀπόλλων ὃς στόμα νέμει σαφέστατον, τούτῳ ..

1150-1151. mvp-comment-618-2 πιθόμενος τὴν τεκοῦσαν ἔκτανον.

1151. mvp-comment-619-1 συμβαλοῦ γνώμην In Hdt. 8.61, πόλιν γὰρ τὸν Θεμιστοκλέα παρεχόμενον, οὕτω ἐκέλευε γνώμας συμβάλλεσθαι, and Plat. Polit. 298 C, γνώμην συμβαλέσθαι, the phrase means to take part in conference. So Theseus may be supposed courteously to ask Oedipus for his opinion, although he might use authority. See below, 11. 1178, 1348. Otherwise (2), συμβαλοῦ γνώμην, sc. τῷ λόγῳ, may mean,' Bring your thought to bear on this matter, i. e. consider it. Cp. the Epic σὺ δ᾽ ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλει σῇσιν. This is more consistent with the position of Oedipus, of which, however, Theseus is not yet thoroughly informed.

1152. mvp-comment-620-1 It is a small thing to tell of, and yet singular.' 1153. The Scholiast, who interprets ἄνθρωπον δέ φησιν ὄντα οὐδὲν πρᾶγμα κακίζειν δεῖ, must have read as in the text. πρᾶγος is too general a word to stand alone, as it must if we read οὐδέν᾿ ἀνθρώπων. For ἄνθρωπον, cp. Ο. Τ. 977, τί δ᾽ ἂν φοβοῖτ᾽ ἄνθρωπος, ᾧ τὰ τῆς τύχης | κρατεῖ, πρόνοια δ᾽ ἐστὶν οὐδενὸς σαφής; Man, who is the creature of circumstance, may not neglect anything that occurs.

1156-1157. mvp-comment-621-1 σοὶ μὲν ἔμπολιν οὐκ ὄντα, συγγενή δέ This must have been gathered from the terms of his supplication, or from his answer to those who questioned him.

1157. mvp-comment-622-1 προσπεσόντα πως Who had somehow suddenly come thither. Polynices had come when the altar was deserted for the pursuit, and while there was an ἡσυχίη τῶν ἀνθρώπων (Hdt. 1.45) about the sacrifices. Hence the indefinite adverb, marking that his coming was unobserved. Cp. Tr. 695, τὸ γὰρ κάταγμα τυγχάνω ῥίψασά πως. He was found there by the people returning thither, who brought word to Theseus when on his way to Colonus with the maidens (στείχοντι δεῦρο, 1151).

1158. mvp-comment-623-1 The use of παρά with the relative assists the locative use of the dative in the antecedent; ie. παρὰ τῷ βωμῷ, παρ' α...

1159. mvp-comment-624-1 ἔκυρον The form κύρω (cp. supr. 1082) is adopted by the Tragedians from Epic poetry.

1159. mvp-comment-624-2 ἡνίχ᾽ ὡρμώμην ἐγώ 'When I set forth, i. e. When I left the altar on the occasion which led to the pursuit. (Supr. 888, 897, 1019.) Elmsley, Hermann, and Schneidw. refer ἡνίχ᾽ ὡρμώμην τo προσπεσόντα, and transl. 'dum aberam ego. But ἡνίκα is not equi- valent to ἐν ᾧ. And such a departure from the obvious meaning is not justified by a trifling inconsistency, which is after all a verbal one, for although Theseus did not go direct from the altar to the pursuit, yet the swift action of 886-1041 is part of a continuous movement which began when he was called away from the sacrifice. There is therefore no reason for detaching the clause from the nearer antecedent.

1159. mvp-comment-624-3 ἐγώ belongs in meaning to ἔκυρον as well as to ὡρμώμην.

1160. mvp-comment-625-1 τί προσχρήζοντα τῷ θακήματι;] What does he want by sitting there? i. e. What is the meaning of his supplication? The dative is used πρὸς τὸ σημαινόμενον, as if προσχρήζοντα had been αἰτοῦντα.

