Messenger:But he did not father you, any more than I did.
Ἄγγελος:ἀλλʼ οὔ σʼ ἐγείνατʼ οὔτʼ ἐκεῖνος οὔτʼ ἐγώ.
Oedipus:How, then, did he call me his son?
Οἰδίπους:ἀλλʼ ἀντὶ τοῦ δὴ παῖδά μʼ ὠνομάζετο;
Messenger:Long ago he received you as a gift from my hands.
Ἄγγελος:δῶρόν ποτʼ, ἴσθι, τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν λαβών.
Oedipus:And yet he loved me so dearly, who came from another’s hand?
Οἰδίπους:κᾆθʼ ὧδʼ ἀπʼ ἄλλης χειρὸς ἔστερξεν μέγα;
Messenger:His former childlessness won him over.
Ἄγγελος:ἡ γὰρ πρὶν αὐτὸν ἐξέπεισʼ ἀπαιδία.
Oedipus:And had you bought me or found me by chance, when you gave me to him?
Οἰδίπους:σὺ δʼ ἐμπολήσας ἢ τυχών μʼ αὐτῷ δίδως;
Messenger:I found you in Cithaeron’s winding glens.
Ἄγγελος:εὑρὼν ναπαίαις ἐν Κιθαιρῶνος πτυχαῖς.
Oedipus:And why were you roaming those regions?
Οἰδίπους:ὡδοιπόρεις δὲ πρὸς τί τούσδε τοὺς τόπους;
Messenger:I was in charge of mountain flocks.
Ἄγγελος:ἐνταῦθʼ ὀρείοις ποιμνίοις ἐπεστάτουν.
Oedipus:What, you were a shepherd—a vagrant hireling?
Οἰδίπους:ποιμὴν γὰρ ἦσθα κἀπὶ θητείᾳ πλάνης;
Messenger:But your savior, my son, in that hour.
Ἄγγελος:σοῦ τʼ, ὦ τέκνον, σωτήρ γε τῷ τότʼ ἐν χρόνῳ.
Oedipus:And what was my pain when you took me in your arms?
Οἰδίπους:τί δʼ ἄλγος ἴσχοντʼ ἀγκάλαις με λαμβάνεις;
Messenger:The ankles of your feet might bear witness.
Ἄγγελος:ποδῶν ἂν ἄρθρα μαρτυρήσειεν τὰ σά·
Oedipus:Ah me, why do you speak of that old trouble?
Οἰδίπους:οἴμοι, τί τοῦτʼ ἀρχαῖον ἐννέπεις κακόν;
Messenger:I freed you when you had your ankles pinned together.
Ἄγγελος:λύω σʼ ἔχοντα διατόρους ποδοῖν ἀκμάς.
Oedipus:It was a dread brand of shame that I took from my cradle.
Οἰδίπους:δεινόν γʼ ὄνειδος σπαργάνων ἀνειλόμην.
Messenger:So much so that from that fortune you were called by that name which you still bear.
Ἄγγελος:ὥστʼ ὠνομάσθης ἐκ τύχης ταύτης ὃς εἶ.
Oedipus:Oh, in the name of the gods, was the deed my mother’s or father’s? Speak!
Οἰδίπους:ὦ πρὸς θεῶν, πρὸς μητρὸς ἢ πατρός; φράσον.
Messenger:I know not. He who gave you to me knows better of that than I.
Ἄγγελος:οὐκ οἶδʼ· ὁ δοὺς δὲ ταῦτʼ ἐμοῦ λῷον φρονεῖ.
Oedipus:What, you got me from another? You did not find me yourself?
Οἰδίπους:ἦ γὰρ παρʼ ἄλλου μʼ ἔλαβες οὐδʼ αὐτὸς τυχών;
Messenger:No. Another shepherd gave you to me.
Ἄγγελος:οὔκ, ἀλλὰ ποιμὴν ἄλλος ἐκδίδωσί μοι.
Oedipus:Who was he? Can you tell clearly?
Οἰδίπους:τίς οὗτος; ἦ κάτοισθα δηλῶσαι λόγῳ;
Messenger:I think he was said to be one of the household of Laius.
Ἄγγελος:τῶν Λαΐου δήπου τις ὠνομάζετο.
Oedipus:The king who ruled this country long ago?
Οἰδίπους:ἦ τοῦ τυράννου τῆσδε γῆς πάλαι ποτέ;
Messenger:The same. The man was a herdsman in his service.
Ἄγγελος:μάλιστα· τούτου τἀνδρὸς οὗτος ἦν βοτήρ.
Oedipus:Is he still alive, that I might see him?
Οἰδίπους:ἦ κἄστʼ ἔτι ζῶν οὗτος, ὥστʼ ἰδεῖν ἐμέ;
Messenger:You natives of this country should know best.
Ἄγγελος:ὑμεῖς γʼ ἄριστʼ εἰδεῖτʼ ἂν οὑπιχώριοι.
Oedipus:Is there any of you here present that knows the herdsman of whom he speaks, having seen him either in the pastures or here in town? Answer!
Οἰδίπους:ἔστιν τις ὑμῶν τῶν παρεστώτων πέλας,ὅστις κάτοιδε τὸν βοτῆρʼ ὃν ἐννέπει,εἴτʼ οὖν ἐπʼ ἀγρῶν εἴτε κἀνθάδʼ εἰσιδών;
The hour has come for these things to be revealed finally.
σημήναθʼ, ὡς ὁ καιρὸς ηὑρῆσθαι τάδε.
Chorus:I think he speaks of no other than the peasant you already wanted to see. But our lady Iocasta might best tell you that.
Χορός:οἶμαι μὲν οὐδένʼ ἄλλον ἢ τὸν ἐξ ἀγρῶν,ὃν κἀμάτευες πρόσθεν εἰσιδεῖν· ἀτὰρἥδʼ ἂν τάδʼ οὐχ ἥκιστʼ ἂν Ἰοκάστη λέγοι.
Oedipus:Lady, do you know the one whom we summoned just now?Is it of him that this man speaks?
Οἰδίπους:γύναι, νοεῖς ἐκεῖνον, ὅντινʼ ἀρτίωςμολεῖν ἐφιέμεσθα; τόνδʼ οὗτος λέγει;
Iocasta:Why ask of whom he spoke? Regard it not; waste not a thought on what he said; it would be vain.
Ἰοκάστη:τί δʼ ὅντινʼ εἶπε; μηδὲν ἐντραπῇς· τὰ δὲῥηθέντα βούλου μηδὲ μεμνῆσθαι μάτην.
Oedipus:It must not happen that, with such clues in my grasp, I fail to bring my birth to light.
Οἰδίπους:οὐκ ἂν γένοιτο τοῦθʼ ὅπως ἐγὼ λαβὼνσημεῖα τοιαῦτʼ οὐ φανῶ τοὐμὸν γένος.
Iocasta:For the gods’ sake, if you have any care for your own life, do not continue this search! My anguish is enough.
Ἰοκάστη:μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, εἴπερ τι τοῦ σαυτοῦ βίουκήδει, ματεύσῃς τοῦθʼ· ἅλις νοσοῦσʼ ἐγώ.
Oedipus:Be of good courage. Even if I should be found the son of a servile mother—a slave by three descents—you will not be proven baseborn.
Οἰδίπους:θάρσει· σὺ μὲν γὰρ οὐδʼ ἐὰν τρίτης ἐγὼμητρὸς φανῶ τρίδουλος, ἐκφανεῖ κακή.
Iocasta:Hear me, I implore you: do not do this.
Ἰοκάστη:ὅμως πιθοῦ μοι, λίσσομαι· μὴ δρᾶ τάδε.
Oedipus:I will not hear of not discovering the whole truth.
Οἰδίπους:οὐκ ἂν πιθοίμην μὴ οὐ τάδʼ ἐκμαθεῖν σαφῶς.
Iocasta:Yet I wish you well—I counsel you for the best.
Ἰοκάστη:καὶ μὴν φρονοῦσά γʼ εὖ τὰ λῷστά σοι λέγω.
Oedipus:These best counsels, then, vex my patience.
Οἰδίπους:τὰ λῷστα τοίνυν ταῦτά μʼ ἀλγύνει πάλαι.
Iocasta:Oh ill-fated man, may you never know who you are!
Ἰοκάστη:ὦ δύσποτμʼ, εἴθε μήποτε γνοίης ὃς εἶ.
Oedipus:Go, some one, fetch me the herdsman.
Οἰδίπους:ἄξει τις ἐλθὼν δεῦρο τὸν βοτῆρά μοι;
Leave this woman to glory in her princely stock.
ταύτην δʼ ἐᾶτε πλουσίῳ χαίρειν γένει.
Iocasta:Alas, alas, miserable man—that word alone can I say to you—and no other word ever again. She rushes into the palace.
