oedipus the king by sophocles

8/14/2019 Oedipus the King by Sophocles

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Oedipus the King

By Sophocles

Translated by F. Storr

!ramatis Personae

"#!IP$S

T%# P&I#ST "F '#$S

C"(

C%"&$S "F T%#)A( #*!#&S

T#ISIAS

+"CASTA,#SS#(-#&

%#&! "F *AI$S

Thebes. )efore the Palace of "edipus. Suppliants of all ages are seated

round the altar at the palace doors at their head a P&I#ST "F '#$S.

To them enter "#!IP$S.

"#!IP$S ,y children latest born to Cadmus old

hy sit ye here as suppliants in your hands)ranches of olive filleted 0ith 0ool1

hat means this ree2 of incense every0here

And every0here laments and litanies1

Children it 0ere not meet that I should learn

From others and am hither come myself

I "edipus your 0orldreno0ned 2ing.

%o3 aged sire 0hose venerable loc2s

Proclaim thee spo2esman of this company

#4plain your mood and purport. Is it dread

"f ill that moves you or a boon ye crave1

,y 5eal in your behalf ye cannot doubt6

&uthless indeed 0ere I and obdurate

If such petitioners as you I spurned.

P&I#ST 7ea "edipus my sovereign lord and 2ing

Thou seest ho0 both e4tremes of age besiege

Thy palace altarsfledglings hardly 0inged

And greybeards bo0ed 0ith years priests as am I

"f 'eus and these the flo0er of our youth.

,ean0hile the common fol2 0ith 0reathed boughs

Cro0d our t0o mar2etplaces or before

)oth shrines of Pallas congregate or 0here


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Ismenus gives his oracles by fire.

For as thou seest thyself our ship of State

Sore buffeted can no more lift her head

Foundered beneath a 0eltering surge of blood.

A blight is on our harvest in the ear

A blight upon the gra5ing floc2s and herds

A blight on 0ives in travail6 and 0ithal

Armed 0ith his bla5ing torch the -od of Plague

%ath s0ooped upon our city emptying

The house of Cadmus and the mur2y realm

"f Pluto is full fed 0ith groans and tears.

Therefore " 8ing here at thy hearth 0e sit

I and these children6 not as deeming thee

A ne0 divinity but the first of men6

First in the common accidents of life

And first in visitations of the -ods.

Art thou not he 0ho coming to the to0n

"f Cadmus freed us from the ta4 0e paid

To the fell songstress1 (or hadst thou received

Prompting from us or been by others schooled6(o by a god inspired 9so all men deem

And testify didst thou rene0 our life.

And no0 " "edipus our peerless 2ing

All 0e thy votaries beseech thee find

Some succor 0hether by a voice from heaven

hispered or haply 2no0n by human 0it.

Tried counselors methin2s are aptest found

To furnish for the future pregnant rede.

$praise " chief of men upraise our State3

*oo2 to thy laurels3 for thy 5eal of yore

"ur country;s savior thou art


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%o0 I might save the State by act or 0ord.

And no0 I rec2on up the tale of days

Since he set forth and marvel ho0 he fares.

;Tis strange this endless tarrying passing strange.

)ut 0hen he comes then I 0ere base indeed

If I perform not all the god declares.

P&I#ST Thy 0ords are 0ell timed6 even as thou spea2est

That shouting tells me Creon is at hand.

"#!IP$S " 8ing Apollo3 may his


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ho sits 0ith folded hands or sleeps is blind.=

"#!IP$S as he 0ithin his palace or afield

"r traveling 0hen *aius met his fate1

C"( Abroad6 he started so he told us bound

For !elphi but he never thence returned.

"#!IP$S Came there no ne0s no fello0traveler

To give some clue that might be follo0ed up1

C"( )ut one escape 0ho flying for dear life

Could tell of all he sa0 but one thing sure.

"#!IP$S And 0hat 0as that1 "ne clue might lead us far

ith but a spar2 of hope to guide our >uest.

C"( &obbers he told us not one bandit but

A troop of 2naves attac2ed and murdered him.

"#!IP$S !id any bandit dare so bold a stro2e

$nless indeed he 0ere suborned from Thebes1

C"( So ;t0as surmised but none 0as found to avenge

%is murder mid the trouble that ensued.

"#!IP$S hat trouble can have hindered a full >uest

hen royalty had fallen thus miserably1

C"( The riddling Sphin4 compelled us to let slide

The dim past and attend to instant needs.

"#!IP$S ell I 0ill start afresh and once again

,a2e dar2 things clear. &ight 0orthy the concern

"f Phoebus 0orthy thine too for the dead6

I also as is meet 0ill lend my aid

To avenge this 0rong to Thebes and to the god.

(ot for some faroff 2insman but myself

Shall I e4pel this poison in the blood6

For 0hoso sle0 that 2ing might have a mind

To stri2e me too 0ith his assassin hand.

Therefore in righting him I serve myself.

$p children haste ye >uit these altar stairs

Ta2e hence your suppliant 0ands go summon hither

The Theban commons. ith the god;s good help

Success is sure6 ;tis ruin if 0e fail. 9#4eunt "#!IP$S and C"(.

P&I#ST Come children let us hence6 these gracious 0ords

Forestall the very purpose of our suit.

And may the god 0ho sent this oracle

Save us 0ithal and rid us of this pest. 9#4eunt P&I#ST and S$PP*IA(TS.

C%"&$S 9strophe ?

S0eetvoiced daughter of 'eus from thy goldpaved Pythian shrine


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afted to Thebes divine

hat dost thou bring me1 ,y soul is rac2ed and shivers 0ith fear.

%ealer of !elos hear3

%ast thou some pain un2no0n before

"r 0ith the circling years rene0est a penance of yore1

"ffspring of golden %ope thou voice immortal " tell me.

9antistrophe ?

First on Athene I call6 " 'eusborn goddess defend3

-oddess and sister befriend

Artemis *ady of Thebes highthroned in the midst of our mart3

*ord of the death0inged dart3

7our threefold aid I crave

From death and ruin our city to save.

If in the days of old 0hen 0e nigh had perished ye drave

From our land the fiery plague be near us no0 and defend us3

9strophe @

Ah me 0hat countless 0oes are mine3

All our host is in decline6

eaponless my spirit lies.