1162. mvp-comment-626-1 οὐκ ὄγκου πλέων No great matter, i. e. Not likely to give trouble. Cp. infra 1341, βραχεῖ εὺν ὄγκῳ καὶ χρόνῳ.

1163. mvp-comment-627-1 οὐ γὰρ .. λόγου ‘For the manner of his supplication imports no trifling matter.'

1164-1165. mvp-comment-628-1 (1) His sole request. they say, is to be allowed to have conference with thee, and to be allowed to return, without receiving harm through his coming hither.' ὁδοῦ is a genitive of respect after the privative adverb. Cp. infra 1399, foll. Vauvillers' conjecture, μόνον, founded on Musgrave's μόνον τ', is justified both by the awkward pleonasm in ἐλθεῖν μολόντα, to come and be admitted, and by the synaphea, which cannot be defended by such examples as O. Τ. 332-333, τί ταῦτ᾽ ἄλλως ἐλέγχεις; where the running on is assisted by the pause immediately preceding. This is true even of Ar. Av. 1716-1717, θυμιαμάτων δ᾽ | αὖραι, κ.τ.λ., where the licence is caricatured. Schndw. joins μολύντ᾽ αἰτεῖν, “ He is come and asks, but the participle is then still more inopportune.

1166. mvp-comment-629-1 τίς δῆτ᾽ ἂν εἴη Who can it be? Until he hears of Argos, Oedipus is left to mere conjecture.

1167. mvp-comment-630-1 ὑμίν τοῖς Λαβδακίδαις.

1167. mvp-comment-630-2 ἐγγενής i. e. ἐν γένει ὤν. Cp. О. Т. 941.

1171. mvp-comment-631-1 ἀκούων τῶνδ' When I hear this, i.e. Your last speech, in which you mention Argos. For τῶνδε, where τούτων would be more exact, see Essay on Language § 22. p. 34, and cp. Phil. 628, οὔκουν τάδ', ὦ παῖ, δεινά; The reference to Ismene's information in 378, foll., which Reisig and Hermann supposed, would be too obscure.

1171. mvp-comment-631-2 ὁ προστάτης The suppliant. The word occurs in this sense only here and in 1278. But cp. El. 1378, λιπαρεῖ προὔστην χερί. CC2

1172. mvp-comment-632-1 For the optative, see Essay on Language § 36. p. 62, and cp. Thuc. 3. 84.

1172. mvp-comment-632-2 ἐστίν is equivalent to ἂν εἴη supra. Cp. Eur. Med. 599, μηδ' ὄλβος, ὅστις τὴν ἐμὴν κνίζοι φρένα.

1173-1174. mvp-comment-633-1 My son, O king, hated by me to whom of all the world I should most detest to listen. For the inexact use of the genitive ἀνδρῶν after the superlative, see Essay on Language § 9. p. 14. and cp. supra 105, μόχθοις λατρείων τοῖς ὑπερτάτοις βροτῶν. 1177,8. The sound of that voice has come to be abhorrent to his father's ear, and, I beseech thee, do not compel me to yield in this.' φθέγμα, see Essay on Language $ 50. p. 94, and cp. El. 1225, ὦ φθέγμ᾽, ἀφίκου; And for the meaning of ἥκει, see Essay on Language p. 97.

1179-1180. mvp-comment-634-1 But what if his suppliant posture necessarily compels you? Consider :-whether you do not owe a reverence to the God. εἰ is to be taken in the sense of whether, or what if. σκόπει is a double construction, with εἰ, κ.τ.λ., and μή, κ.τ.λ., the second clause being added in ex. planation of the first. The emphatic ἐξαναγκάζει refers to ἀνάγκῃ προσβάλῃς in 1178. Several editors have preferred μή μοι. But although it is suitable for Antigone in 1183 to speak of Theseus' religious scruples, it is more consistent with the tone of Theseus himself to give this friendly warning to Oedipus.

1179-1180. mvp-comment-634-2 ἐξαναγκάζει i. e. Is thoroughly sufficient to compel you, without any constraint from me.

