460
having spilled his father’s blood! Now go inside
and think that over. If you catch me lying,
then say I have no skill in prophecy!
(Tiresias exits to the side. Oedipus watches him leave for a moment, then turns abruptly and goes back into the palace.)
strophe 1
CHORUS: Who is the man the oracle-echoing rock of Delphi
sings of, who did unspeakable deeds with bloody hands?
Time for him to set his foot
in flight faster than horses
with storm in their hooves!
For the son of Zeus,*45 armed
470
with fiery lightning leaps upon him
and the dread avenging Spirits of Death*46
join in pursuit and will not lose the trail.
antistrophe 1
Just now flamed the command from snow-capped
Parnassus:*47 all must hunt him down, the man unseen.
For under the wild wood,
in caves, among rocks
he roams, like the bull bereft
of his herd, hampered, with hampered foot*48
480
trying to outrun the prophecies
from earth’s center,*49 that hover
around him, ever on target, ever alive.
strophe 2
Terribly, terribly now the wise
prophet has shaken me—
I neither agree nor deny—
I don’t know what to say,
I flutter with hopes, unable to see
here, or into the future.
Not now or before have I ever heard
490
that in the past there was strife
between the Labdacids*50
and the son of Polybus,*51
nothing *52
to put to the test, or cause me
to doubt the glory of Oedipus
and come to the aid*53
of the Labdacids, for a murder sunk in darkness.
antistrophe 2
Zeus and Apollo are wise, and know
the ways of men. But whether among men
500
a seer counts more than I do,
there is no way of knowing,
for one man’s wisdom
may surpass another’s. But I would not,
before I’ve seen what’s said is true,
add my consent
to those who condemn Oedipus.
For once, in sight of all, the winged girl*54
swept against him
and he showed himself wise
510
in the contest, a joy to my city.
So in my thoughts
he could not be guilty of a crime.
(Enter Creon.)
CREON: Citizens, I’m here because I’ve heard
news that I can’t bear to hear—
that Oedipus the tyrant*55 is accusing me!
For if in times like these he thinks that he’s
been hurt by me, by what I’ve said or done—
if that’s what he says, I tell you I don’t want
to go on living. It’s no little thing,
520
the damage done to me by such a charge.
It’s huge, to be called a traitor by my city—
a traitor, by you and by my friends!
CHORUS LEADER: The charge did pass his lips, but it could be
that anger more than judgment forced it out.
CREON: But didn’t he say that it was my idea
to make the prophet utter falsehoods?
CHORUS LEADER: He did, but I know he didn’t think it through.
CREON: Was he seeing straight, was he thinking straight
when he made this accusation?
530
CHORUS LEADER: I don’t know. Power acts beyond my ken.*56
(Enter Oedipus, from the palace.)
532
OEDIPUS: You! What are you doing here? Where do you get
the nerve, the gall to come to my house—you,
my killer plain as day, the thief with clear
designs upon my throne? Speak up, by the gods!
Was it cowardice or feeble-mindedness
you saw in me, that you could hatch this scheme?
Or did you think I wouldn’t see who set
the plot in motion, and not defend myself?
540
Isn’t it foolish, this attempt of yours,
to seek a tyranny,*57 without wealth and friends?
For that you need popular support and money.*58
CREON: You know what’s called for now? Quit talking,
listen, and then judge, when you’ve heard me out.
OEDIPUS: You speak well, but I won’t learn well
for I have found a deadly enemy in you.
CREON: First listen to what I have to say.
OEDIPUS: Just don’t “say” that you’re not treacherous!
CREON: If you think stubbornness, without knowledge,
550
worth having, you aren’t thinking straight.
OEDIPUS: If you think you won’t pay for abusing
a kinsman,*59 you haven’t thought it through.
CREON: I agree. There’s justice in what you say.
But what is it, this “abuse” you’ve suffered?
OEDIPUS: Did you, or did you not, persuade me
that I should send for that pompous seer?
CREON: I did, and I’d advise the same again.
OEDIPUS: How long is it now since Laius—
CREON: Did what? I don’t know what you’re driving at.
560
OEDIPUS: —vanished, a victim of deadly violence?
CREON: It would be years now—a long time ago.
OEDIPUS: At that time, then, was this seer in practice?
CREON: He was—wise then as now, and just as honored.
OEDIPUS: Did he say anything about me then?
CREON: Not when I was around. I’m sure of that.
OEDIPUS: And didn’t you try to find the killer?
CREON: We did—how could we not?—but we heard nothing.
OEDIPUS: What kept our wise man from speaking up?
CREON: I don’t know. When I don’t know, I don’t speak.
570
OEDIPUS: This much you know and, if you’re wise, you’ll say—
CREON: What? If I can, I won’t refuse to answer.
