---
title: "Oedipus at Colonus · Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ Κολωνῷ"
author: "Sophocles"
translator: "Richard Jebb"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
url: https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/
cite: "Sophocles, tr. Richard Jebb, Oedipus at Colonus · Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ Κολωνῷ. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/"
---

# Oedipus at Colonus · Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ Κολωνῷ

*Sophocles, tr. Richard Jebb*

Blind and exiled, Oedipus comes to Athens to die.

> Greek: ed. Francis Storr, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0011.tlg007, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Richard Jebb, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0011.tlg007.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (line numbers), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## Contents

1. [Lines 1–584](https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/1.md)
2. [Lines 582–1163](https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/2.md)
3. [Lines 1164–1779](https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/3.md)

## 1. Lines 1–584

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/1/#p-N

[¶0] Oedipus:
Child of a blind old man, Antigone, to what region have we come, or to what city of men? Who will entertain the wandering Oedipus today with scanty gifts?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τέκνον τυφλοῦ γέροντος Ἀντιγόνη, τίνας
χώρους ἀφίγμεθʼ ἢ τίνων ἀνδρῶν πόλιν;
τίς τὸν πλανήτην Οἰδίπουν καθʼ ἡμέραν
τὴν νῦν σπανιστοῖς δέξεται δωρήμασιν;

[¶1] Little do I crave, and obtain still less than that little, and with that I am content. For patience is the lesson of suffering, and of the long years upon me, and lastly of a noble mind. My child, if you see any resting-place,
either on profane ground or by groves of the gods, stop me and set me down, so that we may inquire where we are. We have come to learn as foreigners from the townsmen, and to bring to completion whatever we hear.

> Greek: σμικρὸν μὲν ἐξαιτοῦντα, τοῦ σμικροῦ δʼ ἔτι
μεῖον φέροντα, καὶ τόδʼ ἐξαρκοῦν ἐμοί·
στέργειν γὰρ αἱ πάθαι με χὠ χρόνος ξυνὼν
μακρὸς διδάσκει καὶ τὸ γενναῖον τρίτον.
ἀλλʼ, ὦ τέκνον, θάκησιν εἴ τινα βλέπεις
ἢ πρὸς βεβήλοις ἢ πρὸς ἄλσεσιν θεῶν,
στῆσόν με κἀξίδρυσον, ὡς πυθώμεθα
ὅπου ποτʼ ἐσμέν· μανθάνειν γὰρ ἥκομεν
ξένοι πρὸς ἀστῶν, ἃν δʼ ἀκούσωμεν τελεῖν.

[¶2] Antigone:
Father, toil-worn Oedipus, the towers that
ring the city, to judge by sight, are far off; and this place is sacred, to judge from its appearance: laurel, olive, and vine grow thick-set; and a feathered crowd of nightingales makes music within. So sit here on this unshaped stone;

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
πάτερ ταλαίπωρʼ Οἰδίπους, πύργοι μέν, οἳ
πόλιν στέγουσιν, ὡς ἀπʼ ὀμμάτων, πρόσω·
χῶρος δʼ ὅδʼ ἱερός, ὡς ἀπεικάσαι, βρύων
δάφνης, ἐλαίας, ἀμπέλου· πυκνόπτεροι δʼ
εἴσω κατʼ αὐτὸν εὐστομοῦσʼ ἀηδόνες·
οὗ κῶλα κάμψον τοῦδʼ ἐπʼ ἀξέστου πέτρου·

[¶3] you have travelled a long way for an old man.

> Greek: μακρὰν γὰρ ὡς γέροντι προὐστάλης ὁδόν.

[¶4] Oedipus:
Seat me, then, and watch over the blind.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
κάθιζέ νύν με καὶ φύλασσε τὸν τυφλόν.

[¶5] Antigone:
If time can teach, I need not learn that.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
χρόνου μὲν οὕνεκʼ οὐ μαθεῖν με δεῖ τόδε.

[¶6] Oedipus:
Can you tell me, now, where we have arrived?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἔχεις διδάξαι δή μʼ ὅποι καθέσταμεν;

[¶7] Antigone:
Athens I know, but not this place.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
τὰς γοῦν Ἀθήνας οἶδα, τὸν δὲ χῶρον οὔ.

[¶8] Oedipus:
Yes, so much every traveller told us.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
πᾶς γάρ τις ηὔδα τοῦτό γʼ ἡμὶν ἐμπόρων.

[¶9] Antigone:
Well, shall I go and learn what the spot is called?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἀλλʼ ὅστις ὁ τόπος ἦ μάθω μολοῦσά ποι;

[¶10] Oedipus:
Yes, child, if indeed it is inhabited.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ναί, τέκνον, εἴπερ ἐστί γʼ ἐξοικήσιμος.

[¶11] Antigone:
It surely is inhabited. But I think there is no need—I see a man nearby.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἀλλʼ ἐστὶ μὴν οἰκητός· οἴομαι δὲ δεῖν
οὐδέν· πέλας γὰρ ἄνδρα τόνδε νῷν ὁρῶ.

[¶12] Oedipus:
Setting off and coming toward us?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἦ δεῦρο προσστείχοντα κἀξορμώμενον;

[¶13] Antigone:
He is at our side already. Speak whatever seems timely to you, for the man is here.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
καὶ δὴ μὲν οὖν παρόντα· χὤ τί σοι λέγειν
εὔκαιρόν ἐστιν, ἔννεφʼ, ὡς ἀνὴρ ὅδε.

[¶14] Oedipus:
Stranger, hearing from this maiden, who has sight both for herself and for me,
that you have arrived as a scout of good fortune for the solving of our doubts—
Enter a stranger, a man of Colonus.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἀκούων τῆσδε τῆς ὑπέρ τʼ ἐμοῦ
αὑτῆς θʼ ὁρώσης, οὕνεχʼ ἡμὶν αἴσιος
σκοπὸς προσήκεις ὧν ἀδηλοῦμεν φράσαι—

[¶15] Stranger:
Now, before you question me at length, leave this seat. You occupy ground which is unholy to tread upon.

> Greek: Ξένος:
πρὶν νῦν τὰ πλείονʼ ἱστορεῖν, ἐκ τῆσδʼ ἕδρας
ἔξελθʼ· ἔχεις γὰρ χῶρον οὐχ ἁγνὸν πατεῖν.

[¶16] Oedipus:
And what is this ground? To which of the gods is it sacred?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τίς δʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ χῶρος; τοῦ θεῶν νομίζεται;

[¶17] Stranger:
Ground inviolable, on which no one may dwell. The dread
goddesses hold it, the daughters of Earth and Darkness.

> Greek: Ξένος:
ἄθικτος οὐδʼ οἰκητός· αἱ γὰρ ἔμφοβοι
θεαί σφʼ ἔχουσι, Γῆς τε καὶ Σκότου κόραι.

[¶18] Oedipus:
Who are they? Whose awful name might I hear and invoke in prayer?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τίνων τὸ σεμνὸν ὄνομʼ ἂν εὐξαίμην κλύων;

[¶19] Stranger:
The all-seeing Eumenides the people here would call them: but other names please elsewhere.

> Greek: Ξένος:
τὰς πάνθʼ ὁρώσας Εὐμενίδας ὅ γʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἂν
εἴποι λεώς νιν· ἄλλα δʼ ἀλλαχοῦ καλά.

[¶20] Oedipus:
Then graciously may they receive their suppliant!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἀλλʼ ἵλεῳ μὲν τὸν ἱκέτην δεξαίατο·

[¶21] Nevermore will I depart from my seat in this land.

> Greek: ὡς οὐχ ἕδρας γῆς τῆσδʼ ἂν ἐξέλθοιμʼ ἔτι.

[¶22] Stranger:
What does this mean?

> Greek: Ξένος:
τί δʼ ἐστὶ τοῦτο;

[¶23] Oedipus:
The watchword of my fate.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ξυμφορᾶς ξύνθημʼ ἐμῆς.

[¶24] Stranger:
I dare not remove you without warrant from the city, until I report what I am doing.

> Greek: Ξένος:
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἐμοί τοι τοὐξανιστάναι πόλεως
δίχʼ ἐστὶ θάρσος, πρίν γʼ ἂν ἐνδείξω τί δρῶ.

[¶25] Oedipus:
Now by the gods, stranger, do not deny me, hapless wanderer as you see,
the honor of the knowledge for which I beg you.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
πρός νυν θεῶν, ὦ ξεῖνε, μή μʼ ἀτιμάσῃς,
τοιόνδʼ ἀλήτην, ὧν σε προστρέπω φράσαι.

[¶26] Stranger:
Tell me, and you will not be without honor from me.

> Greek: Ξένος:
σήμαινε, κοὐκʼ ἄτιμος ἔκ γʼ ἐμοῦ φανεῖ.

[¶27] Oedipus:
What, then, is the place that we have entered?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τίς ἔσθʼ ὁ χῶρος δῆτʼ, ἐν ᾧ βεβήκαμεν;

[¶28] Stranger:
All that I myself know, you will hear and learn. This whole place is sacred;
august Poseidon holds it, and in it lives the fire-bearing god, the Titan Prometheus. But as for the spot on which you tread, it is called the bronze threshold of this land, the support of Athens. And the neighboring fields claim Colonus, the horse-rider, for their ancient ruler;
and all the people bear his name in common as their own. Such, you see, stranger, are these haunts. They receive their honor not through story, but rather through our living with them.

> Greek: Ξένος:
ὅσʼ οἶδα κἀγὼ πάντʼ ἐπιστήσει κλύων·
χῶρος μὲν ἱερὸς πᾶς ὅδʼ ἔστʼ· ἔχει δέ νιν
σεμνὸς Ποσειδῶν· ἐν δʼ ὁ πυρφόρος θεὸς
Τιτὰν Προμηθεύς· ὃν δʼ ἐπιστείβεις τόπον,
χθονὸς καλεῖται τῆσδε χαλκόπους ὀδός,
ἔρεισμʼ Ἀθηνῶν· οἱ δὲ πλησίοι γύαι
τόνδʼ ἱππότην Κολωνὸν εὔχονται σφίσιν
ἀρχηγὸν εἶναι καὶ φέρουσι τοὔνομα
τὸ τοῦδε κοινὸν πάντες ὠνομασμένοι.
τοιαῦτά σοι ταῦτʼ ἐστίν, ὦ ξένʼ, οὐ λόγοις
τιμώμενʼ, ἀλλὰ τῇ ξυνουσίᾳ πλέον.

[¶29] Oedipus:
Are there indeed dwellers in this region?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἦ γάρ τινες ναίουσι τούσδε τοὺς τόπους;

[¶30] Stranger:
Yes indeed, the namesakes of that god there [Colonus].

> Greek: Ξένος:
καὶ κάρτα, τοῦδε τοῦ θεοῦ γʼ ἐπώνυμοι.

[¶31] Oedipus:
Have they a king? Or does speaking [in assembly] rest with the masses?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἄρχει τις αὐτῶν ἢ ʼπὶ τῷ πλήθει λόγος;

[¶32] Stranger:
These parts are ruled by the king in the city.

> Greek: Ξένος:
ἐκ τοῦ κατʼ ἄστυ βασιλέως τάδʼ ἄρχεται.

[¶33] Oedipus:
And who is he that is sovereign in counsel and in might?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οὗτος δὲ τίς λόγῳ τε καὶ σθένει κρατεῖ;

[¶34] Stranger:
Theseus he is called, son of Aegeus who was before him.

> Greek: Ξένος:
Θησεὺς καλεῖται, τοῦ πρὶν Αἰγέως τόκος.

[¶35] Oedipus:
Could a messenger go to him from among you?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἆρʼ ἄν τις αὐτῷ πομπὸς ἐξ ὑμῶν μόλοι;

[¶36] Stranger:
With what aim? To speak, or to prepare his coming?

> Greek: Ξένος:
ὡς πρὸς τί λέξων ἢ καταρτύσων μολεῖν;

[¶37] Oedipus:
So that by a small service he may find a great gain.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὡς ἂν προσαρκῶν σμικρὰ κερδάνῃ μέγα.

[¶38] Stranger:
And what help can come from one who cannot see?

> Greek: Ξένος:
καὶ τίς πρὸς ἀνδρὸς μὴ βλέποντος ἄρκεσις;

[¶39] Oedipus:
In all that I speak there will be vision.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὅσʼ ἂν λέγωμεν πάνθʼ ὁρῶντα λέξομεν.

[¶40] Stranger:
Take care now, stranger, that you come to no harm; for you are noble, if I may judge by your looks, leaving your ill-fortune aside. Stay here, where I found you, until I go and tell these things to the people of this district—not in the city.
They will decide for you whether you should stay or go back. Stranger exits.

> Greek: Ξένος:
οἶσθʼ, ὦ ξένʼ, ὡς νῦν μὴ σφαλῇς; ἐπείπερ εἰ
γενναῖος, ὡς ἰδόντι, πλὴν τοῦ δαίμονος,
αὐτοῦ μένʼ οὗπερ κἀφάνης, ἕως ἐγὼ
τοῖς ἐνθάδʼ αὐτοῦ μὴ κατʼ ἄστυ δημόταις
λέξω τάδʼ ἐλθών· οἵδε γὰρ κρινοῦσί σοι
εἰ χρή σε μίμνειν ἢ πορεύεσθαι πάλιν.

[¶41] Oedipus:
My child, has the stranger left us?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ τέκνον, ἦ βέβηκεν ἡμὶν ὁ ξένος;

[¶42] Antigone:
He is gone, and so you can speak what you wish, father, fully at ease, knowing that I alone am near.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
βέβηκεν, ὥστε πᾶν ἐν ἡσύχῳ, πάτερ,
ἔξεστι φωνεῖν, ὡς ἐμοῦ μόνης πέλας.

[¶43] Oedipus:
Ladies of dread aspect, since your seat is
the first in this land at which I have bent my knee, show yourselves not ungracious to Phoebus or to myself; who, when he proclaimed that doom of many woes, spoke to me of this rest after long years: on reaching my goal in a land where I should find a seat of the Awful Goddesses
and a shelter for foreigners, there I should close my weary life, with profit, through my having fixed my abode there, for those who received me, but ruin for those who sent me forth, who drove me away. And he went on to warn me that signs of these things would come,
in earthquake, or in thunder, or in the lightning of Zeus. Now I perceive that in this journey some trusty omen from you has surely led me home to this grove; never otherwise could I have met with you, first of all, in my wanderings—I, in my sobriety, with you who touch no wine,
—or taken this august seat not shaped by men. Then, goddesses, according to the word of Apollo, give me at last some way to accomplish and close my course—unless, perhaps, I seem too lowly,
enslaved as I am evermore to woes the sorest on the earth. Hear, sweet daughters of primeval Darkness! Hear, you that are called the city of great Pallas, Athens, given most honor of all cities! Pity this poor ghost of the man Oedipus!
For in truth it is the former living body no more.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ πότνιαι δεινῶπες, εὖτε νῦν ἕδρας
πρώτων ἐφʼ ὑμῶν τῆσδε γῆς ἔκαμψʼ ἐγώ,
Φοίβῳ τε κἀμοὶ μὴ γένησθʼ ἀγνώμονες,
ὅς μοι, τὰ πόλλʼ ἐκεῖνʼ ὅτʼ ἐξέχρη κακά,
ταύτην ἔλεξε παῦλαν ἐν χρόνῳ μακρῷ,
ἐλθόντι χώραν τερμίαν, ὅπου θεῶν
σεμνῶν ἕδραν λάβοιμι καὶ ξενόστασιν,
ἐνταῦθα κάμψειν τὸν ταλαίπωρον βίον,
κέρδη μὲν οἰκήσαντα τοῖς δεδεγμένοις,
ἄτην δὲ τοῖς πέμψασιν, οἵ μʼ ἀπήλασαν·
σημεῖα δʼ ἥξειν τῶνδέ μοι παρηγγύα,
ἢ σεισμὸν ἢ βροντήν τινʼ ἢ Διὸς σέλας,
ἔγνωκα μέν νυν ὥς με τήνδε τὴν ὁδὸν
οὐκ ἔσθʼ ὅπως οὐ πιστὸν ἐξ ὑμῶν πτερὸν
ἐξήγαγʼ εἰς τόδʼ ἄλσος· οὐ γὰρ ἄν ποτε
πρώταισιν ὑμῖν ἀντέκυρσʼ ὁδοιπορῶν,
νήφων ἀοίνοις, κἀπὶ σεμνὸν ἑζόμην
βάθρον τόδʼ ἀσκέπαρνον. ἀλλά μοι, θεαί,
βίου κατʼ ὀμφὰς τὰς Ἀπόλλωνος δότε
πέρασιν ἤδη καὶ καταστροφήν τινα,
εἰ μὴ δοκῶ τι μειόνως ἔχειν, ἀεὶ
μόχθοις λατρεύων τοῖς ὑπερτάτοις βροτῶν.
ἴτʼ, ὦ γλυκεῖαι παῖδες ἀρχαίου Σκότου,
ἴτʼ, ὦ μεγίστης Παλλάδος καλούμεναι
πασῶν Ἀθῆναι τιμιωτάτη πόλις,
οἰκτίρατʼ ἀνδρὸς Οἰδίπου τόδʼ ἄθλιον
εἴδωλον· οὐ γὰρ δὴ τόδʼ ἀρχαῖον δέμας.

[¶44] Antigone:
Hush! Here come some aged men to spy out your resting-place.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
σίγα· πορεύονται γὰρ οἵδε δή τινες
χρόνῳ παλαιοί, σῆς ἕδρας ἐπίσκοποι.

[¶45] Oedipus:
I will be mute. But hide me in the grove, apart from the road, till I learn
how these men will speak. For in learning is the safeguard of our course. They exit.
The Chorus of elders of Colonus enters the orchestra.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
σιγήσομαί τε καὶ σύ μʼ ἐξ ὁδοῦ πόδα
κρύψον κατʼ ἄλσος, τῶνδʼ ἕως ἂν ἐκμάθω
τίνας λόγους ἐροῦσιν· ἐν γὰρ τῷ μαθεῖν
ἔνεστιν ηὑλάβεια τῶν ποιουμένων.
Χορός:
ὅρα. τίς ἄρʼ ἦν; ποῦ ναίει;

[¶46] Chorus:
Look! Who was he, then? Where is he staying? Where has he rushed from this place,
man most insatiate of all who live? Scan the ground, look well, press the search everywhere. A wanderer that old man must have been,
a wanderer, not a dweller in the land; otherwise he never would have advanced into this untrodden grove of the maidens with whom none may strive.
Their name we tremble to speak; we pass them by with eyes turned away, moving our lips, without sound or word, in still devotion. But now it is said that one has come who reveres them not at all;
and him I cannot yet discern, though I look round all the holy place, nor do I know where to find his lodging.
Oedipus steps forward with Antigone.

> Greek: ποῦ κυρεῖ ἐκτόπιος συθεὶς ὁ πάντων
ὁ πάντων ἀκορέστατος;
προσδέρκου λεῦσσέ νιν,
προσπεύθου πανταχῇ.
πλανάτας πλανάτας τις ὁ πρέσβυς οὐδʼ
ἔγχωρος· προσέβα γὰρ οὐκ
ἄν ποτʼ ἀστιβὲς ἄλσος ἐς
τᾶνδʼ ἀμαιμακετᾶν κορᾶν,
ἃς τρέμομεν λέγειν
καὶ παραμειβόμεσθʼ ἀδέρκτως,
ἀφώνως, ἀλόγως τὸ τᾶς.
εὐφάμου στόμα φροντίδος
ἱέντες, τὰ δὲ νῦν τινʼ ἥκειν
λόγος οὐδὲν ἅζονθʼ,
ὃν ἐγὼ λεύσσων περὶ πᾶν οὔπω
δύναμαι τέμενος
γνῶναι ποῦ μοί ποτε ναίει.

[¶47] Oedipus:
Behold the man you seek! In sound is my sight, as the saying goes.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὅδʼ ἐκεῖνος ἐγώ· φωνῇ γὰρ ὁρῶ,
τὸ φατιζόμενον.

[¶48] Chorus:
Oh! Oh! Fearful he is to see, and fearful to hear!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ ἰώ,
δεινὸς μὲν ὁρᾶν, δεινὸς δὲ κλύειν.

[¶49] Oedipus:
Do not regard me, I beg you, as a lawless man.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
μή μʼ, ἱκετεύω, προσίδητʼ ἄνομον.

[¶50] Chorus:
Zeus defend us! Who may this old man be?

> Greek: Χορός:
Ζεῦ ἀλεξῆτορ, τίς ποθʼ ὁ πρέσβυς;

[¶51] Oedipus:
Not so wholly of the best fate
that you would call him fortunate, guardians of this land! It is plain; otherwise I would not be creeping, as you see, by the eyes of others, and buoying my strength upon weakness.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οὐ πάνυ μοίρας εὐδαιμονίσαι
πρώτης, ὦ τῆσδʼ ἔφοροι χώρας.
δηλῶ δʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ὧδʼ ἀλλοτρίοις
ὄμμασιν εἷρπον
κἀπὶ σμικροῖς μέγας ὥρμουν.

[¶52] Chorus:
Alas! Were you sightless even from birth?
Evil have been your days, and many, it appears. But at least if I can help it, you shall not add this curse to your lot. You go too far—too far!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐή, ἀλαῶν ὀμμάτων
ἆρα καὶ ἦσθα φυτάλμιος; δυσαίων
μακραίων γʼ, ὅσʼ ἐπεικάσαι.
ἀλλʼ οὐ μὰν ἔν γʼ ἐμοὶ
προσθήσει τάσδʼ ἀράς.

[¶53] That your rash steps may intrude on the field of this voiceless, grassy glade, where the waters of the mixing bowl blend their stream with the flow of honied offerings, beware, unhappiest of strangers.
Retire! Withdraw! Let a wide space part us. Do you hear, toil-worn wanderer? If you have anything to say in converse with us,
leave forbidden ground, and speak where it is lawful for all; but, till then, refrain.

> Greek: περᾷς γάρ, περᾷς· ἀλλʼ ἵνα τῷδʼ ἐν ἀ-
φθέγκτῳ μὴ προπέσῃς νάπει
ποιάεντι, κάθυδρος οὗ
κρατὴρ μειλιχίων ποτῶν
ῥεύματι συντρέχει,
τόν, ξένε πάμμορʼ, εὖ φύλαξαι;
μετάσταθʼ ἀπόβαθι. πολ-
λὰ κέλευθος ἐρατύει·
κλύεις, ὦ πολύμοχθʼ ἀλᾶτα;
λόγον εἴ τινʼ οἴσεις
πρὸς ἐμὰν λέσχαν, ἀβάτων ἀποβάς,
ἵνα πᾶσι νόμος,
φώνει· πρόσθεν δʼ ἀπερύκου.

[¶54] Oedipus:
Daughter, to what counsel shall we incline?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
θύγατερ, ποῖ τις φροντίδος ἔλθῃ;

[¶55] Antigone:
My father, we must behave just as the townspeople do, listening and giving way where it is necessary.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὦ πάτερ, ἀστοῖς ἴσα χρὴ μελετᾶν,
εἴκοντας ἃ δεῖ κἀκούοντας.

[¶56] Oedipus:
Then give me your hand.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
πρόσθιγέ νύν μου.

[¶57] Antigone:
I lay it in yours.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ψαύω καὶ δή.

[¶58] Oedipus:
Strangers, let me not suffer wrong
when I have trusted in you, and have passed from my refuge!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ ξένε, μὴ δῆτʼ ἀδικηθῶ σοὶ
πιστεύσας καὶ μεταναστάς.

[¶59] Chorus:
Never, old man, never will anyone remove you from your resting-place here against your will.
Oedipus begins to move forward.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὔ τοι μήποτέ σʼ ἐκ τῶνδʼ ἑδράνων,
ὦ γέρον, ἄκοντά τις ἄξει.

[¶60] Oedipus:
Further, then?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἔτʼ οὖν;

[¶61] Chorus:
Come still further.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔτι βαῖνε πόρσω.
Οἰδίπους:
ἔτι;

[¶62] Oedipus:
Further?
Chorus:
Lead him onward, maiden, for you hear us and obey.

> Greek: Χορός:
προβίβαζε, κούρα,
πόρσω· σὺ γὰρ ἀΐεις.

[¶63] Antigone:
…

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
⟨… ⟩

[¶64] Oedipus:
…

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
⟨… ⟩

[¶65] Antigone:
Come, follow this way with your dark steps, father, as I lead you.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
⟨… ⟩
ἕπεο μάν, ἕπεʼ ὧδʼ ἀμαυρῷ κώλῳ, πάτερ, ᾇ σʼ ἄγω.

[¶66] Oedipus:
…

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
⟨… ⟩

[¶67] Chorus:
Stranger in a foreign land,
poor man, have the courage to detest what the city steadfastly holds as not dear, and to reverence what it holds dear!

> Greek: Χορός:
τόλμα ξεῖνος ἐπὶ ξένης,
ὦ τλάμων, ὅ τι καὶ πόλις
τέτροφεν ἄφιλον ἀποστυγεῖν
καὶ τὸ φίλον σέβεσθαι.

[¶68] Oedipus:
Lead me, then, child, to a spot where I may speak and listen within piety’s domain,
and let us not wage war with necessity.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἄγε νυν σύ με, παῖ,
ἵνʼ ἂν εὐσεβίας ἐπιβαίνοντες
τὸ μὲν εἴποιμεν, τὸ δʼ ἀκούσαιμεν,
καὶ μὴ χρείᾳ πολεμῶμεν.

[¶69] Chorus:
There! Do not incline your steps beyond that ledge of bedrock.

> Greek: Χορός:
αὐτοῦ· μηκέτι τοῦδʼ αὐτοπέτρου βήματος ἔξω πόδα κλίνῃς.

[¶70] Oedipus:
This far?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οὕτως;

[¶71] Chorus:
Enough, I say

> Greek: Χορός:
ἅλις, ὡς ἀκούεις.

[¶72] Oedipus:
Shall I sit down?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἦ ἑσθῶ;

[¶73] Chorus:
Yes, move sideways, and crouch low on the edge of the rock.

> Greek: Χορός:
λέχριός γʼ ἐπʼ ἄκρου
λᾶος βραχὺς ὀκλάσας.

[¶74] Antigone:
Father, this is my task: calmly to—

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
πάτερ, ἐμὸν τόδʼ· ἐν ἁσυχαίᾳ

[¶75] Oedipus:
Ah me! ah me!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἰώ μοί μοι.

[¶76] Antigone:
—fit step to step, and lean your aged frame upon my dear arm.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
βάσει βάσιν ἅρμοσαι,
γεραὸν ἐς χέρα σῶμα σὸν
προκλίνας φιλίαν ἐμάν.

[¶77] Oedipus:
Alas for my sad destruction!
Antigone seats him on the rock.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὤμοι δύσφρονος ἄτας.

[¶78] Chorus:
Ah, poor man, since now you are at ease, speak! What is your lineage among mortals? With what name are you led on your weary path?

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ τλάμων, ὅτε νῦν χαλᾷς,
αὔδασον, τίς ἔφυς βροτῶν;

[¶79] What fatherland can you tell us of?

> Greek: τίς ὁ πολύπονος ἄγει; τίνʼ ἂν
σοῦ πατρίδʼ ἐκπυθοίμαν;

[¶80] Oedipus:
Strangers, I am without a city, but do not—

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ ξένοι,
ἀπόπτολις· ἀλλὰ μὴ

[¶81] Chorus:
What is this that you forbid, old man?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί τόδʼ ἀπεννέπεις, γέρον;

[¶82] Oedipus:
do not, do not ask me who I am! Do not seek or probe further!
Chorus:
What does this mean?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
μὴ μὴ μή μʼ ἀνέρῃ τίς εἰμι,
μηδʼ ἐξετάσῃς πέρα ματεύων.

[¶83] Oedipus:
Horrid the birth—

> Greek: Χορός:
τί τόδʼ;
Οἰδίπους:
αἰνὰ φύσις.

[¶84] Chorus:
Speak!

> Greek: Χορός:
αὔδα.

[¶85] Oedipus:
My child—ah, me!—what shall I say?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τέκνον, ὤμοι, τί γεγώνω;
Χορός:
τίνος εἶ σπέρματος, ὦ ξένε, φώνει, πατρόθεν.

[¶86] Chorus:
What is your lineage, stranger? Speak! And who is your father?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὤμοι ἐγώ, τί πάθω, τέκνον ἐμόν;

[¶87] Oedipus:
Woe is me! What will become of me, my child?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
λέγʼ, ἐπείπερ ἐπʼ ἔσχατα βαίνεις.

