Sir Richard C. Jebb, Commentary on Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus, 1110

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[1110] ἐπεισόδιον τέταρτον. The herdsman of Laius is confronted with the messenger from Corinth. It is discovered that Oedipus is the son of Laius.

The οἰκεύς, who alone escaped from the slaughter of Laius and his following, had at his own request been sent away from Thebes to do the work of a herdsman (761). Oedipus had summoned him in order to see whether he would speak of λῃσταί, or of one λῃστής (842). But meanwhile a further question has arisen. Is he identical with that herdsman of Laius (1040) who had given up the infant Oedipus to the Corinthian shepherd? He is now seen approaching. With his coming, the two threads of discovery are brought together.

κἀμὲ as well as you, who perhaps know better (1115).

μὴ συναλλάξαντά πω though I have never come into intercourse with him, have never met him: see on 34, and cp. 1130.

ἐν … γήρᾳ : ἐν describes the condition in which he is, as Soph. Phil. 185

ἔν τ’ ὀδύναις ὁμοῦ | λιμῷ τ’ οἰκτρός

: Soph. Aj. 1017

ἐν γήρᾳ βαρύς.

ξυνᾴδει with τῷδε τἀνδρὶ· σύμμετρος merely strengthens and defines it: he agrees with this man in the tale of his years.

ἄλλως τε and moreover: cp. Hdt. 8.142

ἄλλως τε τούτων ἁπάντων αἰτίους γενέσθαι δουλοσύνης τοῖσι Ἕλλησι Ἀθηναίους οὐδαμῶς ἀνασχετόν

( “and besides,” introducing an additional argument). Soph. has ἄλλως τε καί = “especially,” Soph. El. 1324 . “I know them as servants” would be ἔγνωκα ὄντας οἰκέτας. The ὥσπερ can be explained only by an ellipse: ὥσπερ ἂν γνοίην οἰκέτας ἐμαυτοῦ (cp. 923). Here it merely serves to mark his first impression as they come in sight: “I know those who bring him as ( methinks) servants of mine own. ”

γάρ in assent ( “you are right, for,” etc.), 731: Soph. Phil. 756 : Soph. Ant. 639 , etc. — Λαΐου γὰρ ἦν … νομεὺς : a comma at ἦν is admissible (cp. 1122), but would not strictly represent the construction here, in which the idea —Λαΐου ἦν πιστὸς νομεύς, εἴπερ τις ἄλλος —has been modified by the restrictive ὡς before νομεύς.

ὡς only means that the sense in which a νομεύς can show πίστις is narrowly limited by the sphere of his work. See on 763: cp. 1078.

τὸν Κορίνθ. ξένον with σὲ , instead of a vocative, gives a peremptory tone: Soph. Ant. 441

σὲ δή, σὲ τὴν νεύουσαν εἰς πέδον κάρα, | φὴς ἢ καταρνεῖ κ.τ.λ.,

where the equivalent of ἐρωτῶ here is understood. Cp. Soph. Aj. 71

οὗτος, σὲ τὸν τὰς κ.τ.λ.

So in the nomin. Xen. Cyrop. 4.5.22

σὺ δ’, ἔφη, ὁ τῶν Ὑρκανίων ἄρχων, ὑπόμεινον.

Blaydes thinks that τῷ Κορινθίῳ ξένῳ in Aristoph. Thes. 404 comes hence. Surely rather from the Sthenoboea of Eur. ap. Athen. 427e

πεσὸν δὲ νιν λέληθεν οὐδὲν ἐκ χερός, | ἀλλ’ εὐθὺς αὐδᾷ, τῷ Κορινθίῳ ξένῳ.

Cp. Soph. Trach. 402

οὗτος, βλέφ’ ὦδε.

ἦ the old Attic form of the 1st pers., from ἔα ( Hom. Il. 4.321 , Hdt. 2.19 ): so the best MSS. in Plat. Phaedo 61b , etc. That Soph. used ἦ here and in the Niobe (fr. 409) ἦ γὰρ φίλη γὼ τῶνδε τοῦ προφερτέρου, is stated by the schol. on Hom. Il. 5.533 and on Hom. Od. 8.186 . L has ἦν here and always, except in Soph. OC 973 , 1366, where it gives ἦ . In Eur. Tro. 474

ἦ μὲν τύραννος κεἰς τύρανν’ ἐγημάμην

is Elmsley's corr. of ἦμεν τύραννοι κ.τ.λ. On the other hand Eur., at least, has ἦν in several places where ἦ is impossible: Eur. Hipp. 1012

μάταιος ἆρ’ ἦν, οὐδαμοῦ μὲν οὖν φρενῶν

: Eur. Her. 1416

ὡς ἐς τὸ λῆμα παντὸς ἦν ἥσσων ἀνήρ

: Eur. Alc. 655

παῖς δ’ ἦν ἐγώ σοι τῶνδε διάδοχος δόμων

: Eur. Ion 280

βρέφος νεογνὸν μητρὸς ἦν ἐν ἀγκάλαις. —

οἴκοι τραφείς , and so more in the confidence of the master: cp. schol. Aristoph. Kn. 2 (on Παφλάγονα τὸν νεώνητον), πεφύκαμεν γὰρ καὶ τῶν οἰκετῶν μᾶλλον πιστεύειν τοῖς οἴκοι γεννηθεῖσι καὶ τραφεῖσιν ἢ οις ἃν κτησώμεθα πριάμενοι. Such vernae were called οἰκογενεῖς ( Plat. Meno 82b : Dio Chrys. 15.25

τοὺς παρὰ σφίσι γεννηθέντας οὓς οἰκογενεῖς καλοῦσἰ, οἰκοτραφεῖς

( Pollux 3.78 ), ἐνδογενεῖς (oft. in inscriptions, as C. I. G. 1.828), or

οἰκότριβες

Dem. 13.24 , Hesych. 2.766 .

μεριμνῶν In classical Greek μεριμνᾶν is usu. “to give one's thought to a question ” (as of philosophy, Xen. Mem. 4.7.6

τὸν ταῦτα μεριμνῶντἀ;

here merely = “to be occupied with ”: cp. Xen. Cyrop. 8.7.12

τὸ πολλὰ μεριμνᾶν

: and so in the 1 Cor. 7.33 μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου.

ξύναυλος prop. “dwelling with ” (

μανίᾳ ξύναυλος

Soph. Aj. 611 ): here, after πρὸς , merely: “having thy haunts ”: an instance of that redundant government which Soph. often admits: below 1205 ἐν πόνοις | ξύνοικος: Soph. Aj. 464

γυμνὸν … τῶν ἀριστείων ἄτερ

: Soph. Phil. 31

κενὴν οἴκησιν ἀνθρώπων δίχα

: Soph. Ant. 919

ἔρημος πρὸς φίλων

: 445 ἔξω βαρείας αἰτίας ἐλεύθερον.

ἦν μὲν as if replying to χῶροι τίνες ἦσαν πρὸς οἷς ξυν. ἦσθα;

οἶσθα with μαθών , are you aware of having observed this man here? Cp. 1142 οἶσθα … δούς; We could not render, “do you know this man, through having observed him?” εἰδέναι, implying intuitive apprehension, is said of knowing facts and propositions: in regard to persons, it is not used in the mere sense of “being acquainted with one” (γνωρίζὠ, but only in that of “knowing one's character, ” as Eur. Med. 39

ἐγᾦδα τήνδε.

So scire, wissen , savoir, Ital. sapere. On the other hand, γιγνώσκω, implying a process of examination, applies to all mediate knowledge, through the senses, of external objects: so noscere, kennen , connaître, Ital. conoscere. Cp. Cope in Fourn. of Philology 1.79.

καὶ λέγεις see on 772.

The constr. is οἶσθα μαθών … ἢ ξυναλλάξας; Oed. takes no more notice of the herdsman's nervous interruption than is necessary for the purpose of sternly keeping him to the point. ἦ συνήλλαξας … ; “have you ever met him? ” mars the force of the passage. The testimony of L to συναλλάξας has the more weight since this is the less obvious reading. Cp. verse 1037, which continues after an interruption the construction of verse 1035.

οὐχ ὥστε γ’ εἰπεῖν cp. 361.

μνήμης ὕπο , at the prompting of memory, —ὑπό having a like force as in compound verbs meaning to “suggest, ” etc.: Plut. Mor. 813e

λογισμοὺς οὓς ὁ Περικλῆς αὑτὸν ὑπεμίμνησκεν,

recalled to his mind: so ὑποβολεύς (ib.), “a prompter. ” The phrase is more poetical and elegant than μνήμης ἄπο , the conjecture of Reiske. Blaydes, reading ἄπο, compares ἀπὸ τῆς γλώσσης ( Soph. OC 936 ).

κοὐδέν γε cp. Soph. Phil. 38 n. ἀγνῶτ’ = οὐ γιγνώσκοντα, not recognising me: 677 n.

Soph. has the epic ἦμος in two other places of dialogue, Soph. Trach. 531 (answered by τῆμος) and 155; also once in lyrics Soph. Aj. 935 ; Eur. once in lyrics ( Eur. Hec. 915 ); Aesch. and Comedy, never.

τὸν Κιθαιρῶνος τόπον The sentence begins as if it were meant to proceed thus: τὸν Κ. τόπον ὁ μὲν διπλοῖς ποιμνίοις ἔνεμεν, ἐγὼ δ’ ἑνὶ (ἔνεμον), πλησιάζων αὐτῷ: but, the verb ἔνεμε having been postponed, the participle πλησιάζων is irregularly combined with the notion of ἔνεμον and turned into a finite verb, ἐπλησίαζον : thus leaving τὸν Κ. τόπον without any proper government. (In the above explanation, the act. voice of νέμω has been used, since this was specially said of shepherds: cp. Xen. Cyrop. 3.2.20

ἐπεὶ ὄρη ἀγαθὰ ἔχετε, ἐθέλοιτ’ ἂν ἐᾶν νέμειν ταῦτα τοὺς Ἀρμενίους;

The midd. would also be correct, as = “to range over. ”) For the irregular but very common change of participle into finite verb cp. Soph. El. 190

οἰκονομῶ … ὧδε μὲν ἀεικεῖ σὺν στολᾷ | κεναῖς δ’ ἀμφίσταμαι τραπέζαις

(instead of ἀμφισταμένἠ: so Soph. Ant. 810

(ὔμνος ὔμνησεν

instead of ὕμνῳ ὑμνηθεῖσαν): Soph. Trach. 676

ἠφάνισται, διάβορον πρὸς οὐδενὸς | τῶν ἔνδον, ἀλλ’ ἐδεστὸν ἐξ αὑτοῦ φθίνει.