#arth her gracious fruits denies6

omen 0ail in barren throes6

*ife on life do0nstri2en goes

S0ifter than the 0ind bird;s flight

S0ifter than the Fire-od;s might

To the 0estering shores of (ight.

9antistrophe @

asted thus by death on death

All our city perisheth.

Corpses spread infection round6

(one to tend or mourn is found.

ailing on the altar stair

ives and grandams rend the air

*ongdra0n moans and piercing cries

)lent 0ith prayers and litanies.

-olden child of 'eus " hear

*et thine angel face appear3

9strophe

And grant that Ares 0hose hot breath I feel

Though 0ithout targe or steel

%e stal2s 0hose voice is as the battle shout

,ay turn in sudden rout

To the unharbored Thracian 0aters sped

"r Amphitrite;s bed.

For 0hat night leaves undone

Smit by the morro0;s sun


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Perisheth. Father 'eus 0hose hand

!oth 0ield the lightning brand

Slay him beneath thy levin bold 0e pray

Slay him " slay3

9antistrophe

" that thine arro0s too *ycean 8ing

From that taut bo0;s gold string

,ight fly abroad the champions of our rights6

7ea and the flashing lights

"f Artemis 0here0ith the huntress s0eeps

Across the *ycian steeps.

Thee too I call 0ith goldensnooded hair

hose name our land doth bear

)acchus to 0hom thy ,aenads #voe shout6

Come 0ith thy bright torch rout

)lithe god 0hom 0e adore

The god 0hom gods abhor. 9#nter "#!IP$S.

"#!IP$S 7e pray6 ;tis 0ell but 0ould ye hear my 0ordsAnd heed them and apply the remedy

7e might perchance find comfort and relief.

,ind you I spea2 as one 0ho comes a stranger

To this report no less than to the crime6

For ho0 unaided could I trac2 it far

ithout a clue1 hich lac2ing 9for too late

as I enrolled a citi5en of Thebes

This proclamation I address to all:

Thebans if any 2no0s the man by 0hom

*aius son of *abdacus 0as slain

I summon him to ma2e clean shrift to me.

And if he shrin2s let him reflect that thus

Confessing he shall ;scape the capital charge6

For the 0orst penalty that shall befall him

Is banishmentunscathed he shall depart.

)ut if an alien from a foreign land

)e 2no0n to any as the murderer

*et him 0ho 2no0s spea2 out and he shall have

!ue recompense from me and than2s to boot.

)ut if ye still 2eep silence if through fear

For self or friends ye disregard my hest

%ear 0hat I then resolve6 I lay my ban

"n the assassin 0hosoe;er he be.

*et no man in this land 0hereof I hold

The sovereign rule harbor or spea2 to him6

-ive him no part in prayer or sacrifice

"r lustral rites but hound him from your homes.For this is our defilement so the god

%ath lately sho0n to me by oracles.

Thus as their champion I maintain the cause

)oth of the god and of the murdered 8ing.

And on the murderer this curse I lay

9"n him and all the partners in his guilt:

retch may he pine in utter 0retchedness3

And for myself if 0ith my privity

%e gain admittance to my hearth I pray


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The curse I laid on others fall on me.

See that ye give effect to all my hest

For my sa2e and the god;s and for our land

A desert blasted by the 0rath of heaven.

For let alone the god;s e4press command

It 0ere a scandal ye should leave unpurged

The murder of a great man and your 2ing

(or trac2 it home. And no0 that I am lord

Successor to his throne his bed his 0ife

9And had he not been frustrate in the hope

"f issue common children of one 0omb

%ad forced a closer bond t0i4t him and me

)ut Fate s0ooped do0n upon him therefore I

%is bloodavenger 0ill maintain his cause

As though he 0ere my sire and leave no stone

$nturned to trac2 the assassin or avenge

The son of *abdacus of Polydore

"f Cadmus and Agenor first of the race.

And for the disobedient thus I pray:

,ay the gods send them neither timely fruits

"f earth nor teeming increase of the 0omb)ut may they 0aste and pine as no0 they 0aste

Aye and 0orse stric2en6 but to all of you

,y loyal sub


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"#!IP$S So I heard

)ut none has seen the man 0ho sa0 him fall.

C%"&$S ell if he 2no0s 0hat fear is he 0ill >uail

And flee before the terror of thy curse.

"#!IP$S ords scare not him 0ho blenches not at deeds.

C%"&$S )ut here is one to arraign him. *o at length

They bring the godinspired seer in 0hom

Above all other men is truth inborn. 9#nter T#ISIAS led by a boy.

"#!IP$S Teiresias seer 0ho comprehendest all

*ore of the 0ise and hidden mysteries

%igh things of heaven and lo0 things of the earth

Thou 2no0est though thy blinded eyes see naught

hat plague infects our city6 and 0e turn

To thee " seer our one defense and shield.

The purport of the ans0er that the -od

&eturned to us 0ho sought his oracle

The messengers have doubtless told theeho0"ne course alone could rid us of the pest

To find the murderers of *aius

And slay them or e4pel them from the land.

Therefore begrudging neither augury

(or other divination that is thine

" save thyself thy country and thy 2ing

Save all from this defilement of blood shed.

"n thee 0e rest. This is man;s highest end

To others; service all his po0ers to lend.

T#ISIAS Alas alas 0hat misery to be 0ise

hen 0isdom profits nothing3 This old lore

I had forgotten6 else I 0ere not here.

"#!IP$S hat ails thee1 hy this melancholy mood1

T#ISIAS *et me go home6 prevent me not6 ;t0ere best

That thou shouldst bear thy burden and I mine.

"#!IP$S For shame3 no trueborn Theban patriot

ould thus 0ithhold the 0ord of prophecy.

T#ISIAS Thy 0ords " 2ing are 0ide of the mar2 and I

For fear lest I too trip li2e thee...

"#!IP$S "h spea2ithhold not I ad


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T#ISIAS I 0ill not ve4 myself nor thee. hy as2

Thus idly 0hat from me thou shalt not learn1

"#!IP$S ,onster3 thy silence 0ould incense a flint.

ill nothing loose thy tongue1 Can nothing melt thee

"r sha2e thy dogged taciturnity1

T#ISIAS Thou blam;st my mood and seest not thine o0n

here0ith thou art mated6 no thou ta4est me.

