Sophocles, Oedipus at Colonus, ed. Francis Storr, 848

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Scene

← Previous Next →

Κρέων

οὔκουν ποτʼ ἐκ τούτοιν γε μὴ σκήπτροιν ἔτι

ὁδοιπορήσῃς· ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ νικᾶν θέλεις

πατρίδα τε τὴν σὴν καὶ φίλους, ὑφʼ ὧν ἐγὼ
850

ταχθεὶς τάδʼ ἔρδω, καὶ τύραννος ὢν ὅμως,

νίκα. χρόνῳ γάρ, οἶδʼ ἐγώ, γνώσει τάδε,

ὁθούνεκʼ αὐτὸς αὑτὸν οὔτε νῦν καλὰ

δρᾷς οὔτε πρόσθεν εἰργάσω βίᾳ φίλων,

ὀργῇ χάριν δούς, ἥ σʼ ἀεὶ λυμαίνεται.
855

Χορός

ἐπίσχες αὐτοῦ, ξεῖνε.

Κρέων

μὴ ψαύειν λέγω.

Χορός

οὔτοι σʼ ἀφήσω, τῶνδέ γʼ ἐστερημένος.

Κρέων

καὶ μεῖζον ἆρα ῥύσιον πόλει τάχα

θήσεις· ἐφάψομαι γὰρ οὐ ταύταιν μόναιν.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ἐς τί τρέψει;
860

Κρέων

τόνδʼ ἀπάξομαι λαβών.

Χορός

δεινὸν λέγοις ἄν.

Κρέων

τοῦτο νῦν πεπράξεται.

Χορός

ἢν μή σʼ ὁ κραίνων τῆσδε γῆς ἀπειργάθῃ.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φθέγμʼ ἀναιδές, ἦ σὺ γὰρ ψαύσεις ἐμοῦ;

Κρέων

αὐδῶ σιωπᾶν.

Οἰδίπους

μὴ γὰρ αἵδε δαίμονες

θεῖέν μʼ ἄφωνον τῆσδε τῆς ἀρᾶς ἔτι,
865

ὅς μʼ, ὦ κάκιστε, ψιλὸν ὄμμʼ ἀποσπάσας

πρὸς ὄμμασιν τοῖς πρόσθεν ἐξοίχει βίᾳ.

τοιγὰρ σέ τʼ αὐτὸν καὶ γένος τὸ σὸν θεῶν

ὁ πάντα λεύσσων Ἥλιος δοίη βίον

τοιοῦτον οἷον κἀμὲ γηρᾶναί ποτε.
870

Κρέων

ὁρᾶτε ταῦτα, τῆσδε γῆς ἐγχώριοι;

Οἰδίπους

ὁρῶσι κἀμὲ καὶ σέ, καὶ φρονοῦσʼ ὅτι

ἔργοις πεπονθὼς ῥήμασίν σʼ ἀμύνομαι.

Κρέων

οὔτοι καθέξω θυμόν, ἀλλʼ ἄξω βίᾳ

κεἰ μοῦνός εἰμι τόνδε καὶ χρόνῳ βραδύς.
875

Οἰδίπους

ἰὼ τάλας.

Χορός

ὅσον λῆμʼ ἔχων ἀφίκου, ξένʼ, εἰ τάδε δοκεῖς τελεῖν.

Κρέων

δοκῶ.

Χορός

τάνδʼ ἄρʼ οὐκέτι νεμῶ πόλιν.

Κρέων

τοῖς τοι δικαίοις χὠ βραχὺς νικᾷ μέγαν.
880

Οἰδίπους

ἀκούεθʼ οἷα φθέγγεται;

Χορός

τά γʼ οὐ τελεῖ.

ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς.

Κρέων

Ζεύς γʼ ἂν εἰδείη, σὺ δʼ οὔ.

Χορός

ἆρʼ οὐχ ὕβρις τάδʼ;

Κρέων

ὕβρις, ἀλλʼ ἀνεκτέα.

Χορός

ἰὼ πᾶς λεώς, ἰὼ γᾶς πρόμοι,
885

μόλετε σὺν τάχει, μόλετʼ, ἐπεὶ πέραν περῶσʼ οἵδε δή.

Θησεύς

τίς ποθʼ ἡ βοή; τί τοὔργον; ἐκ τίνος φόβου ποτὲ

βουθυτοῦντά μʼ ἀμφὶ βωμὸν ἔσχετʼ ἐναλίῳ θεῷ

τοῦδʼ ἐπιστάτῃ Κολωνοῦ; λέξαθʼ, ὡς εἰδῶ τὸ πᾶν,

οὗ χάριν δεῦρʼ ᾖξα θᾶσσον ἢ καθʼ ἡδονὴν ποδός.
890

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἔγνων γὰρ τὸ προσφώνημά σου,

πέπονθα δεινὰ τοῦδʼ ὑπʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως.

Θησεύς

τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα, τίς δʼ ὁ πημήνας; λέγε.

Οἰδίπους

Κρέων ὅδʼ, ὃν δέδορκας, οἴχεται τέκνων

ἀποσπάσας μου τὴν μόνην ξυνωρίδα.
895

Θησεύς

πῶς εἶπας;

Οἰδίπους

οἷά περ πέπονθʼ ἀκήκοας.

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)) — 848 focus

οὔκουν ποτʼ ἐκ τούτοιν γε μὴ σκήπτροιν ἔτι

ὁδοιπορήσεις· ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ νικᾶν θέλεις

πατρίδα τε τὴν σὴν καὶ φίλους, ὑφʼ ὧν ἐγὼ
850

ταχθεὶς τάδʼ ἔρδω, καὶ τύραννος ὢν ὅμως,

νίκα. χρόνῳ γάρ, οἶδʼ ἐγώ, γνώσει τάδε,

ὁθούνεκʼ αὐτὸς αὑτὸν οὔτε νῦν καλὰ

δρᾷς οὔτε πρόσθεν εἰργάσω βίᾳ φίλων,

ὀργῇ χάριν δούς, ἥ σʼ ἀεὶ λυμαίνεται.
855

Χορός

ἐπίσχες αὐτοῦ, ξεῖνε.

Κρέων

μὴ ψαύειν λέγω.

Χορός

οὔτοι σʼ ἀφήσω, τῶνδέ γʼ ἐστερημένος.

Κρέων

καὶ μεῖζον ἆρα ῥύσιον πόλει τάχα

θήσεις· ἐφάψομαι γὰρ οὐ ταύταιν μόναιν.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ἐς τί τρέψει;
860

Κρέων

τόνδʼ ἀπάξομαι λαβών. 860

Χορός

δεινὸν λέγεις.

