The Oedipus Trilogy

Translation by F. Storr, BA
Formerly Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge
From the Loeb Library Edition
Originally published by
Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA
and
William Heinemann Ltd, London
First published in 1912

To Laius, the King of Thebes, an oracle predicted that the child he would have with his queen Jocasta would kill him and marry her. So when a son was finally born, his feet were bound together and he was left to die on Mount Cithaeron. But a shepherd found the baby, took care of him, and gave him to another shepherd, who brought him to his master, the King of Corinth. Polybus, who had no children, adopted the boy, who grew up thinking he was the King’s son. Later, suspecting his true parentage, he asked the Delphic oracle and heard the same prophecy that had been given to Laius. Thus, he fled what he thought was his father’s house and, during his escape, he unwillingly killed his father, Laius. When he arrived at Thebes, he solved the riddle of the Sphinx, and the grateful people made him their king. He ruled in place of Laius and married the widowed queen. They had children, and Thebes thrived under his rule, but then a serious plague struck the city. Again, they consulted the oracle, which told them to rid themselves of blood-guilt. Oedipus condemned the crime he wasn't aware he committed and vowed to find the criminal. Bit by bit, it became clear that he was the one. The story concludes with Jocasta dead by her own hand and Oedipus blinded by his own actions, begging for death or exile.

Oedipus.
The Priest of Zeus.
Creon.
Chorus of Theban Elders.
Teiresias.
Jocasta.
Messenger.
Herd of Laius.
Second Messenger.

Suppliants of all ages are gathered around the altar at the palace entrance,
led by a PRIEST OF ZEUS. OEDIPUS enters to meet them.

OEDIPUS.
My children, the youngest born to old Cadmus,
Why are you sitting here as beggars, holding
Branches of olive wrapped with wool?
What’s with all this incense everywhere,
And the cries and prayers all around?
Children, it’s not right that I should hear
About this from others, so I’ve come here myself,
I, Oedipus, your famous king.
Hey! Old man, whose gray hair
Marks you as the spokesperson for this group,
Tell me what’s going on. Are you scared
Of some bad news, or are you asking for something good?
You can’t doubt my eagerness to help you;
I would be heartless and unfeeling
If I turned away such petitioners as you.

PRIEST.
Yes, Oedipus, my sovereign lord and king,
You see how both ends of age surround
Your palace altars—young ones barely able to fly,
And old men bent with years; I, a priest
Of Zeus, and these the cream of our youth.
Meanwhile, the common people, with wreathed branches
Crowd our two marketplaces, or gather before
Both shrines of Pallas, or where
Ismenus shares his oracles with fire.
For, as you see yourself, our ship of State,
Sorely battered, can no longer hold her head up,
Sunk beneath a crashing wave of blood.
There’s a blight on our crops in the field,
A blight on the grazing flocks and herds,
A blight on women giving birth; and on top of that
Armed with his blazing torch, the God of Plague
Has swooped down on our city, emptying
The house of Cadmus, and the dark realm
Of Pluto is filled with groans and tears.
     Therefore, O King, here at your hearth we sit,
I and these children; not thinking of you
As a new god, but as the first of men;
First in the common trials of life,
And first in the visitations of the Gods.
Aren't you the one who, coming to the town
Of Cadmus, freed us from the tribute we paid
To the cruel singer? You didn’t learn
From us or anyone else;
No, inspired by a god (so all men believe,
And testify) you renewed our life.
And now, O Oedipus, our unmatched king,
All we your followers implore you to find
Some help, whether by a voice from heaven
Whispered, or perhaps discovered through human wisdom.
Experienced counselors, I believe, are best suited
To provide for the future a meaningful plan.
Lift us up, O chief of men, lift our State!
Look to your laurels! For your past zeal
Our country’s savior you are rightly hailed:
O may we never record your reign like this:—
“He raised us up only to let us fall.”
Uplift us, build our city on solid ground.
Your fortunate star has brought us luck,
O let it not fade! If you wish to rule
This land, as you now reign, surely it’s better
To rule a populated land than a desolate one.
Neither walls nor ships will do any good,
If there are no men to man them and guards to protect them.

OEDIPUS.
Ah! my dear children, known, oh, known all too well,
The reason you’ve come here and your needs.
You’re all suffering, I know well, but my pain,
No matter how great yours is, overshadows it all.
Your sorrow affects each person individually,
Each one of you, but I grieve for everyone,
For the general situation as well as for you.
So don’t wake a sleepyhead from their dreams.
I've shed many tears, my children,
And wandered through countless heavy thoughts.
While considering this, I caught a glimmer of hope,
And followed it; I’ve sent Menoeceus' son,
Creon, my wife’s brother, to ask
The oracle at Delphi how I might save the State,
Through action or words.
Now I count the days since he left and wonder how he’s doing.
It’s odd, this long delay, really odd.
But when he arrives, I would be shameful indeed
If I don’t do everything the god instructs.

PRIEST.
Your words are perfectly timed; just as you speak,
That shouting tells me Creon is approaching.

OEDIPUS.
O King Apollo! I hope his happy expression
Is a sign of the good news he carries!

PRIEST.
As I guess, it's welcome; otherwise, his head
Would hardly be crowned with berry-covered laurels.

OEDIPUS.
We’ll find out soon; he’s close enough to hear us.
[Enter CREON]
My royal cousin, tell me, Menoeceus’ child,
What message have you brought us from the god?

CREON.
Great news, because even the worst troubles,
When resolved properly, lead to nothing but good.

OEDIPUS.
What does the oracle say? So far, your words
Don't give me any reason to feel confident or afraid.

CREON.
If you want to hear my message openly,
I’ll tell you directly, or we can go inside.

OEDIPUS.
Speak in front of everyone; the weight I carry
Is more for these people than for myself.

CREON.
Let me share everything the gods revealed.
King Phoebus commands us to completely eliminate
A horrible contamination that's affecting the land,
And to no longer tolerate a persistent wound.

OEDIPUS.
What does he mean by expiation? What’s wrong?

CREON.
Exile, or taking blood for blood.
This bloodshed is sinking our state.

OEDIPUS.
Who could he be talking about, this scoundrel he's calling out?

CREON.
Before you took over as leader,
The ruler of this land was Laius.

OEDIPUS.
I’ve heard a lot about him, but I've never seen the guy.

CREON.
He fell; and now the god’s command is clear:
Punish those who took his life, whoever they are.

OEDIPUS.
Where are they? Where in the vast world can I find
The distant, faint signs of a past crime?

CREON.
In this land, said the god; “those who seek will find;
Those who sit idle or sleep are blind.”

OEDIPUS.
Was he in the palace, out in the fields,
Or traveling when Laius met his end?

CREON.
He went away; he said he was headed
For Delphi, but he never came back.

OEDIPUS.
Is there no news, no traveler
to provide a clue that we can pursue?

CREON.
But one person who is fleeing for their life
Could share everything they saw except one thing for sure.

OEDIPUS.
And what was that? One clue could take us far,
With just a glimmer of hope to direct our search.

CREON.
He told us it was robbers, not just one bandit, but
A group of thieves who attacked and killed him.

OEDIPUS.
Did any robber take such a daring action,
Unless he was somehow hired from Thebes?

CREON.
So it was suspected, but no one was found to take revenge
for his murder amidst the chaos that followed.

OEDIPUS.
What kind of trouble could prevent a complete search,
When royalty has suffered such a terrible fall?

CREON.
The puzzling Sphinx forced us to put aside
The distant past and focus on present needs.

OEDIPUS.
Alright, I will start over and once again
Make the dark things clear. This is truly important
To Phoebus, and to you too, for the dead;
I, as is proper, will also lend my help
To right this wrong for Thebes and the god.
Not for some distant relative, but for myself,
I will remove this poison from our blood;
Because whoever killed that king might also
Aim to attack me with the same deadly hand.
So in making things right for him, I’m also helping myself.
Get up, children, hurry, leave these altar steps,
Put down your suppliant wands, go call together
The people of Thebes. With the god’s support,
We’re sure to succeed; failure would mean disaster.
[Exeunt OEDIPUS and CREON]

PRIEST.
Come on, everyone, let’s go; these kind words
Undermine the very reason we're here.
And may the god who delivered this message
Help us and free us from this trouble.
[Exeunt PRIEST and SUPPLIANTS]

CHORUS.
(Str. 1)
Sweet-voiced daughter of Zeus, from your golden Pythian shrine
          Carried to divine Thebes,
What do you bring me? My soul is tormented and filled with fear.
          (Healer of Delos, hear me!)
Do you have some pain we've never felt before,
Or are you renewing an old punishment with the passing years?
Child of golden Hope, you immortal voice, please tell me.

(Ant. 1)
First, I call on Athene; O goddess born of Zeus, protect us!
          Goddess and sister, be our ally,
Artemis, Lady of Thebes, high-seated in our market!
          Lord of the death-dealing arrow!
            I seek your threefold help
     To save our city from death and devastation.
If in ancient times, when we were near destruction, you drove
From our land the raging plague, be with us now and protect us!

(Str. 2)
     Oh, what countless sorrows I bear!
     Our entire community is suffering;
     My spirit lies defenseless.
     The earth denies her generous fruits;
     Women cry out in painful agony;
     Life after life collapses,
     Faster than a bird's flight,
     Faster than the power of the Fire-God,
     To the retreating shores of Night.

(Ant. 2)
     Wasted away by death upon death,
     Our entire city is perishing.
     Corpses spread disease all around;
     No one is left to care or mourn.
     Wives and grandmothers wail by the altar steps,
     Their long moans and piercing cries
     Mixing with prayers and chants.
     Golden child of Zeus, O listen
     Let your angelic face appear!

(Str. 3)
And grant that Ares, whose fierce breath I feel,
          Though without shield or weapon,
He stalks, whose voice is like a battle cry,
May turn in sudden retreat,
To the unwelcoming Thracian waters,
          Or to Amphitrite’s embrace.
     For what night leaves unfinished,
     Struck down by the morning sun
Perishes. Father Zeus, whose hand
Wields the lightning bolt,
Strike him down with your bold thunder, we pray,
          Strike him down, O strike!

(Ant. 3)
Oh, that your arrows too, Lycean King,
          From that taut bow’s golden string,
Might fly forth to defend our rights;
          Yes, and the dazzling lights
Of Artemis, with which the huntress moves
          Across the Lycian heights.
I also call upon you, with your golden hair,
          Whose name our land bears,
Bacchus, to whom your Maenads cry Evoe;
          Come with your bright torch, lead us,
               Joyful god whom we revere,
               The god whom other gods fear.

[Enter OEDIPUS.]

