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CREON
What thy terms for going； say。
OEDIPUS
Send me from the land an exile。
CREON
Ask this of the gods； not me。
OEDIPUS
But I am the gods' abhorrence。
CREON
Then they soon will grant thy plea。
OEDIPUS
Lead me hence； then； I am willing。
CREON
Come； but let thy children go。
OEDIPUS
Rob me not of these my children！
CREON
Crave not mastery in all；
For the mastery that raised thee was thy bane and wrought thy fall。
CHORUS
Look ye； countrymen and Thebans； this is Oedipus the great；
He who knew the Sphinx's riddle and was mightiest in our state。
Who of all our townsmen gazed not on his fame with envious eyes？
Now； in what a sea of troubles sunk and overwhelmed he lies！
Therefore wait to see life's ending ere thou count one mortal blest；
Wait till free from pain and sorrow he has gained his final rest。
FOOTNOTES
…
1。 Dr。 Kennedy and others render 〃Since to men of experience I see
that also comparisons of their counsels are in most lively use。〃
2。 Literally 〃not to call them thine；〃 but the Greek may be rendered
〃In order not to reveal thine。〃
3。 The Greek text that occurs in this place has been lost。
SOPHOCLES
OEDIPUS AT COLONUS
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
ARGUMENT
Oedipus； the blind and banished King of Thebes； has come in his
wanderings to Colonus； a deme of Athens； led by his daughter Antigone。
He sits to rest on a rock just within a sacred grove of the Furies and
is bidden depart by a passing native。 But Oedipus； instructed by an
oracle that he had reached his final resting…place； refuses to stir；
and the stranger consents to go and consult the Elders of Colonus （the
Chorus of the Play）。 Conducted to the spot they pity at first the
blind beggar and his daughter； but on learning his name they are
horror…striken and order him to quit the land。 He appeals to the
world…famed hospitality of Athens and hints at the blessings that his
coming will confer on the State。 They agree to await the decision of
King Theseus。 From Theseus Oedipus craves protection in life and
burial in Attic soil； the benefits that will accrue shall be told
later。 Theseus departs having promised to aid and befriend him。 No
sooner has he gone than Creon enters with an armed guard who seize
Antigone and carry her off （Ismene； the other sister； they have
already captured） and he is about to lay hands on Oedipus； when
Theseus； who has heard the tumult； hurries up and； upbraiding Creon
for his lawless act； threatens to detain him till he has shown where
the captives are and restored them。 In the next scene Theseus returns
bringing with him the rescued maidens。 He informs Oedipus that a
stranger who has taken sanctuary at the altar of Poseidon wishes to
see him。 It is Polyneices who has come to crave his father's
forgiveness and blessing； knowing by an oracle that victory will fall
to the side that Oedipus espouses。 But Oedipus spurns the hypocrite；
and invokes a dire curse on both his unnatural sons。 A sudden clap of
thunder is heard； and as peal follows peal； Oedipus is aware that his
hour is come and bids Antigone summon Theseus。 Self…guided he leads
the way to the spot where death should overtake him； attended by
Theseus and his daughters。 Halfway he bids his daughters farewell；
and what followed none but Theseus knew。 He was not （so the Messenger
reports） for the gods took him。
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
OEDIPUS； banished King of Thebes。
ANTIGONE； his daughter。
ISMENE； his daughter。
THESEUS； King of Athens。
CREON； brother of Jocasta； now reigning at Thebes。
POLYNEICES； elder son of Oedipus。
STRANGER； a native of Colonus。
MESSENGER； an attendant of Theseus。
CHORUS； citizens of Colonus。
Scene： In front of the grove of the Eumenides。
OEDIPUS AT COLONUS
Enter the blind OEDIPUS led by his daughter； ANTIGONE。
OEDIPUS
Child of an old blind sire； Antigone；
What region； say； whose city have we reached？
Who will provide today with scanted dole
This wanderer？ 'Tis little that he craves；
And less obtainsthat less enough for me；
For I am taught by suffering to endure；
