Sir Richard C. Jebb Commentary on Sophocles: Oedipus at Colonus 7

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Commentary on Sophocles: Oedipus at Colonus. Sir Richard C. Jebb. Cambridge. 1899.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Experimental

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

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (2)
Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (Lewis Campbell, 1879)) — 720 focus
ὦ πλεῖστʼ ἐπαίνοις εὐλογούμενον πέδον,
720
νῦν σοὶ τὰ λαμπρὰ ταῦτα δὴ φαίνειν ἔπη.
ΟΙ, ὦ πάντα τολμῶν κἀπὸ παντὸς ἂν φέρων
λόγου δικαίου μηχάνημα ποικίλον,
τί ταῦτα πειρᾷ κἀμὲ δεύτερον θέλεις
ἑλεῖν, ἐν οἷς μάλιστʼ ἂν ἀλγοίην ἁλούς;
πρόσθεν τε γάρ με τοῖσιν οἰκείοις κακοῖς
765
νοσοῦνθʼ, ὅτʼ ἦν μοι τέρψις ἐκπεσεῖν χθονός,
οὐκ ἤθελες θέλοντι προσθέσθαι χάριν,
ἀλλʼ ἡνίκʼ ἤδη μεστὸς ἦ θυμούμενος,
καὶ τοὐν δόμοισιν ἦν διαιτᾶσθαι γλυκύ,
τότʼ ἐξεώθεις κἀξέβαλλες, οὐδέ σοι
770
τὸ συγγενὲς τοῦτʼ οὐδαμῶς τότʼ ἦν φίλον·
νῦν τʼ αὖθις ἡνίκʼ εἰσορᾷς πόλιν τέ μοι
ξυνοῦσαν εὔνουν τήνδε καὶ γένος τὸ πᾶν,
πειρᾷ μετασπᾶν, σκληρὰ μαλθακῶς λέγων.΄
καίτοι τίς αὕτη τέρψις ἄκοντας φιλεῖν;
775
ὥσπερ τις εἰ σοὶ λιπαροῦντι μὲν τυχεῖν
μηδὲν διδοίη μηδʼ ἐπαρκέσαι θέλοι,
πλήρη δʼ ἔχοντι θυμὸν ὧν χρῄζοις, τότε
δωροῖθʼ, ὅτʼ οὐδὲν ἡ χάρις χάριν φέροι·
ἆρʼ ἂν ματαίου τῆσδʼ ἂν ἡδονῆς τύχοις;
780
τοιαῦτα μέντοι καὶ σὺ προσφέρεις ἐμοί,
λόγῳ μὲν ἐσθλά, τοῖσι δʼ ἔργοισιν κακά.
φράσω δὲ καὶ τοῖσδʼ, ὥς σε δηλώσω κακόν.
ἥκεις ἔμʼ ἄξων, οὐχ ἵνʼ ἐς δόμους ἄγῃς,
ἀλλʼ ὡς πάραυλον οἰκίσῃς, πόλις δέ σοι
785
κακῶν ἄνατος τῶνδʼ ἀπαλλαχθῇ χθονός.
οὐκ ἔστι σοι ταῦτʼ, ἀλλά σοι τάδʼ ἔστʼ, ἐκεῖ
χώρας ἀλάστωρ οὑμὸς ἐνναίων ἀεί·
ἔστιν δὲ παισὶ τοῖς ἐμοῖσι τῆς ἐμῆς
χθονὸς λαχεῖν τοσοῦτον, ἐνθανεῖν μόνον.
790
ἆρʼ οὐκ ἄμεινον ἢ σὺ τἀν Θήβαις φρονῶ;
πολλῷ γʼ, ὅσῳπερ ἐκ σαφεστέρων κλύω,
Φοίβου τε καὐτοῦ Ζηνός, ὃς κείνου πατήρ.
τὸ σὸν δʼ ἀφῖκται δεῦρʼ ὑπόβλητον στόμα,
πολλὴν ἔχον στόμωσιν· ἐν δὲ τῷ λέγειν
795
κάκʼ ἂν λάβοις τὰ πλείονʼ ἢ σωτήρια.
ἀλλʼ οἶδα γάρ σε ταῦτα μὴ πείθων, ἴθι·
ἡμᾶς δʼ ἔα ζῆν ἐνθάδʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἂν κακῶς
οὐδʼ ὧδʼ ἔχοντες ζῷμεν, εἰ τερποίμεθα.
πότερα νομίζεις δυστυχεῖν ἔμʼ ἐς τὰ σὰ
800
[106 b.
ἢ σʼ εἰς τὰ σαυτοῦ μᾶλλον ἐν τῷ νῦν λόγῳ;
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
οὔκουν τις ὡς τάχιστα προσπόλων μολὼν
πρὸς τούσδε βωμοὺς πάντʼ ἀναγκάσει λεὼν
ἄνιππον ἱππότην τε θυμάτων ἄπο
σπεύδειν ἀπὸ ῥυτῆρος, ἔνθα δίστομοι
900
μάλιστα συμβάλλουσιν ἐμπόρων ὁδοί,
ὡς μὴ παρέλθωσʼ αἱ κόραι, γέλως δʼ ἐγὼ
ξένῳ γένωμαι τῷδε, χειρωθεὶς βίᾳ.
ἴθʼ, ὡς ἄνωγα, σὺν τάχει. τοῦτον δʼ ἐγώ,
εἰ μὲν διʼ ὀργῆς ἧκον, ἧς ὅδʼ ἄξιος,
905
ἄτρωτον οὐ μεθῆκʼ ἂν ἐξ ἐμῆς χερός·
νῦν δʼ * οὕσπερ αὐτὸς τοὺς νόμους εἰσῆλθʼ ἔχων,
τούτοισι κοὐκ ἄλλοισιν ἁρμοσθήσεται.
οὐ γάρ ποτʼ ἔξει τῆσδε τῆς χώρας, πρὶν ἂν
κείνας ἐναργεῖς δεῦρό μοι στήσῃς ἄγων·
910
ἐπεὶ δέδρακας οὔτʼ ἐμοῦ καταξίως
οὔθʼ ὧν πέφυκας αὐτὸς οὔτε σῆς χθονός,
ὅστις δίκαιʼ ἀσκοῦσαν εἰσελθὼν πόλιν
κἄνευ νόμου κραίνουσαν οὐδέν, εἶτʼ ἀφεὶς
τὰ τῆσδε τῆς γῆς κύριʼ, ὧδʼ ἐπεισπεσὼν
915
ἄγεις θʼ ἃ χρῄζεις καὶ παρίστασαι βίᾳ·
καί μοι πόλιν κένανδρον ἢ δούλην τινὰ
ἔδοξας εἶναι, κἄμʼ ἴσον τῷ μηδενί.