Ἰοκάστη:ἰοὺ ἰού, δύστηνε· τοῦτο γάρ σʼ ἔχωμόνον προσειπεῖν, ἄλλο δʼ οὔποθʼ ὕστερον.
Chorus:Why has this woman gone, Oedipus, rushing off in wild grief? I feara storm of sorrow will soon break forth from this silence.
Χορός:τί ποτε βέβηκεν, Οἰδίπους, ὑπʼ ἀγρίαςᾄξασα λύπης ἡ γυνή; δέδοιχʼ ὅπωςμὴ ʼκ τῆς σιωπῆς τῆσδʼ ἀναρρήξει κακά.
Oedipus:Break forth what will! Be my race ever so lowly, I crave to learn it. That woman perhaps—for she is proud with more than a woman’s pride—feels ashamed of my lowly origin. But I, who hold myself son of Fortunethat gives good, will not be dishonored. She is the mother from whom I spring, and the months, my kinsmen, have marked me sometimes lowly, sometimes great. Such being my heritage, never more can I provefalse to it, or keep from searching out the secret of my birth.
Οἰδίπους:ὁποῖα χρῄζει ῥηγνύτω· τοὐμὸν δʼ ἐγώ,κεἰ σμικρόν ἐστι, σπέρμʼ ἰδεῖν βουλήσομαι.αὕτη δʼ ἴσως, φρονεῖ γὰρ ὡς γυνὴ μέγα,τὴν δυσγένειαν τὴν ἐμὴν αἰσχύνεται.ἐγὼ δʼ ἐμαυτὸν παῖδα τῆς Τύχης νέμωντῆς εὖ διδούσης οὐκ ἀτιμασθήσομαι.τῆς γὰρ πέφυκα μητρός· οἱ δὲ συγγενεῖςμῆνές με μικρὸν καὶ μέγαν διώρισαν.τοιόσδε δʼ ἐκφὺς οὐκ ἂν ἐξέλθοιμʼ ἔτιποτʼ ἄλλος, ὥστε μὴ ʼκμαθεῖν τοὐμὸν γένος.
Chorus:If I am a seer or wise of heart,Cithaeron, you will not fail—by heaven, you will not—to know at tomorrow’s full moon that Oedipus honors you as native to him, as his nurse, and his mother, and that you are celebrated in our dance and song,because you are well-pleasing to our prince. O Phoebus to whom we cry, may these things find favor in your sight!
Χορός:εἴπερ ἐγὼ μάντις εἰμὶ καὶ κατὰ γνώμαν ἴδρις,οὐ τὸν Ὄλυμπον ἀπείρων, ὦ Κιθαιρών,οὐκ ἔσει τὰν αὔριονπανσέληνον, μὴ οὐ σέ γε καὶ πατριώταν Οἰδίπουνκαὶ τροφὸν καὶ ματέρʼ αὔξειν,καὶ χορεύεσθαι πρὸς ἡμῶν, ὡς ἐπὶ ἦρα φέροντα τοῖς ἐμοῖς τυράννοις.ἰήϊε Φοῖβε, σοὶ δὲ ταῦτʼ ἀρέστʼ εἴη.
Chorus:Who was it, my son, who of the race whose years are many, that bore you in wedlock withPan, the mountain-roaming father? Or was it a bride of Loxias that bore you? For dear to him are all the upland pastures.
Χορός:τίς σε, τέκνον, τίς σʼ ἔτικτε τᾶν μακραιώνων ἄραΠανὸς ὀρεσσιβάτα πατρὸς πελασθεῖσʼ;ἢ σέ γʼ εὐνάτειρά τιςΛοξίου; τῷ γὰρ πλάκες ἀγρόνομοι πᾶσαι φίλαι·
Or perhaps it was Cyllene’s lord, or the Bacchants’ god, dweller on the hill-tops, that received you, a new-born joy, from one of the nymphs of Helicon, with whom he most often sports.
εἴθʼ ὁ Κυλλάνας ἀνάσσων,εἴθʼ ὁ Βακχεῖος θεὸς ναίων ἐπʼ ἄκρων ὀρέων σʼ εὕρημα δέξατʼ ἔκ τουΝυμφᾶν Ἑλικωνίδων, αἷς πλεῖστα συμπαίζει.
Oedipus:Elders, if it is right for me, who have never met the man, to guess, I think I see the herdsman we have been looking for for a long time. In his venerable old age he tallies with this stranger’s years, and moreover I recognize those who bring him, I think, as servants of mine.But perhaps you have an advantage in knowledge over me, if you have seen the herdsman before.
Οἰδίπους:εἰ χρή τι κἀμὲ μὴ συναλλάξαντά πω,πρέσβεις, σταθμᾶσθαι, τὸν βοτῆρʼ ὁρᾶν δοκῶ,ὅνπερ πάλαι ζητοῦμεν· ἔν τε γὰρ μακρῷγήρᾳ ξυνᾴδει τῷδε τἀνδρὶ σύμμετρος,ἄλλως τε τοὺς ἄγοντας ὥσπερ οἰκέταςἔγνωκʼ ἐμαυτοῦ· τῇ δʼ ἐπιστήμῃ σύ μουπρούχοις τάχʼ ἄν που, τὸν βοτῆρʼ ἰδὼν πάρος.
Chorus:Yes, I know him, be sure. He was in the service of Laius—trusty as any shepherd.The herdsman is brought in.
Χορός:ἔγνωκα γάρ, σάφʼ ἴσθι· Λαΐου γὰρ ἦνεἴπερ τις ἄλλος πιστὸς ὡς νομεὺς ἀνήρ.
Oedipus:I ask you first, Corinthian stranger, if this is the man you mean.
Οἰδίπους:σὲ πρῶτʼ ἐρωτῶ, τὸν Κορίνθιον ξένον, ἦ τόνδε φράζεις;
Messenger:He is, the one you are looking at.
Ἄγγελος:τοῦτον, ὅνπερ εἰσορᾷς.
Oedipus:You, old man—look this way and answer all that I ask—were you once in the service of Laius?
Οἰδίπους:οὗτος σύ, πρέσβυ, δεῦρό μοι φώνει βλέπωνὅσʼ ἄν σʼ ἐρωτῶ. Λαΐου ποτʼ ἦσθα σύ;
Servant:I was—not a bought slave, but reared in his house.
Θεράπων:ἦ δοῦλος οὐκ ὠνητός, ἀλλʼ οἴκοι τραφείς.
Oedipus:Employed in what labor, or what way of life?
Οἰδίπους:ἔργον μεριμνῶν ποῖον ἢ βίον τινά;
Servant:For the better part of my life I tended the flocks.
Θεράπων:ποίμναις τὰ πλεῖστα τοῦ βίου συνειπόμην.
Oedipus:And what regions did you most frequently haunt?
Οἰδίπους:χώροις μάλιστα πρὸς τίσι ξύναυλος ὤν;
Servant:Sometimes Cithaeron, sometimes the neighboring ground.
Θεράπων:ἦν μὲν Κιθαιρών, ἦν δὲ πρόσχωρος τόπος.
Oedipus:Are you aware of ever having seen this man in these parts?
Οἰδίπους:τὸν ἄνδρα τόνδʼ οὖν οἶσθα τῇδέ που μαθών;
Servant:Doing what? What man do you mean?
Θεράπων:τί χρῆμα δρῶντα; ποῖον ἄνδρα καὶ λέγεις;
Oedipus:This man here. Have you ever met him before?
Οἰδίπους:τόνδʼ ὃς πάρεστιν· ἢ ξυναλλάξας τί πω;
Servant:Not so that I could speak at once from memory.
Θεράπων:οὐχ ὥστε γʼ εἰπεῖν ἐν τάχει μνήμης ἄπο.
Messenger:And no wonder, master. But I will bring clear recollection to his ignorance. I am sure he knows well of the time we dwelled in the region of Cithaeronfor six month periods, from spring to Arcturus, he with two flocks, and I, his comrade, with one. And then for the winter I used to drive my flock to my own fold, and he took his to the fold of Laius.
Ἄγγελος:κοὐδέν γε θαῦμα, δέσποτʼ· ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ σαφῶςἀγνῶτʼ ἀναμνήσω νιν. εὖ γὰρ οἶδʼ ὅτικάτοιδεν, ἦμος τῷ Κιθαιρῶνος τόπῳ,ὁ μὲν διπλοῖσι ποιμνίοις, ἐγὼ δʼ ἑνί,ἐπλησίαζον τῷδε τἀνδρὶ τρεῖς ὅλουςἐξ ἦρος εἰς ἀρκτοῦρον ἑκμήνους χρόνους·χειμῶνα δʼ ἤδη τἀμά τʼ εἰς ἔπαυλʼ ἐγὼἤλαυνον οὗτός τʼ εἰς τὰ Λαΐου σταθμά.