OEDIPUS: —that if he hadn’t been suborned by you
he’d never have said that I killed Laius.
CREON: You know if he said that. But I’ve the right
to ask as much from you as you from me.
OEDIPUS: Ask on. You won’t convict me of the murder.
CREON: To begin, then: you’re husband to my sister?
OEDIPUS: Indeed I am—there’s no need to deny it.
CREON: And rule the land, hand in hand with her?
580
OEDIPUS: She gets, from me, everything she wants.
CREON: And am I not third, equal to you two?
OEDIPUS: Yes, and a bad friend, for that very reason!
CREON: No, not if you can look at it my way.
Consider first, whether you think anyone
would choose to rule in fear rather than sleep
safe in his bed at night, yet have the same power.
Just so, I would not prefer to be
tyrant myself, but to do what a tyrant does,
and so would anyone who had any sense.
590
Now, I gain all this from you, without the fear,
but if I were in charge, there’d be plenty to do
not to my liking. How then would tyranny
look better to me than power without pain?
I’m not so deluded that I crave
anything that isn’t noble and enjoyable.
As it is, all greet me, all welcome me,
and those in
need of you confide in me;
that way they get everything they wish for.
599
Why give up all of that, just for this?*60
601
I’ve never hankered after thoughts like those
nor would I work with anyone who did.
For proof, go to Pytho, check the oracle,
see if it tallies with the one I brought;
and then, if you find that I’ve conspired
with the seer, seize and kill me, not by a single
but a double vote, mine and yours together—
but don’t accuse me at a whim, a guess!
For, without evidence, it is unjust
610
to think bad men are good or good men bad.*61
613
But you’ll know all of this for sure, in time,
for time alone reveals the man who’s just
while you can know a bad one in a day.
CHORUS LEADER: (to Oedipus) A careful man would say he argues well.
A choice too quickly made is soon regretted.
OEDIPUS: When anyone who plots in secret against me
moves fast, I must be fast to counter him.
620
If I let down my guard and bide my time,
he will achieve his aims, mine come to nothing.
CREON: What, then, do you want? To send me into exile?
OEDIPUS: Not at all. I want you dead, not banished.
Let the whole world know what envy comes to.*62
625
CREON: You mean you won’t relent, you won’t believe me?
OEDIPUS:
CREON: Nor am I, that you make sense!
626
OED.: I do—in my eyes.
CREON: You should, in mine, too.
OED.: Not when you’re a traitor.
CREON: And if you’re wrong?
OED.: I still must rule this land.
CREON: Not when you rule it badly.
OED.: O city, city!
630
CREON: This is my city, too, not yours alone.
CHORUS LEADER: Enough, my lords! I see Jocasta coming
from the palace, just in time. With her help,
you need to bring this quarrel to an end.
(Enter Jocasta.)
JOCASTA: Why this senseless storm of words?
Is this the time to stir up private ills,
when the country’s sick? Aren’t you ashamed?
(to Oedipus) You, go inside! And you to your house, Creon;
don’t make so much of nothing!
CREON: Sister, Oedipus your husband has just passed
640
a dire sentence. He’s weighing only whether
to banish me, or seize and have me killed.
OEDIPUS: Just so—for I have caught him plotting
against my person with his evil wiles.
CREON: May I not prosper, but die accursed
if I did anything you say I’ve done!
JOCASTA: By the gods, Oedipus, believe his words!
Respect, above all else, the oath he’s sworn;
respect me, too, and these men here before you.
(The Chorus and Oedipus now sing together.)*64
strophe
CHORUS: Be persuaded, lord,
650
in mind and heart, I pray.
OEDIPUS: Persuaded of what? What do you want from me?
CHORUS: That you respect one who’s been no fool before
and stands strong now by the oath he’s sworn.
OEDIPUS: Do you know what you’re asking?
CHORUS: Yes.
OEDIPUS: Say it, then!*65
CHORUS: Don’t cast aside, without clear proof,
a friend bound by oath. Don’t scorn his plea.
OEDIPUS: Make no mistake: in asking this, you’re asking
death for me, or exile from this land.
660
CHORUS: No, by the Sun, god at the head
of all the gods! May I perish
in the worst way, godless, friendless,
if I have such thoughts!
It is the land withering away
that tears my heart, ill-fated
as I am, if the two of you
add your own
troubles to the ones we have.
OEDIPUS: All right then, let him go, even if it means
670
that I must die or be driven out of here
in violence and disgrace! Your words, not his,
have moved me. Wherever he is, he’ll still be hated.
CREON: You cling to hate even in yielding, so
far gone are you in wrath. People like you
deserve to be their own worst enemies.