"#!IP$S And 0ho could stay his choler 0hen he heard

%o0 insolently thou dost flout the State1

T#ISIAS ell it 0ill come 0hat 0ill though I be mute.

"#!IP$S Since come it must thy duty is to tell me.

T#ISIAS I have no more to say6 storm as thou 0illst

And give the rein to all thy pentup rage.

"#!IP$S 7ea I am 0roth and 0ill not stint my 0ords

)ut spea2 my 0hole mind. Thou methin2s thou art he

ho planned the crime aye and performed it too

All save the assassination6 and if thou

%adst not been blind I had been s0orn to boot

That thou alone didst do the bloody deed.

T#ISIAS Is it so1 Then I charge thee to abide

)y thine o0n proclamation6 from this day

Spea2 not to these or me. Thou art the man

Thou the accursed polluter of this land.

"#!IP$S Bile slanderer thou blurtest forth these taunts

And thin2;st forsooth as seer to go scot free.

T#ISIAS 7ea I am free strong in the strength of truth.

"#!IP$S ho 0as thy teacher1 not methin2s thy art.

T#ISIAS Thou goading me against my 0ill to spea2.

"#!IP$S hat speech1 repeat it and resolve my doubt.

T#ISIAS !idst miss my sense 0ouldst thou goad me on1

"#!IP$S I but half caught thy meaning6 say it again.

TEIRESIAS I say thou art the murderer of the man

Whose murderer thou pursuest.

"#!IP$S Thou shalt rue it

T0ice to repeat so gross a calumny.

T#ISIAS ,ust I say more to aggravate thy rage1


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"#!IP$S Say all thou 0ilt6 it 0ill be but 0aste of breath.

T#ISIAS I say thou livest 0ith thy nearest 2in

In infamy un0itting in thy shame.

"#!IP$S Thin2;st thou for aye unscathed to 0ag thy tongue1

T#ISIAS 7ea if the might of truth can aught prevail.

"#!IP$S ith other men but not 0ith thee for thou

In ear 0it eye in everything art blind.

T#ISIAS Poor fool to utter gibes at me 0hich all

%ere present 0ill cast bac2 on thee ere long.

"#!IP$S "ffspring of endless (ight thou hast no po0er

";er me or any man 0ho sees the sun.

T#ISIAS (o for thy 0eird is not to fall by me.

I leave to Apollo 0hat concerns the god.

"#!IP$S Is this a plot of Creon or thine o0n1

T#ISIAS (ot Creon thou thyself art thine o0n bane.

"#!IP$S " 0ealth and empiry and s2ill by s2ill

"ut0itted in the battlefield of life

hat spite and envy follo0 in your train3

See for this cro0n the State conferred on me.

A gift a thing I sought not for this cro0n

The trusty Creon my familiar friend

%ath lain in 0ait to oust me and suborned

This mounteban2 this uired the prophet;s art6

herein thou 0ast found lac2ing6 neither birds

(or sign from heaven helped thee but I came

The simple "edipus6 I stopped her mouth

)y mother 0it untaught of auguries.

This is the man 0hom thou 0ouldst undermine

In hope to reign 0ith Creon in my stead.

,ethin2s that thou and thine abettor soonill rue your plot to drive the scapegoat out.

Than2 thy grey hairs that thou hast still to learn

hat chastisement such arrogance deserves.

C%"&$S To us it seems that both the seer and thou

" "edipus have spo2en angry 0ords.

This is no time to 0rangle but consult

%o0 best 0e may fulfill the oracle.


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T#ISIAS 8ing as thou art free speech at least is mine

To ma2e reply6 in this I am thy peer.

I o0n no lord but *o4ias6 him I serve

And ne;er can stand enrolled as Creon;s man.

Thus then I ans0er: since thou hast not spared

To t0it me 0ith my blindnessthou hast eyes

7et see;st not in 0hat misery thou art fallen

(or 0here thou d0ellest nor 0ith 0hom for mate.

!ost 2no0 thy lineage1 (ay thou 2no0;st it not

And all un0itting art a double foe

To thine o0n 2in the living and the dead6

Aye and the dogging curse of mother and sire

"ne day shall drive thee li2e a t0oedged s0ord

)eyond our borders and the eyes that no0

See clear shall hencefor0ard endless night.

Ah 0hither shall thy bitter cry not reach

hat crag in all Cithaeron but shall then

&everberate thy 0ail 0hen thou hast found

ith 0hat a hymeneal thou 0ast borne

%ome but to no fair haven on the gale3Aye and a flood of ills thou guessest not

Shall set thyself and children in one line.

Flout then both Creon and my 0ords for none

"f mortals shall be stri2en 0orse than thou.

"#!IP$S ,ust I endure this fello0;s insolence1

A murrain on thee3 -et thee hence3 )egone

Avaunt3 and never cross my threshold more.

T#ISIAS I ne;er had come hadst thou not bidden me.

"#!IP$S I 2no0 not thou 0ouldst utter folly else

*ong hadst thou 0aited to be summoned here.

T#ISIAS Such am Ias it seems to thee a fool

)ut to the parents 0ho begat thee 0ise.

"#!IP$S hat sayest thou=parents=1 ho begat me spea21

T#ISIAS This day shall be thy birthday and thy grave.

"#!IP$S Thou lov;st to spea2 in riddles and dar2 0ords.

T#ISIAS In reading riddles 0ho so s2illed as thou1

"#!IP$S T0it me 0ith that 0herein my greatness lies.

T#ISIAS And yet this very greatness proved thy bane.

"#!IP$S (o matter if I saved the common0ealth.

T#ISIAS ;Tis time I left thee. Come boy ta2e me home.

"#!IP$S Aye ta2e him >uic2ly for his presence ir2s

And lets me6 gone thou canst not plague me more.


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T#ISIAS I go but first 0ill tell thee 0hy I came.

Thy fro0n I dread not for thou canst not harm me.

%ear then: this man 0hom thou hast sought to arrest

ith threats and 0arrants this long 0hile the 0retch

ho murdered *aiusthat man is here.

%e passes for an alien in the land

)ut soon shall prove a Theban native born.

And yet his fortune brings him little


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T0i4t the *abdacidan house and our ruler Polybus; son.

Proof is there none: ho0 then can I challenge our 8ing;s good name

%o0 in a bloodfeud


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A pri5e that follo0ers and 0ealth must 0in.