καίτοι σε Θῆβαί γʼ οὐκ ἐπαίδευσαν κακόν·
οὐ γὰρ φιλοῦσιν ἄνδρας ἐκδίκους τρέφειν,
920
οὐδʼ ἄν σʼ ἐπαινέσειαν, εἰ πυθοίατο
συλῶντα τἀμὰ καὶ τὰ τῶν θεῶν, βίᾳ
ἄγοντα φωτῶν ἀθλίων ἱκτήρια.
οὔκουν ἐγωγʼ ἂν σῆς ἐπεμβαίνων χθονός,
οὐδʼ εἰ τὰ πάντων εἶχον ἐνδικώτατα,
925
ἄνευ γε τοῦ κραίνοντος, ὅστις ἦν, χθονὸς
οὔθʼ εἶλκον οὔτʼ ἂν ἦγον, ἀλλʼ ἠπιστάμην
ξένον παρʼ ἀστοῖς ὡς διαιτᾶσθαι χρεών.
σὺ δʼ ἀξίαν οὐκ οὖσαν αἰσχύνεις πόλιν
τὴν αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ, καί σʼ ὁ πληθύων χρόνος
930
γέρονθʼ ὁμοῦ τίθησι καὶ τοῦ νοῦ κενόν.
εἶπον μὲν οὖν καὶ πρόσθεν, ἐννέπω δὲ νῦν,
τὰς παῖδας ὡς τάχιστα δεῦρʼ ἄγειν τινά,
εἰ μὴ μέτοικος τῆσδε τῆς χώρας θέλεις
εἶναι βίᾳ τε κοὐχ ἑκών· καὶ ταῦτά σοι
935
τῷ νῷ θʼ ὁμοίως κἀπὸ τῆς γλώσσης λέγω.
ἐγὼ οὔτʼ ἄνανδρον τήνδε τὴν πόλιν λέγων,
ὦ τέκνον Αἰγέως, οὔτʼ ἄβουλον, ὡς σὺ φῄς,
940
τοὔργον τόδʼ ἐξέπραξα, γιγνώσκων δʼ ὅτι
οὐδείς ποτʼ αὐτοὺς τῶν ἐμῶν ἂν ἐμπέσοι
ζῆλος ξυναίμων, ὥστʼ ἐμοῦ τρέφειν βίᾳ.
ᾔδη δʼ ὁθούνεκ ἄνδρα καὶ πατροκτόνον
κἄναγνον οὐ δεξοίατʼ, οὐδʼ ὅτῳ γάμοι
945
ξυνόντες εὑρέθησαν ἀνόσιοι τέκνων.
τοιοῦτον αὐτοῖς Ἄρεος εὔβουλον πάγον
ἐγὼ ξυνῄδη χθόνιον ὄνθʼ, ὃς οὐκ ἐᾷ
τοιούσδʼ ἀλήτας τῇδʼ ὁμοῦ ναίειν πόλει·
ᾧ πίστιν ἴσχων τήνδʼ ἐχειρούμην ἄγραν.
950
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἂν οὐκ ἔπρασσον, εἰ μή μοι πικρὰς
αὐτῷ τʼ ἀρὰς ἠρᾶτο καὶ τὠμῷ γένει·
ἀνθʼ ὧν πεπονθὼς ἠξίουν τάδʼ ἀντιδρᾶν.
θυμοῦ γὰρ οὐδὲν γῆράς ἐστιν ἄλλο πλὴν
θανεῖν· θανόντων δʼ οὐδὲν ἄλγος ἅπτεται.
955
πρὸς ταῦτα πράξεις οἷον ἂν θέλῃς· ἐπεὶ
ἐρημία με, κεἰ δίκαιʼ ὅμως λέγω,
σμικρὸν τίθησι· πρὸς δὲ τὰς πράξεις ὅμως,
καὶ τηλικόσδʼ ὤν, ἀντιδρᾶν πειράσομαι.
ὦ λῆμʼ ἀναιδές, τοῦ καθυβρίζειν δοκεῖς,
960
πότερον ἐμοῦ γέροντος, ἢ σαυτοῦ, τόδε ;
ὅστις φόνους μοι καὶ γάμους καὶ συμφορὰς
τοῦ σοῦ διῆκας στόματος, ἃς ἐγὼ τάλας
ἤνεγκον ἄκων· θεοῖς γὰρ ἦν οὕτω φίλον,
τάχʼ ἄν τι μηνίουσιν εἰς γένος πάλαι.
965
ἐπεὶ καθʼ αὑτόν γʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐξεύροις ἐμοὶ
ἁμαρτίας ὄνειδος οὐδὲν ἀνθʼ ὅτου
τάδʼ εἰς ἐμαυτὸν τοὺς ἐμούς θʼ ἡμάρτανον.
ἐπεὶ δίδαξον, εἴ τι θέσφατον πατρὶ
χρησμοῖσιν ἱκνεῖθʼ ὥστε πρὸς παίδων θανεῖν,
970
πῶς ἂν δικαίως τοῦτʼ ὀνειδίζοις ἐμοί,
ὃς οὔτε βλάστας πω γενεθλίους πατρός,
οὐ μητρὸς εἶχον, ἀλλʼ ἀγέννητος τότʼ ἦ;
εἰ δʼ αὖ φανεὶς δύστηνος, ὡς ἐγὼ ʼφάνην,
ἐς χεῖρας ἦλθον πατρὶ καὶ κατέκτανον,
975
μηδὲν ξυνιεὶς ὧν ἔδρων εἰς οὕς τʼ ἔδρων,
πῶς *δἂν τό γʼ ἆκον πρᾶγμʼ ἂν εἰκότως ψέγοις ;
μητρὸς δέ, τλῆμον, οὐκ ἐπαισχύνει γάμους
οὔσης ὁμαίμου σῆς μʼ ἀναγκάζων λέγειν
οἵους ἐρῶ τάχʼ· οὐ γὰρ οὖν σιγήσομαι,
980
σοῦ γʼ εἰς τόδʼ ἐξελθόντος ἀνόσιον στόμα.