[¶88] Antigone:
Speak, for you are driven to the verge.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἀλλʼ ἐρῶ· οὐ γὰρ ἔχω κατακρυφάν.

[¶89] Oedipus:
Then speak I will. I have no way to hide it.
Chorus:
You two make a long delay. Come, hasten!

> Greek: Χορός:
μακρὰ μέλλετον, ἀλλὰ τάχυνε.

[¶90] Oedipus:
Do you know of a son of Laius?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
Λαΐου ἴστε τινʼ;

[¶91] Chorus:
Oh!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὢ ἰοὺ ἰού.

[¶92] Oedipus:
—And the race of the Labdacidae?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τό τε Λαβδακιδᾶν γένος;

[¶93] Chorus:
O Zeus!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ Ζεῦ.

[¶94] Oedipus:
—and the pitiful Oedipus?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἄθλιον Οἰδιπόδαν;

[¶95] Chorus:
You are he?

> Greek: Χορός:
σὺ γὰρ ὅδʼ εἶ;

[¶96] Oedipus:
Have no fear of any words that I speak—

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
δέος ἴσχετε μηδὲν ὅσʼ αὐδῶ.

[¶97] Chorus:
Ah, no, no!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ ὢ ὤ.

[¶98] Oedipus:
Unhappy that I am!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
δύσμορος.

[¶99] Chorus:
Oh, oh!

> Greek: Χορός:
ὢ ὤ.

[¶100] Oedipus:
Daughter, what is about to happen?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
θύγατερ, τί ποτʼ αὐτίκα κύρσει;

[¶101] Chorus:
Out with you! Go forth from the land!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔξω πόρσω βαίνετε χώρας.

[¶102] Oedipus:
And your promise—to what fulfillment will you bring it?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἃ δʼ ὑπέσχεο ποῖ καταθήσεις,

[¶103] Chorus:
No man is visited by the punishment of fate if he requites deeds which were first done to himself.
Deceit on the one part matches deceits on the other, and gives pain instead of pleasure for reward. And you—back with you! Out from your seat!
Away from my land with all speed, that you may not fasten some heavier burden on my city!

> Greek: Χορός:
οὐδενὶ μοιριδία τίσις ἔρχεται
ἃν προπάθῃ τὸ τίνειν· ἀπάτα δʼ ἀπά-
ταις ἑτέραις ἑτέρα παραβαλλομέ-
να πόνον, οὐ χάριν, ἀντιδίδωσιν ἔ-
χειν. σὺ δὲ τῶνδʼ ἑδράνων πάλιν ἔκτοπος
αὖθις ἄφορμος ἐμᾶς χθονὸς ἔκθορε,
μή τι πέρα χρέος
ἐμᾷ πόλει προσάψῃς.

[¶104] Antigone:
Reverent strangers, since you have not endured my aged father—knowing, as you do,
the rumor of his unintended deeds—pity at least my poor self, I implore you, who supplicate you for my father alone. I beg you with eyes that can still look
on your own, like one sprung from your own blood, that this sufferer may meet with reverent treatment. On you, as on a god, we depend in our misery. But come, grant the favor for which we hardly dare hope!

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὦ ξένοι
αἰδόφρονες, ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ
γεραὸν πατέρα τόνδʼ ἐμὸν
οὐκ ἀνέτλατʼ, ἔργων
ἀκόντων ἀΐοντες αὐδάν,
ἀλλʼ ἐμὲ τὰν μελέαν, ἱκετεύομεν, ὦ ξένοι, οἰκτίραθʼ, ἃ
πατρὸς ὑπὲρ τοὐμοῦ μόνου
ἄντομαι οὐκ ἀλαοῖς προσορωμένα
ὄμμα σὸν ὄμμασιν, ὥς τις ἀφʼ αἵματος
ὑμετέρου προφανεῖσα, τὸν ἄθλιον
αἰδοῦς κῦρσαι· ἐν ὔμμι γὰρ ὡς θεῷ
κείμεθα τλάμονες. ἀλλʼ ἴτε, νεύσατε τὰν ἀδόκητον χάριν·

[¶105] I implore you by everything that you hold dear at home: by child, by wife, or treasure, or god! Look well and you will not find the mortal who, if a god should lead him on, could escape.

> Greek: πρός σʼ ὅ τι σοι φίλον ἐκ σέθεν ἄντομαι,
ἢ τέκνον ἢ λέχος ἢ χρέος ἢ θεός·
οὐ γὰρ ἴδοις ἂν ἀθρῶν βροτὸν ὅστις ἄν,
εἰ θεὸς ἄγοι,
ἐκφυγεῖν δύναιτο.

[¶106] Chorus:
Feel sure, daughter of Oedipus, that we pity you and him alike
for your misfortune; but dreading the punishment of the gods, we could not say anything beyond what we have now said to you.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἴσθι, τέκνον Οἰδίπου, σέ τʼ ἐξ ἴσου
οἰκτίρομεν καὶ τόνδε συμφορᾶς χάριν·
τὰ δʼ ἐκ θεῶν τρέμοντες οὐ σθένοιμεν ἂν
φωνεῖν πέρα τῶν πρὸς σὲ νῦν εἰρημένων.

[¶107] Oedipus:
What help comes, then, of repute or fair fame, if it ends in idle breath;
seeing that Athens, as men say, is god-fearing beyond all, and alone has the power to shelter the outraged stranger, and alone the power to help him? And where are these things for me, when, after making me rise up from this rocky seat, you then drive me from the land, afraid of my name alone?
Not, surely, afraid of my person or of my acts; since my acts, at least, have been in suffering rather than doing—if I must mention the tale of my mother and my father, because of which you fear me. That know I full well.
And yet how was I innately evil? I, who was merely requiting a wrong, so that, had I been acting with knowledge, even then I could not be accounted evil. But, as it was, all unknowing I went where I went—while they who wronged me knowingly sought my ruin.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τί δῆτα δόξης ἢ τί κληδόνος καλῆς
μάτην ῥεούσης ὠφέλημα γίγνεται,
εἰ τάς γʼ Ἀθήνας φασὶ θεοσεβεστάτας
εἶναι, μόνας δὲ τὸν κακούμενον ξένον
σῴζειν οἵας τε καὶ μόνας ἀρκεῖν ἔχειν;
κἄμοιγε ποῦ τοῦτʼ ἐστίν, οἵτινες βάθρων
ἐκ τῶνδέ μʼ ἐξάραντες εἶτʼ ἐλαύνετε,
ὄνομα μόνον δείσαντες; οὐ γὰρ δὴ τό γε
σῶμʼ οὐδὲ τἄργα τἄμʼ· ἐπεὶ τά γʼ ἔργα μου
πεπονθότʼ ἐστὶ μᾶλλον ἢ δεδρακότα,
εἴ σοι τὰ μητρὸς καὶ πατρὸς χρείη λέγειν,
ὧν οὕνεκʼ ἐκφοβεῖ με· τοῦτʼ ἐγὼ καλῶς
ἔξοιδα. καίτοι πῶς ἐγὼ κακὸς φύσιν,
ὅστις παθὼν μὲν ἀντέδρων, ὥστʼ εἰ φρονῶν
ἔπρασσον, οὐδʼ ἂν ὧδʼ ἐγιγνόμην κακός;
νῦν δʼ οὐδὲν εἰδὼς ἱκόμην ἵνʼ ἱκόμην,
ὑφʼ ὧν δʼ ἔπασχον, εἰδότων ἀπωλλύμην.

[¶108] Therefore, strangers, I beseech you by the gods: just as you made me leave my seat, so protect me, and do not, while you render honor to the gods, consider those gods to be fools. But rather consider that they look on the god-fearing man
and on the godless, and that never yet has an impious man found escape. With the help of those gods, do not becloud the prosperity of Athens by paying service to unholy deeds. As you have received the suppliant under your pledge,
rescue me and guard me to the end; nor dishonor me when you look on this face unlovely to behold, for I have come to you as one sacred and pious, bearing comfort for this people. But when the master has come,
whoever is your leader, then you will hear and know all; meanwhile show yourselves in no way evil.

> Greek: ἀνθʼ ὧν ἱκνοῦμαι πρὸς θεῶν ὑμᾶς, ξένοι,
ὥσπερ με κἀνεστήσαθʼ, ὧδε σώσατε,
καὶ μὴ θεοὺς τιμῶντες εἶτα τοὺς θεοὺς
μοίρας ποιεῖσθε μηδαμῶς· ἡγεῖσθε δὲ
βλέπειν μὲν αὐτοὺς πρὸς τὸν εὐσεβῆ βροτῶν,
βλέπειν δὲ πρὸς τοὺς δυσσεβεῖς, φυγὴν δέ του
μήπω γενέσθαι φωτὸς ἀνοσίου βροτῶν.
ξὺν οἷς σὺ μὴ κάλυπτε τὰς εὐδαίμονας
ἔργοις Ἀθήνας ἀνοσίοις ὑπηρετῶν,
ἀλλʼ ὥσπερ ἔλαβες τὸν ἱκέτην ἐχέγγυον,
ῥύου με κἀκφύλασσε· μηδέ μου κάρα
τὸ δυσπρόσοπτον εἰσορῶν ἀτιμάσῃς,
ἥκω γὰρ ἱερὸς εὐσεβής τε καὶ φέρων
ὄνησιν ἀστοῖς τοῖσδʼ· ὅταν δʼ ὁ κύριος
παρῇ τις, ὑμῶν ὅστις ἐστὶν ἡγεμών,
τότʼ εἰσακούων πάντʼ ἐπιστήσει· τὰ δὲ
μεταξὺ τούτου μηδαμῶς γίγνου κακός.

[¶109] Chorus:
The thoughts you urge, old man, must move awe; they have been set forth in grave words.
But I am content that the rulers of our country should judge in this case.

> Greek: Χορός:
ταρβεῖν μέν, ὦ γεραιέ, τἀνθυμήματα
πολλή ʼστʼ ἀνάγκη τἀπὸ σοῦ· λόγοισι γὰρ
οὐκ ὠνόμασται βραχέσι· τοὺς δὲ τῆσδε γῆς
ἄνακτας ἀρκεῖ ταῦτά μοι διειδέναι.

[¶110] Oedipus:
And where, strangers, is the lord of this realm?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
καὶ ποῦ ʼσθʼ ὁ κραίνων τῆσδε τῆς χώρας, ξένοι;

[¶111] Chorus:
He is at the city of his fathers in our land. The messenger who sent us here has gone to fetch him.

> Greek: Χορός:
πατρῷον ἄστυ γῆς ἔχει· σκοπὸς δέ νιν,
ὃς κἀμὲ δεῦρʼ ἔπεμψεν, οἴχεται στελῶν.

[¶112] Oedipus:
Do you think that he will have any regard or care for the blind man,
so as to come here himself?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἦ καὶ δοκεῖτε τοῦ τυφλοῦ τινʼ ἐντροπὴν
ἢ φροντίδʼ, ἕξειν, αὐτὸν ὥστʼ ἐλθεῖν πέλας;

[¶113] Chorus:
Yes, surely, as soon as he learns of your name.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ κάρθʼ, ὅταν περ τοὔνομʼ αἴσθηται τὸ σόν.

[¶114] Oedipus:
Who is there to bring him that word?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τίς δʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ κείνῳ τοῦτο τοὔπος ἀγγελῶν;

[¶115] Chorus:
The way is long, and many words from travellers often wander about. When he hears them, he will soon be with us, never fear.
For your name, old man, has been loudly trumpeted through all lands, so that even if he is taking his ease, and slow to move, when he hears of you he will swiftly arrive.

> Greek: Χορός:
μακρὰ κέλευθος· πολλὰ δʼ ἐμπόρων ἔπη
φιλεῖ πλανᾶσθαι, τῶν ἐκεῖνος ἀΐων,
θάρσει, παρέσται. πολὺ γάρ, ὦ γέρον, τὸ σὸν
ὄνομα διήκει πάντας, ὥστε κεἰ βραδὺς
εὕδει, κλύων σοῦ δεῦρʼ ἀφίξεται ταχύς.

[¶116] Oedipus:
Well, may he come with good fortune both for his own city and for me! What noble man is not his own friend?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἀλλʼ εὐτυχὴς ἵκοιτο τῇ θʼ αὑτοῦ πόλει
ἐμοί τε· τίς γὰρ ἐσθλὸς οὐχ αὑτῷ φίλος;

[¶117] Antigone:
O Zeus! What shall I say? What shall I think, my father?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὦ Ζεῦ, τί λέξω; ποῖ φρενῶν ἔλθω, πάτερ;

[¶118] Oedipus:
What is it, Antigone, my child?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τί δʼ ἔστι, τέκνον Ἀντιγόνη;

[¶119] Antigone:
I see a woman coming towards us, mounted on a colt of Etna; she wears a Thessalian bonnet to screen her face from the sun.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
γυναῖχʼ ὁρῶ
στείχουσαν ἡμῶν ἆσσον, Αἰτναίας ἐπὶ
πώλου βεβῶσαν· κρατὶ δʼ ἡλιοστεγὴς
κυνῆ πρόσωπα Θεσσαλίς νιν ἀμπέχει.

[¶120] What shall I say? Is it she, or is it not? Does my judgment err? Yes—no—I cannot tell—ah, me! It is no other, yes! She greets me with bright glances
as she draws near, and makes a signal. Here is Ismene, clearly, and no other before me.

> Greek: τί φῶ;
ἆρʼ ἔστιν; ἆρʼ οὐκ ἔστιν; ἢ γνώμη πλανᾷ;
καὶ φημὶ κἀπόφημι κοὐκ ἔχω τί φῶ.
τάλαινα.
οὐκ ἔστιν ἄλλη· φαιδρὰ γοῦν ἀπʼ ὀμμάτων
σαίνει με προσστείχουσα· σημαίνει δʼ ὅτι
μόνης τόδʼ ἐστὶ δῆλον Ἰσμήνης κάρα.

[¶121] Oedipus:
What is that you say, my child?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
πῶς εἶπας, ὦ παῖ;

[¶122] Antigone:
That I see your daughter, my sister. By her voice right away you can know her.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
παῖδα σήν, ἐμὴν δʼ ὁρᾶν
ὅμαιμον· αὐδῇ δʼ αὐτίκʼ ἔξεστιν μαθεῖν.

[¶123] Ismene:
Father and sister, names most sweet to me! How hard it was to find you!
And how hard now to look upon you for my tears!

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ὦ δισσὰ πατρὸς καὶ κασιγνήτης ἐμοὶ
ἥδιστα προσφωνήμαθʼ, ὡς ὑμᾶς μόλις
εὑροῦσα λύπῃ δεύτερον μόλις βλέπω.

[¶124] Oedipus:
My child, have you come?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ τέκνον, ἥκεις;

[¶125] Ismene:
Father, your fate is sad to see!

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ὦ πάτερ δύσμοιρʼ ὁρᾶν.

[¶126] Oedipus:
Are you with us, my child?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τέκνον, πέφηνας;

[¶127] Ismene:
Not without toil, indeed, for myself.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
οὐκ ἄνευ μόχθου γέ μοι.

[¶128] Oedipus:
Touch me, my daughter!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
πρόσψαυσον, ὦ παῖ.

[¶129] Ismene:
I give a hand to each at once.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
θιγγάνω δυοῖν ὁμοῦ.

[¶130] Oedipus:
Ah my children, my sisters!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ σπέρμʼ ὅμαιμον.

[¶131] Ismene:
Alas, twice-wretched life!

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ὦ δυσάθλιαι τροφαί.

[¶132] Oedipus:
Her life and mine?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἦ τῆσδε κἀμοῦ;

[¶133] Ismene:
And mine, wretched me, makes a third.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
δυσμόρου τʼ ἐμοῦ τρίτης.

[¶134] Oedipus:
Child, why have you come?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τέκνον, τί δʼ ἦλθες;

[¶135] Ismene:
Through concern for you, father.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
σῇ, πάτερ, προμηθίᾳ.

[¶136] Oedipus:
Through longing to see me?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
πότερα πόθοισι;

[¶137] Ismene:
Yes, and to bring you news by my own mouth, with the only faithful servant that I had.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
καὶ λόγων γʼ αὐτάγγελος,
ξὺν ᾧπερ εἶχον οἰκετῶν πιστῷ μόνῳ.

[¶138] Oedipus:
And where are the young men, your brothers, in our need?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οἱ δʼ αὐθόμαιμοι ποῦ νεανίαι πονεῖν;

[¶139] Ismene:
They are where they are; their circumstances now are terrible.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
εἴσʼ οὗπέρ εἰσι· δεινὰ τἀν κείνοις τανῦν.

[¶140] Oedipus:
True image of the ways of Egypt that they show in their spirit and their life! For there the men sit weaving in the house,
but the wives go forth to win the daily bread. And in your case, my daughters, those to whom these toils belonged keep the house at home like maidens, while you two, in their place, bear your poor father’s woes.
The one, from the time when her youth was past and she came into her strength, has always been this old man’s guide in weary wanderings, often roaming, hungry and barefoot, through the wild woods, often battered by rains and scorching sun.
And the comforts of home, poor girl, she holds in the second place, so long as her father should have her care. And you, my child, in former days came forth, bringing your father, unknown to the Cadmeans, all the oracles that had been given concerning Oedipus.
You became a faithful guardian on my behalf, when I was being driven from the land. Now, in turn, what new tidings have you brought your father, Ismene? On what mission have you set forth from home? For you do not come empty-handed, I know well,
or without some cause of fear for me.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ πάντʼ ἐκείνω τοῖς ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ νόμοις
φύσιν κατεικασθέντε καὶ βίου τροφάς·
ἐκεῖ γὰρ οἱ μὲν ἄρσενες κατὰ στέγας
θακοῦσιν ἱστουργοῦντες, αἱ δὲ σύννομοι
τἄξω βίου τροφεῖα πορσύνουσʼ ἀεί.
σφῷν δʼ, ὦ τέκνʼ, οὓς μὲν εἰκὸς ἦν πονεῖν τάδε,
κατʼ οἶκον οἰκουροῦσιν ὥστε παρθένοι,
σφὼ δʼ ἀντʼ ἐκείνων τἀμὰ δυστήνου κακὰ
ὑπερπονεῖτον. ἡ μὲν ἐξ ὅτου νέας
τροφῆς ἔληξε καὶ κατίσχυσεν δέμας,
ἀεὶ μεθʼ ἡμῶν δύσμορος πλανωμένη
γερονταγωγεῖ, πολλὰ μὲν κατʼ ἀγρίαν
ὕλην ἄσιτος νηλίπους τʼ ἀλωμένη,
πολλοῖσι δʼ ὄμβροις ἡλίου τε καύμασιν
μοχθοῦσα τλήμων δεύτερʼ ἡγεῖται τὰ τῆς
οἴκοι διαίτης, εἰ πατὴρ τροφὴν ἔχοι.
σὺ δʼ, ὦ τέκνον, πρόσθεν μὲν ἐξίκου πατρὶ
μαντεῖʼ ἄγουσα πάντα, Καδμείων λάθρᾳ,
ἃ τοῦδʼ ἐχρήσθη σώματος, φύλαξ τέ μου
πιστὴ κατέστης, γῆς ὅτʼ ἐξηλαυνόμην·
νῦν δʼ αὖ τίνʼ ἥκεις μῦθον, Ἰσμήνη, πατρὶ
φέρουσα; τίς σʼ ἐξῆρεν οἴκοθεν στόλος;
ἥκεις γὰρ οὐ κενή γε, τοῦτʼ ἐγὼ σαφῶς
ἔξοιδα, μὴ οὐχὶ δεῖμʼ ἐμοὶ φέρουσά τι.

[¶141] Ismene:
The sufferings that I bore, father, in seeking where you dwelt, I will pass by; I would not renew the pain in the recital.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἐγὼ τὰ μὲν παθήμαθʼ ἅπαθον, πάτερ,
ζητοῦσα τὴν σὴν ποῦ κατοικοίης τροφήν,
παρεῖσʼ ἐάσω· δὶς γὰρ οὐχὶ βούλομαι
πονοῦσά τʼ ἀλγεῖν καὶ λέγουσʼ αὖθις πάλιν.

[¶142] But the evils that now beset your ill-fated sons—it is of these that I have come to tell. At first it was their decision that the throne should be left to Creon, and the city spared pollution, when they thought calmly about the ancient blight on our race,
and how it has clung to your unfortunate house. But now, moved by some god and by sinful heart, an evil strife has seized them—thrice-deluded!—to grasp at rule and the power of a tyrant. And the younger son has stripped the elder, Polyneices, of the throne,
and has driven him from his fatherland. But he, as the widespread rumor says among us, has gone to the valley of Argos as an exile, and is taking to himself a new marriage connection, and warriors for his friends, intending that Argos soon get hold of the Cadmean land,
or send its praises to the sky. These are not empty words, my father, but terrible deeds; and where the gods will have pity on your grief, I cannot tell.

> Greek: ἃ δʼ ἀμφὶ τοῖν σοῖν δυσμόροιν παίδοιν κακὰ
νῦν ἐστι, ταῦτα σημανοῦσʼ ἐλήλυθα.
πρὶν μὲν γὰρ αὐτοῖς ἦν ἔρως Κρέοντί τε
θρόνους ἐᾶσθαι μηδὲ χραίνεσθαι πόλιν,
λόγῳ σκοποῦσι τὴν πάλαι γένους φθοράν,
οἵα κατέσχε τὸν σὸν ἄθλιον δόμον·
νῦν δʼ ἐκ θεῶν του κἀλιτηρίου φρενὸς
εἰσῆλθε τοῖν τρὶς ἀθλίοιν ἔρις κακή,
ἀρχῆς λαβέσθαι καὶ κράτους τυραννικοῦ.
χὠ μὲν νεάζων καὶ χρόνῳ μείων γεγὼς
τὸν πρόσθε γεννηθέντα Πολυνείκη θρόνων
ἀποστερίσκει, κἀξελήλακεν πάτρας.
ὁ δʼ, ὡς καθʼ ἡμᾶς ἔσθʼ ὁ πληθύων λόγος,
τὸ κοῖλον Ἄργος βὰς φυγὰς προσλαμβάνει
κῆδός τε καινὸν καὶ ξυνασπιστὰς φίλους
ὡς αὐτίκʼ Ἄργος ἢ τὸ Καδμείων πέδον
τιμῇ καθέξον ἢ πρὸς οὐρανὸν βιβῶν.
ταῦτʼ οὐκ ἀριθμός ἐστιν, ὦ πάτερ, λόγων,
ἀλλʼ ἔργα δεινά· τοὺς δὲ σοὺς ὅπου θεοὶ
πόνους κατοικτιοῦσιν οὐκ ἔχω μαθεῖν.

[¶143] Oedipus:
What, had you come to hope that the gods would ever have concern enough for me to give me rescue?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἤδη γὰρ ἔσχες ἐλπίδʼ ὡς ἐμοῦ θεοὺς
ὤραν τινʼ ἕξειν, ὥστε σωθῆναί ποτε;

[¶144] Ismene:
Yes, that is my hope, father, from the present oracles.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἔγωγε τοῖς νὺν γʼ, ὦ πάτερ, μαντεύμασιν.

[¶145] Oedipus:
What are they? What has been prophesied, my child?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ποίοισι τούτοις; τί δὲ τεθέσπισται, τέκνον;

[¶146] Ismene:
That you will be desired some day, in life and death, by the men of that land,
for their safety’s sake.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
σὲ τοῖς ἐκεῖ ζητητὸν ἀνθρώποις ποτὲ
θανόντʼ ἔσεσθαι ζῶντά τʼ εὐσοίας χάριν.

[¶147] Oedipus:
And who could profit from such a one as I?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τίς δʼ ἂν τοιοῦδʼ ὑπʼ ἀνδρὸς εὖ πράξειεν ἄν;

[¶148] Ismene:
Their power, it is said, proves to be in your hands.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἐν σοὶ τὰ κείνων φασὶ γίγνεσθαι κράτη.

[¶149] Oedipus:
When I no longer exist, then I am a man?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὅτʼ οὐκέτʼ εἰμί, τηνικαῦτʼ ἄρʼ εἴμʼ ἀνήρ;

[¶150] Ismene:
Yes, for the gods now raise you up; but before they worked your ruin.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
νῦν γὰρ θεοί σʼ ὀρθοῦσι, πρόσθε δʼ ὤλλυσαν.

[¶151] Oedipus:
It is a paltry thing to raise up age, when youth was ruined.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
γέροντα δʼ ὀρθοῦν φλαῦρον ὃς νέος πέσῃ.

[¶152] Ismene:
Well, know at least that Creon will come to you on this account—and soon, not late.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
καὶ μὴν Κρέοντά γʼ ἴσθι σοι τούτων χάριν
ἥξοντα βαιοῦ κοὐχὶ μυρίου χρόνου.

[¶153] Oedipus:
With what purpose, daughter? Interpret that to me.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὅπως τί δράσῃ, θύγατερ; ἑρμήνευέ μοι.

[¶154] Ismene:
To plant you near the Cadmean land, so that they may have you in their power,
while you may not set foot within their borders.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ὥς σʼ ἄγχι γῆς στήσωσι Καδμείας, ὅπως
κρατῶσι μὲν σοῦ, γῆς δὲ μὴ ʼμβαίνῃς ὅρων.

[¶155] Oedipus:
And how can I profit them while I rest beyond their gates?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἡ δʼ ὠφέλησις τίς θύρασι κειμένου;

[¶156] Ismene:
Your tomb contains a curse for them, if it should suffer misfortune.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
κείνοις ὁ τύμβος δυστυχῶν ὁ σὸς βαρύς.

[¶157] Oedipus:
I need no god to help my wits so far.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
κἄνευ θεοῦ τις τοῦτό γʼ ἂν γνώμῃ μάθοι.

[¶158] Ismene:
For this reason, therefore, they wish to get you as their neighbor;
but in a place where they will have you at their mercy.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
τούτου χάριν τοίνυν σε προσθέσθαι πέλας
χώρας θέλουσι, μηδʼ ἵνʼ ἂν σαυτοῦ κρατοῖς.

[¶159] Oedipus:
Will they really cover me in Theban dust?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἦ καὶ κατασκιῶσι Θηβαίᾳ κόνει;

[¶160] Ismene:
No, the guilt of related blood forbids you, father.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐᾷ τοὔμφυλον αἷμά σʼ, ὦ πάτερ.

[¶161] Oedipus:
Then never will they become my masters.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οὐκ ἆρʼ ἐμοῦ γε μὴ κρατήσωσίν ποτε.

[¶162] Ismene:
Someday then this will be a grief for the Cadmeans.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἔσται ποτʼ ἆρα τοῦτο Καδμείοις βάρος.

[¶163] Oedipus:
In what conjunction of events, my child?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ποίας φανείσης, ὦ τέκνον, συναλλαγῆς;

[¶164] Ismene:
Under the power of your anger, when they stand at your tomb.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
τῆς σῆς ὑπʼ ὀργῆς, σοῖς ὅταν στῶσιν τάφοις.

[¶165] Oedipus:
And who has told you this, my child?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἃ δʼ ἐννέπεις, κλύουσα τοῦ λέγεις, τέκνον;

[¶166] Ismene:
Sacred envoys, from the Delphian hearth.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἀνδρῶν θεωρῶν Δελφικῆς ἀφʼ ἑστίας.

[¶167] Oedipus:
And has Phoebus indeed spoken this concerning me?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἐφʼ ἡμῖν Φοῖβος εἰρηκὼς κυρεῖ;

[¶168] Ismene:
So say the men who have come back to Thebes.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ὥς φασιν οἱ μολόντες εἰς Θήβης πέδον.

[¶169] Oedipus:
Has either of my sons heard this?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
παίδων τις οὖν ἤκουσε τῶν ἐμῶν τάδε;

[¶170] Ismene:
Yes, both have heard it, and know it well.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἄμφω γʼ ὁμοίως, κἀξεπίστασθον καλῶς.

[¶171] Oedipus:
And then those most evil of sons, aware of this, preferred the kingship to the wish of recalling me?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
κᾆθʼ οἱ κάκιστοι τῶνδʼ ἀκούσαντες, πάρος
τοὐμοῦ πόθου προύθεντο τὴν τυραννίδα;

[¶172] Ismene:
It grieves me to hear this, but I must bear it.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἀλγῶ κλύουσα ταῦτʼ ἐγώ, φέρω δʼ ὅμως.

