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

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OEDIPUS Say it again. I want to know exactly what you mean. TIRESIAS I say that you are the murderer you are looking for. OEDIPUS You won’t get away with saying this nonsense twice. Shall I go on and make you even angrier TIRESIAS OEDIPUS Go on, you can’t say anything that is more ridiculous than you already have. TIRESIAS I say you are blind to the filth in which you live, in the worst relationship possible with those who are closest to you! OEDIPUS Do you really think you can go on saying this If the truth counts for anything. TIRESIAS OEDIPUS Yes, but not for you. You are blind in your ears, 370 in your mind, and in your eyes. TIRESIAS It is too bad that you condemn me for something for which you will soon be accused. 22
OEDIPUS You live in perpetual night, so you can’t harm me or anyone else who looks on the day. I won’t bring you down. Apollo will. TIRESIAS OEDIPUS Is it you or Creon who is responsible for this plot. Creon’s not the problem, but you are. TIRESIAS OEDIPUS, to the chorus Dark and dangerous is the envy provoked by wealth and power, 380 and a skill that surpasses skill! My proof is that Creon, my trusted friend from the beginning, has been plotting against me, secretly, out of desire for the throne, which the city gave to me without my asking. Now he sets on me this charlatan who weaves plots, a beggar up to tricks, who only cares about lining his own pocket, but is blind in his craft. To Tiresias. If you had any talent, why didn’t you help free the citizens in their hour of need when the singing Sphinx set her riddles 390 Not anyone could solve those riddles! Some prophetic skill was needed, but you could find none from your birds or gods. No. I was the one, know-nothing Oedipus. I stopped her by using my brains, not nonsense from birds. And now it’s me you’re trying to throw out, thinking you’ll be a trusted advisor of Creon, 400 sitting on the throne that used to be mine. You will be sorry that you came up with this plan to “throw out the defilement.” If you weren’t an old man, I’d teach you the hard way for devising this scheme. 23
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 and 18: I forbid any citizen of this land o
Page 19 and 20: A man who’s not afraid to commit
Page 21: OEDIPUS But shouldn’t you tell me
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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