Oedipus at Colonus
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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Chorus
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Cursed man! What of this? Did you commit the murder—
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Oedipus
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What now? What would you learn?
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Chorus
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—Of your father?
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Oedipus
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Oh! oh! a second stab—wound on wound!
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Chorus
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You killed—
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Oedipus
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I killed—yet I have a plea—
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Chorus
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What can you plead?
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Oedipus
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—A plea of justice.
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Chorus
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What?
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Oedipus
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I will tell you: I killed in ignorance and perished utterly. Pure before the law, without knowledge of my act, I have come to this!
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Chorus
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And there is a thing such as I have not heard of on Asian ground,
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nor as ever yet born in the great Dorian isle of Pelops: a plant unconquered, self-renewing, causing terror to destroying enemies.
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It greatly flourishes in this land—the gray-leafed olive, nurturer of children. Youth cannot harm it by the ravages of his hand, nor can any who lives with old age. For the sleepless eye
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of Zeus Morios watches over it, and gray-eyed Athena.
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Chorus
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And I have more praise for this city our mother,
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the gift of a great divinity, a glory most great: the might of horses, the might of colts, and the might of the sea. For you, son of Cronus, lord Poseidon, have set her on the throne of this pride,
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by establishing first in our roads the bit that cures the rage of horses. And the shapely oar, well-fitted for the sea, in flying past the land leaps to follow the hundred-footed Nereids.
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Chorus
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Is the battle now or yet to be?
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For somehow my mind presages to me that soon I will meet the maidens who have suffered fearfully, who have found fearful suffering at the hands of a kinsman. Today Zeus will bring something to completion.
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I predict noble struggles. Oh, to be a dove with the strength and swiftness of a whirlwind, that I might reach an airy cloud, and hang my gaze above the fight!
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Chorus
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Hear, all-ruling lord of the gods, all-seeing Zeus! Grant to the guardians of this land to achieve with triumphant might the capture that gives the prize into their hands! And may your daughter grant it too, dread Pallas Athena!
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And Apollo, the hunter, and his sister, who follows the spotted, swift-footed deer—I wish that they would come, a double help
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to this land and to its people.
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Chorus
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Look! Look! Once again the piercing din is around us!
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Be merciful, divinity, be merciful, if you are bringing anything of gloom for the land which is our mother! May I find you well disposed, and may I not, because I have cared for a man accursed, somehow obtain a favor without profit!
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Lord Zeus, to you I cry!
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Oedipus
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Is the man near? Will he find me still alive, children, and master of my senses?
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Antigone
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And what is the pledge that you would like to have firm in your mind?
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Oedipus
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In return for his benefits,
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I would grant him the fulfillment of the favor that I promised.
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Chorus
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Hurry, my son, come to us! If you chance to be in the glade sacrificing an ox to the sea-god Poseidon,
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then come! For the stranger thinks you worthy, you and your city and your friends, to receive just return for benefits. Hasten quickly, lord!
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Antigone
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Dear, let us hasten back.
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Ismene.
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To do what deed?
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Antigone
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A longing fills my soul—
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Ismene.
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For what?
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Antigone
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To see the netherworld home.
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Ismene.
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Of whom?
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Antigone
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Wretched me! Of our father.
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Ismene.
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And how can this be right?
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Surely you understand?
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Antigone
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Why this rebuke?
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Ismene.
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And surely you know this, too—
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Antigone
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What more would you tell me?
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Ismene
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That he perished without a tomb, apart from everyone.
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Antigone
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Lead me there, and then kill me, too.
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Ismene
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Unhappy me! Abandoned and helpless,
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where am I now to live my wretched life?
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Chorus
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Dear girls, do not be afraid.
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Antigone
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But where shall I flee?
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Chorus
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Already a refuge has been found—
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Oedipus
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What do you mean?
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Chorus
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—That no harm befall you.
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Antigone
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I feel—
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Chorus
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What do you think?
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Antigone
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How we are to go home, I cannot tell.
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Chorus
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Do not seek to go.
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Antigone
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Trouble surrounds us.
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Chorus
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And previously it bore heavily.
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Antigone
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Then it was desperate, but now even crueler.
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Chorus
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Vast, then, is the sea of your troubles.
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Antigone
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Alas, alas! Zeus, where shall we turn?
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To what last hope does the divinity now drive us?
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Chorus
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Oh!
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Chorus
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O Zeus!
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Chorus
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You are he?
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Oedipus
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Unhappy that I am!
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Chorus
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Oh, oh!
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Antigone
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I see a woman coming towards us, mounted on a colt of Etna; she wears a Thessalian bonnet to screen her face from the sun.
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Antigone
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That I see your daughter, my sister. By her voice right away you can know her.
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Ismene
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Father, your fate is sad to see!
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Ismene
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Not without toil, indeed, for myself.
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Ismene
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I give a hand to each at once.
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Ismene
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Alas, twice-wretched life!
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Ismene
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And mine, wretched me, makes a third.
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Ismene
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Through concern for you, father.
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Ismene
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Yes, and to bring you news by my own mouth, with the only faithful servant that I had.
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Theseus
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What is it that you fear?
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Theseus
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But these men here will see to that.
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Theseus
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Do not instruct me in my duties.
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Theseus
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My heart feels no fear.
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Theseus
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I know that none will lead you from here against my will. Often threats have blustered in men’s hearts with words loud and vain; but when the mind comes to itself once more,
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Antigone
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Creon there draws near us, and not without followers, father.
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Creon
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You will soon find more to weep about.
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Creon
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And I will have this one in no long time.
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Chorus
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What are you doing, stranger?
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Chorus
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Stranger, you are acting unjustly.
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Chorus
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How?
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Creon
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I take my own.
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Chorus
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Not while this is your purpose.
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Chorus
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Unhand the girl at once!
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Creon
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And I tell you: be off!
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Antigone
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I am led off by force.
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Antigone
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I am helpless.
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Oedipus
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I am wretched, wretched! The guards exit with Antigone.
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Creon
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Hands off, I say!
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Creon
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This man here will be my captive.
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Creon
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Straightaway it will be done.
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Oedipus
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No! May the powers of this place grant me to utter this further curse! Most evil of men, when these eyes were dark, you wrenched from me the helpless one who was my eyesight and made off with her by force. Therefore to you and to your race may the Sun, the god who sees all things,
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Chorus
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Yes, but he will not achieve them.