ἔτικτε γάρ μʼ ἔτικτεν, ὤμοι μοι κακῶν,
οὐκ εἰδότʼ οὐκ εἰδυῖα, καὶ τεκοῦσά με
αὑτῆς ὄνειδος παῖδας ἐξέφυσέ μοι.
ἀλλʼ ἓν γὰρ οὖν ἔξοιδα, σὲ μὲν ἑκόντʼ ἐμὲ
985
κείνην τε ταῦτα δυσστομεῖν· ἐγὼ δέ νιν
ἄκων ἔγημα, φθέγγομαί τʼ ἄκων τάδε.
ἀλλʼ οὐ γὰρ οὔτʼ ἐν τοῖσδʼ ἀκούσομαι κακὸς
γάμοισιν οὔθʼ οὓς αἰὲν ἐμφορεῖς σύ μοι
φόνους πατρῴους ἐξονειδίζων πικρῶς.
990
ἓν γάρ μʼ ἄμειψαι μοῦνον ὧν σʼ ἀνιστορῶ.
εἴ τίς σε τὸν δίκαιον αὐτίκʼ ἐνθάδε
κτείνοι παραστάς, πότερα πυνθάνοιʼ ἂν εἰ
πατήρ σʼ ὁ καίνων, ἢ τίνοιʼ ἂν εὐθέως;
δοκῶ μέν, εἴπερ ζῆν φιλεῖς, τὸν αἴτιον
995
τίνοιʼ ἄν, οὐδὲ τοὔνδικον περιβλέποις.
τοιαῦτα μέντοι καὐτὸς εἰσέβην κακά,
θεῶν ἀγόντων· οἷς ἐγὼ οὐδὲ τὴν πατρὸς
ψυχὴν ἂν οἶμαι ζῶσαν ἀντειπεῖν ἐμοί,
σὺ δʼ, εἶ γὰρ οὐ δίκαιος, ἀλλʼ ἅπαν καλὸν
1000
λέγειν νομίζων, ῥητὸν ἄρρητόν τʼ ἔπος,
τοιαῦτʼ ὀνειδίζεις με τῶνδʼ ἐναντίον.
καί σοι τὸ Θησέως ὄνομα θωπεῦσαι καλόν,
καὶ τὰς Ἀθήνας, ὡς κατῴκηνται καλῶς·
κᾆθʼ ὧδʼ ἐπαινῶν πολλὰ τοῦδʼ ἐκλανθάνει,
1005
ὁθούνεκʼ εἴ τις γῆ θεοὺς ἐπίσταται
τιμαῖς σεβίζειν, ἥδε τοῦθʼ ὑπερφέρει,
ἀφʼ ἧς σὺ κλέψας τὸν ἱκέτην γέροντʼ ἐμὲ
αὐτόν τʼ ἐχειροῦ τὰς κόρας τʼ οἴχει λαβών.
ἀνθʼ ὧν ἐγὼ νῦν τάσδε τὰς θεὰς ἐμοὶ
1010
καλῶν ἱκνοῦμαι καὶ κατασκήπτω λιταῖς
ἐλθεῖν ἀρωγοὺς ξυμμάχους θʼ, ἵνʼ ἐκμάθῃς
οἵων ὑπʼ ἀνδρῶν ἥδε φρουρεῖται πόλις.
ὁ ξεῖνος, ὦναξ, χρηστός· αἱ δὲ συμφοραὶ
αὐτοῦ πανώλεις, ἄξιαι δʼ ἀμυναθεῖν.
1015
Greek (F. Storr, 1912) (OCR draft) Experimental (Greek (F. Storr, 1912)) — 720-1043 focus
Translations (5)
English (Lewis Campbell, 1906) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Lewis Campbell, 1906)) — 720 focus
O land exalted thus in blessing and praise,
720
Now is thy time to prove these brave words true.
I before all,—since I were worst of men,
Were I not pained at thy misfortunes, sir,
—To see thee wandering in the stranger’s land
Aged and miserable, unhoused, unfed,
Singly attended by this girl, whose fall
To such a depth of undeservèd woe
I could not have imagined! Hapless maid!
Evermore caring for thy poor blind head,
Roving in beggary, so young, with no man
To marry her,—a mark for all mischance.
O misery, what deep reproach I have laid
On thee and me and our whole ill-starred race!
But who can hide evil that courts the day?
Thou, therefore, Oedipus, without constraint,
(By all the Gods of Cadmus’ race I pray thee)
Remove this horror from the sight of men
By coming to the ancestral city and home
Of thy great sires,—bidding a kind farewell
To worthiest Athens, as is meet. But Thebes,
Thy native land, yet more deserves thy love.
Thou unabashed in knavery, who canst frame
For every cause the semblance of a plea
Pranked up with righteous seeming, why again
Would’st thou contrive my ruin, and attempt
To catch me where I most were grieved being caught?
Beforetime, when my self-procurèd woes
Were plaguing me, and I would fain have rushed
To instant banishment, thou wouldst not then
Grant this indulgence to my keen desire.
But when I had fed my passion to the full,
And all my pleasure was to live at home,
Then ’twas thy cue to expel and banish me,
Nor was this name of kindred then so dear.
Now once again, when thou behold’st this city
And people joined in friendly bands with me,
Thou wouldst drag me from my promised resting-place,
Hiding hard policy with courtly show.
Strange kindness, to love men against their will!
Suppose, when thou wert eager in some suit,
No grace were granted thee, but all denied,
And when thy soul was sated, then the boon
Were offered, when such grace were graceless now;
—Poor satisfaction then were thine, I ween!
Even such a gift thou profferest me to-day,
Kind in pretence, but really full of evil.
These men shall hear me tell thy wickedness.
Thou comest to take me, not unto my home,
But to dwell outlawed at your gate, that so
Your Thebè may come off untouched of harm
From her encounter with Athenian men.
Ye shall not have me thus. But you shall have
My vengeful spirit ever in your land
Abiding for destruction,—and my sons
Shall have this portion in their father’s ground,
To die thereon. Know I not things in Thebes
Better than thou? Yea, for ’tis mine to hear
785
Safer intelligencers,—Zeus himself,
And Phoebus, high interpreter of Heaven.
Thou bring’st a tongue suborned with false pretence,
790
Sharpened with insolence;—but in shrewd speech
Thou shalt find less of profit than of bane.
This thou wilt ne’er believe. Therefore begone!
795
Let me live here. For even such life as mine
Were not amiss, might I but have my will.