[¶173] Oedipus:
Then may the gods not quench their fated strife, and may it fall to me to decide this war on which they are now setting their hands, raising spear against spear!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἀλλʼ οἱ θεοί σφιν μήτε τὴν πεπρωμένην
ἔριν κατασβέσειαν, ἔν τʼ ἐμοὶ τέλος
αὐτοῖν γένοιτο τῆσδε τῆς μάχης πέρι,
ἧς νῦν ἔχονται κἀπαναίρονται δόρυ·

[¶174] For then neither would he who now holds the scepter and the throne survive, nor would the exile ever return; seeing that when I, their father, was being thrust without honor from my country, they did not stop or defend me. No, they saw me sent forth homeless,
and heard the crier proclaim my sentence of exile. Perhaps you will say that that was my own wish then, and that the city fittingly granted me that gift. Not so! For on that first day, when my heart seethed,
and my sweetest wish was for death—indeed, death by stoning—no one was found to help me in that desire. But after a time, when all my anguish was now softened, and when I began to feel that my heart had been excessive in punishing those past errors,
then it was that the city set about to drive me by force from the land, after all that time. And my sons, when they had the strength to bring help—sons to their own father—they would not do it. For lack of one little word from them, I was left to wander, an outcast and a beggar forever.

> Greek: ὡς οὔτʼ ἂν ὃς νῦν σκῆπτρα καὶ θρόνους ἔχει
μείνειεν οὔτʼ ἂν οὑξεληλυθὼς πάλιν
ἔλθοι ποτʼ αὖθις· οἵ γε τὸν φύσαντʼ ἐμὲ
οὕτως ἀτίμως πατρίδος ἐξωθούμενον
οὐκ ἔσχον οὐδʼ ἤμυναν, ἀλλʼ ἀνάστατος
αὐτοῖς ἐπέμφθην κἀξεκηρύχθην φυγάς.
εἴποις ἂν ὡς θέλοντι τοῦτʼ ἐμοὶ τότε
πόλις τὸ δῶρον εἰκότως κατῄνεσεν.
οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεί τοι τὴν μὲν αὐτίχʼ ἡμέραν,
ὁπηνίκʼ ἔζει θυμός, ἥδιστον δέ μοι
τὸ κατθανεῖν ἦν καὶ τὸ λευσθῆναι πέτροις,
οὐδεὶς ἔρωτʼ ἐς τόνδʼ ἐφαίνετʼ ὠφελῶν·
χρόνῳ δʼ, ὅτʼ ἤδη πᾶς ὁ μόχθος ἦν πέπων,
κἀμάνθανον τὸν θυμὸν ἐκδραμόντα μοι
μείζω κολαστὴν τῶν πρὶν ἡμαρτημένων,
τὸ τηνίκʼ ἤδη τοῦτο μὲν πόλις βίᾳ
ἤλαυνέ μʼ ἐκ γῆς χρόνιον, οἱ δʼ ἐπωφελεῖν,
οἱ τοῦ πατρός, τῷ πατρὶ δυνάμενοι, τὸ δρᾶν
οὐκ ἠθέλησαν, ἀλλʼ ἔπους σμικροῦ χάριν
φυγάς σφιν ἔξω πτωχὸς ἠλώμην ἀεί.

[¶175] Instead, it is from these, maidens as they are, insofar as nature enables them, that I obtain my daily food, and a shelter in the land, and the aid of family. Their brothers have bartered their father for the throne, the scepter of power, and the rule of the realm.

> Greek: ἐκ ταῖνδε δʼ, οὔσαιν παρθένοιν, ὅσον φύσις
δίδωσιν αὐταῖν, καὶ τροφὰς ἔχω βίου
καὶ γῆς ἄδειαν καὶ γένους ἐπάρκεσιν·
τὼ δʼ ἀντὶ τοῦ φύσαντος εἱλέσθην θρόνους
καὶ σκῆπτρα κραίνειν καὶ τυραννεύειν χθονός.

[¶176] No, never will they win Oedipus for an ally, nor will good ever come to them from this reign at Thebes; that I know, when I hear this maiden’s oracles and reflect on the old prophecies stored in my own mind, which Phoebus has fulfilled for me at last.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ οὔ τι μὴ λάχωσι τοῦδε συμμάχου,
οὐδέ σφιν ἀρχῆς τῆσδε Καδμείας ποτὲ
ὄνησις ἥξει· τοῦτʼ ἐγῷδα, τῆσδέ τε
μαντεῖʼ ἀκούων συννοῶν τε τἀξ ἐμοῦ
παλαίφαθʼ ἁμοὶ Φοῖβος ἤνυσέν ποτε.

[¶177] Therefore let them send Creon to seek me—or whoever else is mighty in Thebes. For if you, strangers, with the help of the dread goddesses who reign among your district, are willing to defend me, you will obtain a great savior for this city,
and troubles for my enemies.

> Greek: πρὸς ταῦτα καὶ Κρέοντα πεμπόντων ἐμοῦ
μαστῆρα, κεἴ τις ἄλλος ἐν πόλει σθένει.
ἐὰν γὰρ ὑμεῖς, ὦ ξένοι, θέληθʼ ὁμοῦ
προστάτισι ταῖς σεμναῖσι δημούχοις θεαῖς
ἀλκὴν ποεῖσθαι, τῇδε τῇ πόλει μέγαν
σωτῆρʼ ἀρεῖσθε, τοῖς δʼ ἐμοῖς ἐχθροῖς πόνους.

[¶178] Chorus:
You are worthy of compassion, Oedipus, both you and these maidens. And since to this plea you append your power to save our land, I wish to advise you for your advantage.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπάξιος μέν, Οἰδίπους, κατοικτίσαι,
αὐτός τε παῖδές θʼ αἵδʼ· ἐπεὶ δὲ τῆσδε γῆς
σωτῆρα σαυτὸν τῷδʼ ἐπεμβάλλεις λόγῳ,
παραινέσαι σοι βούλομαι τὰ σύμφορα.

[¶179] Oedipus:
Dearest friends, be my patrons, and I will bring everything to completion.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ φίλταθʼ, ὡς νῦν πᾶν τελοῦντι προξένει.

[¶180] Chorus:
Then make atonement to these divinities, to whom you have come first, and on whose ground you have trespassed.

> Greek: Χορός:
θοῦ νῦν καθαρμὸν τῶνδε δαιμόνων, ἐφʼ ἃς
τὸ πρῶτον ἵκου καὶ κατέστειψας πέδον.

[¶181] Oedipus:
With what rites? Instruct me, strangers.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τρόποισι ποίοις; ὦ ξένοι, διδάσκετε.

[¶182] Chorus:
First, from an ever-flowing
spring bring sacred drink-offerings, borne in ritually pure hands.

> Greek: Χορός:
πρῶτον μὲν ἱερὰς ἐξ ἀειρύτου χοὰς
κρήνης ἐνεγκοῦ, διʼ ὁσίων χειρῶν θιγών.

[¶183] Oedipus:
And when I have gotten this unmixed draught?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὅταν δὲ τοῦτο χεῦμʼ ἀκήρατον λάβω;

[¶184] Chorus:
There are bowls, the work of a skilled craftsman; crown their edges and the handles at either side.

> Greek: Χορός:
κρατῆρές εἰσιν, ἀνδρὸς εὔχειρος τέχνη,
ὧν κρᾶτʼ ἔρεψον καὶ λαβὰς ἀμφιστόμους.

[¶185] Oedipus:
With olive branches, or woollen cloths, or in what way?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
θαλλοῖσιν ἢ κρόκαισιν, ἢ ποίῳ τρόπῳ;

[¶186] Chorus:
Take the freshly-shorn wool of a ewe-lamb.

> Greek: Χορός:
οἰός γε νεαρᾶς νεοπόκῳ μαλλῷ λαβών.

[¶187] Oedipus:
Good; and then to what last rite shall I proceed?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
εἶεν· τὸ δʼ ἔνθεν ποῖ τελευτῆσαί με χρή;

[¶188] Chorus:
Pour the drink-offerings, with your face to the dawn.

> Greek: Χορός:
χοὰς χέασθαι στάντα πρὸς πρώτην ἕω.

[¶189] Oedipus:
Shall I pour them with these vessels of which you speak?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἦ τοῖσδε κρωσσοῖς οἷς λέγεις χέω τάδε;

[¶190] Chorus:
Yes, in three streams; but the last vessel—

> Greek: Χορός:
τρισσάς γε πηγάς· τὸν τελευταῖον δʼ ὅλον.

[¶191] Oedipus:
With what shall I fill this, before I set it down? Teach me this also.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τοῦ τόνδε πλήσας θῶ; δίδασκε καὶ τόδε.

[¶192] Chorus:
With water and honey; but add no wine.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὕδατος, μελίσσης· μηδὲ προσφέρειν μέθυ.

[¶193] Oedipus:
And when the ground under the dark shade has drunk these?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὅταν δὲ τούτων γῆ μελάμφυλλος τύχῃ;

[¶194] Chorus:
Three times lay on it nine branches of olive with both your hands, and meanwhile make this prayer.

> Greek: Χορός:
τρὶς ἐννέʼ αὐτῇ κλῶνας ἐξ ἀμφοῖν χεροῖν
τιθεὶς ἐλαίας τάσδʼ ἐπεύχεσθαι λιτάς.

[¶195] Oedipus:
I wish to hear this prayer; it is the most important part.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τούτων ἀκοῦσαι βούλομαι· μέγιστα γάρ.

[¶196] Chorus:
We call them Eumenides, so that with well-wishing power they may receive the suppliant as his saviors. Let this be your prayer, or of whoever prays for you. Speak inaudibly, and do not lift up your voice; then depart, without looking behind.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὥς σφας καλοῦμεν Εὐμενίδας, ἐξ εὐμενῶν
στέρνων δέχεσθαι τὸν ἱκέτην σωτήριον,
αἰτοῦ σύ τʼ αὐτὸς κεἴ τις ἄλλος ἀντὶ σοῦ,
ἄπυστα φωνῶν μηδὲ μηκύνων βοήν·

[¶197] If you should do this, I would be bold enough to come to your aid; but otherwise, stranger, I would fear for you.

> Greek: ἔπειτʼ ἀφέρπειν ἄστροφος. καὶ ταῦτά σοι
δράσαντι θαρσῶν ἂν παρασταίην ἐγώ·
ἄλλως δὲ δειμαίνοιμʼ ἄν, ὦ ξένʼ, ἀμφὶ σοι.

[¶198] Oedipus:
Daughters, do you hear these strangers who dwell nearby?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ παῖδε, κλύετον τῶνδε προσχώρων ξένων;

[¶199] Antigone:
We have listened. Tell us what to do.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἠκούσαμέν τε χὤ τι δεῖ πρόστασσε δρᾶν.

[¶200] Oedipus:
I cannot make the trip; for I am disabled by lack of strength and lack of sight, twin evils. But let one of you two go and do these things. For I think that one soul suffices to pay this debt for ten thousand, if it comes with good will.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐχ ὁδωτά· λείπομαι γὰρ ἐν
τῷ μὴ δύνασθαι μήδʼ ὁρᾶν, δυοῖν κακοῖν·
σφῷν δʼ ἁτέρα μολοῦσα πραξάτω τάδε.
ἀρκεῖν γὰρ οἶμαι κἀντὶ μυρίων μίαν
ψυχὴν τάδʼ ἐκτίνουσαν, ἢν εὔνους παρῇ.

[¶201] Act, then, with speed. But do not abandon me, for my body would not have the strength to move, without help or a guiding hand.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ ἐν τάχει τι πράσσετον· μόνον δέ με
μὴ λείπετʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἂν σθένοι τοὐμὸν δέμας
ἔρημον ἕρπειν οὐδʼ ὑφηγητοῦ δίχα.

[¶202] Ismene:
Then I will go to perform the rite; but where I am to find the place—this I wish to learn.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἀλλʼ εἶμʼ ἐγὼ τελοῦσα· τὸν τόπον δʼ ἵνα
χρῆσταί μʼ ἐφευρεῖν, τοῦτο βούλομαι μαθεῖν.

[¶203] Chorus:
On the further side of this grove, stranger. And if you have need of anything, there is a guardian of the place. He will direct you.

> Greek: Χορός:
τοὐκεῖθεν ἄλσους, ὦ ξένη, τοῦδʼ· ἢν δέ του
σπάνιν τινʼ ἴσχῃς, ἔστʼ ἔποικος ὃς φράσει.

[¶204] Ismene:
Off to my task. But you, Antigone, watch our father here. In the case of parents, if we toil, we must not keep a memory of it. Ismene exits.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
χωροῖμʼ ἂν ἐς τόδʼ· Ἀντιγόνη, σὺ δʼ ἐνθάδε
φύλασσε πατέρα τόνδε· τοῖς τεκοῦσι γὰρ
οὐδʼ εἰ πονεῖ τις, δεῖ πόνου μνήμην ἔχειν.

[¶205] Chorus:
Terrible it is, stranger, to arouse the old woe that has for so long been laid to rest: and yet I yearn to hear—

> Greek: Χορός:
δεινὸν μὲν τὸ πάλαι κείμενον ἤδη κακόν, ὦ ξεῖνʼ, ἐπεγείρειν·
ὅμως δʼ ἔραμαι πυθέσθαι

[¶206] Oedipus:
What now?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τί τοῦτο;

[¶207] Chorus:
—Of that grief-filled anguish, cureless, with which you have wrestled.

> Greek: Χορός:
τᾶς δειλαίας ἀπόρου φανείσας
ἀλγηδόνος, ᾇ ξυνέστας.

[¶208] Oedipus:
By your hospitality, do not uncover the shame that I have suffered!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
μὴ πρὸς ξενίας ἀνοίξῃς
τᾶς σᾶς ἃ πέπονθʼ ἀναιδῆ.

[¶209] Chorus:
Seeing that the tale is wide-spread and in no way weakens, I wish, friend, to hear it straight.

> Greek: Χορός:
τό τοι πολὺ καὶ μηδαμὰ λῆγον
χρῄζω, ξεῖνʼ, ὀρθὸν ἄκουσμʼ ἀκοῦσαι.

[¶210] Oedipus:
Ah me!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὤμοι.

[¶211] Chorus:
Grant the favor, I beg!

> Greek: Χορός:
στέρξον, ἱκετεύω.

[¶212] Oedipus:
Alas, alas!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
φεῦ φεῦ.

[¶213] Chorus:
Grant my wish, as I have granted yours to the full.

> Greek: Χορός:
πείθου· κἀγὼ γὰρ ὅσον σὺ προσχρῄζεις.

[¶214] Oedipus:
I have suffered the greatest misery, strangers—suffered it through unintended deeds—may the god know it! No part was of my own choice.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἤνεγκʼ οὖν κακότατʼ, ὦ ξένοι, ἤνεγκʼ ἀέκων μέν,
θεὸς ἴστω,
τούτων δʼ αὐθαίρετον οὐδέν.

[¶215] Chorus:
But in what way?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἐς τί;

[¶216] Oedipus:
In an evil marriage, the city bound me, unknowing, to ruin.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
κακᾷ μʼ εὐνᾷ πόλις οὐδὲν ἴδριν
γάμων ἐνέδησεν ἄτᾳ.

[¶217] Chorus:
Is it true, as I hear, that you made your mother the partner of your bed, to its infamy?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἦ ματρόθεν, ὡς ἀκούω,
δυσώνυμα λέκτρʼ ἐπλήσω;

[¶218] Oedipus:
Ah, me! These words, strangers, are like death to my ears. And those two maidens of mine—

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὤμοι θάνατος μὲν τάδʼ ἀκούειν,
ὦ ξεῖνʼ· αὗται δὲ δύʼ ἐξ ἐμοῦ μὲν

[¶219] Chorus:
What will you say?
Oedipus:
—Two daughters—two curses—
Chorus:
O Zeus!

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς φῄς;

[¶220] Oedipus:
—of mine, sprung from the travail of the womb that bore me too.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
παῖδε, δύο δʼ ἄτα
Χορός:
ὦ Ζεῦ.

[¶221] Chorus:
These, then, are at once your daughters, and—
Oedipus:
—Sisters, indeed, of their father.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ματρὸς κοινᾶς ἀπέβλαστον ὠδῖνος.

[¶222] Chorus:
Oh!

> Greek: Χορός:
σαί τʼ εἴσʼ ἄρʼ ἀπόγονοί τε καὶ

[¶223] Oedipus:
Indeed, woes untold sweep back upon my soul!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
κοιναί γε πατρὸς ἀδελφεαί.

[¶224] Chorus:
You have suffered—

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰώ.

[¶225] Oedipus:
I have suffered woes grievous to bear.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἰὼ δῆτα μυρίων γʼ ἐπιστροφαὶ κακῶν.

[¶226] Chorus:
You have performed—

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔπαθες

[¶227] Oedipus:
I have not performed!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἔπαθον ἄλαστʼ ἔχειν.

[¶228] Chorus:
How?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔρεξας

[¶229] Oedipus:
A gift was given to me—O, wretched that I am, if only I had never won from the city that gift for my services!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οὐκ ἔρεξα.
Χορός:
τί γάρ;
Οἰδίπους:
ἐδεξάμην
δῶρον, ὃ μήποτʼ ἐγὼ ταλακάρδιος
ἐπωφέλησας πόλεος ἐξελέσθαι.

[¶230] Chorus:
Cursed man! What of this? Did you commit the murder—

> Greek: Χορός:
δύστανε, τί γάρ; ἔθου φόνον

[¶231] Oedipus:
What now? What would you learn?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τί τοῦτο; τί δʼ ἐθέλεις μαθεῖν;

[¶232] Chorus:
—Of your father?

> Greek: Χορός:
πατρός;

[¶233] Oedipus:
Oh! oh! a second stab—wound on wound!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
παπαῖ. δευτέραν ἔπαισας, ἐπὶ νόσῳ νόσον,

[¶234] Chorus:
You killed—

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔκανες

[¶235] Oedipus:
I killed—yet I have a plea—

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἔκανον. ἔχει δέ μοι

[¶236] Chorus:
What can you plead?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί τοῦτο;

[¶237] Oedipus:
—A plea of justice.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
πρὸς δίκας τι.

[¶238] Chorus:
What?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί γάρ;

[¶239] Oedipus:
I will tell you: I killed in ignorance and perished utterly. Pure before the law, without knowledge of my act, I have come to this!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἐγὼ φράσω.
καὶ γὰρ ἄν, οὓς ἐφόνευσʼ, ἔμʼ ἀπώλεσαν·
νόμῳ δὲ καθαρός, ἄϊδρις εἰς τόδʼ ἦλθον.

[¶240] Chorus:
Look, there comes our lord, Theseus son of Aegeus,
at the sound of your voice, to do that for which he was summoned.
Enter Theseus.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδʼ ἡμὶν Αἰγέως γόνος
Θησεὺς κατʼ ὀμφὴν σὴν ἐφʼ ἁστάλη πάρα.

[¶241] Theseus:
Through hearing from many in the past about the bloody marring of your sight, I recognized it was you, son of Laius; and now on coming here, through sight I am more fully certain.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
πολλῶν ἀκούων ἔν τε τῷ πάρος χρόνῳ
τὰς αἱματηρὰς ὀμμάτων διαφθορὰς
ἔγνωκά σʼ, ὦ παῖ Λαΐου, τανῦν θʼ ὁδοῖς
ἐν ταῖσδʼ ἀκούων μᾶλλον ἐξεπίσταμαι.

[¶242] For your clothing and that heart-rending face alike assure me that it is you. And in all compassion I ask you, ill-fated Oedipus, with what petition to the city and to me have you taken your place here, you and the poor maiden at your side. Declare it. Dire indeed must be the fortune which you tell,
for me to stand aloof from it; since I know that I myself also was reared in exile, just as you, and that in foreign lands I wrestled with perils to my life, like no other man.

> Greek: σκευή τε γάρ σε καὶ τὸ δύστηνον κάρα
δηλοῦτον ἡμῖν ὄνθʼ ὃς εἶ, καί σʼ οἰκτίσας
θέλω ʼπερέσθαι, δύσμορʼ Οἰδίπους, τίνα
πόλεως ἐπέστης προστροπὴν ἐμοῦ τʼ ἔχων,
αὐτός τε χἠ σὴ δύσμορος παραστάτις.
δίδασκε· δεινὴν γάρ τινʼ ἂν πρᾶξιν τύχοις
λέξας ὁποίας ἐξαφισταίμην ἐγώ,
ὃς οἶδα καὐτὸς ὡς ἐπαιδεύθην ξένος,
ὥσπερ σύ, χὢς εἷς πλεῖστʼ ἀνὴρ ἐπὶ ξένης
ἤθλησα κινδυνεύματʼ ἐν τὠμῷ κάρᾳ·

[¶243] Never, then, would I turn aside from a stranger, such as you are now, or refuse to help in his deliverance. For I know well that I am a man, and that my portion of tomorrow is no greater than yours.

> Greek: ὥστε ξένον γʼ ἂν οὐδένʼ ὄνθʼ, ὥσπερ σὺ νῦν,
ὑπεκτραποίμην μὴ οὐ συνεκσῴζειν· ἐπεὶ
ἔξοιδʼ ἀνὴρ ὢν χὤτι τῆς εἰς αὔριον
οὐδὲν πλέον μοι σοῦ μέτεστιν ἡμέρας.

[¶244] Oedipus:
Theseus, in a few words your nobleness has come to such a point
that I need make only a brief reply. You have said who I am, from what father I am sprung, and from what land I have come; and so nothing else remains for me but to speak my wish, and the tale is told.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
Θησεῦ, τὸ σὸν γενναῖον ἐν σμικρῷ λόγῳ
παρῆκεν, ὥστε βραχέα μοι δεῖσθαι φράσαι.
σὺ γάρ μʼ ὅς εἰμι κἀφʼ ὅτου πατρὸς γεγὼς
καὶ γῆς ὁποίας ἦλθον, εἰρηκὼς κυρεῖς·
ὥστʼ ἐστί μοι τὸ λοιπὸν οὐδὲν ἄλλο πλὴν
εἰπεῖν ἃ χρῄζω, χὠ λόγος διοίχεται.

[¶245] Theseus:
Then inform me of this very thing, so that I may learn it.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ νῦν δίδασχʼ, ὅπως ἂν ἐκμάθω.

[¶246] Oedipus:
I come to offer you my care-worn body as a gift—not one fine to look on, but the gains from it are better than beauty.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
δώσων ἱκάνω τοὐμὸν ἄθλιον δέμας
σοὶ δῶρον, οὐ σπουδαῖον εἰς ὄψιν· τὰ δὲ
κέρδη παρʼ αὐτοῦ κρείσσονʼ ἢ μορφὴ καλή.

[¶247] Theseus:
And what gain do you claim to have brought?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ποῖον δὲ κέρδος ἀξιοῖς ἥκειν φέρων;

[¶248] Oedipus:
Later you may learn it—but not yet.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
χρόνῳ μάθοις ἄν, οὐχὶ τῷ παρόντι που.

[¶249] Theseus:
At what time, then, will the benefit become clear?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ποίῳ γὰρ ἡ σὴ προσφορὰ δηλώσεται;

[¶250] Oedipus:
When I am dead, and you have given me burial.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὅταν θάνω ʼγὼ καὶ σύ μου ταφεὺς γένῃ

## 2. Lines 582–1163

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/2/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/2/#p-N

[¶0] Theseus:
You crave life’s last service; but for all between you have no memory, or no care.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τὰ λοίσθιʼ αἰτεῖ τοῦ βίου, τὰ δʼ ἐν μέσῳ
ἢ λῆστιν ἴσχεις ἢ διʼ οὐδενὸς ποεῖ.

[¶1] Oedipus:
Indeed, for by that service I gather in all the rest.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἐνταῦθα γάρ μοι κεῖνα συγκομίζεται.

[¶2] Theseus:
Well then, this favor you crave from me is brief indeed.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἀλλʼ ἐν βραχεῖ δὴ τήνδε μʼ ἐξαιτεῖ χάριν.

[¶3] Oedipus:
Yet take care; the struggle here is no light one. No, indeed.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὅρα γε μήν· οὐ σμικρός, οὔχ, ἁγὼν ὅδε.

[¶4] Theseus:
Do you mean in respect to your sons, or to me?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
πότερα τὰ τῶν σῶν ἐκγόνων κἀμοῦ λέγεις;—

[¶5] Oedipus:
They will compel you to convey me there to Thebes.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
κεῖνοι κομίζειν κεῖσʼ ἄναξ, χρῄζουσί με.

[¶6] Theseus:
But if you are willing, then exile is not becoming.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἀλλʼ εἰ θέλοντά γʼ οὐδὲ σοὶ φεύγειν καλόν.

[¶7] Oedipus:
No, when I was willing, they refused.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ, ὅτʼ αὐτὸς ἤθελον, παρίεσαν.

[¶8] Theseus:
Foolish man, anger amidst woes is not suitable.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ὦ μῶρε, θυμὸς δʼ ἐν κακοῖς οὐ ξύμφορον.

[¶9] Oedipus:
When you have heard my story, admonish; till then, forbear.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὅταν μάθῃς μου, νουθέτει, τανῦν δʼ ἔα.

[¶10] Theseus:
Speak. I must not pronounce without knowledge.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
δίδασκʼ· ἄνευ γνώμης γὰρ οὔ με χρὴ λέγειν.

[¶11] Oedipus:
I have suffered, Theseus, terrible woes upon woes.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
πέπονθα, Θησεῦ, δεινὰ πρὸς κακοῖς κακά.

[¶12] Theseus:
Will you speak of the ancient trouble of your race?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἦ τὴν παλαιὰν ξυμφορὰν γένους ἐρεῖς;

[¶13] Oedipus:
No, indeed; all Greeks speak of that.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οὐ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ πᾶς τοῦτό γʼ Ἑλλήνων θροεῖ.

[¶14] Theseus:
How, then, do you suffer beyond what is mortal?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τί γὰρ τὸ μεῖζον ἢ κατʼ ἄνθρωπον νοσεῖς;

[¶15] Oedipus:
The circumstance is this: from my country I have been driven by my own sons;
and I may not return, since I am guilty of a father’s blood.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οὕτως ἔχει μοι. γῆς ἐμῆς ἀπηλάθην
πρὸς τῶν ἐμαυτοῦ σπερμάτων· ἔστιν δέ μοι
πάλιν κατελθεῖν μήποθʼ, ὡς πατροκτόνῳ.

[¶16] Theseus:
Why would they have you brought back, if you must dwell apart?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
πῶς δῆτα σʼ ἂν πεμψαίαθʼ, ὥστʼ οἰκεῖν δίχα;

[¶17] Oedipus:
The word of the god will compel them.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τὸ θεῖον αὐτοὺς ἐξαναγκάσει στόμα.

[¶18] Theseus:
What suffering do they fear from the oracles?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ποῖον πάθος δείσαντας ἐκ χρηστηρίων;

[¶19] Oedipus:
That they must be struck down in this land.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὅτι σφʼ ἀνάγκη τῇδε πληγῆναι χθονί.

[¶20] Theseus:
And how should bitterness come between them and me?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
καὶ πῶς γένοιτʼ ἂν τἀμὰ κἀκείνων πικρά;

[¶21] Oedipus:
Dearest son of Aegeus, to the gods alone old age and death never come, but everything else sinks into chaos from time which overpowers all.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ φίλτατʼ Αἰγέως παῖ, μόνοις οὐ γίγνεται
θεοῖσι γῆρας οὐδὲ κατθανεῖν ποτε.
τὰ δʼ ἄλλα συγχεῖ πάνθʼ ὁ παγκρατὴς χρόνος.

[¶22] Earth’s strength decays, and so too the strength of the body; trust dies; distrust is born; and the same spirit is never steadfast among friends, or between city and city. For some now, for others tomorrow, sweet feelings turn to bitter, and then once more to being dear.
And if now the sun shines brightly between Thebes and you, yet time in his course gives birth to days and nights untold, in which from a small cause they will
scatter with the spear today’s pledges of concord. Then one day my slumbering and buried corpse, cold in death, will drink their warm blood, if Zeus is still Zeus, and Phoebus, the son of Zeus, speaks clear. But, since I would not break silence concerning words that must not spoken, allow me to cease where I began.
Only keep your own pledge good, and never will you say that in vain you welcomed Oedipus to dwell in this land—if indeed the gods do not deceive me.

