But, just as he was scaling the parapet of the wall, Zeus smote him with a thunderbolt; the earth re-echoed, and fear seized everyone; for from the ladder [his limbs were slung far apart, his head toward Olympus, his blood toward earth,][while his legs and arms went spinning round like Ixion’s wheel] he was hurled, spinnning; his burning corpse fell to the ground.
ἤδη δʼ ὑπερβαίνοντα γεῖσα τειχέωνβάλλει κεραυνῷ Ζεύς νιν· ἐκτύπησε δὲχθών, ὥστε δεῖσαι πάντας· ἐκ δὲ κλιμάκων[ἐσφενδονᾶτο χωρὶς ἀλλήλων μέλη,][κόμαι μὲν εἰς Ὄλυμπον, αἷμα δʼ ἐς χθόνα,][χεῖρες δὲ καὶ κῶλʼ ὡς κύκλωμʼ Ἰξίονος]εἱλίσσετʼ· ἐς γῆν δʼ ἔμπυρος πίπτει νεκρός.
But when Adrastus saw that Zeus was hostile to his army, he drew the Argive troops outside the trench. Meanwhile our armed cavalry, seeing the lucky omen of Zeus before us,were driving forth their chariots, and the armed men charged with spears into the middle of the Argives, and all troubles happened at once: men were dying, hurled headlong from chariots, wheels flew off, axles crashed together,while the dead were heaped up on the dead. So for to-day we have prevented destruction of the towers of our land; but if this land will be fortunate for the future, that rests with the gods; for even now it owes its safety to some deity.
ὡς δʼ εἶδʼ Ἄδραστος Ζῆνα πολέμιον στρατῷ,ἔξω τάφρου καθῖσεν Ἀργείων στρατόν.οἱ δʼ αὖ παρʼ ἡμῶν δεξιὸν Διὸς τέραςἰδόντες ἐξήλαυνον ἁρμάτων ὄχουςἱππῆς ὁπλῖται, κἀς μέσʼ Ἀργείων ὅπλασυνῆψαν ἔγχη· πάντα δʼ ἦν ὁμοῦ κακά·ἔθνῃσκον ἐξέπιπτον ἀντύγων ἄπο,τροχοί τʼ ἐπήδων ἄξονές τʼ ἐπʼ ἄξοσι,νεκροὶ δὲ νεκροῖς ἐξεσωρεύονθʼ ὁμοῦ.πύργων μὲν οὖν γῆς ἔσχομεν κατασκαφὰςἐς τὴν παροῦσαν ἡμέραν· εἰ δʼ εὐτυχὴςἔσται τὸ λοιπὸν ἥδε γῆ, θεοῖς μέλει·καὶ νῦν γὰρ αὐτὴν δαιμόνων ἔσῳσέ τις.
Chorus Leader:Victory is fair; and if the gods are growing kinder, it would be well with me.
Χορός:καλὸν τὸ νικᾶν· εἰ δʼ ἀμείνονʼ οἱ θεοὶγνώμην ἔχουσιν — εὐτυχὴς εἴην ἐγώ.
Jocasta:The gods and fortune have treated us well; for my sons are alive and my land has escaped ruin. But Creon seems to have had bitter enjoymentfrom my marriage with Oedipus, by losing his son to his sorrow, a public success, a private grief. But please, come back to your tale again and say what my two sons intend to do next.
Ἰοκάστη:καλῶς τὰ τῶν θεῶν καὶ τὰ τῆς τύχης ἔχει·παῖδές τε γάρ μοι ζῶσι κἀκπέφευγε γῆ.Κρέων δʼ ἔοικε τῶν ἐμῶν νυμφευμάτωντῶν τʼ Οἰδίπου δύστηνος ἀπολαῦσαι κακῶν,παιδὸς στερηθείς, τῇ πόλει μὲν εὐτυχῶς,ἰδίᾳ δὲ λυπρῶς. ἀλλʼ ἄνελθέ μοι πάλιν,τί τἀπὶ τούτοις παῖδʼ ἐμὼ δρασείετον.
Messenger:Let the rest be; all is well with you so far.
Ἄγγελος:ἔα τὰ λοιπά· δεῦρʼ ἀεὶ γὰρ εὐτυχεῖς.
Jocasta:Your words rouse my suspicions; I cannot let it be.
Ἰοκάστη:τοῦτʼ εἰς ὕποπτον εἶπας· οὐκ ἐατέον.
Messenger:Have you any further wish than your sons’ safety?
Ἄγγελος:μεῖζον τί χρῄζεις παῖδας ἢ σεσῳσμένους;
Jocasta:Yes, to hear if I shall fare well in the future.
Ἰοκάστη:καὶ τἀπίλοιπά γʼ εἰ καλῶς πράσσω κλύειν.
Messenger:Let me go; your son is left without his squire.
Ἄγγελος:μέθες μʼ· ἔρημος παῖς ὑπασπιστοῦ σέθεν.
Jocasta:There is some evil you are hiding, veiling it in darkness.
Ἰοκάστη:κακόν τι κεύθεις καὶ στέγεις ὑπὸ σκότῳ.
Messenger:I would not add ill news to the good you have heard.
Ἄγγελος:κοὐκ ἄν γε λέξαιμʼ ἐπʼ ἀγαθοῖσι σοῖς κακά.
Jocasta:You must, unless you take wings and fly away.
Ἰοκάστη:ἢν μή γε φεύγων ἐκφύγῃς πρὸς αἰθέρα.
Messenger:Ah! Why did you not let me go after my good news, instead of forcing me to disclose evil? Those two sons of yours are resolved ondeeds of shameful recklessness, a single combat apart from the army; they addressed to Argives and Thebans alike words I would they had never uttered. Eteocles, taking his stand on a lofty tower, after ordering silence to be proclaimed to the army, began:
Ἄγγελος:αἰαῖ· τί μʼ οὐκ εἴασας ἐξ εὐαγγέλουφήμης ἀπελθεῖν, ἀλλὰ μηνῦσαι κακά;τὼ παῖδε τὼ σὼ μέλλετον, τολμήματααἴσχιστα, χωρὶς μονομαχεῖν παντὸς στρατοῦ,λέξαντες Ἀργείοισι Καδμείοισί τεἐς κοινὸν οἷον μήποτʼ ὤφελον λόγον.Ἐτεοκλέης δʼ ὑπῆρξʼ ἀπʼ ὀρθίου σταθεὶςπύργου, κελεύσας σῖγα κηρῦξαι στρατῷ·
[and said: “O captains of Hellas,”] “chieftains of Argos here assembled, and you people of Cadmus, do not barter your lives for Polyneices or for me! For I myself excuse you from this risk,”“and will engage my brother in single combat; and if I slay him, I will possess my house alone, but if I am conquered I will hand down the city to him alone. You men of Argos, give up the struggle and return to your land, do not lose your lives here;”“there are enough of the Sown-men who lie dead.”
[ἔλεξε δʼ· ὦ γῆς Ἑλλάδος στρατηλάται]Δαναῶν ἀριστῆς, οἵπερ ἤλθετʼ ἐνθάδε,Κάδμου τε λαός, μήτε Πολυνείκους χάρινψυχὰς ἀπεμπολᾶτε μήθʼ ἡμῶν ὕπερ.ἐγὼ γὰρ αὐτὸς τόνδε κίνδυνον μεθεὶςμόνος συνάψω συγγόνῳ τὠμῷ μάχην·κἂν μὲν κτάνω τόνδʼ, οἶκον οἰκήσω μόνος,ἡσσώμενος δὲ τῷδε παραδώσω μόνῳ·ὑμεῖς δʼ ἀγῶνʼ ἀφέντες, Ἀργεῖοι, χθόνανίσεσθε, βίοτον μὴ λιπόντες ἐνθάδε,Σπαρτῶν τε λαὸς ἅλις ὅσος κεῖται νεκρός.
So he spoke; then your son Polyneices rushed from the battle-line and assented to his proposal. And all the Argives and the people of Cadmus shouted their approval, as though they thought it just.
τοσαῦτʼ ἔλεξε· σὸς δὲ Πολυνείκης γόνοςἐκ τάξεων ὤρουσε κἀπῄνει λόγους.πάντες δʼ ἐπερρόθησαν Ἀργεῖοι τάδεΚάδμου τε λαὸς ὡς δίκαιʼ ἡγούμενοι.
On these terms the armies made a truce, and in the space between them the generals took an oath to abide by.
ἐπὶ τοῖσδε δʼ ἐσπείσαντο, κἀν μεταιχμίοιςὅρκους συνῆψαν ἐμμενεῖν στρατηλάται.
At once, the two sons of the old Oedipus were hiding themselves in bronze armor; and lords of Thebes with friendly care equipped the captain of this land,while Argive chieftains armed the other. There they stood dazzling, nor were they pale, all eagerness to hurl their lances at each other. Then their friends came to their sides first one, then another, with words of encouragement, saying:
ἤδη δʼ ἔκρυπτον σῶμα παγχάλκοις ὅπλοιςδισσοὶ γέροντος Οἰδίπου νεανίαι·φίλοι δʼ ἐκόσμουν, τῆσδε μὲν πρόμον χθονὸςΣπαρτῶν ἀριστῆς, τὸν δὲ Δαναϊδῶν ἄκροι.ἔσταν δὲ λαμπρὼ χρῶμά τʼ οὐκ ἠλλαξάτηνμαργῶντʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἱέναι δόρυ.παρεξιόντες δʼ ἄλλος ἄλλοθεν φίλωνλόγοις ἐθάρσυνόν τε κἀξηύδων τάδε·
“Polyneices, it rests with you to set up an image of Zeus as a trophy and crown Argos with fair renown.”