OEDIPUS.
You pray; that’s good, but if you listen to what I say
And pay attention to it, applying the remedy,
You might just find some comfort and relief.
Keep in mind, I speak as someone who is a stranger
To this situation, just like to the crime;
How could I possibly trace it back
Without a clue? Without that (since I was too late
To become a citizen of Thebes)
I make this proclamation to everyone:—
Thebans, if anyone knows the man who
Killed Laius, son of Labdacus,
I urge him to come forward and confess to me.
And if he hesitates, let him think that by
Confessing, he can escape a death sentence;
The worst punishment he will face
Is banishment—he will leave unharmed.
But if someone from another land
Is known to be the murderer,
Let that person speak up, and they will receive
Reward and my gratitude.
But if you remain silent, whether out of fear
For yourself or your friends, ignoring my command,
Listen to what I will do: I place a curse
On the assassin, whoever he may be.
Let no person in this land, over which I rule
As king, shelter or speak to him;
Do not include him in prayer or sacrifices
Or purifying rituals, but drive him out of your homes.
For this is our pollution, as the god
Recently revealed to me through oracles.
So, as their defender, I stand for both
The god and the murdered King.
And on the murderer I place this curse
(On him and all who share his guilt):—
May he suffer in complete misery!
And for myself, if with my knowledge
He enters my home, I hope
The curse I placed on others falls on me.
Make sure you follow all my commands,
For my sake, for the god’s sake, and for our land,
A wasteland ravaged by divine wrath.
For, aside from the god’s clear command,
It would be a disgrace for you to leave unpunished
The murder of a great man and your king,
And not trace it back to the perpetrator. And now that I am king,
Inheritor of his throne, his bed, his wife,
(And if he hadn’t been denied the hope
Of children, common offspring from one womb
Would have created a closer bond between him and me,
But Fate came crashing down on him), therefore I
Will act as his blood avenger and uphold his cause
As if he were my father, leaving no stone
Unturned to find the murderer and avenge
The son of Labdacus, of Polydore,
Of Cadmus, and the first of our lineage, Agenor.
And for those who disobey, I pray:
May the gods deny them both timely harvests
And fruitful wombs,
But may they waste away and suffer, just as they do now,
And worse; but for all of you,
My loyal subjects who support my actions,
May Justice, our ally, and all the gods
Be kind and watch over you forevermore.

CHORUS.
I accept your oath, sire, and I swear it.
I didn't kill him myself, nor can I identify
The killer. For the quest, it seems to me
That Phoebus, who brought forth the riddle, should
Reveal the answer—who the murderer is.

OEDIPUS.
Good point; but no one can expect
To make the gods speak when they don't want to.

CHORUS.
Can I then say what I think is the next best thing?

OEDIPUS.
Yeah, if there's a third-best option, tell me that as well.

CHORUS.
My lord, if anyone has the same vision
As our god Phoebus, it’s our prophet, lord
Teiresias; he is the one who can best lead
Someone looking for answers into the light.

OEDIPUS.
I've been just as eager here, because twice
At Creon's request, I've sent for him,
And I'm still wondering why he hasn't shown up.

CHORUS.
I also remember rumors from way back—
Just gossip.

OEDIPUS.
               Tell them, I really want to know everything.

CHORUS.
It was said he fell victim to travelers.

OEDIPUS.
                                   I heard that too,
But no one has seen the person who witnessed his fall.

CHORUS.
Well, if he knows what fear is, he'll tremble
And run away from the terror of your curse.

OEDIPUS.
Words don’t frighten someone who isn't afraid of actions.

CHORUS.
But here’s someone to accuse him. Finally,
They’ve brought in the god-inspired seer, who
Above all others, has the truth within him.
[Enter TEIRESIAS, led by a boy.]

OEDIPUS.
Teiresias, seer who understands everything,
Knowledge of the wise and hidden secrets,
High things of heaven and low things of the earth,
You know, even though your blinded eyes see nothing,
What plague is affecting our city; and we turn
To you, O seer, our only defense and shield.
The meaning of the answer that the God
Gave us when we sought his oracle,
The messengers have surely told you—how
Only one path can free us from this plague,
To find the murderers of Laius,
And either kill them or banish them from the land.
So don’t hold back on any prophecy
Or other insight that you have,
O save yourself, your country, and your king,
Save us all from this stain of bloodshed.
We rely on you. This is the highest purpose of man,
To use all his abilities in service to others.

TEIRESIAS.
Oh, what a burden it is to be wise
When wisdom brings no benefit! This old knowledge
I had forgotten; otherwise I wouldn't be here.

OEDIPUS.
What's wrong? Why do you look so down?

TEIRESIAS.
Let me go home; don’t stop me; it’s better
If you carry your own burden and I carry mine.

OEDIPUS.
For shame! No true-born Theban patriot
Would hold back the prophecy like this.

TEIRESIAS.
Your words, O king, are off the mark, and I
Worry that I might stumble like you...

OEDIPUS.
                                        Oh, please speak,
Don’t hold back, I beg you, if you know,
What you know. We are all asking for your help.

TEIRESIAS.
Yeah, because you’re all clueless, but I’ll never share my troubles—or yours.2

OEDIPUS.
So you know the truth, and still won’t say anything!
Are you really going to betray us and ruin the State?

TEIRESIAS.
I won’t bother myself or you. Why ask
So casually what you won’t learn from me?

OEDIPUS.
Monster! Your silence would annoy even a stone.
Will nothing make you speak? Can nothing move you,
Or break your stubborn silence?

TEIRESIAS.
You blame my mood and don’t see your own
With which you're paired; no, you criticize me.

OEDIPUS.
And who could keep their anger when they heard
How disrespectfully you mock the State?

TEIRESIAS.
Well, whatever is meant to happen will happen, even if I'm silent.

OEDIPUS.
Since it has to happen, you need to inform me.

TEIRESIAS.
I have nothing more to say; rage as you like,
And let loose all your bottled-up anger.

OEDIPUS.
Yeah, I'm angry, and I won't hold back my words,
But I will speak my full mind. I think you're the one,
Who planned the crime, yeah, and carried it out too,
Except for the murder; and if you
Hadn't been blind, I would have sworn for sure
That you alone did the bloody act.

TEIRESIAS.
Is that true? Then I urge you to stick to
Your own declaration; starting today,
Do not speak to these people or to me. You are the one,
You the cursed polluter of this land.

OEDIPUS.
You despicable liar, you throw out these insults,
And truly think you can escape without consequences as a prophet.

TEIRESIAS.
Yes, I am free, empowered by the strength of truth.

OEDIPUS.
Who taught you? It doesn't seem like your skills come from anywhere else.

TEIRESIAS.
You’re pushing me to speak against my will.

OEDIPUS.
What did you say? Say it again and clear up my confusion.

TEIRESIAS.
Did you miss my point, or are you trying to provoke me?

OEDIPUS.
I only partially understood what you meant; please say it again.

TEIRESIAS.
I say you are the murderer of the man
Whose murderer you are chasing.

OEDIPUS.
                              You will regret it
To repeat such a blatant lie twice.

TEIRESIAS.
Do I really need to say anything more to make you even angrier?

OEDIPUS.
Feel free to say whatever you want; it’ll just be a waste of breath.

TEIRESIAS.
I say you live with your closest family
In disgrace, unaware of your shame.

OEDIPUS.
Do you really think you can keep talking without any consequences?

TEIRESIAS.
Yes, if the power of truth can do anything.

OEDIPUS.
With other men, but not with you, because you
In hearing, understanding, sight, in everything are blind.

TEIRESIAS.
You foolish person to mock me when everyone
Here will turn your taunts back on you soon enough.

OEDIPUS.
Child of eternal Night, you have no control
Over me or anyone who sees the sun.

TEIRESIAS.
No, it’s not my fate to be defeated by you.
I leave what pertains to the god to Apollo.

OEDIPUS.
Is this Creon's scheme, or your own?

TEIRESIAS.
It's not Creon; you are your own worst enemy.

OEDIPUS.
Oh, wealth, power, and skills that outsmart
Me in the challenges of life,
What spite and jealousy follow you!
Look, it's for this crown that the State has given me.
A gift I never asked for, this crown
Has been set up by Creon, my close friend,
Who has schemed to replace me and used
This fraud, this trickster, this deceitful priest,
All for his own gain,
Sharp-eyed but completely blind to his own craft.
Tell me, have you ever shown yourself
To be a true prophet? When the riddle of the Sphinx was here,
Why didn’t you have a solution for these people?
The riddle couldn’t be solved by guessing;
It needed a prophet’s skill,
In which you were lacking; neither birds
Nor signs from the heavens helped you, but I came,
The simple Oedipus; I silenced her
With my own wit, without any prophecies.
This is the man you intend to betray,
Hoping to rule alongside Creon in my place.
I think you and your accomplice will soon
Regret your plan to push me out.
Be thankful for your grey hairs that you still have to learn
What punishment such arrogance deserves.

CHORUS.
To us, it seems that both the seer and you,
O Oedipus, have spoken harsh words.
This isn’t the time to argue but to discuss
How we can best fulfill the oracle.

TEIRESIAS.
As king as you are, at least I have the freedom to speak my mind
In response; in this, I am your equal.
I serve no one but Loxias; I won't ever be considered Creon's man.
So here's my answer: since you haven’t hesitated
To mock me for my blindness—you can see,
Yet you don’t realize the misery you’re in,
Nor where you live or who you’re with.
Do you know your family history? No, you don’t,
And you’re unknowingly a double enemy
To your own relatives, both the living and the dead;
Yes, and the haunting curse from your mother and father
Will one day drive you, like a double-edged sword,
Beyond our borders, and the eyes that now
See clearly will soon be plunged into endless darkness.
Ah, where will your bitter cries not reach?
What cliff in all Cithaeron won't echo your wail when you realize
With what a marriage you were brought
Home, but to no safe harbor, on the wind!
And a wave of troubles you don’t anticipate
Will line you up with your children.
Go ahead and mock both Creon and my words, for no one
Will suffer worse than you.

OEDIPUS.
Do I have to put up with this guy’s rude behavior?
Curse you! Get out of here! Leave
and don’t ever come back again.

TEIRESIAS.
I wouldn't have come if you hadn't asked me to.

OEDIPUS.
I don’t understand why you would say something so foolish, otherwise
you would have waited a long time to be called here.

TEIRESIAS.
That's how I appear to you—a fool,
But to the parents who gave you life, I'm wise.

OEDIPUS.
What do you mean by “parents”? Who gave birth to me, tell me?

TEIRESIAS.
Today will be both your birthday and your grave.

OEDIPUS.
You love to speak in riddles and vague words.

TEIRESIAS.
In solving riddles, who is as skilled as you?

OEDIPUS.
Mock me about what makes me great.

TEIRESIAS.
And yet this very greatness turned out to be your downfall.

OEDIPUS.
It doesn't matter if I saved the community.

TEIRESIAS.
It's time for me to go. Come on, kid, take me home.

OEDIPUS.
Yeah, take him away quickly, because his presence annoys me
And lets me; once he's gone, you won't be able to bother me again.