Which of us twain, believ’st thou, in this talk
800
Hath more profoundly sinned against thy peace?
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
Then one of you run to the altar-foot
Hard by, and haste the people from the rite,
Horsemen and footmen at the height of speed
To race unto the parting of the roads
Where travellers from both gorges wont to meet.
900
Lest there the maidens pass beyond our reach
And I be worsted by this stranger’s might
And let him laugh at me. Be swift! Away!
—For him, were I as wroth as he deserves,
He should not go unpunished from my hand.
905
But now he shall be ruled by the same law
He thought to enforce. Thou goest not from this ground
Till thou hast set these maids in presence here;
Since by thine act thou hast disgraced both me
And thine own lineage and thy native land,
910
Who with unlicensed inroad hast assailed
An ancient city, that hath still observed
Justice and equity, and apart from law
Ratifies nothing; and, being here, hast cast
Authority to the winds, and made thine own
915
Whate’er thou wouldst, bearing it off perforce,—
Deeming of me forsooth as nothing worth,
And of my city as one enslaved to foes
Or void of manhood. Not of Thebe’s will
Come such wild courses. It is not her way
920
To foster men in sin, nor would she praise
Thy doing, if she knew that thou hast robbed
Me and the gods, dragging poor suppliant wights
From their last refuge at thy will—I would not,
Had I perchance set foot within thy land,
925
Even were my cause most righteous, have presumed,
Without consent of him who bore chief sway,
To seize on any man, but would have known
How men should act who tread on foreign soil.
Thou bring’st disgrace on thine own mother state
930
All undeservedly, and the lapse of years
Hath left thee aged, but not wise—Again
I bid those maids now to be brought with speed,
Unless thou would’st be made a sojourner
In Athens by compulsion. This I speak
935
Not with my lips alone, but from my will.
Great Aegeus’ son!
Not as misprising this thy city’s strength
In arms, or wisdom in debate, I dared
940
This capture, but in simple confidence
Thy citizens would not so envy me
My blood relations, as to harbour them
Against my will,—nor welcome to their hearths
A man incestuous and a parricide,
945
The proved defiler of his mother’s bed
Such was the mount of Ares that I knew,
Seat of high wisdom, planted in their soil,
That suffers no such lawless runaways
To haunt within the borders of your realm.
Relying on that I laid my hands upon
950
This quarry, nor had done so, were it not
That bitterly he cursed myself and mine.
That moved me to requital, since even Age
Still bears resentment, till the power of death
Frees men from anger, as from all annoy.
955
Being sovereign here thou wilt do thy pleasure. I,
Though I have justice on my side, am weak
Through being alone. Yet if you meddle with me,
Old as I am, you’ll find me dangerous.
O boldness void of shame! Whom dost thou think
960
Thy obloquy most harms, this agèd head
960
Or thine, who hast thus let pass thy lips the crimes
I have borne unwittingly. So Heaven was pleased
To wreak some old offence upon our race.
Since in myself you will find no stain of sin
For which such ruinous error ’gainst myself
965
And mine own house might be the recompense.
Tell me, I pray thee, if a word from Heaven
Came to my father through the oracle
That he should die by his son’s hand,—what right
Hast thou to fasten that reproach on me,
970
The child not yet begotten of my sire,
An unborn nothing, unconceived? Or if,
Born as I was to misery, I encountered
And killed my father in an angry fray,
Nought knowing of what I did or whom I slew,
975
What reason is’t to blame the unwitting deed?
And, oh, thou wretch! art not ashamed to force me
To speak that of my mother, thine own sister,
Which I will speak, for I will not keep silence,
Since thou hast been thus impious with thy tongue.
She was my mother, oh, the bitter word!
980
Though neither knew it, and having borne me, she
Became the mother of children to her son,
An infamous birth! Yet this I know, thy crime
Of speech against us both is voluntary.
But all involuntary was my deed
985
In marriage and is this mine utterance now.
No,—that shall not be called a bosom-sin,
Nor shall my name be sullied with the deed,
Thy tongue would brand on me, against my sire.
For answer me one question. If to-day,
990
Here, now, one struck at thee a murderous stroke,—
At thee, the righteous person,—wouldst thou ask
If such assailant were thy sire, or strike
Forthwith? Methinks, as one who cares to live,
You would strike before you questioned of the right,
995
Or reasoned of his kindred whom you slew.
Such was the net that snared me: such the woes
Heaven drew me to fulfil. My father’s spirit,
Came he to life, would not gainsay my word.
But thou, to whom, beneath the garb of right,
No matter is too dreadful or too deep
1000
For words, so rail’st on me, in such a presence.
Well thou dost flatter the great name of Theseus,
And Athens in her glory stablished here,
But midst thy fulsome praises thou forgettest
How of all lands that yield the immortal Gods
1005
Just homage of true piety, this land
Is foremost. Yet from hence thou would’st beguile
Me, the aged suppliant. Nay, from hence thou would’st drag
Myself with violence, and hast reft away
My children. Wherefore I conjure these powers,
1010
With solemn invocation and appeal,
To come and take my part, that thou may’st know
What men they are who guard this hallowed realm.
My lord, the stranger deserves well. His fate
Is grievous, but the more demands our aid.
1015
German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review) (OCR draft) Experimental (German (J. J. C. Donner, 1875; OCR review)) — 720 focus
O Flur, mit höchsten Ruhmes Preis verherrlichet,
Nun gilt es, mun bewähre dieser Rede Glanz!
Du Frecher, dreist zu Allem, der aus jedem Ding
Den Schein gerechter Sache schlau zu spinnen weiß,
Weßhalb versuchst du solches, willst mich abermals
Im Nez verstricken, wo das Herbste meiner harrt?
760
Denn früher, als mich kränkte meines Hauses Noth,
Daß mir Verbanmmung aus dem Land für Wonne galt,
Ward meinem Wunsche solche Gunst mißgönnt von dir.
Doch als der Seele grimmer Schmerz gesättigt war,
Und mir, daheim zu leben, schien ein süßes Glück:
765
Da stießest, warfest du mich aus, da waren dir
Des Blutes edle Bande nur ein eitles Wort.
Nun willst du wieder, da du siehst, wie diese Stadt
Und alles Volk hier wohlgesinnt mir Hülfe leiht,
Das Rauhe sanft aussprechend, mich von hinnen zieh'n.
770
Doch welche Lust kann aufgedrung'ne Liebe sein?