Did any of this happen as I tell it, or did it not?
λέγω τι τούτων ἢ οὐ λέγω πεπραγμένον;
Servant:You speak the truth, though it was long ago.
Θεράπων:λέγεις ἀληθῆ, καίπερ ἐκ μακροῦ χρόνου.
Messenger:Come, tell me now: do you remember having given me a boy in those days, to be reared as my own foster-son?
Ἄγγελος:φέρʼ εἰπὲ νῦν, τότʼ οἶσθα παῖδά μοί τιναδούς, ὡς ἐμαυτῷ θρέμμα θρεψαίμην ἐγώ;
Servant:What now? Why do you ask the question?
Θεράπων:τί δʼ ἔστι; πρὸς τί τοῦτο τοὔπος ἱστορεῖς;
Messenger:This man, my friend, is he who then was young.
Ἄγγελος:ὅδʼ ἐστίν, ὦ τᾶν, κεῖνος ὃς τότʼ ἦν νέος.
Servant:Damn you! Be silent once and for all!
Θεράπων:οὐκ εἰς ὄλεθρον; οὐ σιωπήσας ἔσει;
Oedipus:Do not rebuke him, old man. Your words need rebuking more than his.
Οἰδίπους:ἆ, μὴ κόλαζε, πρέσβυ, τόνδʼ, ἐπεὶ τὰ σὰδεῖται κολαστοῦ μᾶλλον ἢ τὰ τοῦδʼ ἔπη.
Servant:And in what way, most noble master, do I offend?
Θεράπων:τί δʼ, ὦ φέριστε δεσποτῶν, ἁμαρτάνω;
Oedipus:In not telling of the boy about whom he asks.
Οἰδίπους:οὐκ ἐννέπων τὸν παῖδʼ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ.
Servant:He speaks without knowledge, but is busy to no purpose.
Θεράπων:λέγει γὰρ εἰδὼς οὐδέν, ἀλλʼ ἄλλως πονεῖ.
Oedipus:You will not speak with good grace, but will in pain.
Οἰδίπους:σὺ πρὸς χάριν μὲν οὐκ ἐρεῖς, κλαίων δʼ ἐρεῖς.
Servant:No, in the name of the gods, do not mistreat an old man.
Θεράπων:μὴ δῆτα, πρὸς θεῶν, τὸν γέροντά μʼ αἰκίσῃ.
Oedipus:Someone, quick—tie his hands him this instant!
Οἰδίπους:οὐχ ὡς τάχος τις τοῦδʼ ἀποστρέψει χέρας;
Servant:Alas, why? What do you want to learn?
Θεράπων:δύστηνος, ἀντὶ τοῦ; τί προσχρῄζων μαθεῖν;
Oedipus:Did you give this man the child about whom he asks?
Οἰδίπους:τὸν παῖδʼ ἔδωκας τῷδʼ ὃν οὗτος ἱστορεῖ;
Servant:I did. Would that I had perished that day!
Θεράπων:ἔδωκʼ· ὀλέσθαι δʼ ὤφελον τῇδʼ ἡμέρᾳ.
Oedipus:Well, you will come to that, unless you tell the honest truth.
Οἰδίπους:ἀλλʼ εἰς τόδʼ ἥξεις μὴ λέγων γε τοὔνδικον.
Servant:But if I speak I will be destroyed all the more.
Θεράπων:πολλῷ γε μᾶλλον, ἢν φράσω, διόλλυμαι.
Oedipus:This man is bent, I think, on more delays.
Οἰδίπους:ἁνὴρ ὅδʼ, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἐς τριβὰς ἐλᾷ.
Servant:No, no! I said before that I gave it to him.
Θεράπων:οὐ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ, ἀλλʼ εἶπον, ὡς δοίην, πάλαι.
Oedipus:Where did you get it from? From your own house, or from another?
Οἰδίπους:πόθεν λαβών; οἰκεῖον ἢ ʼξ ἄλλου τινός;
Servant:It was not my own: I received it from another.
Θεράπων:ἐμὸν μὲν οὐκ ἔγωγʼ, ἐδεξάμην δέ του.
Oedipus:From whom of the citizens here? From what home?
Οἰδίπους:τίνος πολιτῶν τῶνδε κἀκ ποίας στέγης;
Servant:For the love of the gods, master, ask no more!
Θεράπων:μὴ πρὸς θεῶν, μή, δέσποθʼ, ἱστόρει πλέον.
Oedipus:You are dead if I have to question you again.
Οἰδίπους:ὄλωλας, εἴ σε ταῦτʼ ἐρήσομαι πάλιν.
Servant:It was a child, then, of the house of Laius.
Θεράπων:τῶν Λαΐου τοίνυν τις ἦν γεννημάτων.
Oedipus:A slave? Or one of his own clan?
Οἰδίπους:ἦ δοῦλος ἢ κείνου τις ἐγγενὴς γεγώς;
Servant:Alas! I am on the brink of speaking the dreaded words.
Θεράπων:οἴμοι, πρὸς αὐτῷ γʼ εἰμὶ τῷ δεινῷ λέγειν.
Oedipus:And I of hearing: I must hear nevertheless.
Οἰδίπους:κἄγωγʼ ἀκούειν· ἀλλʼ ὅμως ἀκουστέον.
Servant:You must know then, that it was said to be his own child. But your lady within could say best how these matters lie.
Θεράπων:κείνου γέ τοι δὴ παῖς ἐκλῄζεθʼ· ἡ δʼ ἔσωκάλλιστʼ ἂν εἴποι σὴ γυνὴ τάδʼ ὡς ἔχει.
Oedipus:How? Did she give it to you?
Οἰδίπους:ἦ γὰρ δίδωσιν ἥδε σοι;
Servant:Yes, my lord.
Θεράπων:μάλιστʼ, ἄναξ.
Oedipus:For what purpose?
Οἰδίπους:ὡς πρὸς τί χρείας;
Servant:That I should do away with it.
Θεράπων:ὡς ἀναλώσαιμί νιν.
Oedipus:Her own child, the wretched woman?
Οἰδίπους:τεκοῦσα τλήμων;
Servant:Yes, from fear of the evil prophecies.
Θεράπων:θεσφάτων γʼ ὄκνῳ κακῶν.
Oedipus:What were they?
Οἰδίπους:ποίων;
Servant:The tale ran that he would slay his father.
Θεράπων:κτενεῖν νιν τοὺς τεκόντας ἦν λόγος.
Oedipus:Why, then, did you give him to this old man?
Οἰδίπους:πῶς δῆτʼ ἀφῆκας τῷ γέροντι τῷδε σύ;
Servant:Out of pity, master, thinking that he would carry him to another land, from where he himself came. But he saved him for the direst woe.For if you are what this man says, be certain that you were born ill-fated.
Θεράπων:κατοικτίσας, ὦ δέσποθʼ, ὡς ἄλλην χθόναδοκῶν ἀποίσειν, αὐτὸς ἔνθεν ἦν· ὁ δὲκάκʼ εἰς μέγιστʼ ἔσωσεν. εἰ γὰρ οὗτος εἶὅν φησιν οὗτος, ἴσθι δύσποτμος γεγώς.
Oedipus:Oh, oh! All brought to pass, all true. Light, may I now look on you for the last time—I who have been found to be accursed in birth,accursed in wedlock, accursed in the shedding of blood. He rushes into the palace.
Οἰδίπους:ἰοὺ ἰού· τὰ πάντʼ ἂν ἐξήκοι σαφῆ.ὦ φῶς, τελευταῖόν σε προσβλέψαιμι νῦν,ὅστις πέφασμαι φύς τʼ ἀφʼ ὧν οὐ χρῆν, ξὺν οἷς τʼοὐ χρῆν ὁμιλῶν, οὕς τέ μʼ οὐκ ἔδει κτανών.
Chorus:Alas, generations of mortals, how mere a shadow I count your life! Where, where is the mortal whoattains a happiness which is more than apparent and doomed to fall away to nothing? Your fate warns me—yours, unhappy Oedipus—to call noearthly creature blessed.
Χορός:ἰὼ γενεαὶ βροτῶν,ὡς ὑμᾶς ἴσα καὶ τὸ μηδὲν ζώσας ἐναριθμῶ.τίς γάρ, τίς ἀνὴρ πλέοντᾶς εὐδαιμονίας φέρειἢ τοσοῦτον ὅσον δοκεῖνκαὶ δόξαντʼ ἀποκλῖναι;τὸν σόν τοι παράδειγμʼ ἔχων,τὸν σὸν δαίμονα, τὸν σόν, ὦ τλᾶμον Οἰδιπόδα, βροτῶνοὐδὲν μακαρίζω·
Chorus:For he, O Zeus, shot his shaft with peerless skill, and won the prize of an all-prosperous fortune, having slain the maiden with crooked talons, who sang darkly.He arose for our land like a tower against death. And from that time, Oedipus, you have been called our king, and have been honored supremely, holding power in great Thebes.