TEIRESIAS.
I'm leaving, but first let me explain why I’m here.
I’m not afraid of your anger, because you can't hurt me.
Listen: the man you’ve been trying to catch
With threats and searches for so long, the one
Who killed Laius—that man is here.
He seems like a foreigner in this land,
But soon he’ll show he’s a native Theban.
Even so, his fate brings him little happiness;
For though he can't see, he’s dressed like a beggar,
Once in royal robes, now leaning on his staff,
He’ll soon wander off to a foreign place.
And among the children in his home,
He’ll be revealed as both brother and father,
To the one who gave him a son and husband,
Co-partner, and killer of his own father.
Think about this, and if you find
That I’ve missed the mark, then declare
That I have no talent or skill in prophecy.
[Exeunt TEIRESIAS and OEDIPUS]

CHORUS.
(Str. 1)
Who is this immortal voice coming from Pythia’s rocky cave,
The one responsible for terrible acts of violence, horrors beyond words?
          He needs swift feet
          Faster than stormy horses,
          For right behind him follows,
Armed with the lightning of his Father, Apollo.
          Like hunting dogs too
          The Fates chase him.

(Ant. 1)
Yes, but now a call has come from Parnassus’ snowy peak,
“Search near and far for the unknown perpetrator of this murder!”
          Now, like a sullen bull, he wanders
          Through forest thickets and high hills,
          And he vainly tries to escape
          The fate that always hovers
          Over his head,
Still pursued by the avenging Phoebus,
          The divine voice,
          From Earth’s center.
(Str. 2)
I am greatly confused by the words of the master seer.
Are they true, are they false? I don’t know and hold my tongue for
   fear,
Filled with vague doubts; neither past nor future is clear.
I know nothing of an old quarrel or a recent dispute
Between the Labdacidan house and our ruler, Polybus’ son.
There is no proof: how can I then question our King’s good name,
How can I join a blood feud over an undiscovered shame?

(Ant. 2)
Both Zeus and Apollo are all-knowing, and nothing escapes their sight;
They are gods; and a man can outsmart his fellow men;
But that a mortal seer knows more than I do—where
Has this been shown? Or how, without clear signs, can I blame
The one who saved our State when the winged prophetess arrived,
Tested and tried in the light of us all, like gold assessed?
How can I agree now when a crime is pinned on Oedipus?

CREON.
Friends, fellow citizens, I've heard that King Oedipus
Has made a serious accusation against me,
And I've come to you to defend myself. If he thinks
That I have harmed him in any way,
By what I said or did during this crisis,
I don't want to live a life like that,
With my reputation so tarnished; because the slander
Doesn't just stain one aspect, it ruins my name,
If the public declares me untrustworthy to the State
And untrustworthy in your eyes, my friends.

CHORUS.
This insult might have been said in annoyance,
Not spoken thoughtfully.

CREON.
Did anyone actually think it was me
Who made the seer say a false accusation?

CHORUS.
People said these things; I'm not sure why.

CREON.
Wasn't he completely out of his mind
When he accused me of this outrageous crime?

CHORUS.
I don’t know; I’m blind to my ruler’s actions.
But look, he’s coming to speak for himself.
[Enter OEDIPUS.]

OEDIPUS.
Hey, what are you doing here? Do you think you can just walk up to my door, you shameless thief, my murderer and the one who stole my crown?
Come on, answer me this: did you find in me
Some hint of cowardice or foolishness
That made you think you could pull this off?
Did I seem too naive to notice
The snake creeping up on me in the dark,
Or too weak to strike it down when I did see?
You’re foolish to think you can take
The crown without followers or allies,
A prize that needs wealth and support to win.

CREON.
Listen to me. You’ve spoken, now it’s my turn
To respond. After you hear me, make your judgment.

OEDIPUS.
You're good with words, but I'm not quick to understand you; I know all too well your bitter hatred.

CREON.
First, I want to discuss this very point.

OEDIPUS.
Don't argue that you're not a crook.

CREON.
If you think being stubborn is a virtue,
Without learning from reason, you're really lost.

OEDIPUS.
If you think a relative can be harmed,
And there are no consequences, you're mistaken.

CREON.
You’re correct in your judgment, but tell me what wrongdoing
You’re talking about.

OEDIPUS.
Did you or did you not suggest that I
Should call the priest?

CREON.
                         Yes, and I stand by it.

OEDIPUS.
Tell me how long it's been since Laius...

CREON.
Since Laius...? I don't understand what you're getting at.

OEDIPUS.
Abducted.

CREON.
In the distant past, many years ago.

OEDIPUS.
Did the same prophet continue his work?

CREON.
Yes, skilled as ever and just as respected.

OEDIPUS.
Did he ever look at me back then?

CREON.
Not that I know of, not while I was there.

OEDIPUS.
But wasn’t there any investigation or inquiry?

CREON.
Surely, we searched thoroughly, but we didn’t learn anything.

OEDIPUS.
Why didn't the seer share his story then?

CREON.
I don’t know, and since I don’t, I’ll keep quiet.

OEDIPUS.
You know this much and can definitely tell.

CREON.
What do you mean? I'll share everything I know.

OEDIPUS.
If it weren't for your suggestion, the seer
would never have blamed me for Laius's death.

CREON.
If that's what you think, then you know best; but I'd like to ask you a question in return.

OEDIPUS.
Question me and prove I'm a murderer if you can.

CREON.
Then let me ask you, did you marry my sister?

OEDIPUS.
It's a fact so obvious I can hardly deny it.

CREON.
So, as your wife, she shares the throne?

OEDIPUS.
I willingly give her everything she wants.

CREON.
So I'm sharing the threefold power with both of you?

OEDIPUS.
Yes, and that's what shows you're a fake friend.

CREON.
Not at all, if you would think about it like I do. First, I want you to consider, would anyone choose a chaotic reign filled with fears over a secure and peaceful life, if they had the same power? As for me, I have no real desire for the title of king; I prefer to perform the duties of a king, and I believe most reasonable people think the same way. Right now, all my needs are met through you, and I have nothing to fear. But if I were king, my actions might often go against my own wishes. Why would a title appeal to me more than the benefits of having great influence? I’m not foolish enough to chase after the illusion when I already have the reality in my grasp. Right now, everyone is wishing me well and every suitor wants to talk to me if they hope to earn your favor. So why would I leave what’s better for what’s worse? That would be pure madness, and I am not mad. No such ambition has ever tempted me, nor would I get involved in such scheming. And if you doubt me, go to Delphi first, and check if what I said about the god’s answer is true. Then look into whether I plotted or conspired with the seer, and if it turns out to be true, sentence me to death—not just by your say-so, but by both our judgments. But oh, don’t condemn me without a chance to defend myself, based on mere suspicion. It’s not right to judge bad people as good or good people as bad randomly. I would just as soon a man throw away what he values most—his own life—than reject a true friend. In time, you’ll discover the truth, because time alone reveals what is just; a villain can be spotted in a day.

CHORUS.
To someone who speaks carefully, their words
Are valued; hasty advice can be risky.

OEDIPUS.
When the sneaky schemer moves quickly, I need to act fast with my own plan.
If I just sit back and let him come at me, it guarantees his win and my loss.

CREON.
What do you want? To kick me out of the country?

OEDIPUS.
I don’t want you banished, no, but dead,
So that people can see the consequences of envy.

CREON.
I see you won't give in or believe me.

OEDIPUS.
[Only a fool would believe someone like you.]3

CREON.
You are not wise.

OEDIPUS.
                    Wise for myself, at least.

CREON.
Why not me too?

OEDIPUS.
                    Why such a jerk?

CREON.
Suppose you lack sense.

OEDIPUS.
                              But kings must rule.

CREON.
Not if they govern poorly.

OEDIPUS.
                         Oh my Thebans, listen to him!

CREON.
Your Thebans? Am I not a Theban as well?

CHORUS.
Stop, leaders; look there, Jocasta is coming, and just in time,
Who better than her to make peace between you?
[Enter JOCASTA.]

JOCASTA.
Confused princes, why have you started
This pointless argument? Aren't you ashamed,
While the entire land is suffering, to air
Your personal grievances? Just go inside, my lord;
Go home, my brother, and stop turning
A small issue into a public scandal.

CREON.
My royal sister, Oedipus, your lord,
Has asked me to choose (Oh, what a terrible choice!)
An outlaw’s exile or a criminal’s death.

OEDIPUS.
Yes, madam; I caught him trying to use his dirty tricks against me, the king.

CREON.
Let me never succeed but die condemned if I
Am in any way guilty of this accusation.

JOCASTA.
Listen to him, I urge you, Oedipus,
First for the sake of his serious promise, then for mine,
And for the sake of your elders who are looking up to you.

CHORUS.
(Str. 1)
Listen, King, think about it, we ask you, but don't be stubborn—please give in.

OEDIPUS.
Tell me, what should I agree to?

CHORUS.
Respect a man whose honesty and loyalty
Are recognized by everyone and now solidified by promise.

OEDIPUS.
Do you know what favor you seek?

CHORUS.
                                   Yeah, I know.

OEDIPUS.
So say it and make your meaning clear.

CHORUS.
Don’t judge a friend who’s being gossiped about;
Don’t let doubt go against his promise.

OEDIPUS.
Do you realize that in pursuing this, you're actually searching for my death or exile?

CHORUS.
No, by the leader of the divine host!
(Str. 2)
Witness, you Sun, I never had such a thought,
May I perish alone and unblessed,
If I ever cherished such a wish!
But oh, my heart is broken
Thinking about our troubled situation,
If discord grows between you two,
It would only add to our misery.

OEDIPUS.
Alright, let him go, no matter the cost to me,
Whether it's certain death or humiliating exile,
For your sake I give in, not for him; and I will still hate him,
Wherever he is, my heart will always feel that way.

CREON.
You’re just as sullen when you give in
As you were aggressive when you were angry.
Those kinds of attitudes often hurt themselves the most.

OEDIPUS.
Leave me alone and go away.

CREON.
                                   I'm leaving,
Although you misunderstand me, I'm justified by these.
[Exeunt CREON]

CHORUS.
(Ant. 1)
Lady, take your partner inside; why wait here any longer?

JOCASTA.
First, tell me how the fight started.

CHORUS.
Rumors created unfair suspicion, and injustice hurts deeply.

JOCASTA.
Were we both at fault?

CHORUS.
                    Both.

JOCASTA.
                         What's the story?

CHORUS.
Don't ask me anymore. The land is really hurting;
It’s better to leave sleeping problems alone.

OEDIPUS.
That's an odd suggestion, my friend! I know you mean well,
But you still want to lessen and dull my passion.

CHORUS.
(Ant. 2)
King, I’ll say it one more time,
I would be foolish, crazy even,
If I easily dismissed
You, the support of my country,
The one who, in times of trouble,
Brought us to a safe place,
For our troubled State; and now
Who can lead us correctly but you?

JOCASTA.
Please, I beg you, let me know, O king,
What has caused this relentless anger.

OEDIPUS.
I will, because you mean more to me than they do.
Lady, the reason is Creon and his schemes.

JOCASTA.
But what started the argument? Make this clear.

OEDIPUS.
He accuses me of being Laius’ killer.

JOCASTA.
From his own knowledge or based on what he heard?

OEDIPUS.
He’s too clever to put himself in a position,
And he uses a deceitful seer as his spokesperson.