Thuc. 4.100

προσέβαλον τῷ τειχίσματι, ἄλλῳ τε τρόπῳ πειράσαντες καὶ μηχανὴν προσήγαγον.

Though we can have δῶμα πελάζει ( Eur. Andr. 1167 ), “is carried towards the house,” the dat. τῷδε τἀνδρὶ after ἐπλησίαζον here is proof in itself that the verb does not govern τόπον : further the sense required is not “approached,” but “occupied.” Brunck, taking τῷδε τἀνδρὶ as = ἐμοί, was for changing ἐπλησίαζον to ἑπλησίαζε: which only adds the new complication of an irregular μέν and δέ. The text is probably sound. Heimsoeth's conjecture, νέμων for ὁ μέν, with ἐπλησίαζε , is attractive, but the parenthetic ἐγὼ δ’ ἑνί is then very awkward. Nauck proposes ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος νάπαις | (this with Blaydes) νομεὺς διπλοῖσι ποιμνίοις ἐπιστατῶν | ἐπλησίαζε: but this is to re-write, not to correct.

ἐξ ἦρος εἰς ἀρκτοῦρον from March to September. In March the herd of Polybus drove his flock up to Cithaeron from Corinth, and met the herd of Laius, who had brought up his flock from the plain of Thebes. For six months they used to consort in the upland glens of Cithaeron; then, in September, when Arcturus began to be visible a little before dawn, they parted, taking their flocks for the winter into homesteads near Corinth and Thebes.

ἀρκτοῦρον (the star α of the constellation Bootes,) first so called in Hes. WD 566 where (610) his appearance as a morning star is the signal for the vintage. Hippoc. Epidem. 1.2.4 , has περὶ ἀρκτοῦρον as = “a little before the autumnal equinox ”: and Thuc. 2.78 uses περὶ ἀρκτούρου ἐπιτολάς to denote the same season. See Appendix. ἑκμήνους . Plato ( Plat. Laws 916b ) ἐντὸς ἑκμήνου, sc. χρόνου: the statement in Lidd. and Scott's Lexicon (t\h ed.) that it is feminine was due to a misunderstanding of the words πλὴν τῆς ἱερᾶς (sc. νόσοὐ just afterwards. Aristotle also has this form. Cp. ἕκπλεθρος (Eur.), ἕκπους, ἕκπλευρος. The form ἑξμέδιμνον in Aristoph. Peace 631 is an Atticism: cp. ἕξπουν Plat. Comicus fr. 36, where Meineke quotes Philemon (a grammarian who wrote on the Attic dialect): Ἀττικῶς μὲν ἕξπουν καὶ ἕξκλινον λέγεται, ὥσπερ καὶ παρὰ Σοφοκλεῖ ἑξπηχυστί: adding Steph. Byz. 345 Ἕξγυιος, πόλις Σικελίας, γραφὴν Ἀττικὴν ἔχουσα. Besides ἔκμηνος, Aristotle uses the form ἑξάμηνος (which occurs in a perhaps interpolated place of Xen. Hell. 2.3.9 ); as he has also ἑξάπους. The Attic dialect similarly preferred πεντέπους to πεντάπους, ὀκτώπους to ὀκτάπους, but always said πενταπλοῦς, ἑξαπλοῦς, ὀκταπλοῦς.

The fact that L has χειμῶνα without notice of a variant, while some other MSS. notice it as a variant on their χειμῶνι , is in favour of the accus., the harder reading. It may be rendered “ for the winter,” since it involves the notion of the time during which the flock was to remain in the ἔπαυλα. It is, however, one of those temporal accusatives which are almost adverbial, the idea of duration being merged in that of season, so that they can even be used concurrently with a temporal genitive: Hdt. 3.117

τὸν μὲν γὰρ χειμῶνα ὕει σφι ὁ θεός … τοῦ δὲ θέρεος σπείροντες … χρηΐσκοντο τῷ ὕδατι.

2.95 τῆς μὲν ἡμέρης ἰχθῦς ἀγρεύει, τὴν δὲ νύκτα τάδε αὐτῷ χρᾶται. 2.2 τὴν ὥρην ἐπαγινέειν σφι αἶγας, “at the due season.” 7.151 τὸν αὐτὸν τοῦτον χρόνον πέμψαντας … ἀγγέλους. Cp. above, 1090 τὰν αὔριον πανσέληνον. The tendency to such a use of the accus. may have been an old trait of the popular language (cp.

ἀωρίαν ἥκοντες

Aristoph. Ach. 23 ,

καιρὸν ἐφήκεις

Soph. Aj. 34 ). Modern Greek regularly uses the accus. for the old temporal dat.: e. g. τὴν τρίτην ἡμέραν for τῇ τρίτῃ ἡμέρᾳ. Classical prose would here use the genit.: Thuc. 1.30

χειμῶνος ἤδη ἀνεχώρησαν.

The division of the year implied is into ἔαρ, θέρος (including ὀπώρα,) and χειμών (including φθινόπωρον).

πεπραγμένον predicate: = re/rpaktai/ ti tou/twn a(\ le/gw;

ἐκ properly “at the interval of ”; cp. Xen. Anab. 1.10.11

ἐκ πλέονος ἢ τὸ πρόσθεν ἔφευγον,

at a greater distance: so ἐκ τόξου ῥύματος, at the interval of a bowshot, Xen. Anab. 3.3.15 .

τί δ’ ἔστι; = “what is the matter?” “what do you mean?” Cp. 319 (n.).

πρὸς τί cannot be connected as a relative clause with τί δ’ ἔστι, since τίς in classical Greek can replace ὅστις only where there is an indirect question; e.g. εἰπὲ τί σοι φίλον. Cp. Soph. El. 316 : Soph. Trach. 339 . Hellenistic Greek did not always observe this rule: Mark xiv. 36 οὐ τί ἐγὼ θέλω, ἀλλὰ τί σύ.

ὦ τᾶν triumphantly, “my good friend. ” It is not meant to be a trait of rustic speech: in Soph. Phil. 1387 Neoptolemus uses it to Philoctetes; in Eur. Her. 321 Iolaus to Demophon, and Eur. Her. 688 the θεράπων to Iolaus; in Eur. Ba. 802 Dionysus to Pentheus.

οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; see on 430.

οὐ σιωπήσας ἔσει; = a fut. perfect,— at once, or once for all; Dem. 4.50

τὰ δέοντα ἐσόμεθα ἐγνωκότες καὶ λόγων ματαίων ἀπηλλαγμένοι.

So Soph. Ant. 1067

ἀντιδοὺς ἔσει,

Soph. OC 816

λυπηθεὶς ἔσει.

The situation shows that this is not an “aside. ” The θεράπων, while really terrified, could affect to resent the assertion that his master had been a foundling.

κόλαζε of words, Soph. Aj. 1107

τὰ σέμν’ ἔπη | κόλαζ’ ἐκείνους.

On the Harvard stage, the Theban at 1146 was about to strike the Corinthian (see sect. 9 of the first note in the Appendix).

ὦ φέριστε in tragedy only here and Aesch. Seven 39

(Ἐτεόκλεες, φέριστε Καδμείων ἄναξ);

ironical in Plat. Phaedrus 238d .

πρὸς χάριν so as to oblige: Dem. 8.1

μήτε πρὸς ἔχθραν ποιεῖσθαι λόγον μηδένα μήτε πρὸς χάριν

: Soph. Phil. 594

πρὸς ἰσχύος κράτος,

by main force.

κλαίων see on 401.

Cp. Soph. Aj. 72

τὸν τὰς αἰχμαλωτίδας χέρας | δεσμοῖς ἀπευθύνοντα

(preparatory to flogging): Hom. Od. 22.189

σὺν δὲ πόδας χεῖράς τε δέον θυμαλγέϊ δεσμῷ | εὖ μάλ’ ἀποστρέψαντε

(of Melanthius the goat-herd); then κίον ἀν’ ὑψηλὴν ἔρυσαν πέλασάν τε δοκοῖσιν: and so left him hanging.

δύστηνος sc. ἐγώ. This agrees best with Soph.'s usage: see Soph. Trach. 377

ὦ δύστηνας

(n.): though the adj. could also refer to Oed. (cp. 1071).

εἰς τόδ’ = εἰς τὸ ὀλέσθαι: Soph. Aj. 1365

αὐτὸς ἐνθάδ’ ἴξομαι,

i.e. εἰς τὸ θάπτεσθαι.

ἐς τριβὰς ἐλᾷ, will push (the matter) to delays ( Soph. Ant. 577

μὴ τριβὰς ἔτἰ,

—is bent on protracting his delay: ἐλαύνειν as in Hdt. 2.124

ἐς πᾶσαν κακότητα ἐλάσαι,

they said that he went all lengths in wickedness: Tyrt. 11.10

ἀμφοτέρων δ’ εἰς κόρον ἠλάσατε,

ye had taken your fill of both. For the fut., expressing resolve, cp. Aristoph. Birds 759

αἶρε πλῆκτρον, εἰ μαχεῖ.

οὐ δῆτ’ ἔγωγε as Soph. Phil. 735, 1157 : so dudum can refer to a recent moment.

The words could mean either: (1) “he was one of the children of Laius ”; or (2) “he was one of the children of the household of Laius, ” τῶν Λαΐου being gen. of οἱ Λαΐου. The ambiguity is brought out by 1168. See on 814.

κείνου τις ἐγγενὴς γεγώς some one belonging by birth to his race, the genit. depending on the notion of γένος in the adj., like

δωμάτων ὑπόστεγοι,

Soph. El. 1386 .

I am close on the horror, —close on uttering it: (ὥστἐ λέγειν being added to explain the particular sense in which he is πρὸς τῷ δεινῷ, as ἀκούειν defines that in which Oedipus is so. Cp. Soph. El. 542

τῶν ἐμῶν … ἵμερον τέκνων … ἔσχε δαίσασθαι·

Plat. Crito 52b

οὐδ’ ἐπιθυμία σε ἄλλης πόλεως οὐδ’ ἄλλων νόμων ἔλαβεν εἰδέναι.

While γέ τοι, γε μέντοι, γε μὲν δή are comparatively frequent, γέ τοι δή is rarer: we find it in Aristoph. Cl. 372 , Plat. Phaedrus 264a , Plat. Rep. 476e , Plat. Rep. 504a , Plat. Crito 44c .