Κρέων

ὡς τοῦτο νῦν πεπράξεται,

ἢν μή μʼ ὁ κραίνων τῆσδε γῆς ἀπειργάθῃ.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φθέγμʼ ἀναιδές, ἦ σὺ γὰρ ψαύσεις ἐμοῦ;

Κρέων

αὐδῶ σιωπᾶν.

Οἰδίπους

μὴ γὰρ αἵδε δαίμονες

θεῖέν μʼ ἄφωνον τῆσδε * τῆς ἀρᾶς ἔτι,
865

ὅς μʼ, ὦ κάκιστε, ψιλὸν ὄμμʼ ἀποσπάσας

πρὸς ὄμμασιν τοῖς πρόσθεν ἐξοίχει βίᾳ.

τοιγὰρ σὲ καὐτὸν καὶ γένος τὸ σὸν θεῶν

ὁ πάντα λεύσσων " Ἥλιος δοίη βίον

τοιοῦτον οἷον κἀμὲ γηράναι ποτέ.
870

Κρέων

ὁρᾶτε ταῦτα, τῆσδε γῆς ἐγχώριοι;

Οἰδίπους

ὁρῶσι κἀμὲ καὶ σέ, καὶ φρονοῦσʼ ὅτι

ἔργοις πεπονθὼς ῥήμασίν σʼ ἀμύνομαι.

Κρέων

οὔτοι καθέξω θυμόν, ἀλλʼ ἄξω βίᾳ

κεἰ μοῦνός εἰμι τόνδε καὶ χρόνῳ βραδύς.
875

[107 b.

Οἰδίπους

ἰὼ τάλας.

Χορός

ὅσον λῆμʼ ἔχων ἀφίκου, ξένʼ, εἰ τάδε δοκεῖς τελεῖν.

Κρέων

δοκῶ.

Χορός

τάνδʼ ἄρʼ οὐκέτι νεμῶ πόλιν.

Κρέων

τοῖς τοι δικαίοις χὠ βραχὺς νικᾷ μέγαν.
880

Οἰδίπους

ἀκούεθʼ οἷα φθέγγεται;

Χορός

τά γʼ οὐ τελεῖ

Κρέων

Ζεύς *γʼ ἂν εἰδείη, σὺ δʼ οὔ.

Χορός

ἆρʼ οὐχ ὕβρις τάδʼ;

Κρέων

ὕβρις, ἀλλʼ ἀνεκτέα.

Χορός

ἰὼ πᾶς λεώς, ἰὼ γᾶς πρόμοι,
885

μόλετε σὺν τάχει, μόλετʼ· ἐπεὶ πέραν

περῶσʼ * οἵδε δή.

Θησεύς

τίς ποθʼ ἡ βοή; τί τοὔργον; ἐκ τίνος φόβου ποτὲ

βουθυτοῦντά μʼ ἀμφὶ βωμὸν ἔσχετʼ ἐναλίῳ θεῷ

τοῦδʼ ἐπιστάτῃ Κολωνοῦ; λέξαθʼ, ὡς εἰδῶ τὸ πᾶν,

οὗ χάριν δεῦρʼ ᾖξα θᾶσσον ἢ καθʼ ἡδονὴν ποδός.
890

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἔγνων γὰρ τὸ προσφώνημά σου,

πέπονθα δεινὰ τοῦδʼ ὑπʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως.

Θησεύς

τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα, τίς δʼ ὁ πημήνας; λέγε.

Οἰδίπους

Κρέων ὅδʼ, ὃν δέδορκας, οἴχεται τέκνων

ἀποσπάσας μου τὴν μόνην ξυνωρίδα.
895

Θησεύς

πῶς εἶπας;

Οἰδίπους

οἷά περ πέπονθʼ ἀκήκοας.

Θησεύς

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 848 focus

Thou shalt not have these staves henceforth to prop

Thy roaming to and fro. Take thine own way!

Since thou hast chosen to thwart thy nearest kin,—

Beneath whose orders, though a royal man,
850

I act herein,—and thine own native land.

The time will surely come when thou shalt find

That in this deed and all that thou hast done

In opposition to their friendly will,

Thou hast counselled foolishly against thy peace,

Yielding to anger, thy perpetual bane.
855

CH

Stranger, stand where thou art!

CR

Hands off, I say!

CH

Thou shalt not go, till thou restore the maids.

CR

Soon, then, my city shall retain from you

A weightier cause of war. I will lay hands

Not on the maidens only.

CH

What wilt thou do?
860

CR

Oedipus I will seize and bear away.

CH

Great Heaven forfend!

CR

It shall be done forthwith,

Unless the ruler of this land prevent me.

OED

O shameless utterance! Wilt thou lay thy hold

On me?

CR

Be silent! Speak no more!

OED

No more?

May these dread Goddesses not close my lips

To this one prayer of evil against thee,
865

Thou villain, who, when I have lost mine eyes,

Bereavest me of all that I had left

To make my darkness light! Therefore I pray,

For this thy wrongful act, may He in heaven

Whose eye sees all things, Helios, give to thee

Slowly to wither in an age like mine!
870

CR

Men of this land, bear witness to his rage!

OED

They see us both, and are aware that I

Repay thee but with words for deeds of wrong.

CR

No longer will I curb my wrath. Though lonely

And cumbered by mine age, I will bear off

This man!
875

OED

Me miserable!

CH

How bold thou art,

If standing here thou think’st to do this thing!

CR

I do.

CH

Then Athens is to me no city.

CR

Slight men prevail o’er strength in a just cause.
880

OED

Hear ye his words?

CH

He shall not make them good.

Be witness, Zeus!

CR

Zeus knows more things than thou.

OED

Is not this violence?

CR

Violence you must bear.

CH

Come, chieftain of our land!
885

Come hither with all speed. They pass the bound.

THE
Enter THESEUS .

Wherefore that shouting? Daunted by what fear

Stayed ye me sacrificing to the God

Who guards this deme Colonos? Let me know

What cause so hastened my reluctant foot.
890

OED

Dear friend (I know thy voice addressing us),

One here hath lately done me cruel wrong.

THE

Who is the wrong-doer, say, and what the deed?

OED

This Creon, whom thou seest, hath torn away

Two children that were all in all to me.
895

THE

Can this be possible?

OED

Thou hear’st the truth.