Πολύνεικες, ἐν σοὶ Ζηνὸς ὀρθῶσαι βρέταςτρόπαιον Ἄργει τʼ εὐκλεᾶ δοῦναι λόγον·
Others to Eteocles: “Now you are fighting for your city; now, if victorious, you have the scepter in your power.”
Ἐτεοκλέα δʼ αὖ· νῦν πόλεως ὑπερμαχεῖς,νῦν καλλίνικος γενόμενος σκήπτρων κρατεῖς.
So they spoke, cheering them to the battle.
τάδʼ ἠγόρευον παρακαλοῦντες ἐς μάχην.
The seers were sacrificing sheep and noting the tongues and forks of fire, the damp reek which is a bad omen, and the tapering flame which gives decisions on two points, being both a sign of victory and defeat.
μάντεις δὲ μῆλʼ ἔσφαζον, ἐμπύρους τʼ ἀκμὰςῥήξεις τʼ ἐνώμων ὑγρότητʼ ἐναντίανἄκραν τε λαμπάδʼ, ἣ δυοῖν ὅρους ἔχει,νίκης τε σῆμα καὶ τὸ τῶν ἡσσωμένων.
But, if you have any power or subtle speechor charmed spell, go, restrain your children from this terrible combat, for great is the risk they run. The prize of the contest will be grievous sorrow for you, if to-day you are deprived of both your sons. Exit Messenger.
ἀλλʼ, εἴ τινʼ ἀλκὴν ἢ σοφοὺς ἔχεις λόγουςἢ φίλτρʼ ἐπῳδῶν, στεῖχʼ, ἐρήτυσον τέκναδεινῆς ἁμίλλης· ὡς ὁ κίνδυνος μέγας·κἄπαθλα δεινὰ δάκρυά σοι γενήσεταιδισσοῖν στερείσῃ τῇδʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τέκνοιν.
Jocasta:Antigone, my daughter, come out of the house;
Ἰοκάστη:ὦ τέκνον ἔξελθʼ Ἀντιγόνη δόμων πάρος·
this heaven-sent crisis is no time for dances or girlish pursuits. But you and your mother must prevent two brave men, your own brothers, from plunging into death and falling by each other’s hand.
οὐκ ἐν χορείαις οὐδὲ παρθενεύμασινῦν σοι προχωρεῖ δαιμόνων κατάστασις,ἀλλʼ ἄνδρʼ ἀρίστω καὶ κασιγνήτω σέθενἐς θάνατον ἐκνεύοντε κωλῦσαί σε δεῖξὺν μητρὶ τῇ σῇ μὴ πρὸς ἀλλήλοιν θανεῖν.
Antigone:Mother, what new terror are you proclaiming to your friends before the palace?
Ἀντιγόνη:τίνʼ, ὦ τεκοῦσα μῆτερ, ἔκπληξιν νέανφίλοις ἀυτεῖς τῶνδε δωμάτων πάρος;
Jocasta:Daughter, your brothers’ lives are going to ruin.
Ἰοκάστη:ὦ θύγατερ, ἔρρει σῶν κασιγνήτων βίος.
Antigone:What do you mean?
Ἀντιγόνη:πῶς εἶπας;
Jocasta:They have resolved on single combat.
Ἰοκάστη:αἰχμὴν ἐς μίαν καθέστατον.
Antigone:Oh no! what do you have to say, mother?
Ἀντιγόνη:οἲ ʼγώ, τί λέξεις, μῆτερ;
Jocasta:No welcome news; follow me.
Ἰοκάστη:οὐ φίλʼ, ἀλλʼ ἕπου.
Antigone:Where, away from my maiden’s chamber?
Ἀντιγόνη:ποῖ, παρθενῶνας ἐκλιποῦσʼ;
Jocasta:To the army.
Ἰοκάστη:ἀνὰ στρατόν.
Antigone:I cannot face the crowd.
Ἀντιγόνη:αἰδούμεθʼ ὄχλον.
Jocasta:Coyness is not for you now.
Ἰοκάστη:οὐκ ἐν αἰσχύνῃ τὰ σά.
Antigone:But what shall I do?
Ἀντιγόνη:δράσω δὲ δὴ τί;
Jocasta:You will put an end to your brothers’ strife.
Ἰοκάστη:συγγόνων λύσεις ἔριν.
Antigone:How so, mother?
Ἀντιγόνη:τί δρῶσα, μῆτερ;
Jocasta:By falling at their knees with me.
Ἰοκάστη:προσπίτνουσʼ ἐμοῦ μέτα.
Antigone:Lead on till we are between the armies; we must not delay.
Ἀντιγόνη:ἡγοῦ σὺ πρὸς μεταίχμιʼ· οὐ μελλητέον.
Jocasta:Haste, my daughter, haste! For, if I can forestall the onset of my sons, I may yet live; but if they are dead, I will lie down in death with them. Exeunt Jocasta and Antigone.
Ἰοκάστη:ἔπειγʼ ἔπειγε, θύγατερ· ὡς, ἢν μὲν φθάσωπαῖδας πρὸ λόγχης, οὑμὸς ἐν φάει βίος·θανοῦσι δʼ αὐτοῖς συνθανοῦσα κείσομαι.
Chorus:Alas, alas! My mind is trembling with fear,trembling; and through my flesh goes a throb of pity, of pity for the hapless mother. Which of her two sons will stain the other with blood—ah, for the suffering! O Zeus, O earth, alas!—a brother’s throat, a brother’s life, through his shield, through his blood? Ah me! ah me! which of themwill I lament as dead?
Χορός:αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, τρομερὰν φρίκᾳτρομερὰν φρένʼ ἔχω· διὰ σάρκα δʼ ἐμὰνἔλεος ἔλεος ἔμολε μα-τέρος δειλαίας.δίδυμα τέκεα πότερος ἄραπότερον αἱμάξει —ἰώ μοι πόνων, ἰὼ Ζεῦ, ἰὼ γᾶ —ὁμογενῆ δέραν, ὁμογενῆ ψυχὰνδιʼ ἀσπίδων, διʼ αἱμάτων;τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ τάλαινα, πό-τερον ἄρα νέκυν ὀλόμενον ἰαχήσω;
Chorus:Ah, the earth! Ah, the earth! Twin savage beasts, two murderous souls with brandished spears will soon be draining the fallen, fallen enemy’s blood. Unhappy,that they ever thought of single combat! In foreign voice I will chant a dirge of tears and wailing, in mourning for the dead. Close to murder stands their fortune;
Χορός:φεῦ δᾶ φεῦ δᾶ, δίδυμοι θῆρες,φόνιαι ψυχαὶ δορὶ παλλόμεναιπέσεα πέσεα δάιʼ αὐ-τίχʼ αἱμάξετον.τάλανες, ὅ τι ποτὲ μονομάχονἐπὶ φρένʼ ἠλθέτην,βοᾷ βαρβάρῳ στενακτὰν ἰαχὰνμελομέναν νεκροῖς δάκρυσι θρηνήσω.σχεδὸν τύχα πέλας φόνου·
the coming day will decide it. Fatal this slaughter, fatal, because of the Furies.
κρινεῖ φάος τὸ μέλλον. ἄ-ποτμος ἄποτμος ὁ φόνος ἕνεκʼ Ἐρινύων.
Chorus Leader:But hark! I see Creon on his way here to the house with clouded brow, and so I will cease my present lamentations.
Χορός:ἀλλὰ γὰρ Κρέοντα λεύσσω τόνδε δεῦρο συννεφῆπρὸς δόμους στείχοντα, παύσω τοὺς παρεστῶτας γόους.
Creon:Ah me! what shall I do? Am I to mourn with tears myself or my city, which has a cloud around it [as if it went through Acheron]? My son has died for his country, bringing glory to his name, but grievous woe to me.
Κρέων:οἴμοι, τί δράσω; πότερʼ ἐμαυτὸν ἢ πόλινστένω δακρύσας, ἣν πέριξ ἔχει νέφος[τοιοῦτον ὥστε διʼ Ἀχέροντος ἱέναι;]ἐμός τε γὰρ παῖς γῆς ὄλωλʼ ὑπερθανών,τοὔνομα λαβὼν γενναῖον, ἀνιαρὸν δʼ ἐμοί·
His body I have just now taken from the dragon’s rocky lair and sadly carried the self-slain victim here in my arms; and the house is filled with weeping; but now I have come for my sister Jocasta, age seeking age, that she may bathe my child’s corpse and lay it out.
ὃν ἄρτι κρημνῶν ἐκ δρακοντείων ἑλὼναὐτοσφαγῆ δύστηνος ἐκόμισʼ ἐν χεροῖν,βοᾷ δὲ δῶμα πᾶν· ἐγὼ δʼ ἥκω μέταγέρων ἀδελφὴν γραῖαν Ἰοκάστην, ὅπωςλούσῃ προθῆταί τʼ οὐκέτʼ ὄντα παῖδʼ ἐμόν.
For those who are not dead must reverence the god below by paying honor to the dead.
τοῖς γὰρ θανοῦσι χρὴ τὸν οὐ τεθνηκότατιμὰς διδόντα χθόνιον εὐσεβεῖν θεόν.
Chorus Leader:Your sister, Creon, has gone out, and her daughter Antigone went with her.
Χορός:βέβηκʼ ἀδελφὴ σή, Κρέων, ἔξω δόμωνκόρη τε μητρὸς Ἀντιγόνη κοινῷ ποδί.
Creon:Where did she go? What happened? Tell me.
Κρέων:ποῖ; κἀπὶ ποίαν συμφοράν; σήμαινέ μοι.