C"( Attend me. Thou hast spo2en ;tis my turn

To ma2e reply. Then having heard me uest 0as made but nothing learnt.

"#!IP$S hy failed the seer to tell his story then1

C"( I 2no0 not and not 2no0ing hold my tongue.

"#!IP$S This much thou 2no0est and canst surely tell.

C"( hat;s mean;st thou1 All I 2no0 I 0ill declare.

"#!IP$S )ut for thy prompting never had the seer

Ascribed to me the death of *aius.


15/39

C"( If so he thou 2no0est best6 but I

ould put thee to the >uestion in my turn.

"#!IP$S uestion and prove me murderer if thou canst.

C"( Then let me as2 thee didst thou 0ed my sister1

"#!IP$S A fact so plain I cannot 0ell deny.

C"( And as thy consort >ueen she shares the throne1

"#!IP$S I grant her freely all her heart desires.

C"( And 0ith you t0ain I share the triple rule1

"#!IP$S 7ea and it is that proves thee a false friend.

"REO# #ot so! if thou wouldst reason with thyself!As I 0ith myself. First I bid thee thin2

ould any mortal choose a troubled reign"f terrors rather than secure repose

If the same po0er 0ere given him1 As for me

I have no natural craving for the name

"f 2ing preferring to do 2ingly deeds

And so thin2s every soberminded man.

(o0 all my needs are satisfied through thee

And I have naught to fear6 but 0ere I 2ing

,y acts 0ould oft run counter to my 0ill.

%o0 could a title then have charms for me

Above the s0eets of boundless influence1

I am not so infatuate as to grasp

The shado0 0hen I hold the substance fast.

(o0 all men cry me -odspeed3 0ish me 0ellAnd every suitor see2s to gain my ear

If he 0ould hope to 0in a grace from thee.

hy should I leave the better choose the 0orse1

That 0ere sheer madness and I am not mad.

(o such ambition ever tempted me

(or 0ould I have a share in such intrigue.

And if thou doubt me first to !elphi go

There ascertain if my report 0as true

"f the god;s ans0er6 ne4t investigate

If 0ith the seer I plotted or conspired

And if it prove so sentence me to death

(ot by thy voice alone but mine and thine.

)ut " condemn me not 0ithout appeal

"n bare suspicion. ;Tis not right to ad


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Commend themselves6 s0ift counsels are not sure.

"#!IP$S hen 0ith s0ift strides the stealthy plotter stal2s

I must be >uic2 too 0ith my counterplot.

To 0ait his onset passively for him

Is sure success for me assured defeat.

C"( hat then;s thy 0ill1 To banish me the land1

"#!IP$S I 0ould not have thee banished no but dead

That men may mar2 the 0ages envy reaps.

C"( I see thou 0ilt not yield nor credit me.

"#!IP$S (one but a fool 0ould credit such as thou.

C"( Thou art not 0ise.

"#!IP$S ise for myself at least.

C"( hy not for me too1

"#!IP$S hy for such a 2nave1

C"( Suppose thou lac2est sense.

"#!IP$S 7et 2ings must rule.

C"( (ot if they rule ill.

"#!IP$S "h my Thebans hear him3

C"( Thy Thebans1 am not I a Theban too1

C%"&$S Cease princes6 lo there comes and none too soon

+ocasta from the palace. ho so fit

As peacema2er to reconcile your feud1 9#nter +"CASTA.

+"CASTA ,isguided princes 0hy have ye upraised

This 0ordy 0rangle1 Are ye not ashamed

hile the 0hole land lies stri2en thus to voice

7our private in


17/39

+"CASTA )elieve him I ad


18/39

C%"&$S &umors bred unuiet haven brought

"ur distracted State6 and no0

ho can guide us right but thou1

+"CASTA *et me too I ad


19/39

When $aius! its an&les pierced and pinnedTogether gave it to be cast a0ay

)y others on the trac2less mountain side.

So then Apollo brought it not to pass

The child should be his father;s murderer

"r the dread terror find accomplishment

And *aius be slain by his o0n son.Such 0as the prophet;s horoscope. " 2ing

&egard it not. hate;er the god deems fit

To search himself unaided 0ill reveal.

"#!IP$S hat memories 0hat 0ild tumult of the soul

Came o;er me lady as I heard thee spea23

+"CASTA hat mean;st thou1 hat has shoc2ed and startled thee1

"#!IP$S ,ethought I heard thee say that *aius

as murdered at the meeting of three roads.

+"CASTA So ran the story that is current still.

"#!IP$S here did this happen1 !ost thou 2no0 the place1

+"CASTA Phocis the land is called6 the spot is 0here

)ranch roads from !elphi and from !aulis meet.

"#!IP$S And ho0 long is it since these things befell1

+"CASTA ;T0as but a brief 0hile 0ere thou 0ast proclaimed

"ur country;s ruler that the ne0s 0as brought.

"#!IP$S " 'eus 0hat hast thou 0illed to do 0ith me3

+"CASTA hat is it "edipus that moves thee so1

"#!IP$S As2 me not yet6 tell me the build and height

"f *aius1 as he still in manhood;s prime1

+"CASTA Tall 0as he and his hair 0as lightly stre0n

ith silver6 and not unli2e thee in form.

"#!IP$S " 0oe is me3 ,ehtin2s un0ittingly

I laid but no0 a dread curse on myself.

+"CASTA hat say;st thou1 hen I loo2 upon thee my 2ing

I tremble.

"#!IP$S ;Tis a dread presentiment

That in the end the seer 0ill prove not blind.

"ne further >uestion to resolve my doubt.

+"CASTA I >uail6 but as2 and I 0ill ans0er all.

"#!IP$S %ad he but fe0 attendants or a train


20/39

"f armed retainers 0ith him li2e a prince1

+"CASTA They 0ere but five in all and one of them

A herald6 *aius in a mulecar rode.

"#!IP$S Alas3 ;tis clear as noonday no0. )ut say

*ady 0ho carried this report to Thebes1

+"CASTA A serf the sole survivor 0ho returned.

"#!IP$S %aply he is at hand or in the house1

+"CASTA (o for as soon as he returned and found

Thee reigning in the stead of *aius slain

%e clasped my hand and supplicated me

To send him to the alps and pastures 0here

%e might be farthest from the sight of Thebes.