> Greek: φθίνει μὲν ἰσχὺς γῆς, φθίνει δὲ σώματος,
θνῄσκει δὲ πίστις, βλαστάνει δʼ ἀπιστία,
καὶ πνεῦμα ταὐτὸν οὔποτʼ οὔτʼ ἐν ἀνδράσιν
φίλοις βέβηκεν οὔτε πρὸς πόλιν πόλει.
τοῖς μὲν γὰρ ἤδη, τοῖς δʼ ἐν ὑστέρῳ χρόνῳ
τὰ τερπνὰ πικρὰ γίγνεται καὖθις φίλα.
καὶ ταῖσι Θήβαις εἰ τανῦν εὐημερεῖ
καλῶς τὰ πρὸς σέ, μυρίας ὁ μυρίος
χρόνος τεκνοῦται νύκτας ἡμέρας τʼ ἰών,
ἐν αἷς τὰ νῦν ξύμφωνα δεξιώματα
δόρει διασκεδῶσιν ἐκ σμικροῦ λόγου·
ἵνʼ οὑμὸς εὕδων καὶ κεκρυμμένος νέκυς
ψυχρός ποτʼ αὐτῶν θερμὸν αἷμα πίεται,
εἰ Ζεὺς ἔτι Ζεὺς χὠ Διὸς Φοῖβος σαφής.
ἀλλʼ οὐ γὰρ αὐδᾶν ἡδὺ τἀκίνητʼ ἔπη,
ἔα μʼ ἐν οἷσιν ἠρξάμην, τὸ σὸν μόνον
πιστὸν φυλάσσων, κοὔποτʼ Οἰδίπουν ἐρεῖς
ἀχρεῖον οἰκητῆρα δέξασθαι τόπων
τῶν ἐνθάδʼ, εἴπερ μὴ θεοὶ ψεύσουσί με.

[¶23] Chorus:
Lord, from the first this man has shown a
will to bring these words, or similar ones, to completion for our land.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄναξ, πάλαι καὶ ταῦτα καὶ τοιαῦτʼ ἔπη
γῇ τῇδʼ ὅδʼ ἁνὴρ ὡς τελῶν ἐφαίνετο.

[¶24] Theseus:
Who, then, would reject the goodwill of such a one? To whom, first, the hearth of a spear-friend is always available on our side, by reciprocal right; then too he has come as a suppliant to our gods,
paying no small recompense to this land and to me. In reverence for these claims, I will never spurn his favor, and I will establish a dwelling for him as a citizen in the land. And if it is the pleasure of the stranger to remain here, I will command you to
protect him; or, if it pleases him, to come with me. This choice or that, Oedipus, you may take; your desire will be mine.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τίς δῆτʼ ἂν ἀνδρὸς εὐμένειαν ἐκβάλοι
τοιοῦδʼ, ὅτῳ πρῶτον μὲν ἡ δορύξενος
κοινή παρʼ ἡμῖν αἰέν ἐστιν ἑστία;
ἔπειτα δʼ ἱκέτης δαιμόνων ἀφιγμένος
γῇ τῇδε κἀμοὶ δασμὸν οὐ σμικρὸν τίνει.
ἁγὼ σεβισθεὶς οὔποτʼ ἐκβαλῶ χάριν
τὴν τοῦδε, χώρᾳ δʼ ἔμπολιν κατοικιῶ.
εἰ δʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἡδὺ τῷ ξένῳ μίμνειν, σέ νιν
τάξω φυλάσσειν, εἴτʼ ἐμοῦ στείχειν μέτα,
τόδʼ ἡδύ, τούτων, Οἰδίπους, δίδωμί σοι
κρίναντι χρῆσθαι· τῇδε γὰρ ξυνοίσομαι.

[¶25] Oedipus:
O Zeus, may you be good to men such as these!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ Ζεῦ, διδοίης τοῖσι τοιούτοισιν εὖ.

[¶26] Theseus:
What is your wish, then? Will you come to my house?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τί δῆτα χρῄζεις; ἦ δόμους στείχειν ἐμούς;

[¶27] Oedipus:
Yes, I would, if it were right. But this is the place—

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
εἴ μοι θέμις γʼ ἦν· ἀλλʼ ὁ χῶρός ἐσθʼ ὅδε,

[¶28] Theseus:
What will you do here? Speak, for I will not hinder you.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἐν ᾧ τί πράξεις; οὐ γὰρ ἀντιστήσομαι.

[¶29] Oedipus:
—Where I will conquer those who cast me out.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἐν ᾧ κρατήσω τῶν ἔμʼ ἐκβεβληκότων.

[¶30] Theseus:
The promised gift of your presence would be great.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
μέγʼ ἂν λέγοις δώρημα τῆς συνουσίας.

[¶31] Oedipus:
It shall be, if you keep your pledge with me.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
εἰ σοί γʼ ἅπερ φῂς ἐμμενεῖ τελοῦντί μοι.

[¶32] Theseus:
Have courage concerning me; never will I betray you.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
θάρσει τὸ τοῦδέ γʼ ἀνδρός· οὔ σε μὴ προδῶ.

[¶33] Oedipus:
I will not bind you with an oath as if an evil man.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οὔτοι σʼ ὑφʼ ὅρκου γʼ ὡς κακὸν πιστώσομαι.

[¶34] Theseus:
Well, you would win nothing more than by my word.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
οὔκουν πέρα γʼ ἂν οὐδὲν ἢ λόγῳ φέροις.

[¶35] Oedipus:
What will you do, then?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
πῶς οὖν ποήσεις;

[¶36] Theseus:
What is it that you fear?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τοῦ μάλιστʼ ὄκνος σʼ ἔχει;

[¶37] Oedipus:
Men will come—

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἥξουσιν ἄνδρες

[¶38] Theseus:
But these men here will see to that.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἀλλὰ τοῖσδʼ ἔσται μέλον.

[¶39] Oedipus:
Beware that if you leave me—

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὅρα με λείπων

[¶40] Theseus:
Do not instruct me in my duties.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
μὴ δίδασχʼ ἃ χρή με δρᾶν.

[¶41] Oedipus:
Fear constrains me—

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὀκνοῦντʼ ἀνάγκη.

[¶42] Theseus:
My heart feels no fear.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τοὐμὸν οὐκ ὀκνεῖ κέαρ.

[¶43] Oedipus:
You do not know the threats—

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οὐκ οἶσθʼ ἀπειλὰς

[¶44] Theseus:
I know that none will lead you from here against my will. Often threats have blustered in men’s hearts with words loud and vain; but when the mind comes to itself once more,
the threats have vanished. For those men, too, perhaps—yes, even if in boldness they have spoken dreadful things of bringing you back, the voyage here will prove long and hard to sail. Now I exhort you, apart from any decision of mine, to take heart,
if indeed Phoebus has been your escort here. Even if I am not present, still my name, I know, will shield you from harm.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
οἶδʼ ἐγώ σε μή τινα
ἐνθένδʼ ἀπάξοντʼ ἄνδρα πρὸς βίαν ἐμοῦ.
πολλαὶ δʼ ἀπειλαὶ πολλὰ δὴ μάτην ἔπη
θυμῷ κατηπείλησαν, ἀλλʼ ὁ νοῦς ὅταν
αὑτοῦ γένηται, φροῦδα τἀπειλήματα.
κείνοις δʼ ἴσως κεἰ δείνʼ ἐπερρώσθη λέγειν
τῆς σῆς ἀγωγῆς, οἶδʼ ἐγώ, φανήσεται
μακρὸν τὸ δεῦρο πέλαγος οὐδὲ πλώσιμον.
θαρσεῖν μὲν οὖν ἔγωγε κἂν ἐμῆς ἄνευ
γνώμης ἐπαινῶ, Φοῖβος εἰ προὔπεμψέ σε·
ὅμως δὲ κἀμοῦ μὴ παρόντος οἶδʼ ὅτι
τοὐμὸν φυλάξει σʼ ὄνομα μὴ πάσχειν κακῶς.

[¶45] Chorus:
Stranger, in this land of fine horses you have come to earth’s fairest home, the shining Colonus.
Here the nightingale, a constant guest, trills her clear note under the trees of green glades, dwelling amid the wine-dark ivy
and the god’s inviolate foliage, rich in berries and fruit, unvisited by sun, unvexed by the wind of any storm. Here the reveller Dionysus ever walks the ground,
companion of the nymphs that nursed him.

> Greek: Χορός:
εὐίππου, ξένε, τᾶσδε χώρας
ἵκου τὰ κράτιστα γᾶς ἔπαυλα,
τὸν ἀργῆτα Κολωνόν, ἔνθʼ
ἁ λίγεια μινύρεται
θαμίζουσα μάλιστʼ ἀηδὼν
χλωραῖς ὑπὸ βάσσαις,
τὸν οἰνωπὸν ἔχουσα κισσὸν
καὶ τὰν ἄβατον θεοῦ
φυλλάδα μυριόκαρπον ἀνήλιον
ἀνήνεμόν τε πάντων
χειμώνων· ἵνʼ ὁ βακχιώτας
ἀεὶ Διόνυσος ἐμβατεύει
θεαῖς ἀμφιπολῶν τιθήναις.

[¶46] Chorus:
And, fed on heavenly dew, the narcissus blooms day by day with its fair clusters; it is the ancient crown of the Great Goddesses.
And the crocus blooms with a golden gleam. Nor do the ever-flowing springs diminish, from which the waters of Cephisus wander, and each day with pure
current it moves over the plains of the land’s swelling bosom, bringing fertility. Nor have the dancing Muses shunned this place, nor Aphrodite of the golden rein.

> Greek: Χορός:
θάλλει δʼ οὐρανίας ὑπʼ ἄχνας
ὁ καλλίβοτρυς κατʼ ἦμαρ ἀεὶ
νάρκισσος, μεγάλαιν θεαῖν
ἀρχαῖον στεφάνωμʼ, ὅ τε
χρυσαυγὴς κρόκος· οὐδʼ ἄϋπνοι
κρῆναι μινύθουσιν
Κηφισοῦ νομάδες ῥεέθρων,
ἀλλʼ αἰὲν ἐπʼ ἤματι
ὠκυτόκος πεδίων ἐπινίσσεται
ἀκηράτῳ σὺν ὄμβρῳ
στερνούχου χθονός· οὐδὲ Μουσᾶν
χοροί νιν ἀπεστύγησαν οὐδʼ ἁ

[¶47] Chorus:
And there is a thing such as I have not heard of on Asian ground,
nor as ever yet born in the great Dorian isle of Pelops: a plant unconquered, self-renewing, causing terror to destroying enemies.
It greatly flourishes in this land—the gray-leafed olive, nurturer of children. Youth cannot harm it by the ravages of his hand, nor can any who lives with old age. For the sleepless eye
of Zeus Morios watches over it, and gray-eyed Athena.

> Greek: Χορός:
χρυσάνιος Ἀφροδίτα.
ἔστιν δʼ οἷον ἐγὼ γᾶς Ἀσίας οὐκ ἐπακούω
οὐδʼ ἐν τᾷ μεγάλᾳ Δωρίδι νάσῳ Πέλοπος πώποτε βλαστὸν
φύτευμʼ ἀχείρωτον αὐτόποιον,
ἐγχέων φόβημα δαΐων,
ὃ τᾷδε θάλλει μέγιστα χώρᾳ,
γλαυκᾶς παιδοτρόφου φύλλον ἐλαίας·
τὸ μέν τις οὐ νεαρὸς οὐδὲ γήρᾳ
συνναίων ἁλιώσει χερὶ πέρσας· ὁ γὰρ αἰὲν ὁρῶν κύκλος
λεύσσει νιν μορίου Διὸς
χἀ γλαυκῶπις Ἀθάνα.

[¶48] Chorus:
And I have more praise for this city our mother,
the gift of a great divinity, a glory most great: the might of horses, the might of colts, and the might of the sea. For you, son of Cronus, lord Poseidon, have set her on the throne of this pride,
by establishing first in our roads the bit that cures the rage of horses. And the shapely oar, well-fitted for the sea, in flying past the land leaps to follow the hundred-footed Nereids.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἄλλον δʼ αἶνον ἔχω ματροπόλει τᾷδε κράτιστον
δῶρον τοῦ μεγάλου δαίμονος, εἰπεῖν, χθονὸς αὔχημα μέγιστον,
εὔιππον, εὔπωλον, εὐθάλασσον.
ὦ παῖ Κρόνου, σὺ γάρ νιν εἰς
τόδʼ εἷσας αὔχημʼ, ἄναξ Ποσειδάν,
ἵπποισιν τὸν ἀκεστῆρα χαλινὸν
πρώταισι ταῖσδε κτίσας ἀγυιαῖς.
ἁ δʼ εὐήρετμος ἔκπαγλʼ ἁλία χερσὶ παραπτομένα πλάτα
θρῴσκει, τῶν ἑκατομπόδων
Νηρῄδων ἀκόλουθος.

[¶49] Antigone:
Land that is praised above all lands, now it is your task to make those bright praises seen in deeds!

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὦ πλεῖστʼ ἐπαίνοις εὐλογούμενον πέδον,
νῦν σὸν τὰ λαμπρὰ ταῦτα δὴ φαίνειν ἔπη.

[¶50] Oedipus:
What strange new thing has happened, my daughter?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τί δʼ ἔστιν, ὦ παῖ, καινόν;

[¶51] Antigone:
Creon there draws near us, and not without followers, father.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἆσσον ἔρχεται
Κρέων ὅδʼ ἡμῖν οὐκ ἄνευ πομπῶν, πάτερ.

[¶52] Oedipus:
Ah, dearest old men, now give me
the final proof of my salvation!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ φίλτατοι γέροντες, ἐξ ὑμῶν ἐμοὶ
φαίνοιτʼ ἂν ἤδη τέρμα τῆς σωτηρίας.

[¶53] Chorus:
Courage! It will be yours. For even if I am aged, this country’s strength has not grown old.
Enter Creon, with attendants.

> Greek: Χορός:
θάρσει, παρέσται· καὶ γὰρ εἰ γέρων ἐγώ,
τὸ τῆσδε χώρας οὐ γεγήρακεν σθένος.

[¶54] Creon:
Gentlemen, noble dwellers in this land, I see from your eyes that a sudden fear has troubled you at my coming;
but do not shrink back from me, and let no evil word escape you. I am here with no thought of force; I am old, and I know that the city to which I have come is mighty, if any in Hellas has might.

> Greek: Κρέων:
ἄνδρες χθονὸς τῆσδʼ εὐγενεῖς οἰκήτορες,
ὁρῶ τινʼ ὑμᾶς ὀμμάτων εἰληφότας
φόβον νεώρη τῆς ἐμῆς ἐπεισόδου,
ὃν μήτʼ ὀκνεῖτε μήτʼ ἀφῆτʼ ἔπος κακόν.
ἥκω γὰρ οὐχ ὡς δρᾶν τι βουληθείς, ἐπεὶ
γέρων μέν εἰμι, πρὸς πόλιν δʼ ἐπίσταμαι
σθένουσαν ἥκων, εἴ τινʼ Ἑλλάδος, μέγα.

[¶55] No, I have been sent, aged as I am, to plead with this man to return with me to the land of Cadmus. I am not one man’s envoy, but have a mandate from all our people; since it belonged to me, by family, beyond all other Thebans to mourn his woes.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ ἄνδρα τόνδε τηλικόσδʼ ἀπεστάλην
πείσων ἕπεσθαι πρὸς τὸ Καδμείων πέδον,
οὐκ ἐξ ἑνὸς στείλαντος, ἀλλʼ ἀνδρῶν ὑπὸ
πάντων κελευσθείς, οὕνεχʼ ἧκέ μοι γένει
τὰ τοῦδε πενθεῖν πήματʼ εἰς πλεῖστον πόλεως.

[¶56] Unhappy Oedipus, hear us, and come home! Justly are you summoned by all the Cadmeans, and most of all by me, since I—unless I am the worst of all men born—feel most sorrow for your woes, old man,
when I see you, unhappy as you are, a stranger and a wanderer evermore, roaming in beggary, with one handmaid for your support. Ah, me, I had not thought that she could fall to such a depth of misery as that to which she has fallen—
this poor girl!—as she tends forever your dark life amid poverty; in ripe youth, but unwed: a prize for the first passerby to seize. Is it not a cruel reproach—alas!—that I have cast at you, and me, and all our race?

> Greek: ἀλλʼ ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ Οἰδίπους, κλύων ἐμοῦ
ἱκοῦ πρὸς οἴκους. πᾶς σε Καδμείων λεὼς
καλεῖ δικαίως, ἐκ δὲ τῶν μάλιστʼ ἐγώ,
ὅσῳπερ, εἰ μὴ πλεῖστον ἀνθρώπων ἔφυν
κάκιστος, ἀλγῶ τοῖσι σοῖς κακοῖς, γέρον,
ὁρῶν σε τὸν δύστηνον ὄντα μὲν ξένον,
ἀεὶ δʼ ἀλήτην κἀπὶ προσπόλου μιᾶς
βιοστερῆ χωροῦντα· τὴν ἐγὼ τάλας
οὐκ ἄν ποτʼ ἐς τοσοῦτον αἰκίας πεσεῖν
ἔδοξʼ, ὅσον πέπτωκεν ἥδε δύσμορος,
ἀεί σε κηδεύουσα καὶ τὸ σὸν κάρα
πτωχῷ διαίτῃ, τηλικοῦτος, οὐ γάμων
ἔμπειρος, ἀλλὰ τοὐπιόντος ἁρπάσαι.
ἆρʼ ἄθλιον τοὔνειδος, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,
ὠνείδισʼ εἰς σὲ κἀμὲ καὶ τὸ πᾶν γένος;

[¶57] But indeed an open shame cannot be hidden. Oedipus, in the name of your ancestral gods, listen to me! Hide it, and consent to return to the city and the house of your ancestors, after bidding a kind farewell to this city. Athens is worthy; yet your own city has the first claim on your reverence,
since it was Thebes that nurtured you long ago.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ οὐ γὰρ ἔστι τἀμφανῆ κρύπτειν, σύ νιν
πρὸς θεῶν πατρῴων, Οἰδίπους, πεισθεὶς ἐμοὶ
κρύψον, θελήσας ἄστυ καὶ δόμους μολεῖν
τοὺς σοὺς πατρῴους, τήνδε τὴν πόλιν φίλως
εἰπών· ἐπαξία γάρ· ἡ δʼ οἴκοι πλέον
δίκῃ σέβοιτʼ ἄν, οὖσα σὴ πάλαι τροφός.

[¶58] Oedipus:
You who will dare anything, who from any just plea would derive a crafty trick, why do you make this attempt on me, and seek once more to snare me in your trap where I would feel most grief?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ πάντα τολμῶν κἀπὸ παντὸς ἂν φέρων
λόγου δικαίου μηχάνημα ποικίλον,
τί ταῦτα πειρᾷ κἀμὲ δεύτερον θέλεις
ἑλεῖν ἐν οἷς μάλιστʼ ἂν ἀλγοίην ἁλούς;

[¶59] Long ago, when I labored under the sickness of my self-made evils, and I yearned to be cast out of the land, you refused to grant the favor. But when my fierce anger had spent its force, and seclusion in the house was sweet to me,
it was then that you thrust me from the house and cast me from the land. And this common race that you mention—that was not at all dear to you then. Now, in turn, when you see that I have a kindly welcome from this city and all its race, you try to pluck me away, wrapping your cruel thoughts in soft words.

> Greek: πρόσθεν τε γάρ με τοῖσιν οἰκείοις κακοῖς
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
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.

[¶60] And yet what pleasure do you find in this, in treating me as dear against my will? As if a man should refuse you a gift, bring you no aid, when you continually begged for it; but after your heart was sated with your desires, he should grant it then, when the favor could bring no joy
—would you not find your delight in this empty? Yet such is the nature of your own offers to me: noble in appearance, but in substance base. And I will declare it to these men too, to show you up as base. You have come to get me,
not to bring me home, but to plant me near your borders, so that your city might escape uninjured by evils from this land. That fate is not for you, but this one: the brooding of my vengeful spirit on your land forever; and for my sons, this heirloom:
just so much soil in my realm in which to die. Am I not wiser than you in the fortunes of Thebes? Yes, far wiser, by as much as the sources of my knowledge are truer: Phoebus I mean, and his father, Zeus himself. But you have come here with fraud on your lips, yes,
and with a tongue keener than the edge of a sword; yet by their use you may well reap more sorrow than salvation. Still, since I know that I cannot persuade you of this, go! Allow us to live on here; for even in this plight our life would not be bad, if we should be content with it.

> Greek: καίτοι τίς αὕτη τέρψις ἄκοντας φιλεῖν;
ὥσπερ τις εἴ σοι 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;
τοιαῦτα μέντοι καὶ σὺ προσφέρεις ἐμοί,
λόγῳ μὲν ἐσθλά. τοῖσι δʼ ἔργοισιν κακά.
φράσω δὲ καὶ τοῖσδʼ, ὥς σε δηλώσω κακόν.
ἥκεις ἔμʼ ἄξων, οὐχʼ ἵνʼ ἐς δόμους ἄγῃς,
ἀλλʼ ὡς πάραυλον οἰκίσῃς, πόλις δέ σοι
κακῶν ἄνατος τῆσδʼ 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.
ἆρʼ οὐκ ἄμεινον ἢ σὺ τἀν Θήβαις φρονῶ;
πολλῷ γʼ, ὅσῳπερ κἀκ σαφεστέρων κλύω,
Φοίβου τε καὐτοῦ Ζηνός, ὃς κείνου πατήρ.
τὸ σὸν δʼ ἀφῖκται δεῦρʼ ὑπόβλητον στόμα,
πολλὴν ἔχον στόμωσιν· ἐν δὲ τῷ λέγειν
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.

[¶61] Creon:
Which of us, do you think, suffers more in this exchange—I by your action, or you by your own?

> Greek: Κρέων:
πότερα νομίζεις δυστυχεῖν ἔμʼ ἐς τὰ σά,
ἤ σʼ εἰς τὰ σαυτοῦ μᾶλλον, ⟨ἐν⟩ἐς τῷ νῦν λόγῳ;

[¶62] Oedipus:
For me, it is enough if your pleading fails both with me and with these men nearby.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἐμοὶ μέν ἐσθʼ ἥδιστον, εἰ σὺ μήτʼ ἐμὲ
πείθειν οἷός τʼ εἶ μήτε τούσδε τοὺς πέλας.

[¶63] Creon:
Unhappy man, will you let everyone see that even in your years you have gained no sense?
Must you live on to disgrace your old age?

> Greek: Κρέων:
ὦ δύσμορʼ, οὐδὲ τῷ χρόνῳ φύσας φανεῖ
φρένας ποτʼ ἀλλὰ λῦμα τῷ γήρᾳ τρέφει;

[¶64] Oedipus:
You have a clever tongue, but I know no just man who can produce from every side a pretty speech.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
γλώσσῃ σὺ δεινός· ἄνδρα δʼ οὐδένʼ οἶδʼ ἐγὼ
δίκαιον ὅστις ἐξ ἅπαντος εὖ λέγει.

[¶65] Creon:
Words may be many, and yet not to the point.

> Greek: Κρέων:
χωρὶς τό τʼ εἰπεῖν πολλὰ καὶ τὰ καίρια.

[¶66] Oedipus:
As if yours, indeed, were few, but on the mark.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὡς δὴ σὺ βραχέα, ταῦτα δʼ ἐν καιρῷ λέγεις.

[¶67] Creon:
They cannot be, not for one whose mind is such as yours.

> Greek: Κρέων:
οὐ δῆθʼ ὅτῳ γε νοῦς ἴσος καὶ σοὶ πάρα.

[¶68] Oedipus:
Begone! I will say it for these men too. And do not besiege me with a jealous watch where I am destined to remain.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἄπελθʼ, ἐρῶ γὰρ καὶ πρὸ τῶνδε, μηδέ με
φύλασσʼ ἐφορμῶν ἔνθα χρὴ ναίειν ἐμέ.

[¶69] Creon:
I call these men, and not you, to witness the tenor of your words to your friends. And if I ever catch you—

> Greek: Κρέων:
μαρτύρομαι τούσδʼ, οὐ σέ· πρὸς δὲ τοὺς φίλους
οἷʼ ἀνταμείβει ῥήματʼ, ἤν σʼ ἕλω ποτέ

[¶70] Oedipus:
And who could catch me against the will of these allies?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τίς δʼ ἄν με τῶνδε συμμάχων ἕλοι βίᾳ;

[¶71] Creon:
I promise you, soon you will be pained even without that.

> Greek: Κρέων:
ἦ μὴν σὺ κἄνευ τοῦδε λυπηθεὶς ἔσει.

[¶72] Oedipus:
Where is the deed which backs that threatening word?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ποίῳ σὺν ἔργῳ τοῦτʼ ἀπειλήσας ἔχεις;

[¶73] Creon:
One of your two daughters I have myself just seized and sent away. The other I will drag off immediately.

> Greek: Κρέων:
παίδοιν δυοῖν σοι τὴν μὲν ἀρτίως ἐγὼ
ξυναρπάσας ἔπεμψα, τὴν δʼ ἄξω τάχα.

[¶74] Oedipus:
Oh, no!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οἴμοι.

[¶75] Creon:
You will soon find more to weep about.

> Greek: Κρέων:
τάχʼ ἕξεις μᾶλλον οἰμώζειν τάδε.

[¶76] Oedipus:
You have my child?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τὴν παῖδʼ ἔχεις μου;

[¶77] Creon:
And I will have this one in no long time.

> Greek: Κρέων:
τήνδε τʼ οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου.

[¶78] Oedipus:
Oh! Strangers, what will you do? Will you betray me? Will you not drive the godless man from this land?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἰὼ ξένοι, τί δράσετʼ; ἦ προδώσετε,
κοὐκ ἐξελᾶτε τὸν ἀσεβῆ τῆσδε χθονός;

[¶79] Chorus:
Depart, stranger! Quick!
Your present deed is not just, nor the deed which you have done.
Creon: To his attendants.

> Greek: Χορός:
χώρει, ξένʼ, ἔξω θᾶσσον. οὔτε γὰρ τὰ νῦν
δίκαια πράσσεις οὔθʼ ἃ πρόσθεν εἴργασαι.

[¶80] It is time for you to drag this girl off against her will, if she will not go freely.

> Greek: Κρέων:
ὑμῖν ἂν εἴη τήνδε καιρὸς ἐξάγειν
ἄκουσαν, εἰ θέλουσα μὴ πορεύεται.

[¶81] Antigone:
Wretched that I am! Where can I flee? Where find help from gods or men?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
οἴμοι τάλαινα, ποῖ φύγω; ποίαν λάβω
θεῶν ἄρηξιν ἢ βροτῶν;

[¶82] Chorus:
What are you doing, stranger?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δρᾷς, ξένε;

[¶83] Creon:
I will not touch this man, but her who is mine.

> Greek: Κρέων:
οὐχ ἅψομαι τοῦδʼ ἀνδρός, ἀλλὰ τῆς ἐμῆς.

[¶84] Oedipus:
Lords of the land!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ γῆς ἄνακτες.

[¶85] Chorus:
Stranger, you are acting unjustly.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ ξένʼ, οὐ δίκαια δρᾷς.

[¶86] Creon:
Justly.

> Greek: Κρέων:
δίκαια.

[¶87] Chorus:
How?

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς δίκαια;

[¶88] Creon:
I take my own.
He lays his hand on Antigone.

> Greek: Κρέων:
τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἄγω.

[¶89] Oedipus:
Oh, city!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἰὼ πόλις.

[¶90] Chorus:
What are you doing, stranger? Release her!

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δρᾷς, ὦ ξένʼ; οὐκ ἀφήσεις; τάχʼ εἰς βάσανον εἶ χερῶν.

[¶91] Your strength and ours will soon come to the test.

> Greek: Κρέων:
εἴργου.
Χορός:
σοῦ μὲν οὔ, τάδε γε μωμένου.

[¶92] Creon:
Stand back!
Chorus:
Not while this is your purpose.

> Greek: Κρέων:
πόλει μαχεῖ γάρ, εἴ τι πημανεῖς ἐμέ.

[¶93] Creon:
There will be war with Thebes for you, if you harm me.
Oedipus:
Did I not say so?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οὐκ ἠγόρευον ταῦτʼ ἐγώ;

[¶94] Chorus:
Unhand the girl at once!

> Greek: Χορός:
μέθες χεροῖν
τὴν παῖδα θᾶσσον.

[¶95] Creon:
Do not make commands where you are not the master.

> Greek: Κρέων:
μὴ ʼπίτασσʼ ἃ μὴ κρατεῖς.

[¶96] Chorus:
Let go, I tell you!

> Greek: Χορός:
χαλᾶν λέγω σοι.