Chorus Leader:She heard that her sons were about to engage in single combat for the royal house.
Χορός:ἤκουσε τέκνα μονομάχῳ μέλλειν δορὶἐς ἀσπίδʼ ἥξειν βασιλικῶν δόμων ὕπερ.
Creon:What do you mean? In my tenderness to my dead son, I was not able to learn this.
Κρέων:πῶς φῄς; νέκυν τοι παιδὸς ἀγαπάζων ἐμοῦοὐκ ἐς τόδʼ ἦλθον ὥστε καὶ τάδʼ εἰδέναι.
Chorus Leader:It is some time, Creon, since your sister’s departure,and I expect the struggle for life and death is already decided by the sons of Oedipus.
Χορός:ἀλλʼ οἴχεται μὲν σὴ κασιγνήτη πάλαι·δοκῶ δʼ ἀγῶνα τὸν περὶ ψυχῆς, Κρέον,ἤδη πεπρᾶχθαι παισὶ τοῖσιν Οἰδίπου.
Creon:Alas! I see a sign there, the gloomy look and face of the messenger coming to tell us the whole matter.
Κρέων:οἴμοι, τὸ μὲν σημεῖον εἰσορῶ τόδε,σκυθρωπὸν ὄμμα καὶ πρόσωπον ἀγγέλουστείχοντος, ὃς πᾶν ἀγγελεῖ τὸ δρώμενον.
Messenger:Ah, woe is me! What story can I tell, what lament can I make?
Ἄγγελος:ὦ τάλας ἐγώ, τίνʼ εἴπω μῦθον ἢ τίνας γόους;
Creon:We are lost; your opening words have no fair appearance.
Κρέων:οἰχόμεσθʼ· οὐκ εὐπροσώποις φροιμίοις ἄρχῃ λόγου.
Messenger:Ah, woe is me! I say again; for I am bringing great horrors.
Ἄγγελος:ὦ τάλας, δισσῶς ἀυτῶ· μεγάλα γὰρ φέρω κακά.
Creon:In addition to the other sorrowful deeds. What is your tale?
Κρέων:πρὸς πεπραγμένοισιν ἄλλοις πήμασιν. λέγεις δὲ τί;
Messenger:Your sister’s sons are now no more, Creon.
Ἄγγελος:οὐκέτʼ εἰσὶ σῆς ἀδελφῆς παῖδες ἐν φάει, Κρέον.
Creon: sungAlas! you have a great tale of woe for me and the city.spokenO house of Oedipus, have you heard these tidings of sons slain by the same fate?
Κρέων:αἰαῖ·μεγάλα μοι θροεῖς πάθεα καὶ πόλει.ὦ δώματʼ εἰσηκούσατʼ Οἰδίπου τάδεπαίδων ὁμοίαις συμφοραῖς ὀλωλότων;
Chorus Leader:A tale to make it weep, if it were endowed with sense.
Χορός:ὥστʼ ἂν δακρῦσαί γʼ, εἰ φρονοῦντʼ ἐτύγχανεν.
Creon: sungOh! most grievous stroke of fate! [: Alas for my sorrows! Oh, alas!]
Κρέων:οἴμοι ξυμφορᾶς βαρυποτμωτάτας,[οἴμοι κακῶν δύστηνος· ὦ τάλας ἐγώ.]
Messenger:If you only know the sorrows other than those!
Ἄγγελος:εἰ καὶ τὰ πρὸς τούτοισί γʼ εἰδείης κακά.
Creon:How can they be more hard to bear than these?
Κρέων:καὶ πῶς γένοιτʼ ἂν τῶνδε δυσποτμώτερα;
Messenger:Your sister has died, with her two sons.
Ἄγγελος:τέθνηκʼ ἀδελφὴ σὴ δυοῖν παίδοιν μέτα.
Chorus: sungLoudly, loudly raise the wail, and with white hands strike upon your heads!
Χορός:ἀνάγετʼ ἀνάγετε κωκυ-τόν, ἐπὶ κάρα τε λευκοπήχεις κτύπους χεροῖν.
Creon:Oh, wretched Jocasta! what an end to life and marriage you have found the riddling of the Sphinx! Tell me how her two sons accomplished the bloody deed,the struggle caused by the curse of Oedipus.
Κρέων:ὦ τλῆμον, οἷον τέρμονʼ, Ἰοκάστη, βίουγάμων τε τῶν σῶν Σφιγγὸς αἰνιγμοὺς ἔτλης.πῶς καὶ πέπρακται διπτύχων παίδων φόνοςἀρᾶς τʼ ἀγώνισμʼ Οἰδίπου; σήμαινέ μοι.
Messenger:Of our successes before the towers you know, for the walls are not far away [so as to prevent your learning each event as it occurred]. Now when they,the young sons of the old Oedipus, had adorned themselves in their bronze armor, they went and took their stand between the armies, [chieftains both and two generals] for the contest and the single combat. Then Polyneices, turning his eyes towards Argos, lifted up a prayer:
Ἄγγελος:τὰ μὲν πρὸ πύργων εὐτυχήματα χθονὸςοἶσθʼ· οὐ μακρὰν γὰρ τειχέων περιπτυχαί.[ὥστʼ οὐχ ἅπαντά σʼ εἰδέναι τὰ δρώμενα.]ἐπεὶ δὲ χαλκέοις σῶμʼ ἐκοσμήσανθʼ ὅπλοιςοἱ τοῦ γέροντος Οἰδίπου νεανίαι,ἔστησαν ἐλθόντʼ ἐς μέσον μεταίχμιον[δισσὼ στρατηγὼ καὶ διπλὼ στρατηλάτα]ὡς εἰς ἀγῶνα μονομάχου τʼ ἀλκὴν δορός.βλέψας δʼ ἐπʼ Ἄργος ἧκε Πολυνείκης ἀράς·
“O Lady Hera, for I am yours, since I have married the daughter of Adrastus and dwell in your land, grant that I may slay my brother, and give my right hand, which is set against him, the victory, stained with his blood.” [Asking for a shameful crown, to kill his brother.]
ὦ πότνιʼ Ἥρα — σὸς γάρ εἰμʼ, ἐπεὶ γάμοιςἔζευξʼ Ἀδράστου παῖδα καὶ ναίω χθόνα —δός μοι κτανεῖν ἀδελφόν, ἀντήρη δʼ ἐμὴνκαθαιματῶσαι δεξιὰν νικηφόρον· —[αἴσχιστον αἰτῶν στέφανον, ὁμογενῆ κτανεῖν.]
[And tears came to the eyes of many at their sad fate, and men looked at one another, casting their glances round.]
[πολλοῖς δʼ ἐπῄει δάκρυα τῆς τύχης ὅση,][κἄβλεψαν ἀλλήλοισι διαδόντες κόρας.]
But Eteocles, looking towards the temple of Pallas with the golden shield, prayed: “Daughter of Zeus, grant that this arm may launch the spear of victory”“against my brother’s breast and slay him who has come to sack my country.”
Ἐτεοκλέης δὲ Παλλάδος χρυσάσπιδοςβλέψας πρὸς οἶκον ηὔξατʼ· ὦ Διὸς κόρη,δὸς ἔγχος ἡμῖν καλλίνικον ἐκ χερὸςἐς στέρνʼ ἀδελφοῦ τῆσδʼ ἀπʼ ὠλένης βαλεῖνκτανεῖν θʼ ὃς ἦλθε πατρίδα πορθήσων ἐμήν.
When the Tuscan trumpet, like a torch, blew the signal for the bloody battle, they darted wildly against one another;
ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀφείθη πυρσὸς ὣς Τυρσηνικῆςσάλπιγγος ἠχὴ σῆμα φοινίου μάχης,ᾖξαν δράμημα δεινὸν ἀλλήλοις ἔπι·
like boars whetting their savage tusks, they joined battle, their beards wet with foam. They kept shooting out their spears, but crouched beneath their shields to let the steel glance off in vain; but if either saw the other’s eye above the rim,he would aim his lance there, eager to outwit him with the point.
κάπροι δʼ ὅπως θήγοντες ἀγρίαν γένυνξυνῆψαν, ἀφρῷ διάβροχοι γενειάδας·ᾖσσον δὲ λόγχαις· ἀλλʼ ὑφίζανον κύκλοις,ὅπως σίδηρος ἐξολισθάνοι μάτην.εἰ δʼ ὄμμʼ ὑπερσχὸν ἴτυος ἅτερος μάθοι,λόγχην ἐνώμα, στόματι προφθῆναι θέλων.
But both kept such careful outlook through the spy-holes in their shields, that their weapons found nothing to do; while from the onlookers far more than the combatants trickled the sweat caused by terror for their friends.
ἀλλʼ εὖ προσῆγον ἀσπίδων κεγχρώμασινὀφθαλμόν, ἀργὸν ὥστε γίγνεσθαι δόρυ.πλείων δὲ τοῖς ὁρῶσιν ἐστάλασσʼ ἱδρὼςἢ τοῖσι δρῶσι, διὰ φίλων ὀρρωδίαν.
Eteocles, in kicking aside a stone that rolled beneath his tread, exposed a limb outside his shield, and Polyneices, seeing a chance of dealing him a blow, aimed at it, and the Argive shaft passed through his leg;
Ἐτεοκλέης δὲ ποδὶ μεταψαίρων πέτρονἴχνους ὑπόδρομον, κῶλον ἐκτὸς ἀσπίδοςτίθησι· Πολυνείκης δʼ ἀπήντησεν δορί,πληγὴν σιδήρῳ παραδοθεῖσαν εἰσιδών,κνήμην τε διεπέρασεν Ἀργεῖον δόρυ·
the Danaid army, one and all, cried out for joy. And the wounded man, seeing Polyneices’ shoulder bare in this effort, plunged his spear with all his might into his breast, restoring gladness to the citizens of Thebes, though he broke off the spear-head.