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Οἰδίπους τί δʼ ἔστι, τέκνον Αἰγέως; δίδασκέ με ὡς μὴ εἰδότʼ αὐτὸν μηδὲν ὧν σὺ πυνθάνει. 1155

Θησεύς φασίν τινʼ ἡμῖν ἄνδρα, σοὶ μὲν ἔμπολιν οὐκ ὄντα, συγγενῆ δέ, προσπεσόντα πως βωμῷ καθῆσθαι τῷ Ποσειδῶνος, παρʼ ᾧ θύων ἔκυρον, ἡνίχʼ ὡρμώμην ἐγώ.

Οἰδίπους ποδαπόν; τί προσχρῄζοντα τῷ θακήματι· 1160

Θησεύς οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· σοῦ γάρ, ὡς λέγουσί μοι, βραχύν τινʼ αἰτεῖ μῦθον οὐκ ὄγκου πλέων.

Οἰδίπους ποῖόν τινʼ; οὐ γὰρ ἥδʼ ἕδρα σμικροῦ λόγου.

Θησεύς σοὶ φασὶν αὐτὸν ἐς λόγους ἐλθεῖν μόνον αἰτεῖν ἀπελθεῖν τʼ ἀσφαλῶς τῆς δεῦρʼ ὁδοῦ. 1165

Οἰδίπους τίς δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη τήνδʼ ὁ προσθακῶν ἕδραν;

Θησεύς ὅρα κατʼ Ἄργος εἴ τις ὑμὶν ἐγγενὴς ἔσθʼ, ὅστις ἄν σου τοῦτο προσχρῄζοι τυχεῖν.

Οἰδίπους ὦ φίλτατε, σχὲς οὗπερ εἶ.

Θησεύς τί δʼ ἔστι σοι;

Οἰδίπους μή μου δεηθῇς. 1170

Θησεύς πράγματος ποίου; λέγε.

Οἰδίπους ἔξοιδʼ ἀκούων τῶνδʼ ὅς ἐσθʼ ὁ προστάτης.

Θησεύς καὶ τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶν ὅν γʼ ἐγὼ ψέξαιμί τι;

Οἰδίπους παῖς οὑμός, ὦναξ, στυγνός, οὗ λόγων ἐγὼ ἄλγιστʼ ἂν ἀνδρῶν ἐξανασχοίμην κλύων.

Θησεύς τί δʼ; οὐκ ἀκούειν ἔστι καὶ μὴ δρᾶν ἃ μὴ 1175 χρῄζεις; τί σοι τοῦτʼ ἐστὶ λυπηρὸν κλύειν;

Οἰδίπους ἔχθιστον, ὦναξ, φθέγμα τοῦθʼ ἥκει πατρί· καὶ μή μʼ ἀνάγκῃ προσβάλῃς τάδʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Θησεύς ἀλλʼ εἰ τὸ θάκημʼ ἐξαναγκάζει, σκόπει μή σοι πρόνοιʼ ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ φυλακτέα. 1180

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Οἰδίπους τί δʼ ἔστι, τέκνον Αἰγέως; δίδασκέ με, ὡς μὴ εἰδότʼ αὐτὸν μηδὲν ὧν σὺ πυνθάνει. 1155

Θησεύς φασίν τινʼ ἡμῖν ἄνδρα, σοὶ μὲν ἔμπολιν οὐκ ὄντα, συγγενῆ δέ, προσπεσόντα πως βωμῷ καθῆσθαι τῷ Ποσειδῶνος, παρʼ ᾧ θύων ἔκυρον ἡνίχʼ ὡρμώμην ἐγώ.

Οἰδίπους ποδαπόν; τί προσχρῄζοντα τῷ θακήματι ; 1160

Θησεύς οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· σοῦ γάρ, ὡς λέγουσί μοι, βραχύν τινʼ αἰτεῖ μῦθον οὐκ ὄγκου πλέων.

Οἰδίπους ποῖόν τινʼ; οὐ γὰρ ἥδʼ ἕδρα σμικροῦ λόγου.

