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Read Ebook: Oedipus King of Thebes Translated into English Rhyming Verse with Explanatory Notes by Sophocles BCE BCE Murray Gilbert Translator
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Ebook has 627 lines and 15767 words, and 13 pages
The things of heaven and them that walk the earth; Our city ... thou canst see, for all thy dearth Of outward eyes, what clouds are over her. In which, O gracious Lord, no minister Of help, no champion, can we find at all Save thee. For Phoebus--thou hast heard withal His message--to our envoy hath decreed One only way of help in this great need: To find and smite with death or banishing, Him who smote La?us, our ancient King. Oh, grudge us nothing! Question every cry Of birds, and all roads else of prophecy Thou knowest. Save our city: save thine own Greatness: save me; save all that yet doth groan Under the dead man's wrong! Lo, in thy hand We lay us. And, methinks, no work so grand Hath man yet compassed, as, with all he can Of chance or power, to help his fellow man.
TIRESIAS .
Ah me! A fearful thing is knowledge, when to know Helpeth no end. I knew this long ago, But crushed it dead. Else had I never come.
OEDIPUS.
What means this? Comest thou so deep in gloom?
TIRESIAS.
Let me go back! Thy work shall weigh on thee The less, if thou consent, and mine on me.
OEDIPUS.
Prophet, this is not lawful; nay, nor kind To Thebes, who feeds thee, thus to veil thy mind.
TIRESIAS.
'Tis that I like not thy mind, nor the way It goeth. Therefore, lest I also stray....
TIRESIAS.
Naught lies with me! With thee, with thee there lies, I warrant, what thou ne'er hast seen nor guessed.
OEDIPUS
How can I hear such talk?--he maketh jest Of the land's woe--and keep mine anger dumb?
TIRESIAS.
Howe'er I hold it back, 'twill come, 'twill come.
OEDIPUS.
The more shouldst thou declare it to thy King.
TIRESIAS.
I speak no more. For thee, if passioning Doth comfort thee, on, passion to thy fill!
Speak word to me, nor yet to these who ring Thy throne. Thou art thyself the unclean thing.
OEDIPUS.
Thou front of brass, to fling out injury So wild! Dost think to bate me and go free?
TIRESIAS.
I am free. The strong truth is in this heart.
OEDIPUS.
What prompted thee? I swear 'twas not thine art.
TIRESIAS.
'Twas thou. I spoke not, save for thy command.
OEDIPUS.
Spoke what? What was it? Let me understand.
TIRESIAS.
Dost tempt me? Were my words before not plain!
OEDIPUS.
Scarce thy full meaning. Speak the words again.
TIRESIAS.
Thou seek'st this man of blood: Thyself art he.
OEDIPUS.
'Twill cost thee dear, twice to have stabbed at me!
TIRESIAS.
Shall I say more, to see thee rage again?
OEDIPUS.
Oh, take thy fill of speech: 'twill all be vain.
TIRESIAS.
Thou livest with those near to thee in shame Most deadly, seeing not thyself nor them.
OEDIPUS.
Thou think'st 'twill help thee, thus to speak and speak?
TIRESIAS.
Surely, until the strength of Truth be weak.
OEDIPUS.
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