στρατὸς δʼ ἀνηλάλαξε Δαναϊδῶν ἅπας.κἀν τῷδε μόχθῳ γυμνὸν ὦμον εἰσιδὼνὁ πρόσθε τρωθεὶς στέρνα Πολυνείκους βίᾳδιῆκε λόγχην, κἀπέδωκεν ἡδονὰςΚάδμου πολίταις, ἀπὸ δʼ ἔθραυσʼ ἄκρον δόρυ.
And so, at a loss for a weapon, he retreated step by step, till catching up a splintered rock he let it fly and broke the other’s spear in the middle; and now the combat was equal, for each had lost his lance.
ἐς δʼ ἄπορον ἥκων δορὸς ἐπὶ σκέλος πάλινχωρεῖ, λαβὼν δʼ ἀφῆκε μάρμαρον πέτρονμέσον δʼ ἄκοντʼ ἔθραυσεν· ἐξ ἴσου δʼ Ἄρηςἦν, κάμακος ἀμφοῖν χεῖρʼ ἀπεστερημένοιν.
Then clutching their sword-hiltsthey closed, and round and round, with shields clashing, they fought a wild battle. And Eteocles introduced the crafty Thessalian trick, having some knowledge of it from his association with that country. Disengaging himself from the immediate contest,he drew back his left foot but kept his eye closely on the pit of the other’s stomach from a distance; then advancing his right foot he plunged the weapon through his navel and fixed it in his spine. Down fell Polyneices, dripping with blood,ribs and belly contracting in his agony. But the other, thinking his victory now complete, threw down his sword and began to despoil him, wholly intent on that, without a thought for himself. And this indeed tripped him up; for Polyneices, who had fallen first, was still faintly breathing,and having in his grievous fall kept his sword, he made a last effort and drove it through the heart of Eteocles. They both lie there, fallen side by side, biting the dust with their teeth, and they have not decided the mastery.
ἔνθεν δὲ κώπας ἁρπάσαντε φασγάνωνἐς ταὐτὸν ἧκον, συμβαλόντε δʼ ἀσπίδαςπολὺν ταραγμὸν ἀμφιβάντʼ εἶχον μάχης.καί πως νοήσας Ἐτεοκλῆς τὸ Θεσσαλὸνἐσήγαγεν σόφισμʼ ὁμιλίᾳ χθονός.ἐξαλλαγεὶς γὰρ τοῦ παρεστῶτος πόνου,λαιὸν μὲν ἐς τοὔπισθεν ἀμφέρει πόδα,πρόσω τὰ κοῖλα γαστρὸς εὐλαβούμενος,προβὰς δὲ κῶλον δεξιὸν διʼ ὀμφαλοῦκαθῆκεν ἔγχος σφονδύλοις τʼ ἐνήρμοσεν.ὁμοῦ δὲ κάμψας πλευρὰ καὶ νηδὺν τάλαςσὺν αἱματηραῖς σταγόσι Πολυνείκης πίτνει.ὃ δʼ, ὡς κρατῶν δὴ καὶ νενικηκὼς μάχῃ,ξίφος δικὼν ἐς γαῖαν ἐσκύλευέ νιντὸν νοῦν πρὸς αὑτὸν οὐκ ἔχων, ἐκεῖσε δέ.ὃ καί νιν ἔσφηλʼ· ἔτι γὰρ ἐμπνέων βραχύ,σῴζων σίδηρον ἐν λυγρῷ πεσήματι,μόλις μέν, ἐξέτεινε δʼ εἰς ἧπαρ ξίφος.Ἐτεοκλέους ὁ πρόσθε Πολυνείκης πεσών.γαῖαν δʼ ὀδὰξ ἑλόντες ἀλλήλων πέλαςπίπτουσιν ἄμφω κοὐ διώρισαν κράτος.
Chorus Leader:Ah, ah, how I mourn for your sorrows, Oedipus! The god, it seems, has fulfilled those curses of yours.
Χορός:φεῦ φεῦ, κακῶν σῶν, Οἰδίπου, σʼ ὅσον στένω·τὰς σὰς δʼ ἀρὰς ἔοικεν ἐκπλῆσαι θεός.
Messenger:Now hear what further woes succeeded. Just as her two sons had fallen and lay dying, their wretched mother came on the scene,her daughter with her, in great haste. When she saw their mortal wounds, she wailed: “O my sons, the help I bring is too late.” And throwing herself on each in turn she wept and mourned, sorrowing over all her toil in nursing them, and their sister, by her side, mourned also:“Supporters of your mother’ s age, dearest brothers, leaving me forlorn, unwed!” Then lord Eteocles with one deep dying gasp, hearing his mother, laid on her his clammy hand,and though he could not say a word, his moistened eye was eloquent to prove his love. And Polyneices was still breathing, and seeing his sister and his old mother he said: “Mother, our end has come; I pity you”“and my sister Antigone and my dead brother. For I loved him though he became my enemy, I loved him in spite of all. Bury me, mother, and you, my sister, in my native land; pacify the city’s wrath that l may get at least that much”“of my own fatherland, although I lost my home. With your hand, mother, close my eyes—he himself places her fingers on the lids—and farewell; for already the darkness wraps me round.”
Ἄγγελος:ἄκουε δή νυν καὶ τὰ πρὸς τούτοις κακά.ἐπεὶ τέκνω πεσόντʼ ἐλειπέτην βίον,ἐν τῷδε μήτηρ ἡ τάλαινα προσπίτνεισὺν παρθένῳ τε καὶ προθυμίᾳ ποδός.τετρωμένους δʼ ἰδοῦσα καιρίους σφαγὰςᾤμωξεν· ὦ τέκνʼ, ὑστέρα βοηδρόμοςπάρειμι. προσπίτνουσα δʼ ἐν μέρει τέκναἔκλαιʼ, ἐθρήνει, τὸν πολὺν μαστῶν πόνονστένουσʼ, ἀδελφή θʼ ἡ παρασπίζουσʼ ὁμοῦ·ὦ γηροβοσκὼ μητρός, ὦ γάμους ἐμοὺςπροδόντʼ ἀδελφὼ φιλτάτω. στέρνων δʼ ἄποφύσημʼ ἀνεὶς δύσθνητον Ἐτεοκλῆς ἄναξἤκουσε μητρός, κἀπιθεὶς ὑγρὰν χέραφωνὴν μὲν οὐκ ἀφῆκεν, ὀμμάτων δʼ ἄποπροσεῖπε δακρύοις, ὥστε σημῆναι φίλα.ὃ δʼ ἦν ἔτʼ ἔμπνους, πρὸς κασιγνήτην δʼ ἰδὼνγραῖάν τε μητέρʼ εἶπε Πολυνείκης τάδε·Ἀπωλόμεσθα, μῆτερ· οἰκτίρω δὲ σὲκαὶ τήνδʼ ἀδελφὴν καὶ κασίγνητον νεκρόν.φίλος γὰρ ἐχθρὸς ἐγένετʼ, ἀλλʼ ὅμως φίλος.θάψον δέ μʼ, ὦ τεκοῦσα, καὶ σύ, σύγγονε,ἐν γῇ πατρῴᾳ, καὶ πόλιν θυμουμένηνπαρηγορεῖτον, ὡς τοσόνδε γοῦν τύχωχθονὸς πατρῴας, κεἰ δόμους ἀπώλεσα.ξυνάρμοσον δὲ βλέφαρά μου τῇ σῇ χερί,μῆτερ — τίθησι δʼ αὐτὸς ὀμμάτων ἔπι —καὶ χαίρετʼ· ἤδη γάρ με περιβάλλει σκότος.
So both at once breathed out their life of sorrow.
ἄμφω δʼ ἅμʼ ἐξέπνευσαν ἄθλιον βίον.
But when their mother saw this sad event, in her overmastering grief she snatched a sword from the dead, and did a fearful deed; for she drove the steel right through her throat, and there she lies, dead with those she loved so well, her arms thrown round them both.
μήτηρ δʼ, ὅπως ἐσεῖδε τήνδε συμφοράν,ὑπερπαθήσασʼ, ἥρπασʼ ἐκ νεκρῶν ξίφοςκἄπραξε δεινά· διὰ μέσου γὰρ αὐχένοςὠθεῖ σίδηρον, ἐν δὲ τοῖσι φιλτάτοιςθανοῦσα κεῖται περιβαλοῦσʼ ἀμφοῖν χέρας.
The army sprang to their feet and fell to wrangling, we maintaining that victory rested with my master, they with theirs; and there was strife among the generals, some holding that Polyneices gave the first wound with his spear, others that, as both were dead, victory rested with neither.
ἀνῇξε δʼ ὀρθὸς λαὸς εἰς ἔριν λόγων,ἡμεῖς μὲν ὡς νικῶντα δεσπότην ἐμόν,οἳ δʼ ὡς ἐκεῖνον. ἦν δʼ ἔρις στρατηλάταις,οἳ μὲν πατάξαι πρόσθε Πολυνείκη δορί,οἳ δʼ ὡς θανόντων οὐδαμοῦ νίκη πέλοι.
Meanwhile Antigone crept away from the army. They rushed to their weapons, but by some lucky forethought the people of Cadmus had sat down under arms; and by a sudden attack we surprised the Argive army before it was fully equipped.