Χορός:ὅστις καθʼ ὑπερβολὰντοξεύσας ἐκράτησε τοῦ πάντʼ εὐδαίμονος ὄλβου,ὦ Ζεῦ, κατὰ μὲν φθίσαςτὰν γαμψώνυχα παρθένονχρησμῳδόν, θανάτων δʼ ἐμᾷχώρᾳ πύργος ἀνέστα·ἐξ οὗ καὶ βασιλεὺς καλεῖἐμὸς καὶ τὰ μέγιστʼ ἐτιμάθης, ταῖς μεγάλαισιν ἐνΘήβαισιν ἀνάσσων.
Chorus:But now whose story is more grievous in men’s ears?
Χορός:τανῦν δʼ ἀκούειν τίς ἀθλιώτερος;
Who is a more wretched slave to fierce plagues and troubles, with all his life reversed? Alas, renowned Oedipus! The same bounteous harbor was sufficient for you, both as child and as father, to make your nuptial couch in. Oh, how can the soilin which your father sowed, unhappy man, have endured you in silence for so long?
τίς ἄταις ἀγρίαις, τίς ἐν πόνοιςξύνοικος ἀλλαγᾷ βίου;ἰὼ κλεινὸν Οἰδίπου κάρα,ἦ στέγας λιμὴναὑτὸς ἤρκεσενπαιδὶ καὶ πατρὶ θαλαμηπόλῳ πεσεῖν;πῶς ποτε πῶς ποθʼ αἱ πατρῷαί σʼ ἄλοκες φέρειν, τάλας,σῖγʼ ἐδυνάθησαν ἐς τοσόνδε;
Chorus:Time the all-seeing has found you out, against your will: he judges the monstrous marriage in whichparent and child have long been one. Alas, child of Laius, would that I had never seen you. I wail as one who pours a dirge from his lips.It was you who gave me new life, to speak directly, and through you darkness has fallen upon my eyes.A second messenger enters from the house.
Χορός:ἐφηῦρέ σʼ ἄκονθʼ ὁ πάνθʼ ὁρῶν χρόνος,δικάζει τʼ ἄγαμον γάμον πάλαιτεκνοῦντα καὶ τεκνούμενον.ἰώ, Λαΐειον ὦ τέκνον,εἴθε σʼ εἴθε σεμήποτʼ εἰδόμαν.δύρομαι γὰρ ὥσπερ ἰάλεμον χέωνἐκ στομάτων. τὸ δʼ ὀρθὸν εἰπεῖν, ἀνέπνευσά τʼ ἐκσέθενκαὶ κατεκοίμασα τοὐμὸν ὄμμα.
Second Messenger:You who are most honored in this land, what deeds you will hear, what deeds you will behold, what burden of sorrow will be yours,if, true to your race, you still care for the house of Labdacus. For I think that neither the Ister nor the Phasis could wash this house clean, so many are the ills that it shrouds, or will soon bring to light, ills wrought not unwittingly, but on purpose.And those griefs smart the most which are seen to be of our own choice.
Ἐξάγγελος:ὦ γῆς μέγιστα τῆσδʼ ἀεὶ τιμώμενοι,οἷʼ, ἔργʼ ἀκούσεσθʼ, οἷα δʼ εἰσόψεσθʼ, ὅσον δʼἀρεῖσθε πένθος, εἴπερ ἐγγενῶς ἔτιτῶν Λαβδακείων ἐντρέπεσθε δωμάτων.οἶμαι γὰρ οὔτʼ ἂν Ἴστρον οὔτε Φᾶσιν ἂννίψαι καθαρμῷ τήνδε τὴν στέγην, ὅσακεύθει, τὰ δʼ αὐτίκʼ εἰς τὸ φῶς φανεῖ κακὰἑκόντα κοὐκ ἄκοντα. τῶν δὲ πημονῶνμάλιστα λυποῦσʼ αἳ φανῶσʼ αὐθαίρετοι.
Chorus:Indeed the troubles which we knew before are far from being easy to bear. Besides them, what do you have to announce?
Χορός:λείπει μὲν οὐδʼ ἃ πρόσθεν εἴδομεν τὸ μὴ οὐβαρύστονʼ εἶναι· πρὸς δʼ ἐκείνοισιν τί φῄς;
Second Messenger:This is the shortest tale to tell and hear:our royal lady Iocasta is dead.
Ἐξάγγελος:ὁ μὲν τάχιστος τῶν λόγων εἰπεῖν τε καὶμαθεῖν, τέθνηκε θεῖον Ἰοκάστης κάρα.
Chorus:Alas, wretched lady! From what cause?
Χορός:ὦ δυστάλαινα, πρὸς τίνος ποτʼ αἰτίας;
Second Messenger:By her own hand. You will not suffer the worst part of the painful event, since you do not behold the events. Nevertheless, so far as my memory serves,you will learn that unhappy woman’s fate. When, frantic, she passed within the vestibule, she rushed straight towards her marriage couch, clutching her hair with the fingers of both hands. Once within the chamber,she dashed the doors together behind her, then called on the name of Laius, long since a corpse, thinking of that son, born long ago, by whose hand the father was slain, leaving the mother to breed accursed offspring with his own child. And she bewailed the marriage in which, wretched woman, she had given birth to a twofold brood,husband by husband, children by her child. And how she perished is more than I know. For with a shriek Oedipus burst in, and did not allow us to watch her woe until the end: on him, as he rushed around, our eyes were set.
Ἐξάγγελος:αὐτὴ πρὸς αὑτῆς. τῶν δὲ πραχθέντων τὰ μὲνἄλγιστʼ ἄπεστιν· ἡ γὰρ ὄψις οὐ πάρα.ὅμως δʼ, ὅσον γε κἀν ἐμοὶ μνήμης ἔνι,πεύσει τὰ κείνης ἀθλίας παθήματα.ὅπως γὰρ ὀργῇ χρωμένη παρῆλθʼ ἔσωθυρῶνος, ἵετʼ εὐθὺ πρὸς τὰ νυμφικὰλέχη, κόμην σπῶσʼ ἀμφιδεξίοις ἀκμαῖς.πύλας δʼ, ὅπως εἰσῆλθʼ, ἐπιρράξασʼ ἔσωκαλεῖ τὸν ἤδη Λάϊον πάλαι νεκρόν,μνήμην παλαιῶν σπερμάτων ἔχουσʼ, ὑφʼ ὧνθάνοι μὲν αὐτός, τὴν δὲ τίκτουσαν λίποιτοῖς οἷσιν αὐτοῦ δύστεκνον παιδουργίαν.γοᾶτο δʼ εὐνάς, ἔνθα δύστηνος διπλοῦςἐξ ἀνδρὸς ἄνδρα καὶ τέκνʼ ἐκ τέκνων τέκοι.χὤπως μὲν ἐκ τῶνδʼ οὐκέτʼ οἶδʼ ἀπόλλυται·βοῶν γὰρ εἰσέπαισεν Οἰδίπους, ὑφʼ οὗοὐκ ἦν τὸ κείνης ἐκθεάσασθαι κακόν,ἀλλʼ εἰς ἐκεῖνον περιπολοῦντʼ ἐλεύσσομεν.
To and fro he went, asking us to give him a sword, asking where he could find the wife who was no wife, but a mother whose womb had borne both him and his children. And in his frenzy a power greater than mortal man was his guide, for it was none of us mortals who were near.
φοιτᾷ γὰρ ἡμᾶς ἔγχος ἐξαιτῶν πορεῖν,γυναῖκά τʼ οὐ γυναῖκα, μητρῴαν δʼ ὅπουκίχοι διπλῆν ἄρουραν οὗ τε καὶ τέκνων.λυσσῶντι δʼ αὐτῷ δαιμόνων δείκνυσί τις·οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀνδρῶν, οἳ παρῆμεν ἐγγύθεν.
With a dread cry, as though someone beckoned him on, he sprang at the double doors, forced the bending bolts from the sockets, and rushed into the room. There we beheld the woman hanging by the neck in a twisted noose of swinging cords.
δεινὸν δʼ ἀύσας ὡς ὑφηγητοῦ τινοςπύλαις διπλαῖς ἐνήλατʼ, ἐκ δὲ πυθμένωνἔκλινε κοῖλα κλῇθρα κἀμπίπτει στέγῃ.οὗ δὴ κρεμαστὴν τὴν γυναῖκʼ ἐσείδομεν,πλεκταῖσιν αἰώραισιν ἐμπεπλεγμένην.
