My Oedipus at Colonus Translation (Lines 461-598)

ΧΟΡΟΣ
ἐπάξιος μέν, Οἰδίπους, κατοικτίσαι, αὐτός τε παῖδές θ᾽ αἵδ᾽ ἐπεὶ δὲ τῆςδε γῆς σωτῆρα σαυτὸν τῷδ᾽ἐπεμβάλλεις λόγῳ, παραινέσαι σοι βούλομαι τὰ σύμφορα.

Chorus
You are worthy of pity, Oedipus, for yourself and these children since you offer yourself as a guardian of this land by this speech, I wish to advise you accompanying things.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ὦ φίλατθ᾽, ὡς νῦν πᾶν τελοῦντι προξένει.

Oedipus
O friend, speak as a host, as I will bring everything to completion.

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Θοῦ νῦν καθαρμὸν τῶνδε δαιμόνων, ἐφ᾽ ἅς τὸ πρῶτον ἵκου καὶ κατέστειψας πέδον.

Chorus
Perform now a purification for the gods for whom you first arrived and tread on their ground.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Τρόποισι ποίοις; ὦ ξένοι, διδάσκετε.

Oedipus
In what manner, strangers, tell me!

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Πρὦτον μὲν ἱερὰς ἐξ ἀειρύτου χοὰς κρήνης ἐνεγκοῦ, δι᾽ ὁσίων χειρῶν θιγών.

Chorus
First bring the sacred libations from an ever-flowing stream, laying hold of it with holy hands.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ὅταν δὲ τοῦτο χεῦμ᾽ ἀκήρατον λάβω;

Oedipus
When I have taken (this) casting (my hands) on this pure (liquid)?

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Κρατῆρές εἰσιν, ἀνδρὸς εὔχειρος τέχνη, ὧν κρᾶτ᾽ ἔρεψον καὶ λαβὰς ἀμφιστόμους.

Chorus
There are mixing bowls, the skill of talented man, with which cover the top and take both handles.


ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Θαλλοῖσιν, ἤ κρόκαισιν, ἤ ποίῳ τρόπῳ;

Oedipus
With twigs or wools, or in what way?

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Οἰὸς νεώρους νεοπόκῳ μαλλῷ λαβών.

Chorus
Taking with the newly sheared wool of a sheep.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Εἶἑν τὸ δ᾽ ἔνθεν ποῖ τελευτῆσαί με χρή;

Oedipus
So be it. How must I complete it here?

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Χοὰς χέασθαι στάντα πρὸς πρώτην ἕω.

Chorus
(You must) pour the libation, standing before first light.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ἦ τοῖςδε κρωσσοῖς οἷς λέγεις χέω τάδε;

Oedipus
Shall I pour it with the buckets you speak of?

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Τρισσἀς γε πηγάς τὸν τελευταῖον δ᾽ ὅλον.

Chorus
Three streams, and the final one entirely.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Τοῦ τόνδε πλήσας; προσδίδασκε καὶ τόδε.

Oedipus
Filled with what? Tell me!

ΧΟΡΟΣ
ὕδατος, μελίσσης μηδὲ προσφέρειν μέθυ.

Chorus
Water, honey, but don’t offer wine!

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ὅταν δὲ τούτων γῆ μελάμφυλλος τύχῃ;

Oedipus
And what happens when the land black with foliage (receives this)?

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Τρὶς ἐννέ᾽ αὐτῇ κλῶνας ἐξ ἀμφοῖν χεροῖν τιθεὶς ἐλαίας τάσδ᾽ ἐπεύχεσθαι λιτάς

Chorus
Place three times nine twigs of olive wood and utter these prayers

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Τούτων ἀκοῦσαι βούλομαι μέγιστα γάρ.

Oedipus
I wish to hear this, for it is of the greatest (importance)!