κἀν τῷδʼ ὑπεξῆλθʼ Ἀντιγόνη στρατοῦ δίχα.οἳ δʼ εἰς ὅπλʼ ᾖσσον· εὖ δέ πως προμηθίᾳκαθῆστο Κάδμου λαὸς ἀσπίδων ἔπι·κἄφθημεν οὔπω τεύχεσιν πεφραγμένονἈργεῖον ἐσπεσόντες ἐξαίφνης στρατόν.
Not one withstood our onset, and they filled the plain with fugitives, while blood was streaming from the countless dead our spears had slain. When victory had crowned our warfare, some set up an image of Zeus as a trophy, others were stripping the Argive dead of their shieldsand sending their spoils inside the battlements; and others with Antigone are bringing the dead here for their friends to mourn. So for the city, the result of this struggle hovers between the two extremes of good and evil fortune. Exit Messenger.
κοὐδεὶς ὑπέστη, πεδία δʼ ἐξεπίμπλασανφεύγοντες, ἔρρει δʼ αἷμα μυρίων νεκρῶνλόγχαις πιτνόντων. ὡς δʼ ἐνικῶμεν μάχῃ,οἳ μὲν Διὸς τροπαῖον ἵστασαν βρέτας,οἳ δʼ ἀσπίδας συλῶντες Ἀργείων νεκρῶνσκυλεύματʼ εἴσω τειχέων ἐπέμπομεν.ἄλλοι δὲ τοὺς θανόντας Ἀντιγόνης μέτανεκροὺς φέρουσιν ἐνθάδʼ οἰκτίσαι φίλοις.πόλει δʼ ἀγῶνες οἳ μὲν εὐτυχέστατοιτῇδʼ ἐξέβησαν, οἳ δὲ δυστυχέστατοι.
Chorus:No longer do the misfortunes of this house extend to hearsay only; three corpses of the slain lie here at the palace for all to see; by one common death they have drawn their lot, a life of darkness.
Χορός:οὐκ εἰς ἀκοὰς ἔτι δυστυχίαδώματος ἥκει· πάρα γὰρ λεύσσεινπτώματα νεκρῶν τρισσῶν ἤδητάδε πρὸς μελάθροις κοινῷ θανάτῳσκοτίαν αἰῶνα λαχόντων.
Antigone:I do not veil my tender cheek shaded with curls, nor do I feel shame, from maiden modesty, at the dark red beneath my eyes, the blush upon my face, as I hurry on, in bacchic revelry for the dead,casting from my hair its mantle and letting my delicate saffron robe fly loose, a tearful escort to the dead. Ah me!
Ἀντιγόνη:οὐ προκαλυπτομένα βοτρυχώδεοςἁβρὰ παρηίδος οὐδʼ ὑπὸ παρθενί-ας τὸν ὑπὸ βλεφάροις φοίνικʼ, ἐρύθημα προσώπου,αἰδομένα φέρομαι βάκχα νεκύ-ων, κράδεμνα δικοῦσα κόμας ἀπʼ ἐ-μᾶς, στολίδος κροκόεσσαν ἀνεῖσα τρυφάν,ἁγεμόνευμα νεκροῖσι πολύστονον. αἰαῖ, ἰώ μοι.
Oh, Polyneices! you were rightly named, after all; woe to you, Thebes!
ὦ Πολύνεικες, ἔφυς ἄρʼ ἐπώνυμος· ὤμοι μοι, Θῆβαι·
Your strife—not strife, but murder on murder— has brought the house of Oedipus to ruin with dire and grim bloodshed. What harmonious or tuneful wailing can I summon,for my tears, my tears, oh, my home! oh, my home! as I bear these three kindred bodies, my mother and her sons, a welcome sight to the Fury? She destroyed the house of Oedipus, root and branch,when his shrewdness solved the Sphinx’s unsolvable song and killed that savage singer. Alas for you, father! What other Hellene or barbarian,what mortal from a noble line ever endured the anguish of such visible afflictions?
σὰ δʼ ἔρις — οὐκ ἔρις, ἀλλὰ φόνῳ φόνος —Οἰδιπόδα δόμον ὤλεσε κρανθεῖσʼαἵματι δεινῷ, αἵματι λυγρῷ.τίνα προσῳδὸνἢ τίνα μουσοπόλον στοναχὰν ἐπὶδάκρυσι δάκρυσιν, ὦ δόμος, ὦ δόμος,ἀγκαλέσωμαι,τρισσὰ φέρουσα τάδʼ αἵματα σύγγονα,ματέρα καὶ τέκνα, χάρματʼ Ἐρινύος;ἃ δόμον Οἰδιπόδα πρόπαν ὤλεσε,τᾶς ἀγρίας ὅτεδυσξυνέτου ξυνετὸν μέλος ἔγνωΣφιγγὸς ἀοιδοῦ σῶμα φονεύσας.ἰώ μοί μοι, πάτερ,τίς Ἑλλὰς ἢ βάρβαρος ἢτῶν προπάροιθʼ εὐγενετᾶνἕτερος ἔτλα κακῶν τοσῶνδʼαἵματος ἁμερίουτοιάδʼ ἄχεα φανερά;
Ah! poor girl, how piteous is your cry!What bird, perched on the high-leaved branches of oak or pine, will come to mourn with me, left motherless? With cries of woe,I lament before it comes the piteous lonely life, that I shall live for the rest of time, in streaming tears. On which of theseshall I throw my offerings first, plucking the hair from my head? on the breast of the mother that suckled me, or beside the ghastly death-wounds of my brothers’ corpses?
τάλαινʼ, ὡς ἐλελίζει —τίς ἄρʼ ὄρνις, ἢ δρυὸς ἢἐλάτας ἀκροκόμοις ἀμφὶ κλάδοις ἑζομένα,μονομάτορσιν ὀδυρμοῖςἐμοῖς ἄχεσι συνῳδός;αἴλινον αἰάγμασιν ἃτοῖσδε προκλαίω μονάδʼ αἰ-ῶνα διάξουσα τὸν αἰεὶ χρόνον ἐνλειβομένοισιν δάκρυσιν [ἰαχήσω].τίνʼ ἐπὶ πρῶτον ἀπὸ χαί-τας σπαραγμοῖς ἀπαρχὰς βάλω;ματρὸς ἐμᾶς ἢ διδύμοι-σι γάλακτος παρὰ μαστοῖςἢ πρὸς ἀδελ-φῶν οὐλόμενʼ αἰκίσματα νεκρῶν;
Oh, oh! Oedipus, my old father with sightless eyes, leave your house, reveal the misery of your life, you who have cast a mist of darkness over your eyes anddraw out a weary existence within the house. Do you hear, you who are wandering with old step across the court, or sleeping on your wretched pallet couch?
ὀτοτοτοῖ λεῖπε σοὺςδόμους, ἀλαὸν ὄμμα φέρων,πάτερ γεραιέ, δεῖξον,Οἰδιπόδα, σὸν αἰῶνα μέλεον, ὃς ἐπὶδώμασιν ἀέριον σκότον ὄμμασισοῖσι βαλὼν ἕλκεις μακρόπνουν ζόαν.κλύεις, ὦ κατʼ αὐλὰνἀλαίνων γεραιὸνπόδʼ ἢ δεμνίοις δύ-στανος ἰαύων;
Oedipus:Why, daughter,have you dragged me to the light by your piteous tears, supporting my blind footsteps, from the gloom of my bed-chamber, gray-haired, invisible as a phantom of the air, or as a spirit from the world below, oras a dream that flies?
Οἰδίπους:τί μʼ, ὦ παρθένε, βακτρεύμασι τυφλοῦποδὸς ἐξάγαγες ἐς φῶςλεχήρη σκοτίων ἐκ θαλάμων οἰκ-τροτάτοισιν δακρύοισιν,πολιὸν αἰθέρος ἀφανὲς εἴδωλον ἢνέκυν ἔνερθεν ἢπτανὸν ὄνειρον;
Antigone:Father, there are tidings of sorrow for you to bear; no longer do your sons see the light, or your wife, who would always labor to tend your blind footsteps as with a staff.Alas for you, my father!
Ἀντιγόνη:δυστυχὲς ἀγγελίας ἔπος οἴσῃ,πάτερ, οὐκέτι σοι τέκνα λεύσσειφάος οὐδʼ ἄλοχος, παραβάκτροιςἃ πόδα σὸν τυφλόπουν θεραπεύμασιν αἰὲν ἐμόχθει,⟨ὦ⟩ πάτερ, ὤμοι.
Oedipus:Alas for my sorrows! I may well groan and cry. Three lives! Tell me, child, by what fate they left the light.
Οἰδίπους:ὤμοι ἐμῶν παθέων· πάρα γὰρ στενάχειν τάδʼ, ἀυτεῖν.τρισσαὶ ψυχαί· ποίᾳ μοίρᾳπῶς ἔλιπον φάος; ὦ τέκνον, αὔδα.
Antigone:I do not say this to reproach or mock you, but in sadness: your own avenging curse, with all its load of swords and fire and ruthless war, came on your sons. Alas for you, my father!
Ἀντιγόνη:οὐκ ἐπʼ ὀνείδεσιν οὐδʼ ἐπιχάρμασιν,ἀλλʼ ὀδύναισι λέγω· σὸς ἀλάστωρξίφεσιν βρίθωνκαὶ πυρὶ καὶ σχετλίαισι μάχαις ἐπὶ παῖδας ἔβα σούς,ὦ πάτερ, ὤ μοι.
Oedipus:Ah me!
Οἰδίπους:αἰαῖ.
Antigone:Why that groan?
Ἀντιγόνη:τί τάδε καταστένεις,
Oedipus:My sons!
Οἰδίπους:τέκνα.