Wie? Wenn ein Mann auf ungestümes Bitten dir
Wohlthaten oder Hülfe kalt verweigerte,
Und erst, nachdem dir, was du willst, in Fülle ward,
Willfahrte, wann ihm keinen Dank die Gunst gewinnt:
775
Sprich, wäre das nicht ein verächtlich leerer Dienst?
Nun, solche Gaben bietest du mir eben dar,
Die schön in Worten, in der That verwerflich sind.
Auch diesen sag' ich's, daß sie seh'n, wie schlecht du bist.
Du kommst mich fortzuführen, nicht zu meinem Haus;
780
Nein, außen soll ich wohnen, daß die Theberstadt
Frei sei der Uebel, die von diesem Land ihr droh'n.
Das wird dir nicht; das wird dir, daß mein Rachegeist,
Ein ewig Schreckbild, hausen wird in Kadmos' Reich;
Und meine Söhne können einst von meinem Land
785
Nicht mehr erlangen, als darin zu sterben nur.
Ist Thebe's Loos nicht besser mir, als dir, bekannt?
Um Vieles, weil ich sein Geschick von Weiseren,
Von Phöbos, ja, von dessen Vater Zeus vernahm.
Du aber kamst mit tückevollem Mund daher,
790
Mit vielgewandter Zunge; doch dein Neden wird
Mehr Schaden dir bereiten als ersprießlich sein.
Nun geh; ich weiß, dich wenden meine Worte nicht -
Uns aber laß hier leben; denn wir leben nicht
Elend in solcher Lage selbst, wenn's uns behagt.
795
Wie? Wähust du denn, du werdest minder als ich selbst
Verlieren, wenn du meinem Wort dich nicht bequemst?
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.)
Auf denn, so schnell als möglich geh' ein Diener mir
Zurück zum Altar, alles Volk zu nöthigen,
895
Mit lassem Zügel hoch zu Pferd und ohne Roß
Vom Opfer hin zu eilen, wo die Mündungen
Der beiden Wege sich in Eins zusammenzieh'n,
Daß uns die Jungfrau'n nicht entgeh'n und ich ein Spott
Des fremden Mannes werde, weich' ich der Gewalt.
900
Auf, thut in Eile mein Gebot! Und diesen hier,
(ein Diener geht.)
Gehorcht' ich meinem Zorne, wie er's wohl verdient,
Nicht unverwundet ließ ich ihn aus meiner Hand.
Doch welcher Sazung folgend er hieher gelangt, 6
Nach der, und keiner andern, fall' auch ihm der Spruch!
905
Du sollst aus diesem Lande nicht abzieh'n, bevor
Du mir die Jungfrau'n sichtbar hier vor Augen stellst;
Denn würdig hast du weder dein gehandelt noch
Der Ahnen, deren Sohn du bist, noch deines Volks,
Der du, die Stadt heimsuchend, die dem Rechte dient
910
Und Alles ordnet nach Gesez, in rohem Muth
Einbrachst, verhöhnend, was im Land hier heilig gilt,
Und raubst gewaltsam und entführst, was dir beliebt.
Du wähntest, knechtisch oder leer an Männern sei
Die Stadt des Theseus und ich selbst machtlos und Nichts.
915
Doch nicht zum schlechten Manne zog dich Thebe groß;
Es liebte nie, rechtlose Männer aufzuzieh'n,
Und würde dich nicht loben, wenn es hörte, wie
Du mich beraubst und Götter, und Schuzflehende
Aus ihrer Freistatt mit Gewalt von dannen führst.
920
Ich würde niemals, wenn ich käm' in dein Gebiet,
Dem Landesherrn zum Troze, wer es immer sei,
Und hätt' ich auch das allerbeste Necht dazu,
Gewalt und Raub verüben; nein, ich wüßte wohl,
Wie gegen Bürger sich der Gast benehmen muß.
925
Du schändest, ohne daß sie solche Schmach verdient,
Die eigne Heimat, und der Jahre volles Maß
Stellt dich zugleich als Greisen und als Thoren dar.
Ich sagte vorhin, und ich sag' es wiederum:
Man führe mir die Mädchen unverweilt zurück,
930
Verlangst du nicht Insasse dieses Land's zu sein,
Gezwungen, nicht freiwillig! Und dies sag' ich dir
Mit freiem Munde, wie es mir vom Herzen kommt.
Nicht weil ich dachte, mänmerleer sei diese Stadt,
O Sohn des Aegeus, oder rathlos, wie du sagst,
Vollbracht' ich solches; glaubt' ich doch, daß nimmermehr
Um meine Blutsverwandten so der Eifer euch
Befallen werde, sie zu hegen mir zum Troz.
940
Ich wußte, niemals würdet ihr den Schandbaren,
Den Vatermörder pflegen, nie den Frevler, der
Die Gräuelehe mit der eignen Mutter schloß.
So wußt' ich auch, daß Ares' weises Volksgericht 7
In eurem Lande heimisch sei, das nicht vergönnt,
945
Daß solcher Flüchtling Wohnung nehm' in dieser Stadt.
Hierauf vertrauend, eignet' ich den Raub mir an 8
Und hätte das auch nie gethan, wenn dieser nicht
Mit bittern Flüchen mich verwünscht und mein Geschlecht.
Für solches Leid schien solche Nache mir gerecht.
950
Ein andres Alter kennt der Zorn ja keines als
Den Tod; die Todten rührt allein der Kummer nicht.
Und nun beginne, was dir auch gefallen mag;
Denn ich, verlassen, wie ich bin, erscheine schwach,
Wenn ich gerecht auch rede; doch auf Thaten, traun,
955
Versuch' ich, wenn auch hochbejahrt, Erwiderung.
Schamloser! Wen zu schmähen wähnt dein Uebermuth
Mit solchem Hohne, mich den Greisen oder dich,
Dich, der den Mord, den Ehebund, mein Mißgeschick
So frech mir vorrückt, das ich unfreiwillig nur
960
Ertrug, ich Armer? So gefiel's den Göttern ja,
Die längst vielleicht Groll hegten wider mein Geschlecht.
Bei mir ja selber fändest du doch nimmermehr
Den Flecken eines Frevels aus, mit dem ich so
An mir und meinem Stamme mich versündigte.
965
Denn sage, wenn ein Gottesspruch dem Vater einst
Erscholl, er werde fallen durch des Sohnes Hand,
Wie kannst du billig diese Schuld vorwerfen mir,
Der noch des Lebens Keime nicht vom Vater noch
Der Mutter hatte, nein, noch ungeboren war?
