Oedipus Tyrannus

Sophocles

Sophocles the plays and fragments, Part 1: The Oedipus Tyrannus. Jebb, Richard Claverhouse, Sir, translator. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1887.

  1. And was there none to tell? Was there no travelling companion who saw the deed, from whom tidings might have been gained, and used?
Creon
  1. All perished, save one who fled in fear, and he could tell with assurance only one thing of all that he saw.
Oedipus
  1. And what was that? One thing might hold the clue to many, if we could only get a small beginning for hope.
Creon
  1. He said that robbers fell upon them, not one man alone, but with a great force.
Oedipus
  1. How then, unless some intrigue had been worked with bribes
  2. from here in Thebes, would the robbers have been so bold?
Creon
  1. Such things were surmised. But once Laius was slain no avenger arose in the midst of our troubles.
Oedipus
  1. But when royalty had fallen in this way, what trouble prevented a full search?
Creon
  1. The riddling Sphinx had forced us to let things that were obscure go, and to investigate the pressing trouble.
Oedipus
  1. I will start afresh, and once more make dark things plain. Worthily has Phoebus Apollo—and worthily have you—bestowed this care on behalf of the dead. And so, as is fitting, you will find me allied with you
  2. in seeking vengeance for this land, and for the god as well. I will dispel this taint not on behalf of far-off friends, but for my own benefit. For whoever killed Laius
  3. might wish to take vengeance on me also with a hand as fierce. Avenging Laius, therefore, I serve myself. Come, my children, as quickly as possible rise from the altar-steps, and lift these suppliant boughs. Let someone summon here Cadmus’ people, warning them that I will leave nothing untried.
  4. For with the god’s help our good fortune—or our ruin—will be made certain.
Priest
  1. My children, let us rise. What we came to seek, this man promises of his own accord. And may Phoebus, who sent these oracles,
  2. come to us as savior and deliverer from the pestilence.
The chorus of Theban elders enters.
Chorus
  1. O sweetly-speaking message of Zeus, in what spirit have you come to glorious Thebes from golden Pytho? I am on the rack, terror shakes my soul, O Delian healer to whom wild cries rise,
  2. in holy fear of you, wondering what debt you will extract from me, perhaps unknown before, perhaps renewed with the revolving years. Tell me, immortal Voice, child of golden Hope.
Chorus
  1. First I call on you, daughter of Zeus, immortal Athena,
  2. and on your sister, Artemis, guardian of our earth, who sits on her glorious throne above the circle of our market-place, and on far-shooting Apollo: oh shine forth for me, my three-fold help against death!
  3. If ever before you drove a fiery pest from our borders to stop ruin rushing upon our city, come now also!