| OEDIPUS THE KING |
| OEDIPUS AT COLONUS |
| ANTIGONE |
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
To Laius, King of Thebes, an oracle foretold that the child born to him by hisqueen Jocasta would slay his father and wed his mother. So when in time a sonwas born the infant’s feet were riveted together and he was left to die onMount Cithaeron. But a shepherd found the babe and tended him, and deliveredhim to another shepherd who took him to his master, the King of Corinth.Polybus being childless adopted the boy, who grew up believing that he wasindeed the King’s son. Afterwards doubting his parentage he inquired of theDelphic god and heard himself the word declared before to Laius. Wherefore hefled from what he deemed his father’s house and in his flight he encounteredand unwillingly slew his father Laius. Arriving at Thebes he answered theriddle of the Sphinx and the grateful Thebans made their deliverer king. So hereigned in the room of Laius, and espoused the widowed queen. Children wereborn to them and Thebes prospered under his rule, but again a grievous plaguefell upon the city. Again the oracle was consulted and it bade them purgethemselves of blood-guiltiness. Oedipus denounces the crime of which he isunaware, and undertakes to track out the criminal. Step by step it is broughthome to him that he is the man. The closing scene reveals Jocasta slain by herown hand and Oedipus blinded by his own act and praying for death or exile.
Oedipus.
The Priest of Zeus.
Creon.
Chorus of Theban Elders.
Teiresias.
Jocasta.
Messenger.
Herd of Laius.
Second Messenger.
Suppliants of all ages are seated round the altar at the palace doors,
at their head a PRIEST OF ZEUS. To them enter OEDIPUS.
OEDIPUS.
My children, latest born to Cadmus old,
Why sit ye here as suppliants, in your hands
Branches of olive filleted with wool?
What means this reek of incense everywhere,
And everywhere laments and litanies?
Children, it were not meet that I should learn
From others, and am hither come, myself,
I Oedipus, your world-renowned king.
Ho! aged sire, whose venerable locks
Proclaim thee spokesman of this company,
Explain your mood and purport. Is it dread
Of ill that moves you or a boon ye crave?
My zeal in your behalf ye cannot doubt;
Ruthless indeed were I and obdurate
If such petitioners as you I spurned.
PRIEST.
Yea, Oedipus, my sovereign lord and king,
Thou seest how both extremes of age besiege
Thy palace altars—fledglings hardly winged,
and greybeards bowed with years; priests, as am I
of Zeus, and these the flower of our youth.
Meanwhile, the common folk, with wreathed boughs
Crowd our two market-places, or before
Both shrines of Pallas congregate, or where
Ismenus gives his oracles by fire.
Fo