Antigone:You are in pain; but if you could look towards the sun-god’s four-horse chariot and turn the light of your eyes on these corpses—
Ἀντιγόνη:διʼ ὀδύνας ἔβας·εἰ δὲ τέθριππά γʼ ἔθʼ ἅρματα λεύσσωνἀελίου τάδε σώματα νεκρῶνὄμματος αὐγαῖς σαῖς ἐπενώμας —
Oedipus:The evil fate of my sons is clear; but she, my poor wife, tell me, daughter, by what fate did she die?
Οἰδίπους:τῶν μὲν ἐμῶν τεκέων φανερὸν κακόν·ἁ δὲ τάλαινʼ ἄλοχος τίνι μοι, τέκνον, ὤλετο μοίρᾳ;
Antigone:All saw her weep and heard her moan, as she rushed forth to carry to her sons her last appeal, a mother’s breast.
Ἀντιγόνη:δάκρυα γοερὰφανερὰ πᾶσι τιθεμένα,τέκεσι μαστὸν ἔφερεν ἔφερενἱκέτις ἱκέτιν ὀρομένα.
But the mother found her sons at the Electran gate, in a meadow where the lotus blooms, fighting out their duel with spears, like lions in their lair, eager to wound each other,a murderous libation of blood already cold, owed to Hades, poured out by Ares. Then, taking from the dead a sword of hammered bronze, she plunged it in her flesh, and in sorrow for her sons fell with her arms around them. So the god who fulfills these sorrows has brought them all together on this day,father, for our house.
ηὗρε δʼ ἐν Ἠλέκτραισι πύλαις τέκναλωτοτρόφον κατὰ λείμακα λόγχαις,κοινὸν ἐνυάλιον,μάτηρ, ὥστε λέοντας ἐναύλους,μαρναμένους ἐπὶ τραύμασιν, αἵματοςἤδη ψυχρὰν λοιβὰν φονίαν,ἃν ἔλαχʼ Ἅιδας, ὤπασε δʼ Ἄρης·χαλκόκροτον δὲ λαβοῦσα νεκρῶν πάρα φάσγανον εἴσωσαρκὸς ἔβαψεν, ἄχει δὲ τέκνων ἔπεσʼ ἀμφὶ τέκνοισι.πάντα δʼ ἐν ἄματι τῷδε συνάγαγεν,ὦ πάτερ, ἁμετέροισι δόμοισιν ἄχη θεὸς ὃςτάδε τελευτᾷ.
Chorus Leader:Today is the beginning of many troubles to the house of Oedipus; may he live to be more fortunate!
Χορός:πολλῶν κακῶν κατῆρξεν Οἰδίπου δόμοιςτόδʼ ἦμαρ· εἴη δʼ εὐτυχέστερος βίος.
Creon:Cease now your lamentations; it is time we thought oftheir burial. Hear what I have to say, Oedipus. Eteocles, your son, left me to rule this land, by giving it as a dowry to Haemon with his marriage to your daughter Antigone. Therefore I will no longer allow you to dwell in this land;
Κρέων:οἴκτων μὲν ἤδη λήγεθʼ, ὡς ὥρα τάφουμνήμην τίθεσθαι· τόνδε δʼ, Οἰδίπου, λόγονἄκουσον· ἀρχὰς τῆσδε γῆς ἔδωκέ μοιἘτεοκλέης παῖς σός, γάμων φερνὰς διδοὺςΑἵμονι κόρης τε λέκτρον Ἀντιγόνης σέθεν.οὐκ οὖν σʼ ἐάσω τήνδε γῆν οἰκεῖν ἔτι·
for Teiresias clearly said that the city would never prosper as long as you made your home here. So begone! And I say this not in insult, nor because I am your enemy, but from fear that some calamity will come upon the land, through those avenging fiends of yours.
σαφῶς γὰρ εἶπε Τειρεσίας οὐ μή ποτεσοῦ τήνδε γῆν οἰκοῦντος εὖ πράξειν πόλιν.ἀλλʼ ἐκκομίζου. καὶ τάδʼ οὐχ ὕβρει λέγωοὐδʼ ἐχθρὸς ὢν σός, διὰ δὲ τοὺς ἀλάστοραςτοὺς σοὺς δεδοικὼς μή τι γῆ πάθῃ κακόν.
Oedipus:O destiny! From the beginning, how you have created me wretched and unhappy, if any mortal ever was; for before I had left my mother’s womb and seen the light, Apollo foretold to Laius that I, then unborn, should become my father’s murderer; alas for me!
Οἰδίπους:ὦ μοῖρʼ, ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς ὥς μʼ ἔφυσας ἄθλιονκαὶ τλήμονʼ, εἴ τις ἄλλος ἀνθρώπων ἔφυ·ὃν καὶ πρὶν ἐς φῶς μητρὸς ἐκ γονῆς μολεῖν,ἄγονον Ἀπόλλων Λαΐῳ μʼ ἐθέσπισενφονέα γενέσθαι πατρός· ὦ τάλας ἐγώ.
So, as soon as I was born, the father who begot me tried to kill me, thinking me his enemy, for it was fated he should die at my hand; so he sent me unweaned to make a pitiful meal for beasts; I escaped from that— would that Cithaeronhad sunk into hell’s yawning abyss, because it did not destroy me, but... Fate made me a slave in the service of Polybus. And I, poor wretch, after slaying my own father came to my mother’s bed, to her sorrow,and begot sons that were my brothers, whom I have destroyed, by bequeathing to them the legacy of curses I received from Laius. For I was not born so foolish, that I should have contrived these things against my own eyes and my children’s life, without some god.
ἐπεὶ δʼ ἐγενόμην, αὖθις ὁ σπείρας πατὴρκτείνει με νομίσας πολέμιον πεφυκέναι·χρῆν γὰρ θανεῖν νιν ἐξ ἐμοῦ· πέμπει δέ μεμαστὸν ποθοῦντα θηρσὶν ἄθλιον βοράν·οὗ σῳζόμεσθα — Ταρτάρου γὰρ ὤφελενἐλθεῖν Κιθαιρὼν εἰς ἄβυσσα χάσματα,ὅς μʼ οὐ διώλεσʼ, ἀλλὰ …… δουλεῦσαί τέ μοιδαίμων ἔδωκε Πόλυβον ἀμφὶ δεσπότην.κτανὼν δʼ ἐμαυτοῦ πατέρʼ ὁ δυσδαίμων ἐγὼἐς μητρὸς ἦλθον τῆς ταλαιπώρου λέχος,παῖδάς τʼ ἀδελφοὺς ἔτεκον, οὓς ἀπώλεσα,ἀρὰς παραλαβὼν Λαΐου καὶ παισὶ δούς.οὐ γὰρ τοσοῦτον ἀσύνετος πέφυκʼ ἐγὼὥστʼ εἰς ἔμʼ ὄμματʼ ἔς τʼ ἐμῶν παίδων βίονἄνευ θεῶν του ταῦτʼ ἐμηχανησάμην.
Let that pass. What am I, poor wretch, to do? Who now will be my guide and tend the blind man’s step? The one who is dead? If she were alive, I know well that she would. My pair of noble sons? But they are gone from me. But am I still so young myself that I can find a livelihood?
εἶἑν· τί δράσω δῆθʼ ὁ δυσδαίμων ἐγώ;τίς ἡγεμών μοι ποδὸς ὁμαρτήσει τυφλοῦ;ἥδʼ ἡ θανοῦσα; ζῶσά γʼ ἂν σάφʼ οἶδʼ ὅτι.ἀλλʼ εὔτεκνος ξυνωρίς; ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔστι μοι.ἀλλʼ ἔτι νεάζων αὐτὸς εὕροιμʼ ἂν βίον;
Where? O Creon, why do you seek in this way to kill me utterly? For you will kill me, if you banish me from the land. Yet I will never twine my arms about your knees and seem a coward, for I would not betray my former nobility, no! not for all my ills.
πόθεν; τί μʼ ἄρδην ὧδʼ ἀποκτείνεις, Κρέον;ἀποκτενεῖς γάρ, εἴ με γῆς ἔξω βαλεῖς.οὐ μὴν ἑλίξας γʼ ἀμφὶ σὸν χεῖρας γόνυκακὸς φανοῦμαι· τὸ γὰρ ἐμόν ποτʼ εὐγενὲςοὐκ ἂν προδοίην, οὐδέ περ πράσσων κακῶς.
Creon:You have spoken well, in refusing to touch my knees, but I could not allow you to dwell in the land. Of these dead, bear one at once to the palace; but the other, who came with strangers to sack his native town, the dead Polyneices,cast forth unburied beyond the borders of this land. To all the race of Cadmus shall this be proclaimed: “Whoever is caught decking his corpse with wreaths or giving it burial, shall be requited with death.” [let him be unwept, unburied, a meal for birds.]
Κρέων:σοί τʼ εὖ λέλεκται γόνατα μὴ χρῴζειν ἐμά,ἐγὼ δὲ ναίειν σʼ οὐκ ἐάσαιμʼ ἂν χθόνα.νεκρῶν δὲ τῶνδε τὸν μὲν ἐς δόμους χρεὼνἤδη κομίζειν, τόνδε δʼ, ὃς πέρσων πόλινπατρίδα σὺν ἄλλοις ἦλθε, Πολυνείκους νέκυνἐκβάλετʼ ἄθαπτον τῆσδʼ ὅρων ἔξω χθονός.κηρύξεται δὲ πᾶσι Καδμείοις τάδε·ὃς ἂν νεκρὸν τόνδʼ ἢ καταστέφων ἁλῷἢ γῇ καλύπτων, θάνατον ἀνταλλάξεται.[ἐᾶν δʼ ἄκλαυτον, ἄταφον, οἰωνοῖς βοράν.]