ΧΟΡΟΣ
ὥς σφας καλοῦμεν Εὐμενίδας, ἐξ εὐμενῶν στέρνων δέχεσθαι τὸν ἱκέτην σωτηρίους αἰτοῦ σύ τ᾽ αὐτὸς κεἴ τις ἄλλος ἀντὶ σοῦ, ἄπυστα φωνῶν μηδὲ μηκύνων βοήν. ἔπειτ᾽ ἀφέρπειν ἄστροφος. Καὶ ταῦτά σοι δράσαντι θαρσῶν ἄν παρασταίην ἐγώ, ἄλλως δὲ δειμαίνοιμ᾽ ἄν, ὦ ξέν᾽, ἀμφὶ σοί.

Chorus
We call them the Eumenides, that they receive the holy suppliant with kind hearts protecting (him) and do you ask yourself if there is any one else on behalf of you, speaking softly and not prolonging an outcry. Then retreat without turning around! For doing these things I would stand by you with courage, otherwise, stranger,
I would be afraid for you!

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ὦ παῖδε, κλύετον τῶνδε προσχώρων ξένων;

Oedipus
Oh children, do you hear the words of the neighboring strangers?

ΙΣΜΗΝΗ
ἠκούσαμέν τε χὤ τι δεῖ πρόστασσε δρᾶν.

Ismene
We have heard it; assign us something necessary to do!

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ἐμοὶ μὲν οὐχ ὁδωτά λείπομαι γὰρ ἐν τῷ μὴ δύνασθαι μηδ᾽ ὁρᾶν, δυοῖν κακοῖν σφῷν δ᾽ ἡτέρα μολοῦσα πραξάτω τάδε. ἀρκεῖν γὰρ οἶμαι κἀντὶ μυρίων μίαν ψυχὴν τάδ᾽ ἐκτίνουσαν, ἤν εὔνους παρῇ. ἀλλ᾽ ἐν τάχει τι πράσσετον μόνον δέ με μὴ λείπετ᾽. Οὐ γὰρ ἄν σθένοι τοὐμὸν δέμας ἐρῆμον ἕρπειν οὐδ᾽ ὑφηγητοῦ δίχα.

Oedipus
It is not practical for me for I lack strength and sight, two afflictions; but let one of the two of you perform these things going. For I think one soul can suffice to make a payment of countless (numbers), who is present with a good thoughts. But perform this thing quickly and do not forsake me alone for my body has no strength to crawl deserted or without a guide.

ΙΣΜΗΝΗ
ἀλλ᾽ εἶμ᾽ ἐγὼ τελοῦσα τὸν τόπον δ᾽ ἵνα χρἤσται μ᾽ ἐφευρεῖν, τοῦτο βούλομαι μαθεῖν.

Ismene
I will complete (the rite) and I wish to learn the place so that I can find where I must (perform).

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Τοὐκεῖθεν ἄλσους, ὦ ξένη, τοῦδ᾽ ἤν δέ του σπάνιν τιν᾽ ἴσχῃς, ἔστ᾽ ἔποικος, ὅς φράσει.

Chorus
On the other side of the grove, stranger, and if there is something you need, there is a settler there who instruct you.

ΙΣΜΗΝΗ
Χωροῖμ᾽ ἄν ἐς τόδ᾽ Ἀντιγόνη, σὺ δ᾽ ἐνθάδε φύλασσε πατέρα τόνδε τοῖς τεκοῦσι γὰρ οὐδ᾽ εἰ πονῇ τις, δεῖ πόνου μνήμην ἔχειν.

Ismene
I will withdraw to do it! Antigone, you (stay) here and guard our father for if someone bears a burden for them, they must not remember that they have a trouble.

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Δεινὸν μὲν τὸ πάλαι κείμενον ἤδη κακόν, ὦ ξεῖν᾽, ἐπεγείρειν ὄμως δ᾽ ἔραμαι πυθέσθαι

Chorus
It is terrible, stranger, to awaken an evil asleep for so long, nevertheless I wish to learn

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Τί τοῦτο;

Oedipus
What is this?

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Τᾶς δειλαίας ἀπόρου φανείσας ἀλγηδόνος, ᾇ ξυνέστας.

Chorus
Of the wretched things having appeared useless with which you arose.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Μὴ πρὸς ξενίας ἀνοίξῃς τᾶς σᾶς ἇ πέπονθ᾽ ἀναιδῶς.