And so I sent him. ;T0as an honest slave

And 0ell deserved some better recompense.

"#!IP$S Fetch him at once. I fain 0ould see the man.

+"CASTA %e shall be brought6 but 0herefore summon him1

"#!IP$S *ady I fear my tongue has overrun

!iscretion6 therefore I 0ould >uestion him.

+"CASTA ell he shall come but may not I too claim

To share the burden of thy heart my 2ing1

"#!IP$S And thou shalt not be frustrate of thy 0ish.

(o0 my imaginings have gone so far.

ho has a higher claim that thou to hear

,y tale of dire adventures1 *isten then.

,y sire 0as Polybus of Corinth and

,y mother ,erope a !orian6

And I 0as held the foremost citi5en

Till a strange thing befell me strange indeed

7et scarce deserving all the heat it stirred.

A roisterer at some ban>uet flo0n 0ith 0ine

Shouted =Thou art not true son of thy sire.=

It ir2ed me but I stomached for the nonce

The insult6 on the morro0 I sought out

,y mother and my sire and >uestioned them.

They 0ere indignant at the random slur

Cast on my parentage and did their best

To comfort me but still the venomed barb

&an2led for still the scandal spread and gre0.So privily 0ithout their leave I 0ent

To !elphi and Apollo sent me bac2

)aul2ed of the 2no0ledge that I came to see2.

)ut other grievous things he prophesied

oes lamentations mourning portents dire6

To 0it I should defile my mother;s bed

And raise up seed too loathsome to behold

And slay the father from 0hose loins I sprang.

Then ladythou shalt hear the very truth


21/39

As I dre0 near the triplebranching roads

A herald met me and a man 0ho sat

In a car dra0n by coltsas in thy tale

The man in front and the old man himself

Threatened to thrust me rudely from the path

Then uits 0ith him and more6 one stro2e

"f my good staff sufficed to fling him clean

"ut of the chariot seat and laid him prone.

And so I sle0 them every one. )ut if

)et0i4t this stranger there 0as aught in common

ith *aius 0ho more miserable than I

hat mortal could you find more godabhorred1

retch 0hom no so


22/39

(or can he no0 retract 0hat then he said6

(ot I alone but all our to0nsfol2 heard it.

#;en should he vary some0hat in his story

%e cannot ma2e the death of *aius

In any 0ise


23/39

9antistrophe @

(o more I;ll see2 earth;s central oracle

"r Abae;s hallo0ed cell

(or to "lympia bring

,y votive offering.

If before all -od;s truth be not bade plain.

" 'eus reveal thy might

8ing if thou;rt named aright

"mnipotent allseeing as of old6

For *aius is forgot6

%is 0eird men heed it not6

Apollo is forsoo2 and faith gro0s cold. 9#nter +"CASTA.

+"CASTA ,y lords ye loo2 ama5ed to see your >ueen

ith 0reaths and gifts of incense in her hands.

I had a mind to visit the high shrines

For "edipus is over0rought alarmed

ith terrors manifold. %e 0ill not use

%is past e4perience li2e a man of sense

To


24/39

,#SS#(-#& If I spea2 falsely may I die myself.

+"CASTA uic2 maiden bear these tidings to my lord.

7e godsent oracles 0here stand ye no03

This is the man 0hom "edipus long shunned

In dread to prove his murderer6 and no0

%e dies in nature;s course not by his hand. 9#nter "#!IP$S.

"#!IP$S ,y 0ife my >ueen +ocasta 0hy hast thou

Summoned me from my palace1

+"CASTA %ear this man

And as thou hearest


25/39

Such brainsic2 phantasies lives most at ease.

"#!IP$S I should have shared in full thy confidence

ere not my mother living6 since she lives

Though half convinced I still must live in dread.

+"CASTA And yet thy sire;s death lights out dar2ness much.

"#!IP$S ,uch but my fear is touching her 0ho lives.

,#SS#(-#& ho may this 0oman be 0hom thus you fear1

"#!IP$S ,erope stranger 0ife of Polybus.

,#SS#(-#& And 0hat of her can cause you any fear1

"#!IP$S A heavensent oracle of dread import.

,#SS#(-#& A mystery or may a stranger hear it1

"#!IP$S Aye ;tis no secret. *o4ias once foretoldThat I should mate 0ith mine o0n mother and shed

ith my o0n hands the blood of my o0n sire.

%ence Corinth 0as for many a year to me

A home distant6 and I trove abroad

)ut missed the s0eetest sight my parents; face.

,#SS#(-#& as this the fear that e4iled thee from home1

"#!IP$S 7ea and the dread of slaying my o0n sire.

,#SS#(-#& hy since I came to give thee pleasure 8ing

%ave I not rid thee of this second fear1

"#!IP$S ell thou shalt have due guerdon for thy pains.

,#SS#(-#& ell I confess 0hat chiefly made me come

as hope to profit by thy coming home.

"#!IP$S (ay I 0ill ne;er go near my parents more.

,#SS#(-#& ,y son ;tis plain thou 2no0;st not 0hat thou doest.

"#!IP$S %o0 so old man1 For heaven;s sa2e tell me all.

,#SS#(-#& If this is 0hy thou dreadest to return.

"#!IP$S 7ea lest the god;s 0ord be fulfilled in me.

,#SS#(-#& *est through thy parents thou shouldst be accursed1

"#!IP$S This and none other is my constant dread.

,#SS#(-#& !ost thou not 2no0 thy fears are baseless all1

"#!IP$S %o0 baseless if I am their very son1


26/39

,#SS#(-#& Since Polybus 0as naught to thee in blood.

"#!IP$S hat say;st thou1 0as not Polybus my sire1

'ESSE#(ER As much thy

sire as I am! and no more.

"#!IP$S ,y sire no more to me than one 0ho is naught1

,#SS#(-#& Since I begat thee not no more did he.

"#!IP$S hat reason had he then to call me son1

,#SS#(-#& 8no0 that he too2 thee from my hands a gift.

"#!IP$S 7et if no child of his he loved me 0ell.

,#SS#(-#& A childless man till then he 0armed to thee.

"#!IP$S A foundling or a purchased slave this child1

,#SS#(-#& I found thee in Cithaeron;s 0ooded glens.