Θησεύς σοὶ φασὶν αὐτὸν ἐς λόγους ἐλθεῖν *μόνον αἰτεῖν ἀπελθεῖν *τʼ ἀσφαλῶς τῆς δεῦρʼ ὁδοῦ. 1165

Οἰδίπους τίς δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη τήνδʼ ὁ προσθακῶν ἕδραν ;

Θησεύς ὅρα κατʼ Ἄργος εἴ τις ὑμὶν ἐγγενὴς ἔσθʼ, ὅστις ἄν σου τοῦτο προσχρῄζοι τυχεῖν. [111 a.

Οἰδίπους ὦ φίλτατε, *σχὲς οὗπερ εἶ.

Θησεύς τί δʼ ἔστι σοι;

Οἰδίπους μή μου δεηθῇς. 1170

Θησεύς πράγματος ποίου; λέγε. 1170

Οἰδίπους ἔξοιδʼ ἀκούων τῶνδʼ ὅς ἐσθʼ ὁ προστάτης.

Θησεύς καὶ τίς ποτʼ ἐστίν, ὅν γʼ ἐγὼ ψέξαιμί τι;

Οἰδίπους παῖς οὑμός, ὦναξ, στυγνός, οὗ λόγων ἐγὼ ἄλγιστʼ ἂν ἀνδρῶν ἐξανασχοίμην κλύων.

Θησεύς τί δʼ; οὐκ ἀκούειν ἔστι, καὶ μὴ δρᾶν ἃ μὴ 1175 χρῄζεις; τί σοι τοῦτʼ ἐστὶ λυπηρόν, κλύειν;

Οἰδίπους ἔχθιστον, ὦναξ, φθέγμα τοῦθʼ ἥκει πατρί· καὶ μή μʼ ἀνάγκῃ προσβάλῃς τάδʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Θησεύς ἀλλʼ εἰ τὸ θάκημʼ ἐξαναγκάζει, σκόπει· μή σοι πρόνοιʼ ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ φυλακτέα. 1180

Ἀντιγόνη

OED What is it, O son of Aegeus? Let me hear, I am wholly ignorant herein. 1155

THE We are told One, not thy townsman, but of kin to thee, Hath come in unawares, and now is found Kneeling at great Poseidon’s altar, where I sacrificed, what time ye called me hither.

OED What countryman, and wherefore suppliant there? 1160

THE One thing alone I know. He craves of thee Some speech, they say, that will not hold thee long.

OED His kneeling there imports no trivial suit.

THE All he desires, they tell me, is to come, Have speech with thee, and go unharmed away. 1165

OED Who can he be that kneels for such a boon?

THE Think, if at Argos thou a kinsman hast Who might desire to obtain so much of thee.

OED Dear friend! Hold there! No more!

THE What troubles thee?

OED Ask it not of me! 1170

THE What? Speak plainly forth.

OED Thy words have shown me who the stranger is.

THE And who is he that I should say him nay?

OED My son, O King,—hateful to me, whose tongue Least of the world I could endure to hear.

THE What pain is there in hearing? Canst thou not 1175 Hear, and refuse to do what thou mislikest?

OED My Lord, I have come to loathe his very voice. I pray thee, urge me not to yield in this.

THE Think that the God must be considered too, The right of suppliants may compel thy care. 1180

ANT

Oedipus. Was ist es, Aegeus' edler Sohn? Belehre mich, 1145 Dem keine Kunde dessen ward, was du vernahmst.

Theseus. Ein fremder Mann, so heißt es, nicht aus deiner Stadt, Doch deines Stammes, habe (weßhalb, weiß ich nicht,) Am Herd Poseidons, wo ich eben opferte, Sich hingeworfen, während ich von dannen zog. 1150

Oedipus. Wo kommt er her? Was heischt er, jenem Siz genaht?

Theseus. Nur Eines weiß ich: er erbitte sich von dir Ein kurzes Wort nur, hieß es, das nicht lästig sei.