ὡς = “in her intention ”: see on 848. —πρὸς τί χρείας nearly = πρὸς ποίαν χρείαν, with a view to what kind of need or desire, i.e. with what aim: cp. 1443: Soph. Phil. 174

ἐπὶ παντί τῳ χρείας ἱσταμένῳ

: Soph. Ant. 1229

ἐν τῷ (

= τίνἰ ξυμφορᾶς, in what manner of plight.

τοὺς τεκόντας not, as usually, “his parents ” (999), but “his father ”: the plur. as τυράννοις, 1095.

“I gave up the child through pity,” ὡς … δοκῶν , “as thinking” etc.: i.e., as one might fitly give it up, who so thought. This virtually elliptic use of ὡς is distinct from that at 848, which would here be represented by ὡς ἀποίσοντι.

ἄλλην χθόνα ἀποίσειν (αὐτόν): cp. Soph. OC 1769

θήβας δ’ ἡμᾶς | τὰς ὠγυγίους πέμψον.

κάκ’ a disyllabic subst. or adj. with short penult. is rarely elided unless, as here, it is (a) first in the verse, and also (b) emphatic: so Soph. OC 48 , 796: see A. W. Verrall in Fourn. Phil. xii. 140.

ἂν ἐξήκοι must have come true (cp. 1011), the opt. as Plat. Gorg. 502d

οὐκοῦν ἡ ῥητορικὴ δημηγορία ἂν εἴη

: Hdt. 1.2

εἴησαν δ’ ἂν οὗτοι Κρῆτες

: Hdt. 8.136

τάχα δ’ ἂν καὶ τὰ χρηστήρια ταῦτά οἱ προλέγοι.

ἀφ’ ὧν οὐ χρῆν (φῦναἰ, since he was foredoomed to the acts which the two following clauses express.

Commentary on Sophocles: Oedipus Tyrannus. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge, UK. 1885.

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Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 1110 focus

εἰ χρή τι κἀμὲ μὴ συναλλάξαντά πω,
1110

πρέσβυ, σταθμᾶσθαι, τὸν βοτῆρ᾽ ὁρᾶν δοκῶ,

ὅνπερ πάλαι ζητοῦμεν. ἔν τε γὰρ μακρῷ

γήρᾳ ξυνᾴδει τῷδε τἀνδρὶ σύμμετρος,

ἄλλως τε τοὺς ἄγοντας ὥσπερ οἰκέτας

ἔγνωκ᾿ ἐμαυτοῦ· τῇ δ᾽ ἐπιστήμῃ σύ μου
1115

προὔχοις τάχ᾽ ἄν που, τὸν βοτῆρ᾿ ἰδὼν πάρος.

Χορός

ἔγνωκα γάρ, σάφ᾽ ἴσθι· Λαΐου γὰρ ἦν

εἴπερ τις ἄλλος πιστὸς ὡς νομεὺς ἀνήρ.

Οἰδίπους

σὲ πρῶτ᾽ ἐρωτῶ, τὸν Κορίνθιον ξένον,

ἢ τόνδε φράζεις;
1120

Ἄγγελος

τοῦτον, ὅνπερ εἰσορᾷς.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος, σύ, πρέσβυ, δεῦρό μοι φώνει βλέπων

ὅσ᾽ ἄν σ᾽ ἐρωτῶ. Λαΐου ποτ᾽ ἦσθα σύ;

Θεράπων

ἦ δοῦλος, οὐκ ὠνητός, ἀλλ᾽ οἴκοι τραφείς.

Οἰδίπους

ἔργον μεριμνῶν ποῖον ἢ βίον τίνα;

Θεράπων

ποίμναις τὰ πλεῖστα τοῦ βίου συνειπόμην.
1125

Οἰδίπους

χώροις μάλιστα πρὸς τίσι ξύναυλος ὤν;

Θεράπων

ἦν μὲν Κιθαιρών, ἦν δὲ πρόσχωρος τόπος.

Οἰδίπους

τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδ᾽ οὖν οἶσθα τῇδέ που μαθών;

Θεράπων

τί χρῆμα δρῶντα; ποῖον ἄνδρα καὶ λέγεις;

Οἰδίπους

τόνδ᾽ ὃς πάρεστιν· ἢ ξυνήλλαξας τί πω;
1130

Θεράπων

οὐχ ὥστε γ᾽ εἰπεῖν ἐν τάχει μνήμης ὕπο.

Ἄγγελος

κοὐδέν γε θαῦμα, δέσποτ᾽. ἀλλ᾽ ἐγὼ σαφῶς

ἀγνῶτ᾽ ἀναμνήσω νιν. εὖ γὰρ οἶδ᾽ ὅτι

κάτοιδεν ἦμος τὸν Κιθαιρῶνος τόπον

ὁ μὲν διπλοῖσι ποιμνίοις, ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἑνὶ
1135

ἐπλησίαζον τῷδε τἀνδρὶ τρεῖς ὅλους

ἐξ ἦρος εἰς ἀρκτοῦρον ἑκμήνους χρόνους·

χειμῶνα δ᾽ ἤδη τἀμά τ᾽ εἰς ἔπαυλ᾽ ἐγὼ

ἤλαυνον οὗτός τ᾽ εἰς τὰ Λαΐου σταθμά.

λέγω τι τούτων, ἢ οὐ λέγω πεπραγμένον;
1140

Θεράπων

λέγεις ἀληθῆ, καίπερ ἐκ μακροῦ χρόνου.

Ἄγγελος

φέρ᾽ εἰπὶ νῦν, τότ᾽ οἶσθα παῖδά μοί τινα

δούς, ὡς ἐμαυτῷ θρέμμα θρεψαίμην ἐγώ;

Θεράπων

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; πρὸς τί τοῦτο τοὔπος ἱστορεῖς;

Ἄγγελος

ὅδ᾽ ἐστίν, ὦ τᾶν, κεῖνος ὃς τότ᾽ ἦν νέος.
1145

Θεράπων

οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐ σιωπήσας ἔσει;

Οἰδίπους

ἆ, μὴ κόλαζε, πρέσβυ, τόνδ᾽, ἐπεὶ τὰ σὰ

δεῖται κολαστοῦ μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ τοῦδ᾽ ἔπη.

Θεράπων

τί δ᾽, ὦ φέριστε δεσποτῶν, ἁμαρτάνω;

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ ἐννέπων τὸν παῖδ᾽ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ.
1150

Θεράπων

λέγει γὰρ εἰδὼς οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄλλως πονεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

σὺ πρὸς χάριν μὲν οὐκ ἐρεῖς, κλαίων δ᾽ ἐρεῖς.

Θεράπων

μὴ δῆτα, πρὸς θεῶν, τὸν γέροντά μ' αἰκίσῃ.

Οἰδίπους

οὐχ ὡς τάχος τις τοῦδ᾽ ἀποστρέψει χέρας;

Θεράπων

δύστηνος, ἀντὶ τοῦ; τί προσχρῄζων μαθεῖν;
1155

Οἰδίπους

τὸν παῖδ᾽ ἔδωκας τῷδ᾽ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ;

[45 b

Θεράπων

ἔδωκʼ· ὀλέσθαι δ᾽ ὤφελον τῇδ᾽ ἡμέρᾳ.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ εἰς τόδ' ἥξεις μὴ λέγων γε τοὔνδικον.

Θεράπων

πολλῷ γε μᾶλλον, ἢν φράσω, διόλλυμαι.

Οἰδίπους

ἁνὴρ ὅδ᾽, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἐς τριβὰς ἐλᾷ.
1160

Θεράπων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔγωγ', ἀλλ᾽ εἶπον ὡς δοίην πάλαι.

Οἰδίπους

πόθεν λαβών; οἰκεῖον, ἢ ἐξ ἄλλου τινός;

Θεράπων

ἐμὸν μὲν οὐκ ἔγωγ᾽, ἐδεξάμην δέ του.

Οἰδίπους

τίνος πολιτῶν τῶνδε κἀκ ποίας στέγης;

Θεράπων

μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, μή, δέσποθ', ἱστόρει πλέον.
1165

Οἰδίπους

ὄλωλας, εἴ σε ταῦτ᾽ ἐρήσομαι πάλιν.

Θεράπων

τῶν Λαΐου τοίνυν τις ἦν γεννημάτων.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ δοῦλος, ἢ κείνου τις ἐγγενὴς γεγώς;

Θεράπων

οἴμοι, πρὸς αὐτῷ γ' εἰμὶ τῷ δεινῷ λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους

κἄγωγ᾽ ἀκούων· ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως ἀκουστέον.
1170

Θεράπων

κείνου γέ τοι δὴ παῖς ἐκλῄζεθ᾽· ἡ δ᾽ ἔσω

κάλλιστ᾽ ἂν εἴποι σὴ γυνὴ τάδ᾽ ὡς ἔχει.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ γὰρ δίδωσιν ἥδε σοι;

Θεράπων

μάλιστ᾽, ἄναξ.

Οἰδίπους

ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας;

Θεράπων

ὡς ἀναλώσαιμί νιν.

Οἰδίπους

τεκοῦσα τλήμων;
1175

Θεράπων

θεσφάτων γ᾽ ὄκνῳ κακῶν. 1175

Οἰδίπους

ποίων;

Θεράπων

κτενεῖν νιν τοὺς τεκόντας ἦν λόγος.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δῆτ᾽ ἀφῆκας τῷ γέροντι τῷδε σύ;

Θεράπων

κατοικτίσας, ὦ δέσποθ', ὡς ἄλλην χθόνα

δοκῶν ἀποίσειν, αὐτὸς ἔνθεν ἦν· ὁ δὲ

κάκ' ἐς μέγιστ᾽ ἔσωσεν. εἰ γὰρ οὗτος εἶ
1180

ὅν φησιν οὗτος, ἴσθι δύσποτμος γεγώς.

Οἰδίπους

ἰοὺ ἰού· τὰ πάντ᾽ ἂν ἐξήκοι σαφῆ.