And when he saw her, with a dread deep cry he released the halter by which she hung. And when the hapless woman was stretched out on the ground, then the sequel was horrible to see: for he tore from her raiment the golden brooches with which she had decorated herself,and lifting them struck his own eye-balls, uttering words like these: No longer will you behold such horrors as I was suffering and performing! Long enough have you looked on those whom you ought never to have seen, having failed in the knowledge of those whom I yearned to know—henceforth you shall be dark!
ὁ δʼ ὡς ὁρᾷ νιν, δεινὰ βρυχηθεὶς τάλαςχαλᾷ κρεμαστὴν ἀρτάνην. ἐπεὶ δὲ γῇἔκειτο τλήμων, δεινὰ δʼ ἦν τἀνθένδʼ ὁρᾶν.ἀποσπάσας γὰρ εἱμάτων χρυσηλάτουςπερόνας ἀπʼ αὐτῆς, αἷσιν ἐξεστέλλετο,ἄρας ἔπαισεν ἄρθρα τῶν αὑτοῦ κύκλων,αὐδῶν τοιαῦθʼ, ὁθούνεκʼ οὐκ ὄψοιντό νινοὔθʼ οἷʼ ἔπασχεν οὔθʼ ὁποῖʼ ἔδρα κακά,ἀλλʼ ἐν σκότῳ τὸ λοιπὸν οὓς μὲν οὐκ ἔδειὀψοίαθʼ, οὓς δʼ ἔχρῃζεν οὐ γνωσοίατο.
With such a dire refrain, he struck his eyes with raised hand not once but often. At each blow the bloody eye-balls bedewed his beard, and sent forth not sluggish drops of gore, but all at once a dark shower of blood came down like hail.From the deeds of the two of them such ills have broken forth, not on one alone, but with mingled woe for man and wife. The old happiness of their ancestral fortune was once happiness indeed. But now today lamentation, ruin, death, shame,and every earthly ill that anyone could name are all theirs.
τοιαῦτʼ ἐφυμνῶν πολλάκις τε κοὐχ ἅπαξἤρασσʼ ἐπαίρων βλέφαρα. φοίνιαι δʼ ὁμοῦγλῆναι γένειʼ ἔτελλον, οὐδʼ ἀνίεσανφόνου μυδώσας σταγόνας, ἀλλʼ ὁμοῦ μέλαςὄμβρος χαλάζης αἱματοῦς ἐτέγγετο.τάδʼ ἐκ δυοῖν ἔρρωγεν, οὐ μόνου κάτα,ἀλλʼ ἀνδρὶ καὶ γυναικὶ συμμιγῆ κακά.ὁ πρὶν παλαιὸς δʼ ὄλβος ἦν πάροιθε μὲνὄλβος δικαίως· νῦν δὲ τῇδε θἠμέρᾳστεναγμός, ἄτη, θάνατος, αἰσχύνη, κακῶνὅσʼ ἐστὶ πάντων ὀνόματʼ, οὐδέν ἐστʼ ἀπόν.Χορός:νῦν δʼ ἔσθʼ ὁ τλήμων ἐν τίνι σχολῇ κακοῦ;
Chorus:And does the sufferer have any respite from pain now?Second Messenger:He cries for some one to unbar the gates and show to all the Cadmeans his father’s slayer, his mother’s—the words must not pass my lips—in order to banish himself from the land and not to put the house under his own curse by waiting here. And yet he lacks strength, and one to guide his steps, for the anguish is more than he can bear. He will soon show this to you: look, the bars of the gates are withdrawn,and soon you will behold a sight which even he who abhors it must pity.
Ἐξάγγελος:βοᾷ διοίγειν κλῇθρα καὶ δηλοῦν τινατοῖς πᾶσι Καδμείοισι τὸν πατροκτόνον,τὸν μητέρʼ—αὐδῶν ἀνόσιʼ οὐδὲ ῥητά μοι,ὡς ἐκ χθονὸς ῥίψων ἑαυτὸν οὐδʼ ἔτιμενῶν δόμοις ἀραῖος, ὡς ἠράσατο.ῥώμης γε μέντοι καὶ προηγητοῦ τινοςδεῖται· τὸ γὰρ νόσημα μεῖζον ἢ φέρειν.δείξει δὲ καὶ σοί· κλῇθρα γὰρ πυλῶν τάδεδιοίγεται· θέαμα δʼ εἰσόψει τάχατοιοῦτον οἷον καὶ στυγοῦντʼ ἐποικτίσαι.
Chorus:O dread fate for men to see, O most dreadful of all that I have set my eyes on! Unhappy one, what madness has come upon you?Who is the unearthly foe who, with a leap of more than mortal range has made your ill-starred life his prey? Alas, alas, you hapless man! I cannot even look on you, though there is much I desire to ask, much I desire to learn,much that draws my wistful gaze: with such a shuddering do you fill me!
Χορός:ὦ δεινὸν ἰδεῖν πάθος ἀνθρώποις,ὦ δεινότατον πάντων ὅσʼ ἐγὼπροσέκυρσʼ ἤδη. τίς σʼ, ὦ τλῆμον,προσέβη μανία; τίς ὁ πηδήσαςμείζονα δαίμων τῶν μακίστωνπρὸς σῇ δυσδαίμονι μοίρᾳ;φεῦ φεῦ, δύστανʼ·ἀλλʼ οὐδʼ ἐσιδεῖν δύναμαί σε, θέλωνπόλλʼ ἀνερέσθαι, πολλὰ πυθέσθαι,πολλὰ δʼ ἀθρῆσαι·τοίαν φρίκην παρέχεις μοι.
Oedipus:Woe is me! Alas, alas, wretched that I am! Where, where am I carried in my misery?How is my voice swept abroad on the wings of the air? Oh, my fate, how far you have sprung!
Οἰδίπους:αἰαῖ αἰαῖ, δύστανος ἐγώ,ποῖ γᾶς φέρομαι τλάμων; πᾷ μοιφθογγὰ διαπωτᾶται φοράδην;ἰὼ δαῖμον, ἵνʼ ἐξήλλου.
Chorus:To a dread place, dire in men’s ears, dire in their sight.
Χορός:ἐς δεινὸν οὐδʼ ἀκουστὸν οὐδʼ ἐπόψιμον.
Oedipus:Oh horror of darkness that enfolds me, unspeakable visitant,resistless, sped by a wind too favorable! Oh, me! and once again, Oh, me! How my soul is pierced by the stab of these goads and by the memory of sorrows!
Οἰδίπους:ἰὼ σκότουνέφος ἐμὸν ἀπότροπον, ἐπιπλόμενον ἄφατον,ἀδάματόν τε καὶ δυσούριστον ὄν.οἴμοι,οἴμοι μάλʼ αὖθις· οἷον εἰσέδυ μʼ ἅμακέντρων τε τῶνδʼ οἴστρημα καὶ μνήμη κακῶν.
Chorus:No wonder that amidst these woesyou mourn and bear a double pain.
Χορός:καὶ θαῦμά γʼ οὐδὲν ἐν τοσοῖσδε πήμασινδιπλᾶ σε πενθεῖν καὶ διπλᾶ φορεῖν κακά.
Oedipus:Ah, friend, you still are steadfast in your care for me, and still have patience to tend to the blind man! Ah, me!
Οἰδίπους:ἰὼ φίλος,σὺ μὲν ἐμὸς ἐπίπολος ἔτι μόνιμος· ἔτι γὰρὑπομένεις με τὸν τυφλὸν κηδεύων.φεῦ φεῦ.
Your presence is not hidden from me—no, blind though I am, nevertheless I know your voice full well.
οὐ γάρ με λήθεις, ἀλλὰ γιγνώσκω σαφῶς,καίπερ σκοτεινός, τήν γε σὴν αὐδὴν ὅμως.
Chorus:Man of dread deeds, how could you quench your vision in this way? What divinity urged you on?
Χορός:ὦ δεινὰ δράσας, πῶς ἔτλης τοιαῦτα σὰςὄψεις μαρᾶναι; τίς σʼ ἐπῆρε δαιμόνων;
Oedipus:It was Apollo, friends, Apollo who brought these troublesto pass, these terrible, terrible troubles. But the hand that struck my eyes was none other than my own, wretched that I am!Why should I see, when sight showed me nothing sweet?
Οἰδίπους:Ἀπόλλων τάδʼ ἦν, Ἀπόλλων, φίλοι,ὁ κακὰ κακὰ τελῶν ἐμὰ τάδʼ ἐμὰ πάθεα.ἔπαισε δʼ αὐτόχειρ νιν οὔτις, ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ τλάμων.τί γὰρ ἔδει μʼ ὁρᾶν,ὅτῳ γʼ ὁρῶντι μηδὲν ἦν ἰδεῖν γλυκύ;
Chorus:These things were just as you say.