Oedipus. Worüber? Nicht um Kleines wählt er diesen Siz.

Theseus. Er komm' und wünsche, heißt es, ein Gespräch mit dir, 1155 Und ungefährdet möcht' er dann von hinnen zieh'n.

Oedipus. Wer aber ist es, der sich dort den Siz erkor?

Theseus. Besinne dich, ob Einer eures Stamms, o Greis, Nicht lebt in Argos, welcher dies von dir erfleht.

Oedipus. Mein Bester, weiter rede nicht! 1160

Theseus. Was ist dir denn?

Oedipus. fordre das nicht länger!

Theseus. Was? Erkläre mir.

Oedipus. Ich weiß, belehrt von diesen, wer der Flüchtling ist.

Theseus. Und wer denn ist es, den ich so verwerfen soll?

Oedipus. Mein böser Sohn, Herr, dessen Rede meinem Ohr Schmerzvoller kläng' als jedes andern Mannes Wort. 1165

Theseus. Wie? Kannst du's nicht anhören und, was dir mißfällt, Versagen? Kann das Hören dir so peinlich sein?

Oedipus. Feindselig tönt dem Vater diese Stimm', o Herr; Nicht opfre mich dem Zwange, solches einzugeh'n!

Theseus. Doch, legt der Altar Zwang dir auf, so siehe zu, 1170 Ob dir des Gottes Würde nicht zu scheu'n geziemt.

Antigone.

Theseus (Edi. What is it, son of ^geus ? Oh ! inform me, a man, they say. Who boasts himself by blood allied to thee. At Neptune's altar, whilst I sacrificed, In humblest posture stood.

Oedipus What could it mean? 1160 Whence came he? 1160

Οἰδίπους

τί δʼ ἔστι, τέκνον Αἰγέως; δίδασκέ με

ὡς μὴ εἰδότʼ αὐτὸν μηδὲν ὧν σὺ πυνθάνει.
1155

Θησεύς

φασίν τινʼ ἡμῖν ἄνδρα, σοὶ μὲν ἔμπολιν

οὐκ ὄντα, συγγενῆ δέ, προσπεσόντα πως

βωμῷ καθῆσθαι τῷ Ποσειδῶνος, παρʼ ᾧ

θύων ἔκυρον, ἡνίχʼ ὡρμώμην ἐγώ.

Οἰδίπους

ποδαπόν; τί προσχρῄζοντα τῷ θακήματι·
1160

Θησεύς

οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· σοῦ γάρ, ὡς λέγουσί μοι,

βραχύν τινʼ αἰτεῖ μῦθον οὐκ ὄγκου πλέων.

Οἰδίπους

ποῖόν τινʼ; οὐ γὰρ ἥδʼ ἕδρα σμικροῦ λόγου.

Θησεύς

σοὶ φασὶν αὐτὸν ἐς λόγους ἐλθεῖν μόνον

αἰτεῖν ἀπελθεῖν τʼ ἀσφαλῶς τῆς δεῦρʼ ὁδοῦ.
1165

Οἰδίπους

τίς δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη τήνδʼ ὁ προσθακῶν ἕδραν;

Θησεύς

ὅρα κατʼ Ἄργος εἴ τις ὑμὶν ἐγγενὴς

ἔσθʼ, ὅστις ἄν σου τοῦτο προσχρῄζοι τυχεῖν.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατε, σχὲς οὗπερ εἶ.

Θησεύς

τί δʼ ἔστι σοι;

Οἰδίπους

μή μου δεηθῇς.
1170

Θησεύς

πράγματος ποίου; λέγε.

Οἰδίπους

ἔξοιδʼ ἀκούων τῶνδʼ ὅς ἐσθʼ ὁ προστάτης.

Θησεύς

καὶ τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶν ὅν γʼ ἐγὼ ψέξαιμί τι;

Οἰδίπους

παῖς οὑμός, ὦναξ, στυγνός, οὗ λόγων ἐγὼ

ἄλγιστʼ ἂν ἀνδρῶν ἐξανασχοίμην κλύων.