THE

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 848 focus

So wirst du denn, auf diesen Doppelstab gestüzt,
845

Nie mehr dahinzieh'n! Aber weil du deinem Land

Und deinen Freunden trozen willst, die solches mir

Zu thun geboten, ob ich gleich der Herrscher bin:

So troze! Wohl erkennst du's einst in später Zeit,

Daß dir so wenig fromme, was du heute thust,
850

Als was du früher thatest troz der Freunde Rath,

Dem Zorn gehorchend, der dir stets Unheil erschafft.

(vertritt ihm den Weg) (will gehen.)

Der Chor.

Du bleibst, o Fremdling!

Kreon.

Nicht berührt mich, sag' ich euch!

Der Chor.

Dich lass' ich niemals, da du diese mir geraubt.

Kreon.

So wirst du bald ein höh'res Lösegeld der Stadt¹
855

Auflegen; denn nicht diese Zwei ergreif' ich nur.

Der Chor.

Was willst du mehr noch?

(auf Dedipus deutend)

Kreon.

Diesen greif' und führ' ich weg.

Du redest keck!

Und ohne Säumen wird's gescheh'n,

Wenn dieses Landes Herrscher mir es nicht verwehrt.

Oedipus.

Schamlose Zunge! Legst du gar an mich die Hand?
860

Kreon.

Sei stille, sag' ich.

Oedipus.

Mögen hier die Göttinnen

Die Stimme mir nicht rauben, eh' ich dir geflucht,

Kuchloser, der mein schwaches leztes Auge mir,

Dem Augenlosen, mit Gewalt entreißt und flieht!

Ja, lasse dafür dein Geschlecht und dich der Gott,²
865

Der Alles siehet, Helios, dereinst ergrau'n

In einem Leben, düster, wie das meine war!

Ha, seht ihr das, des Landes Eingeborene?

Sie sehen mich und dich zugleich und wissen wohl,

Daß wider deine Thaten nur das Wort mich schirmt.
870

Kreon.

Ich halte mich nicht länger, schlepp' ihn mit Gewalt

Von hinnen, bin ich auch allein und alterschwer.

Ich Armer, ach!

(ergreift den Dedipus.)

Der Chor.

Ha, welch kühner Stolz führt dich hieher, daß du

Das zu vollenden denkst!
875

Ich denk's!

Dieses Volk achtet' ich dann für Nichts!

Kreon.

Der Schwache schlägt den Starken auch, hilft ihm das Recht.

Oedipus.

Vernehmt ihr, was er redet?

Der Chor.

Was er nie vollbringt!

Lebt aber Zeus -

Kreon.

Zeus weiß es, doch du weißt es nicht.

Der Chor.

Ist das nicht Hohn?
880

Kreon.

Hohn ist es; aber trag' ihn nur!

Der Chor.

Wohlauf, alles Volk! Wohlauf, Landesherr!

Eilet geschwind heran, eilet! Es dringt Gewalt

Gewaltvoll daher!

Theseus mit Gefolge. Die Vorigen.

Theseus.

Welch ein Lärm? Was ist gescheh'n hier? Was erschreckt' euch, daß ihr mein

Farrenopfer stört, am Altar dargebracht dem Meeresgott,
885

Unserm Schirmherrn von Kolonos? Sprecht, damit ich Alles weiß,

Was es sei, das mich dahertrieb, schneller, als dem Fuß gefiel!

Oedipus.

Mein Theurer! denn ich kenne deiner Stimme Ton

Ach, Schweres litt ich eben jezt von diesem Mann.

Theseus.

Was war es? Wer hat Leides dir gethan? O sprich!
890

Oedipus.

Er, den du siehst hier, Kreon hat mein Töchterpaar,

Die einzig treuen Stüzen, mir hinweggeraubt.

Wie sagst du?

Nur was mir geschah, vernahmest du.

Theseus.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 848 focus

O wretched CEdipus !

Creon

No longer shall these tender props support

Thy feeble age ; since thou art still resolved

Against thyself, thy country, and thy friends,
850

By whose command. I come, remain perverse

And obstinate, old man ; but know, hereafter

Time will convince thee thou hast ever been

Thy own worst foe ; thy fiery temper still

Must make thee wretched.
855

Chorus

Stranger, stir not hence.

Creon

I charge you, touch me not.

Chorus

Thou shalt not go

Till thou restor'st the virgins.

Creon

I must have

A nobler I'ansom from your city ; these

Shall not suffice.

Chorus

What meanst thou ?
860

Creon

He shall go,

This (Edipus.

Chorus

Thy threats are terrible.

Creon

I'll do 't ; and only he who governs here

Shall hinder me.

CEp1. O insolence! thou wilt not,

Thou dar'st not force me.

Creon

Hold thy peace.

The dreadful goddesses, who here preside,

Should bind my tongue from heaviest curses on thee,

For thou hast robbed me of the only light

These eyes could boast ; but may th' all-seeing sun

Behold and punish thee and all thy race.

And load thy age with miseries like mine !

Creon
(Edi. Not e'en

Inhabitants of Athens, hear ye this ?

I can repay the injuries I receive ;

For I am weak with age, and here alone.

Creon
(Edi. They do, and see that but with fruitless words

No longer will I curb my just resentment,

But force thee hence.
875

Chorus
(Edi. 0 me !

What boldness, stranger,

Could make thee hope to do a deed like this

Unpunished ?

Creon

'Tis resolved.

Chorus

Our Athens then

Is fallen indeed, and is no more a city.

Creon

In a just cause the weak may foil the mighty.
880

Chorus
(Edi. Hear how he threatens

What he'll ne'er perform.

Creon

That Jove alone can tell.

Chorus

Shall injuries

Like these be suftered 1

Creon

Call it injury

Thou mayst, 'tis such as thou perforce must bear.

Chorus

This is too much ; ye rulers of the land
885

My fellow-citizens, come forth and save us.
885

~ (EDIPVS COLONEUii,
885

Scene III.

TiiE.sEi's, CiiEON, (Ei)ii'us, Antioone, Chorus.

Tjii:. Whence is this clamour? Wherefore ain I calie

From sacred rites at Neptune's altar paid,

Our guardian god ? Say, what's the cause that thus

In hiiste I'm summoned hither?

Oedipus

O my friend ! —

Foi* well I know thy voice— most cruelly

Have I been treated by this man.

Theseus

Who did it?

from me

My only help, my daughters.

Theseus
(Edi. This Creon, whom thou seest, hath ravished

Ha ! wliat sayst thou ?

Oedipus

'Tis as I tell thee.