As for you, Antigone, leave your mourning for these lifeless three and go indoors, to lead your maiden life until to-morrow, when Haemon waits to marry you.
σὺ δʼ ἐκλιποῦσα τριπτύχους θρήνους νεκρῶνκόμιζε σαυτήν, Ἀντιγόνη, δόμων ἔσωκαὶ παρθενεύου τὴν ἰοῦσαν ἡμέρανμένουσʼ, ἐν ᾗ σε λέκτρον Αἵμονος μένει.
Antigone:O father, in what cruel misery are we plunged!
Ἀντιγόνη:ὦ πάτερ, ἐν οἵοις κείμεθʼ ἄθλιοι κακοῖς.
For you I mourn more than for the dead; for in your woes you do not have something that is grievous and something not; but you were born wholly unfortunate, father. As for you, new-made king, I ask you, who do you insult my father with banishment?
ὥς σε στενάζω τῶν τεθνηκότων πλέον·οὐ γὰρ τὸ μέν σοι βαρὺ κακῶν, τὸ δʼ οὐ βαρύ,ἀλλʼ εἰς ἅπαντα δυστυχὴς ἔφυς, πάτερ.ἀτὰρ σʼ ἐρωτῶ τὸν νεωστὶ κοίρανον·τί τόνδʼ ὑβρίζεις πατέρʼ ἀποστέλλων χθονός;
Why do you make laws over a helpless corpse?
τί θεσμοποιεῖς ἐπὶ ταλαιπώρῳ νεκρῷ;
Creon:This was Eteocles’ purpose, not mine.
Κρέων:Ἐτεοκλέους βουλεύματʼ, οὐχ ἡμῶν, τάδε.
Antigone:It is senseless, and you are a fool to obey it!
Ἀντιγόνη:ἄφρονά γε, καὶ σὺ μῶρος ὃς ἐπίθου τάδε.
Creon:How so? Isn’t it right to carry out his commands?
Κρέων:πῶς; τἀντεταλμένʼ οὐ δίκαιον ἐκπονεῖν;
Antigone:No; not if they are wrong and ill-advised.
Ἀντιγόνη:οὔκ, ἢν πονηρά γʼ ᾖ κακῶς τʼ εἰρημένα.
Creon:What? Isn’t it right for that other to be given to the dogs?
Κρέων:τί δʼ; οὐ δικαίως ὅδε κυσὶν δοθήσεται;
Antigone:No, for the vengeance you are exacting is not a lawful one.
Ἀντιγόνη:οὐκ ἔννομον γὰρ τὴν δίκην πράσσεσθέ νιν.
Creon:Yes, if he was his country’s enemy, when not born an enemy.
Κρέων:εἴπερ γε πόλεως ἐχθρὸς ἦν οὐκ ἐχθρὸς ὤν.
Antigone:Well, he rendered up his destiny to fate.
Ἀντιγόνη:οὐκοῦν ἔδωκε τῇ τύχῃ τὸν δαίμονα.
Creon:Let him now pay the penalty in his burial too.
Κρέων:καὶ τῷ τάφῳ νυν τὴν δίκην παρασχέτω.
Antigone:What crime did he commit, in coming to claim his portion of the land?
Ἀντιγόνη:τί πλημμελήσας, τὸ μέρος εἰ μετῆλθε γῆς;
Creon:Be very sure of this, he shall have no burial.
Κρέων:ἄταφος ὅδʼ ἁνήρ, ὡς μάθῃς, γενήσεται.
Antigone:I will bury him, although the state forbids.
Ἀντιγόνη:ἐγώ σφε θάψω, κἂν ἀπεννέπῃ πόλις.
Creon:Do so, and you will be making your own grave by his.
Κρέων:σαυτὴν ἄρʼ ἐγγὺς τῷδε συνθάψεις νεκρῷ.
Antigone:A noble end, for two so near and dear to lie side by side!
Ἀντιγόνη:ἀλλʼ εὐκλεές τοι δύο φίλω κεῖσθαι πέλας.
Creon:Seize and take her inside.
Κρέων:λάζυσθε τήνδε κἀς δόμους κομίζετε.
Antigone:Oh, no! For I will not let go of this corpse.
Ἀντιγόνη:οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ τοῦδʼ οὐ μεθήσομαι νεκροῦ.
Creon:These are the god’s decrees, my girl, not what seems good to you.
Κρέων:ἔκρινʼ ὁ δαίμων, παρθένʼ, οὐχ ἃ σοὶ δοκεῖ.
Antigone:And this has been decreed, not to insult the dead.
Ἀντιγόνη:κἀκεῖνο κέκριται, μὴ ἐφυβρίζεσθαι νεκρούς.
Creon:Be sure that no one will sprinkle over the corpse the moistened dust.
Κρέων:ὡς οὔτις ἀμφὶ τῷδʼ ὑγρὰν θήσει κόνιν.
Antigone:O Creon, by my mother Jocasta, I implore you!
Ἀντιγόνη:ναὶ πρός σε τῆσδε μητρὸς Ἰοκάστης, Κρέον.
Creon:Your labor is in vain; you will not gain your prayer.
Κρέων:μάταια μοχθεῖς· οὐ γὰρ ἂν τύχοις τάδε.
Antigone:Let me only bathe the dead body.
Ἀντιγόνη:σὺ δʼ ἀλλὰ νεκρῷ λουτρὰ περιβαλεῖν μʼ ἔα.
Creon:That would be part of what is forbidden by the city.
Κρέων:ἓν τοῦτʼ ἂν εἴη τῶν ἀπορρήτων πόλει.
Antigone:At least let me bandage the cruel wounds.
Ἀντιγόνη:ἀλλʼ ἀμφὶ τραύματʼ ἄγρια τελαμῶνας βαλεῖν.
Creon:No; you will never pay honor to this corpse.
Κρέων:οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως σὺ τόνδε τιμήσεις νέκυν.
Antigone:O my dearest! At least I will kiss your mouth.
Ἀντιγόνη:ὦ φίλτατʼ, ἀλλὰ στόμα γε σὸν προσπτύξομαι.
Creon:Do not let this mourning bring disaster on your marriage.
Κρέων:οὐ μὴ ἐς γάμους σοὺς συμφορὰν κτήσῃ γόοις.
Antigone:Marriage! Do you think I will marry your son while I am alive?
Ἀντιγόνη:ἦ γὰρ γαμοῦμαι ζῶσα παιδὶ σῷ ποτε;
Creon:Indeed you must; how will you escape the match?
Κρέων:πολλή σʼ ἀνάγκη· ποῖ γὰρ ἐκφεύξῃ λέχος;
Antigone:Then that night will find in me another Danaid bride!
Ἀντιγόνη:νὺξ ἆρʼ ἐκείνη Δαναΐδων μʼ ἕξει μίαν.
Creon: turning to OedipusDo you see how boldly she reproaches me?
Κρέων:εἶδες τὸ τόλμημʼ οἷον ἐξωνείδισεν;
Antigone:Let the steel know, the sword be my witness!
Ἀντιγόνη:ἴστω σίδηρος ὅρκιόν τέ μοι ξίφος.
Creon:Why are you so eager to be released from this marriage?
Κρέων:τί δʼ ἐκπροθυμῇ τῶνδʼ ἀπηλλάχθαι γάμων;
Antigone:I mean to share my hapless father’s exile.
Ἀντιγόνη:συμφεύξομαι τῷδʼ ἀθλιωτάτῳ πατρί.
Creon:A noble spirit yours but there is some folly in it.
Κρέων:γενναιότης σοι, μωρία δʼ ἔνεστί τις.
Antigone:And I will share his death, I tell you further.
Ἀντιγόνη:καὶ ξυνθανοῦμαί γʼ, ὡς μάθῃς περαιτέρω.
Creon:Go, leave the land; you will not murder my son. Exit Creon.
Κρέων:ἴθʼ, οὐ φονεύσεις παῖδʼ ἐμόν, λίπε χθόνα.
Oedipus:Daughter, for this loyal spirit I thank you.
Οἰδίπους:ὦ θύγατερ, αἰνῶ μέν σε τῆς προθυμίας.
Antigone:How could I marry, while you went into exile alone, father?
Ἀντιγόνη:ἀλλʼ εἰ γαμοίμην, σὺ δὲ μόνος φεύγοις, πάτερ;
Oedipus:Stay here and be happy; I will bear my own load of sorrow.
Οἰδίπους:μένʼ εὐτυχοῦσα, τἄμʼ ἐγὼ στέρξω κακά.
Antigone:And who will tend you in your blindness, father?
Ἀντιγόνη:καὶ τίς σε τυφλὸν ὄντα θεραπεύσει, πάτερ;
Oedipus:Where fate appoints, there I will fall and lie down upon the ground.
Οἰδίπους:πεσὼν ὅπου μοι μοῖρα κείσομαι πέδῳ.
Antigone:Where is Oedipus, and that famous riddle?
Ἀντιγόνη:ὁ δʼ Οἰδίπους ποῦ καὶ τὰ κλείνʼ αἰνίγματα;
Oedipus:Lost! One day blessed me, one destroyed me.
Οἰδίπους:ὄλωλʼ· ἓν ἦμάρ μʼ ὤλβισʼ, ἓν δʼ ἀπώλεσεν.
Antigone:May I not also share your sorrows?
Ἀντιγόνη:οὔκουν μετασχεῖν κἀμὲ δεῖ τῶν σῶν κακῶν;
Oedipus:To wander with her blinded father would be shameful for his daughter.
