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

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OEDIPUS You are right. But no man can force a god against his will. 280 May I say what I think second best CHORUS Tell me even third best. OEDIPUS CHORUS Tiresias’ sight is next to Apollo’s. We would get a clear answer if we asked him. OEDIPUS I’ve been busy there too. At Creon’s suggestion, we sent two men to bring him. I wonder why he’s not here yet. CHORUS For the rest, my lord, the story is all so vague and so old… OEDIPUS Tell it to me. I want to look at everything. 290 CHORUS They said some strangers on the road killed him. OEDIPUS I heard that too, but apparently no one saw who did it. CHORUS After hearing your curses, if there is any fear in him, he won’t wait long to confess. OEDIPUS 18
A man who’s not afraid to commit murder has no fear of words. Enter the blind TIRESIAS, led by a boy. Here’s the man who will find him; here comes the divine prophet, in whom alone truth makes its home. CHORUS OEDIPUS Tiresias, you know all things in heaven and earth, 300 those that can be taught, and those that cannot be spoken; although you cannot see, you know what disease infests our city. You can be our savior, the only man to rescue us. I don’t know if you heard, but Apollo told us when we asked him, that we would be free from this affliction only when we discovered the killers of Laius, and either executed them, or sent them into exile from this land. So share with us your messages from birds or anywhere else; 310 save yourself, the city, and me, from this plague that comes to us from this dead man. We depend on you: it is the noblest task of all for a man to use his gifts to help others. How terrible knowledge can be when it burdens the one who possesses it. I forgot this and should never have come. TIRESIAS OEDIPUS What do you mean You seem to have misgivings about coming here. TIRESIAS Let me go home. It will be best both for you and for me. 320 19
Page 1 and 2: Sophocles’ Oedipus Tyrannus Intro
Page 3 and 4: Sophocles was born at Colonus near
Page 5 and 6: his own destruction. There is the s
Page 7 and 8: First Performance: 6 th at Penn The
Page 9 and 10: A crowd led by Zeus’ PRIEST gathe
Page 11 and 12: PRIEST The news must be good; other
Page 13 and 14: CREON All those with the king died,
Page 15 and 16: And protect me from all harm. Just
Page 17: I forbid any citizen of this land o
Page 21 and 22: OEDIPUS But shouldn’t you tell me
Page 23 and 24: OEDIPUS You live in perpetual night
Page 25 and 26: TIRESIAS Nonsense Your parents thou
Page 27 and 28: I have nothing to say, Either to ag
Page 29 and 30: OEDIPUS It’s not wise to think yo
Page 31 and 32: OEDIPUS I don’t deny it. CREON Yo
Page 33 and 34: OEDIPUS All the same, I have to rul
Page 35 and 36: Anger hurts the angry man most of a
Page 37 and 38: death at his son’s hands. So much
Page 39 and 40: OEDIPUS Is he here now In the palac
Page 41 and 42: and killing my father Polybus, who
Page 43 and 44: Or touches what must not be touched
Page 45 and 46: JOCASTA What are you saying Oedipus
Page 47 and 48: OEDIPUS That would all be fine, if
Page 49 and 50: Yes. That’s what frightens me. ME
Page 51 and 52: That’s how you got your name, Oed
Page 53 and 54: Please. Listen to me. I beg you. Do
Page 55 and 56: CHORUS Yes. I recognize the man. Al
Page 57 and 58: OEDIPUS Don’t hit him! He doesn
Page 59 and 60: OEDIPUS And I, to hear it. But it m
Page 61 and 62: Time, the all-seeing, Has found you
Page 63 and 64: Terrible horror for both husband an
Page 65 and 66: OEDIPUS What is left for me to see,
Page 67 and 68: yes, you engendered the most shamef
Page 69 and 70:
from sickness or anything else: I w
Page 71 and 72:
CREON Tell me. I’ll listen. OEDIP
Page 73 and 74:
GLOSSARY Abae (A, as in add, -bee),
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1 Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus Introduced and Translated by ...

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