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

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CHORUS You both have spoken in anger. That’s not helpful. We have to figure out how best to do what the god asked us to do. TIRESIAS Although you are the ruler, we have equal power to speak. I am not a slave to you, but I serve Apollo. 410 I also am hardly in Creon’s service. You insult my blindness, but you, who are not blind, cannot see your own suffering, nor where you live, nor with whom. Do you know your parents You can’t see that you are the enemy of both those above and below the earth. One day, the deadly-footed, double-woven curse that comes from your father and mother will drive you from this land. You see now, but soon you will be in darkness. How the mountains and shadowy caves will echo with your screams when, 420 after having sailed into the port of your home, with winds at your back, you finally learn the truth about your marriage. But there’s worse to come, which you don’t even suspect, and it will destroy you and your children. You can blacken Creon’s name and mine as much as you like! No human being will ever be more utterly ruined, nor more cruelly, than you. OEDIPUS This is intolerable! I won’t hear another word! Go to hell! Get out of here and go home, NOW! 430 TIRESIAS I wouldn’t have come if you hadn’t sent for me. OEDIPUS If I’d known you would speak such nonsense, I’d never have brought you here. 24
TIRESIAS Nonsense Your parents thought me wise. OEDIPUS My parents Wait! Who are they TIRESIAS This one day will both birth and bury you. OEDIPUS Your words are all smoke and riddles. TIRESIAS Aren’t you the master of riddles 440 OEDIPUS You also insult my strength. TIRESIAS It’s that strength that ruined you. OEDIPUS I don’t care what you say, if I saved the city. I’ll leave. Boy, lead me. TIRESIAS OEDIPUS Yes. Take him away. You’re only a burden to me. Your departure will be good riddance to bad rubbish. TIRESIAS I’ve said what I came to say. I’m not afraid of you, because you can’t hurt me. 25
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 and 22: OEDIPUS But shouldn’t you tell me
Page 23: OEDIPUS You live in perpetual night
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),

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

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