ὦ φῶς, τελευταῖόν σε προσβλέψαιμι νῦν,

ὅστις πέφασμαι φύς τ᾿ ἀφ᾽ ὧν οὐ χρῆν, ξὺν οἷς τ᾽

οὐ χρῆν ὁμιλῶν, οὕς τέ μ᾽ οὐκ ἔδει κτανών.
1185

Χορός
α

Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 1110-1185 focus

Οἰδίπους

εἰ χρή τι κἀμὲ μὴ συναλλάξαντά πω,
1110

πρέσβεις, σταθμᾶσθαι, τὸν βοτῆρʼ ὁρᾶν δοκῶ,

ὅνπερ πάλαι ζητοῦμεν· ἔν τε γὰρ μακρῷ

γήρᾳ ξυνᾴδει τῷδε τἀνδρὶ σύμμετρος,

ἄλλως τε τοὺς ἄγοντας ὥσπερ οἰκέτας

ἔγνωκʼ ἐμαυτοῦ· τῇ δʼ ἐπιστήμῃ σύ μου
1115

προύχοις τάχʼ ἄν που, τὸν βοτῆρʼ ἰδὼν πάρος.

Χορός

ἔγνωκα γάρ, σάφʼ ἴσθι· Λαΐου γὰρ ἦν

εἴπερ τις ἄλλος πιστὸς ὡς νομεὺς ἀνήρ.

Οἰδίπους

σὲ πρῶτʼ ἐρωτῶ, τὸν Κορίνθιον ξένον, ἦ τόνδε φράζεις;

Ἄγγελος

τοῦτον, ὅνπερ εἰσορᾷς.
1120

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος σύ, πρέσβυ, δεῦρό μοι φώνει βλέπων

ὅσʼ ἄν σʼ ἐρωτῶ. Λαΐου ποτʼ ἦσθα σύ;

Θεράπων

ἦ δοῦλος οὐκ ὠνητός, ἀλλʼ οἴκοι τραφείς.

Οἰδίπους

ἔργον μεριμνῶν ποῖον ἢ βίον τινά;

Θεράπων

ποίμναις τὰ πλεῖστα τοῦ βίου συνειπόμην.
1125

Οἰδίπους

χώροις μάλιστα πρὸς τίσι ξύναυλος ὤν;

Θεράπων

ἦν μὲν Κιθαιρών, ἦν δὲ πρόσχωρος τόπος.

Οἰδίπους

τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδʼ οὖν οἶσθα τῇδέ που μαθών;

Θεράπων

τί χρῆμα δρῶντα; ποῖον ἄνδρα καὶ λέγεις;

Οἰδίπους

τόνδʼ ὃς πάρεστιν· ἢ ξυναλλάξας τί πω;
1130

Θεράπων

οὐχ ὥστε γʼ εἰπεῖν ἐν τάχει μνήμης ἄπο.

Ἄγγελος

κοὐδέν γε θαῦμα, δέσποτʼ· ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ σαφῶς

ἀγνῶτʼ ἀναμνήσω νιν. εὖ γὰρ οἶδʼ ὅτι

κάτοιδεν, ἦμος τῷ Κιθαιρῶνος τόπῳ,

ὁ μὲν διπλοῖσι ποιμνίοις, ἐγὼ δʼ ἑνί,
1135

ἐπλησίαζον τῷδε τἀνδρὶ τρεῖς ὅλους

ἐξ ἦρος εἰς ἀρκτοῦρον ἑκμήνους χρόνους·

χειμῶνα δʼ ἤδη τἀμά τʼ εἰς ἔπαυλʼ ἐγὼ

ἤλαυνον οὗτός τʼ εἰς τὰ Λαΐου σταθμά.

λέγω τι τούτων ἢ οὐ λέγω πεπραγμένον;
1140

1141

Θεράπων

λέγεις ἀληθῆ, καίπερ ἐκ μακροῦ χρόνου.

Ἄγγελος

φέρʼ εἰπὲ νῦν, τότʼ οἶσθα παῖδά μοί τινα

δούς, ὡς ἐμαυτῷ θρέμμα θρεψαίμην ἐγώ;

Θεράπων

τί δʼ ἔστι; πρὸς τί τοῦτο τοὔπος ἱστορεῖς;

Ἄγγελος

ὅδʼ ἐστίν, ὦ τᾶν, κεῖνος ὃς τότʼ ἦν νέος.
1145

Θεράπων

οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐ σιωπήσας ἔσει;

Οἰδίπους

ἆ, μὴ κόλαζε, πρέσβυ, τόνδʼ, ἐπεὶ τὰ σὰ

δεῖται κολαστοῦ μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ τοῦδʼ ἔπη.

Θεράπων

τί δʼ, ὦ φέριστε δεσποτῶν, ἁμαρτάνω;

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ ἐννέπων τὸν παῖδʼ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ.
1150

Θεράπων

λέγει γὰρ εἰδὼς οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἄλλως πονεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

σὺ πρὸς χάριν μὲν οὐκ ἐρεῖς, κλαίων δʼ ἐρεῖς.

Θεράπων

μὴ δῆτα, πρὸς θεῶν, τὸν γέροντά μʼ αἰκίσῃ.

Οἰδίπους

οὐχ ὡς τάχος τις τοῦδʼ ἀποστρέψει χέρας;

Θεράπων

δύστηνος, ἀντὶ τοῦ; τί προσχρῄζων μαθεῖν;
1155

Οἰδίπους

τὸν παῖδʼ ἔδωκας τῷδʼ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ;

Θεράπων

ἔδωκʼ· ὀλέσθαι δʼ ὤφελον τῇδʼ ἡμέρᾳ.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ εἰς τόδʼ ἥξεις μὴ λέγων γε τοὔνδικον.

Θεράπων

πολλῷ γε μᾶλλον, ἢν φράσω, διόλλυμαι.

Οἰδίπους

ἁνὴρ ὅδʼ, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἐς τριβὰς ἐλᾷ.
1160

Θεράπων

οὐ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ, ἀλλʼ εἶπον, ὡς δοίην, πάλαι.

Οἰδίπους

πόθεν λαβών; οἰκεῖον ἢ ʼξ ἄλλου τινός;

Θεράπων

ἐμὸν μὲν οὐκ ἔγωγʼ, ἐδεξάμην δέ του.

Οἰδίπους

τίνος πολιτῶν τῶνδε κἀκ ποίας στέγης;

Θεράπων

μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, μή, δέσποθʼ, ἱστόρει πλέον.
1165

Οἰδίπους

ὄλωλας, εἴ σε ταῦτʼ ἐρήσομαι πάλιν.

Θεράπων

τῶν Λαΐου τοίνυν τις ἦν γεννημάτων.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ δοῦλος ἢ κείνου τις ἐγγενὴς γεγώς;

Θεράπων

οἴμοι, πρὸς αὐτῷ γʼ εἰμὶ τῷ δεινῷ λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους

κἄγωγʼ ἀκούειν· ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἀκουστέον.
1170

1171

Θεράπων

κείνου γέ τοι δὴ παῖς ἐκλῄζεθʼ· ἡ δʼ ἔσω

κάλλιστʼ ἂν εἴποι σὴ γυνὴ τάδʼ ὡς ἔχει.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ γὰρ δίδωσιν ἥδε σοι;

Θεράπων

μάλιστʼ, ἄναξ.

Οἰδίπους

ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας;

Θεράπων

ὡς ἀναλώσαιμί νιν.

Οἰδίπους

τεκοῦσα τλήμων;
1175

Θεράπων

θεσφάτων γʼ ὄκνῳ κακῶν.

Οἰδίπους

ποίων;

Θεράπων

κτενεῖν νιν τοὺς τεκόντας ἦν λόγος.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δῆτʼ ἀφῆκας τῷ γέροντι τῷδε σύ;

Θεράπων

κατοικτίσας, ὦ δέσποθʼ, ὡς ἄλλην χθόνα

δοκῶν ἀποίσειν, αὐτὸς ἔνθεν ἦν· ὁ δὲ

κάκʼ εἰς μέγιστʼ ἔσωσεν. εἰ γὰρ οὗτος εἶ
1180

ὅν φησιν οὗτος, ἴσθι δύσποτμος γεγώς.

Οἰδίπους

ἰοὺ ἰού· τὰ πάντʼ ἂν ἐξήκοι σαφῆ.

ὦ φῶς, τελευταῖόν σε προσβλέψαιμι νῦν,

ὅστις πέφασμαι φύς τʼ ἀφʼ ὧν οὐ χρῆν, ξὺν οἷς τʼ

οὐ χρῆν ὁμιλῶν, οὕς τέ μʼ οὐκ ἔδει κτανών.
1185

Translations (5)

English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 1110 focus

If haply I, who never saw his face,
1110

Thebans, may guess, methinks I see the hind
1110

Whose coming we have longed for. Both his age,

Agreeing with this other’s wintry locks,

Accords with my conjecture, and the garb

Of his conductors is well known to me

As that of mine own people. But methinks ()

Thou hast more perfect knowledge in this case,
1115

Having beheld the herdman in the past.

CH

I know him well, believe me. Laius

Had no more faithful shepherd than this man.

OED

Corinthian friend, I first appeal to you:

Was’t he you spake of?
1120

COR. SH

’Twas the man you see.

OED

Turn thine eyes hither, aged friend, and tell

What I shall ask thee. Wast thou Laius’ slave?

THEB. SH

I was, not bought, but bred within the house.

OED

What charge or occupation was thy care?

THEB. SH

Most of my time was spent in shepherding.
1125

OED

And where didst thou inhabit with thy flock?

THEB. SH

’Twas now Cithaeron, now the neighbouring tract.

OED

And hadst thou there acquaintance of this man?

THEB. SH

Following what service? What is he you mean?

OED

The man you see. Hast thou had dealings with him?
1130

THEB. SH

I cannot bring him all at once to mind.

COR. SH

No marvel, good my lord. But I will soon

Wake to clear knowledge his oblivious sense.

For sure I am he can recall the time,

When he with his two flocks, and I with one

Beside him, grazed Cithaeron’s pasture wide
1135

Good six months’ space of three successive years,

From spring to rising of Arcturus; then

For the bleak winter season, I drove mine

To their own folds, he his to Laius’ stalls.

Do I talk idly, or is this the truth?
1140

THEB. SH

The time is far remote. But all is true.

COR. SH

Well, dost remember having given me then

A child, that I might nurture him for mine?

THEB. SH

What means thy question? Let me know thy drift.

COR. SH

Friend, yonder stands the infant whom we knew.
1145

THEB. SH

Confusion seize thee, and thy evil tongue!

OED

Check not his speech, I pray thee, for thy words

Call more than his for chastisement, old sir.

THEB. SH

O my dread lord, therein do I offend?

OED

Thou wilt not answer him about the child?
1150

THEB. SH

He knows not what he speaks. His end is vain.