Oedipus
In the name of hospitality, do not reveal what I have suffered so shamefully!

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Τό τοι πολὺ καὶ μηδαμὰ λῆγον χρῄζω, ξεῖν᾽, ὀρθὸν ἄκουσμ᾽ ἀκοῦσι.

Chorus
(The story) is great and does not cease to exist and I want to hear it told correctly.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ὤμοι.

Oedipus
Ah me!

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Στέρξον, ἱκετεύω.

Chorus
Be content with me, I beseech you!

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Φεῦ φεῦ

Oedipus
Woe, woe!

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Πείθου κἀγὼ γὰρ ὅσον σὺ προσχρήζεις.

Chorus
Be persuaded, for you are granted with whatever (you desire).

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ἤνεγκον κακότατ᾽, ὦ ξένοι, ἤνεγκον ἑκὼν μέν, θεὸς ἴστω τούτων δ᾽ αὐθαίρετον οὐδέν.

Oedipus
I endured the most evil things, stranger, I willingly endured it, let the gods stand by it, but it was not self-elected.

ΧΟΡΟΣ
ἀλλ᾽ ἐς τί;

Chorus
But why?

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Κακᾷ μ᾽ εὐνᾷ πόλις οὐδὲν ἴδριν γάμων ἐνέδησεν ἄτᾳ.

Oedipus
The city bound me, not knowingly, to an evil bed, to the ruin of marriage.

ΧΟΡΟΣ
ἦ μητρόθεν, ὡς ἀκούω, δυσώνυμα λέκτρ᾽ ἐπλήσω;

Chorus
Was it your mother, as I heard, who shared your evil-named bed?

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ὤμοι, θάνατος μὲν τάδ᾽ ἀκούειν, ὦ ξεῖν᾽ αὗται δὲ δύ᾽ ἐξ ἐμοῦ

Oedipus
Ah men, to hear this is death, stranger, and these two came from me.

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Πῶς φής;

Chorus
How do you say?

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Παῖδε, δύο δ᾽ ἄτα

Oedipus
The children, two curses.

ΧΟΡΟΣ
ὦ Ζεῦ.

Chorus
O Zeus!

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Ματρὸς κοινᾶς ἀπέβλαστον ὠδῖνος.

Oedipus
They were sprung from the mutual pains of my mother!

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Σοί γ᾽ ἆρ ἀπόγονοί τ᾽ εἰσὶ καὶ

Chorus
So they are your daughters and also -

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Κοιναί γε πατρὸς ἀδελφεαί.

Oedipus
Sisters to their father!

ΧΟΡΟΣ
ἰω.

Chorus
Ah!

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ἰὼ δῆτα μυρίων γ᾽ ἐπιστροφαὶ κακῶν.

Oedipus
Oh countless turnings of evil!

ΧΟΡΟΣ
ἔπαθες

Chorus
You suffered -

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ἔπαθον ἄλαστ᾽ ἔχειν.

Oedipus
I suffered unforgettable (woes)!

ΧΟΡΟΣ
ἔρεξας

Chorus
You did -

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Οὐκ ἔρεξα.

Oedipus
I never did -

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Τί γάρ;

Chorus
Why?

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ἐδεξάμην δῶρον, ὅ μήποτ᾽ ἐγὼ ταλακάρδιος ἐπωφελήσας ὄφελον ἐξελέσθαι.

Oedipus
I received a gift, being of good will, which I should have never taken having helped.

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Δύστανε, τί γάρ; ἔθου φόνον

Chorus
Miserable one, what then, you committed murder -

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Τί τοῦτο; τί δ᾽ ἐλθέλεις μαθεῖν;

Oedipus
What is this? What do you want to learn?

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Πατρός;

Chorus
Your father?

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Παπαῖ, δευτέραν ἔραισας, ἐπὶ νόσῳ νόσον.

Oedipus
Woe! You struck again, insult to injury!

ΧΟΡΟΣ (545)
ἔκανες

Chorus
You killed -

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ἔκανον. ἔκει δέ μοι

Oedipus
I killed. I have -

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Τί τοῦτο;

Chorus
What is this?

