按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Whose sobs I hear？ Has Creon pitied me
And sent me my two darlings？ Can this be？
CREON
'Tis true； 'twas I procured thee this delight；
Knowing the joy they were to thee of old。
OEDIPUS
God speed thee！ and as meed for bringing them
May Providence deal with thee kindlier
Than it has dealt with me！ O children mine；
Where are ye？ Let me clasp you with these hands；
A brother's hands； a father's； hands that made
Lack…luster sockets of his once bright eyes；
Hands of a man who blindly； recklessly；
Became your sire by her from whom he sprang。
Though I cannot behold you； I must weep
In thinking of the evil days to come；
The slights and wrongs that men will put upon you。
Where'er ye go to feast or festival；
No merrymaking will it prove for you；
But oft abashed in tears ye will return。
And when ye come to marriageable years；
Where's the bold wooers who will jeopardize
To take unto himself such disrepute
As to my children's children still must cling；
For what of infamy is lacking here？
〃Their father slew his father； sowed the seed
Where he himself was gendered； and begat
These maidens at the source wherefrom he sprang。〃
Such are the gibes that men will cast at you。
Who then will wed you？ None； I ween； but ye
Must pine； poor maids； in single barrenness。
O Prince； Menoeceus' son； to thee； I turn；
With the it rests to father them； for we
Their natural parents； both of us； are lost。
O leave them not to wander poor； unwed；
Thy kin； nor let them share my low estate。
O pity them so young； and but for thee
All destitute。 Thy hand upon it； Prince。
To you； my children I had much to say；
Were ye but ripe to hear。 Let this suffice：
Pray ye may find some home and live content；
And may your lot prove happier than your sire's。
CREON
Thou hast had enough of weeping； pass within。
OEDIPUS
I must obey；
Though 'tis grievous。
CREON
Weep not； everything must have its day。
OEDIPUS
Well I go； but on conditions。
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