[¶97] Creon: To his guards, who seize Antigone.
And I tell you: be off!

> Greek: Κρέων:
σοὶ δʼ ἔγωγʼ ὁδοιπορεῖν.

[¶98] Chorus:
Help, men of Colonus, bring help! The city, our city, is attacked by force! Come to our aid!

> Greek: Χορός:
πρόβαθʼ ὧδε, βᾶτε βᾶτʼ, ἔντοποι·
πόλις ἐναίρεται, πόλις ἐμά, σθένει· πρόβαθʼ ὧδέ μοι.
Ἀντιγόνη:
ἀφέλκομαι δύστηνος, ὦ ξένοι ξένοι.

[¶99] Antigone:
I am being dragged away in misery. Strangers, strangers!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ποῦ, τέκνον, εἴ μοι;
Ἀντιγόνη:
πρὸς βίαν πορεύομαι.

[¶100] Oedipus:
My child, where are you?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὄρεξον, ὦ παῖ, χεῖρας.

[¶101] Antigone:
I am led off by force.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν σθένω.

[¶102] Oedipus:
Give me your hand, my child!
Antigone:
I am helpless.
Creon:
Away with you!

> Greek: Κρέων:
οὐκ ἄξεθʼ ὑμεῖς;

[¶103] Oedipus:
I am wretched, wretched! The guards exit with Antigone.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ τάλας ἐγώ, τάλας.

[¶104] Creon:
So those two staffs will never again support your path.
But since you wish to overcome your country and your friends, whose will I, though tyrant as well, am here discharging, then I wish you victory. For in time, I am sure, you will come to recognize all this, that now too as in time past, it is you who have done yourself no good, by indulging your anger despite your friends.
This has always been your ruin.

> Greek: Κρέων:
οὔκουν ποτʼ ἐκ τούτοιν γε μὴ σκήπτροιν ἔτι
ὁδοιπορήσῃς· ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ νικᾶν θέλεις
πατρίδα τε τὴν σὴν καὶ φίλους, ὑφʼ ὧν ἐγὼ
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.

[¶105] Chorus:
Stop there, stranger!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐπίσχες αὐτοῦ, ξεῖνε.

[¶106] Creon:
Hands off, I say!

> Greek: Κρέων:
μὴ ψαύειν λέγω.

[¶107] Chorus:
I will not let go, unless you give back the maidens.

> Greek: Χορός:
οὔτοι σʼ ἀφήσω, τῶνδέ γʼ ἐστερημένος.

[¶108] Creon:
Then you will soon give the city a more valuable prize, for I will lay hands on more than those two girls.

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

[¶109] Chorus:
What! What do you intend?

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἐς τί τρέψει;

[¶110] Creon:
This man here will be my captive.

> Greek: Κρέων:
τόνδʼ ἀπάξομαι λαβών.

[¶111] Chorus:
A valiant threat!

> Greek: Χορός:
δεινὸν λέγοις ἄν.

[¶112] Creon:
Straightaway it will be done.

> Greek: Κρέων:
τοῦτο νῦν πεπράξεται.

[¶113] Chorus:
Indeed, unless the ruler of this realm prevents you.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἢν μή σʼ ὁ κραίνων τῆσδε γῆς ἀπειργάθῃ.

[¶114] Oedipus:
Voice of shamelessness! Will you really lay hands on me?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ φθέγμʼ ἀναιδές, ἦ σὺ γὰρ ψαύσεις ἐμοῦ;

[¶115] Creon:
Shut up, I say!

> Greek: Κρέων:
αὐδῶ σιωπᾶν.

[¶116] Oedipus:
No! May the powers of this place grant me to utter this further curse! Most evil of men, when these eyes were dark, you wrenched from me the helpless one who was my eyesight and made off with her by force. Therefore to you and to your race may the Sun, the god who sees all things,
grant in time an old age such as mine!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
μὴ γὰρ αἵδε δαίμονες
θεῖέν μʼ ἄφωνον τῆσδε τῆς ἀρᾶς ἔτι,
ὅς μʼ, ὦ κάκιστε, ψιλὸν ὄμμʼ ἀποσπάσας
πρὸς ὄμμασιν τοῖς πρόσθεν ἐξοίχει βίᾳ.
τοιγὰρ σέ τʼ αὐτὸν καὶ γένος τὸ σὸν θεῶν
ὁ πάντα λεύσσων Ἥλιος δοίη βίον
τοιοῦτον οἷον κἀμὲ γηρᾶναί ποτε.

[¶117] Creon:
Do you see this, people of the land?

> Greek: Κρέων:
ὁρᾶτε ταῦτα, τῆσδε γῆς ἐγχώριοι;

[¶118] Oedipus:
They see both you and me. They know that I have suffered in deeds, and my defense is mere words.

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

[¶119] Creon:
I will not check my anger. Though I am alone
and slow with age, I will take this man by force.

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

[¶120] Oedipus:
Ah, my wretchedness!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἰὼ τάλας.

[¶121] Chorus:
What arrogance you have come with, stranger, if you think you will achieve this!

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

[¶122] Creon:
I will.

> Greek: Κρέων:
δοκῶ.

[¶123] Chorus:
Then I think this city no longer exists.

> Greek: Χορός:
τάνδʼ ἄρʼ οὐκέτι νεμῶ πόλιν.

[¶124] Creon:
For men who are just, you see, the weak vanquishes the strong.

> Greek: Κρέων:
τοῖς τοι δικαίοις χὠ βραχὺς νικᾷ μέγαν.

[¶125] Oedipus:
Do you hear his words?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἀκούεθʼ οἷα φθέγγεται;

[¶126] Chorus:
Yes, but he will not achieve them.
Creon:
Zeus knows perhaps, but you do not.

> Greek: Χορός:
τά γʼ οὐ τελεῖ.
[ἴστω μέγας Ζεύς.]

[¶127] Chorus:
This is an outrage!
Creon:
An outrage which you must bear.

> Greek: Κρέων:
Ζεύς γʼ ἂν εἰδείη, σὺ δʼ οὔ.

[¶128] Chorus:
Hear people, hear rulers of the land! Come quickly, come!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἆρʼ οὐχ ὕβρις τάδʼ;
Κρέων:
ὕβρις, ἀλλʼ ἀνεκτέα.

[¶129] These men are on their way to cross our borders!
Enter Theseus.

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

[¶130] Theseus:
What is this shout? What is the trouble? What fear has moved you to stop my sacrifice at the altar to the sea-god, the lord of your Colonus? Speak, so that I may know the situation; for that is why I have sped
here more swiftly than was pleasant.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τίς ποθʼ ἡ βοή; τί τοὔργον; ἐκ τίνος φόβου ποτὲ
βουθυτοῦντά μʼ ἀμφὶ βωμὸν ἔσχετʼ ἐναλίῳ θεῷ
τοῦδʼ ἐπιστάτῃ Κολωνοῦ; λέξαθʼ, ὡς εἰδῶ τὸ πᾶν,
οὗ χάριν δεῦρʼ ᾖξα θᾶσσον ἢ καθʼ ἡδονὴν ποδός.

[¶131] Oedipus:
Dearest of men! I know your voice. Terrible are the things I have just suffered at the hands of this man here.

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

[¶132] Theseus:
What things are these? And who has pained you? Speak!

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

[¶133] Oedipus:
Creon, whom you see here,
has torn from me my children—my only two.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
Κρέων ὅδʼ, ὃν δέδορκας, οἴχεται τέκνων
ἀποσπάσας μου τὴν μόνην ξυνωρίδα.

[¶134] Theseus:
What is that you say?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
πῶς εἶπας;

[¶135] Oedipus:
You have heard my wrongs.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
οἷά περ πέπονθʼ ἀκήκοας.

[¶136] Theseus:
Hurry, one of you attendants, to the altars there, and order the people to leave the sacrifice
and race on foot and by horse full speed, to the region where the two highways meet, so that the maidens may not pass, and I not become a mockery to this stranger as one worsted by force. Quick, I say, away with you!
Turning towards Creon.
As for this man, if my
anger went as far as he deserves, I would not let him go uninjured from my hand. But now, just such law as he himself has brought will be the rule for his correction.
Addressing Creon.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
οὔκουν τις ὡς τάχιστα προσπόλων μολὼν
πρὸς τούσδε βωμούς, πάντʼ ἀναγκάσει λεὼν
ἄνιππον ἱππότην τε θυμάτων ἄπο
σπεύδειν ἀπὸ ῥυτῆρος, ἔνθα δίστομοι
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,
ἄτρωτον οὐ μεθῆκʼ ἂν ἐξ ἐμῆς χερός.
νῦν δʼ οὕσπερ αὐτὸς τοὺς νόμους εἰσῆλθʼ ἔχων,
τούτοισι κοὐκ ἄλλοισιν ἁρμοσθήσεται.

[¶137] You will never leave this land
until you bring those maidens and produce them in my sight. For your action is a disgrace to me, and to your own ancestors, and to your country. You have come to a city that practices justice and sanctions nothing without law,
yet you have spurned her lawful authorities and made this violent assault. You are taking captives at will and subjugating them by force, as if you believed that my city was void of men, or manned by slaves, and that I counted for nothing. Yet it was not Thebes that trained you to be evil. Thebes is not accustomed to rearing unjust men;—
nor would she praise you, if she learned that you are despoiling me, and despoiling the gods, when by force you drive off their unfortunate suppliants. If my foot were upon your land, never would I drag off or lead away someone
without permission from the ruler of the land, whoever he might be—no, even if my claim were the most just of all. I would know how a stranger ought to live among citizens. But you are disgracing a city that does not deserve it: your own,
and your years, despite their fullness, bring you an old age barren of sense. Now, I have said before, and I say it once again: let the maidens be brought here speedily, unless you wish to be an unwilling immigrant to this country by force.
These are the words of my lips; my mind is in accord.

> Greek: οὐ γάρ ποτʼ ἔξει τῆσδε τῆς χώρας, πρὶν ἂν
κείνας ἐναργεῖς δεῦρό μοι στήσῃς ἄγων·
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
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,
οὐδʼ ἄν σʼ ἐπαινέσειαν, εἰ πυθοίατο
συλῶντα τἀμὰ καὶ τὰ τῶν θεῶν, βίᾳ
ἄγοντα φωτῶν ἀθλίων ἱκτήρια.
οὔκουν ἔγωγʼ ἂν σῆς ἐπεμβαίνων χθονός,
οὐδʼ εἰ τὰ πάντων εἶχον ἐνδικώτατα,
ἄνευ γε τοῦ κραίνοντος, ὅστις ἦν, χθονὸς
οὔθʼ εἷλκον 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
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
τῷ νῷ θʼ ὁμοίως κἀπὸ τῆς γλώσσης λέγω.

[¶138] Chorus:
Do you see your plight, stranger? You are judged to be just by where you are from, but your deeds are found to be evil.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὁρᾷς ἵνʼ ἥκεις, ὦ ξένʼ; ὡς ἀφʼ ὧν μὲν εἶ
φαίνει δίκαιος, δρῶν δʼ ἐφευρίσκει κακά.

[¶139] Creon:
It is not because I thought this city void of men, son of Aegeus, or of counsel, as you say,
that I have done this deed; but because I judged that its people could never be so zealous for my relatives as to support them against my will. And I knew that this people would not receive a parricide and a polluted man,
a man whose unholy marriage—a marriage with children—had been found out. Such wisdom, I knew, was immemorial on the Areopagus, which does not allow such wanderers to dwell within this city. Trusting in that, I sought to take this prize.

> Greek: Κρέων:
ἐγὼ οὔτʼ ἄνανδρον τήνδε τὴν πόλιν νέμων,
ὦ τέκνον Αἰγέως, οὔτʼ ἄβουλον, ὡς σὺ φῄς,
τοὔργον τόδʼ ἐξέπραξα, γιγνώσκων δʼ ὅτι
οὐδείς ποτʼ αὐτοὺς τῶν ἐμῶν ἂν ἐμπέσοι
ζῆλος ξυναίμων, ὥστʼ ἐμοῦ τρέφειν βίᾳ.
ᾔδη δʼ ὁθούνεκʼ ἄνδρα καὶ πατροκτόνον
κἄναγνον οὐ δεξοίατʼ, οὐδʼ ὅτῳ γάμοι
ξυνόντες ηὑρέθησαν ἀνόσιοι τέκνων.
τοιοῦτον αὐτοῖς Ἄρεος εὔβουλον πάγον
ἐγὼ ξυνῄδη χθόνιον ὄνθʼ, ὃς οὐκ ἐᾷ
τοιούσδʼ ἀλήτας τῇδʼ ὁμοῦ ναίειν πόλει·

[¶140] And I would not have done so, had he not been calling down bitter curses on me and on my race. As I was wronged in this way, I judged that I had a right to this requital. For anger knows no old age, until death comes;
the dead alone feel no galling pain. In response to this, you will do what pleases you; for, though my case is just, the lack of aid makes me weak. Yet in the face of your actions, despite my age, I will endeavor to pay you back.

> Greek: ᾧ πίστιν ἴσχων τήνδʼ ἐχειρούμην ἄγραν.
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.
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.

[¶141] Oedipus:
Shameless arrogance, where do you think this outrage falls—on my old age, or on your own? Bloodshed, incest, misery—all this your tongue has launched against me, and all this I have borne in my wretchedness by no choice of mine.
For this was dear to the gods, who were angry, perhaps, with my race from of old. Taking me alone, you could not find a reproach for any crime, in retribution for which I was driven to commit these sins against myself and against my kin. Tell me now: if, by the voice of an oracle, some divine doom was coming on my father,
that he should die by a son’s hand, how could you justly reproach me with this, when I was then unborn, when no father had yet begotten me, no mother’s womb conceived me? But if, having been born to misery—as I was born—I came to blows with my father and slew him, ignorant of what
I was doing and to whom, how could you reasonably blame the unwitting deed? And my mother—wretch, do you feel no shame in forcing me to speak of her marriage, when she was your sister, and when it was such as I will now tell?
For I will not be silent, when you have gone so far in impious speech. Yes, she was my mother, yes—alas, for my miseries! I did not know it, nor did she, and to her shame she bore children to the son whom she had borne.
But one thing, at least, I know: that you willingly revile her and me, but I did not willingly marry her, and I do not willingly speak now. No, I will not be called evil on account of this marriage, nor in the slaying of my father, which you charge me with again and again in bitter insult.
Answer just one thing of those I ask. If, here and now, someone should come up and try to murder you—you, the just one—would you ask if the murderer was your father, or would you revenge yourself on him straightaway?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ λῆμʼ ἀναιδές, τοῦ καθυβρίζειν δοκεῖς,
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.
ἐπεὶ καθʼ αὑτόν γʼ οὐκ ἂν ἐξεύροις ἐμοὶ
ἁμαρτίας ὄνειδος οὐδέν, ἀνθʼ ὅτου
τάδʼ εἰς ἐμαυτὸν τοὺς ἐμούς θʼ ἡμάρτανον.
ἐπεὶ δίδαξον, εἴ τι θέσφατον πατρὶ
χρησμοῖσιν ἱκνεῖθʼ ὥστε πρὸς παίδων θανεῖν,
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,
μηδὲν ξυνιεὶς ὧν ἔδρων εἰς οὕς τʼ ἔδρων,
πῶς ἂν 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,
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
κείνην τε ταῦτα δυσστομεῖν· ἐγὼ δέ νιν
ἄκων ἔγημα φθέγγομαί τʼ ἄκων τάδε.
ἀλλʼ οὐ γὰρ οὔτʼ ἐν τοῖσδʼ ἁλώσομαι κακὸς
γάμοισιν οὔθʼ οὓς αἰὲν ἐμφορεῖς σύ μοι
φόνους πατρῴους ἐξονειδίζων πικρῶς.
ἓν γάρ μʼ ἄμειψαι μοῦνον ὧν σʼ ἀνιστορῶ.
εἴ τις σὲ τὸν δίκαιον αὐτίκʼ ἐνθάδε
κτείνοι παραστάς, πότερα πυνθάνοιʼ ἂν εἰ
πατήρ σʼ ὁ καίνων ἢ τίνοιʼ ἂν εὐθέως;

[¶142] I think that if your life is dear to you, you would requite the criminal, and not look around for a justification. Such then were the evils into which I came, led by the gods; and in this, I think, my father’s soul, could it come back to life, would not contradict me.

> Greek: δοκῶ μέν, εἴπερ ζῆν φιλεῖς, τὸν αἴτιον
τίνοιʼ ἂν οὐδὲ τοὔνδικον περιβλέποις.
τοιαῦτα μέντοι καὐτὸς εἰσέβην κακά,
θεῶν ἀγόντων· οἷς ἐγὼ οὐδὲ τὴν πατρὸς
ψυχὴν ἂν οἶμαι ζῶσαν ἀντειπεῖν ἐμοί.

[¶143] But you are not just; you are one who considers it a fine thing to utter every sort of word, both those which are sanctioned and those which are forbidden—such are your taunts against me in the presence of these men. And to you it seems a fine thing to flatter the renowned Theseus, and Athens, saying how well it is governed.

> Greek: σὺ δʼ, εἶ γὰρ οὐ δίκαιος, ἀλλʼ ἅπαν καλὸν
λέγειν νομίζων ῥητὸν ἄρρητόν τʼ ἔπος,
τοιαῦτʼ ὀνειδίζεις με τῶνδʼ ἐναντίον.
καί σοι τὸ Θησέως ὄνομα θωπεῦσαι καλόν,
καὶ τὰς Ἀθήνας, ὡς κατῴκηνται καλῶς·

[¶144] Yet while giving such generous praise, you forget that if any land knows how to worship the gods with honors, this land excels in that. It is from her that you had planned to steal me, a suppliant and an old man, and tried to seize me, having already carried off my daughters.

> Greek: κᾆθʼ ὧδʼ ἐπαινῶν πολλὰ τοῦδʼ ἐκλανθάνει,
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.

[¶145] Therefore I now call on the goddesses here, I supplicate them, I beseech them with prayers, to bring me help and to fight on my behalf, that you may learn well what kind of men this city is guarded by.

> Greek: ἀνθʼ ὧν ἐγὼ νῦν τάσδε τὰς θεὰς ἐμοὶ
καλῶν ἱκνοῦμαι καὶ κατασκήπτω λιταῖς
ἐλθεῖν ἀρωγοὺς ξυμμάχους θʼ, ἵνʼ ἐκμάθῃς
οἵων ὑπʼ ἀνδρῶν ἥδε φρουρεῖται πόλις.

[¶146] Chorus:
The stranger is a good man, lord.
His fate has been accursed, but it is worthy of our aid.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὁ ξεῖνος, ὦναξ, χρηστός· αἱ δὲ συμφοραὶ
αὐτοῦ πανώλεις, ἄξιαι δʼ ἀμυναθεῖν.

[¶147] Theseus:
Enough of words. The doers of the deed are in flight, while we, the sufferers, stand still.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ἅλις λόγων, ὡς οἱ μὲν ἐξειργασμένοι
σπεύδουσιν, ἡμεῖς δʼ οἱ παθόντες ἕσταμεν.

[¶148] Creon:
What order, then, do you have for a powerless man?

> Greek: Κρέων:
τί δῆτʼ ἀμαυρῷ φωτὶ προστάσσεις ποεῖν;

[¶149] Theseus:
Guide the way on the path to them while I escort you,
in order that if you are keeping the maidens whom we seek in these lands, you yourself may reveal them to me. But if your men are fleeing with the spoils in their grasp, we may spare our trouble; the chase is for others, from whom they will never escape out of this land to thank their gods.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ὁδοῦ κατάρχειν τῆς ἐκεῖ, πομπὸν δέ με
χωρεῖν, ἵνʼ, εἰ μὲν ἐν τόποισι τοῖσδʼ ἔχεις
τὰς παῖδας ἡμῖν αὐτὸς ἐκδείξῃς ἐμοί·
εἰ δʼ ἐγκρατεῖς φεύγουσιν, οὐδὲν δεῖ πονεῖν.
ἄλλοι γὰρ οἱ σπεύδοντες, οὓς οὐ μή ποτε
χώρας φυγόντες τῆσδʼ ἐπεύξωνται θεοῖς.

[¶150] Come, lead the way! And know that the captor has been captured; fate has seized you as you hunted. Gains unjustly got by guile are soon lost. And you will have no ally in your purpose; for I well know that it is not without accomplice or resource that you have come to such
outrage, from the daring mood which has inspired you here. There was someone you were trusting in when you did these deeds. This I must consider, and I must not make this city weaker than one man. Do you take my drift?
Or do these words seem as empty as the warnings given when you were laying your plans?

> Greek: ἀλλʼ ἐξυφηγοῦ· γνῶθι δʼ ὡς ἔχων ἔχει
καί σʼ εἷλε θηρῶνθʼ ἡ τύχη· τὰ γὰρ δόλῳ
τῷ μὴ δικαίῳ κτήματʼ οὐχὶ σῴζεται.
κοὐκ ἄλλον ἕξεις εἰς τάδʼ· ὡς ἔξοιδά σε
οὐ ψιλὸν οὐδʼ ἄσκευον ἐς τοσήνδʼ ὕβριν
ἥκοντα τόλμης τῆς παρεστώσης τανῦν,
ἀλλʼ ἔσθʼ ὅτῳ σὺ πιστὸς ὢν ἔδρας τάδε.
ἃ δεῖ μʼ ἀθρῆσαι, μηδὲ τήνδε τὴν πόλιν
ἑνὸς ποῆσαι φωτὸς ἀσθενεστέραν.
νοεῖς τι τούτων, ἢ μάτην τὰ νῦν τέ σοι
δοκεῖ λελέχθαι χὤτε ταῦτʼ ἐμηχανῶ;

[¶151] Creon:
Say what you wish while you are here; I will not object. But at home I too will know how to act.

> Greek: Κρέων:
οὐδὲν σὺ μεμπτὸν ἐνθάδʼ ὢν ἐρεῖς ἐμοί·
οἴκοι δὲ χἠμεῖς εἰσόμεσθʼ ἃ χρὴ ποεῖν.

[¶152] Theseus:
Make your threats, then, but go forward. As for you, Oedipus, stay here in peace with my pledge that, unless I die beforehand,
I will not cease until I put you in possession of your children.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
χωρῶν ἀπείλει νῦν· σὺ δʼ ἡμίν, Οἰδίπους,
ἕκηλος αὐτοῦ μίμνε, πιστωθεὶς ὅτι,
ἢν μὴ θάνω ʼγὼ πρόσθεν, οὐχὶ παύσομαι
πρὶν ἄν σε τῶν σῶν κύριον στήσω τέκνων.

[¶153] Oedipus:
Thanks to you, Theseus, for your nobleness and your righteous care for me! Theseus exits with attendants and Creon.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὄναιο, Θησεῦ, τοῦ τε γενναίου χάριν
καὶ τῆς πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἐνδίκου προμηθίας.

[¶154] Chorus:
Oh, to be where the enemy, turned to fight,
will soon join in Ares’ clash of bronze, by the shores of Apollo, perhaps, or by that torch-lit beach
where the Great Goddesses maintain awful rites for mortals on whose lips the ministering Eumolpidae have laid the golden seal of silence. There, I think, the war-rousing
Theseus and the two maiden sisters will soon meet within our borders, amid the war-cry of resisting men!

> Greek: Χορός:
εἴην ὅθι δαΐων
ἀνδρῶν τάχʼ ἐπιστροφαὶ
τὸν χαλκοβόαν Ἄρη
μείξουσιν, ἢ πρὸς Πυθίαις
ἢ λαμπάσιν ἀκταῖς,
οὗ πότνιαι σεμνὰ τιθηνοῦνται τέλη
θνατοῖσιν, ὧν καὶ χρυσέα
κλῂς ἐπὶ γλώσσᾳ βέβακε
προσπόλων Εὐμολπιδᾶν·
ἔνθʼ οἶμαι τὸν ἐγρεμάχαν
Θησέα καὶ τὰς διστόλους
ἀδμῆτας ἀδελφὰς
αὐτάρκει τάχʼ ἐμμίξειν βοᾷ
τούσδʼ ἀνὰ χώρους·

[¶155] Chorus:
Or perhaps they will soon draw near to the pastures on the west of Oea’s snowy rock,
fleeing on young horses or in chariots racing full speed. He will be caught!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἤ που τὸν ἐφεσπέρου
πέτρας νιφάδος πελῶσʼ
Οἰάτιδος εἰς νόμον,
πώλοισιν ἢ ῥιμφαρμάτοις
φεύγοντες ἁμίλλαις.

[¶156] Terrible is the neighboring Ares, terrible the might of the followers of Theseus. Yes, the steel of every bridle flashes,
and against their opponents charges forward our whole cavalry, who honor horse-riding Athena, and the earth-girdling Sea-god, the dear son of Rhea.

> Greek: ἁλώσεται· δεινὸς ὁ προσχώρων Ἄρης,
δεινὰ δὲ Θησειδᾶν ἀκμά.
πᾶς γὰρ ἀστράπτει χαλινός,
πᾶσα δʼ ὁρμᾶται καθεῖσʼ
ἀμπυκτήρια στομίων
ἄμβασις, οἳ τὰν ἱππίαν
τιμῶσιν Ἀθάναν
καὶ τὸν πόντιον γαιάοχον
Ῥέας φίλον υἱόν.

[¶157] Chorus:
Is the battle now or yet to be?
For somehow my mind presages to me that soon I will meet the maidens who have suffered fearfully, who have found fearful suffering at the hands of a kinsman. Today Zeus will bring something to completion.
I predict noble struggles. Oh, to be a dove with the strength and swiftness of a whirlwind, that I might reach an airy cloud, and hang my gaze above the fight!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔρδουσʼ ἢ μέλλουσιν; ὡς
προμνᾶταί τί μοι
γνώμα τάχʼ ἀντάσειν
τᾶν δεινὰ τλασᾶν, δεινὰ δʼ εὑρουσᾶν πρὸς αὐθαίμων πάθη.
τελεῖ τελεῖ Ζεύς τι κατʼ ἆμαρ
μάντις εἴμʼ ἐσθλῶν ἀγώνων.
εἴθʼ ἀελλαία ταχύρρωστος πελειὰς
αἰθερίας νεφέλας κύρσαιμʼ ἄνωθʼ ἀγώνων
αἰωρήσασα τοὐμὸν ὄμμα.

[¶158] Chorus:
Hear, all-ruling lord of the gods, all-seeing Zeus! Grant to the guardians of this land to achieve with triumphant might the capture that gives the prize into their hands! And may your daughter grant it too, dread Pallas Athena!
And Apollo, the hunter, and his sister, who follows the spotted, swift-footed deer—I wish that they would come, a double help
to this land and to its people.
Chorus:
Wandering stranger, you will not say your watcher was a false prophet, for I see your daughters once again drawing near.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ θεῶν πάνταρχε, παντ-
όπτα Ζεῦ, πόροις
γᾶς τᾶσδε δαμούχοις
σθένει ʼπινικείῳ τὸν εὔαγρον τελειῶσαι λόχον,
σεμνά τε παῖς Παλλὰς Ἀθάνα.
καὶ τὸν ἀγρευτὰν Ἀπόλλω
καὶ κασιγνήταν πυκνοστίκτων ὀπαδὸν
ὠκυπόδων ἐλάφων στέργω διπλᾶς ἀρωγὰς
μολεῖν γᾷ τᾷδε καὶ πολίταις.
ὦ ξεῖνʼ ἀλῆτα, τῷ σκοπῷ μὲν οὐκ ἐρεῖς
ὡς ψευδόμαντις· τὰς κόρας γὰρ εἰσορῶ
τάσδʼ ἆσσον αὖθις ὧδε προσπολουμένας.
Οἰδίπους:
ποῦ ποῦ; τί φής; πῶς εἶπας;

[¶159] Oedipus:
Where? Where? What is that? What do you mean?
Enter Antigone and Ismene, with Theseus and his attendants.
Antigone:
Father, father,
I wish some god would grant that your eyes might see this excellent man, who has brought us here to you!

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὦ πάτερ πάτερ,
τίς ἂν θεῶν σοι τόνδʼ ἄριστον ἄνδρʼ ἰδεῖν
δοίη, τὸν ἡμᾶς δεῦρο προσπέμψαντά σοι;

[¶160] Oedipus:
My child, are you really here?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ τέκνον, ἦ πάρεστον;

[¶161] Antigone:
Yes, for these strong arms have saved us—Theseus and his dearest followers.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
αἵδε γὰρ χέρες
Θησέως ἔσωσαν φιλτάτων τʼ ὀπαόνων.