JOCASTA.
Then you can feel better about that.
Listen, and I’ll show you that no one
Has any stake in the gift of prophecy.
Here's the short version: An oracle
Once came to Laius (I won't say
It was from the Delphic god himself, just from
His messengers) saying he was doomed
To die at the hands of his own son,
A child that would be born to him by me.
Now Laius—at least that's the story—
Was killed one day by some robbers,
Not locals, at a spot where three roads meet.
As for the child, he was only three days old,
When Laius, with his ankles pierced and banded
Together, had him left to die
By others on the desolate mountainside.
So then Apollo made sure that didn't happen,
The child wouldn't be his father’s killer,
Or that terrible prophecy would come true,
And Laius would be slain by his own son.
That was the prophet’s prediction. Oh king,
Don’t take it to heart. Whatever the god wants
To reveal, he will show it on his own.

OEDIPUS.
What memories, what wild chaos of the spirit
Hit me, lady, as I listened to you speak!

JOCASTA.
What do you mean? What has shocked and startled you?

OEDIPUS.
I thought I heard you say that Laius
Was killed at the crossroads.

JOCASTA.
So goes the story that's still being told today.

OEDIPUS.
Where did this happen? Do you know the place?

JOCASTA.
The land is called Phocis; this is where
The side roads from Delphi and Daulis meet.

OEDIPUS.
And how long ago did these events happen?

JOCASTA.
It was only a short time after you were declared
Our country's ruler that the news arrived.

OEDIPUS.
O Zeus, what have you decided to do with me!

JOCASTA.
What's wrong, Oedipus?

OEDIPUS.
Don't ask me yet; tell me about the build and height
Of Laius. Was he still in the prime of his life?

JOCASTA.
He was tall, and his hair was sprinkled with silver; and he looked somewhat like you.

OEDIPUS.
Oh no! I think I just placed a terrible curse on myself without realizing it.

JOCASTA.
What do you say? When I look at you, my king,
I feel scared.

OEDIPUS.
It’s a scary feeling
That in the end, the seer won't be blind after all.
Just one more question to clear my doubt.

JOCASTA.
I’m scared, but go ahead and ask, and I’ll answer everything.

OEDIPUS.
Did he have just a few attendants or a group
Of armed followers with him, like a prince?

JOCASTA.
There were only five of them, and one of them
Was a messenger; Laius rode in a mule cart.

OEDIPUS.
Unfortunately, it's as obvious as daylight now. But tell me,
Lady, who brought this news to Thebes?

JOCASTA.
A serf, the only survivor who came back.

OEDIPUS.
Maybe he's nearby or in the house?

JOCASTA.
No, because as soon as he came back and saw
You ruling in place of the dead Laius,
He grabbed my hand and begged me
To send him to the Alps and the pastures, where
He could be farthest from the view of Thebes.
So I sent him. He was a loyal servant
And truly deserved a better reward.

OEDIPUS.
Get him here right away. I really want to see the guy.

JOCASTA.
He will be brought; but why call for him?

OEDIPUS.
Lady, I'm afraid I spoke without thinking;
so I would like to ask him a question.

JOCASTA.
Alright, he will come, but can I not also share
the weight of your heart, my king?

OEDIPUS.
And you won't be disappointed in your wish.
Now my thoughts have gone this far.
Who has a better claim than you to hear
My story of terrible adventures? So listen.
My father was Polybus of Corinth, and
My mother Merope, a Dorian;
I was known as the leading citizen,
Until something strange happened to me, very strange,
Yet hardly deserving all the fuss it caused.
A loudmouth at a banquet, high on wine,
Screamed “You’re not really your father’s son.”
It bothered me, but I put up with the insult
For the time being; the next day I went to
My mother and father and questioned them.
They were furious at the random slander
On my parentage and did their best
To comfort me, but still the nasty insinuation
Stung, as the rumor continued to spread.
So secretly, without telling them, I went
To Delphi, and Apollo sent me back
Denied the knowledge I came to find.
But he prophesized other dire things,
Grief, lamentations, mourning, terrible portents;
Specifically that I would dishonor my mother,
And have children too awful to look at,
And kill the father from whom I came.
Then, lady — you will hear the absolute truth —
As I approached the triple-forked roads,
A herald met me along with a man who sat
In a chariot pulled by colts — just like in your story —
The man in front and the old man himself
Threatened to push me roughly off the road,
Then jostled by the charioteer in anger
I hit him, and the old man, seeing this,
Watched until I passed, then from his chariot
Struck me hard on the head with a goad.
Yet I was even with him and more; one hit
From my sturdy staff was enough to throw him
Right out of the chariot and lay him flat.
And so I killed every one of them. But if
This stranger had anything in common
With Laius, who could be more miserable than I?
What person could you find more hated by the gods?
A wretch whom no traveler, no citizen
May shelter or speak to, whom all are bound
To drive from their homes. And this same curse
Was placed upon me, and none but me did it.
Yes, with these bloody hands I defile
The bed of the man I killed. Am I vile?
Am I not completely unclean, a wretch
Doomed to be exiled, and during my exile
To forfeit the sight of all my loved ones,
And never set foot again on my native soil;
Or else to marry my mother and kill my father,
Polybus, who fathered me and raised me?
If someone were to say, this is the doing
Of some cruel power, who could blame
His judgment? But, you pure and terrible gods,
Please forbid, forbid that I should see that day!
May I be erased from the living
Before such a plague spot marks me!

CHORUS.
We too, O king, are worried; but until you
Have questioned the survivor, keep hoping.

OEDIPUS.
My hope is weak, but there's still enough left
To make me wait for the arrival of this crowd.

JOCASTA.
Imagine he's here, what would you want to know from him?

OEDIPUS.
I’ll tell you, lady; if his story matches
yours, I’ll have avoided disaster.

JOCASTA.
And what important thing did I say?

OEDIPUS.
In your account of what the herdsman said,
Laius was killed by thieves; now if he
Still talks about thieves, not a single robber, I
Did not kill him; “one” can’t equal “many.”
But if he mentions one lone traveler,
The final piece of evidence against me is created.

JOCASTA.
Well, just so you know, his story started off like this,
And he can't take back what he said back then;
Not just me, but everyone in our town heard it.
Even if he changes his story a bit,
He can't make Laius's death match the oracle.
For Loxias clearly said he was fated
To die by my child's hand, but he, poor baby,
Didn’t shed any blood; he died himself first.
So much for prophecy. From now on I
Won't look for signs anymore.

OEDIPUS.
You reason well. Still, I'd like you to go and get the servant here. Make sure it happens.

JOCASTA.
I’ll do that right away. Come, let’s go inside.
I wouldn’t want to do anything my husband doesn’t approve of.
[Exeunt OEDIPUS and JOCASTA]

CHORUS.
(Str. 1)
Let my fate always be
     To lead a life of innocence and avoid
Disrespect in thought or action,
     To continue following those laws set above
Whose origins lie in the bright sky
     No mortal birth they claim,
     Olympus alone is their source:
They will never rest in cold oblivion,
The god within them is strong and never ages.

(Ant. 1)
     Insolence breeds
The tyrant; a full-blown arrogance,
     Satisfied with empty riches,
Climbs the steep peak and seizes the throne.
     But then it falls apart and lies in ruin;
     No support on that dizzy height.
But oh, may Heaven protect the true patriot
Who burns with eager passion to serve the State.
God is my help and hope; I wait on him.

(Str. 2)
But the proud sinner, whether in word or action,
     Who ignores Justice,
     And does not honor the shrine
     Of divine images,
Perdition take his empty fantasies,
     If, driven by greedy desires,
     He reaches for ill-gotten gains,
And lays a sinful hand on sacred things.
     Who when such acts are done
     Can expect to avoid heaven’s wrath?
If sin like this can seek honor,
Why do I still dance and lead the sacred choir?

(Ant. 2)
No longer will I seek the earth’s central oracle,
     Or the holy cell of Abae,
     Nor will I bring
     My votive offering to Olympia.
If God’s truth is not made clear first.
     Oh Zeus, show your power,
     King, if that’s your true name,
All-powerful, all-seeing, as you were before;
     For Laius is forgotten;
     His fate goes unnoticed;
Apollo is abandoned and faith is growing weak.
[Enter JOCASTA.]

JOCASTA.
My lords, you look surprised to see your queen
Holding wreaths and gifts of incense in her hands.
I wanted to visit the high shrines,
Because Oedipus is overwhelmed, worried
With many fears. He won't use
His past experiences, like a sensible person,
To assess the present situation, but instead listens
To any pessimist who predicts bad things.
Since my advice isn’t helping, I turn
To you, our present help in times of trouble,
Apollo, Lord Lycean, and to you
I bring my prayers and pleas.
Relieve us, lord, and cleanse us from this curse!
For now we are all frightened like sailors
Who see their captain stunned in the storm.
[Enter Corinthian MESSENGER.]

MESSENGER.
My lords, please tell me where Oedipus's palace is
Or even better, where can I find the king?

CHORUS.
Here is the palace, and he stays inside;
This is his queen, the mother of his kids.

MESSENGER.
May all happiness be with her and the home,
Blessed is her husband and their marriage bed.

JOCASTA.
Hello, stranger; your kind words
Deserve a similar reply. But tell me why
You've come—what do you need or what news do you have?

MESSENGER.
Good for your partner and the royal family.

JOCASTA.
What could this be? Whose messenger are you?

MESSENGER.
The people of the Isthmus have decided to make
your husband king—that's what was reported there.

JOCASTA.
What! Is old Polybus not king anymore?

MESSENGER.
No, really; he’s dead and buried.

JOCASTA.
What! Is he dead, the father of Oedipus?

MESSENGER.
If I lie, may I die myself.

JOCASTA.
Hurry, girl, take this news to my husband.
Oh, divine oracles, where are you now?
This is the man Oedipus feared for so long,
Terrified to find out he was the killer; and now
He passes away naturally, not by his own doing.
[Enter OEDIPUS.]

OEDIPUS.
My wife, my queen, Jocasta, why have you
Called me from my palace?

JOCASTA.
                              Listen to this man,
And as you listen, consider what has happened
To all those amazing prophecies.

OEDIPUS.
Who is this guy, and what news does he have for me?

JOCASTA.
He’s from Corinth, and he has this message:
Your father Polybus has died.

OEDIPUS.
What? I want to hear it directly from you, stranger.

MESSENGER.
If I have to make it absolutely clear
My message is that Polybus is dead.

OEDIPUS.
By betrayal, or by illness struck?

MESSENGER.
A single touch will send an old man to his final rest.

OEDIPUS.
So he died from some illness, poor guy.

MESSENGER.
Yes, having counted all the years.

OEDIPUS.
Forget it, lady! Why should anyone care
About the Pythian shrine or the birds screaming in the sky?
Didn’t they say I was doomed to kill
My father? But he’s dead and buried
And here I am, never having drawn a sword;
Unless my father’s desire for his missing son
Killed him, and so in a way I am responsible.
But as it stands, the prophecies are meaningless—
Just dust, ashes, nothing, dead like Polybus.