And the long years that have grown old with me；
And last not least； by true nobility。
My daughter； if thou seest a resting place
On common ground or by some sacred grove；
Stay me and set me down。 Let us discover
Where we have come； for strangers must inquire
Of denizens； and do as they are bid。
ANTIGONE
Long…suffering father； Oedipus； the towers
That fence the city still are faint and far；
But where we stand is surely holy ground；
A wilderness of laurel； olive； vine；
Within a choir or songster nightingales
Are warbling。 On this native seat of rock
Rest； for an old man thou hast traveled far。
OEDIPUS
Guide these dark steps and seat me there secure。
ANTIGONE
If time can teach； I need not to be told。
OEDIPUS
Say； prithee； if thou knowest； where we are。
ANTIGONE
Athens I recognize； but not the spot。
OEDIPUS
That much we heard from every wayfarer。
ANTIGONE
Shall I go on and ask about the place？
OEDIPUS
Yes； daughter； if it be inhabited。
ANTIGONE
Sure there are habitations； but no need
To leave thee； yonder is a man hard by。
OEDIPUS
What； moving hitherward and on his way？
ANTIGONE
Say rather； here already。 Ask him straight
The needful questions； for the man is here。
＇Enter STRANGER＇
OEDIPUS
O stranger； as I learn from her whose eyes
Must serve both her and me； that thou art here
Sent by some happy chance to serve our doubts
STRANGER
First quit that seat； then question me at large：
The spot thou treadest on is holy ground。
OEDIPUS
What is the site； to what god dedicate？
STRANGER
Inviolable； untrod； goddesses；
Dread brood of Earth and Darkness； here abide。
OEDIPUS
Tell me the awful name I should invoke？
STRANGER
The Gracious Ones； All…seeing； so our folk
Call them； but elsewhere other names are rife。
OEDIPUS
Then may they show their suppliant grace； for I
From this your sanctuary will ne'er depart。
STRANGER
What word is this？
OEDIPUS
The watchword of my fate。
STRANGER
Nay； 'tis not mine to bid thee hence without
Due warrant and instruction from the State。
OEDIPUS
Now in God's name； O stranger； scorn me not
As a wayfarer； tell me what I crave。
STRANGER
Ask； your request shall not be scorned by me。
OEDIPUS
How call you then the place wherein we bide？
STRANGER
Whate'er I know thou too shalt know； the place
Is all to great Poseidon consecrate。
Hard by； the Titan； he who bears the torch；
Prometheus； has his worship； but the spot
Thou treadest； the Brass…footed Threshold named；
Is Athens' bastion； and the neighboring lands
Claim as their chief and patron yonder knight
Colonus； and in common bear his name。
Such； stranger； is the spot； to fame unknown；
But dear to us its native worshipers。
OEDIPUS
Thou sayest there are dwellers in these parts？
STRANGER
Surely； they bear the name of yonder god。
OEDIPUS
Ruled by a king or by the general voice？
STRANGER
The lord of Athens is our over…lord。
OEDIPUS
Who is this monarch； great in word and might？
STRANGER
Theseus； the son of Aegeus our late king。
OEDIPUS
Might one be sent from you to summon him？
STRANGER
Wherefore？ To tell him aught or urge his coming？
OEDIPUS
Say a slight service may avail him much。
STRANGER
How can he profit from a sightless man？
OEDIPUS
The blind man's words will be instinct with sight。
STRANGER
Heed then； I fain would see thee out of harm；
For by the looks； marred though they be by fate；
I judge thee noble； tarry where thou art；
While I go seek the burghersthose at hand；
Not in the city。 They will soon decide
Whether thou art to rest or go thy way。
＇Exit STRANGER＇
OEDIPUS
Tell me； my daughter； has the stranger gone？
ANTIGONE
Yes； he has gone； now we are all alone；
And thou may'st speak； dear father； without fear。
OEDIPUS
Stern…visaged queens； since coming to this land
First in your sanctuary I bent the knee；
Frown not on me or Phoebus； who； when erst
He told me all my miseries to come；
Spake of this respite after many years；
Some haven in a far…off land； a rest
Vouchsafed at last by dread divinities。
〃There；〃 said he； 〃shalt thou round thy weary life；
A blessing to the land wherein thou dwell'st；
But to the land that cast thee forth； a curse。〃
And of my weird he promised signs should come；
Earthquake； or thunderclap；