Theseus

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 848 focus

Stranger, thou movest not hence.

Creon

Off; touch me not.

Chorus

Of these bereaved I will not quit my hold.
860

Creon

Thy state with heavier ransom wilt thou charge;

For not these virgins only will I seize.

Chorus

To what now wilt thou turn thee?

And bear this old man hence.

I will seize

A perilous threat.

OR. But soon to be accomplish'd, if the king,

The sovereign of this land, restrain me not.

Oedipus

Me, shameless babbler, wilt thou dare to touch?

Creon

I charge thee be thou silent.

Silent! no;

May not these awful pow'rs restrain my tongue

From one curse more, this curse on thee, vile man,

Who from my sightless steps hast drawn by force

My tender guide! For this may yon bright god,

Th' all-seeing sun, give thee and all thy race

To close your lives with an old age like mine!

Ye natives of this country, see you this?

Oedipus

They see both me and thee, and they perceive

That wrong'd by deeds in words I seek revenge.

Creon

No longer will I check my rage, but hence

Drag him by force, though here I am alone,

And slow through age.
875

Oedipus

Ah me, unhappy me!

Chorus

Presumptuous stranger, hither darest thou come

With thoughts to do such deeds?

Creon

Such are my thoughts.

Chorus

This state then I esteem a state no more.

Creon

In a just cause the weak subdue the strong.
880

Oedipus

Hear you his threats?

Chorus

They shall not have effect.

Creon

That Jove may know, not thou.

An insult thou must bear.

What insult this!

Chorus

My countrymen.
885

Come forth, with all your forces come! Ye chiefs
885

Advance, with speed advance; for now the tide

Of headlong violence o'erflows all bounds.

Theseus

What means this cry? What outrage raised your fears,

That at the altar while the victim bleeds

An offering to the monarch of the sea,

The god o'er this Colonus who presides,

You call me? Speak, inform me what the cause

That urged me hither with uneasy speed?
890

Oedipus

My generous friend, for well I know thy voice,

Dreadful my recent sufferings from this man.

Theseus

What hast thou suffer'd? Who hath wrong'd thee? Speak.

Oedipus

This Creon, whom thou seest, has forced from me

My daughters, the sole comfort of my woes.
895

Theseus

How say'st thou?

Oedipus

My fresh sufferings thou hast heard.

Theseus

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 848 focus

Creon

So those two staffs will never again support your path.

But since you wish to overcome your country and your friends, whose will I, though tyrant as well, am here discharging, then I wish you victory. For in time, I am sure, you will come to recognize all this, that now too as in time past, it is you who have done yourself no good, by indulging your anger despite your friends.
850

This has always been your ruin.
855

Chorus

Stop there, stranger!

Creon

Hands off, I say!

Chorus

I will not let go, unless you give back the maidens.

Creon

Then you will soon give the city a more valuable prize, for I will lay hands on more than those two girls.

Chorus

What! What do you intend?
860

Creon

This man here will be my captive.

Chorus

A valiant threat!

Creon

Straightaway it will be done.

Chorus

Indeed, unless the ruler of this realm prevents you.

Oedipus

Voice of shamelessness! Will you really lay hands on me?

Creon

Shut up, I say!

Oedipus

No! May the powers of this place grant me to utter this further curse! Most evil of men, when these eyes were dark, you wrenched from me the helpless one who was my eyesight and made off with her by force. Therefore to you and to your race may the Sun, the god who sees all things,

grant in time an old age such as mine!
870

Creon

Do you see this, people of the land?

Oedipus

They see both you and me. They know that I have suffered in deeds, and my defense is mere words.

Creon

I will not check my anger. Though I am alone

and slow with age, I will take this man by force.
875

Oedipus

Ah, my wretchedness!

Chorus

What arrogance you have come with, stranger, if you think you will achieve this!

Creon

I will.

Chorus

Then I think this city no longer exists.

Creon

For men who are just, you see, the weak vanquishes the strong.
880

Oedipus

Do you hear his words?

Chorus

Yes, but he will not achieve them.

Creon

Zeus knows perhaps, but you do not.

Chorus

This is an outrage!

Creon

An outrage which you must bear.

Chorus

Hear people, hear rulers of the land! Come quickly, come!

These men are on their way to cross our borders!
885

Enter Theseus.

Theseus

What is this shout? What is the trouble? What fear has moved you to stop my sacrifice at the altar to the sea-god, the lord of your Colonus ? Speak, so that I may know the situation; for that is why I have sped

here more swiftly than was pleasant.
890

Oedipus

Dearest of men! I know your voice. Terrible are the things I have just suffered at the hands of this man here.

Theseus

What things are these? And who has pained you? Speak!

Oedipus

Creon, whom you see here,

has torn from me my children—my only two.
895

Theseus

What is that you say?

Oedipus

You have heard my wrongs.

Commentary

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

mvp-comment-635-1 ἐκ τούτοιν … σκήπτροιν ¹

mvp-comment-635-2 ἐκ ²

mvp-comment-635-3 σκήπτροιν ³

mvp-comment-636-1 οδοιπορήσῃς ⁴

mvp-comment-636-2 νικᾶν ⁵

mvp-comment-637-1 τύραννος ⁶

mvp-comment-638-1 γνώσει τάδε ⁷

mvp-comment-638-2 αὑτὸν ⁸

mvp-comment-639-1 For δρᾷς followed by εἰργάσω , instead of

ἔδρασας

, cp. O. T. 54

ὡς εἴπερ ἄρξεις … ὥσπερ κρατεῖς

(n.).

mvp-comment-639-2 βίᾳ φίλων ⁹

mvp-comment-640-1 ὀργῇ χάριν δούς ¹⁰

mvp-comment-641-1 The guards, carrying off Antigone, have already left the scene (847); cp. 875

μοῦνος

. Creon is now about to follow them, when the Chorus again approach him, and protest that he shall not leave Colonus unless the two maidens are restored.

mvp-comment-642-1 τῶνδε ¹¹

mvp-comment-643-1 ῥύσιον ¹²

mvp-comment-643-2 πόλει ¹³

mvp-comment-643-3 πόλει ¹⁶

mvp-comment-643-4 θήσεις πόλει ¹⁷

mvp-comment-643-5 ἐφάψομαι ¹⁸

mvp-comment-644-1 After δεινὸν λέγοις (L), or λέγεις , a syllable has to be supplied conjecturally. Triclinius added ὡς ("be sure that," 45 ) before τοῦτο : but this mars the rhythm: and the simple fut. (as in 860 ) is more forcible. The optat. λέγοις of L, which is not likely to be a mere error for λέγεις , strongly favours Hermann's simple remedy, δεινὸν λέγοις ἄν , "'twere a dread deed that thou threatenest" (if only thou couldst do it): cp. on 647