JOCASTA.
Didn’t I predict this a long time ago?

OEDIPUS.
You did: but I was led astray by my fear.

JOCASTA.
Then I won't burden your soul any longer.

OEDIPUS.
Shouldn't I be worried about my mother's marriage bed?

JOCASTA.
Why should a mortal man, just a plaything of fate,
With no certain knowledge of what's to come, be afraid?
It's better to live a carefree life, taking things as they come.
Don’t be afraid of this marriage to your mother.
How often it happens that a man dreams
He's married to his mother! The one who cares the least
About such crazy ideas tends to live the easiest life.

OEDIPUS.
I would have fully shared your trust,
If my mother weren't alive; since she's here,
Even if I'm partly convinced, I still have to live in fear.

JOCASTA.
And yet your father's death brings a lot of darkness.

OEDIPUS.
A lot, but I'm worried about her who is alive.

MESSENGER.
Who is this woman that you fear so much?

OEDIPUS.
Merope, stranger, wife of Polybus.

MESSENGER.
And what about her could make you afraid?

OEDIPUS.
A terrifying prophecy from the gods.

MESSENGER.
A mystery, or can a stranger hear it?

OEDIPUS.
Yeah, it’s no secret. Loxias once predicted
That I would marry my own mother and kill
My father with my own hands.
So, for many years, Corinth felt like a far-off home to me,
And I traveled far and wide,
But missed the most precious sight, my parents’ faces.

MESSENGER.
Was this the fear that drove you away from home?

OEDIPUS.
Yeah, and the fear of killing my own father.

MESSENGER.
Why, since I came to bring you joy, King,
Haven't I freed you from this second worry?

OEDIPUS.
Well, you'll get the proper reward for your efforts.

MESSENGER.
Well, I admit the main reason I came
Was the hope to benefit from your return home.

OEDIPUS.
No, I will never go near my parents again.

MESSENGER.
My son, it's clear you don't understand what you're doing.

OEDIPUS.
What do you mean, old man? Please tell me everything.

MESSENGER.
If this is why you’re afraid to come back.

OEDIPUS.
Yeah, so that the god's word isn't fulfilled in me.

MESSENGER.
So that you won’t be cursed because of your parents?

OEDIPUS.
This is my one true fear.

MESSENGER.
Don't you know your fears are completely unfounded?

OEDIPUS.
How ridiculous if I'm actually their son?

MESSENGER.
Since Polybus was not related to you by blood.

OEDIPUS.
What do you say? Wasn't Polybus my father?

MESSENGER.
I’m as much your father as I am, and not any more.

OEDIPUS.
Is my father nothing more to me than someone who doesn’t matter?

MESSENGER.
Since I didn't father you, neither did he.

OEDIPUS.
Why did he call me his son then?

MESSENGER.
Know that he took you from my hands, a gift.

OEDIPUS.
Still, if he wasn't my child, he cared for me a lot.

MESSENGER.
A man who had no children until then, he grew fond of you.

OEDIPUS.
Is this child a foundling or a bought slave?

MESSENGER.
I found you in the wooded valleys of Cithaeron.

OEDIPUS.
What made you want to check out those hillside areas?

MESSENGER.
My job was to take care of the mountain flocks.

OEDIPUS.
A wandering shepherd traveling for work?

MESSENGER.
True, but your savior in that moment, my son.

OEDIPUS.
My savior? From what danger? What was wrong with me back then?

MESSENGER.
Those ankle joints are enough evidence.

OEDIPUS.
Ah, why bring up that old wound?

MESSENGER.
I removed the pin that held your feet.

OEDIPUS.
Yes, from my birth, I've carried that terrible mark.

MESSENGER.
Where do you get the name that still belongs to you?

OEDIPUS.
Who did it? I urge you, tell me who
Come on, was it my father or my mother?

MESSENGER.
                              I don't know.
The man who gave you to me might know more.

OEDIPUS.
What, did someone else discover me, not you?

MESSENGER.
Not me; another shepherd gave me to you.

OEDIPUS.
Who was he? Do you want to know about the man again?

MESSENGER.
He was considered one of Laius’ family.

OEDIPUS.
The king who ruled the land ages ago?

MESSENGER.
Same here: he was a king's shepherd.

OEDIPUS.
Is he still alive for me to see him?

MESSENGER.
His fellow countrymen should know that best.

OEDIPUS.
Does anyone here know
The herd he’s talking about, or seen him
In the fields or in the city? Speak up!
It’s time to sort this out.

CHORUS.
I think he means none other than the servant
Whom you wanted to see soon; but that
Our queen Jocasta could explain the best.

OEDIPUS.
Ma'am, do you know the man we sent to get?
Is he the same person the stranger is talking about?

JOCASTA.
Who is the man? Who cares? Forget it.
It would be a waste of time to consider such meaningless talk.

OEDIPUS.
No, with these guiding clues, I can't fail
To uncover the secret of my origin.

JOCASTA.
Oh, as you value your life, give up
This search. I've had enough of the pain I endure.

OEDIPUS.
Stay positive; even if I turn out to be the son
Of a slave woman, yes, three generations
A slave myself, your honor remains untouched.

JOCASTA.
But please, listen to me; don’t do this.

OEDIPUS.
I can't; I need to dig into this issue thoroughly.

JOCASTA.
I'm giving you this advice for your own good.

OEDIPUS.
I'm getting frustrated with this so-called good advice.

JOCASTA.
Oh, may you never find out who you are!

OEDIPUS.
Go get me the herd and leave that woman
To bask in her pride of her lineage.

JOCASTA.
Oh, what a tragedy for you, poor soul! With that last word
I leave you, forever silent from now on.
[Exit JOCASTA]

CHORUS.
Why, Oedipus, why are you filled with such deep sorrow?
Why has the queen left like this? I worry
That from this stillness, a storm of troubles will come.

OEDIPUS.
Let the storm hit, my determination is strong,
I want to know my roots, no matter how humble they are.
Maybe she, with all her pride as a woman,
Looks down on my lowly background. But I
See myself as the favorite of Fortune,
The giver of good things, and I won't be ashamed.
She is my mother and the changing moons
Are my siblings, and together we rise and fall.
So why should I be afraid to discover where I come from?
Nothing can change who I am.

CHORUS.
(Str.)
If my soul isn’t mistaken and my wisdom means anything,
          I will greet you, Cithaeron,
As the caretaker and guardian of our Oedipus,
Before tomorrow’s full moon rises, and honor you as you deserve.
Dance and song will celebrate your praises, lover of our royal blood.
          Phoebus, I hope my words resonate well!

(Ant.)
Child, who gave birth to you, nymph or goddess? Surely your parent was more than
a man,
          Perhaps the hill-dwelling Pan.
Or was it Loxias who fathered you, since he roams the highlands;
Or Cyllene’s lord, or Bacchus, who lives on the cold hilltops?
Did some Heliconian Oread gift him you, a newborn delight?
          Nymphs with whom he loved to play?

OEDIPUS.
Elders, if I, who have never met this man before,
Can take a guess, I think
I see the herdsman we’ve been looking for;
His worn appearance matches the years
Of that old messenger; also,
I think I recognize the men bringing him
As my own servants. But you, perhaps,
Having known or seen the herd in the past,
Can confirm my guess better than I can.

CHORUS.
I know him; he's from Laius' family;
A humble servant, but as honest as anyone.
[Enter HERDSMAN.]

OEDIPUS.
Hey there, stranger from Corinth, I’m talking to you first,
Is this the guy you're referring to?

MESSENGER.
                              This is me.

OEDIPUS.
Now, old man, look up and answer everything
I’m asking you. Were you once part of Laius’ family?

HERDSMAN.
I was a servant, not bought but raised at home.

OEDIPUS.
What were you doing? How were you occupied?

HERDSMAN.
The best part of my life, I took care of sheep.

OEDIPUS.
What pastures did you visit the most?

HERDSMAN.
Cithaeron and the nearby mountains.

OEDIPUS.
                                   Then there
You must have heard of that man, at least?

HERDSMAN.
That guy? What do you mean? Which guy are you talking about?

OEDIPUS.
The man here, having encountered him before...

HERDSMAN.
I can't really remember him off the top of my head.

MESSENGER.
No surprise there, master. But I’ll bring back
His dulled memories. He should be able to remember
The time we spent together herding our flocks,
He had two, I had one, on the Cithaeron range,
For three long summers; I was with him from spring
Until Arcturus rose; then in the winter,
I brought mine home, and he took his to Laius’ folds.
Did these things happen as I’m saying, or not?

HERDSMAN.
It's been a long time, but everything you say is true.

MESSENGER.
Well, you have to remember giving me
A child to raise as my own foster-son?

HERDSMAN.
Why are you asking this question? What's it to you?

MESSENGER.
Friend, the person standing in front of you was that child.

HERDSMAN.
A curse on you! Keep your reckless words to yourself!

OEDIPUS.
Take it easy, old man, don’t criticize him; your words
Deserve punishment more than his do.

HERDSMAN.
Oh, best of masters, what have I done wrong?

OEDIPUS.
Not responding to his question about the child.

HERDSMAN.
He's just talking nonsense, rambling like an idiot.

OEDIPUS.
If you can't find the words to speak, I'll set you free to talk.

HERDSMAN.
For goodness' sake, don't mistreat an old man.

OEDIPUS.
Catch the villain, grab him and hold him down!

HERDSMAN.
Oh no, oh no!
What have I done? What else do you want to know?

OEDIPUS.
Did you give this man the child he's asking about?

HERDSMAN.
I did; and I wish I had died that day!

OEDIPUS.
And you will die unless you tell the truth.

HERDSMAN.
But if I say it, I'm twice as lost.

OEDIPUS.
I think the scoundrel will still lie.

HERDSMAN.
No, I admit I gave it away a long time ago.

OEDIPUS.
Where did it come from? Was it yours, or was it given to you?

HERDSMAN.
I heard it from someone else; it wasn't mine.

OEDIPUS.
Which one of our townspeople is this, and from which family?

HERDSMAN.
Please, for God's sake, don't ask anymore, master.

OEDIPUS.
If I have to ask you again, you're finished.

HERDSMAN.
Well then—it was a kid from Laius’ family.

OEDIPUS.
Born a slave or one of Laius' own people?

HERDSMAN.
Oh man!
I'm on the risky edge of speaking up.

OEDIPUS.
I can hear, but I still need to listen.

HERDSMAN.
Just so you know, people say the child is his,
But she inside, your partner, could tell you best.

OEDIPUS.
What! She, she gave it to you?

HERDSMAN.
                              It is so, my king.

OEDIPUS.
What’s the purpose?

HERDSMAN.
                    To get rid of it.

OEDIPUS.
What, she is its mother.

HERDSMAN.
                    Fearing a terrible omen.

OEDIPUS.
What's strange?

HERDSMAN.
          It was said that he should kill his father.

OEDIPUS.
What did you give it to this old man then?