[¶162] Oedipus:
Come here, my children, to your father!
Grant me your embrace—restored beyond all hope!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
προσέλθετʼ ὦ παῖ, πατρὶ καὶ τὸ μηδαμὰ
ἐλπισθὲν ἥξειν σῶμα βαστάσαι δότε.

[¶163] Antigone:
We shall grant your wish, for we crave the favor we bestow.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
αἰτεῖς ἃ τεύξει· σὺν πόθῳ γὰρ ἡ χάρις.

[¶164] Oedipus:
Where, then, where are you?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ποῦ δῆτα, ποῦ ʼστόν;

[¶165] Antigone:
Here we are, approaching you together.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
αἵδʼ ὁμοῦ πελάζομεν.

[¶166] Oedipus:
Dearest offspring!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ φίλτατʼ ἔρνη.

[¶167] Antigone:
Everything is dear to its parent.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
τῷ τεκόντι πᾶν φίλον.

[¶168] Oedipus:
Supports of a man—

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ σκῆπτρα φωτός.

[¶169] Antigone:
Ill-fated as he is ill-fated.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
δυσμόρου γε δύσμορα.

[¶170] Oedipus:
I hold my dearest. Now, if I should die, I would not be wholly wretched, since you have come to me. Press close to me on either side, children, cling to your father, and rest from your wandering, so desolate, so grievous!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἔχω τὰ φίλτατʼ, οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ἂν πανάθλιος
θανὼν ἂν εἴην σφῷν παρεστώσαιν ἐμοί.
ἐρείσατʼ, ὦ παῖ, πλευρὸν ἀμφιδέξιον
ἐμφύντε τῷ φύσαντι, κἀναπαύσατον
τοῦ πρόσθʼ ἐρήμου τοῦδε δυστήνου πλάνου.

[¶171] And tell me what has happened as briefly as you can, since brief speech suffices for young maidens.

> Greek: καί μοι τὰ πραχθέντʼ εἴπαθʼ ὡς βράχιστʼ, ἐπεὶ
ταῖς τηλικαῖσδε σμικρὸς ἐξαρκεῖ λόγος.

[¶172] Antigone:
Here is our savior: you should hear the story from him, father, since the deed was his. So short will by part be.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὅδʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ σώσας· τοῦδε χρὴ κλύειν, πάτερ,
οὗ κἄστι τοὔργον· τοὐμὸν ὧδʼ ἔσται βραχύ.

[¶173] Oedipus:
Stranger, do not be amazed at my persistence, if I prolong my words to my children,
found again beyond my hope. I well know that my present joy in them has come to me from you, and you alone, for you—and not any other mortal—have rescued them. May the gods grant to you my wish,
both to you yourself and to this land; for among you, above all mankind, I have found piety, the spirit of decency, and lips that tell no lie. I know these things, and I repay them with these words; for what I have, I have through you, and no one else.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ ξεῖνε, μὴ θαύμαζε, πρὸς τὸ λιπαρὲς
τέκνʼ εἰ φανέντʼ ἄελπτα μηκύνω λόγον.
ἐπίσταμαι γὰρ τήνδε τὴν ἐς τάσδε μοι
τέρψιν παρʼ ἄλλου μηδενὸς πεφασμένην·
σὺ γάρ νιν ἐξέσωσας, οὐκ ἄλλος βροτῶν.
καί σοι θεοὶ πόροιεν ὡς ἐγὼ θέλω,
αὐτῷ τε καὶ γῇ τῇδʼ, ἐπεὶ τό γʼ εὐσεβὲς
μόνοις παρʼ ὑμῖν ηὗρον ἀνθρώπων ἐγὼ
καὶ τοὐπιεικὲς καὶ τὸ μὴ ψευδοστομεῖν.
εἰδὼς δʼ ἀμύνω τοῖσδε τοῖς λόγοις τάδε·
ἔχω γὰρ ἅχω διὰ σὲ κοὐκ ἄλλον βροτῶν·

[¶174] Stretch out to me your right hand, lord, that I may touch it; and if it is right, let me kiss your cheek. But what am I saying? Wretched as I have become, how could I wish you to touch a man in whom every stain of evils has made its dwelling?
I will not touch you—nor will I allow it, if you do consent. They alone, who know them, can share these burdens. Receive my greeting where you stand, and in the future too give me your righteous care, as you have given it up to this hour.

> Greek: καί μοι χέρʼ, ὦναξ, δεξιὰν ὄρεξον, ὡς
ψαύσω φιλήσω τʼ, εἰ θέμις, τὸ σὸν κάρα.
καίτοι τί φωνῶ; πῶς σʼ ἂν ἄθλιος γεγὼς
θιγεῖν θελήσαιμʼ ἀνδρός, ᾧ τίς οὐκ ἔνι
κηλὶς κακῶν ξύνοικος; οὐκ ἔγωγέ σε,
οὐδʼ οὖν ἐάσω· τοῖς γὰρ ἐμπείροις βροτῶν
μόνοις οἷόν τε συνταλαιπωρεῖν τάδε.
σὺ δʼ αὐτόθεν μοι χαῖρε καὶ τὰ λοιπά μου
μέλου δικαίως, ὥσπερ ἐς τόδʼ ἡμέρας.

[¶175] Theseus:
I feel no amazement, if you have had a lengthy conversation
from joy in these children, or if your first concern has been for their words rather than for me. Indeed, there is nothing to vex me in that. Not with words so much as with deeds would I add luster to my life. You have this proof:

> Greek: Θησεύς:
οὔτʼ εἴ τι μῆκος τῶν λόγων ἔθου πλέον,
τέκνοισι τερφθεὶς τοῖσδε, θαυμάσας ἔχω,
οὔτʼ εἰ πρὸ τοὐμοῦ προύλαβες τὰ τῶνδʼ ἔπη.
βάρος γὰρ ἡμᾶς οὐδὲν ἐκ τούτων ἔχει.
οὐ γὰρ λόγοισι τὸν βίον σπουδάζομεν
λαμπρὸν ποεῖσθαι μᾶλλον ἢ τοῖς δρωμένοις.

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

> Greek: δείκνυμι δʼ· ὧν γὰρ ὤμοσʼ οὐκ ἐψευσάμην
οὐδέν σε, πρέσβυ· τάσδε γὰρ πάρειμʼ ἄγων
ζώσας, ἀκραιφνεῖς τῶν κατηπειλημένων.
χὤπως μὲν ἁγὼν ᾑρέθη, τί δεῖ μάτην
κομπεῖν, ἅ γʼ εἴσει καὐτὸς ἐκ ταύταιν ξυνών;

[¶177] But there is a matter that has just presented itself to me, as I came here. Give me your counsel regarding it; for, though it is small, it is food for wonder. And mortal man must consider nothing beneath his concern.
Oedipus:
What is it, son of Aegeus? Tell me; I myself know nothing of what you inquire.

> Greek: λόγος δʼ ὃς ἐμπέπτωκεν ἀρτίως ἐμοὶ
στείχοντι δεῦρο, συμβαλοῦ γνώμην, ἐπεὶ
σμικρὸς μὲν εἰπεῖν, ἄξιος δὲ θαυμάσαι·
πρᾶγος δʼ ἀτίζειν οὐδὲν ἄνθρωπον χρεών.
Οἰδίπους:
τί δʼ ἔστι, τέκνον Αἰγέως; δίδασκέ με
ὡς μὴ εἰδότʼ αὐτὸν μηδὲν ὧν σὺ πυνθάνει.

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

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

[¶179] Oedipus:
What land does he come form? What does he desire by his supplication?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ποδαπόν; τί προσχρῄζοντα τῷ θακήματι·

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

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

[¶181] Oedipus:
On what topic? That suppliant state is of no small account.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ποῖόν τινʼ; οὐ γὰρ ἥδʼ ἕδρα σμικροῦ λόγου.

## 3. Lines 1164–1779

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/3/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/3/#p-N

[¶0] Theseus:
He asks, they say, no more than that he may confer with you,
and return unharmed from his journey here.

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

[¶1] Oedipus:
Who can he be that implores the god in this way?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τίς δῆτʼ ἂν εἴη τήνδʼ ὁ προσθακῶν ἕδραν;

[¶2] Theseus:
Consider whether there is anyone in your race at Argos, who might desire this favor from you.

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

[¶3] Oedipus:
Dearest friend, say no more!

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ φίλτατε, σχὲς οὗπερ εἶ.

[¶4] Theseus:
What is wrong?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τί δʼ ἔστι σοι;

[¶5] Oedipus:
Do not ask me for—

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
μή μου δεηθῇς.

[¶6] Theseus:
For what? Speak!

> Greek: Θησεύς:
πράγματος ποίου; λέγε.

[¶7] Oedipus:
From hearing these things I know who the suppliant is.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἔξοιδʼ ἀκούων τῶνδʼ ὅς ἐσθʼ ὁ προστάτης.

[¶8] Theseus:
And who can he be, that I should have an objection to him?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
καὶ τίς ποτʼ ἐστὶν ὅν γʼ ἐγὼ ψέξαιμί τι;

[¶9] Oedipus:
My son, lord, a hated son whose words would vex my ear like the words of no man besides.

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

[¶10] Theseus:
What? Can you not listen, without doing what you do not wish to do? Why does it pain you to hear him?

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

[¶11] Oedipus:
Lord, that voice has become most hateful to his father. Do not constrain me to yield in this.

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

[¶12] Theseus:
But consider whether his suppliant state constrains you;
what if you have a duty of respect for the god?

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

[¶13] Antigone:
Father, listen to me; I will offer counsel though I am young. Allow this man here to gratify his own feelings and the god as he wishes, and for your daughters’ sake allow our brother to come.
He will not tear you by force from your resolve—never fear—with such words as will not be for your good. What harm can there be in listening to words? Deeds wickedly devised, as you know, are betrayed by speech. You sired him,
so, even if he wrongs you with the most impious of wrongs, father, it is not right for you to wrong him in return. Let him come! Other men too have evil offspring and a sharp anger, but they hear advice and are charmed from their mood by the gentle spells of friends.
Look to the past, away from the present; consider all the pains that you have suffered through your father and mother. If you consider those things, I know well that you will perceive that what results from an evil anger is evil. Your reasons to reflect on this are not trivial,
bereft of your unseeing eyes. Yield to us! It is not a fine thing for those seeking justice to keep asking; nor is it good that a man should be treated well, and thereafter not know how to requite it.
Oedipus:
My child, by your pleading you overcome me; but your pleasure here is my grief.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
πάτερ, πιθοῦ μοι, κεἰ νέα παραινέσω.
τὸν ἄνδρʼ ἔασον τόνδε τῇ θʼ αὑτοῦ φρενὶ
χάριν παρασχεῖν τῷ θεῷ θʼ ἃ βούλεται,
καὶ νῷν ὕπεικε τὸν κασίγνητον μολεῖν.
οὐ γάρ σε, θάρσει, πρὸς βίαν παρασπάσει
γνώμης, ἃ μή σοι συμφέροντα λέξεται.
λόγων δʼ ἀκοῦσαι τίς βλάβη; τά τοι κακῶς
ηὑρημένʼ ἔργα τῷ λόγῳ μηνύεται.
ἔφυσας αὐτόν· ὥστε μηδὲ δρῶντά σε
τὰ τῶν κακίστων δυσσεβέστατʼ, ὦ πάτερ,
θέμις σέ γʼ εἶναι κεῖνον ἀντιδρᾶν κακῶς.
ἀλλʼ ἔασον· εἰσὶ χἀτέροις γοναὶ κακαὶ
καὶ θυμὸς ὀξύς, ἀλλὰ νουθετούμενοι
φίλων ἐπῳδαῖς ἐξεπᾴδονται φύσιν.
σὺ δʼ εἰς ἐκεῖνα, μὴ τὰ νῦν, ἀποσκόπει
πατρῷα καὶ μητρῷα πήμαθʼ ἅπαθες·
κἂν κεῖνα λεύσσῃς, οἶδʼ ἐγώ, γνώσει κακοῦ
θυμοῦ τελευτὴν ὡς κακὴ προσγίγνεται.
ἔχεις γὰρ οὐχὶ βαιὰ τἀνθυμήματα,
τῶν σῶν ἀδέρκτων ὀμμάτων τητώμενος.
ἀλλʼ ἡμὶν εἶκε· λιπαρεῖν γὰρ οὐ καλὸν
δίκαια προσχρῄζουσιν, οὐδʼ αὐτὸν μὲν εὖ
πάσχειν, παθόντα δʼ οὐκ ἐπίστασθαι τίνειν.

[¶14] Still, let it be as is dear to you. Only, if that man is to come here, stranger, let no one ever become master over my soul.
Theseus:
Once only do I need hear such words, and no more, old man. I do not want to boast,
but you may feel sure that your life is safe, while any of the gods preserves mine. Theseus exits.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τέκνον, βαρεῖαν ἡδονὴν νικᾶτέ με
λέγοντες· ἔστω δʼ οὖν ὅπως ὑμῖν φίλον.
μόνον, ξένʼ, εἴπερ κεῖνος ὧδʼ ἐλεύσεται,
μηδεὶς κρατείτω τῆς ἐμῆς ψυχῆς ποτε.
Θησεύς:
ἅπαξ τὰ τοιαῦτʼ, οὐχὶ δὶς χρῄζω κλύειν,
ὦ πρέσβυ. κομπεῖν δʼ οὐχὶ βούλομαι· σὺ δʼ ὢν
σῶς ἴσθʼ, ἐάν περ κἀμέ τις σῴζῃ θεῶν.

[¶15] Chorus:
Whoever craves the longer length of life, not content to desire a moderate span, him I will judge with no uncertainty: he clings to folly.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὅστις τοῦ πλέονος μέρους χρῄζει τοῦ μετρίου παρεὶς
ζώειν, σκαιοσύναν φυλάσσων
ἐν ἐμοὶ κατάδηλος ἔσται.

[¶16] For the long years lay in deposit many things nearer to pain than joy; but as for your delights, you will find them nowhere, when someone’s life has fallen beyond the fitting period.
The Helper comes at last to all alike, when the fate of Hades is suddenly revealed, without marriage-song, or lyre, or dance: Death at the end.

> Greek: ἐπεὶ πολλὰ μὲν αἱ μακραὶ ἁμέραι κατέθεντο δὴ
λύπας ἐγγυτέρω, τὰ τέρποντα δʼ οὐκ ἂν ἴδοις ὅπου,
ὅταν τις ἐς πλέον πέσῃ
τοῦ δέοντος· ὁ δʼ ἐπίκουρος ἰσοτέλεστος,
Ἄϊδος ὅτε μοῖρʼ ἀνυμέναιος
ἄλυρος ἄχορος ἀναπέφηνε,
θάνατος ἐς τελευτάν.

[¶17] Chorus:
Not to be born is, beyond all estimation, best; but when a man has seen the light of day, this is next best by far, that with utmost speed he should go back from where he came. For when he has seen youth go by, with its easy merry-making,
what hard affliction is foreign to him, what suffering does he not know? Envy, factions, strife, battles,
and murders. Last of all falls to his lot old age, blamed, weak, unsociable, friendless, wherein dwells every misery among miseries.

> Greek: Χορός:
μὴ φῦναι τὸν ἅπαντα νικᾷ λόγον· τὸ δʼ, ἐπεὶ φανῇ,
βῆναι κεῖθεν ὅθεν περ ἥκει,
πολὺ δεύτερον, ὡς τάχιστα.
ὡς εὖτʼ ἂν τὸ νέον παρῇ κούφας ἀφροσύνας φέρον,
τίς πλαγὰ πολύμοχθος ἔξω; τίς οὐ καμάτων ἔνι;
φθόνος, στάσεις, ἔρις, μάχαι
καὶ φόνοι· τό τε κατάμεμπτον ἐπιλέλογχε
πύματον ἀκρατὲς ἀπροσόμιλον
γῆρας ἄφιλον, ἵνα πρόπαντα
κακὰ κακῶν ξυνοικεῖ.

[¶18] Chorus:
In such years is this poor man here, not I alone.
Like some cape that fronts the north which is lashed on every side by the waves of winter, so he also is fiercely lashed evermore by the dread disasters that break on him like the surf, some from the region of the setting sun,
some from that of its rising, some in the realm of its noon-time rays, some from the gloom-wrapped hills of the North.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἐν ᾧ τλάμων ὅδʼ, οὐκ ἐγὼ μόνος,
πάντοθεν βόρειος ὥς τις
ἀκτὰ κυματοπλὴξ χειμερία κλονεῖται,
ὣς καὶ τόνδε κατʼ ἄκρας
δειναὶ κυματοαγεῖς
ἆται κλονέουσιν ἀεὶ ξυνοῦσαι,
αἱ μὲν ἀπʼ ἀελίου δυσμᾶν,
αἱ δʼ ἀνατέλλοντος·
αἱ δʼ ἀνὰ μέσσαν ἀκτῖνʼ,
αἱ δʼ ἐννυχιᾶν ἀπὸ Ῥιπᾶν.

[¶19] Antigone:
Look, the stranger, it seems, is coming here to us.
Yes, without attendants, father, with tears streaming from his eyes.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
καὶ μὴν ὅδʼ ἡμῖν, ὡς ἔοικεν, ὁ ξένος
ἀνδρῶν γε μοῦνος, ὦ πάτερ, διʼ ὄμματος
ἀστακτὶ λείβων δάκρυον ὧδʼ ὁδοιπορεῖ.

[¶20] Oedipus:
Who is he?
Antigone:
The very man who was in our thoughts from the first. Polyneices has come to us.
Enter Polyneices.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
τίς οὗτος;
Οἰδίπους:
ὅνπερ καὶ πάλαι κατείχομεν
γνώμῃ, πάρεστι δεῦρο Πολυνείκης ὅδε.

[¶21] Polyneices:
Ah, me, what should I do? Should I weep first
for my own woes, sisters, or for those of my father here, in his old age? I have found him in a foreign land, here with you two as an exile, clad in such garments as these. Their unfriendly filth has resided with the old man for long,
wasting his flesh; while above the sightless eyes the unkempt hair flutters in the breeze; and matching with these things, it seems, is the food that he carries, sustenance for his poor stomach. Wretch that I am! I learn all this too late.

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
οἴμοι, τί δράσω; πότερα τἀμαυτοῦ κακὰ
πρόσθεν δακρύσω, παῖδες, ἢ τὰ τοῦδʼ ὁρῶν
πατρὸς γέροντος; ὃς ξένης ἐπὶ χθονὸς
σὺν σφῷν ἐφηύρηκʼ ἐνθάδʼ ἐκβεβλημένον
ἐσθῆτι σὺν τοιᾷδε, τῆς ὁ δυσφιλὴς
γέρων γέροντι συγκατῴκηκεν πίνος
πλευρὰν μαραίνων, κρατὶ δʼ ὀμματοστερεῖ
κόμη διʼ αὔρας ἀκτένιστος ᾄσσεται·
ἀδελφὰ δʼ, ὡς ἔοικε, τούτοισιν φορεῖ
τὰ τῆς ταλαίνης νηδύος θρεπτήρια.
ἁγὼ πανώλης ὄψʼ ἄγαν ἐκμανθάνω·

[¶22] And I bear witness that I have proved the worst of men in all that concerns care for you; from my own lips hear what I am. But seeing that Zeus himself in all his actions has Shame beside him to share his throne, may she come to your aid too, father. For the sins committed can be healed,
but can never be made worse. Why are you silent? Speak, father. Do not turn away from me. Do you not have any answer at all for me? Will you dismiss me without a word, dishonored, and not tell me why you are angry?

> Greek: καὶ μαρτυρῶ κάκιστος ἀνθρώπων τροφαῖς
ταῖς σαῖσιν ἥκειν· τἀμὰ μὴ ʼξ ἄλλων πύθῃ.
ἀλλʼ ἔστι γὰρ καὶ Ζηνὶ σύνθακος θρόνων
Αἰδὼς ἐπʼ ἔργοις πᾶσι, καὶ πρὸς σοί, πάτερ,
παρασταθήτω· τῶν γὰρ ἡμαρτημένων
ἄκη μέν ἐστι, προσφορὰ δʼ οὐκ ἔστʼ ἔτι.
τί σιγᾷς;
φώνησον, ὦ πάτερ, τι· μή μʼ ἀποστραφῇς.
οὐδʼ ἀνταμείβει μʼ οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἀτιμάσας
πέμψεις ἄναυδος, οὐδʼ ἃ μηνίεις φράσας;

[¶23] Seed of this man, my sisters, you at least must try to move our father’s implacable, inexorable silence, so that he may not send me away like this, dishonored and with no word in return, when I am the suppliant of the god.

> Greek: ὦ σπέρματʼ ἀνδρὸς τοῦδʼ, ἐμαὶ δʼ ὁμαίμονες,
πειράσατʼ ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς γε κινῆσαι πατρὸς
τὸ δυσπρόσοιστον κἀπροσήγορον στόμα,
ὡς μή μʼ ἄτιμον, τοῦ θεοῦ γε προστάτην,
οὕτως ἀφῇ με μηδὲν ἀντειπὼν ἔπος.

[¶24] Antigone:
Tell him yourself, unhappy man, what you have come to seek. When words flow, you know, they may give joy, or incite anger or pity, and so they may give a voice to the mute.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
λέγʼ, ὦ ταλαίπωρʼ, αὐτὸς ὧν χρείᾳ πάρει·
τὰ πολλὰ γάρ τοι ῥήματʼ ἢ τέρψαντά τι,
ἢ δυσχεράναντʼ ἢ κατοικτίσαντά πως,
παρέσχε φωνὴν τοῖς ἀφωνήτοις τινά.

[¶25] Polyneices:
Then I will speak boldly, for you give me excellent guidance,
first claiming the help of the god himself, from whose altar the king of this land raised me to come to you, with a guarantee to speak and hear, and go my way unharmed. And I wish these pledges, strangers, to be kept with me by you, and by my sisters here, and by my father.
But now I want to tell you, father, why I came. I have been driven as an exile from my fatherland, because, as eldest-born, I thought it right to sit on your sovereign throne.

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
ἀλλʼ ἐξερῶ· καλῶς γὰρ ἐξηγεῖ σύ μοι·
πρῶτον μὲν αὐτὸν τὸν θεὸν ποιούμενος
ἀρωγόν, ἔνθεν μʼ ὧδʼ ἀνέστησεν μολεῖν
ὁ τῆσδε τῆς γῆς κοίρανος, διδοὺς ἐμοὶ
λέξαι τʼ ἀκοῦσαί τʼ ἀσφαλεῖ σὺν ἐξόδῳ.
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀφʼ ὑμῶν, ὧ ξένοι, βουλήσομαι
καὶ ταῖνδʼ ἀδελφαῖν καὶ πατρὸς κυρεῖν ἐμοί.
ἃ δʼ ἦλθον, ἤδη σοι θέλω λέξαι, πάτερ.
γῆς ἐκ πατρῴας ἐξελήλαμαι φυγάς,
τοῖς σοῖς πανάρχοις οὕνεκʼ ἐνθακεῖν θρόνοις
γονῇ πεφυκὼς ἠξίουν γεραίτερος.

[¶26] Therefore Eteocles, though the younger, thrust me from the land, when he had neither defeated me by an argument of law, nor made a trial of might and deed. He brought over the city by persuasion. The cause of this, I claim, is most of all the curse on your house;

> Greek: ἀνθʼ ὧν μʼ Ἐτεοκλῆς, ὢν φύσει νεώτερος,
γῆς ἐξέωσεν, οὔτε νικήσας λόγῳ
οὔτʼ εἰς ἔλεγχον χειρὸς οὐδʼ ἔργου μολών,
πόλιν δὲ πείσας. ὧν ἐγὼ μάλιστα μὲν
τὴν σὴν ἐρινὺν αἰτίαν εἶναι λέγω.

[¶27] I also hear this from soothsayers. For when I came to Dorian Argos, I made Adrastus my father-in-law. And I bound to me by oath all men of the Apian land who are foremost in their renown for war,
so that with their aid I might collect the seven armies of spearmen against Thebes, and die in a just cause, or drive the doers of this wrong from the land. All right then, why have I come to you now? Bearing prayers of supplication, father, in person to you,
my own prayers and those of my allies, who now with seven armies behind their seven spears have set their blockade around the plain of Thebes. One such is swift-speared Amphiaraus, a matchless warrior, and a matchless diviner;

> Greek: ἔπειτα κἀπὸ μάντεων ταύτῃ κλύω.
ἐπεὶ γὰρ ἦλθον Ἄργος ἐς τὸ Δωρικόν,
λαβὼν Ἄδραστον πενθερόν, ξυνωμότας
ἔστησʼ ἐμαυτῷ γῆς ὅσοιπερ Ἀπίας
πρῶτοι καλοῦνται καὶ τετίμηνται δόρει,
ὅπως τὸν ἑπτάλογχον ἐς Θήβας στόλον
ξὺν τοῖσδʼ ἀγείρας ἢ θάνοιμι πανδίκως
ἢ τοὺς τάδʼ ἐκπράξαντας ἐκβάλοιμι γῆς.
εἶεν· τί δῆτα νῦν ἀφιγμένος κυρῶ;
σοὶ προστροπαίους, ὦ πάτερ, λιτὰς ἔχων
αὐτός τʼ ἐμαυτοῦ ξυμμάχων τε τῶν ἐμῶν,
οἳ νῦν σὺν ἑπτὰ τάξεσιν σὺν ἑπτά τε
λόγχαις τὸ Θήβης πέδιον ἀμφεστᾶσι πᾶν·
οἷος δορυσσοῦς Ἀμφιάρεως, τὰ πρῶτα μὲν
δόρει κρατύνων, πρῶτα δʼ οἰωνῶν ὁδοῖς·

[¶28] then comes the son of Oeneus, Aetolian Tydeus; Eteoclus is third, of Argive birth; the fourth, Hippomedon, is sent by Talaos, his father; while Capaneus, the fifth, boasts that he will burn Thebes to the ground with fire; and sixth, Arcadian Parthenopaeus rushes to the war.

> Greek: ὁ δεύτερος δʼ Αἰτωλὸς Οἰνέως τόκος
Τυδεύς. τρίτος δʼ Ἐτέοκλος, Ἀργεῖος γεγώς·
τέταρτον Ἱππομέδοντʼ ἀπέστειλεν πατὴρ
Ταλαός· ὁ πέμπτος δʼ εὔχεται κατασκαφῇ
Καπανεὺς τὸ Θήβης ἄστυ δῃώσειν πυρί·

[¶29] He is named for that virgin of long ago from whose marriage in later time he was born, the trusty son of Atalanta. Last come I, your son—or if not yours, then the offspring of an evil fate, but yours at least in name—
leading the fearless army of Argos to Thebes. It is we who implore you, father, every one of us, by your daughters here and by your soul, begging you to forgo your fierce anger against me, as I go forth to punish my brother,
who has expelled me and robbed me of my fatherland. For if anything trustworthy comes from oracles, they said that whoever you join with in alliance will have victorious strength. Then, by the streams of water and gods of our race, I ask you to listen and to yield.
I am a beggar and a stranger, as you are yourself; by paying court to others both you and I have a home, obtaining by lot the same fortune. But he is tyrant at home—wretched me!—and in his pride laughs at you and me alike.

> Greek: ἕκτος δὲ Παρθενοπαῖος Ἀρκὰς ὄρνυται,
ἐπώνυμος τῆς πρόσθεν ἀδμήτης χρόνῳ
μητρὸς λοχευθείς, πιστὸς Ἀταλάντης γόνος·
ἐγὼ δὲ σός, κεἰ μὴ σός, ἀλλὰ τοῦ κακοῦ
πότμου φυτευθείς, σός γέ τοι καλούμενος,
ἄγω τὸν Ἄργους ἄφοβον ἐς Θήβας στρατόν.
οἵ σʼ ἀντὶ παίδων τῶνδε καὶ ψυχῆς, πάτερ,
ἱκετεύομεν ξύμπαντες ἐξαιτούμενοι
μῆνιν βαρεῖαν εἰκαθεῖν ὁρμωμένῳ
τῷδʼ ἀνδρὶ τοὐμοῦ πρὸς κασιγνήτου τίσιν,
ὅς μʼ ἐξέωσε κἀπεσύλησεν πάτρας.
εἰ γάρ τι πιστόν ἐστιν ἐκ χρηστηρίων,
οἷς ἂν σὺ προσθῇ, τοῖσδʼ ἔφασκʼ εἶναι κράτος.
πρὸς νῦν σε κρηνῶν καὶ θεῶν ὁμογνίων
αἰτῶ πιθέσθαι καὶ παρεικαθεῖν, ἐπεὶ
πτωχοὶ μὲν ἡμεῖς καὶ ξένοι, ξένος δὲ σύ.
ἄλλους δὲ θωπεύοντες οἰκοῦμεν σύ τε
κἀγώ, τὸν αὐτὸν δαίμονʼ ἐξειληχότες.
ὁ δʼ ἐν δόμοις τύραννος, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,
κοινῇ καθʼ ἡμῶν ἐγγελῶν ἁβρύνεται·

[¶30] But if you join as ally to my purpose, with little trouble or time I will scatter his strength to the winds, so that I will bring you home and set you in your own house, and set me in mine, when I have cast him out by force. If you are with me, then I can make this boast; but without you
I cannot even return alive.