Χορός:ἦν τᾷδʼ ὅπωσπερ καὶ σύ φῄς.
Oedipus:What, my friends, can I behold anymore, what can I love, what greeting can touch my ear with joy? Hurry, friends,lead me from the land, lead me from here, the utterly lost,the thrice-accursed, the mortal most hateful to the gods!
Οἰδίπους:τί δῆτʼ ἐμοὶ βλεπτὸν ἢστερκτὸν ἢ προσήγορονἔτʼ ἔστʼ ἀκούειν ἡδονᾷ φίλοι;ἀπάγετʼ ἐκτόπιον ὅ τι τάχιστά με,ἀπάγετʼ, ὦ φίλοι, τὸν μέγʼ ὀλέθριοντὸν καταρατότατον, ἔτι δὲ καὶ θεοῖςἐχθρότατον βροτῶν.
Chorus:Wretched alike for your fortune and for your understanding of it, would that I had never known you!
Χορός:δείλαιε τοῦ νοῦ τῆς τε συμφορᾶς ἴσον,ὡς σʼ ἠθέλησα μηδέ γʼ ἂν γνῶναί ποτε.
Oedipus:Perish the man, whoever he was, who freed me in the past years from the cruel shackle on my feet—a thankless deed! Had I died then,I would not have been so sore a grief to my friends and to my own soul.
Οἰδίπους:ὄλοιθʼ ὅστις ἦν, ὃς ἀγρίας πέδαςμονάδʼ ἐπιποδίας ἔλυσʼ μʼ ἀπό τε φόνουἔρυτο κἀνέσωσεν, οὐδὲν εἰς χάριν πράσσων.τότε γὰρ ἂν θανὼνοὐκ ἦ φίλοισιν οὐδʼ ἐμοὶ τοσόνδʼ ἄχος.
Chorus:I too would have had it thus.
Χορός:θέλοντι κἀμοὶ τοῦτʼ ἂν ἦν.
Oedipus:In this way I would not have come to shed my father’s blood, or been known among men as the husband of the woman from whom I was born.
Οἰδίπους:οὔκουν πατρός γʼ ἂν φονεὺςἦλθον οὐδὲ νυμφίοςβροτοῖς ἐκλήθην ὧν ἔφυν ἄπο.
Now I am forsaken by the gods, son of a defiled mother, successor to the bed of the man who gave me my own wretched being:
νῦν δʼ ἄθεος μέν εἰμʼ, ἀνοσίων δὲ παῖς,ὁμολεχὴς δʼ ἀφʼ ὧν αὐτὸς ἔφυν τάλας.
if there is a woe surpassing all woes, it has become Oedipus’ lot.
εἰ δέ τι πρεσβύτερον ἔτι κακοῦ κακόν,τοῦτʼ ἔλαχʼ Οἰδίπους.
Chorus:I cannot agree that you have counseled well: you would have been better dead than living and blind.
Χορός:οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως σε φῶ βεβουλεῦσθαι καλῶς·κρείσσων γὰρ ἦσθα μηκέτʼ ὢν ἢ ζῶν τυφλός.
Oedipus:Do not tell me that things have not been best done in this way:give me counsel no more. If I had sight, I know not with what eyes I could even have looked on my father, when I came to the house of Hades, or on my miserable mother, since against both I have sinned such sins as hanging myself could not punish.
Οἰδίπους:ὡς μὲν τάδʼ οὐχ ὧδʼ ἔστʼ ἄριστʼ εἰργασμένα,μή μʼ ἐκδίδασκε, μηδὲ συμβούλευʼ ἔτι.ἐγὼ γὰρ οὐκ οἶδʼ ὄμμασιν ποίοις βλέπωνπατέρα ποτʼ ἂν προσεῖδον εἰς Ἅιδου μολὼνοὐδʼ αὖ τάλαιναν μητέρʼ, οἷν ἐμοὶ δυοῖνἔργʼ ἐστὶ κρείσσονʼ ἀγχόνης εἰργασμένα.
But do you think that the sight of children, born as mine were, was lovely for me to look upon? No, no, never lovely to my eyes! No, neither was this town with its towering walls, nor the sacred statues of the gods, since I, thrice wretched that I am—I, noblest of the sons of Thebes—have doomed myself to know them no more by commanding that all should reject the impious one, the one whom the gods have revealed as unholy, a member of Laius’ own race! After bearing such a stain upon myself,was I to look with steady eyes on this folk? No indeed: were there a way to choke the source of hearing, I would not have hesitated to make a fast prison of this wretched frame, so that I should have known neither sight nor sound.It is sweet for our thought to dwell beyond the sphere of grief. Alas, Cithaeron, why did you provide a shelter for me? When I was given to you, why did you not slay me straightway, that I might never reveal my origin to men. Ah, Polybus, ah, Corinth, and you that were called the ancient house of my father,how fair-seeming was I, your nurseling, and what evils were festering underneath! Now I am found to be evil and of evil birth. Oh you three roads, and you secret glen, you, thicket, and narrow way where three paths met—you who drank my father’s blood from my own hands—do you remember, perhaps, what deeds I have performed in your sight, and then what fresh deeds I went on to do when I came here? Oh marriage rites, you gave me birth, and when you had brought me forth,you again bore children to your child, you created an incestuous kinship of fathers, brothers, sons, brides, wives, and mothers—all the foulest deeds that are wrought among men! But it is improper to mention what it is improper to do—hurry, for the love of the gods, hide me somewhere beyond the land, or slay me, or cast me into the sea, where you will never behold me any longer! Approach—deign to lay your hands on a wretched man—listen and fear not: my plague can reston no other mortal.
ἀλλʼ ἡ τέκνων δῆτʼ ὄψις ἦν ἐφίμερος,βλαστοῦσʼ ὅπως ἔβλαστε, προσλεύσσειν ἐμοί;οὐ δῆτα τοῖς γʼ ἐμοῖσιν ὀφθαλμοῖς ποτε·οὐδʼ ἄστυ γʼ οὐδὲ πύργος οὐδὲ δαιμόνωνἀγάλμαθʼ ἱερά, τῶν ὁ παντλήμων ἐγὼκάλλιστʼ ἀνὴρ εἷς ἔν γε ταῖς Θήβαις τραφεὶςἀπεστέρησʼ ἐμαυτόν, αὐτὸς ἐννέπωνὠθεῖν ἅπαντας τὸν ἀσεβῆ, τὸν ἐκ θεῶνφανέντʼ ἄναγνον καὶ γένους τοῦ Λαΐου.τοιάνδʼ ἐγὼ κηλῖδα μηνύσας ἐμὴνὀρθοῖς ἔμελλον ὄμμασιν τούτους ὁρᾶν;ἥκιστά γʼ· ἀλλʼ εἰ τῆς ἀκουούσης ἔτʼ ἦνπηγῆς διʼ ὤτων φραγμός, οὐκ ἂν ἐσχόμηντὸ μὴ ἀποκλῇσαι τοὐμὸν ἄθλιον δέμας,ἵνʼ ἦ τυφλός τε καὶ κλύων μηδέν· τὸ γὰρτὴν φροντίδʼ ἔξω τῶν κακῶν οἰκεῖν γλυκύ.ἰὼ Κιθαιρών, τί μʼ ἐδέχου; τί μʼ οὐ λαβὼνἔκτεινας εὐθύς, ὡς ἔδειξα μήποτεἐμαυτὸν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔνθεν ἦ γεγώς;ὦ Πόλυβε καὶ Κόρινθε καὶ τὰ πάτριαλόγῳ παλαιὰ δώμαθʼ, οἷον ἆρά μεκάλλος κακῶν ὕπουλον ἐξεθρέψατε·νῦν γὰρ κακός τʼ ὢν κἀκ κακῶν εὑρίσκομαι.ὦ τρεῖς κέλευθοι καὶ κεκρυμμένη νάπηδρυμός τε καὶ στενωπὸς ἐν τριπλαῖς ὁδοῖς,αἳ τοὐμὸν αἷμα τῶν ἐμῶν χειρῶν ἄποἐπίετε πατρός, ἆρά μου μέμνησθʼ ἔτιοἷʼ ἔργα δράσας ὑμὶν εἶτα δεῦρʼ ἰὼνὁποῖʼ ἔπρασσον αὖθις; ᾧ γάμοι γάμοι,ἐφύσαθʼ ἡμᾶς, καὶ φυτεύσαντες πάλινἀνεῖτε ταὐτοῦ σπέρμα, κἀπεδείξατεπατέρας, ἀδελφούς, παῖδας, αἷμʼ ἐμφύλιον,νύμφας, γυναῖκας μητέρας τε, χὠπόσααἴσχιστʼ ἐν ἀνθρώποισιν ἔργα γίγνεται.ἀλλʼ οὐ γὰρ αὐδᾶν ἔσθʼ ἃ μηδὲ δρᾶν καλόν,ὅπως τάχιστα πρὸς θεῶν ἔξω μέ πουκαλύψατʼ ἢ φονεύσατʼ ἢ θαλάσσιονἐκρίψατʼ, ἔνθα μήποτʼ εἰσόψεσθʼ ἔτι.ἴτʼ, ἀξιώσατʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀθλίου θιγεῖν.πίθεσθε, μὴ δείσητε· τἀμὰ γὰρ κακὰοὐδεὶς οἷός τε πλὴν ἐμοῦ φέρειν βροτῶν.
