Oedipus Tyrannus

Sophocles

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

  1. It was not my own: I received it from another.
Oedipus
  1. From whom of the citizens here? From what home?
Servant
  1. For the love of the gods, master, ask no more!
Oedipus
  1. You are dead if I have to question you again.
Servant
  1. It was a child, then, of the house of Laius.
Oedipus
  1. A slave? Or one of his own clan?
Servant
  1. Alas! I am on the brink of speaking the dreaded words.
Oedipus
  1. And I of hearing: I must hear nevertheless.
Servant
  1. You must know then, that it was said to be his own child. But your lady within could say best how these matters lie.
Oedipus
  1. How? Did she give it to you?
Servant
  1. Yes, my lord.
Oedipus
  1. For what purpose?
Servant
  1. That I should do away with it.
Oedipus
  1. Her own child, the wretched woman?
Servant
  1. Yes, from fear of the evil prophecies.
Oedipus
  1. What were they?
Servant
  1. The tale ran that he would slay his father.
Oedipus
  1. Why, then, did you give him to this old man?
Servant
  1. 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.
  2. For if you are what this man says, be certain that you were born ill-fated.