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Πρὸς δίκας τι.

Oedipus
A defense.

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Τί γάρ;

Chorus
What?

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ἐγὼ φράσω ἄτᾳ ἁλοὺς ἐφόνευσ᾽ ἀπό τ᾽ ὤλεσα, νόμῳ δὲ καθαρός ἄιδρις ἐς τόδ᾽ ἦλθον.

Oedipus
I will tell you. I murdered the ones who destroyed me but according to the law I am clean.

ΧΟΡΟΣ
Καὶ μὴν ἄναξ ὅδ᾽ ἡμὶν Αἰγέως γόνος Θησεὺς κατ᾽ ὀμφὴν σὴν ἀποσταλεὶς πάρα.

Chorus
And here is our leader, son of Aegeus, who was sent for according to your voice.

ΘΗΣΕΥΣ
Πολλῶν ἀκούων ἔν τε τῷ πάρος χρόνῳ τὰς αἱματηρὰς ὀμμάτων διαφθορὰς ἔγνωκά σ᾽, ὦ παῖ Λαΐου, τανῦν θ᾽ ὁδοῖς ἐν ταῖσδε λεύσσων μᾶλλον ἐξεπίσταμαι. Σκευή τε γάρ σε καὶ τὸ δύστηνον κάρα δηλοῦτον ἡμῖν ὄνθ᾽ ὅς εἶ, καί σ᾽ οἰκτίσας θέλω ᾽περέσθαι, δύσμορ᾽ Οἰδίπους, τίνα πόλεως ἐπέστης προστροπὴν ἐμοῦ τ᾽ ἔχων, αὐτός τε χἠ σὴ δύσμορος παραστάτις. Δίδασκε δεινὴν γάρ τιν᾽ ἄν πρᾶξιν τύχοις λέξας ὁποίας ἐξαφισταίμην ἐγώ ὅς οἶδά γ᾽ αὐτὸς ὡς ἐπαιδεύθην ξένος, ὥσπερ σύ, χὠς εἷς πλεῖστ᾽ ἀνὴρ ἐπὶ ξένης ἤθλησα κινδυνεύματ᾽ ἐν τὠμῷ κάρᾳ, ὥστε ξένον γ᾽ ἄν οὐδέν᾽ ὄνθ᾽, ὥσπερ σὺ νῦν, ὑπεκτραποίμην μὴ οὐ συνεκσῴζειν ἐπεὶ ἔξοιδ᾽ ἀνὴρ ὤν χὤτι τῆς εἰς αὔριον οὐδὲν πλέον μοι σοῦ μέτεστιν ἡμέρας.

Theseus
Hearing many things in the past about the bloodshed destruction of your eyes, I know you, son of Laius, and now that I see in this journey I know even better. For your attire and your miserable face make it clear to us that you are who you are and having pity for you I wish to ask you, o miserable Oedipus, what kind of turning (request) do you have for the city and for me standing there as you are with your miserable assistant. Tell me! For you would have to offer something terrible having spoken the sort that I may turn away which I know since I was taught in exile just like you, and in my exile I wrestled with many hardships in my life such that a stranger has never done, just as you now, I would not turn away to help you since I know that I am a man and that I have no greater share in tomorrow than you.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Θησεῦ, τὸ σὸν γενναῖον ἐν σμικρῷ λόγῳ παρῆκεν ὥστε βραχέ᾽ ἐμοὶ δεῖσθαι φράσαι. Σὺ γάρ μ᾽ ὅς εἰμι κἀφ᾽ ὅτου πατρὸς γεγὼς καὶ γῆς ὁποίας ἦλθον, εἰρηκὼς κυρεῖς ὥστ᾽ ἐστί μοι τὸ λοιπὸν οὐδὲν ἄλλο πλὴν εἰπεῖν ἅ χρῄζω, χὠ λόγος διοίχεται.

Oedipus
Theseus, your nobility has been presented in a short speech such that I have little to say. For you have spoken of who I am and of my father and the sort of land I am coming from such that there is nothing remaining to say other than what I need, the speech has ended.