Θησεύς

τί δʼ; οὐκ ἀκούειν ἔστι καὶ μὴ δρᾶν ἃ μὴ
1175

χρῄζεις; τί σοι τοῦτʼ ἐστὶ λυπηρὸν κλύειν;

Οἰδίπους

ἔχθιστον, ὦναξ, φθέγμα τοῦθʼ ἥκει πατρί·

καὶ μή μʼ ἀνάγκῃ προσβάλῃς τάδʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Θησεύς

ἀλλʼ εἰ τὸ θάκημʼ ἐξαναγκάζει, σκόπει

μή σοι πρόνοιʼ ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ φυλακτέα.
1180

Οἰδίπους

τί δʼ ἔστι, τέκνον Αἰγέως; δίδασκέ με,

ὡς μὴ εἰδότʼ αὐτὸν μηδὲν ὧν σὺ πυνθάνει.
1155

Θησεύς

φασίν τινʼ ἡμῖν ἄνδρα, σοὶ μὲν ἔμπολιν

οὐκ ὄντα, συγγενῆ δέ, προσπεσόντα πως

βωμῷ καθῆσθαι τῷ Ποσειδῶνος, παρʼ ᾧ

θύων ἔκυρον ἡνίχʼ ὡρμώμην ἐγώ.

Οἰδίπους

ποδαπόν; τί προσχρῄζοντα τῷ θακήματι ;
1160

Θησεύς

οὐκ οἶδα πλὴν ἕν· σοῦ γάρ, ὡς λέγουσί μοι,

βραχύν τινʼ αἰτεῖ μῦθον οὐκ ὄγκου πλέων.

Οἰδίπους

ποῖόν τινʼ; οὐ γὰρ ἥδʼ ἕδρα σμικροῦ λόγου.

Θησεύς

σοὶ φασὶν αὐτὸν ἐς λόγους ἐλθεῖν μόνον

αἰτεῖν ἀπελθεῖν τʼ ἀσφαλῶς τῆς δεῦρʼ ὁδοῦ.
1165

Οἰδίπους

τίς δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη τήνδʼ ὁ προσθακῶν ἕδραν ;

Θησεύς

ὅρα κατʼ Ἄργος εἴ τις ὑμὶν ἐγγενὴς

ἔσθʼ, ὅστις ἄν σου τοῦτο προσχρῄζοι τυχεῖν.

[111 a.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατε, *σχὲς οὗπερ εἶ.

Θησεύς

τί δʼ ἔστι σοι;

Οἰδίπους

μή μου δεηθῇς.
1170

Θησεύς

πράγματος ποίου; λέγε. 1170

Οἰδίπους

ἔξοιδʼ ἀκούων τῶνδʼ ὅς ἐσθʼ ὁ προστάτης.

Θησεύς

καὶ τίς ποτʼ ἐστίν, ὅν γʼ ἐγὼ ψέξαιμί τι;

Οἰδίπους

παῖς οὑμός, ὦναξ, στυγνός, οὗ λόγων ἐγὼ

ἄλγιστʼ ἂν ἀνδρῶν ἐξανασχοίμην κλύων.

Θησεύς

τί δʼ; οὐκ ἀκούειν ἔστι, καὶ μὴ δρᾶν ἃ μὴ
1175

χρῄζεις; τί σοι τοῦτʼ ἐστὶ λυπηρόν, κλύειν;

Οἰδίπους

ἔχθιστον, ὦναξ, φθέγμα τοῦθʼ ἥκει πατρί·

καὶ μή μʼ ἀνάγκῃ προσβάλῃς τάδʼ εἰκαθεῖν.

Θησεύς

ἀλλʼ εἰ τὸ θάκημʼ ἐξαναγκάζει, σκόπει·

μή σοι πρόνοιʼ ᾖ τοῦ θεοῦ φυλακτέα.
1180

OED

What is it, O son of Aegeus? Let me hear,

I am wholly ignorant herein.
1155

THE

We are told

One, not thy townsman, but of kin to thee,

Hath come in unawares, and now is found

Kneeling at great Poseidon’s altar, where

I sacrificed, what time ye called me hither.