OED

So! Thou’lt not tell to please us, but the lash

Will make thee tell.

THEB. SH

By all that’s merciful,

Scourge not this aged frame!

OED

Pinion him straight!

THEB. SH

Unhappy! wherefore? what is’t you would know?
1155

OED

Gave you this man the child of whom he asks you?

THEB. SH

I gave it him. Would I had died that hour!

OED

Speak rightly, or your wish will soon come true.

THEB. SH

My ruin comes the sooner, if I speak.

OED

This man will balk us with his baffling prate.
1160

THEB. SH

Not so. I said long since, ‘I gave the child.’

OED

Whence? Was’t your own, or from another’s hand?

THEB. SH

’Twas not mine own; another gave it me.

OED

What Theban gave it, from what home in Thebes?

THEB. SH

O, I implore thee, master, ask no more!
1165

OED

You perish, if I have to ask again.

THEB. SH

The child was of the stock of Laius.

OED

Slave-born, or rightly of the royal line?

THEB. SH

Ah me! Now comes the horror to my tongue!

OED

And to mine ear. But thou shalt tell it me!
1170

THEB. SH

He was given out for Laius’ son: but she,

Thy queen, within the palace, best can tell.

OED

How? Did she give it thee?

THEB. SH

My lord, she did.

OED

With what commission?

THEB. SH

I was to destroy him.

OED

And could a mother’s heart be steeled to this?
1175

THEB. SH

With fear of evil prophecies.

OED

What were they?

THEB. SH

’Twas said the child should be his father’s death.

OED

What then possessed thee to give up the child

To this old man?

THEB. SH

Pity, my sovereign lord!

Supposing he would take him far away

Unto the land whence he was come. But he

Preserved him to great sorrow. For if thou
1180

Art he this man hath said, be well assured
1180

Thou bear’st a heavy doom.

OED

O horrible!

Horrible! All fulfilled, as sunlight clear!

Oh may I nevermore behold the day,

Since proved accursèd in my parentage,

In those I live with, and in him I slew!
1185

CHORUS
CHORUS .

German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 1110 focus

Darf ich vermuthen, der ich nie mit ihm verkehrt,

Ihr Greise, glaub' ich dort zu seh'n den Hirtenmann,
1080

Den längst von uns ersehnten; denn es stimmt genau

Sein hohes Alter überein mit diesem Mann.

Und außerdem erkenn' ich seine Führer auch

Als meine Diener; aber du magst besser wohl,

Als ich, es wissen, sahst ja sonst den Hirten schon.
1085

Der Chor.

Er ist es, wohl erkenn' ich ihn; dem Laïos,

Wie kaum ein Andrer, war er stets als Hirte treu.

(der Hirte wird herbeigeführt.) (zu dem Boten)

Oedipus.

Zuerst, o Fremdling aus Korinthos, frag' ich dich:

Sprich, meinst du diesen?

Der Bote.

Diesen, den du hier erblickst.

Oedipus.

Du, schaue hierher, Alter, und antworte mir
1090

Auf meine Fragen. Warst du Knecht des Laïos einst?

Der Hirte.

Ich war's, im Haus erzogen, nicht erkauft von ihm.

Oedipus.

Und welch Geschäft betriebst du, was war dein Beruf?

Der Hirte.

Ich ging des Lebens längste Zeit den Heerden nach.

Oedipus.

An welchen Orten triebst du dich gewöhnlich um?
1095

Der Hirte.

Es war Kithäron, war die nächstgelegne Flur.

Oedipus.

Und diesen Mann wohl kennst du, sahst ihn dort vielleicht?

Der Hirte.

Von welchem Anlaß? Welcher Mann ist's, den du meinst?

Oedipus.

Der, welcher hier steht. Pflogst du nie Verkehr mit ihm?

Der Hirte.

Nicht gleich zu sagen weiß ich's aus Erinnerung.
1100

Der Bote.

Das ist, o Herr, kein Wunder; doch ich will ihn klar

An Längstvergangnes mahnen. Denn ich weiß, er wird

Noch wissen, als wir auf Kithärons hoher Trift

(Er war mit zweien Heerden, ich mit Einer dort)

Vom Lenze bis zum Herbste drei vollkommene
1105

Sechsmondenfristen lebten, nachbarlich gesellt:

Ich trieb, sobald es Winter ward, die Heerde fort

In meine Hürden, er zum Hof des Laïos.

Ist, was ich sage, Wahrheit, oder red' ich falsch?

Der Hirte.

Du sagst die Wahrheit; freilich ist es lange her.
1110

Der Bote.

Nun sage, weißt du, wie du dort ein kleines Kind

Mir gabst, es aufzuziehen als mein eigenes?

Der Hirte.

Was ist es? Weßhalb fragst du mich um dieses aus?

Der Bote.

Der ist es, Freund, er war das neugeborne Kind.

Der Hirte.

Du bist des Todes! Schweigst du nicht zur Stelle jezt?
1115

Oedipus.

Ha, diesen, Alter, strafe nicht; denn mehr gebührt

Die Strafe deinen Worten, als den seinigen.

Der Hirte.

Doch was, o bester aller Herrn, verbrach ich denn?

Oedipus.

Das Kind, nach welchem dieser fragt, verläugnest du?

Der Hirte.

Ganz ohne Kenntniß spricht er, müht umsonst sich ab.
1120

Oedipus.

Du sagst es nicht in Güte; weinend sagst du's denn!

Der Hirte.

Mißhandle, bei den Göttern, nicht mich alten Mann!

(zu den Dienern)

Oedipus.

Auf, bindet ihm die Hände gleich am Rücken fest!¹

Der Hirte.

Wofür? Ich Armer! Was zu wissen wünschest du?

Oedipus.

Das Kind, nach welchem dieser fragt, du gabst es ihm?
1125

Der Hirte.

Ich gab's. O raffte jenes Tags der Tod mich hin!

Oedipus.

Der wird dir heute, wenn du nicht das Wahre sagst.

Der Hirte.

Viel eher, wenn ich's sagen muß, trifft mich der Tod.

Oedipus.

Ausflüchte (wohl erkenn' ich's) sucht der Alte nur.

Der Hirte.

Ich nicht; ich sagte lange schon: ich gab es ihm.
1130

Oedipus.

Woher bekamst du's? War es dein, war's Andrer Kind?

Der Hirte.

Nicht meines war es; ich empfing's von fremder Hand.

Oedipus.

Von welchem unsrer Bürger und aus welchem Haus?

Der Hirte.

Bei allen Göttern, weiter forsche nicht, o Herr!

Oedipus.

Du bist des Todes, frag' ich das zum andernmal!
1135
König. Dedipus.

Der Hirte.

Nun denn, in Laïos' Hause war das Kind erzeugt.

Oedipus.

Von einem Sklaven? Oder war's verwandt mit ihm?

Der Hirte.

Weh, weh mir! Sagen soll ich's nun, das Schreckliche!

Oedipus.

Und ich es hören: aber hören muß ich's doch.

Der Hirte.

Wohl hieß das Kind sein eig'nes; doch am besten sagt
1140

Dir Alles, wie's geschehen, dein Gemahl im Haus.

Oedipus.

Sie übergab den Knaben dir?

Der Hirte.

Sie selbst, o Fürst.

Oedipus.

Mit welcher Weisung?

Der Hirte.

Daß ich ihn ermordete.

Oedipus.

Ihr Kind, die Arge?

Der Hirte.

Ja, geschreckt von bösem Spruch.

Oedipus.

Der hieß?
1145

Der Hirte.

Den Vater mord' es einst, so hieß das Wort.
1145

Oedipus.

Wie kam es, daß du diesem Greis den Knaben gabst?

Der Hirte.

Mitleid bewog mich, daß er ihn in fremdes Land,

Woher er selbst war, trüge, Herr; doch der erhielt

Ihn nun zum höchsten Jammer. Denn bist du das Kind,

Das dieser meinte, bist du, traun, zu Gram gezeugt!
1150

Oedipus.

Götter, Götter! Alles kommt nun klar zu Tag!

Licht, zum leztenmale schau' ich heute dich,

Der sproß, von wem er nicht gesollt, - mit wem er nicht

Gedurst, verkehrte, wen er nicht gedurst, erschlug!

(Ab in den Palast. Die Diener folgen. Der Chor bleibt allein zurücď.) Erste Strophe.

Der Chor.

English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 1110 focus

CHORUS, SHEPHERD from CORINTH.
1110

Had converse with, yon old man, whom I see

This way advancing, must be that same shepherd

We lately sent for, by his age and mien,

E'en as this stranger did describe him to us ;

My servants too are with him. But you best

Can say, for you must know him well.

Chorus
(Edi. If I may judge of one whom yet I ne'er

'Tis he,

My lord ; the faithful shepherd of King Laius.

Oedipus

(Ent. [to the SuepuErn from Corinth]. What sayst

thou, stranger ? — is it he ?

Shepherd

It is.

Old Shepherd, CEdipus, Shepherd from Corinth,
1125

speak :

Didst thou belong to Laius 1

Old Shep. Sir, I did ;

No hireling slave, but in his palace bred,

I served him long.

Oedipus
Scene YII. (Edi. Now answer me, old man ; look this way —

"What was thy business there ?
1130

Old Siiep. For my Hfe's better part I tended sheep.
1130

Old Siiep. To CithaBron,
1130

And to the neighbouring plains.
1130

Dost thou remember to have seen him 1
1130

Old Shep. Whom 1
1130

What hath he done ?
1130

Oedipus
(Edi. And whither didst thou lead them ? (Edi. Behold this man : [pointing to the Shepherd of Corinth

Him, who now stands before thee,

Callst thou to mind, or converse or connection

Between you in times past ?

Old Shep. I cannot say
1150

I recollect it now.

Shepherd

of Corinth. I do not wonder

He should forget me, but I will recall

Some facts of ancient date. He must remember

When on Cithaeron we together fed

Our several flocks, in daily converse joined

From spring to autumn, and when winter bleaK.

Approached, retired. I to my little cot

Conveyed my sheep ; he to the palace led

His fleecy care. Canst thou remember this ?

Old Shep. I do ; but that is long, long since

Shepherd

of Corinth. It is ;

But say, good shepherd, canst thou call to mind

An infant whom thou didst deliver to me,

Requesting me to breed him as my own ?

Old Shep. Ha ! wherefore askst thou this ?

Shepherd

of Corinth [pointing to CEdipus]. Behold him

here,

That very child.