> Greek: ὅν, εἰ σὺ τἠμῇ ξυμπαραστήσει φρενί,
βραχεῖ σὺν ὄγκῳ καὶ χρόνῳ διασκεδῶ.
ὥστʼ ἐν δόμοισι τοῖσι σοῖς στήσω σʼ ἄγων.
στήσω δʼ ἐμαυτόν, κεῖνον ἐκβαλὼν βίᾳ.
καὶ ταῦτα σοῦ μὲν ξυνθέλοντος ἔστι μοι
κομπεῖν, ἄνευ σοῦ δʼ οὐδὲ σωθῆναι σθένω.

[¶31] Chorus:
For the sake of him who has sent this man, Oedipus, speak what seems good to you, before you send him away.

> Greek: Χορός:
τὸν ἄνδρα τοῦ πέμψαντος οὕνεκʼ, Οἰδίπους
εἰπὼν ὁποῖα ξύμφορʼ ἔκπεμψαι πάλιν.

[¶32] Oedipus:
Guardians of this land, if it were not Theseus who had sent him here to me, thinking it just that he should hear my response,
then never would he have heard my voice of prophecy. But now he will be graced with it, before he goes, and hear from me such words as never will gladden his life.
Worst of men, when you had the scepter and the throne, which now your brother has in Thebes, you drove me, your own father, into exile; and by making me an exile you caused me to wear this clothing at whose sight you weep, now that you have come to the same state of misery as I.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἀλλʼ εἰ μέν, ἄνδρες, τῆσδε δημοῦχοι χθονός
μὴ ʼτύγχανʼ αὐτὸν δεῦρο προσπέμψας ἐμοὶ
Θησεύς, δικαιῶν ὥστʼ ἐμοῦ κλύειν λόγους,
οὔ τἄν ποτʼ ὀμφῆς τῆς ἐμῆς ἐπῄσθετο·
νῦν δʼ ἀξιωθεὶς εἶσι κἀκούσας γʼ ἐμοῦ
τοιαῦθʼ ἃ τὸν τοῦδʼ οὔ ποτʼ εὐφρανεῖ βίον·
ὅς γʼ, ὦ κάκιστε, σκῆπτρα καὶ θρόνους ἔχων,
ἃ νῦν ὁ σὸς ξύναιμος ἐν Θήβαις ἔχει,
τὸν αὐτὸς αὑτοῦ πατέρα τόνδʼ ἀπήλασας
κἄθηκας ἄπολιν καὶ στολὰς ταύτας φορεῖν,
ἃς νῦν δακρύεις εἰσορῶν, ὅτʼ ἐν πόνῳ
ταὐτῷ βεβηκὼς τυγχάνεις κακῶν ἐμοί.

[¶33] The time for tears is past. I must bear this burden as long as I live, and keep you before my mind as a murderer. For it is you that have made me subject to this anguish; it is you that have thrust me out, and because of you I wander, begging my daily bread from strangers.

> Greek: οὐ κλαυστὰ δʼ ἐστίν, ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ μὲν οἰστέα
τάδʼ, ἕωσπερ ἂν ζῶ, σοῦ φονέως μεμνημένος·
σὺ γάρ με μόχθῳ τῷδʼ ἔθηκας ἔντροφον,
σύ μʼ ἐξέωσας, ἐκ σέθεν δʼ ἀλώμενος
ἄλλους ἐπαιτῶ τὸν καθʼ ἡμέραν βίον.

[¶34] And had these daughters not been born to me to be my comfort, in truth I would be dead, for lack of help from you. But now these girls preserve me; they are my nurses; they are men, not women, in sharing my toil. But you are from another and are no sons of mine.

> Greek: εἰ δʼ ἐξέφυσα τάσδε μὴ ʼμαυτῷ τροφοὺς
τὰς παῖδας, ἦ τἂν οὐκ ἂν ἦ, τὸ σὸν μέρος·
νῦν δʼ αἵδε μʼ ἐκσῴζουσιν, αἵδʼ ἐμαὶ τροφοί,
αἵδʼ ἄνδρες, οὐ γυναῖκες, εἰς τὸ συμπονεῖν·
ὑμεῖς δʼ ἀπʼ ἄλλου κοὐκ ἐμοῦ πεφύκατον.

[¶35] Therefore the divinity looks upon you—not yet as he soon will look, if indeed those armies of yours are moving against Thebes. There is no way in which you can ever overthrow that city. Before that you will fall, polluted by bloodshed, and so too your brother.

> Greek: τοιγάρ σʼ ὁ δαίμων εἰσορᾷ μὲν οὔ τί πω
ὡς αὐτίκʼ, εἴπερ οἵδε κινοῦνται λόχοι
πρὸς ἄστυ Θήβης. οὐ γὰρ ἔσθʼ ὅπως πόλιν
κείνην ἐρείψεις, ἀλλὰ πρόσθεν αἵματι
πεσεῖ μιανθεὶς χὼ σύναιμος ἐξ ἴσου.

[¶36] Such curses as my heart before now sent up against you both, I now invoke to fight for me, in order that you may think it fit to revere your parents and not to dishonor your father utterly, because he who begot such sons is blind. For my daughters here did not act in this way.

> Greek: τοιάσδʼ ἀρὰς σφῷν πρόσθε τʼ ἐξανῆκʼ ἐγὼ
νῦν τʼ ἀνακαλοῦμαι ξυμμάχους ἐλθεῖν ἐμοί,
ἵνʼ ἀξιῶτον τοὺς φυτεύσαντας σέβειν
καὶ μὴ ʼξατιμάζητον, εἰ τυφλοῦ πατρὸς
τοιώδʼ ἐφύτην· αἵδε γὰρ τάδʼ οὐκ ἔδρων.

[¶37] This supplication of yours, and this throne of yours, will lie in the power of my curses, if indeed Justice, revealed long ago, sits beside Zeus, to share his throne through sanction of primordial laws. But off to damnation with you, abhorred by me and disowned!
Take these curses which I call down on you, most evil of evil men: may you never defeat your native land, and may you never return to the valley of Argos; I pray that you die by a related hand, and slay him by whom you have been driven out. This is my prayer.
And I call on the hateful darkness of Tartarus that your father shares, to take you into another home; and I call on the divinities of this place, and I call on the god of war, who has set dreadful hatred in you both. Go with these words in your ear;
go and announce to all the Cadmeans, and to your own faithful allies, that Oedipus has distributed such portions to his sons.

> Greek: τοιγὰρ τὸ σὸν θάκημα καὶ τοὺς σοὺς θρόνους
κρατοῦσιν, εἴπερ ἐστὶν ἡ παλαίφατος
Δίκη ξύνεδρος Ζηνὸς ἀρχαίοις νόμοις.
σὺ δʼ ἔρρʼ ἀπόπτυστός τε κἀπάτωρ ἐμοῦ,
κακῶν κάκιστε, τάσδε συλλαβὼν ἀράς,
ἅς σοι καλοῦμαι, μήτε γῆς ἐμφυλίου
δόρει κρατῆσαι μήτε νοστῆσαί ποτε
τὸ κοῖλον Ἄργος, ἀλλὰ συγγενεῖ χερὶ
θανεῖν κτανεῖν θʼ ὑφʼ οὗπερ ἐξελήλασαι.
τοιαῦτʼ ἀρῶμαι καὶ καλῶ τὸ Ταρτάρου
στυγνὸν πατρῷον ἔρεβος, ὥς σʼ ἀποικίσῃ,
καλῶ δὲ τάσδε δαίμονας, καλῶ δʼ Ἄρη
τὸν σφῷν τὸ δεινὸν μῖσος ἐμβεβληκότα.
καὶ ταῦτʼ ἀκούσας στεῖχε, κἀξάγγελλʼ ἰὼν
καὶ πᾶσι Καδμείοισι τοῖς σαυτοῦ θʼ ἅμα
πιστοῖσι συμμάχοισιν, οὕνεκʼ Οἰδίπους
τοιαῦτʼ ἔνειμε παισὶ τοῖς αὑτοῦ γέρα.

[¶38] Chorus:
Polyneices, in your past travels I take no joy. Now go back with speed.

> Greek: Χορός:
Πολύνεικες, οὔτε ταῖς παρελθούσαις ὁδοῖς
ξυνήδομαί σοι, νῦν τʼ ἴθʼ ὡς τάχος πάλιν.

[¶39] Polyneices:
Alas, for my journey and my failed attempt! Alas, for my companions!
Such is the end of the road on which we set out from Argos—wretched me!—such an end, that I cannot even mention it to any of my companions or turn them back, but must go in silence to meet this fate.

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
οἴμοι κελεύθου τῆς τʼ ἐμῆς δυσπραξίας,
οἴμοι δʼ ἑταίρων· οἷον ἆρʼ ὁδοῦ τέλος
Ἄργους ἀφωρμήθημεν, ὦ τάλας ἐγώ,
τοιοῦτον οἷον οὐδὲ φωνῆσαί τινι
ἔξεσθʼ ἑταίρων, οὐδʼ ἀποστρέψαι πάλιν,
ἀλλʼ ὄντʼ ἄναυδον τῇδε συγκῦρσαι τύχῃ.

[¶40] But you, daughters of this man and my sisters, since you hear these hard curses of a father, do not—if this father’s curses be fulfilled and you find some way of return to Thebes—do not, I beg you by the gods, leave me dishonored,
but give me burial and due funeral rites. So the praise which you now win from this man here for your labors will be increased by another praise no less, through your care for me.

> Greek: ὦ τοῦδʼ ὅμαιμοι παῖδες, ἀλλʼ ὑμεῖς, ἐπεὶ
τὰ σκληρὰ πατρὸς κλύετε ταῦτʼ ἀρωμένου,
μή τοί με πρὸς θεῶν σφώ γʼ, ἐὰν αἱ τοῦδʼ ἀραὶ
πατρὸς τελῶνται καί τις ὑμῖν ἐς δόμους
νόστος γένηται, μή μʼ ἀτιμάσητέ γε,
ἀλλʼ ἐν τάφοισι θέσθε κἀν κτερίσμασιν.
καὶ σφῷν ὁ νῦν ἔπαινος, ὃν κομίζετον
τοῦδʼ, ἀνδρὸς οἷς πονεῖτον, οὐκ ἐλάσσονα
ἔτʼ ἄλλον οἴσει τῆς ἐμῆς ὑπουργίας.

[¶41] Antigone:
Polyneices, I beseech you, hear me in one thing!

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
Πολύνεικες, ἱκετεύω σε πεισθῆναί τί μοι.

[¶42] Polyneices:
What is it, dearest Antigone? Speak!

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
ὦ φιλτάτη, τὸ ποῖον, Ἀντιγόνη; λέγε.

[¶43] Antigone:
Turn your force back to Argos as quickly as may be, and do not destroy both yourself and your city.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
στρέψαι στράτευμʼ ἐς Ἄργος ὡς τάχιστά γε,
καὶ μὴ σέ τʼ αὐτὸν καὶ πόλιν διεργάσῃ.

[¶44] Polyneices:
No, it is not possible. For how could I lead the same force again, when once I had shrunk back?

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
ἀλλʼ οὐχ οἷόν τε· πῶς γὰρ αὖθις ἂν πάλιν
στράτευμʼ ἄγοιμι ταὐτόν. εἰσάπαξ τρέσας;

[¶45] Antigone:
But why, my brother, must your anger rise again? What profit will come to you from destroying your native land?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
τί δʼ αὖθις, ὦ παῖ, δεῖ σε θυμοῦσθαι; τί σοι
πάτραν κατασκάψαντι κέρδος ἔρχεται;

[¶46] Polyneices:
It is shameful to be in exile, and to be mocked in this way by my brother, when I am eldest-born.

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
αἰσχρὸν τὸ φεύγειν καὶ τὸ πρεσβεύοντʼ ἐμὲ
οὕτω γελᾶσθαι τοῦ κασιγνήτου πάρα.

[¶47] Antigone:
Do you see to what sure fulfillment the prophecies of this man are leading,
who declares mutual death for you two?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὁρᾷς τὰ τοῦδʼ οὖν ὡς ἐς ὀρθὸν ἐκφέρει
μαντεύμαθʼ, ὃς σφῷν θάνατον ἐξ ἀμφοῖν θροεῖ;

[¶48] Polyneices:
Yes, for he wishes it. But I must not yield.

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
χρῄζει γάρ· ἡμῖν δʼ οὐχὶ συγχωρητέα.

[¶49] Antigone:
Ah, wretched me! But who will dare follow you, when he hears what prophecies this man has uttered?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
οἴμοι τάλαινα· τίς δὲ τολμήσει κλύων
τὰ τοῦδʼ ἕπεσθαι τἀνδρός, οἷʼ ἐθέσπισεν;

[¶50] Polyneices:
I will not report ill-tidings; a good leader should tell the better news, and not the worse.

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
οὐκ ἀγγελοῦμεν φλαῦρʼ· ἐπεὶ στρατηλάτου
χρηστοῦ τὰ κρείσσω μηδὲ τἀνδεᾶ λέγειν.

[¶51] Antigone:
Is this then your fixed decision, my brother?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
οὕτως ἄρʼ, ὦ παῖ, ταῦτά σοι δεδογμένα;

[¶52] Polyneices:
Yes, and do not detain me. This path now will be my destiny, ill-fated and evil, because of my father here and his Furies. But as for you two,
may Zeus grant you good things, if you bring these things to completion for me when I am dead, since in life you will see me no more.

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
καὶ μή μʼ ἐπίσχῃς γʼ· ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ μὲν ἥδʼ ὁδὸς
ἔσται μέλουσα δύσποτμός τε καὶ κακὴ
πρὸς τοῦδε πατρὸς τῶν τε τοῦδʼ ἐρινύων·
σφῷν δʼ εὖ διδοίη Ζεύς, τάδʼ εἰ θανόντι μοι
τελεῖτʼ, ἐπεὶ οὔ μοι ζῶντί γʼ αὖθις ἕξετον.

[¶53] Now release me, and farewell; for nevermore will you behold me living.
Antigone:
Ah, wretched that I am!

> Greek: μέθεσθε δʼ ἤδη χαίρετόν τʼ· οὐ γάρ μʼ ἔτι
βλέποντʼ ἐσόψεσθʼ αὖθις.
Ἀντιγόνη:
ὦ τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.

[¶54] Polyneices:
Do not mourn for me.

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
μή τοί μʼ ὀδύρου.

[¶55] Antigone:
And who would not mourn you, brother, when you are hurrying off
to a death foreseen?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
καὶ τίς ἄν σʼ ὁρμώμενον
εἰς προὖπτον Ἅιδην οὐ καταστένοι, κάσι;

[¶56] Polyneices:
If it is fated, then I must die.

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
εἰ χρή, θανοῦμαι.

[¶57] Antigone:
No, no, listen to my prayer!

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
μὴ σύ γʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐμοὶ πιθοῦ.

[¶58] Polyneices:
Do not plead for what must not be.

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
μὴ πεῖθʼ ἃ μὴ δεῖ.

[¶59] Antigone:
Then I, indeed, am utterly wretched, if I must lose you!

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
δυστάλαινά τἄρʼ ἐγώ, εἴ σου στερηθῶ.

[¶60] Polyneices:
It rests with the divinity, this way or that. But as for you two,
I pray to the gods that you may never meet with evil; for in all men’s eyes you do not deserve to suffer. Polyneices exits.

> Greek: Πολυνείκης:
ταῦτα δʼ ἐν τῷ δαίμονι
καὶ τῇδε φῦναι χἀτέρᾳ. σφὼ δʼ οὖν ἐγὼ
θεοῖς ἀρῶμαι μή ποτʼ ἀντῆσαι κακῶν·
ἀνάξιαι γὰρ πᾶσίν ἐστε δυστυχεῖν.

[¶61] Chorus:
Behold, new ills of heavy fate have newly come from the blind stranger,
unless, perhaps, fate is finding its goal. I cannot say that a purpose of the divinities is ever vain. Time sees all things forever, and raises up some things,
then on the next day raises others back up again. The sky resounds! Zeus!
Thunder.

> Greek: Χορός:
νέα τάδε νεόθεν ἦλθέ μοι
κακὰ βαρύποτμὰ παρʼ ἀλαοῦ ξένου,
εἴ τι μοῖρα μὴ κιγχάνει.
μάταν γὰρ οὐδὲν ἀξίωμα δαιμόνων ἔχω φράσαι.
ὁρᾷ ὁρᾷ ταῦτʼ ἀεὶ χρόνος, τρέχων μὲν ἕτερα,
τὰ δὲ παρʼ ἦμαρ αὖθις αὔξων ἄνω.
ἔκτυπεν αἰθήρ, ὦ Ζεῦ.

[¶62] Oedipus:
Children, children! If there is any man still here, send him forth to bring back Theseus, excellent in all respects.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ τέκνα τέκνα, πῶς ἄν, εἴ τις ἔντοπος,
τὸν πάντʼ ἄριστον δεῦρο Θησέα πόροι;

[¶63] Antigone:
And what, father, is the purpose of your summons?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
πάτερ, τί δʼ ἐστὶ τἀξίωμʼ ἐφʼ ᾧ καλεῖς;

[¶64] Oedipus:
This winged thunder of Zeus will soon lead me to Hades. So send someone with speed.
Thunder.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
Διὸς πτερωτὸς ἥδε μʼ αὐτίκʼ ἄξεται
βροντὴ πρὸς Ἅιδην· ἀλλὰ πέμψαθʼ ὡς τάχος.

[¶65] Chorus:
Listen! With a louder noise this one crashes down unspeakably,
hurled by Zeus! The hair of my head stands up for fear, my soul is dismayed; for again the lightning flashes in the sky. What end will it release?
I fear it, for never does it fly forth in vain, or without serious results. O great Sky! O Zeus!

> Greek: Χορός:
μέγας, ἴδε, μάλʼ ὅδʼ ἐρείπεται
κτύπος ἄφατος διόβολος· ἐς δʼ ἄκραν
δεῖμʼ ὑπῆλθε κρατὸς φόβαν.
ἔπτηξα θυμόν· οὐρανία γὰρ ἀστραπὴ φλέγει πάλιν.
τί μὰν ἀφήσει τέλος; δέδοικα δʼ· οὐ γὰρ ἅλιον
ἀφορμᾷ ποτʼ, οὐκ ἄνευ ξυμφορᾶς.
ὦ μέγας αἰθήρ, ὦ Ζεῦ.

[¶66] Oedipus:
Children, the appointed end of life has reached this man; he can turn from it no more.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ὦ παῖδες, ἥκει τῷδʼ ἐπʼ ἀνδρὶ θέσφατος
βίου τελευτὴ κοὐκέτʼ ἔστʼ ἀποστροφή.

[¶67] Antigone:
How do you know? By what means do you understand this?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
πῶς οἶσθα; τῷ δὲ τοῦτο συμβαλὼν ἔχεις;

[¶68] Oedipus:
I know it well. But let some one go, I pray you, as quickly as he can, and bring back the lord of this land.
Thunder.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
καλῶς κάτοιδʼ· ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστά μοι μολὼν
ἄνακτα χώρας τῆσδέ τις πορευσάτω.

[¶69] Chorus:
Look! Look! Once again the piercing din is around us!

> Greek: Χορός:
ἔα ἔα, ἰδοὺ μάλʼ αὖθις ἀμφίσταται διαπρύσιος ὄτοβος.

[¶70] Be merciful, divinity, be merciful, if you are bringing anything of gloom for the land which is our mother! May I find you well disposed, and may I not, because I have cared for a man accursed, somehow obtain a favor without profit!
Lord Zeus, to you I cry!

> Greek: ἵλαος, ὦ δαίμων, ἵλαος εἴ τι γᾷ
ματέρι τυγχάνεις ἀφεγγὲς φέρων.
ἐναισίου δὲ σοῦ τύχοιμι, μηδʼ ἄλαστον ἄνδρʼ ἰδὼν
ἀκερδῆ χάριν μετάσχοιμί πως. Ζεῦ ἄνα σοὶ φωνῶ.

[¶71] Oedipus:
Is the man near? Will he find me still alive, children, and master of my senses?

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἆρʼ ἐγγὺς ἁνήρ; ἆρʼ ἔτʼ ἐμψύχου, τέκνα,
κιχήσεταί μου καὶ κατορθοῦντος φρένα;

[¶72] Antigone:
And what is the pledge that you would like to have firm in your mind?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
τί δʼ ἂν θέλοις τὸ πιστὸν ἐμφῦναι φρενί;

[¶73] Oedipus:
In return for his benefits,
I would grant him the fulfillment of the favor that I promised.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἀνθʼ ὧν ἔπασχον εὖ, τελεσφόρον χάριν
δοῦναί σφιν, ἥνπερ τυγχάνων ὑπεσχόμην.

[¶74] Chorus:
Hurry, my son, come to us! If you chance to be in the glade sacrificing an ox to the sea-god Poseidon,
then come! For the stranger thinks you worthy, you and your city and your friends, to receive just return for benefits. Hasten quickly, lord!
Enter Theseus.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἰὼ ἰὼ παῖ, βᾶθι βᾶθʼ, εἴτʼ ἄκρα,
περὶ γύαλʼ ἐναλίῳ Ποσειδωνίῳ θεῷ, τυγχάνεις
βούθυτον ἑστίαν ἁγίζων, ἱκοῦ.
ὁ γὰρ ξένος σε καὶ πόλισμα καὶ φίλους ἐπαξιοῖ
δικαίαν χάριν παρασχεῖν παθών.
[σπεῦσον] ἄϊσσʼ, ὦναξ.

[¶75] Theseus:
What din is this that once more rings forth from you all, from my people as clearly as from the stranger? Can a thunderbolt from Zeus be the cause, or rushing hail in its fierce onset? When the god sends such a storm, forebodings of every sort may find a place.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τίς αὖ παρʼ ὑμῶν κοινὸς ἠχεῖται κτύπος,
σαφὴς μὲν ἀστῶν, ἐμφανὴς δὲ τοῦ ξένου;
μή τις Διὸς κεραυνὸς ἤ τις ὀμβρία
χάλαζʼ ἐπιρράξασα; πάντα γὰρ θεοῦ
τοιαῦτα χειμάζοντος εἰκάσαι πάρα.

[¶76] Oedipus:
Lord, you have appeared at my desire, and to you some god granted noble fortune at this coming.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἄναξ, ποθοῦντι προυφάνης, καί σοι θεῶν
τύχην τις ἐσθλὴν τῆσδʼ ἔθηκε τῆς ὁδοῦ.

[¶77] Theseus:
And what new thing has now occurred, son of Laius?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τί δʼ ἐστίν, ὦ παῖ Λαΐου, νέορτον αὖ;

[¶78] Oedipus:
My life hangs in the balance; and I wish to die without cheating you and this city of the promises I made.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ῥοπὴ βίου μοι· καί σʼ ἅπερ ξυνῄνεσα
θέλω πόλιν τε τήνδε μὴ ψεύσας θανεῖν.

[¶79] Theseus:
And what is the proof of your fate that you depend on?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τῷ δʼ ἐκπέπεισαι τοῦ μόρου τεκμηρίῳ;

[¶80] Oedipus:
The gods themselves herald the news to me, nor do they cheat me of any of the appointed signs.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
αὐτοὶ θεοὶ κήρυκες ἀγγέλλουσί μοι,
ψεύδοντες οὐδὲν σῆμα τῶν προκειμένων.

[¶81] Theseus:
What makes these things clear? Tell me, old man.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
πῶς εἶπας, ὦ γεραιέ, δηλοῦσθαι τάδε;

[¶82] Oedipus:
The thunder, crash after crash; the lightning, flash after flash,
hurled from the unconquered hand.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
αἱ πολλὰ βρονταὶ διατελεῖς τὰ πολλά τε
στράψαντα χειρὸς τῆς ἀνικήτου βέλη.

[¶83] Theseus:
I am persuaded, for in much I find you a prophet whose voice is not false. Then say what must be done.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
πείθεις με· πολλὰ γάρ σε θεσπίζονθʼ ὁρῶ
κοὐ ψευδόφημα· χὤ τι χρὴ ποιεῖν λέγε.

[¶84] Oedipus:
I will expound myself, son of Aegeus, the treasures which will be laid up for this city, such as age can never hurt.

> Greek: Οἰδίπους:
ἐγὼ διδάξω, τέκνον Αἰγέως, ἅ σοι
γήρως ἄλυπα τῇδε κείσεται πόλει.

[¶85] Immediately, with no hand to guide me, I will lead to the place where I must die. But as to that place, never reveal it to another man, neither where it is hidden, nor in what region it lies, so that it may be an eternal defence for you, better than many shields, better than the spear of neighbors which brings relief.
But as for mysteries which speech may not profane, you will learn them yourself when you come to that place alone, since I cannot declare them either to any of these people, or even to my own children, though I love them.

> Greek: χῶρον μὲν αὐτὸς αὐτίκʼ ἐξηγήσομαι,
ἄθικτος ἡγητῆρος, οὗ με χρὴ θανεῖν.
τοῦτον δὲ φράζε μή ποτʼ ἀνθρώπων τινί,
μήθʼ οὗ κέκευθε μήτʼ ἐν οἷς κεῖται τόποις·
ὥς σοι πρὸ πολλῶν ἀσπίδων ἀλκὴν ὅδε
δορός τʼ ἐπακτοῦ γειτονῶν ἀεὶ τιθῇ.
ἃ δʼ ἐξάγιστα μηδὲ κινεῖται λόγῳ,
αὐτὸς μαθήσει, κεῖσʼ ὅταν μόλῃς μόνος·
ὡς οὔτʼ ἂν ἀστῶν τῶνδʼ ἂν ἐξείποιμί τῳ
οὔτʼ ἂν τέκνοισι τοῖς ἐμοῖς, στέργων ὅμως.

[¶86] Reserve them always to yourself, and when you reach the end of life, reveal them to your eldest son alone, and let him reveal them to his successor in turn forever. In this way you will keep this city unscathed by the men born of the Dragon’s teeth. Countless cities commit outrage
even though their neighbor commits no sin. For the gods are slow to punish, yet they are sure, when men scorn holiness and turn to frenzy. Do not desire this, son of Aegeus! But you know such things as these without my teaching.

> Greek: ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς αἰεὶ σῷζε, χὤταν εἰς τέλος
τοῦ ζῆν ἀφικνῇ, τῷ προφερτάτῳ μόνῳ
σήμαινʼ, ὁ δʼ αἰεὶ τὠπιόντι δεικνύτω.
χοὔτως ἀδῇον τήνδʼ ἐνοικήσεις πόλιν
σπαρτῶν ἀπʼ ἀνδρῶν· αἱ δὲ μυρίαι πόλεις,
κἂν εὖ τις οἰκῇ, ῥᾳδίως καθύβρισαν.
θεοὶ γὰρ εὖ μέν, ὀψὲ δʼ εἰσορῶσʼ, ὅταν
τὰ θεῖʼ ἀφείς τις εἰς τὸ μαίνεσθαι τραπῇ·
ὃ μὴ σύ, τέκνον Αἰγέως, βούλου παθεῖν.
τὰ μὲν τοιαῦτʼ οὖν εἰδότʼ ἐκδιδάσκομεν.

[¶87] Let us now set forth to that place—the divine summons urges me—and hesitate no longer.
As if suddenly inpired, he moves with slow but firm steps towards the left of the stage, beckoning the others onward.

> Greek: χῶρον δʼ, ἐπείγει γάρ με τοὐκ θεοῦ παρόν,
στείχωμεν ἤδη μηδʼ ἔτʼ ἐντρεπώμεθα.

[¶88] Children, follow me. For now in turn it is I that shine forth wondrously as a leader for you, as you were your father’s. Onward. Do not touch me, but
allow me unaided to find the sacred tomb where it is my fate to be buried in this land. This way, here—come this way! Hermes the Conductor and the goddess of the dead lead me in this direction. Light of day, no light to me, once you were mine,
but now my body feels you for the last time! For now I go to hide the end of my life in the house of Hades. But you, dearest of strangers, may you yourself be prosperous, and this land, and your followers. In your prosperity,
remember me in my death, and be fortunate evermore. He exits, followed by his daughters, Theseus, and attendants.