Οἰδίπους:αἰσχρὰ φυγὴ θυγατρὶ σὺν τυφλῷ πατρί.
Antigone:Not so, father, but glory, if she is discreet.
Ἀντιγόνη:οὔ, σωφρονούσῃ γʼ, ἀλλὰ γενναία, πάτερ.
Oedipus:Lead me near, so that I may touch your mother’s corpse.
Οἰδίπους:προσάγαγέ νύν με, μητρὸς ὡς ψαύσω σέθεν.
Antigone:There, embrace the aged form so dear to you.
Ἀντιγόνη:ἰδού, γεραιᾶς φιλτάτης ψαῦσον χερί.
Oedipus:O mother, o most wretched wife!
Οἰδίπους:ὦ μῆτερ, ὦ ξυνάορʼ ἀθλιωτάτη.
Antigone:Pitiably she lies, who suffered every evil at once.
Ἀντιγόνη:οἰκτρὰ πρόκειται, πάντʼ ἔχουσʼ ὁμοῦ κακά.
Oedipus:Where are the corpses of Eteocles, and of Polyneices?
Οἰδίπους:Ἐτεοκλέους δὲ πτῶμα Πολυνείκους τε ποῦ;
Antigone:Here they both lie, stretched out side by side.
Ἀντιγόνη:τώδʼ ἐκτάδην σοι κεῖσθον ἀλλήλοιν πέλας.
Oedipus:Lay my blind hand upon their poor faces.
Οἰδίπους:πρόσθες τυφλὴν χεῖρʼ ἐπὶ πρόσωπα δυστυχῆ.
Antigone:There, touch the dead, your children.
Ἀντιγόνη:ἰδού, θανόντων σῶν τέκνων ἅπτου χερί.
Oedipus:O dear fallen sons, sad offspring of a sad father!
Οἰδίπους:ὦ φίλα πεσήματʼ ἄθλιʼ ἀθλίου πατρός.
Antigone:O my brother Polyneices, name most dear to me!
Ἀντιγόνη:ὦ φίλτατον δῆτʼ ὄνομα Πολυνείκους ἐμοί.
Oedipus:Now the oracle of Loxias is being fulfilled, my child.
Οἰδίπους:νῦν χρησμός, ὦ παῖ, Λοξίου περαίνεται.
Antigone:What oracle? Do you have further woes to tell?
Ἀντιγόνη:ὁ ποῖος; ἀλλʼ ἦ πρὸς κακοῖς ἐρεῖς κακά;
Oedipus:That I should die in Athens after a life of wandering.
Οἰδίπους:ἐν ταῖς Ἀθήναις κατθανεῖν μʼ ἀλώμενον.
Antigone:Where? What fenced town in Attica will take you in?
Ἀντιγόνη:ποῦ; τίς σε πύργος Ἀτθίδος προσδέξεται;
Oedipus:Hallowed Colonus, home of the god of horses. Come then, attend on your blind father, since you are eager to share his exile.
Οἰδίπους:ἱερὸς Κολωνός, δώμαθʼ ἱππίου θεοῦ.ἀλλʼ εἶα, τυφλῷ τῷδʼ ὑπηρέτει πατρί,ἐπεὶ προθυμῇ τῆσδε κοινοῦσθαι φυγῆς.
Antigone:Go to unhappy exile; stretch forth your dear hand, my old father, taking me to guide you, like a breeze that guides the ships.
Ἀντιγόνη:ἴθʼ ἐς φυγὰν τάλαιναν· ὄρεγε χέρα φίλαν,πάτερ γεραιέ, πομπίμανἔχων ἔμʼ ὥστε ναυσίπομπον αὔραν.
Oedipus:See, I am advancing; be my guide, my poor child.
Οἰδίπους:⟨ἰδοὺ⟩ ἰδού, πορεύομαι·τέκνον, σύ μοι ποδαγὸς ἀθλία γενοῦ.
Antigone:I am, I am! The saddest maiden of all in Thebes.
Ἀντιγόνη:γενόμεθα γενόμεθʼ, ἄθλιαίγε δῆτα Θηβαιᾶν μάλιστα παρθένων.
Oedipus:Where am I placing my aged step? Bring my staff, child.
Οἰδίπους:πόθι γεραιὸν ἴχνος τίθημι;βάκτρα πρόσφερʼ, ὦ τέκνον.
Antigone:This way, this way, come to me, place your steps here, like a dream in your strength.
Ἀντιγόνη:τᾷδε τᾷδε βᾶθί μοι,τᾷδε τᾷδε πόδα τιθείς,ὥστʼ ὄνειρον ἰσχύν.
Oedipus:Oh, oh, driving the old man in most wretched flight from the country!
Οἰδίπους:ἰὼ ἰώ, δυστυχεστάτας φυγὰςἐλαύνων τὸν γέροντά μʼ ἐκ πάτρας.
Oh, oh! the terrible sorrows I have endured!
ἰὼ ἰώ, δεινὰ δείνʼ ἐγὼ τλάς.
Antigone:Why do you speak of enduring? Justice does not see the wicked, and does not requite follies.
Ἀντιγόνη:τί τλάς; τί τλάς; οὐχ ὁρᾷ Δίκα κακούς,οὐδʼ ἀμείβεται βροτῶν ἀσυνεσίας.
Oedipus:I am the one who came into high songs of victory,because I guessed the baffling riddle of the girl, half-maiden.
Οἰδίπους:ὅδʼ εἰμὶ μοῦσαν ὃς ἐπὶ καλ-λίνικον οὐράνιον ἔβαν⟨μειξο⟩παρθένου κόραςαἴνιγμʼ ἀσύνετον εὑρών.
Antigone:You are bringing up again the reproach of the Sphinx. Talk no more of past success. This misery was in store for you all the while,to become an exile from your country and die anywhere.
Ἀντιγόνη:Σφιγγὸς ἀναφέρεις ὄνειδος.ἄπαγε τὰ πάρος εὐτυχήματʼ αὐδῶν.τάδε σʼ ἐπέμενε μέλεα πάθεαφυγάδα πατρίδος ἄπο γενόμενον,ὦ πάτερ, θανεῖν που.
Leaving to my girlhood friends sad tears, I go forth from my native land, to roam as no maiden should.
ποθεινὰ δάκρυα παρὰ φίλαισι παρθένοιςλιποῦσʼ ἄπειμι πατρίδος ἀποπρὸ γαίαςἀπαρθένευτʼ ἀλωμένα.
Ah! This dutiful resolve towards my father’s suffering will make me famous. Alas for the insults heaped on you and on my brother, whose dead body goes from the house unburied,poor boy! I will bury him secretly, though I have to die for it, father.
φεῦ τὸ χρήσιμον φρενῶνἐς πατρός γε συμφορὰςεὐκλεᾶ με θήσει·τάλαινʼ ἐγὼ ⟨σῶν⟩ συγγόνου θʼ ὑβρισμάτων,ὃς ἐκ δόμων νέκυς ἄθαπτος οἴχεταιμέλεος, ὅν, εἴ με καὶ θανεῖν, πάτερ, χρεών,σκότια γᾷ καλύψω.
Oedipus:Show yourself to your companions.
Οἰδίπους:πρὸς ἥλικας φάνηθι σάς.
Antigone:My own laments suffice.
Ἀντιγόνη:ἅλις ὀδυρμάτων ἐμῶν.
Oedipus:Go pray at the altars.
Οἰδίπους:σὺ δʼ ἀμφὶ βωμίους λιτὰς —
Antigone:They have enough of my piteous tale.
Ἀντιγόνη:κόρον ἔχουσʼ ἐμῶν κακῶν.
Oedipus:At least go seek the Bromian god in his untrodden sanctuary among the Maenads’ hills.
Οἰδίπους:ἴθʼ ἀλλὰ Βρόμιος ἵνα τε σηκὸςἄβατος ὄρεσι μαινάδων.
Antigone:Bromius, for whom I once dressed in the Theban fawn-skin anddanced upon the hills in the holy choir of Semele—shall I now offer the gods homage that is not homage?
Ἀντιγόνη:Καδμείαν ᾧ νεβρίδαστολιδωσαμένα ποτʼ ἐγὼ Σεμέλαςθίασον ἱερὸν ὄρεσιν ἀνεχόρευσα,χάριν ἀχάριτον ἐς θεοὺς διδοῦσα;
Oedipus:O citizens of a famous country, look at me; I am Oedipus, who solved the famous riddle, and was the greatest of men,I, who alone controlled the murderous Sphinx’s power, am now myself driven from the land in dishonor and misery. But why do I make this moan and useless lamentation? As a mortal, I must bear the constraint that the gods decree.
Οἰδίπους:ὦ πάτρας κλεινῆς πολῖται, λεύσσετʼ, Οἰδίπους ὅδε,ὃς τὰ κλείνʼ αἰνίγματʼ ἔγνω καὶ μέγιστος ἦν ἀνήρ,ὃς μόνος Σφιγγὸς κατέσχον τῆς μιαιφόνου κράτη,νῦν ἄτιμος αὐτὸς οἰκτρὸς ἐξελαύνομαι χθονός.ἀλλὰ γὰρ τί ταῦτα θρηνῶ καὶ μάτην ὀδύρομαι;τὰς γὰρ ἐκ θεῶν ἀνάγκας θνητὸν ὄντα δεῖ φέρειν.
Chorus:Greatly revered Victory,may you occupy my life and never cease to crown me!
Χορός:ὦ μέγα σεμνὴ Νίκη, τὸν ἐμὸνβίοτον κατέχοιςκαὶ μὴ λήγοις στεφανοῦσα.