OEDIPUS: Will you not leave me, and be gone?
CRE.: I’m on my way,
no thanks to you. (indicating the Chorus) It’s their good sense that saves me.
(Exit Creon.)
antistrophe
CHORUS: (to Jocasta) Woman, what are you waiting for?
Take him into the house!
680
JOCASTA: I will, when I’ve learned what the matter is.
CHORUS: A difference of opinion—it lacks proof,
but unfair suggestions also have a sting.
JOCASTA: Did it come from both men?
CHORUS: Yes.
JOCASTA: And what was it?
CHORUS: Enough! It seems to me, for the city’s sake,
that it should stop right there, where it left off.
OEDIPUS: See what it comes to! You and your good judgment
end by scanting my cause and blunting my resolve.
CHORUS: My lord, I’ve said not only once
690
and I assure you again, that I would seem
out of my mind, unable to think,
if ever I turn my back on you.
It was you who set my beloved country,
distracted with pain, on her way again.
Now be her guide once more!
JOCASTA: By the gods, my lord, let me, too, know
why such anger has come over you.
700
OEDIPUS: I shall; you mean more to me than they do.
It’s Creon—and the plots he made against me.
JOCASTA: Go on, if you can clearly place the blame.
OEDIPUS: He says that I’m the one who murdered Laius.
JOCASTA: Does he know this himself, or from another?
OEDIPUS: He’s had a prophet do the dirty work—
to guard himself, to keep his own lips clean.
JOCASTA: In that case, you can call yourself acquitted!
Listen to me and know no mortal man
has any share in arts of prophecy.
710
I’ll prove it to you, and at no great length.
An oracle came to Laius once—I won’t say
from Phoebus himself, but from his underlings—
that his fate was to be killed by his own child,
the son that would be born to him and me.*66
Now as for Laius, the rumor is that strangers,
bandits, killed him one day where three roads meet.
As for the child, not three days past his birth
Laius bound his feet together and had him
thrown out onto a pathless mountainside.
720
And so Apollo didn’t cause the child
to be his father’s killer or make Laius
meet the fate he feared at that child’s hand.
Such were the prophecies, all laid down clearly.
None need trouble you, for what a god
desires, he’ll easily reveal to us.
OEDIPUS: My wife, when you spoke just now,
my spirit wandered, my mind was in turmoil!
JOCASTA: What’s the matter? Why this sudden, anxious turn?
OEDIPUS: I thought I heard you say
that Laius
730
was murdered near where three roads meet.
JOCASTA: That’s what was said, and has always been said.
OEDIPUS: Where is the place, where did it happen?
JOCASTA: The land’s called Phocis, and the road splits there—
one branch to Delphi, the other to Daulis.
OEDIPUS: And how much time has gone by since then?
JOCASTA: The message reached the city just before
you emerged as the ruler of this land.
OEDIPUS: O Zeus, what have you planned to do with me?
JOCASTA: What is it, Oedipus, that so troubles you?
740
OEDIPUS: Don’t ask me yet. But tell me about Laius—
what did he look like, how old was he?
JOCASTA: His hair was dark, just breaking into gray;
in looks, he didn’t differ much from you.
OEDIPUS: (cries in distress) oimoi! It seems I didn’t know
I cast myself under a deadly curse just now.
JOCASTA: What is it? I fear to look at you, my lord.
OEDIPUS: I’m full of dread. Maybe the seer did see!
But shed more light, tell me one thing more.
JOCASTA: Though I’m afraid, I’ll answer if I can.
750
OEDIPUS: Was Laius travelling light, or with many guards,
as you’d expect of one who is a king?
JOCASTA: They were five in all, counting the herald,
and a single wagon. Laius rode in that.
OEDIPUS: aiai! It’s coming clear now! Who was it—
who was the man who told you this story?
JOCASTA: A slave, the one who came back, sole survivor.
OEDIPUS: Does this man happen to be in the house?
JOCASTA: No. The moment he returned and saw
that you were on the throne and Laius dead,
760
he touched my hand and begged that I send him off
to the fields, to pasture flocks and be as far
from sight of the city as he could.
And I sent him. He was a good man, for a slave,
and worthy of more recompense than that.
OEDIPUS: Can we get him to come back here, right now?
JOCASTA: We can. But why do you insist on this?
OEDIPUS: I’m afraid, for myself, wife: I may have said
too much; that is why I wish to see him.
JOCASTA: Well, he’ll come. But I, too, have a right
770
to know, my lord, the cause of your distress.
OEDIPUS: I won’t keep it from you, I’ve gone so far
in my forebodings! In whom if not in you
may I confide when fate takes such a turn?
My father was Polybus of Corinth, my mother
The Greek Plays Page 30