HERDSMAN.
Out of pity, master, for the baby. I thought
He’d take it back to the country he came from;
But he kept it for the greatest sorrows.
For if you truly are what this man says,
God help you! you were born for suffering.

OEDIPUS.
Oh no! Oh no! It’s all come true, every bit of it!
Oh light, may I never see you again!
I am a miserable person, cursed by my birth and my marriage,
A murderer of my father, cursed in every way possible!
[Exit OEDIPUS]

CHORUS.
(Str. 1)
          Races of mortal man,
          Whose life is just a blink,
I see you as nothing more than a shadow!
          For the one who knows
          The most about happiness, has only the illusion;
In a moment, the visions fade away.
Your downfall, O Oedipus, your tragic fall
Reminds me that none born of women should feel secure.

(Ant. 1)
          For he, the best of marksmen,
          O Zeus, outshot them all,
And won the ultimate prize of wealth and power.
          He defeated the vulture maiden,
          Her magic subdued;
He rose as our savior and the strong protector of the land.
We praised you as king and from that day adored
The universal lord of mighty Thebes.

(Str. 2)
          O heavy hand of fate!
          Who is now more desolate,
Whose story is sadder than yours, whose situation more dire?
          O Oedipus, your crown lost,
          Your cradle was also your marriage bed;
One home served for both son and father.
How could the land your father toiled for so long
Stand by silently through such a wrong?

(Ant. 2)
          All-seeing Time has caught
          Guilt, and brought it to justice,
The son and father entangled in one bed.
          O child of Laius’ ill-fated line,
          I wish I had never seen your face;
I raise a dirge for you as for the dead.
Yet, to be honest, through you I found new life,
And now through you I sense a second death.
[Enter SECOND MESSENGER.]

SECOND MESSENGER.
Most serious and respected senators of Thebes,
What deeds you will soon hear about, what sights you'll see,
How will you grieve, if, as true-born patriots,
You still honor the lineage of Labdacus?
I doubt that the Ister or all of Phasis’ waters
Could wash away the blood stains from this house,
The troubles it hides or will soon reveal,
Troubles caused by malice, not by chance.
The hardest to endure are self-inflicted wounds.

CHORUS.
It's painful enough for all our tears and groans
Our past troubles; what more can you add?

SECOND MESSENGER.
My story is short and can be heard quickly.
Our queen Jocasta has died.

CHORUS.
Oh no, poor queen! How did she die?

SECOND MESSENGER.
By her own hand. And all the horror of it,
She hadn’t seen, yet can’t comprehend.
Still, as far as my poor memory serves,
I’ll share the unfortunate lady’s grief.
When in her frenzy she entered
The hallway, she hurried straight to reach
The bridal chamber, grabbing at her hair
With both hands, and, once inside the room,
She slammed the doors behind her with a bang.
“Laius,” she cried, calling her husband, who had been dead
For a long time; her thoughts were of that child
He fathered, the son who murdered his father
And left the mother to give birth
To her own offspring, a monstrous line.
Then she mourned the marriage bed whereon
Poor wretch, she had conceived a double offspring,
Husband by husband, children by her child.
What happened after that I can’t say,
Nor how it all ended, for with a scream
Oedipus burst in upon us; all eyes were fixed
On Oedipus, as he paced to and fro,
And we couldn’t witness her agony to the end.
For stalking back and forth, “A sword!” he cried,
“Where is the wife, no wife, the pregnant womb
That bore a double harvest, me and mine?”
And in his frenzy some higher power
(No human, surely, none of us who watched him)
Guided his steps; with a terrible scream,
As if someone called him, he charged against
The folding doors, forcing the bolts apart
And hurled himself inside.
Then we saw the woman hanging there,
A noose tightly wound around her neck.
But when he saw her, with a crazed roar
He cut the cord; and when her wretched body
Lay stretched on the ground, what happened next—oh, it was terrible!
He tore the golden brooches that held
Her regal robes, lifted them high and struck
Right at his eyeballs, saying words like these:
“No more shall you witness such sights of sorrow,
Deeds I have suffered and caused myself;
From now on, you’ll see only darkness
Those you should never have seen; now blind to those
Whom, when I saw, I foolishly longed to know.”
Such was the weight of his lament, to which,
Not just once but often, he struck with his raised hand
His eyes, and with each blow the bloody orbs
Moistened his beard, not dripping slowly,
But pouring out in a thick rain of blood.
Such horrors, stemming from a double source,
Have engulfed them both, confounding husband and wife.
Until now, the storied fortune of this house
Was indeed fortunate; but from this day
Sorrow, mourning, ruin, death, disgrace,
All misfortunes that can be named, all, all are theirs.

CHORUS.
But does he still have no relief from his pain?

SECOND MESSENGER.
He shouts, “Open the doors and let all of Thebes
See the killer of his father and mother—”
That disgraceful word I cannot say.
He promises to leave the land in exile,
Not wanting to bring the curse upon his house
That he himself had declared; but he has no power
And no one to lead him, and his suffering is greater
Than what any person can endure, as you will see.
For look, the palace doors are opened,
And soon you will witness a sight so tragic
That even someone who despises it would feel pity.
[Enter OEDIPUS blinded.]

CHORUS.
What a heartbreaking sight! There's nothing worse
These sad eyes have ever seen.
Where does this madness come from? No one knows
Who has put this curse on you,
lurking around you all your life,
leaping around like a demon.
Poor wretch! How can I stand
to look at your pain?
Even though I long to gaze at you,
wanting to question and learn so much,
I turn away, filled with horror.

OEDIPUS.
Oh no! What a disaster for me!
Where am I being led?
My voice drifts away like a lost ghost,
and the demon pushes me forward. The end, oh where is it?

CHORUS.
A finale too frightening to share, too shadowy to behold.

OEDIPUS.
(Str. 1)
Darkness, darkness! The dread of the dark, like a cloak,
Envelops me and carries me through fog and haze.
Oh no, oh no! What convulsions shoot through me,
What pains of tormenting memories?

CHORUS.
It's no surprise that in such a situation you feel
The heavy burden of both past and present troubles.

OEDIPUS.
(Ant. 1)
Ah friend, you’re still loyal, always constant and kind,
          You care for the blind.
I know you’re close, and even though I’m without sight,
          I can recognize your voice.

CHORUS.
Oh doer of terrible deeds, how could you ruin
Your vision like this? What demon urged you on?

OEDIPUS.
(Str. 2)
Apollo, my friend, it was Apollo
          Who caused these troubles;
But the hand that struck the blow
          Was mine, no one else's. How,
How could I keep seeing when sight
          Brought me no joy?

CHORUS.
Unfortunately! It’s as you say.

OEDIPUS.
Tell me, friends, can any look or voice
Or touch of love make my heart happy anymore?
          Quickly, friends, don’t waste any time,
          Take the twice-cursed one away
               Far from sight,
The man hated by the gods, cursed by people.

CHORUS.
Oh, your despair really matches your hopeless situation.
I wish I had never seen your face!

OEDIPUS.
(Ant. 2)
I curse whoever broke the chains
that freed me from my troubled past!
He had good intentions, but if he had just left me there,
he would have saved my friends and me so much pain.

CHORUS.
I wanted that as well.

OEDIPUS.
Then I would have never come to spill
My father’s blood or climbed into my mother’s bed;
The terrible child of a corrupted womb,
Partner to the one who fathered me, and child.
Has any man ever suffered like this,
Like Oedipus?

CHORUS.
I can't say that you've given good advice,
Because you'd be better off dead than living without sight.

OEDIPUS.
What’s done is done well. You can’t shake
My strong belief. Let’s stop arguing.
If I could see, I wouldn’t know how to meet
My father in the afterlife,
Or my poor mother, since I’ve sinned against both
In a way no punishment could make right.
Yes, but you say, seeing children brings joy
To a parent’s eyes. What about children born like mine?
No, seeing them would never bring me joy;
Nor this beautiful city with its walls,
Its temples and statues of its gods,
Places from which I, now the most miserable of all,
Once ranked as the leading citizen in Thebes,
Am cut off, condemned
By my own words against the wretched,
The outcast declared unclean by heaven
—and the bloodline of Laius.
Branded a criminal by myself,
How could I dare to look you in the face?
No, if I could find a way to block out
Hearing, I would have gladly turned this miserable body
Into a dungeon,
Cut off from sight and sound; for it’s blissful
To be in a place where sorrow can’t reach.
Why did you take me in, Cithaeron? Why
Didn’t you kill me? Then I never
Would have shown the world the truth of my birth.
O Polybus, O Corinth, O my home,
Home of my ancestors (that’s what you were called)
How beautiful a child I seemed, how ugly
The blight that lay hidden within!
Now the decay of root and fruit is revealed.
You triple crossroads, and you hidden glen,
Thicket, and the place where the three roads meet,
You drank my blood, the life-blood spilled by these hands,
My father’s; do you remember, perhaps,
Those deeds you witnessed and the aftermath
When I arrived in Thebes?
O fatal marriage, you gave me life,
And, having brought me forth, sowed my seed again,
Merging the blood of fathers, brothers, children,
Wives, and mothers, an incestuous lineage,
All the horrors that happen under the sun,
Horrors so vile that naming them is unfit.
Oh, I beg you, hide me anywhere
Far from this land, or kill me now, or throw me
Down to the depths of the ocean, out of sight.
Come here, be willing to touch a miserable wretch;
Come closer and don’t be afraid; I alone must bear
The weight of guilt that none but I can share.
[Enter CREON.]

CREON.
Look, here is Creon, the one person who can fulfill
Your request with action or counsel, because he
Is now the sole protector of the State in your absence.

OEDIPUS.
Oh no! What words can I use to approach him?
Why would he have any reason to trust me? In the past
I was clearly his bitter enemy.

CREON.
I’m not here to mock you, Oedipus,
Or to blame you for your past mistakes.
(To BYSTANDERS)
But shame on you! If you have no sense
Of human decency, at least respect
The Sun, whose light sees and sustains everything.
Don’t leave this horror exposed for everyone to see,
A sight that neither the earth nor rain from heaven
Nor light can bear. Bring him inside right away,
Because it’s right that a family’s troubles
Should be shared by family and kept private.

OEDIPUS.
Oh listen, since your presence hits me
With a shock of happy surprise—you're so noble,
And I feel so low—please grant me one small favor.
I'm not asking for myself, but for you.

CREON.
And what favor do you want from me?

OEDIPUS.
Get me out of here as quickly as you can;
Send me to some huge desert where
No one will speak to me ever again.

CREON.
I already did this, but I thought it was important to check with the god first.

OEDIPUS.
He made his intentions clear—to eliminate
The murderer, the villain; and that's me.

CREON.
Yeah, he said that, but given our current situation
it would be better to ask the god again.

OEDIPUS.
Do you really want to ask about such a miserable person?

CREON.
Yeah, because you would trust his word now.

