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

Apollo is right to make us investigate this murder
I’ll be an ally of the dead man,
and I’ll save this land and satisfy the god.
When I avenge this crime, I won’t only be helping
some distant acquaintance, I’ll also be helping myself.
Whoever killed him may want to attack me, 140
so in protecting him, I am protecting myself.
So take your branches and leave now,
and call all the people to an assembly;
I will do everything I can.
God will decide whether we succeed or fail.
PRIEST
Let’s go; we got what we came for.
May Apollo who sent this message be our savior
and stop this sickness ravaging our country. 150
Exeunt PRIEST, OEDIPUS, and CREON.
CHORUS
What lies behind this sweet-sounding oracle sent by Zeus
From Delphi, rich in gold, to shining Thebes
Why does this frighten me so
Why does my heart pound with terror
I am in awe of you, Apollo, healer from Delos 4 ,
Whom I now call upon.
What will you cause to happen
In the changing course of the seasons
Speak to me,
Immortal oracle,
Golden child of hope.
I call first on you, deathless Athena,
Daughter of Zeus;
And your sister Artemis, who guards the earth, 160
Famous for her round throne in the marketplace;
Then Apollo who shoots from afar:
May all three of you appear before me,
4 Leto gave birth to Apollo and his sister Artemis on Delos. Zeus was their father. Hera, Zeus’ jealous wife,
had forbidden any land to receive her and let her give birth. She finally found the wandering island Ortygia
(“quail island”), which was fixed with four pillars (no longer wandered) and renamed Delos (“visible”)
because it was where Apollo and Artemis first saw the light.
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