μέγ’ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα

. Next to this, I should prefer Wecklein's

δεινὸς λόγοις εἶ

mvp-comment-644-2 πεπράξεται ¹⁹

mvp-comment-645-1 ἢν μή γ’ ²⁰

mvp-comment-645-2 ἀπειργάθῃ ²¹

mvp-comment-646-1 φθέγμ’ ²²

mvp-comment-647-1 αὐδῶ σιωπᾶν ²³

mvp-comment-647-2 ἄφωνον … ἀρᾶς ²⁴

mvp-comment-647-3 τῆς ²⁵

mvp-comment-648-1 See Appendix on this passage.

mvp-comment-648-2 ὅς ²⁶

mvp-comment-648-3 ψιλὸν ὄμμ’ ²⁷

mvp-comment-648-4 ψιλὸν ²⁸

mvp-comment-648-5 ἀποσπάσας ²⁹

mvp-comment-649-1 ἐξοίχει ³⁰

mvp-comment-650-1 σέ τ’ αὐτὸν ³¹

mvp-comment-651-1 Ἥλιος ³²

mvp-comment-651-2 βίον ³³

mvp-comment-651-3 κἀμὲ ³⁴

mvp-comment-652-1 ὁρᾶτε ³⁵

mvp-comment-653-1 ἔργοις ³⁶

mvp-comment-653-2 ῥήμασιν ³⁷

mvp-comment-654-1 μοῦνος ³⁸

mvp-comment-654-2 βραδύς ³⁹

mvp-comment-655-1 ἰὼ τάλας ⁴⁰

mvp-comment-656-1 τάνδε ( πόλιν ) οὐκέτι πόλιν νεμῶ ⁴¹

mvp-comment-657-1 τοῖς … δικαίοις ⁴²

mvp-comment-657-2 βραχὺς ⁴³

mvp-comment-658-1 τά ⁴⁴

mvp-comment-659-1 Ζεύς γ’ ἂν … σὺ δ’ οὔ ⁴⁵

mvp-comment-660-1 ὕβρις ⁴⁶

mvp-comment-660-2 ἀνεκτέα ⁴⁷

mvp-comment-661-1 πρόμοι ⁴⁸

mvp-comment-662-1 πέραν περῶσ’ οἵδε δή ⁴⁹

mvp-comment-662-2 δή ⁵⁰

mvp-comment-663-1 βωμὸν ⁵¹

mvp-comment-663-2 ἔσχετ’ ⁵²

mvp-comment-664-1 θᾶσσον ἢ καθ’ ἡδονὴν ⁵³

mvp-comment-665-1 ἔγνων ⁵⁴

mvp-comment-666-1 τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα ⁵⁵

mvp-comment-667-1 οἴχεται ⁵⁶

mvp-comment-667-2 τὴν μόνην ⁵⁷

mvp-comment-668-1 περ ⁵⁸

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

848. mvp-comment-461-1 ἐκ τούτοιν .. σκήπτροιν With these to lean upon.' ἐκ = by means of, with the help of. Cp. Phil. 91, οὐ γὰρ ἐξ ἑνὸς ποδὸς | ἡμᾶς τοσούσδε πρὸς βίαν χειρώσεται.

851. mvp-comment-462-1 καὶ τύραννος ὢν ὅμως Although I am a prince. For τύραννos = one of royal blood, cp. Eur. Med. 957, τῇ τυράννῳ νύμφῃ. Creon is moreover regent of Thebes; O. Τ. 1418.

852. mvp-comment-463-1 τάδε = τὸ παρὸν πρᾶγμα.

856. mvp-comment-464-1 ἐπίσχες αὐτοῦ, ξεῖνε Creon, after launching the above speech at Oedipus, turns to follow Antigone and the attendants who are dragging her off. The chorus interfere to prevent him.

857. mvp-comment-465-1 τῶνδε The maidens, of whom Ismene, though in the background, is not far off.

858-859. mvp-comment-466-1 αὑτόν These lines may be differently explained according as πόλει is taken to refer to Thebes or to Athens. Either reference is possibl possible, but πόλει in Creon's previous speech, supr. 837, is clearly Thebes. ῥύσιον is that which is held by one party, and claimed or seized by another, who is said ῥυσίων ἐφάπτεσθαι (Aesch. Suppl. 412, καὶ μήτε δῆρις ῥυσίων ἐφάψεται, ib. 314, Ἔπαφος ἀληθῶς ῥυσίων ἐπώνυμος). (1) Then assuredly you will quickly pay moreover a heavier forfeit to my state, for I will seize not the maidens only. For this meaning of τίθημι see L. and S. s. v. A. II, 8. Or (2), 'Then assuredly you will cause your city to have a still greater prey to redeem. For πόλει in (2), cp. Eur. Suppl. 120, ἦλθον ἐξαιτῶν πόλιν, (Adrastus speaks of Thebes, which is not his city).

861. mvp-comment-467-1 δεινὸν λέγεις That is indeed a threat! Cp. supra 661, κεἰ δείν᾽ ἐπερρώσθη λέγειν. Know that this shall certainly be done forthwith (νῦν). For the ellipse with ὡς, cp. Αj. 39, ὡς ἔστιν ἀνδρὸς τοῦδε τἄργα ταῦτά σοι. The reduplicated future has not here the force of a future-perfect, but is simply emphatic.

863. mvp-comment-468-1 ή σὺ γάρ How? do you mean to say that you...

864. mvp-comment-469-1 μὴ γάρ γάρ gives the reason of an implied negative, repelling Creon's injunction of silence. Nay, but I will not. For I would not have these goddesses close my lips to this one curse.' 865. ἔτι adds emphasis to τῆσδε τῆς ἀρᾶς: i. e. Though they enjoin silence from cursing, let them not enforce it here.

866. mvp-comment-470-1 ὅς μ' The omission of the antecedent rather adds to the passionate force of the expression. Cp. supra 263, κάμοιγε ποῦ ταῦτ᾽ ἐστίν, οἵτινες, κ.τ.λ., and see Essay on Language § 22. p. 35. and § 39, p. 72.