OED

What countryman, and wherefore suppliant there?
1160

THE

One thing alone I know. He craves of thee

Some speech, they say, that will not hold thee long.

OED

His kneeling there imports no trivial suit.

THE

All he desires, they tell me, is to come,

Have speech with thee, and go unharmed away.
1165

OED

Who can he be that kneels for such a boon?

THE

Think, if at Argos thou a kinsman hast

Who might desire to obtain so much of thee.

OED

Dear friend! Hold there! No more!

THE

What troubles thee?

OED

Ask it not of me!
1170

THE

What? Speak plainly forth.

OED

Thy words have shown me who the stranger is.

THE

And who is he that I should say him nay?

OED

My son, O King,—hateful to me, whose tongue

Least of the world I could endure to hear.

THE

What pain is there in hearing? Canst thou not
1175

Hear, and refuse to do what thou mislikest?

OED

My Lord, I have come to loathe his very voice.

I pray thee, urge me not to yield in this.

THE

Think that the God must be considered too,

The right of suppliants may compel thy care.
1180

Oedipus.

Was ist es, Aegeus' edler Sohn? Belehre mich,
1145

Dem keine Kunde dessen ward, was du vernahmst.

Theseus.

Ein fremder Mann, so heißt es, nicht aus deiner Stadt,

Doch deines Stammes, habe (weßhalb, weiß ich nicht,)

Am Herd Poseidons, wo ich eben opferte,

Sich hingeworfen, während ich von dannen zog.
1150

Oedipus.

Wo kommt er her? Was heischt er, jenem Siz genaht?

Theseus.

Nur Eines weiß ich: er erbitte sich von dir

Ein kurzes Wort nur, hieß es, das nicht lästig sei.

Oedipus.

Worüber? Nicht um Kleines wählt er diesen Siz.

Theseus.

Er komm' und wünsche, heißt es, ein Gespräch mit dir,
1155

Und ungefährdet möcht' er dann von hinnen zieh'n.

Oedipus.

Wer aber ist es, der sich dort den Siz erkor?

Theseus.

Besinne dich, ob Einer eures Stamms, o Greis,

Nicht lebt in Argos, welcher dies von dir erfleht.

Oedipus.

Mein Bester, weiter rede nicht!
1160

Theseus.

Was ist dir denn?

Oedipus.

fordre das nicht länger!

Theseus.

Was? Erkläre mir.

Oedipus.

Ich weiß, belehrt von diesen, wer der Flüchtling ist.

Theseus.

Und wer denn ist es, den ich so verwerfen soll?

Oedipus.

Mein böser Sohn, Herr, dessen Rede meinem Ohr

Schmerzvoller kläng' als jedes andern Mannes Wort.
1165

Theseus.

Wie? Kannst du's nicht anhören und, was dir mißfällt,

Versagen? Kann das Hören dir so peinlich sein?

Oedipus.

Feindselig tönt dem Vater diese Stimm', o Herr;

Nicht opfre mich dem Zwange, solches einzugeh'n!

Theseus.

Doch, legt der Altar Zwang dir auf, so siehe zu,
1170

Ob dir des Gottes Würde nicht zu scheu'n geziemt.

Theseus
(Edi. What is it, son of ^geus ? Oh ! inform me,

a man, they say.

Who boasts himself by blood allied to thee.

At Neptune's altar, whilst I sacrificed,

In humblest posture stood.

Oedipus

What could it mean?
1160

Whence came he?
1160

Theseus

That I know not \ this alone

They told me : suppliant he requested much

To talk a while with thee.

Oedipus

With me? 'Tis strange,

And yet methinks important.

Theseus

He desired

But to converse with thee, and then depart.
1165

Oedipus

Who can it be ?

Theseus

Hast thou no friend at Argos,

None of thy kindred there who wished to see thee ?

Oedipus

No more, my friend.