970
Und wenn ich dann, zum Leide, wie ich war, gezeugt,
Im Kampf mit meinem Vater rang und ihn erschlug,
Nicht wissend, weder was ich that, noch gegen wen:
Wie schältst du füglich, was ich unfreiwillig that?
Auch von der Mutter Ehe zwiitgst du Frecher mich
975
Zu reden, du, ihr Bruder, und erröthest nicht!
Gleich sprech' ich hievon; kann ich doch nicht schweigen mehr,
Nun selbst bis dahin schweifte dein ruchloser Mund.
Ja, mich gebar, gebar sie, mich Unseligen,
Unwissend mich Unwissenden, und die mich gebar,
980
Hat, sich zur Schande, Kinder mir, dem Sohn, gezeugt.
Doch Eines weiß ich sicher, daß du mich und sie
Mit Willen also schmähtest: ich vermählte mich
Ihr nicht mit Willen, rede hier gezwungen nur.
Nein, meinen Namen schändet nicht der Ehebund,
985
Auch nicht der Mord des Vaters, den du jederzeit
Mir frech mit bitterm Hohne vorzurücken liebst.
Denn auf die Eine Frage nur antworte mir:
Kommt Einer, dich, Gerechter, auf der Stelle hier
Zu tödten, wirst du fragen, ob's dein Vater sei,
990
Der deinen Tod will, oder ihn zur Strafe zieh'n?
Ich denke, wenn dein Leben dir lieb ist, du strafst
Den Mörder, ohne nach dem Recht dich umzuseh'n.
In solches Unheil aber stürzt auch ich hinein
Durch Götterleitung, und der Geist des Vaters selbst,
995
Zum Lichte kehrend, glaub' ich, widerspräch' es nicht.
Doch du der Ungerechte, du, dem Jegliches
Schön dünkt zu reden, was geziemt und nicht geziemt -
Sprichst solchen Vorwurf ohne Scheu vor diesen aus.
Den Ruhm des Theseus schmeichelnd hochzupreisen, dünkt
1000
Dir schön, zu rühmen, wie geordnet blüht Athen:
Doch spendend solches reiche Lob, vergaßest du,
Daß jedes Volk der Erde, das in frommer Scheu
Die Götter ehrt, von diesem übertroffen wird,
Aus dem du mich, den greisen Schüzling, rauben willst,
1005
Mich frech bewältigst und die Töchter schon entführt.
Drum ruf' ich jezt zu dieses Haines Göttinmen
In tiefer Demuth und bestürme sie mit Fleh'n,
Verbündet hälfreich mir zu nah'n, auf daß du lerust,
Von was für Männern diese Stadt behütet wird.
1010
Der Greis, o Herr, denkt edel; doch sein Leben ist
Voll Ungemach und deiner Hülfe wahrlich werth.
English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Thomas Francklin, 1758–1759)) — 720 focus
OEdipus, Chorcs.
event
Alarms thee?
Creon, with a numerous band
Of followers, comes this way.
If ever, help me.
725
Most honoured citizens,
I see you look with eyes of fear upon me,
Without a cause ; for know, I came not here
730
Intending aught of violence or ill
Against a city so renowned in Greece
As yours hath ever been ; I only came,
Commissioned by the State of Thebes, to fetch
This old man back, if by persuasion mild
735
I could induce him to return \ not sent
By one alone, but the united voice
Of a whole people, who assigned the task
To me because, by blood united to him,
I felt for his misfortunes as my own.
740
Come therefore, Qlldipus, attend me home ;
Thebes calls thee back, thy kingdom now demands thee —
By me she calls thee ; listen to thy friend,
For surely Creon were the worst of men.
745
If he could look on woes like thine unmoved
When I behold thee, in a foreign land
A wretched wanderer, forced to beg thy bread
From place to place, with this unhappy maid,
Whom little did I think to see exposed
750
To misery and shame, of nuptial rites
Hopeless, and thus bereft of every aid, —
Oh ! 'tis reproach and infamy to us
And to our race ; but 'tis already known,
And cannot be concealed. O CEdipus !
755
I here beseech thee, by our country's gods,
Return to Thebes ; bid thou a kind farewell —
For she deserves it — to this noble city,
But still remember thy own dearer country.
Beneath fair semblance mean but to betray,
Why wouldst thou tempt me thus? Why thus once more
K
fQO
Ensnare me in thy toils, and make me still
765
More wi-etched than I am ? Long time oppressed
By heaviest woes, I pined within my palace,
And longed for exile ; but you then refused
To let nie go, till, satiated with grief,
My soul at length was calm, and much I wished
770
To spend my few remaining years at home :
Then thou — for little did the kindred blood
Thou talkst of then avail — didst banish me ;
And now again thou com'st to make me wretched.
Because thou seest this kind benignant city
775
Embrace and cherish, thou wouldst drag me hence,
With sweetest words covering thy bitter mind,
Professing love to those who choose it not.
He who denies his charitable aid
780
To the poor beggar in his utmost need,
And if abundance comes, should offer that
Which is not wanted, little merits thanks.
Such is thy bounty now — in word alone,
And not in deed, the friend of Q^^dipus.
785
But I will tell them what thou art. Thou cam'st not
To take me hence, but leave me in the borders
Of Thebes, that so thy kingdom may escape
The impending ills which this avenging city
Shall pour upon it ; but 'twill come to pass
790
As I foretold : my evil genius still
Slmll haunt yon, and my sons no more of Thebes
Inherit than shall serve them for a grave.
Thy country's fate is better known to me
795
Than to thyself, for my instruction comes
From surer guides — from Phoebus and from Jove.
Thy artful speech shall little serve thy purpose,
'Twill only hurt thy cause : therefore begone !
I'm not to be persuaded. Let me live
800
In quiet here, for, wretched as I am,
'Twill be some comfort to be far from thee.
Cbeon. Thinkst thou I heed thy words ? Who'll
805
suffer most
For this perverseness — thou, or I ?
Or with my friends.
Crbon. Poor wretch ! no time can cure
810
Thy follies ; thy old age is grown delirious.
O wretched CEdipus !
\to his Attendants], Quick, dispatch my servant^.
Fly to the altar, summon all my people,
Horsemen and foot ; give o'er the sacrifice,
And instant to the double gate repair,
Lest with the virgins the base ravishers
900
Escape unpunished, and my guest thus injui-ed
Laugh me to scorn for cowardice Away!