> Greek: ὦ παῖδες, ὧδʼ ἕπεσθʼ· ἐγὼ γὰρ ἡγεμὼν
σφῷν αὖ πέφασμαι καινός, ὥσπερ σφὼ πατρί.
χωρεῖτε καὶ μὴ ψαύετʼ, ἀλλʼ ἐᾶτέ με
αὐτὸν τὸν ἱερὸν τύμβον ἐξευρεῖν, ἵνα
μοῖρʼ ἀνδρὶ τῷδε τῇδε κρυφθῆναι χθονί.
τῇδʼ ὧδε, τῇδε βᾶτε· τῇδε γάρ μʼ ἄγει
Ἑρμῆς ὁ πομπὸς ἥ τε νερτέρα θεός.
ὦ φῶς ἀφεγγές, πρόσθε πού ποτʼ ἦσθʼ ἐμόν,
νῦν δʼ ἔσχατόν σου τοὐμὸν ἅπτεται δέμας.
ἤδη γὰρ ἕρπω τὸν τελευταῖον βίον
κρύψων παρʼ Ἅιδην. ἀλλά, φίλτατε ξένων,
αὐτός τε χώρα θʼ ἥδε πρόσπολοί τε σοὶ
εὐδαίμονες γένοισθε, κἀπʼ εὐπραξίᾳ
μέμνησθέ μου θανόντος εὐτυχεῖς ἀεί.

[¶89] Chorus:
If it is right for me with prayer to adore the Unseen Goddess and you, Lord of the Dead, then hear me, Aidoneus, Aidoneus!
Grant that without pain, without a fate arousing heavy grief, the stranger may pass to the all-concealing fields of the dead below, and to the Stygian house.

> Greek: Χορός:
εἰ θέμις ἐστί μοι τὰν ἀφανῆ θεὸν
καὶ σὲ λιταῖς σεβίζειν,
ἐννυχίων ἄναξ,
Αἰδωνεῦ Αἰδωνεῦ, λίσσωμαι
ἄπονα μήτʼ ἐπὶ βαρυαχεῖ
ξένον ἐξανύσαι
μόρῳ τὰν παγκευθῆ κάτω
νεκρῶν πλάκα καὶ Στύγιον δόμον.

[¶90] Many were the sorrows that came to him without cause, but a just divinity will lift him up again.

> Greek: πολλῶν γὰρ ἂν καὶ μάταν
πημάτων ἱκνουμένων
πάλιν σφε δαίμων δίκαιος αὔξοι.

[¶91] Chorus:
Goddesses of the nether world and unconquered beast
whose lair lies in the gates of many guests, you untamable Watcher of Hades, snarling from the cavern’s jaws, as rumor has always told! Hear me, Death, son of Earth and Tartarus!
May that Watcher leave a clear path for the stranger on his way to the nether fields of the dead! To you I call, giver of the eternal sleep.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ χθόνιαι θεαὶ σῶμά τʼ ἀνικάτου
θηρός, ὃν ἐν πύλαισι
ταῖσι πολυξένοις
εὐνᾶσθαι κνυζεῖσθαί τʼ ἐξ ἄντρων
ἀδάματον φύλακα παρʼ Ἁίδᾳ
λόγος αἰὲν ἔχει·
τόν, ὦ Γᾶς παῖ καὶ Ταρτάρου,
κατεύχομαι ἐν καθαρῷ βῆναι
ὁρμωμένῳ νερτέρας
τῷ ξένῳ νεκρῶν πλάκας·
σέ τοι κικλήσκω τὸν αἰένυπνον.

[¶92] Messenger:
Citizens, my news might be summed up most briefly thus: Oedipus is dead.
But the story of the happening cannot be told in brief words, as the deeds done there were not brief.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ἄνδρες πολῖται, ξυντομωτάτως, μὲν ἂν
τύχοιμι λέξας Οἰδίπουν ὀλωλότα·
ἃ δʼ ἦν τὰ πραχθέντʼ, οὔθʼ ὁ μῦθος ἐν βραχεῖ
φράσαι πάρεστιν οὔτε τἄργʼ ὅσʼ ἦν ἐκεῖ.

[¶93] Chorus:
Is he gone, the unfortunate man?

> Greek: Χορός:
ὄλωλε γὰρ δύστηνος;

[¶94] Messenger:
You may be sure that he has left this life.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ὡς λελοιπότα
κεῖνον τὸν ἀεὶ βίοτον ἐξεπίστασο.

[¶95] Chorus:
How? By a fate divine and painless, the poor man?

> Greek: Χορός:
πῶς; ἆρα θείᾳ κἀπόνῳ τάλας τύχῃ;

[¶96] Messenger:
In that you touch upon what is indeed worthy of wonder. How he departed from here, you yourself must know since you were here: with no one of his friends as guide, but rather with himself leading the way for us all.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
ταῦτʼ ἐστὶν ἤδη κἀποθαυμάσαι πρέπον.
ὡς μὲν γὰρ ἐνθένδʼ εἷρπε, καὶ σύ που παρὼν
ἔξοισθʼ, ὑφηγητῆρος οὐδενὸς φίλων,
ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς ἡμῖν πᾶσιν ἐξηγούμενος.

[¶97] When he had come to the Descending Way, which is bound by steps of bronze to earth’s deep roots, he paused at one of the many branching paths near the basin in the rock, where the faithful covenant of Theseus and Peirithous has its memorial.

> Greek: ἐπεὶ δʼ ἀφῖκτο τὸν καταρράκτην ὀδὸν
χαλκοῖς βάθροισι γῆθεν ἐρριζωμένον,
ἔστη κελεύθων ἐν πολυσχίστων μιᾷ,
κοίλου πέλας κρατῆρος, οὗ τὰ Θησέως
Περίθου τε κεῖται πίστʼ ἀεὶ ξυνθήματα.

[¶98] He stood midway between that basin and the Leaping stone, and between the hollow pear-tree and the marble tomb; then he sat down and loosened his filthy clothing. And then he called his daughters, and asked them to bring water from some flowing source, so that he might wash and make a drink-offering.

> Greek: ἀφʼ οὗ μέσος στὰς τοῦ τε Θορικίου πέτρου
κοίλης τʼ ἀχέρδου κἀπὸ λαΐνου τάφου,
καθέζετʼ· εἶτʼ ἔλυσε δυσπινεῖς στολάς.
κἄπειτʼ ἀΰσας παῖδας ἠνώγει ῥυτῶν
ὑδάτων ἐνεγκεῖν λουτρὰ καὶ χοάς ποθεν·

[¶99] They went to the hill which was in view, the hill of Demeter who guards the tender plants, and in a short time brought what their father had commanded. Then they washed him and dressed him, as is the custom. But when all his desire was fulfilled,
and nothing that he required was still undone, then Zeus of the Underworld sent forth his thunder, and the maidens shuddered as they heard. They fell weeping at their father’s knees, and did not cease from beating their breast, and from wailing loud.

> Greek: τὼ δʼ εὐχλόου Δήμητρος εἰς προσόψιον
πάγον μολοῦσαι τάσδʼ ἐπιστολὰς πατρὶ
ταχεῖ ʼπόρευσαν σῦν χρόνῳ, λουτροῖς τέ νιν
ἐσθῆτί τʼ ἐξήσκησαν ᾗ νομίζεται.
ἐπεὶ δὲ παντὸς εἶχε δρῶντος ἡδονὴν
κοὐκ ἦν ἔτʼ οὐδὲν ἀργὸν ὧν ἐφίετο,
κτύπησε μὲν Ζεὺς χθόνιος αἱ δὲ παρθένοι
ῥίγησαν, ὡς ἤκουσαν· ἐς δὲ γούνατα
πατρὸς πεσοῦσαι ʼκλαιον οὐδʼ ἀνίεσαν
στέρνων ἀραγμοὺς οὐδὲ παμμήκεις γόους.

[¶100] When he heard their sudden bitter cry, he put his arms around them and said: “My children, on this day your father no longer exists. Now I have perished utterly, and no longer will you bear the burden of tending me,”
“which was no light one, I well know, my children. Yet just one word turns all those toils to nothing: you have been treated as friends by no one more than by this man; and now you will have me with you no longer, through all your days to come.”

> Greek: ὁ δʼ ὡς ἀκούει φθόγγον ἐξαίφνης πικρόν,
πτύξας ἐπʼ αὐταῖς χεῖρας εἶπεν· ὦ τέκνα,
οὐκ ἔστʼ ἔθʼ ὑμῖν τῇδʼ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ πατήρ.
ὄλωλε γὰρ δὴ πάντα τἀμά, κοὐκέτι
τὴν δυσπόνητον ἕξετʼ ἀμφʼ ἐμοὶ τροφήν·
σκληρὰν μέν, οἶδα, παῖδες· ἀλλʼ ἓν γὰρ μόνον
τὰ πάντα λύει ταῦτʼ ἔπος μοχθήματα.
τὸ γὰρ φιλεῖν οὐκ ἔστιν ἐξ ὅτου πλέον
ἢ τοῦδε τἀνδρὸς ἔσχεθʼ, οὗ τητώμεναι
τὸ λοιπὸν ἤδη τὸν βίον διάζετον.

[¶101] In this way, clinging close to one another, the father and his daughters sobbed and wept. But when they came to the end of their crying, and the sound of wailing went forth no more, there was a silence; suddenly a voice called aloud to him, so that everyone
felt hair rising from the sudden terror. The god called him again and again: “Oedipus, Oedipus, why do you delay our going? Too long you have been lingering.” And when he perceived that he was called by the god,
he asked that lord Theseus should come to him; and when he did, he said: “Friend, give me the sworn pledge of your right hand for my children; and you, my daughters, for him. Promise never to betray them by your own free will, but always to accomplish whatever you think for their benefit.”
And he, as a man of noble spirit, without lamentation swore to keep that promise to the stranger. When Theseus had done this, straightway Oedipus felt for his children with blind hands, and said:

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
τοιαῦτʼ ἐπʼ ἀλλήλοισιν ἀμφικείμενοι
λύγδην ἔκλαιον πάντες. ὡς δὲ πρὸς τέλος
γόων ἀφίκοντʼ οὐδʼ ἔτʼ ὠρώρει βοή,
ἦν μὲν σιωπή· φθέγμα δʼ ἐξαίφνης τινὸς
θώϋξεν αὐτόν, ὥστε πάντας ὀρθίας
στῆσαι φόβῳ δείσαντας ἐξαίφνης τρίχας,
καλεῖ γὰρ αὐτὸν πολλὰ πολλαχῇ θεός·
ὦ οὗτος οὗτος, Οἰδίπους, τί μέλλομεν
χωρεῖν; πάλαι δὴ τἀπὸ σοῦ βραδύνεται.
ὁ δʼ ὡς ἐπῄσθετʼ ἐκ θεοῦ καλούμενος,
αὐδᾷ μολεῖν οἱ γῆς ἄνακτα Θησέα.
κἀπεὶ προσῆλθεν, εἶπεν· ὦ φίλον κάρα,
δός μοι χερὸς σῆς πίστιν ὁρκίαν τέκνοις,
ὑμεῖς τε, παῖδες, τῷδε· καὶ καταίνεσον
μήποτε προδώσειν τάσδʼ ἑκών, τελεῖν δʼ ὅσʼ ἂν
μέλλῃς φρονῶν εὖ ξυμφέροντʼ αὐτοῖς ἀεί.
ὁ δʼ, ὡς ἀνὴρ γενναῖος, οὐκ οἴκτου μέτα
κατῄνεσεν τάδʼ ὅρκιος δράσειν ξένῳ.
ὅπως δὲ ταῦτʼ ἔδρασεν, εὐθὺς Οἰδίπους
ψαύσας ἀμαυραῖς χερσὶν ὧν παίδων λέγει·

[¶102] “Children, you must bear up nobly in your hearts and depart from this place; do not consider it just to look upon what is not right, or to hear such speech as you may not hear. Go in haste; let only Theseus be entitled to remain to learn of those things which will be done.”

> Greek: ὦ παῖδε, τλάσας χρὴ τὸ γενναῖον φρενὶ
χωρεῖν τόπων ἐκ τῶνδε, μηδʼ ἃ μὴ θέμις
λεύσσειν δικαιοῦν μηδὲ φωνούντων κλύειν,
ἀλλʼ ἕρπεθʼ ὡς τάχιστα· πλὴν ὁ κύριος
Θησεὺς παρέστω μανθάνων τὰ δρώμενα.

[¶103] So he spoke, and everyone of us listened; with streaming tears and mourning we followed the maidens away. But when we had gone off, very soon we looked back and saw that Oedipus was nowhere any more and our lord was alone,
holding his hand in front of his face to screen his eyes, as if he had seen some terrifying sight, one that no one could endure to behold. And then after a short time,
we saw him adore together the earth and Olympus of the gods in the same prayer. But by what fate Oedipus perished, no man can tell, except Theseus alone. It was no fiery thunderbolt of the god that removed him,
nor any rising of whirlwind from the sea; it was either an escort from the gods, or else the dark world of the dead kindly split open to receive him. The man passed away without lamentation or sickness or suffering, and beyond all mortal men he was wondrous.
And if in anyone’s eyes I seem to speak senselessly, I would not try to win his belief when he counts me senseless.

> Greek: τοσαῦτα φωνήσαντος εἰσηκούσαμεν
ξύμπαντες· ἀστακτὶ δὲ σὺν ταῖς παρθένοις
στένοντες ὡμαρτοῦμεν. ὡς δʼ ἀπήλθομεν,
χρόνῳ βραχεῖ στραφέντες ἐξαπείδομεν
τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν μὲν οὐδαμοῦ παρόντʼ ἔτι,
ἄνακτα δʼ αὐτὸν ὀμμάτων ἐπίσκιον
χεῖρʼ ἀντέχοντα κρατός, ὡς δεινοῦ τινος
φόβου φανέντος οὐδʼ ἀνασχετοῦ βλέπειν.
ἔπειτα μέντοι βαιὸν οὐδὲ σὺν χρόνῳ
ὁρῶμεν αὐτὸν γῆν τε προσκυνοῦνθʼ ἅμα
καὶ τὸν θεῶν Ὄλυμπον ἐν ταὐτῷ λόγῳ.
μόρῳ δʼ ὁποίῳ κεῖνος ὤλετʼ, οὐδʼ ἂν εἷς
θνητῶν φράσειε, πλὴν τὸ Θησέως κάρα.
οὐ γάρ τις αὐτὸν οὔτε πυρφόρος θεοῦ
κεραυνὸς ἐξέπραξεν οὔτε ποντία
θύελλα κινηθεῖσα τῷ τότʼ ἐν χρόνῳ,
ἀλλʼ ἤ τις ἐκ θεῶν πομπὸς ἢ τὸ νερτέρων
εὔνουν διαστὰν γῆς ἀλύπητον βάθρον.
ἁνὴρ γὰρ οὐ στενακτὸς οὐδὲ σὺν νόσοις
ἀλγεινὸς ἐξεπέμπετʼ, ἀλλʼ εἴ τις βροτῶν
θαυμαστός. εἰ δὲ μὴ δοκῶ φρονῶν λέγειν,
οὐκ ἂν παρείμην οἷσι μὴ δοκῶ φρονεῖν.

[¶104] Chorus:
Where are his daughters and the escort of their friends?

> Greek: Χορός:
ποῦ δʼ αἵ τε παῖδες χοἰ προπέμψαντες φίλων;

[¶105] Messenger:
Not far away; the sounds of mourning show plainly that they are approaching.

> Greek: Ἄγγελος:
αἵδʼ οὐχ ἑκάς· γόων γὰρ οὐκ ἀσήμονες
φθόγγοι σφε σημαίνουσι δεῦρʼ ὁρμωμένας.

[¶106] Antigone:
Ah, me, ah, me! Now, indeed, is it for us to bewail in full the curse on our blood—ill-fated sisters as we are—deriving from our father! In former time we bore the long toil without pause,
and now at the last we bring to tell a sight and experience that baffle reason.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
αἰαῖ, φεῦ, ἔστιν ἔστι νῷν δὴ
οὐ τὸ μέν, ἄλλο δὲ μή, πατρὸς ἔμφυτον
ἄλαστον αἷμα δυσμόροιν στενάζειν,
ᾧτινι τὸν πολὺν
ἄλλοτε μὲν πόνον ἔμπεδον εἴχομεν,
ἐν πυμάτῳ δʼ ἀλόγιστα παροίσομεν
ἰδόντε καὶ παθόντε.

[¶107] Chorus:
What is it?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δʼ ἔστιν;

[¶108] Antigone:
It is possible to conjecture, friends.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἔστιν μὲν εἰκάσαι, φίλοι.

[¶109] Chorus:
He is gone?

> Greek: Χορός:
βέβηκεν;

[¶110] Antigone:
Precisely in the way you could most wish for: indeed, in a way in which neither Ares took him, nor the sea,
but instead he was snatched away to the fields which no one may see, by some swift, strange doom. Wretched me! For us a night like death has descended on our eyes;

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὡς μάλιστʼ ἂν ἐν πόθῳ λάβοις.
τί γάρ, ὅτῳ μήτʼ Ἄρης
μήτε πόντος ἀντέκυρσεν,
ἄσκοποι δὲ πλάκες ἔμαρψαν
ἐν ἀφανεῖ τινι μόρῳ φερόμενον.
τάλαινα· νῶν δʼ ὀλεθρία
νὺξ ἐπʼ ὄμμασιν βέβακε.

[¶111] how shall we find our hard livelihood, roaming to some far land, or on the waves of the sea?
Ismene:
I do not know. If only murderous Hades would join me in death to my aged father!
Wretched me! I cannot live the life that must be mine.

> Greek: πῶς γὰρ ἤ τινʼ ἀπίαν
γᾶν ἢ πόντιον κλύδωνʼ ἀλώμεναι, βίου δύσοιστον ἕξομεν τροφάν;
Ἰσμήνη:
οὐ κάτοιδα. κατά με φόνιος
Ἀΐδας ἕλοι πατρὶ ξυνθανεῖν γεραιῷ
τάλαιναν, ὡς ἔμοιγʼ ὁ μέλλων βίος οὐ βιωτός.

[¶112] Chorus:
Best of daughters, you both must bear the will of the gods. Do not be inflamed with too much grief;
what you have encountered is not to be blamed.

> Greek: Χορός:
ὦ διδύμα τέκνων ἀρίστα,
τὸ φέρον ἐκ θεοῦ φέρειν,
μηδὲν ἄγαν φλέγεσθον· οὔ τοι κατάμεμπτʼ ἔβητον.

[¶113] Antigone:
There is longing even for woes. What was in no way dear was dear, so long as I held him in my embrace.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
πόθος τοὶ καὶ κακῶν ἄρʼ ἦν τις.

[¶114] Father, Dear, clothed in the darkness of the underworld forever! Never in your absence will you not be dear to me and to my sister here.

> Greek: καὶ γὰρ ὃ μηδαμὰ δὴ φίλον ἦν φίλον,
ὁπότε γε καὶ τὸν ἐν χεροῖν κατεῖχον.
ὦ πάτερ, ὦ φίλος,
ὦ τὸν ἀεὶ κατὰ γᾶς σκότον εἱμένος·

[¶115] Chorus:
He fared—

> Greek: οὐδέ γʼ ἔνερθʼ ἀφίλητος ἐμοί ποτε
καὶ τᾷδε μὴ κυρήσῃς.
Χορός:
ἔπραξεν;

[¶116] Antigone:
He fared as he desired.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἔπραξεν οἷον ἤθελεν.

[¶117] Chorus:
In what way?

> Greek: Χορός:
τὸ ποῖον;

[¶118] Antigone:
He died on the foreign ground that he desired; he has his well-shaded bed beneath the ground for ever; and he did not leave behind unwept sorrow. With these weeping eyes, father, I lament you;
nor do I know how in my wretchedness I must still my grief for you that is so immense. Alas! You wanted to die in a foreign land, but you died without me near.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἇς ἔχρῃζε γᾶς ἐπὶ ξένας
ἔθανε· κοίταν δʼ ἔχει
νέρθεν εὐσκίαστον αἰέν,
οὐδὲ πένθος ἔλιπʼ ἄκλαυτον.
ἀνὰ γὰρ ὄμμα σε τόδʼ, ὦ πάτερ, ἐμὸν
στένει δακρῦον, οὐδʼ ἔχω
πῶς με χρὴ τὸ σὸν τάλαιναν
ἀφανίσαι τοσόνδʼ ἄχος.
ὤμοι, γᾶς ἐπὶ ξένας θανεῖν ἔχρῃζες ἀλλʼ
ἔρημος ἔθανες ὧδέ μοι.

[¶119] Ismene:
Wretched me! What fate
awaits you and me, dear, orphaned as we are of our father?

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ὦ τάλαινα, τίς ἄρα με πότμος αὖθις ὧδʼ
⟨… ⟩
⟨… ⟩
ἐπαμμένει σέ τʼ, ὦ φίλα, τὰς πατρὸς ὧδʼ ἐρήμας;

[¶120] Chorus:
Cease from your grief, dear girls, since his end is blessed. No one is beyond the reach of evil.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ ὀλβίως γʼ ἔλυσεν
τὸ τέλος, ὦ φίλαι, βίου,
λήγετε τοῦδʼ ἄχους· κακῶν γὰρ δυσάλωτος οὐδείς.

[¶121] Antigone:
Dear, let us hasten back.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
πάλιν, φίλα, συθῶμεν.
Ἰσμήνη:
ὡς τί ῥέξομεν;

[¶122] Ismene.:
To do what deed?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἵμερος ἔχει με.
Ἰσμήνη:
τίς;

[¶123] Antigone:
A longing fills my soul—
Ismene.:
For what?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
τὰν χθόνιον ἑστίαν ἰδεῖν
Ἰσμήνη:
τίνος;
Ἀντιγόνη:
πατρός, τάλαινʼ ἐγώ.

[¶124] Antigone:
To see the netherworld home.
Ismene.:
Of whom?
Antigone:
Wretched me! Of our father.
Ismene.:
And how can this be right?
Surely you understand?
Antigone:
Why this rebuke?

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
θέμις δὲ πῶς τάδʼ ἐστί; μῶν
οὐχ ὁρᾷς;
Ἀντιγόνη:
τί τόδε ἐπέπληξας;

[¶125] Ismene.:
And surely you know this, too—
Antigone:
What more would you tell me?

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
καὶ τόδʼ, ὡς
Ἀντιγόνη:
τί τόδε μάλʼ αὖθις;

[¶126] Ismene:
That he perished without a tomb, apart from everyone.

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
ἄταφος ἔπιτνε δίχα τε παντός.

[¶127] Antigone:
Lead me there, and then kill me, too.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἄγε με, καὶ τότʼ ἐπενάριξον.

[¶128] Ismene:
Unhappy me! Abandoned and helpless,
where am I now to live my wretched life?

> Greek: Ἰσμήνη:
αἰαῖ, δυστάλαινα, ποῦ δῆτʼ
αὖθις ὧδʼ ἔρημος ἄπορος
αἰῶνα τλάμονʼ ἕξω;

[¶129] Chorus:
Dear girls, do not be afraid.

> Greek: Χορός:
φίλαι, τρέσητε μηδέν.
Ἀντιγόνη:
ἀλλὰ ποῖ φύγω;

[¶130] Antigone:
But where shall I flee?
Chorus:
Already a refuge has been found—
Oedipus:
What do you mean?

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ πάρος ἀπέφυγε
Ἀντιγόνη:
τί;

[¶131] Chorus:
—That no harm befall you.

> Greek: Χορός:
τὰ σφῷν τὸ μὴ πίτνειν κακῶς.

[¶132] Antigone:
I feel—

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
φρονῶ.

[¶133] Chorus:
What do you think?

> Greek: Χορός:
τί δῆθʼ ὅπερ νοεῖς;

[¶134] Antigone:
How we are to go home, I cannot tell.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὅπως μολούμεθʼ ἐς δόμους,
οὐκ ἔχω.

[¶135] Chorus:
Do not seek to go.

> Greek: Χορός:
μηδέ γε μάτευε.

[¶136] Antigone:
Trouble surrounds us.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
μόγος ἔχει.

[¶137] Chorus:
And previously it bore heavily.

> Greek: Χορός:
καὶ πάρος ἐπεῖχε.

[¶138] Antigone:
Then it was desperate, but now even crueler.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
τοτὲ μὲν ἄπορα, τοτὲ δʼ ὕπερθεν.

[¶139] Chorus:
Vast, then, is the sea of your troubles.

> Greek: Χορός:
μέγʼ ἄρα πέλαγος ἐλάχετόν τι.

[¶140] Antigone:
Alas, alas! Zeus, where shall we turn?
To what last hope does the divinity now drive us?
Enter Theseus.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ναὶ ναί.
Χορός:
ξύμφημι καὐτός.
Ἀντιγόνη:
αἰαῖ, ποῖ μόλωμεν, ὦ Ζεῦ;
ἐλπίδων γὰρ ἐς τίνʼ ἔτι με
δαίμων τανῦν γʼ ἐλαύνει;

[¶141] Theseus:
Cease your lament, children! Where the favor of the nether night is stored up, there is no room for sorrow; divine retribution would follow.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
παύετε θρήνων, παῖδες· ἐν οἷς γὰρ
χάρις ἡ χθονία ξύνʼ ἀπόκειται,
πενθεῖν οὐ χρή· νέμεσις γάρ.

[¶142] Antigone:
Son of Aegeus, we supplicate you!

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ὦ τέκνον Αἰγέως, προσπίτνομέν σοι.

[¶143] Theseus:
To obtain what desire, my children?

> Greek: Θησεύς:
τίνος, ὦ παῖδες, χρείας ἀνύσαι;

[¶144] Antigone:
We want look with our own eyes upon our father’s tomb.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
τύμβον θέλομεν προσιδεῖν αὐταὶ πατρὸς ἡμετέρου.
Θησεύς:
ἀλλʼ οὐ θεμιτόν.

[¶145] Theseus:
It is not right to go there.
Antigone:
What do you mean, lord, ruler of Athens?

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
πῶς εἶπας, ἄναξ, κοίρανʼ Ἀθηνῶν;

[¶146] Theseus:
Children, he told me that no one should draw near that place, or approach with prayer the sacred tomb in which he sleeps. He said that, so long as I saw to this, I would always keep the country free from pain.
The divinity heard me say these things, as did the all-seeing Oath of Zeus.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
ὦ παῖδες, ἀπεῖπεν ἐμοὶ κεῖνος
μήτε πελάζειν ἐς τούσδε τόπους
μήτʼ ἐπιφωνεῖν μηδένα θνητῶν
θήκην ἱεράν, ἣν κεῖνος ἔχει.
καὶ ταῦτά μʼ ἔφη πράσσοντα καλῶς
χώραν ἕξειν αἰὲν ἄλυπον.
ταῦτʼ οὖν ἔκλυεν δαίμων ἡμῶν
χὠ πάντʼ ἀΐων Διὸς Ὅρκος.

[¶147] Antigone:
If this is his intention, we must be content with it.
Send us to ancient Thebes, in case we may somehow stop the bloodshed that threatens our brothers.

> Greek: Ἀντιγόνη:
ἀλλʼ εἰ τάδʼ ἔχει κατὰ νοῦν κείνῳ,
ταῦτʼ ἂν ἀπαρκοῖ· Θήβας δʼ ἡμᾶς
τὰς ὠγυγίους πέμψον, ἐάν πως
διακωλύσωμεν ἰόντα φόνον
τοῖσιν ὁμαίμοις.

[¶148] Theseus:
I will do both this and whatever other favorable service I can, for you
and for the newly-departed under the earth, according to the gratitude I owe. I am bound to spare no pains.

> Greek: Θησεύς:
δράσω καὶ τάδε καὶ πάνθʼ ὁπόσʼ ἂν
μέλλω πράσσειν πρόσφορά θʼ ὑμῖν
καὶ τῷ κατὰ γῆς, ὃς νέον ἔρρει,
πρὸς χάριν· οὐ δεῖ μʼ ἀποκάμνειν.

[¶149] Chorus:
Cease; raise up the lamentation no further. These things are established firm and fixed.

> Greek: Χορός:
ἀλλʼ ἀποπαύετε μηδʼ ἐπὶ πλείω
θρῆνον ἐγείρετε·
πάντως γὰρ ἔχει τάδε κῦρος.