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

# 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.

## 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.