Old Shep. Oh ! say it not : away !

Perdition on thee !

Oedipus

Why reprove him thus ?

Thou art thyself to blame, old man.

Old Shep. In what

Am I to blame, my lord ?

Oedipus

Thou wilt not speak

Touching this boy.

or PUS TVRANNV^:.

Old Shep. Wm^ ! poor man, he knows not

What he hath said.

Q^Di. If not by softer means

To be persuaded, force shall wring it from thee.

Old Siiep. Treat not an old man harshly.

Oedipus

\to the AiTENDANTs]. Bind his hands.

Old Shep. Wherefore, my lord ? What wouldst thou

have mo do ?

Oedipus

That child he talks of, didst thou give it to
1160

him?
1160

Old Shep. I did ; and would to heaven I then had
1160

died!
1160

Oedipus

Die soon thou shalt, unless thou tellst it all.

Old Shep. Say, rather if I do.

OiJDi. This fellow means

To trifle with us, by his dull delay.

Old Shep. I do not ; said I not I gave the child ?

QEdi. Whence came the boy ? Was he thy own, or who

Did give him to thee ?

Old Shep. From another hand

I had received him.

Oedipus

Say, what hand ? From whom ?

Whence came he?

Old Shep. Do not — by the gods I beg thee,

Do not inquire.

Oedipus

Force me to ask again,

And thou shalt die.

Old Shep. In Laius' palace born

Oedipus

Son of a slave, or of the king?

Old Shep. Alas !

Tis death for me to speak.

Oedipus

And me to hear ;
1170

Yet say it.
1170

Old Shep. He was called the son of Laius ;
1170

But ask the queen, for she can best inform thee«
1170

Oedipus

Did she then give the child to thee ?

Old Shep. She did.

Oedipus

For what ?

Old Shep. To kill him.

Oedipus

Kill her child ! Inhuman
1175

And barbarous mother !
1175

Old Shep. A dire oracle
1175

Affrighted, and constrained her to it.
1175

Oedipus

Ha !

What oracle ?

Old Shep. Which said, her son should slay

His parents.

Oedipus

Wherefore gav'st thou then the infant

To this old shepherd 1

Old Shep. Pity moved me to it :

I hoped he would have soon conveyed his charge

To some far distant country ; he, alas !

Preserved him but for misery and woe ;

For, O my lord ! if thou indeed art he,

Thou art of all mankind the most unhappy.

Oedipus

O me ! at length the mystery 's unravelled j

'Tis plain, 'tis clear ; my fate is all determined.

Those are my parents who should not have been

Allied to me ; she is my wife, e'en she

Whom Nature had forbidden me to wed ;

I have slain him who gave me life ; and now

Of thee, O light ! I take my last farewell,

For (Edipus shall ne'er behold thee more. [Exeunt.

O hapless state of human race !

How quick the fleeting shadows pass

Of transitory bliss below,

Where all is vanity and woe !

By thy example taught, O prince ! we see

Man was not made for true felicity.

Thou, CEdipus, beyond the rest

Of mortals wert supremely blest ;

Whom every hand conspired to raise.

Whom every tongue rejoiced to praise,

Wlien from the Sphinx thy all preserving hand

Stretched forth its aid to save a sinking Innd.

Thy virtues raised thee to a throne,

And grateful Thebes was all thy own ;

Alas ! how changed that glorious name !

Lost are thy virtues and thy fame ;

How couldst thou thus pollute thy father's bed ?

How couldst thou thus thy hapless mother wed 1

How could that bed unconscious bear

So long the \dle incestuous pair 1

But time, of quick and piercing sight.

Hath brought the horrid deed to light ;

At length Jocasta owns her guilty flame,
1185

And finds a husband and a child the same.
1185

E'pode.
1185

Wretched son of Laius, thee
1185

Henceforth may I never see,
1185

But absent shed the pious tear,
1185

And weep thy fate with grief sincere !
1185

For thou didst raise our eyes to life and light,
1185

To close them now in everlasting night.
1185

Messenger
Scene VIII. Strophe 1. Antistrophe i. Strophe 2. Antistrophe 2. ACT V. Scene I.

English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 1110 focus

If I, who converse never with him held,
1110

May from appearance, reverend sages, judge,
1110

I see th' expected herdsman; for his years

Accord, denoting him of equal age

With this Corinthian: more than this, I know

They, who conduct him, to my menial train

Belong: with more assurance thou may'st speak,
1115

As haply thou hast seen this groom before.

Chorus

I know him well; to Laius in his charge

As herdsman none more faithful was esteem'd.

Oedipus

Stranger of Corinth, I would ask thee first,

Of this man didst thou speak?
1120

Corinthian

This is the man.

Oedipus
CŒDIPUS, CORINTHIAN, HERDSMAN,

Hither, old man; look up; to what I ask ;

Answer. To Laius didst thou once belong?

Herdsman

I was his slave, but not a purchased slave,

My birth was in his house.

Oedipus

Thine office what?

What was thy life?

Herdsman

Pass'd chiefly on his herds
1125

Oedipus

To what pastures didst thou drive

Thy charge?

Herdsman

Around Cithæron, and the tracts

Adjoining to the mountain.

Oedipus

Dost thou know

This man? Didst thou e'er see him?

Herdsman

Of what deed,

What man is thy inquiry?

Oedipus

Of this man
1130

Now present: commerce with him hast thou held ?
1130

Herdsman

My memory fails; I cannot speak at once.

Corinthian

No wonder, lord; but I will soon recal

Things to his memory lost; for well I know

He must remember in Cithæron's vales,

When of two herds the charge was his, and mine
1135

Of one, I neighbour'd with him three whole months,

From spring till cold Arcturus with him brings

The winter; to their stalls I then drove back

My herds, and he to those of Laius his.

Have I said aught but truth and real fact?
1140

Herdsman

These things are true, though facts of distant times.

Corinthian

Say then, dost thou remember that a child

Thou gavest me there to nurture as mine own?

Herdsman

What wou'dst thou? Wherefore is that question ask'd?

Corinthian

This, my good friend, is he who was that child.
1145

Herdsman

Perdition seize thee; wilt thou hold thy peace?

Oedipus

Ah, thou dost wrong: rebuke him, not old man;

For more than his thy words deserve rebuke.

Herdsman

In what, most worthy lord, do I offend?

Oedipus

To what concerns this child, of which he asks,

Replying not.

Herdsman

He speaks he knows not what,

Mere idle talk.

Oedipus

Thou wilt not with good grace

Speak freely; but the truth thou wilt declare

Writhing beneath the scourge.

Herdsman

Oh, by the gods,
1155

Scourge not an old man!
1155

Oedipus

Seize him, bind his hands

This instant.

Herdsman

Wretched me! And for what cause?

What wou'dst thou know?

Oedipus

This child, of which he asks,

Didst thou consign it to his hands!

Herdsman

I did.

Would I had died that day!

Oedipus

And thou shalt die,
1160

Unless thou speak the truth.
1160

Herdsman

And if I speak,

I must be more undone.

Oedipus

This man, it seems,

Is studious of delay.

Herdsman

Not so: I said

Long since I gave it to him.

Oedipus

Whence received ?

Thine own, or from some other?

Herdsman

Not mine own.
1165

But from another's hand.
1165

Oedipus

From whom? from one

That dwells at Thebes?

Herdsman

Now by the gods, O king,

Inquire no more.

Oedipus

If I must ask again,

Thou diest.

Herdsman

Beneath the roof of Laius born.

Oedipus

Born to a slave? Or drew he from the king
1170

His birth?
1170

Herdsman

For me how terrible to speak !

Oedipus

Ay, and for me to hear: yet I must hear.

Herdsman

The son of Laius he was call'd; of this

Thy queen, Jocasta, can inform thee best.

Oedipus

Gave she the child to thee?

Herdsman

She did, O king.

Oedipus

With what intent?
1175

Herdsman

By me to be destroy'd.

Oedipus

What, she who gave him birth! O wretch!

Through dread

What ill?

Of oracles denouncing ill.

Herdsman

That he should kill his parents: this was said.

Oedipus

Why then to this old man consign thy charge?

Herdsman

Through pity: for, my lord, I thought this man

Would bear him to a distant land, of which

He is a native; but he saved him, saved

To misery: for if thou art he, of whom
1180

He speaks, know this, most wretched is thy fate.

Oedipus

Is there a wretch like me? My dreadful fate

Is now unveil'd. O light, thy beams no more

Let me behold, for I derive my birth

From these, to whom my birth I should not owe;

My dearest commerce I have held with those,

Whose commerce nature starts at; I have slain

Those, from whose blood the foulest stain I draw.
1185

Chorus
STRO. ANTIS.

English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 1110-1185 focus

Oedipus

Elders, if it is right for me, who have never met the man, to guess, I think I see the herdsman we have been looking for for a long time. In his venerable old age he tallies with this stranger’s years, and moreover I recognize those who bring him, I think, as servants of mine.
1110

But perhaps you have an advantage in knowledge over me, if you have seen the herdsman before.
1115

Chorus

Yes, I know him, be sure. He was in the service of Laius—trusty as any shepherd.

The herdsman is brought in.

Oedipus

I ask you first, Corinthian stranger, if this is the man you mean.

Messenger

He is, the one you are looking at.
1120

Oedipus

You, old man—look this way and answer all that I ask—were you once in the service of Laius?

Servant

I was—not a bought slave, but reared in his house.

Oedipus

Employed in what labor, or what way of life?

Servant

For the better part of my life I tended the flocks.
1125

Oedipus

And what regions did you most frequently haunt?

Servant

Sometimes Cithaeron, sometimes the neighboring ground.

Oedipus

Are you aware of ever having seen this man in these parts?

Servant

Doing what? What man do you mean?

Oedipus

This man here. Have you ever met him before?
1130

Servant

Not so that I could speak at once from memory.

Messenger

And no wonder, master. But I will bring clear recollection to his ignorance. I am sure he knows well of the time we dwelled in the region of Cithaeron

for six month periods, from spring to Arcturus, he with two flocks, and I, his comrade, with one. And then for the winter I used to drive my flock to my own fold, and he took his to the fold of Laius.
1135

Did any of this happen as I tell it, or did it not?
1140

1141

Servant

You speak the truth, though it was long ago.

Messenger

Come, tell me now: do you remember having given me a boy in those days, to be reared as my own foster-son?

Servant

What now? Why do you ask the question?

