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

ut died himself before he did.
From this point on,
I won’t take prophecy seriously.
OEDIPUS
You make good sense,
but be sure to send someone to bring the man here. 860
JOCASTA
I’ll send for him quickly.
Let’s go inside. I would not do anything you didn’t want.
Exeunt OEDIPUS and JOCASTA.
CHORUS
May my destiny lead me always
To be reverent and pure in both word and deed,
And follow the laws that come from on high:
They are born in the lofty heavens,
And only Olympus is their father.
No mortal nature theirs, 870
Nor does forgetfulness lull them to sleep.
There is a great God in these laws,
And He is ageless.
Pride breeds the tyrant.
Pride, if overstuffed
Beyond the proper and profitable,
Climbs up to the rooftop,
And plunges headlong into
Doom, sent by necessity,
Where feet are useless.
I pray that God 880
Never reverse the city’s fair triumph.
God will always be my protector.
But if someone walks disdainfully,
Arrogant in speech or action,
Careless of justice,
Without reverence for the gods,
May an evil fate seize him
For his misguided insolence
If he does not win his profit justly
Or restrain himself from unholy acts,
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