"#!IP$S hat led thee to e4plore those upland glades1

,#SS#(-#& ,y business 0as to tend the mountain floc2s.

"#!IP$S A vagrant shepherd


27/39

,#SS#(-#& %e passed indeed for one of *aius; house.

"#!IP$S The 2ing 0ho ruled the country long ago1

,#SS#(-#& The same: he 0as a herdsman of the 2ing.

"#!IP$S And is he living still for me to see him1

,#SS#(-#& %is fello0countrymen should best 2no0 that.

"#!IP$S !oth any bystander among you 2no0

The herd he spea2s of or by seeing him

Afield or in the city1 ans0er straight3

The hour hath come to clear this business up.

C%"&$S ,ethin2s he means none other than the hind

hom thou anon 0ert fain to see6 but that

"ur >ueen +ocasta best of all could tell.

"#!IP$S ,adam dost 2no0 the man 0e sent to fetch1

Is the same of 0hom the stranger spea2s1

+"CASTA ho is the man1 hat matter1 *et it be.

;T0ere 0aste of thought to 0eigh such idle 0ords.

"#!IP$S (o 0ith such guiding clues I cannot fail

To bring to light the secret of my birth.

+"CASTA "h as thou carest for thy life give o;er

This >uest. #nough the anguish I endure.

"#!IP$S )e of good cheer6 though I be proved the son

"f a bond0oman aye through three descents

Triply a slave thy honor is unsmirched.

+"CASTA 7et humor me I pray thee6 do not this.

"#!IP$S I cannot6 I must probe this matter home.

+"CASTA ;Tis for thy sa2e I advise thee for the best.

"#!IP$S I gro0 impatient of this best advice.

+"CASTA Ah mayst thou ne;er discover 0ho thou art3

"#!IP$S -o fetch me here the herd and leave yon 0oman

To glory in her pride of ancestry.

+"CASTA " 0oe is thee poor 0retch3 ith that last 0ord

I leave thee henceforth silent evermore. 9#4it +"CASTA.

C%"&$S hy "edipus 0hy stung 0ith passionate grief

%ath the >ueen thus departed1 ,uch I fear

From this dead calm 0ill burst a storm of 0oes.


28/39

"#!IP$S *et the storm burst my fi4ed resolve still holds

To learn my lineage be it ne;er so lo0.

It may be she 0ith all a 0oman;s pride

Thin2s scorn of my base parentage. )ut I

ho ran2 myself as Fortune;s favorite child

The giver of good gifts shall not be shamed.

She is my mother and the changing moons

,y brethren and 0ith them I 0a4 and 0ane.

Thus sprung 0hy should I fear to trace my birth1

(othing can ma2e me other than I am.

C%"&$S 9strophe

If my soul prophetic err not if my 0isdom aught avail

Thee Cithaeron I shall hail

As the nurse and fostermother of our "edipus shall greet

#re tomorro0;s full moon rises and e4alt thee as is meet.

!ance and song shall hymn thy praises lover of our royal race.

Phoebus may my 0ords find grace3

9antistrophe

Child 0ho bare thee nymph or goddess1 sure thy sure 0as more than

man

%aply the hillroamer Pan.

"f did *o4ias beget thee for he haunts the upland 0old6

"r Cyllene;s lord or )acchus d0eller on the hilltops cold1

!id some %eliconian "read give him thee a ne0born


29/39

I as2 thee. ast thou once of *aius; house1

%#&!S,A( I 0as a thrall not purchased but homebred.

"#!IP$S hat 0as thy business1 ho0 0ast thou employed1

%#&!S,A( The best part of my life I tended sheep.

"#!IP$S hat 0ere the pastures thou didst most fre>uent1

%#&!S,A( Cithaeron and the neighboring alps.

"#!IP$S Then there

Thou must have 2no0n yon man at least by fame1

%#&!S,A( 7on man1 in 0hat 0ay1 0hat man dost thou mean1

"#!IP$S The man here having met him in past times...

%#&!S,A( "ffhand I cannot call him 0ell to mind.

,#SS#(-#& (o 0onder master. )ut I 0ill revive

%is blunted memories. Sure he can recall

hat time together both 0e drove our floc2s

%e t0o I one on the Cithaeron range

For three long summers6 I his mate from spring

Till rose Arcturus6 then in 0inter time

I led mine home he his to *aius; folds.

!id these things happen as I say or no1

%#&!S,A( ;Tis long ago but all thou say;st is true.

,#SS#(-#& ell thou mast then remember giving me

A child to rear as my o0n fosterson1

%#&!S,A( hy dost thou as2 this >uestion1 hat of that1

,#SS#(-#& Friend he that stands before thee 0as that child.

%#&!S,A( A plague upon thee3 %old thy 0anton tongue3

"#!IP$S Softly old man rebu2e him not6 thy 0ords

Are more deserving chastisement than his.

%#&!S,A( " best of masters 0hat is my offense1

"#!IP$S (ot ans0ering 0hat he as2s about the child.

%#&!S,A( %e spea2s at random babbles li2e a fool.

"#!IP$S If thou lac2;st grace to spea2 I;ll loose thy tongue.

%#&!S,A( For mercy;s sa2e abuse not an old man.

"#!IP$S Arrest the villain sei5e and pinion him3

%#&!S,A( Alac2 alac23


30/39

hat have I done1 0hat 0ouldst thou further learn1

"#!IP$S !idst give this man the child of 0hom he as2s1

%#&!S,A( I did6 and 0ould that I had died that day3

"#!IP$S And die thou shalt unless thou tell the truth.

%#&!S,A( )ut if I tell it I am doubly lost.

"#!IP$S The 2nave methin2s 0ill still prevaricate.

%#&!S,A( (ay I confessed I gave it long ago.

"#!IP$S hence came it1 0as it thine or given to thee1

%#&!S,A( I had it from another ;t0as not mine.

"#!IP$S From 0hom of these our to0nsmen and 0hat house1

%#&!S,A( Forbear for -od;s sa2e master as2 no more.

"#!IP$S If I must >uestion thee again thou;rt lost.

%#&!S,A( ell thenit 0as a child of *aius; house.

"#!IP$S Slaveborn or one of *aius; o0n race1

%#&!S,A( Ah me3

I stand upon the perilous edge of speech.

"#!IP$S And I of hearing but I still must hear.