866-867. mvp-comment-471-1 ψιλὸν ὄμμ' βίᾳ Who hast added to the former loss of my eyes by violently tearing away the poor defenceless means of sight that were still left to me.The ψιλὸν ὄμμα are his daughters, Antigone (τῆς ὑπέρ τ᾿ ἐμοῦ αὐτῆς θ' ὁρώσης, supra 33. 4) and Ismene, who brought him intelligence of things in Thebes. For the expression, cp. Shak., King Lear, 4. 6, Lear. Read. Gloster. What, with the case of eyes?' βίᾳ is to be joined with the phrase ἀποσπάσας.

868. mvp-comment-472-1 σὲ καὐτόν, κ.τλ. Cp. Phil. 620, τὸ σπεύδειν δέ σοι | καὐτῷ παραινῶ κεἴ τινος κήδει πέρι. The change to σε τ' αὐτόν is unnecessary here. The case is different in 1417, where σε τ' αὐτόν is a tmesis for σαυτόν τε.

870. mvp-comment-473-1 οἷον κἀμέ ἐμέ is accusative by attraction το σέ.

874. mvp-comment-474-1 ἄξω βίᾳ Cf. infra 922, βίᾳ ἄγοντα φωτῶν ἀθλίων ἱκτήρια.

875. mvp-comment-475-1 Creon, provoked by the curse of Oedipus, is about to carry out his threat (860), although, since the attendants are gone with the maidens, he has no one to help him. As to the reading, γηρῶν . . βαρύς; either γηρῶν has originated in a gloss on χρόνῳ βραδύς, and βαρύς, as elsewhere, from a misreading of βραδύς, or there was an early various reading, γήρᾳ βαρύς, for which, cp. O. T. 17. On the order of the words, see Essay on Language § 41. p. 78 8.

879. mvp-comment-476-1 τάνδ'. πόλιν Then I will no longer account this a city. The Scholiast, who explains by νομιῶ, seems to have read the future, which is therefore substituted for νέμω. Cp. El. 150, σὲ δ᾽ ἔγωγε νέμω θεόν.

880. mvp-comment-477-1 τοῖς τοι δικαίοις (1) In a just cause. Essay on Language § 11. p. 18. Or perhaps (2) the dat. is instrumental;- With weapons of justice. χώ βραχὺς νικᾷ μέγαν] Even slight men overcome the mighty. 882. Ζεὺς *γ᾿ ἂν εἰδείη, σὺ δ᾽ οὔ] There is a lacuna of an iambic penthemimer, or, if the correction Ζεὺς ταῦτ᾽ ἂν εἰδείη is right, of an iambic metre. The sense required is, ΧΟ. τά γ'᾽ οὐ τελεῖ.

880. mvp-comment-477-2 Ζεύς μοι ξυνίστωρ. ΚΡ. Ζεύς γ᾽ ἂν εἰδείη, σὺ δ' οὔ.

884. mvp-comment-478-1 ἰὼ γᾶς πρόμοι This is the summons to which Theseus, the chief of the land,' responds.

885. mvp-comment-479-1 ἐπεὶ πέραν | περῶσ' *οἵδε δή Elmsley's emendation has been generally adopted, and has the advantage of closely resembling 843, προβάθ᾽ ὧδέ μοι. But the correction is uncertain. (1) Since they are passing all bounds.' Cp. supra 155. Hermann's rule, that πέραν can never be used metaphorically, appears arbitrary, and when they have just left the stage it is too soon to say, (2) They are passing the frontier.' But possibly the words may mean, (3) They are passing out of reach.' Cp. infr. 902, ὡς μὴ παρέλθωσ' αἱ κόραι, and the hyperbolical expression in 842, πόλις ἐναίρεται.

887. mvp-comment-480-1 Theseus, perhaps moved by the strange advent of Oedipus. is sacrificing at the neighbouring altar of Poseidon, the chief guardian deity of Colonus. This act, which is natural in itself, is convenient, as the Scholiast remarks, for assigning a sufficient reason why Theseus, whose presence will be again necessary, should, when off the stage, be still within call. The sacrifice also occasions a gathering of people, who are ready to start in pursuit of Creon and frustrate his attempt. The trochaics are expressive of the haste with which Theseus comes-θάσσον ἢ καθ᾽ ἡδονὴν ποδός (890). They are conventionally associated with the sudden arrival on the stage or departure from it of important persons. Cp. Aesch. Pers. 155 ff.

888. mvp-comment-481-1 ἔσχετε Stayed ye my hand. Cp. 429, οὐκ ἔσχον οὐδ᾽ ἤμυναν.

891. mvp-comment-482-1 Dear friend (I know thy voice addressing us).' Cp. O. T. 1322-1326, ἰώ, φίλος .. οὐ γάρ με λήθεις, ἀλλὰ γιγνώσκω σαφῶς | καίπερ σκοτεινός, τήν γε σὴν αὐδὴν ὅμως. .. 894-895. Has torn away from me the two children that were my all. οἴχεται ἀποσπάσας, cp. supra 866, El. 809, 10, ἀποσπάσας γὰρ τῆς ἐμῆς οἴχει φρενός, κ.τ.λ. The use of μόνην is pathetic. Cp. ψιλὸν ὄμμα, supra 866.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Χορός ἐπίσχες αὐτοῦ, ξεῖνε.

Κρέων μὴ ψαύειν λέγω.

Χορός οὔτοι σʼ ἀφήσω, τῶνδέ γʼ ἐστερημένος.

Κρέων καὶ μεῖζον ἆρα ῥύσιον πόλει τάχα θήσεις· ἐφάψομαι γὰρ οὐ ταύταιν μόναιν.

Χορός ἀλλʼ ἐς τί τρέψει; 860

Κρέων τόνδʼ ἀπάξομαι λαβών.

Χορός δεινὸν λέγοις ἄν.

Κρέων τοῦτο νῦν πεπράξεται.

Χορός ἢν μή σʼ ὁ κραίνων τῆσδε γῆς ἀπειργάθῃ.

Οἰδίπους ὦ φθέγμʼ ἀναιδές, ἦ σὺ γὰρ ψαύσεις ἐμοῦ;

Κρέων αὐδῶ σιωπᾶν.

Κρέων ὁρᾶτε ταῦτα, τῆσδε γῆς ἐγχώριοι;

Οἰδίπους ὁρῶσι κἀμὲ καὶ σέ, καὶ φρονοῦσʼ ὅτι ἔργοις πεπονθὼς ῥήμασίν σʼ ἀμύνομαι.

Κρέων οὔτοι καθέξω θυμόν, ἀλλʼ ἄξω βίᾳ κεἰ μοῦνός εἰμι τόνδε καὶ χρόνῳ βραδύς. 875

Οἰδίπους ἰὼ τάλας.