Were I to punish this oppressor here \tuming to Ceeox
As my resentment bids and he deserves.
He should this instant fall beneath my rage ;
905
But the same justice he to others deals.
Himself shall meet from us ; thou shalt not go
Till those whom thou didst basely ravish hence
Are brought before me. 'Twas unlike thyself,
Unworthy of thy country and thy race.
910
To enter thus a cultivated city.
Where law and justice reign, with violence
And rapine, snatching what thy fancy pleased.
Or didst thou think I ruled a desert land.
Or that my people were a race of slaves.
915
And Theseus but the shadow of a king ?
Thebes never taught thee such destnictive lessons,
For she abhors injustice : when she heai's
That Creon, thus despising sacred laws,
Hath ta'en with brutal violence my right,
920
And would have stolen a wretched suppliant from me,
She'll not approve thy conduct ; say I went
To Thebes, how just soever were the cause,
I should not seize on aught without the lea-ve
Of him who governed there ; but, as becomes
925
A stranger, bear myself unblamed by all.
Thou hast disgraced thy country and thy friends,
And weight of years hath ta'en thy senses from thee.
Again I say, restore the virgins to me.
Or stay with me thyself, for so thou shalt,
930
Howe'er unwilling \ what I've said, remember.
Is what I have resolved — therefore determine.
Chok. \to Creon]. Stranger, thy actions, noble as
thou art.
But ill become thy family and name.
935
Because unjust ; but thou beholdst thy fate.
Theseus, it was not that I thought this city
Without or guards to save, or laws to rule,
940
Which brought me here, nor unadvised I came ;
But that I hoped you never would receive
My kindred here against my will, nor e'er
Embrace a vile incestuous parricide,
Or cherish and protect him in a land
Whose court, renowned for justice, suffers not
Such poor abandoned exiles to reside
Within its borders ; therefore did 1 this,
Which yet I had not done but for the curses
950
Which he hath poured on me and all my race ;
Ileven,afe inspired me ; anger, well thou knowst,
Can never be extinguished but by death.
Which closeth every wound. At present, Theseus,
955
It must be as thou wilt ; my want of power,
How just soe'er my cause, demands submission ;
Yet, old and weak, I shall not tamely yield.
Audacious man ! thinkst thou the vil«3 reproach
960
Thou utter'st falls on me, or on thyself?
Thou who upbraidst me thus for all my woes.
Murder and incest, which against my will
I had committed, so it pleased the gods,
965
But 1 am guiltless ; canst thou name a fault
Deserving this ? For, tell me, Avas it mine,
Wlien to my father Phujbus did declare
That he should one day perish by the hand
970
Of his own child? Was CEdipus to blame.
Who had no being then ? If, born at length
To wretchedness, he met his sire unknown,
And slew him, that involuntary deed
Canst thou condemn ? And for my fatal marriage,
Dost thou not blush to name it ? Was not she
Thy sister, she who bore me, ignorant
And guiltless woman, afterwards my wife,
And mother to my children? What she did,
fShe did unknowing ; not like thee, who thus
Dost purposely upbraid us both. Heaven knows
985
Unwillingly I w^edded her, and now
Unwillingly repeat the dreadful tale ;
But, nor for that, nor for my murdered father,
Have I deserved thy bitter taunts ; for tell me.
990
Thy life attacked, wouldst thou have stayed to ask
Th' assassin if he were t\\j father ? No ;
Self-love would urge thee to revenge the insult.
Thus was I drove to ill by th' angry gods ;
995
This, should my father's soul revisit earth.
Himself would own, and pity CEdipus.
Thy bold and impious tongue still utters all ;
Just or unjust, thou pourst thy foul reproach
On me, pretending to revere the name
Of Theseus and his countiy. But remember,
The city, whom thou hast praised, is famed
For piety and reverence to the gods ;
Yet wouldst thou drive a needy suppliant thence,
And lead him captive. Thou hast stolen my daughter ;
But I implore the dreadful goddesses
1010
To grant me aid, that thou mayst feel the power
Which thou contemn'st, and know the force of Athens.
[to Theseus]. O king ! this stranger merits thy
regard ;
His woes are great, his cause should be defended.
English (Robert Potter, 1788) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Robert Potter, 1788)) — 720 focus
For Morian Jove with guardian care
720
Delights to see it flourish fair;
720
And Pallas, fav'ring, from the skies
720
Rolls the blue lustre of her eyes.
720
My voice yet once more let me raise,
720
Yet other glories to relate :
720
A potent God for these we praise,
720
His presents to this favour'd state;
The Steed obedient to the rein,
And safe to plough the subject main.
Our highest vaunt is this, thy grace,
Saturnian Neptune, we behold
The ruling Curb emboss'd with gold
Control the Courser's managed pace.
Though loud, O king, thy billows roar,
Our strong hands grasp the well-form'd oar;
And, while the Nereids round it play,
Light cuts our bounding bark its way.
O happy land, for many glories famed.
Behoves thee now assert this splendid praise,
And prompt from all just words to draw a train
Of deep insidious ills, why this attempt?
Why seek again t' ensnare me, where I most,
Should grieve to be ensnared? In days long past
When with domestic miseries o'erwhelm'd
765
My sickening soul in exile would have joy'd,
765
Then to my wish this grace didst thou deny.
But when my soul was glutted with its grief,
And in my house it had been sweet to rest,
For ebbing then I found my former rage,
Then didst thou drive me forth an outcast thence,
770
Nor was this near affinity of blood
Dear to thee. Now again, when thou didst see
This state benevolent to me, and all
Its race, dost thou assay to drag me hence,
Filing thy tongue to smooth thy harsh attempts.
Why this delight to show thy courtesy
775
When most it is unwelcome? If to thee,
What thy wants crave requesting to obtain,
One should give nothing, nor e'en show a will
To grant thee a supply; but, when thy soul
Enjoys its wish e'en to the full, would give,
When the slow favour all its grace hath lost,
780
Wou'dst thou this worthless pleasure wish to gain?
Such is to me thy offer'd grace, in words
Pretending good, but hateful in effect.
Nay, I will tell it these, that I may show
Thy baseness: hence to draw me thou art come,
Not with leave granted to possess my house,
785
But to be stabled on your confines; thus
Your country should be guarded from the ills.
Fear'd from these realms. This never shall be thine;
But thine shall be those ills; for in that land
My vengeful spirit always shall reside.
