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

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Where has fate brought me CHORUS Into a terrible darkness, where nothing can be heard nor seen. Cloud of darkness, unspeakable visitor, Irresistible and carried by an evil wind… The pain of it! Pain again. The memory of what I have done Lays into me like a lash on open wounds. OEDIPUS CHORUS It’s no wonder after what has happened: You both suffer and cry out again and again. 1320 OEDIPUS Dear friend, you still help me, and stay to care for a blind man. Oh, yes, I know you’re there: you can’t hide. Although it’s all dark for me, I can hear your voice. CHORUS What a terrible thing you have done. How could you put out your eyes What demon inspired you OEDIPUS Apollo did it, Apollo, friends: He caused all this evil, this misery, and made me suffer. 1330 But it was me — My hand alone struck out my eyes. Why should I see I am a man for whom sight holds nothing sweet. I know. CHORUS 64
OEDIPUS What is left for me to see, or love, Or what words could be pleasant to hear Dear friends, Throw me out, throw me away, 1340 One who stinks of death, A man most hated and most cursed by the gods. You suffer both in mind and fate. I wish I had never come to know you. CHORUS OEDIPUS Damned be that shepherd Who released my feet from their cruel ties, 1350 Snatched me from death, and saved me. He did me no favor. If I had died, there would have been no suffering For those close, nor for myself. That would have been my wish also. CHORUS OEDIPUS I would not have killed my father, Nor be known as the husband of she who bore me. Now I am a godless man, child of cursed parents, 1360 A man who conceived children as siblings To those his own father had conceived. If there is an evil that surpasses evil itself, Oedipus claims it. Somehow you were ill-advised, Because you would be better off dead Than living as a blind man. CHORUS 65
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
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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 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: Terrible horror for both husband an
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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