Χορός ὅσον λῆμʼ ἔχων ἀφίκου, ξένʼ, εἰ τάδε δοκεῖς τελεῖν.

Κρέων δοκῶ.

Χορός τάνδʼ ἄρʼ οὐκέτι νεμῶ πόλιν.

Κρέων τοῖς τοι δικαίοις χὠ βραχὺς νικᾷ μέγαν. 880

Οἰδίπους ἀκούεθʼ οἷα φθέγγεται;

Χορός τά γʼ οὐ τελεῖ. ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς.

Κρέων Ζεύς γʼ ἂν εἰδείη, σὺ δʼ οὔ.

Χορός ἆρʼ οὐχ ὕβρις τάδʼ;

Κρέων ὕβρις, ἀλλʼ ἀνεκτέα.

Χορός ἰὼ πᾶς λεώς, ἰὼ γᾶς πρόμοι, 885 μόλετε σὺν τάχει, μόλετʼ, ἐπεὶ πέραν περῶσʼ οἵδε δή.

Οἰδίπους ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἔγνων γὰρ τὸ προσφώνημά σου, πέπονθα δεινὰ τοῦδʼ ὑπʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως.

Θησεύς τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα, τίς δʼ ὁ πημήνας; λέγε.

Οἰδίπους Κρέων ὅδʼ, ὃν δέδορκας, οἴχεται τέκνων ἀποσπάσας μου τὴν μόνην ξυνωρίδα. 895

Θησεύς πῶς εἶπας;

Οἰδίπους οἷά περ πέπονθʼ ἀκήκοας.

Current edition Experimental

Χορός ἐπίσχες αὐτοῦ, ξεῖνε.

Κρέων μὴ ψαύειν λέγω.

Χορός οὔτοι σʼ ἀφήσω, τῶνδέ γʼ ἐστερημένος.

Κρέων καὶ μεῖζον ἆρα ῥύσιον πόλει τάχα θήσεις· ἐφάψομαι γὰρ οὐ ταύταιν μόναιν.

Χορός ἀλλʼ ἐς τί τρέψει; 860

Κρέων τόνδʼ ἀπάξομαι λαβών. 860

Χορός δεινὸν λέγεις.

Κρέων ὡς τοῦτο νῦν πεπράξεται, ἢν μή μʼ ὁ κραίνων τῆσδε γῆς ἀπειργάθῃ.

Οἰδίπους ὦ φθέγμʼ ἀναιδές, ἦ σὺ γὰρ ψαύσεις ἐμοῦ;

Κρέων αὐδῶ σιωπᾶν.

Κρέων ὁρᾶτε ταῦτα, τῆσδε γῆς ἐγχώριοι;

Οἰδίπους ὁρῶσι κἀμὲ καὶ σέ, καὶ φρονοῦσʼ ὅτι ἔργοις πεπονθὼς ῥήμασίν σʼ ἀμύνομαι.

Κρέων οὔτοι καθέξω θυμόν, ἀλλʼ ἄξω βίᾳ κεἰ μοῦνός εἰμι τόνδε καὶ χρόνῳ βραδύς. 875

Οἰδίπους ἰὼ τάλας.

Χορός ὅσον λῆμʼ ἔχων ἀφίκου, ξένʼ, εἰ τάδε δοκεῖς τελεῖν.

Κρέων δοκῶ.

Χορός τάνδʼ ἄρʼ οὐκέτι νεμῶ πόλιν.

Κρέων τοῖς τοι δικαίοις χὠ βραχὺς νικᾷ μέγαν. 880

Οἰδίπους ἀκούεθʼ οἷα φθέγγεται;

Χορός τά γʼ οὐ τελεῖ

Κρέων Ζεύς *γʼ ἂν εἰδείη, σὺ δʼ οὔ.

Χορός ἆρʼ οὐχ ὕβρις τάδʼ;

Κρέων ὕβρις, ἀλλʼ ἀνεκτέα.

Χορός ἰὼ πᾶς λεώς, ἰὼ γᾶς πρόμοι, 885 μόλετε σὺν τάχει, μόλετʼ· ἐπεὶ πέραν περῶσʼ * οἵδε δή.

Οἰδίπους ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἔγνων γὰρ τὸ προσφώνημά σου, πέπονθα δεινὰ τοῦδʼ ὑπʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως.

Θησεύς τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα, τίς δʼ ὁ πημήνας; λέγε.

Οἰδίπους Κρέων ὅδʼ, ὃν δέδορκας, οἴχεται τέκνων ἀποσπάσας μου τὴν μόνην ξυνωρίδα. 895

Θησεύς πῶς εἶπας;

Οἰδίπους οἷά περ πέπονθʼ ἀκήκοας.

Θησεύς

CH Stranger, stand where thou art!

CR Hands off, I say!

CH Thou shalt not go, till thou restore the maids.

CR Soon, then, my city shall retain from you A weightier cause of war. I will lay hands Not on the maidens only.

CH What wilt thou do? 860

CR Oedipus I will seize and bear away.

CH Great Heaven forfend!

CR It shall be done forthwith, Unless the ruler of this land prevent me.

OED O shameless utterance! Wilt thou lay thy hold On me?

CR Be silent! Speak no more!

CR Men of this land, bear witness to his rage!

OED They see us both, and are aware that I Repay thee but with words for deeds of wrong.

CR No longer will I curb my wrath. Though lonely And cumbered by mine age, I will bear off This man! 875

OED Me miserable!

CH How bold thou art, If standing here thou think’st to do this thing!

CR I do.

CH Then Athens is to me no city.

Χορός

ἐπίσχες αὐτοῦ, ξεῖνε.

Κρέων

μὴ ψαύειν λέγω.

Χορός

οὔτοι σʼ ἀφήσω, τῶνδέ γʼ ἐστερημένος.

Κρέων

καὶ μεῖζον ἆρα ῥύσιον πόλει τάχα

θήσεις· ἐφάψομαι γὰρ οὐ ταύταιν μόναιν.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ἐς τί τρέψει;
860

Κρέων

τόνδʼ ἀπάξομαι λαβών.

Χορός

δεινὸν λέγοις ἄν.

Κρέων

τοῦτο νῦν πεπράξεται.

Χορός

ἢν μή σʼ ὁ κραίνων τῆσδε γῆς ἀπειργάθῃ.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φθέγμʼ ἀναιδές, ἦ σὺ γὰρ ψαύσεις ἐμοῦ;

Κρέων

αὐδῶ σιωπᾶν.

