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
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[Footnote 1:  Dr. Kennedy and others render “Since to men of experience I see that also comparisons of their counsels are in most lively use.”]

[Footnote 2:  Literally “not to call them thine,” but the Greek may be rendered “In order not to reveal thine.”]

[Footnote 3:  The Greek text that occurs in this place has been lost.]

SOPHOCLES

Oedipusat 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