---
title: "Oedipus at Colonus · Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ Κολωνῷ"
author: "Sophocles"
translator: "Richard Jebb"
languages: [grc, en]
shelf: "Classical Greek"
section: 2 of 3
url: https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/2/
cite: "Sophocles, tr. Richard Jebb, Oedipus at Colonus · Οἰδίπους ἐπὶ Κολωνῷ, section 2. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/sophocles-oedipus-at-colonus/2/"
---

# 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.

## 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.