Messenger

This man, my friend, is he who then was young.
1145

Servant

Damn you! Be silent once and for all!

Oedipus

Do not rebuke him, old man. Your words need rebuking more than his.

Servant

And in what way, most noble master, do I offend?

Oedipus

In not telling of the boy about whom he asks.
1150

Servant

He speaks without knowledge, but is busy to no purpose.

Oedipus

You will not speak with good grace, but will in pain.

Servant

No, in the name of the gods, do not mistreat an old man.

Oedipus

Someone, quick—tie his hands him this instant!

Servant

Alas, why? What do you want to learn?
1155

Oedipus

Did you give this man the child about whom he asks?

Servant

I did. Would that I had perished that day!

Oedipus

Well, you will come to that, unless you tell the honest truth.

Servant

But if I speak I will be destroyed all the more.

Oedipus

This man is bent, I think, on more delays.
1160

Servant

No, no! I said before that I gave it to him.

Oedipus

Where did you get it from? From your own house, or from another?

Servant

It was not my own: I received it from another.

Oedipus

From whom of the citizens here? From what home?

Servant

For the love of the gods, master, ask no more!
1165

Oedipus

You are dead if I have to question you again.

Servant

It was a child, then, of the house of Laius.

Oedipus

A slave? Or one of his own clan?

Servant

Alas! I am on the brink of speaking the dreaded words.

Oedipus

And I of hearing: I must hear nevertheless.
1170

1171

Servant

You must know then, that it was said to be his own child. But your lady within could say best how these matters lie.

Oedipus

How? Did she give it to you?

Servant

Yes, my lord.

Oedipus

For what purpose?

Servant

That I should do away with it.

Oedipus

Her own child, the wretched woman?
1175

Servant

Yes, from fear of the evil prophecies.

Oedipus

What were they?

Servant

The tale ran that he would slay his father.

Oedipus

Why, then, did you give him to this old man?

Servant

Out of pity, master, thinking that he would carry him to another land, from where he himself came. But he saved him for the direst woe.

For if you are what this man says, be certain that you were born ill-fated.
1180

Oedipus

Oh, oh! All brought to pass, all true. Light, may I now look on you for the last time—I who have been found to be accursed in birth,

accursed in wedlock, accursed in the shedding of blood. He rushes into the palace.
1185

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Current edition Experimental

Χορός ἔγνωκα γάρ, σάφ᾽ ἴσθι· Λαΐου γὰρ ἦν εἴπερ τις ἄλλος πιστὸς ὡς νομεὺς ἀνήρ.

Οἰδίπους σὲ πρῶτ᾽ ἐρωτῶ, τὸν Κορίνθιον ξένον, ἢ τόνδε φράζεις; 1120

Ἄγγελος τοῦτον, ὅνπερ εἰσορᾷς.

Οἰδίπους οὗτος, σύ, πρέσβυ, δεῦρό μοι φώνει βλέπων ὅσ᾽ ἄν σ᾽ ἐρωτῶ. Λαΐου ποτ᾽ ἦσθα σύ;

Θεράπων ἦ δοῦλος, οὐκ ὠνητός, ἀλλ᾽ οἴκοι τραφείς.

Οἰδίπους ἔργον μεριμνῶν ποῖον ἢ βίον τίνα;

Θεράπων ποίμναις τὰ πλεῖστα τοῦ βίου συνειπόμην. 1125

Οἰδίπους χώροις μάλιστα πρὸς τίσι ξύναυλος ὤν;

Θεράπων ἦν μὲν Κιθαιρών, ἦν δὲ πρόσχωρος τόπος.

Οἰδίπους τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδ᾽ οὖν οἶσθα τῇδέ που μαθών;

Θεράπων τί χρῆμα δρῶντα; ποῖον ἄνδρα καὶ λέγεις;

Οἰδίπους τόνδ᾽ ὃς πάρεστιν· ἢ ξυνήλλαξας τί πω; 1130

Θεράπων οὐχ ὥστε γ᾽ εἰπεῖν ἐν τάχει μνήμης ὕπο.

Θεράπων

λέγεις ἀληθῆ, καίπερ ἐκ μακροῦ χρόνου.

Ἄγγελος φέρ᾽ εἰπὶ νῦν, τότ᾽ οἶσθα παῖδά μοί τινα δούς, ὡς ἐμαυτῷ θρέμμα θρεψαίμην ἐγώ;

Θεράπων τί δ᾽ ἔστι; πρὸς τί τοῦτο τοὔπος ἱστορεῖς;

Ἄγγελος ὅδ᾽ ἐστίν, ὦ τᾶν, κεῖνος ὃς τότ᾽ ἦν νέος. 1145

Θεράπων οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐ σιωπήσας ἔσει;

Οἰδίπους ἆ, μὴ κόλαζε, πρέσβυ, τόνδ᾽, ἐπεὶ τὰ σὰ δεῖται κολαστοῦ μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ τοῦδ᾽ ἔπη.

Θεράπων τί δ᾽, ὦ φέριστε δεσποτῶν, ἁμαρτάνω;

Οἰδίπους οὐκ ἐννέπων τὸν παῖδ᾽ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ. 1150

Θεράπων λέγει γὰρ εἰδὼς οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄλλως πονεῖ.

Οἰδίπους σὺ πρὸς χάριν μὲν οὐκ ἐρεῖς, κλαίων δ᾽ ἐρεῖς.

Θεράπων μὴ δῆτα, πρὸς θεῶν, τὸν γέροντά μ' αἰκίσῃ.

Οἰδίπους οὐχ ὡς τάχος τις τοῦδ᾽ ἀποστρέψει χέρας;

Θεράπων δύστηνος, ἀντὶ τοῦ; τί προσχρῄζων μαθεῖν; 1155

Οἰδίπους τὸν παῖδ᾽ ἔδωκας τῷδ᾽ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ; [45 b

Θεράπων ἔδωκʼ· ὀλέσθαι δ᾽ ὤφελον τῇδ᾽ ἡμέρᾳ.

Οἰδίπους ἀλλ᾽ εἰς τόδ' ἥξεις μὴ λέγων γε τοὔνδικον.

Θεράπων πολλῷ γε μᾶλλον, ἢν φράσω, διόλλυμαι.

Οἰδίπους ἁνὴρ ὅδ᾽, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἐς τριβὰς ἐλᾷ. 1160

Θεράπων οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔγωγ', ἀλλ᾽ εἶπον ὡς δοίην πάλαι.

Οἰδίπους πόθεν λαβών; οἰκεῖον, ἢ ἐξ ἄλλου τινός;

Θεράπων ἐμὸν μὲν οὐκ ἔγωγ᾽, ἐδεξάμην δέ του.

Οἰδίπους τίνος πολιτῶν τῶνδε κἀκ ποίας στέγης;

Θεράπων μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, μή, δέσποθ', ἱστόρει πλέον. 1165

Οἰδίπους ὄλωλας, εἴ σε ταῦτ᾽ ἐρήσομαι πάλιν.

Θεράπων τῶν Λαΐου τοίνυν τις ἦν γεννημάτων.

Οἰδίπους ἦ δοῦλος, ἢ κείνου τις ἐγγενὴς γεγώς;

Θεράπων οἴμοι, πρὸς αὐτῷ γ' εἰμὶ τῷ δεινῷ λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους κἄγωγ᾽ ἀκούων· ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως ἀκουστέον. 1170

Θεράπων

κείνου γέ τοι δὴ παῖς ἐκλῄζεθ᾽· ἡ δ᾽ ἔσω κάλλιστ᾽ ἂν εἴποι σὴ γυνὴ τάδ᾽ ὡς ἔχει.

Οἰδίπους ἦ γὰρ δίδωσιν ἥδε σοι;

Θεράπων μάλιστ᾽, ἄναξ.

Οἰδίπους ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας;

Θεράπων ὡς ἀναλώσαιμί νιν.

Οἰδίπους τεκοῦσα τλήμων; 1175

Θεράπων θεσφάτων γ᾽ ὄκνῳ κακῶν. 1175

Οἰδίπους ποίων;

Θεράπων κτενεῖν νιν τοὺς τεκόντας ἦν λόγος.

Οἰδίπους πῶς δῆτ᾽ ἀφῆκας τῷ γέροντι τῷδε σύ;

Χορός α

Χορός ἔγνωκα γάρ, σάφʼ ἴσθι· Λαΐου γὰρ ἦν εἴπερ τις ἄλλος πιστὸς ὡς νομεὺς ἀνήρ.

Οἰδίπους σὲ πρῶτʼ ἐρωτῶ, τὸν Κορίνθιον ξένον, ἦ τόνδε φράζεις;

Ἄγγελος τοῦτον, ὅνπερ εἰσορᾷς. 1120

Οἰδίπους οὗτος σύ, πρέσβυ, δεῦρό μοι φώνει βλέπων ὅσʼ ἄν σʼ ἐρωτῶ. Λαΐου ποτʼ ἦσθα σύ;

Θεράπων ἦ δοῦλος οὐκ ὠνητός, ἀλλʼ οἴκοι τραφείς.

Οἰδίπους ἔργον μεριμνῶν ποῖον ἢ βίον τινά;

Θεράπων ποίμναις τὰ πλεῖστα τοῦ βίου συνειπόμην. 1125

Οἰδίπους χώροις μάλιστα πρὸς τίσι ξύναυλος ὤν;

Θεράπων ἦν μὲν Κιθαιρών, ἦν δὲ πρόσχωρος τόπος.

Οἰδίπους τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδʼ οὖν οἶσθα τῇδέ που μαθών;

Θεράπων τί χρῆμα δρῶντα; ποῖον ἄνδρα καὶ λέγεις;

Οἰδίπους τόνδʼ ὃς πάρεστιν· ἢ ξυναλλάξας τί πω; 1130

Θεράπων οὐχ ὥστε γʼ εἰπεῖν ἐν τάχει μνήμης ἄπο.

Θεράπων λέγεις ἀληθῆ, καίπερ ἐκ μακροῦ χρόνου.

Ἄγγελος φέρʼ εἰπὲ νῦν, τότʼ οἶσθα παῖδά μοί τινα δούς, ὡς ἐμαυτῷ θρέμμα θρεψαίμην ἐγώ;

Θεράπων τί δʼ ἔστι; πρὸς τί τοῦτο τοὔπος ἱστορεῖς;

Ἄγγελος ὅδʼ ἐστίν, ὦ τᾶν, κεῖνος ὃς τότʼ ἦν νέος. 1145

Θεράπων οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐ σιωπήσας ἔσει;

Οἰδίπους ἆ, μὴ κόλαζε, πρέσβυ, τόνδʼ, ἐπεὶ τὰ σὰ δεῖται κολαστοῦ μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ τοῦδʼ ἔπη.