Nor of my kingdom shall my sons share more,
790
Then to die in it. Seem I not to know
Better than thou the destined state of Thebes?
Much better, as by more unerring guides
Instructed, Phœbus and his father Jove.
Yet hither hast thou brought that treacherous front
795
Harden'd 'gainst shame: but that fine-filed tongue
795
Shall work thee woe, not safety; be assured
With me thou never shalt prevail : begone,
Let us live here; not ill we here should live...
E'en as we are, could we delight in life.
Mine dost thou ween a greater share of grief
800
From thy refusal, than what thou must feel?
Stranger, thou movest not hence.
Of my attendants one with swiftest pace
Hence to the altar, bear this charge to all
Th' assembled people, from the sacred rites
Horsemen and troops of foot to wing their speed,
And seize the strait where the two roads unite,
900
Ere there the virgins pass. I should be held
In scorn if, when my faith is pledged, by force
I were defeated. Go as I command,
And use thy utmost speed. But for this man,.
Were I by anger prompted, as his deeds
905
Deserve, unwounded by my vengeful hand
I should not suffer him go hence. But now,
Since his own laws he brought, to those same laws
His treatment shall accord; for from this land
Thou never shalt depart, till thou hast brought
The virgins back, and placed them in my sight.l
910
For thou hast done what foul dishonour casts
On me, on thy high lineage, and thy land:
A country hast thou enter'd, which reveres
The voice of justice, and ne'er dares a deed
That violates the laws; her sacred rights
915
Hast thou o'erleap'd, and rushing in by force
Bearest hence thy spoil, deeming perchance my realm
Of force devoid, and sunk with servile fear,
And me some spiritless and abject wretch.
Thebes taught thee not this ruffian deed, nor loves
To cherish the unjust; nor would her voice
920
Hail thee with acclamations, if she knew
That thou hast plunder'd me, and seized by force
Unhappy men, the suppliants of the gods.
Thy country had I enter'd, were my claims
Most just, without the sovereign of the land,
925
Whoe'er he were, thence nothing had I drawn
Or forced away; well knowing how behoves
A stranger in a foreign land to frame
His fair demeanour: but thy deeds disgrace
Thy country, not deserving such reproach:
And time in its full course hath made thee old,
930
And void of wisdom. But I tell thee now,
What I before declared, without delay
Send, let the virgins safe be brought again,
Else in this land constrain'd shalt thou abide
Howe'er unwillingly. I tell thee this,
935
And my heart speaks accordant with my tongue.
Have I here done this deed; but knowing this,
No friendly zeal e'er moved you to sustain
940
Those of my blood, by force, against my will.
I knew your state would not receive a man
Unholy, with his father's blood distain'd;
His nuptial bed polluted with the guilt
Of incest. Well I knew your awful Court
945
High on the mount of Mars, for wisdom famed,
Coeval with your land, would ne'er allow
Such outcasts in their city to reside.
On this confiding I presumed to seize
The wretch; nor had I done it, but he pour'd
950
Such dreadful execrations forth on me
And on my race, that for the wrongs received
I deem'd this meet requital; for the force
Of rage is not abated but by death;
The dead feel no resentment. For these things
955
Act as thy will inclines thee; thus alone,
Just though my cause, my pow'r is small: yet know
Such as you see me now, whate'er your deeds,
Like deeds will I endeavour to repay.
Unblushing insolence! falls this reproach
960
On my hoar head, or on thine own? while thus
960
Thy tongue descants on murders, nuptial rites,
And miseries which, unhappy, I sustain'd
Of guilt not conscious; so it pleased the gods,
Of old perchance enraged at some offence
Of those from whom I sprung; for fault in me,
965
To warrant this reproach thou canst not find
Against myself committed, or my house.
For tell me, to my father if the voice
Of oracles declared that he should fall
Slain by his sons, me justly for the deed
Dost thou revile? I had not being then.
970
If by ill fate (and that ill fate was mine)
I in fierce conflict 'gainst my father stood,
And slew him, nothing knowing whom my hand
Opposed, canst thou revile me for a deed
Unknowingly committed? But, thou wretch,
Dost thou not blush that of my mother's bed
975
Thou hast constrain'd me to make mention, since
She was thy sister? I will speak of it
Briefly (for what would silence now avail?)
Since thy unhallow'd tongue hath touch'd that point.
She brought me forth, ah me! she brought me forth,
980
O my unhappy fate! then bore me sons,
980
Her foul reproach, unconscious I of guilt,
Of guilt unconscious she. But this I know,
Me thou hast willingly reviled, and her;
Unwillingly I wedded her, and now
Unwillingly speak this. Yet shall my name
985
Fear from these nuptials no reviling tongue,
Nor from my father's death, the constant theme
Of thy malignant censure: for with truth
Answer me this, should one with boisterous force
Instant attack thy life, no wrong by thee
First offer'd, wou'dst thou nice inquiry make
990
Whether thy father made the rude assault;
Or wou'dst thou in a moment strive t' avenge
The wrong? I think, if that thou lovest thy life,
Thou wou'dst avenge thee of the ruffian strait,
Nor with slow caution ponder what is right.
On ills like these with erring steps I ran,
995
Led by the gods? nor would my father's shade,
Could it return to life, I think, reply
Opposing my just plea. But thou, whose soul
No justice rules, prompted by impious pride
To utter all, though honour bids thy tongue
1000
Be silent, in this presence hast presumed:
1000
To charge me thus with base and slanderous blame.
Yet canst thou stoop with adulation bland
To fawn on Theseus, and th' Athenian state
As train'd to righteous laws; but 'midst thy praise
Of this forgetful, that if ever land
1005
Knew with due honours to revere the gods,
Athens in this hath high pre-eminence..
Yet in this state thy thievish hand hath seized,
Its hoary supplicant, and borne away
My virgin daughters. Touch'd with wrongs like these
Bending before these awful pow'rs I breathe
1010
My ardent supplications, and invoke
Their succour, their protection, that thy pride
May learn what men are guardians of this state.
This stranger hath much merit; and his woes,
In total ruin which have crush'd him down...
Deserve, O king, protection at thy hand.
1015
English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904) (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Sir Richard Jebb, 1904)) — 720-1042 focus

Notes on the current edition

Oedipus at Colonus

1. (women are parted by marriage)
2. (prob. by a contemporary of dem.)
3. (speaking of the relation to be observed between the soundssounds tonestones
4. (in ref. to these same brothers)
5. (those who have given the pledges)...
6. (those to whom they have been given).