OEDIPUS.
Yes, and with all humility
I put this request on you: let her who is inside
Receive the burial you decide;
As her brother, it's your duty to perform these rites.
But as for me, oh, never let my Thebes,
The city of my ancestors, have to bear
The burden of my presence while I'm alive.
No, let me dwell on the hills,
On that mountain Cithaeron, known as mine,
My tomb already marked out for me by my father
And mother, while they lived, so I can die
As they tried to kill me when I was a child.
I know this for sure; no illness
Will end my life, nor any random chance;
I would never have been saved from death unless
It was destined that I faced some terrible fate.
     So be it. I don’t care how Fate treats me
But my unfortunate children—for my sons,
Don’t worry about them, oh Creon, they are men,
And they can take care of themselves, wherever they are.
But for my two daughters, poor innocent girls,
Who always sat beside me at the table
Sharing my food, drinking from my cup,
Please take care of them, and if you will,
Oh, how I wish I could feel their touch and mourn.
Listen to me, oh prince, my noble-hearted prince!
If I could just touch them blindly with my hands
I’d think they still belong to me, as when I last saw them.
[ANTIGONE and ISMENE are led in.]
What am I saying? Can it be my beloved girls
Whose sobs I hear? Has Creon shown me pity
And sent my two darlings to me? Is this real?

CREON.
It's true; I was the one who brought you this pleasure,
Knowing how much joy it used to bring you.

OEDIPUS.
Godspeed to you! And in return for bringing them, may fate treat you more kindly than it has treated me! O my children, where are you? Let me hold you in these hands, a brother's hands, a father's; hands that turned the once-bright eyes to dull sockets; hands of a man who blindly and recklessly became your father through the one he came from. Though I can't see you, I must weep at the thought of the evil days ahead, the slights and wrongs that people will inflict on you. Wherever you go to celebrate or enjoy festivities, it won't be a joyful time for you; often you'll return in tears. And when you reach the age for marriage, who will be the brave suitors willing to risk their reputation to marry someone with such a terrible legacy? What kind of shame isn't tied to you? “Their father killed his father, sowed the seeds at the place where he himself was born, and fathered these daughters from the same source.” These will be the insults thrown at you. Who would want to marry you? I fear you'll remain alone, poor girls, never wed. O Prince, son of Menoeceus, I turn to you, as it rests with you to care for them, for we, their natural parents, are both lost. Please don't let them wander alone, unwed, your relatives, nor let them share my low fate. Have pity on them, so young, and without you, they would be completely destitute. Please take this on, Prince. I had so much to say to you, my children, if only you were old enough to understand. Let this be enough: I hope you find a home and live happily, and may your lives be better than your father's.

CREON.
You've cried enough; come in.

OEDIPUS.
                                             I have to obey,
Even though it’s hard.

CREON.
                         Don’t cry, everything has its time.

OEDIPUS.
Alright, I'll go, but only if certain conditions are met.

CREON.
What are your terms for leaving?

OEDIPUS.
Send me away from this land as an exile.

CREON.
                              Ask the gods about this, not me.

OEDIPUS.
But I am hated by the gods.

CREON.
                              Then they will quickly agree to your request.

OEDIPUS.
Take me away, then, I'm ready.

CREON.
                                   Come on, but let your children go.

OEDIPUS.
Don’t take my children away from me!

CREON.
                                   Don't seek control over everything,
For the power that lifted you up was also your curse and caused your downfall.

CHORUS.
Listen up, people of the countryside and Thebans, this is Oedipus the great,
The one who solved the Sphinx’s riddle and was the most powerful in our community.
Who among all our townsfolk didn’t look at his success with envy?
Now, look at how deeply he has sunk into a sea of troubles!
So, hold off on calling anyone truly blessed until you've seen how their life ends;
Wait until they are free from pain and sorrow and have found their final peace.

1 (return)
[ Dr. Kennedy and others say, “It’s clear to me that experienced people often rely on comparing their advice.”]

2 (return)
[ Literally “not to call them yours,” but the Greek may be translated as “So as not to reveal yours.”]

3 (return)
[ The Greek text that appears here has been lost.]

Translation by F. Storr, BA
Formerly Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge
From the Loeb Library Edition
Originally published by
Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA
and
William Heinemann Ltd, London
First published in 1912

Oedipus, the blind and exiled King of Thebes, has wandered to Colonus, a district of Athens, guided by his daughter Antigone. He sits down to rest on a rock just inside a sacred grove of the Furies and is told to leave by a passing local. However, Oedipus, having been informed by an oracle that he has reached his final resting place, refuses to move. The stranger agrees to go consult the Elders of Colonus (the Chorus of the Play). When they arrive, they initially feel pity for the blind beggar and his daughter, but upon learning his identity, they are horrified and order him to leave the land. He appeals to Athens's well-known hospitality and suggests that his arrival will bring blessings to the State. They decide to wait for King Theseus’s decision. Oedipus asks Theseus for protection during his life and a proper burial in Attic soil, promising that the benefits of his presence will be revealed later. Theseus leaves, having promised to help him. As soon as Theseus departs, Creon arrives with an armed guard, seizing Antigone and taking her away (they've already captured his other daughter, Ismene), and he is about to grab Oedipus when Theseus, having heard the commotion, rushes in. He accuses Creon of his unlawful actions and threatens to hold him until he reveals the location of the captives and brings them back. In the following scene, Theseus returns with the rescued sisters. He tells Oedipus that a stranger who has sought refuge at the altar of Poseidon wishes to see him. This stranger is Polyneices, who has come to ask for his father's forgiveness and blessing, knowing from an oracle that the outcome of the war will favor the side Oedipus supports. However, Oedipus rejects the hypocrite and curses both of his wayward sons. A loud clap of thunder is heard, and as the thunder rolls, Oedipus senses that his time has come and tells Antigone to call Theseus. Guided by himself, he makes his way to the place where death will find him, accompanied by Theseus and his daughters. Halfway there, he says goodbye to his daughters, and what happened next is known only to Theseus. According to the Messenger, he was taken by the gods.

OEDIPUS, the exiled King of Thebes.
ANTIGONE, his daughter.
ISMENE, his daughter.
THESEUS, the King of Athens.
CREON, Jocasta's brother, now ruling in Thebes.
POLYNEICES, Oedipus's older son.
STRANGER, a local from Colonus.
MESSENGER, an attendant of Theseus.
CHORUS, the citizens of Colonus.

     Scene: In front of the grove of the Furies.

Enter the blind OEDIPUS, guided by his daughter, ANTIGONE.

OEDIPUS.
Child of an old blind father, Antigone,
What land, tell me, whose city have we arrived at?
Who will help this wanderer today with limited charity?
He asks for very little,
And gets even less—that little is enough for me;
For I've learned from suffering to withstand,
And the long years that have aged with me,
And not to mention, by true nobility.
My daughter, if you see a place to rest
On common ground or by some sacred grove,
Help me and set me down. Let’s find out
Where we have come, because strangers need to ask
The locals, and do as instructed.

ANTIGONE.
Enduring father, Oedipus, the walls
That surround the city are still faint and distant;
But where we are definitely feels sacred;
A wild area filled with laurel, olive, and vine;
Among them, a chorus of nightingales
Are singing. Take a rest on this familiar rock;
For an old man, you have traveled far.

OEDIPUS.
Show me the way through this darkness and help me feel safe there.

ANTIGONE.
If time can teach me, I don’t need anyone to tell me.

OEDIPUS.
Please tell me, if you know, where we are.

ANTIGONE.
I recognize Athens, but not this place.

OEDIPUS.
We’ve heard that from every traveler.

ANTIGONE.
Should I keep asking about the place?

OEDIPUS.
Yeah, daughter, if people live there.

ANTIGONE.
Of course there are places to live; but there's no reason
To leave you; there's a man nearby.

OEDIPUS.
What, coming this way and on his journey?

ANTIGONE.
Say instead, he’s already here. Ask him directly
The important questions, because the man is here.
[Enter STRANGER]

OEDIPUS.
Hey there, stranger. I’ve heard from the one whose sight
Is needed for both of us that you’re here
By some lucky chance to help with our uncertainties—

STRANGER.
First, get up from that seat, then feel free to ask me anything:
The place you’re standing on is sacred ground.

OEDIPUS.
What is the location, and which god should we dedicate it to?

STRANGER.
Untouchable, unexplored; goddesses,
Fearsome offspring of Earth and Darkness, dwell here.

OEDIPUS.
What terrible name should I call out?

STRANGER.
The Gracious Ones, All-seeing, as our people
Call them, but in other places they go by different names.

OEDIPUS.
Then let them show their respectful appeal, because I
Will never leave this sacred place.

STRANGER.
What's this word?

OEDIPUS.
                    The motto of my destiny.

STRANGER.
No, it’s not my place to send you away without
Proper authority and guidance from the State.

OEDIPUS.
Now for God's sake, stranger, don’t look down on me
As a traveler; just tell me what I need.

STRANGER.
Go ahead and ask; I won't ignore your request.

OEDIPUS.
What do you call the place where we live?

STRANGER.
Whatever I know, you’ll know too; this place
Is dedicated to the great Poseidon.
Nearby, the Titan, he who carries the torch,
Prometheus, is worshipped; but the area
You’re standing on, called the Brass-footed Threshold,
Is Athens’ stronghold, and the nearby lands
Claim as their leader and protector that knight
Colonus, and together they share his name.
Such, stranger, is this place, unknown to fame,
But dear to us, its native worshippers.

OEDIPUS.
You say there are people living in this area?

STRANGER.
Of course; they carry the name of that god over there.

OEDIPUS.
Led by a king or by the will of the people?

STRANGER.
The lord of Athens is our overlord.

OEDIPUS.
Who is this king, powerful in speech and strength?

STRANGER.
Theseus, the son of Aegeus, our former king.

OEDIPUS.
Could someone be sent from you to call him?

STRANGER.
Why? To tell him anything or persuade him to come?

OEDIPUS.
Say a small favor might help him a lot.

STRANGER.
How can he benefit from a blind man?

OEDIPUS.
The blind man's words will be filled with vision.

STRANGER.
Listen; I really want to make sure you're safe;
Because from what I see, despite the scars fate has given you,
I think you’re a good person; stay where you are,
While I look for the townspeople—those who are close by,
Not in the city. They will decide soon enough
Whether you should stay or continue on your path.
[Exit STRANGER]

OEDIPUS.
Tell me, my daughter, has the stranger left?

ANTIGONE.
Yes, he’s gone; now we’re all alone,
And you can speak, dear father, without worry.

OEDIPUS.
Serious queens, since I arrived in this land,
I first knelt in your sanctuary.
Don’t look down on me or Apollo, who, when he
Revealed to me all my future miseries,
Spoke of this break after so many years,
Some refuge in a distant place, a rest
Finally granted by terrifying gods.
“There,” he said, “you will complete your weary life,
A blessing to the land where you live,
But to the land that cast you out, a curse.”
And he promised that signs of my fate would come,
An earthquake, a thunderclap, or a flash of lightning.
And now I recognize as yours the sign
That led me to your grove;
Otherwise, I would never have found you first,
A man without wine on your native rock.
O goddesses, fulfill Apollo’s promise,
Grant me some resolution in my life,
If by chance I don’t seem too worthless,
A slave to sorrow worse than any bondsman.
Listen, gentle daughters of ancient Night,
Listen, namesake of great Pallas; Athens, first
Of cities, have compassion on this dishonored spirit,
The ghost of the man who was once Oedipus.