Θεράπων τί δʼ, ὦ φέριστε δεσποτῶν, ἁμαρτάνω;

Οἰδίπους οὐκ ἐννέπων τὸν παῖδʼ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ. 1150

Θεράπων λέγει γὰρ εἰδὼς οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἄλλως πονεῖ.

Οἰδίπους σὺ πρὸς χάριν μὲν οὐκ ἐρεῖς, κλαίων δʼ ἐρεῖς.

Χορός

ἔγνωκα γάρ, σάφ᾽ ἴσθι· Λαΐου γὰρ ἦν

εἴπερ τις ἄλλος πιστὸς ὡς νομεὺς ἀνήρ.

Οἰδίπους

σὲ πρῶτ᾽ ἐρωτῶ, τὸν Κορίνθιον ξένον,

ἢ τόνδε φράζεις;
1120

Ἄγγελος

τοῦτον, ὅνπερ εἰσορᾷς.

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος, σύ, πρέσβυ, δεῦρό μοι φώνει βλέπων

ὅσ᾽ ἄν σ᾽ ἐρωτῶ. Λαΐου ποτ᾽ ἦσθα σύ;

Θεράπων

ἦ δοῦλος, οὐκ ὠνητός, ἀλλ᾽ οἴκοι τραφείς.

Οἰδίπους

ἔργον μεριμνῶν ποῖον ἢ βίον τίνα;

Θεράπων

ποίμναις τὰ πλεῖστα τοῦ βίου συνειπόμην.
1125

Οἰδίπους

χώροις μάλιστα πρὸς τίσι ξύναυλος ὤν;

Θεράπων

ἦν μὲν Κιθαιρών, ἦν δὲ πρόσχωρος τόπος.

Οἰδίπους

τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδ᾽ οὖν οἶσθα τῇδέ που μαθών;

Θεράπων

τί χρῆμα δρῶντα; ποῖον ἄνδρα καὶ λέγεις;

Οἰδίπους

τόνδ᾽ ὃς πάρεστιν· ἢ ξυνήλλαξας τί πω;
1130

Θεράπων

οὐχ ὥστε γ᾽ εἰπεῖν ἐν τάχει μνήμης ὕπο.

Ἄγγελος

φέρ᾽ εἰπὶ νῦν, τότ᾽ οἶσθα παῖδά μοί τινα

δούς, ὡς ἐμαυτῷ θρέμμα θρεψαίμην ἐγώ;

Θεράπων

τί δ᾽ ἔστι; πρὸς τί τοῦτο τοὔπος ἱστορεῖς;

Ἄγγελος

ὅδ᾽ ἐστίν, ὦ τᾶν, κεῖνος ὃς τότ᾽ ἦν νέος.
1145

Θεράπων

οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐ σιωπήσας ἔσει;

Οἰδίπους

ἆ, μὴ κόλαζε, πρέσβυ, τόνδ᾽, ἐπεὶ τὰ σὰ

δεῖται κολαστοῦ μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ τοῦδ᾽ ἔπη.

Θεράπων

τί δ᾽, ὦ φέριστε δεσποτῶν, ἁμαρτάνω;

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ ἐννέπων τὸν παῖδ᾽ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ.
1150

Θεράπων

λέγει γὰρ εἰδὼς οὐδέν, ἀλλ᾽ ἄλλως πονεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

σὺ πρὸς χάριν μὲν οὐκ ἐρεῖς, κλαίων δ᾽ ἐρεῖς.

Θεράπων

μὴ δῆτα, πρὸς θεῶν, τὸν γέροντά μ' αἰκίσῃ.

Οἰδίπους

οὐχ ὡς τάχος τις τοῦδ᾽ ἀποστρέψει χέρας;

Θεράπων

δύστηνος, ἀντὶ τοῦ; τί προσχρῄζων μαθεῖν;
1155

Οἰδίπους

τὸν παῖδ᾽ ἔδωκας τῷδ᾽ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ;

[45 b

Θεράπων

ἔδωκʼ· ὀλέσθαι δ᾽ ὤφελον τῇδ᾽ ἡμέρᾳ.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλ᾽ εἰς τόδ' ἥξεις μὴ λέγων γε τοὔνδικον.

Θεράπων

πολλῷ γε μᾶλλον, ἢν φράσω, διόλλυμαι.

Οἰδίπους

ἁνὴρ ὅδ᾽, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἐς τριβὰς ἐλᾷ.
1160

Θεράπων

οὐ δῆτ᾽ ἔγωγ', ἀλλ᾽ εἶπον ὡς δοίην πάλαι.

Οἰδίπους

πόθεν λαβών; οἰκεῖον, ἢ ἐξ ἄλλου τινός;

Θεράπων

ἐμὸν μὲν οὐκ ἔγωγ᾽, ἐδεξάμην δέ του.

Οἰδίπους

τίνος πολιτῶν τῶνδε κἀκ ποίας στέγης;

Θεράπων

μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, μή, δέσποθ', ἱστόρει πλέον.
1165

Οἰδίπους

ὄλωλας, εἴ σε ταῦτ᾽ ἐρήσομαι πάλιν.

Θεράπων

τῶν Λαΐου τοίνυν τις ἦν γεννημάτων.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ δοῦλος, ἢ κείνου τις ἐγγενὴς γεγώς;

Θεράπων

οἴμοι, πρὸς αὐτῷ γ' εἰμὶ τῷ δεινῷ λέγειν.

Οἰδίπους

κἄγωγ᾽ ἀκούων· ἀλλ᾽ ὅμως ἀκουστέον.
1170

κείνου γέ τοι δὴ παῖς ἐκλῄζεθ᾽· ἡ δ᾽ ἔσω

κάλλιστ᾽ ἂν εἴποι σὴ γυνὴ τάδ᾽ ὡς ἔχει.

Οἰδίπους

ἦ γὰρ δίδωσιν ἥδε σοι;

Θεράπων

μάλιστ᾽, ἄναξ.

Οἰδίπους

ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας;

Θεράπων

ὡς ἀναλώσαιμί νιν.

Οἰδίπους

τεκοῦσα τλήμων;
1175

Θεράπων

θεσφάτων γ᾽ ὄκνῳ κακῶν. 1175

Οἰδίπους

ποίων;

Θεράπων

κτενεῖν νιν τοὺς τεκόντας ἦν λόγος.

Οἰδίπους

πῶς δῆτ᾽ ἀφῆκας τῷ γέροντι τῷδε σύ;

Χορός
α

Χορός

ἔγνωκα γάρ, σάφʼ ἴσθι· Λαΐου γὰρ ἦν

εἴπερ τις ἄλλος πιστὸς ὡς νομεὺς ἀνήρ.

Οἰδίπους

σὲ πρῶτʼ ἐρωτῶ, τὸν Κορίνθιον ξένον, ἦ τόνδε φράζεις;

Ἄγγελος

τοῦτον, ὅνπερ εἰσορᾷς.
1120

Οἰδίπους

οὗτος σύ, πρέσβυ, δεῦρό μοι φώνει βλέπων

ὅσʼ ἄν σʼ ἐρωτῶ. Λαΐου ποτʼ ἦσθα σύ;

Θεράπων

ἦ δοῦλος οὐκ ὠνητός, ἀλλʼ οἴκοι τραφείς.

Οἰδίπους

ἔργον μεριμνῶν ποῖον ἢ βίον τινά;

Θεράπων

ποίμναις τὰ πλεῖστα τοῦ βίου συνειπόμην.
1125

Οἰδίπους

χώροις μάλιστα πρὸς τίσι ξύναυλος ὤν;

Θεράπων

ἦν μὲν Κιθαιρών, ἦν δὲ πρόσχωρος τόπος.

Οἰδίπους

τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδʼ οὖν οἶσθα τῇδέ που μαθών;

Θεράπων

τί χρῆμα δρῶντα; ποῖον ἄνδρα καὶ λέγεις;

Οἰδίπους

τόνδʼ ὃς πάρεστιν· ἢ ξυναλλάξας τί πω;
1130

Θεράπων

οὐχ ὥστε γʼ εἰπεῖν ἐν τάχει μνήμης ἄπο.

Θεράπων

λέγεις ἀληθῆ, καίπερ ἐκ μακροῦ χρόνου.

Ἄγγελος

φέρʼ εἰπὲ νῦν, τότʼ οἶσθα παῖδά μοί τινα

δούς, ὡς ἐμαυτῷ θρέμμα θρεψαίμην ἐγώ;

Θεράπων

τί δʼ ἔστι; πρὸς τί τοῦτο τοὔπος ἱστορεῖς;

Ἄγγελος

ὅδʼ ἐστίν, ὦ τᾶν, κεῖνος ὃς τότʼ ἦν νέος.
1145

Θεράπων

οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐ σιωπήσας ἔσει;

Οἰδίπους

ἆ, μὴ κόλαζε, πρέσβυ, τόνδʼ, ἐπεὶ τὰ σὰ

δεῖται κολαστοῦ μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ τοῦδʼ ἔπη.

Θεράπων

τί δʼ, ὦ φέριστε δεσποτῶν, ἁμαρτάνω;

Οἰδίπους

οὐκ ἐννέπων τὸν παῖδʼ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ.
1150

Θεράπων

λέγει γὰρ εἰδὼς οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἄλλως πονεῖ.

Οἰδίπους

σὺ πρὸς χάριν μὲν οὐκ ἐρεῖς, κλαίων δʼ ἐρεῖς.

Θεράπων

μὴ δῆτα, πρὸς θεῶν, τὸν γέροντά μʼ αἰκίσῃ.

Οἰδίπους

οὐχ ὡς τάχος τις τοῦδʼ ἀποστρέψει χέρας;

Θεράπων

δύστηνος, ἀντὶ τοῦ; τί προσχρῄζων μαθεῖν;
1155

Οἰδίπους

τὸν παῖδʼ ἔδωκας τῷδʼ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ;

Θεράπων

ἔδωκʼ· ὀλέσθαι δʼ ὤφελον τῇδʼ ἡμέρᾳ.

Οἰδίπους

ἀλλʼ εἰς τόδʼ ἥξεις μὴ λέγων γε τοὔνδικον.