%#&!S,A( 8no0 then the child 0as by repute his o0n

)ut she 0ithin thy consort best could tell.

"#!IP$S hat3 she she gave it thee1

%#&!S,A( ;Tis so my 2ing.

"#!IP$S ith 0hat intent1

%#&!S,A( To ma2e a0ay 0ith it.

"#!IP$S hat she its mother.

%#&!S,A( Fearing a dread 0eird.

"#!IP$S hat 0eird1

%#&!S,A( ;T0as told that he should slay his sire.

"#!IP$S hat didst thou give it then to this old man1

%#&!S,A( Through pity master for the babe. I thought

%e;d ta2e it to the country 0hence he came6

)ut he preserved it for the 0orst of 0oes.


31/39

For if thou art in sooth 0hat this man saith

-od pity thee3 thou 0ast to misery born.

OE)I*+S Ah me, ah me, all rought to pass! all true,

O light! may I ehold thee ne-ermore,

I stand a wretch! in irth! in wedloc& cursed!

A parricide! incestuously! triply cursed, E/it

OE)I*+S.0

C%"&$S 9strophe ?

&aces of mortal man

hose life is but a span

I count ye but the shado0 of a shade3

For he 0ho most doth 2no0

"f bliss hath but the sho06

A moment and the visions pale and fade.

Thy fall " "edipus thy piteous fall

arns me none born of 0omen blest to call.

9antistrophe ?

For he of mar2smen best

" 'eus outshot the rest

And 0on the pri5e supreme of 0ealth and po0er.

)y him the vulture maid

as >uelled her 0itchery laid6

%e rose our savior and the land;s strong to0er.

e hailed thee 2ing and from that day adored

"f mighty Thebes the universal lord.

9strophe @

" heavy hand of fate3

ho no0 more desolate

hose tale more sad than thine 0hose lot more dire1

" "edipus discro0ned head

Thy cradle 0as thy marriage bed6

"ne harborage sufficed for son and sire.

%o0 could the soil thy father eared so long

#ndure to bear in silence such a 0rong1

9antistrophe @

Allseeing Time hath caught

-uilt and to


32/39

hat !eeds ye soon must hear 0hat sights behold

%o0 0ill ye mourn if trueborn patriots

7e reverence still the race of *abdacus3

(ot Ister nor all Phasis; flood I 0een

Could 0ash a0ay the bloodstains from this house

The ills it shrouds or soon 0ill bring to light

Ills 0rought of malice not un0ittingly.

The 0orst to bear are selfinflicted 0ounds.

C%"&$S -rievous enough for all our tears and groans

"ur past calamities6 0hat canst thou add1

SE"O#) 'ESSE#(ER 'y tale is 1uic&ly told and 1uic&ly

heard.

Our so-ereign lady 1ueen 2ocasta3s dead.

C%"&$S Alas poor >ueen3 ho0 came she by her death1

S#C"(! ,#SS#(-#& )y her o0n hand. And all the horror of it

(ot having seen yet cannot comprehend.

(athless as far as my poor memory serves

I 0ill relate the unhappy lady;s 0oe.

hen in her fren5y she had passed inside

The vestibule she hurried straight to 0in

The bridalchamber clutching at her hair

ith both her hands and once 0ithin the room

She shut the doors behind her 0ith a crash.

=*aius= she cried and called her husband dead

*ong long ago6 her thought 0as of that child

)y him begot the son by 0hom the sire

as murdered and the mother left to breedith her o0n seed a monstrous progeny.

Then she be0ailed the marriage bed 0hereon

Poor 0retch she had conceived a double brood

%usband by husband children by her child.

hat happened after that I cannot tell

(or ho0 the end befell for 0ith a shrie2

)urst on us "edipus6 all eyes 0ere fi4ed

"n "edipus as up and do0n he strode

(or could 0e mar2 her agony to the end.

For stal2ing to and fro =A s0ord3= he cried

=here is the 0ife no 0ife the teeming 0omb

That bore a double harvest me and mine1=

And in his fren5y some supernal po0er

9(o mortal surely none of us 0ho 0atched him-uided his footsteps6 0ith a terrible shrie2

As though one bec2oned him he crashed against

The folding doors and from their staples forced

The 0renched bolts and hurled himself 0ithin.

Then 0e beheld the 0oman hanging there

A running noose ent0ined about her nec2.

)ut 0hen he sa0 her 0ith a maddened roar

%e loosed the cord6 and 0hen her 0retched corpse


33/39

*ay stretched on earth 0hat follo0ed" ;t0as dread3

%e tore the golden brooches that upheld

%er >ueenly robes upraised them high and smote

Full on his eyeballs uttering 0ords li2e these:

=(o more shall ye behold such sights of 0oe

!eeds I have suffered and myself have 0rought6

%encefor0ard >uenched in dar2ness shall ye see

Those ye should ne;er have seen6 no0 blind to those

hom 0hen I sa0 I vainly yearned to 2no0.=

Such 0as the burden of his moan 0hereto

(ot once but oft he struc2 0ith his hand uplift

%is eyes and at each stro2e the ensanguined orbs

)ede0ed his beard not oo5ing drop by drop

)ut one blac2 gory do0npour thic2 as hail.

Such evils issuing from the double source

%ave 0helmed them both confounding man and 0ife.

Till no0 the storied fortune of this house

as fortunate indeed6 but from this day

oe lamentation ruin death disgrace

All ills that can be named all all are theirs.

C%"&$S )ut hath he still no respite from his pain1

S#C"(! ,#SS#(-#& %e cries =$nbar the doors and let all Thebes

)ehold the slayer of his sire his mother;s=

That shameful 0ord my lips may not repeat.

%e vo0s to fly selfbanished from the land

(or stay to bring upon his house the curse

%imself had uttered6 but he has no strength

(or one to guide him and his torture;s more

Than man can suffer as yourselves 0ill see.

For lo the palace portals are unbarred

And soon ye shall behold a sight so sad

That he 0ho must abhorred 0ould pity it. 9#nter "#!IP$S blinded.

C%"&$S oeful sight3 more 0oeful none

These sad eyes have loo2ed upon.

hence this madness1 (one can tell

ho did cast on thee his spell pro0ling all thy life around

*eaping 0ith a demon bound.