Κρέων

ὁρᾶτε ταῦτα, τῆσδε γῆς ἐγχώριοι;

Οἰδίπους

ὁρῶσι κἀμὲ καὶ σέ, καὶ φρονοῦσʼ ὅτι

ἔργοις πεπονθὼς ῥήμασίν σʼ ἀμύνομαι.

Κρέων

οὔτοι καθέξω θυμόν, ἀλλʼ ἄξω βίᾳ

κεἰ μοῦνός εἰμι τόνδε καὶ χρόνῳ βραδύς.
875

Οἰδίπους

ἰὼ τάλας.

Χορός

ὅσον λῆμʼ ἔχων ἀφίκου, ξένʼ, εἰ τάδε δοκεῖς τελεῖν.

Κρέων

δοκῶ.

Χορός

τάνδʼ ἄρʼ οὐκέτι νεμῶ πόλιν.

Κρέων

τοῖς τοι δικαίοις χὠ βραχὺς νικᾷ μέγαν.
880

Οἰδίπους

ἀκούεθʼ οἷα φθέγγεται;

Χορός

τά γʼ οὐ τελεῖ.

ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς.

Κρέων

Ζεύς γʼ ἂν εἰδείη, σὺ δʼ οὔ.

Χορός

ἆρʼ οὐχ ὕβρις τάδʼ;

Κρέων

ὕβρις, ἀλλʼ ἀνεκτέα.

Χορός

ἰὼ πᾶς λεώς, ἰὼ γᾶς πρόμοι,
885

μόλετε σὺν τάχει, μόλετʼ, ἐπεὶ πέραν περῶσʼ οἵδε δή.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἔγνων γὰρ τὸ προσφώνημά σου,

πέπονθα δεινὰ τοῦδʼ ὑπʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως.

Θησεύς

τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα, τίς δʼ ὁ πημήνας; λέγε.

Οἰδίπους

Κρέων ὅδʼ, ὃν δέδορκας, οἴχεται τέκνων

ἀποσπάσας μου τὴν μόνην ξυνωρίδα.
895

Θησεύς

πῶς εἶπας;

Οἰδίπους

οἷά περ πέπονθʼ ἀκήκοας.

Χορός

ἐπίσχες αὐτοῦ, ξεῖνε.

Κρέων

μὴ ψαύειν λέγω.

Χορός

οὔτοι σʼ ἀφήσω, τῶνδέ γʼ ἐστερημένος.

Κρέων

καὶ μεῖζον ἆρα ῥύσιον πόλει τάχα

θήσεις· ἐφάψομαι γὰρ οὐ ταύταιν μόναιν.

Χορός

ἀλλʼ ἐς τί τρέψει;
860

Κρέων

τόνδʼ ἀπάξομαι λαβών. 860

Χορός

δεινὸν λέγεις.

Κρέων

ὡς τοῦτο νῦν πεπράξεται,

ἢν μή μʼ ὁ κραίνων τῆσδε γῆς ἀπειργάθῃ.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φθέγμʼ ἀναιδές, ἦ σὺ γὰρ ψαύσεις ἐμοῦ;

Κρέων

αὐδῶ σιωπᾶν.

Κρέων

ὁρᾶτε ταῦτα, τῆσδε γῆς ἐγχώριοι;

Οἰδίπους

ὁρῶσι κἀμὲ καὶ σέ, καὶ φρονοῦσʼ ὅτι

ἔργοις πεπονθὼς ῥήμασίν σʼ ἀμύνομαι.

Κρέων

οὔτοι καθέξω θυμόν, ἀλλʼ ἄξω βίᾳ

κεἰ μοῦνός εἰμι τόνδε καὶ χρόνῳ βραδύς.
875

Οἰδίπους

ἰὼ τάλας.

Χορός

ὅσον λῆμʼ ἔχων ἀφίκου, ξένʼ, εἰ τάδε δοκεῖς τελεῖν.

Κρέων

δοκῶ.

Χορός

τάνδʼ ἄρʼ οὐκέτι νεμῶ πόλιν.

Κρέων

τοῖς τοι δικαίοις χὠ βραχὺς νικᾷ μέγαν.
880

Οἰδίπους

ἀκούεθʼ οἷα φθέγγεται;

Χορός

τά γʼ οὐ τελεῖ

Κρέων

Ζεύς *γʼ ἂν εἰδείη, σὺ δʼ οὔ.

Χορός

ἆρʼ οὐχ ὕβρις τάδʼ;

Κρέων

ὕβρις, ἀλλʼ ἀνεκτέα.

Χορός

ἰὼ πᾶς λεώς, ἰὼ γᾶς πρόμοι,
885

μόλετε σὺν τάχει, μόλετʼ· ἐπεὶ πέραν

περῶσʼ * οἵδε δή.

Οἰδίπους

ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἔγνων γὰρ τὸ προσφώνημά σου,

πέπονθα δεινὰ τοῦδʼ ὑπʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀρτίως.

Θησεύς

τὰ ποῖα ταῦτα, τίς δʼ ὁ πημήνας; λέγε.

Οἰδίπους

Κρέων ὅδʼ, ὃν δέδορκας, οἴχεται τέκνων

ἀποσπάσας μου τὴν μόνην ξυνωρίδα.
895

Θησεύς

πῶς εἶπας;

Οἰδίπους

οἷά περ πέπονθʼ ἀκήκοας.

CH

Stranger, stand where thou art!

CR

Hands off, I say!

CH

Thou shalt not go, till thou restore the maids.

CR

Soon, then, my city shall retain from you

A weightier cause of war. I will lay hands

Not on the maidens only.

CH

What wilt thou do?
860

CR

Oedipus I will seize and bear away.

CH

Great Heaven forfend!

CR

It shall be done forthwith,

Unless the ruler of this land prevent me.

OED

O shameless utterance! Wilt thou lay thy hold

On me?

CR

Be silent! Speak no more!

CR

Men of this land, bear witness to his rage!

OED

They see us both, and are aware that I

Repay thee but with words for deeds of wrong.

CR

No longer will I curb my wrath. Though lonely

And cumbered by mine age, I will bear off

This man!
875

OED

Me miserable!

CH

How bold thou art,

If standing here thou think’st to do this thing!

CR

I do.

CH

Then Athens is to me no city.

CR

Slight men prevail o’er strength in a just cause.
880

OED

Hear ye his words?

CH

He shall not make them good.

Be witness, Zeus!

CR

Zeus knows more things than thou.