ANTIGONE.
Quiet! I see some old men approaching,
Their purpose is to check on where we’re resting.

OEDIPUS.
I'll stay quiet, and you'll lead me
Off the main road to a hidden place,
Until I understand their intentions. A wise person
Always adjusts his path based on what he discovers.
[Enter CHORUS]

CHORUS.
(Str. 1)
Ha! Where is he? Look around!
Search every nook and cranny!
He, the arrogant man,
Where has he vanished? Search the ground!
A traveler, I guess,
A traveler, not one of us,
That old man must have been;
Never would a local dare to challenge the Powers,
          Or enter their domain,
The Maidens in awe of whom every mortal trembles,
          Whose name no voice reveals or cry,
          And as we pass them with our eyes turned away,
We move our lips in quiet reverence.
          But now some godless man,
               It’s rumored, stays here;
          I search the precincts,
               Yet I don’t know where he hides,
                    The wretched one!
                    I search and search in vain.

OEDIPUS.
          I am that man; I see you close by.
          They say that for the blind, ears are like eyes.

CHORUS.
Oh, it's terrifying to see and hear!

OEDIPUS.
Oh gentlemen, I am not an outlaw under a ban.

CHORUS.
Who could this old man be—thank goodness for Zeus!—?

OEDIPUS.
Not particularly favored by fate,
So you shouldn’t envy his situation,
Oh, gentlemen, would any fortunate person say,
To feel their way through life using someone else's vision,
Or to face the storms relying on such a weak foundation?

CHORUS.
(Ant. 1)
Were you blind from birth?
It seems like a terrible thing, and your journey
On this earth has been long.
But don’t add curse to curse and wrong to wrong.
I warn you, don’t trespass
In this sacred place,
Or you might find the silent grassy clearing
Where offerings are placed,
Bowls of spring water mixed with sweet mead.
You must not stay,
Come, come away,
Tired wanderer, do you understand?
(We are far away, but we are sure our voice can reach.)
If you have anything to ask,
Speak where it’s appropriate; until then, hold your tongue.

OEDIPUS.
Daughter, what advice should we follow now?

ANTIGONE.
We have to follow and do what they do here.

OEDIPUS.
Your hand then!

ANTIGONE.
Here, Dad, take my hand,

OEDIPUS.
Oh, gentlemen, if I'm stepping forward at your request,
Please don’t punish me for my assurance.

CHORUS.
(Str. 2)
No one will force you to leave against your wishes.

OEDIPUS.
Should I continue?

CHORUS.
                    Yeah.

OEDIPUS.
                         What else?

CHORUS.
Lead maiden, you can guide him to where we want.

ANTIGONE 4
* * * * * *

OEDIPUS.
* * * * * *

ANTIGONE.
* * * * * *
Follow me blindly, Dad, as I take the lead.

OEDIPUS.

* * * * * *

CHORUS.
In this odd place, you're unusual;
Let your heart lean toward her wishes;
Respect whatever the State
Values; shun all that she dislikes.

OEDIPUS.
Lead me, child, to where we can wander
Safely along the path of what’s right;
Let’s share advice openly
And not struggle against fate and fortune.

CHORUS.
(Ant. 2)
Stop! Don't go past that rocky ground.

OEDIPUS.
Stay where I am now?

CHORUS.
                    Yes, don't go further.

OEDIPUS.
Can I take a seat?

CHORUS.
               Shift over to the edge,
And sit hunched down on the steep ledge.

ANTIGONE.
This is my job, father, please listen—

OEDIPUS.
Oh no! Oh no!

ANTIGONE.
Come walk with me, lean your aged body on mine.

OEDIPUS.
Woe is me for my fate!

CHORUS.
Wanderer, you are at rest now,
Tell me about your origins and home,
From what distant land have you come,
Share what has guided you on your weary journey!

OEDIPUS.
Guys, I have no home. Please, hold on—

CHORUS.
What is it, old man, that you want to hide?

OEDIPUS.
Please, don't push me to say any more—

CHORUS.
Why the hesitation?

OEDIPUS.
                    Fear my family background.

CHORUS.
                                        Hey!

OEDIPUS.
What should I say, child, oh dear!

CHORUS.
Tell us where you come from, who your father is—

OEDIPUS.
Oh my, my daughter, we're in big trouble now!

ANTIGONE.
Speak, because you’re on the edge of something risky.

OEDIPUS.
I will; I can't argue for silence.

CHORUS.
Won't you say anything? Come on, Sir, why are you hesitating like this?

OEDIPUS.
Do you know one of Laius’—

CHORUS.
                         Huh? Who!

OEDIPUS.
Child of Labdacus—

CHORUS.
                    Oh Zeus!

Oedipus.
The unfortunate Oedipus.

CHORUS.
                    Is he an artist?

OEDIPUS.
Whatever I say, don't be afraid of me.

CHORUS.
Go away!

OEDIPUS.
Oh, wretched me!

CHORUS.
                         Go away!

OEDIPUS.
O daughter, what will happen soon?

CHORUS.
Quickly leave our land, both of you!

OEDIPUS.
How do you keep your promise?

CHORUS.
Heaven’s justice never punishes
Those who repay evil with evil.
But if deception battles deception,
The outcome is only harm, not good.
Get up, leave, and go away right now,
Or you’ll bring an even worse curse upon our land.

ANTIGONE.
     Oh sirs! You didn’t spare my blind father,
     Though he was kind and compassionate,
     Knowing the wrongs he committed, not innocent,
          But with no bad intentions;
          Yet listen to a girl’s sorrow
          Who begs for him alone;
          My eyes, not lacking sight,
Plead with you as a daughter should
You are our salvation,
Oh don’t make us leave!
Oh with a kind nod
Grant us the almost hopeless favor we seek?
          Hear us, oh hear,
But all that you hold dear,
Wife, children, home, hearth, and God!
Where will you find one, search as you will,
Who escapes ruin if a god commands!

CHORUS.
We definitely feel for you and him both,
Daughter of Oedipus, given your suffering;
But out of respect for the will of Heaven,
We can’t say anything different than what we've said.

OEDIPUS.
What good is fame or a good reputation?
Aren't they just empty? Look, right now
Athens is seen as the most devoted of states,
And it alone welcomes
And protects the troubled stranger, so people say.
Have I found that to be true? I, whom you’ve driven
First from my rocky seat and now would push
Out of your land, afraid of my name alone;
You surely don’t fear me, or my actions,
Actions of a man who’s more sinned against than sinning,
As I could clearly show you, if it were right
To tell my mother’s story and my father’s,
The reason for your fear. But am I then
A villain born just because in self-defense,
I was struck and I struck back in return?
Even if I had known, there would be no villainy in it:
But unaware of where I was going, I went—
To destruction; my destroyers knew it well,
So I ask you, gentlemen, in Heaven’s name,
As you asked me to leave my seat, please defend me.
Don’t just pay lip service to the gods
And cheat them of what they deserve. Think carefully,
The eye of Heaven sees both the just and the unjust,
And never in this world
Has a single godless sinner escaped.
So stand on Heaven’s side and never tarnish
Athens’ fair reputation by supporting wrong.
I came to you as a supplicant, and you promised
Your honor; oh, protect me until the end,
Don’t let this marred face bring me harm!
There’s a holy and devout man here
Whose presence brings hope for your people.
And when your leader arrives, whoever he is,
Then you will hear my story and know everything.
In the meantime, I ask you not to treat me poorly.

CHORUS.
The plea you make definitely makes us think,
Presented with strong reasoning, but we
Must leave the decision to those in charge.

OEDIPUS.
Where is he, outsiders, who rules the kingdom?

CHORUS.
At his family home; a messenger,
The same one who sent us here, has left to find him.

OEDIPUS.
Do you really think he will care at all for the blind stranger to come himself?

CHORUS.
Yeah, he definitely will, once he finds out your name.

OEDIPUS.
But who will tell him?

CHORUS.
                              The journey is long,
And many travelers go by to share the news.
Don’t worry, he’ll hear and hurry right away;
Your name is so well-known and spread far and wide,
That even if he’s exhausted and reluctant to move,
He’ll get up when he hears about you.

OEDIPUS.
Well, may he arrive with good fortune for his city
And for me! Helping others is helping yourself. 5

ANTIGONE.
Zeus! What is happening? What can I say or think?=

OEDIPUS.
What's up, Antigone?

ANTIGONE.
I see a woman
Riding on a colt from Aetna;
She’s wearing a Thessalian hat
To shield her from the sun. Who could it be?
Is it her or someone else? Am I awake or dreaming?
It’s her; no, it’s not—I can’t be sure, oh no;
It’s no one else! Now her bright gaze
Meets mine with recognition, yes, it’s her,
Ismene herself!

OEDIPUS.
                    Ha! What do you say, kid?

ANTIGONE.
I see your daughter and my sister,
And you'll recognize her immediately by her voice.
[Enter ISMENE]

ISMENE.
Father and sister, the names I cherish most,
How difficult it has been to find you, and now
That I've finally found you, all I see are tears!

OEDIPUS.
Are you here, my child?

ISMENE.
                    Oh father, how sad your situation!

OEDIPUS.
Child, are you here?

ISMENE.
                    Yes, it was a long way.

OEDIPUS.
Hug me, my child.

ISMENE.
                    I’ll help them both.

OEDIPUS.
Hey kids—sisters!

ISMENE.
                    Oh what a disaster!

OEDIPUS.
Our struggles?

ISMENE.
                    Yeah, me too.

OEDIPUS.
What brings you here, daughter?

ISMENE.
                              Dad, take care of yourself.

OEDIPUS.
A daughter's longing?

ISMENE.
                         Yes, and I had news
I wanted to share myself, so I came
With the one servant who is still loyal to me.

OEDIPUS.
Where are your brave brothers when you need them?

ISMENE.
They're here—it's definitely their darkest hour now.

OEDIPUS.
Get out of here! All our thoughts and actions
Are shaped by Egyptian ways.
There, men sit at the loom indoors
While the wives work hard outside for our daily bread.
So you, my children—those I should have
To bear the burden, stay at home like girls,
While my daughters take on the hard work,
Easing their father’s suffering. The one
Since she grew from a girl into a woman
Has been my guide and shared my exhausting travels,
Often wandering hungry and tired through wild forests,
In heavy rains and under blazing suns,
Caring nothing for home and comfort, just so
Her father could benefit from her loving help.
And you, my child, once you slipped away,
Avoiding the Cadmeians’ watchful eye,
To bring your father all the prophecies
About Oedipus, and you made yourself
My loyal supporter when they exiled me.
And now what brings you back home,
What news, Ismene, do you have for your father?
I know you didn't come empty-handed,
Without a warning of some new trouble.