Chorus:But here is Creon in good time to plan and perform that which you request. He alone is left to guard the land in your place.
Χορός:ἀλλʼ ὧν ἐπαιτεῖς εἰς δέον πάρεσθʼ ὅδεΚρέων τὸ πράσσειν καὶ τὸ βουλεύειν, ἐπεὶχώρας λέλειπται μοῦνος ἀντὶ σοῦ φύλαξ.
Oedipus:Ah, me, how will I address him?
Οἰδίπους:οἴμοι, τί δῆτα λέξομεν πρὸς τόνδʼ ἔπος;
What claim to credence can be shown on my part? For in the past I proved to be wholly false to him.Enter Creon.
τίς μοι φανεῖται πίστις ἔνδικος; τὰ γὰρπάρος πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντʼ ἐφεύρημαι κακός.
Creon:I have not come to mock or reproach you with any any past fault.To the Attendants.
Κρέων:οὐχ ὡς γελαστής, Οἰδίπους, ἐλήλυθα,οὐδʼ ὡς ὀνειδιῶν τι τῶν πάρος κακῶν.
But you, if you no longer respect the children of men,revere at least the all-nurturing flame of our lord the Sun, and don’t show so openly such a pollution as this, one which neither earth, nor holy rain, nor the light itself can welcome. Take him into the house as quickly as you can: it best accords with pity thatkinfolk alone should see and hear a kinsman’s woes.
ἀλλʼ εἰ τὰ θνητῶν μὴ καταισχύνεσθʼ ἔτιγένεθλα, τὴν γοῦν πάντα βόσκουσαν φλόγααἰδεῖσθʼ ἄνακτος Ἡλίου, τοιόνδʼ ἄγοςἀκάλυπτον οὕτω δεικνύναι, τὸ μήτε γῆμήτʼ ὄμβρος ἱερὸς μήτε φῶς προσδέξεται.ἀλλʼ ὡς τάχιστʼ ἐς οἶκον ἐσκομίζετε·τοῖς ἐν γένει γὰρ τἀγγενῆ μάλισθʼ ὁρᾶνμόνοις τʼ ἀκούειν εὐσεβῶς ἔχει κακά.
Oedipus:For the gods’ love—since you have done a gentle violence to my prediction and come in a spirit so noble to me, a man most vile—grant me a favor: I will speak for your own good, not mine.
Οἰδίπους:πρὸς θεῶν, ἐπείπερ ἐλπίδος μʼ ἀπέσπασας,ἄριστος ἐλθὼν πρὸς κάκιστον ἄνδρʼ ἐμέ,πιθοῦ τί μοι· πρὸς σοῦ γὰρ οὐδʼ ἐμοῦ φράσω.
Creon:And what do you wish so eagerly to get from me?
Κρέων:καὶ τοῦ με χρείας ὧδε λιπαρεῖς τυχεῖν;
Oedipus:Cast me out of this land with all speed, to a place where no mortal shall be found to greet me.
Οἰδίπους:ῥῖψόν με γῆς ἐκ τῆσδʼ ὅσον τάχισθʼ, ὅπουθνητῶν φανοῦμαι μηδενὸς προσήγορος.
Creon:This I could have done, to be sure, except I craved first to learn from the god all my duty.
Κρέων:ἔδρασʼ ἂν εὖ τοῦτʼ ἴσθʼ ἄν, εἰ μὴ τοῦ θεοῦπρώτιστʼ ἔχρῃζον ἐκμαθεῖν τί πρακτέαν.
Oedipus:But his pronouncement has been set forth in full—to let me perish, the parricide, unholy one that I am.
Οἰδίπους:ἀλλʼ ἥ γʼ ἐκείνου πᾶσʼ ἐδηλώθη φάτις,τὸν πατροφόντην, τὸν ἀσεβῆ μʼ ἀπολλύναι.
Creon:Thus it was said. But since we have come to such a pass, it is better to learn clearly what should be done.
Κρέων:οὕτως ἐλέχθη ταῦθʼ· ὅμως δʼ ἵνʼ ἕσταμενχρείας, ἄμεινον ἐκμαθεῖν τι δραστέον.
Oedipus:Will you, then, seek a response on behalf of such a wretch as I?
Οἰδίπους:οὕτως ἄρʼ ἀνδρὸς ἀθλίου πεύσεσθʼ ὕπερ;
Creon:Yes, for even you yourself will now surely put faith in the god.
Κρέων:καὶ γὰρ σὺ νῦν τἂν τῷ θεῷ πίστιν φέροις.
Oedipus:Yes. And on you I lay this charge, to you I make this entreaty: give to the woman within such burial as you wish—you will properly render the last rites to your own. But never let this city of my father be condemnedto have me dwelling within, as long as I live. No, allow me to live in the hills, where Cithaeron, famed as mine, sits, which my mother and father, while they lived, fixed as my appointed tomb, so that I may die according to the decree of those who sought to slay me.
Οἰδίπους:καὶ σοί γʼ ἐπισκήπτω τε καὶ προστέψομαι,τῆς μὲν κατʼ οἴκους αὐτὸς ὃν θέλεις τάφονθοῦ· καὶ γὰρ ὀρθῶς τῶν γε σῶν τελεῖς ὕπερ·ἐμοῦ δὲ μήποτʼ ἀξιωθήτω τόδεπατρῷον ἄστυ ζῶντος οἰκητοῦ τυχεῖν,ἀλλʼ ἔα με ναίειν ὄρεσιν, ἔνθα κλῄζεταιοὑμὸς Κιθαιρὼν οὗτος, ὃν μήτηρ τέ μοιπατήρ τʼ ἐθέσθην ζῶντε κύριον τάφον,ἵνʼ ἐξ ἐκείνων, οἵ μʼ ἀπωλλύτην, θάνω.
And yet I know this much, that neither sickness nor anything else can destroy me; for I would never have been snatched from death, except in order to suffer some strange doom. But let my fate go where it will. Regarding my children, Creon, I beg you to take no care of my sons:they are men, so that they will never lack the means to live wherever they should be. My two girls, poor hapless ones—who never knew my table spread separately, or lacked their father’s presence, but always had a share of all thatreached my hands—I implore you to take care of them. And, if you can, allow me to touch them with my hands, and to indulge my grief. Grant it, prince, grant it, noble heart. Ah, if I could but once touch them with my hands, I would think that I had themjust as when I had sight.Creon’s Attendants lead in the children, Antigone and Ismene.
καίτοι τοσοῦτόν γʼ οἶδα, μήτε μʼ ἂν νόσονμήτʼ ἄλλο πέρσαι μηδέν· οὐ γὰρ ἄν ποτεθνῄσκων ἐσώθην, μὴ ʼπί τῳ δεινῷ κακῷ.ἀλλʼ ἡ μὲν ἡμῶν μοῖρʼ, ὅποιπερ εἶσʼ, ἴτω·παίδων δὲ τῶν μὲν ἀρσένων μή μοι, Κρέων,προσθῇ μέριμναν· ἄνδρες εἰσίν, ὥστε μὴσπάνιν ποτὲ σχεῖν, ἔνθʼ ἂν ὦσι, τοῦ βίου·ταῖν δʼ ἀθλίαιν οἰκτραῖν τε παρθένοιν ἐμαῖν,αἷν οὔποθʼ ἡμὴ χωρὶς ἐστάθη βορᾶςτράπεζʼ ἄνευ τοῦδʼ ἀνδρός, ἀλλʼ ὅσων ἐγὼψαύοιμι, πάντων τῶνδʼ ἀεὶ μετειχέτην·αἷν μοι μέλεσθαι· καὶ μάλιστα μὲν χεροῖνψαῦσαί μʼ ἔασον κἀποκλαύσασθαι κακά.ἴθʼ ὦναξ,ἴθʼ ὦ γονῇ γενναῖε· χερσί τἂν θιγὼνδοκοῖμʼ ἔχειν σφᾶς, ὥσπερ ἡνίκʼ ἔβλεπον.
What is this? Oh, gods, can it be my loved ones that I hear sobbing, can Creon have taken pity on me and sent my children, my darlings?
