1 Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus Introduced and Translated by ...

We believe you were inspired by a god.
Whether that is true or not, 40
we have come to you for help once more.
Help us now.
You helped us then,
and now we need you again.
Don’t let it be said you saved us
only for destruction by a greater evil.
You are the lucky one: 50
share that luck now,
and make things right in a lasting way.
A king needs men to rule.
A ship is nothing without men to sail it,
and a city is the same.
OEDIPUS
I pity you.
I see that you are sick,
but no one is as sick as I am. 60
Each of you is sick individually,
but I am sick because I weep for the city,
for myself, and for you.
You have not awakened me from a deep sleep,
in which I had neither thought, nor tears for you;
in my mind
I have been wandering down many paths,
searching for different solutions.
This I think best: I sent Creon, my wife’s brother, 70
to Delphi, to Phoebus Apollo,
to ask what I can say or do to save the city.
It’s been such a long time since he left
that I’m worried about him, but when he returns,
I would be a worthless man
if I didn’t follow the god’s advice.
PRIEST
Timely said, my lord. Look, here comes the man himself.
OEDIPUS
I pray he will guide us like some bright eye 80
that sees the way to salvation.
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