ΘΗΣΕΥΣ
Τοῦτ᾽ αὐτὸ νῦν δίδασχ᾽, ὅπως ἄν ἐκμάθω.

Theseus
Explain this, however I may learn it.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Δώσων ἱκάνω τοὐμὸν ἄθλιον δέμας σοί, δῶρον οὐ σπουδαῖον εἰς ὄψιν τὰ δὲ κέρδη παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ κρείσσον᾽ ἤ μορφὴ καλή.

Oedipus
I come giving you my miserable body, a gift not worth attention to look at but the advantages will gain (you) more than a beautiful form.

ΘΗΣΕΥΣ
Ποῖον δὲ κέρδος ἀξιοῖς ἥκειν φέρων;

Theseus
What kind of advantage do you infer bringing here?

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Χρόνῳ μάθοις ἄν, οὐχὶ τῷ παρόντι που.

Oedipus
In time you will learn, but not right now.

ΘΗΣΕΥΣ
Ποίῳ γὰρ ἡ σὴ προσφορὰ δηλώσεται;

Theseus
At what time will your offering be made clear?

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ὅταν θάνω ᾽γὼ καὶ σύ μου ταφεὺς γένῃ.

Theseus
(Your advantage) demands the final things of life, but in the middle you forget or make it (worth) nothing.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ἐνταῦθα γάρ μοι κεῖνα συγκομίζεται.

Oedipus
For I heap these things together.

ΘΗΣΕΥΣ
ἀλλ᾽ ἐν βραχεῖ δὴ τήνδε μ᾽ ἐξαιτῇ χάριν.

Theseus
But in brief you ask me this favor.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ὅρα γε μήν οὐ σμικρός, οὔχ, ἁγὼν ὅδε.

Oedipus
Behold! It is no small contest.

ΘΗΣΕΥΣ
Πὸτερα τὰ τῶν σῶν ἐκγόνων ἤ τοῦ λέγεις;

Theseus
Do you speak of either of your sons or whom?

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Κεῖνοι βαδίζειν κεῖσ᾽ ἀναγκάσουσί με.

Oedipus
They will compel me to go there.

ΘΗΣΕΥΣ
ἀλλ᾽ εἰ θέλοντά γ᾽, οὐδὲ σοὶ φεύγειν καλόν.

Theseus
But if you are willing, it is not right for you to flee.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ἀλλ᾽ οὐδ᾽, ὅτ᾽ αὐτὸς ἤθελον, παρίεσαν.

Oedipus
But they didn’t wish me to remain when I wished to do so!

ΘΗΣΕΥΣ
ὦ μῶρε, θυμὸς δ᾽ ἐν κακοῖς οὐ ξύμφορον.

Theseus
Fool! A soul in distress doesn’t accompany (advantage).

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
ὅταν μάθῃς μου, νουθέτει, τανῦν δ᾽ ἔα.

Oedipus
When you learn about me, then admonish me, allow me this now.

ΘΗΣΕΥΣ
Δίδασκ᾽ ἄνευ γνώμης γὰρ οὔ με χρὴ ψέγειν.

Theseus
Tell me for without knowledge it isn’t necessary for me to rebuke you.

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Πέπονθα, Θησεῦ, δεινὰ πρὸς κακοῖς κακά.

Oedipus
I have suffered, Theseus, terrible evils upon evils!

ΘΗΣΕΥΣ
ἦ τὴν παλαιὰν ξυμφορὰν γένους ἐρεῖς;

Theseus
Will you now speak of the ancient misfortune of you family?

ΟΙΔΙΠΟΥΣ
Οὐ δῆτ ἐπεὶ πᾶς τοῦτό γ᾽ Ἑλλήνων θροεῖ.

Oedipus
No! since every Greek cries aloud about it.

ΘΗΣΕΥΣ
Τί γὰρ τὸ μεῖζον ἤ κατ᾽ ἄνθρωπον νοσεῖς;

Theseus
What then do you suffer that is greater than any other man’s?