τί φημί;οὐ δὴ κλύω που πρὸς θεῶν τοῖν μοι φίλοινδακρυρροούντοιν, καί μʼ ἐποικτίρας Κρέωνἔπεμψέ μοι τὰ φίλτατʼ ἐκγόνοιν ἐμοῖν;
Creon:You are. I have brought this about, for I knew the joy which you have long had from them—the joy you now have.
Κρέων:λέγεις· ἐγὼ γὰρ εἰμʼ ὁ πορσύνας τάδε,γνοὺς τὴν παροῦσαν τέρψιν, ἥ σʼ εἶχεν πάλαι.
Oedipus:Bless you, and for this errand may the god prove a kinder guardian to you than he has to me.
Οἰδίπους:ἀλλʼ εὐτυχοίης, καί σε τῆσδε τῆς ὁδοῦδαίμων ἄμεινον ἢ ʼμὲ φρουρήσας τύχοι.
My children, where are you? Come, here, here to the hands of the one whose mother was your own, the hands that have made your father’s once bright eyes to be such orbs as these—his, who seeing nothing, knowing nothing,became your father by her from whom he was born! For you also do I weep, though I cannot see you, when I think of the bitter life that men will make you live in days to come. To what company of the citizens will you go, to what festival,from which you will not return home in tears, not sharing in the holiday? But when you reach a ripe age for marriage, who shall he be, who shall be the man, my daughters, to risk taking upon himself the reproachesthat will certainly be baneful to my offspring and yours? What misery is lacking? Your father killed his own father, and bore you from the source of his own being!
ὦ τέκνα, ποῦ ποτʼ ἐστέ; δεῦρʼ ἴτʼ, ἔλθετεὡς τὰς ἀδελφὰς τάσδε τὰς ἐμὰς χέρας,αἳ τοῦ φυτουργοῦ πατρὸς ὑμὶν ὧδʼ ὁρᾶντὰ πρόσθε λαμπρὰ προυξένησαν ὄμματα·ὃς ὑμίν, ὦ τέκνʼ, οὔθʼ ὁρῶν οὔθʼ ἱστορῶνπατὴρ ἐφάνθην ἔνθεν αὐτὸς ἠρόθην.καὶ σφὼ δακρύω· προσβλέπειν γὰρ οὐ σθένω·νοούμενος τὰ λοιπὰ τοῦ πικροῦ βίου,οἷον βιῶναι σφὼ πρὸς ἀνθρώπων χρεών.ποίας γὰρ ἀστῶν ἥξετʼ εἰς ὁμιλίας,ποίας δʼ ἑορτάς, ἔνθεν οὐ κεκλαυμέναιπρὸς οἶκον ἵξεσθʼ ἀντὶ τῆς θεωρίας;ἀλλʼ ἡνίκʼ ἂν δὴ πρὸς γάμων ἥκητʼ ἀκμάς,τίς οὗτος ἔσται, τίς παραρρίψει, τέκνα,τοιαῦτʼ ὀνείδη λαμβάνων, ἃ ταῖς ἐμαῖςγοναῖσιν ἔσται σφῷν θʼ ὁμοῦ δηλήματα;τί γὰρ κακῶν ἄπεστι; τὸν πατέρα πατὴρὑμῶν ἔπεφνε· τὴν τεκοῦσαν ἤροσεν,ὅθεν περ αὐτὸς ἐσπάρη, κἀκ τῶν ἴσωνἐκτήσαθʼ ὑμᾶς, ὧνπερ αὐτὸς ἐξέφυ.
Such are the taunts that will be cast at you. And who then will wed you? The man does not live, no, it cannot be, my children, but you will wither in barren maidenhood. Son of Menoeceus, hear me: since you are the only father left to them—we, their parents, are both gone—do not allow them to wander poor and unwed, for they are your own kin, nor abase them to the level of my woes. Pity them, seeing them deprived of everything but you at such an age.
τοιαῦτʼ ὀνειδιεῖσθε· κᾆτα τίς γαμεῖ;οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδείς, ὦ τέκνʼ, ἀλλὰ δηλαδὴχέρσους φθαρῆναι κἀγάμους ὑμᾶς χρεών.ὦ παῖ Μενοικέως, ἀλλʼ ἐπεὶ μόνος πατὴρταύταιν λέλειψαι, νὼ γάρ, ὣ ʼφυτεύσαμεν,ὀλώλαμεν δύʼ ὄντε, μή σφε περιίδῃςπτωχὰς ἀνάνδρους ἐκγενεῖς ἀλωμένας,μηδʼ ἐξισώσῃς τάσδε τοῖς ἐμοῖς κακοῖς.ἀλλʼ οἴκτισόν σφας, ὧδε τηλικάσδʼ ὁρῶνπάντων ἐρήμους, πλὴν ὅσον τὸ σὸν μέρος.
Promise, noble man, and touch them with your hand. To you, children, I would have given much counsel, if your minds were mature. But now pray that you may live where occasion allows, and that the life which is your lot may be happier than your father’s.
ξύννευσον, ὦ γενναῖε, σῇ ψαύσας χερί.σφῷν δʼ, ὦ τέκνʼ, εἰ μὲν εἰχέτην ἤδη φρένας,πόλλʼ ἂν παρῄνουν· νῦν δὲ τοῦτʼ εὔχεσθέ μοι,οὗ καιρὸς ἐᾷ ζῆν, τοῦ βίου δὲ λῴονοςὑμᾶς κυρῆσαι τοῦ φυτεύσαντος πατρός.
Creon:Your grief has had a sufficient scope: move on into the house.
Κρέων:ἅλις ἵνʼ ἐξήκεις δακρύων· ἀλλʼ ἴθι στέγης ἔσω.
Oedipus:I must obey, though I do it in no way gladly.
Οἰδίπους:πειστέον, κεἰ μηδὲν ἡδύ.
Creon:Yes, for it is in season that all things are good.
Κρέων:πάντα γὰρ καιρῷ καλά.
Oedipus:Do you know on what terms I will go?
Οἰδίπους:οἶσθʼ ἐφʼ οἷς οὖν εἶμι;
Creon:You will tell me, and then I will know when I have heard them.
Κρέων:λέξεις, καὶ τότʼ εἴσομαι κλύων.
Oedipus:See that you send me to dwell outside this land.
Οἰδίπους:γῆς μʼ ὅπως πέμψεις ἄποικον.
Creon:You ask for what the god must give.
Κρέων:τοῦ θεοῦ μʼ αἰτεῖς δόσιν.
Oedipus:But to the gods I have become most hateful.
Οἰδίπους:ἀλλὰ θεοῖς γʼ ἔχθιστος ἥκω.
Creon:Then you will quickly get your wish.
Κρέων:τοιγαροῦν τεύξει τάχα.
Oedipus:So you consent?
Οἰδίπους:φῂς τάδʼ οὖν;
Creon:It is not my way to say idly what I do not mean.
Κρέων:ἃ μὴ φρονῶ γὰρ οὐ φιλῶ λέγειν μάτην.
Oedipus:Then it is time to lead me away.
Οἰδίπους:ἄπαγέ νύν μʼ ἐντεῦθεν ἤδη.
Creon:Come, then, but let your children go.
Κρέων:στεῖχέ νυν, τέκνων δʼ ἀφοῦ.
Oedipus:No, do not take them from me!
Οἰδίπους:μηδαμῶς ταύτας γʼ ἕλῃ μου.
Creon:Do not wish to be master in all things: the mastery which you did attain has not followed you through life.
Κρέων:πάντα μὴ βούλου κρατεῖν·καὶ γὰρ ἁκράτησας οὔ σοι τῷ βίῳ ξυνέσπετο.
Chorus:Residents of our native Thebes, behold, this is Oedipus,who knew the renowned riddle, and was a most mighty man. What citizen did not gaze on his fortune with envy? See into what a stormy sea of troubles he has come! Therefore, while our eyes wait to see the final destined day, we must call no mortal happy untilhe has crossed life’s border free from pain.
Χορός:ὦ πάτρας Θήβης ἔνοικοι, λεύσσετʼ, Οἰδίπους ὅδε,ὃς τὰ κλείνʼ αἰνίγματʼ ᾔδει καὶ κράτιστος ἦν ἀνήρ,οὗ τίς οὐ ζήλῳ πολιτῶν ἦν τύχαις ἐπιβλέπων,εἰς ὅσον κλύδωνα δεινῆς συμφορᾶς ἐλήλυθεν.ὥστε θνητὸν ὄντα κείνην τὴν τελευταίαν ἰδεῖνἡμέραν ἐπισκοποῦντα μηδένʼ ὀλβίζειν, πρὶν ἂντέρμα τοῦ βίου περάσῃ μηδὲν ἀλγεινὸν παθών.