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

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ut don’t accuse me without any proof. It is as wrong to call a bad man good as to call a good man bad. 610 I think if you get rid of a good friend, you destroy your own life as well. You will eventually learn: it is only time that reveals the just man, whereas the unjust one is discovered in a day. CHORUS If you want the opinion of a cautious man, lord, I think he has spoken well. Too swift a judgment is never safe. OEDIPUS A swift plot calls for swift action. To wait is to risk losing. 620 CREON What do you want To drive me from this land OEDIPUS No. I want you to die; exile’s too easy. To make an example of you to show where envy leads …. CREON You refuse to believe me, and nothing will persuade you You’re not making sense. Enough sense to satisfy me. You should also think of me. OEDIPUS CREON OEDIPUS You’re a traitor. CREON And if you are wrong 32
OEDIPUS All the same, I have to rule. CREON Not if you rule badly. O city, my city. OEDIPUS CREON It’s mine too, not yours alone. 630 CHORUS Stop, I see Jocasta coming from the palace just in time. Now, with her help, you can settle your quarrel. Enter JOCASTA. JOCASTA You foolish men, what are you thinking of to quarrel like this Aren’t you ashamed to air your private differences, when the city needs you in its present crisis [Turning to OEDIPUS] Oedipus, please go inside, and you, Creon, go home, and don’t make a small problem into something big. CREON Sister, your husband is threatening me with either death 640 or exile. OEDIPUS That’s right. Because I found him plotting to destroy me. I swear, if I have done anything you accuse me of, by the gods, may I be cursed forever. CREON, delivered with conviction JOCASTA Oedipus, believe him. That is a powerful oath, and we all heard it: the gods, me, and these people here. 33
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 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: OEDIPUS I don’t deny it. CREON Yo
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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