%apless 0retch3 ho0 can I broo2

"n thy misery to loo21

Though to ga5e on thee I yearn

,uch to >uestion much to learn

%orrorstruc2 a0ay I turn.

"#!IP$S Ah me3 ah 0oe is me3

Ah 0hither am I borne3

%o0 li2e a ghost forlorn

,y voice flits from me on the air3

"n on the demon goads. The end ah 0here1

C%"&$S An end too dread to tell too dar2 to see.

"#!IP$S 9strophe ?


34/39

!ar2 dar23 The horror of dar2ness li2e a shroud

raps me and bears me on through mist and cloud.

Ah me ah me3 hat spasms ath0art me shoot

hat pangs of agoni5ing memory1

C%"&$S (o marvel if in such a plight thou feel;st

The double 0eight of past and present 0oes.

"#!IP$S 9antistrophe ?

Ah friend still loyal constant still and 2ind

Thou carest for the blind.

I 2no0 thee near and though bereft of eyes

Thy voice I recogni5e.

C%"&$S " doer of dread deeds ho0 couldst thou mar

Thy vision thus1 hat demon goaded thee1

"#!IP$S 9strophe @

Apollo friend Apollo he it 0as

That brought these ills to pass6

)ut the right hand that dealt the blo0

as mine none other. %o0

%o0 could I longer see 0hen sight

)rought no delight1

C%"&$S Alas3 ;tis as thou sayest.

"#!IP$S Say friends can any loo2 or voice

"r touch of love henceforth my heart re


35/39

For thou 0ert better dead than living blind.

"#!IP$S hat;s done 0as 0ell done. Thou canst never sha2e

,y firm belief. A truce to argument.

For had I sight I 2no0 not 0ith 0hat eyes

I could have met my father in the shades

"r my poor mother since against the t0ain

I sinned a sin no gallo0s could atone.

Aye but ye say the sight of children


36/39

"#!IP$S Ah me3 0hat 0ords to accost him can I find1

hat cause has he to trust me1 In the past

I have bee proved his rancorous enemy.

C"( (ot in derision "edipus I come

(or to upbraid thee 0ith thy past misdeeds. 9To )7STA(!#&S. )ut

shame upon you3 if ye feel no sense

"f human decencies at least revere

The Sun 0hose light beholds and nurtures all.

*eave not thus na2edly for all to ga5e at

A horror neither earth nor rain from heaven

(or light 0ill suffer. *ead him straight 0ithin

For it is seemly that a 2insman;s 0oes

)e heard by 2in and seen by 2in alone.

"#!IP$S " listen since thy presence comes to me

A shoc2 of glad surpriseso noble thou

And I so vile" grant me one small boon.

I as2 it not on my behalf but thine.

C"( And 0hat the favor thou 0ouldst crave of me1

"#!IP$S Forth from thy borders thrust me 0ith all speed6

Set me 0ithin some vasty desert 0here

(o mortal voice shall greet me any more.

C"( This had I done already but I deemed

It first behooved me to consult the god.

"#!IP$S %is 0ill 0as set forth fullyto destroy

The parricide the scoundrel6 and I am he.

C"( 7ea so he spa2e but in our present plight

;T0ere better to consult the god ane0.

"#!IP$S !are ye in>uire concerning such a 0retch1

C"( 7ea for thyself 0ouldst credit no0 his 0ord.

"#!IP$S Aye and on thee in all humility

I lay this charge: let her 0ho lies 0ithin

&eceive such burial as thou shalt ordain6

Such rites ;tis thine as brother to perform.

)ut for myself " never let my Thebes

The city of my sires be doomed to bear

The burden of my presence 0hile I live.(o let me be a d0eller on the hills

"n yonder mount Cithaeron famed as mine

,y tomb predestined for me by my sire

And mother 0hile they lived that I may die

Slain as they sought to slay me 0hen alive.

This much I 2no0 full surely nor disease

Shall end my days nor any common chance6

For I had ne;er been snatched from death unless

I 0as predestined to some a0ful doom.


37/39

So be it. I rec2 not ho0 Fate deals 0ith me

)ut my unhappy childrenfor my sons

)e not concerned " Creon they are men

And for themselves 0here;er they be can fend.

)ut for my daughters t0ain poor innocent maids

ho ever sat beside me at the board

Sharing my viands drin2ing of my cup

For them I pray thee care and if thou 0illst

" might I feel their touch and ma2e my moan.

%ear me " prince my noblehearted prince3

Could I but blindly touch them 0ith my hands

I;d thin2 they still 0ere mine as 0hen I sa0. 9A(TI-"(# and IS,#(#

are led in. hat say I1 can it be my pretty ones

hose sobs I hear1 %as Creon pitied me

And sent me my two darlings4 "an this e4

C"( ;Tis true6 ;t0as I procured thee this delight

8no0ing the


38/39

C"( Thou hast had enough of 0eeping6 pass 0ithin.

"#!IP$S I must obey

Though ;tis grievous.

C"( eep not everything must have its day.

"#!IP$S ell I go but on conditions.

C"( hat thy terms for going say.

"#!IP$S Send me from the land an e4ile.

C"( As2 this of the gods not me.

"#!IP$S )ut I am the gods; abhorrence.

C"( Then they soon 0ill grant thy plea.

"#!IP$S *ead me hence then I am 0illing.

C"( Come but let thy children go.

"#!IP$S &ob me not of these my children3

C"( Crave not mastery in all

For the mastery that raised thee 0as thy bane and 0rought thy fall.

C%"&$S *oo2 ye countrymen and Thebans this is "edipus the great

%e 0ho 2ne0 the Sphin4;s riddle and 0as mightiest in our state.

ho of all our to0nsmen ga5ed not on his fame 0ith envious eyes1

(o0 in 0hat a sea of troubles sun2 and over0helmed he lies3

Therefore 0ait to see life;s ending ere thou count one mortal blest6

ait till free from pain and sorro0 he has gained his final rest.

T5E E#)

Copyright statement:

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orld ide eb presentation is copyright 9C ?DDE@ !aniel

C. Stevenson eb Atomics.


39/39

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in any form. !irect permission re>uests to classicsGclassics.mit.edu.

Translation of =The !eeds of the !ivine Augustus= by Augustus is

copyright 9C Thomas )ushnell )S-.

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oedipus the king by sophocles

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