![]() Oedipus Rex by Sophocles (Full Text)Oedipus Rex(Greek: Oedipus Tyrannus; Latin: Oedipus Rex; Oedipus the King)Play by Sophocles. Translation by F. Storr, BAFormerly Scholar of Trinity College, Cambridge From the Loeb Library Edition Originally published by Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MAand William Heinemann Ltd, London This translation first published in 1. CEOriginally written in the 4. BCE. Argument. To Laius, King of Thebes, an oracle foretold that the child bornto him by his queen Jocasta would slay his father and wed his mother. So when in time a son was born the infant's feet were riveted togetherand he was left to die on Mount Cithaeron. The full text of Sophocles' ancient play Oedipus Rex. In ancient Greece, the gods choose Theseus to battle a king who's scheming with the bloodthirsty Titans to overthrow the gods and enslave humanity. Watch trailers. Why did ancient people make up myths? Myths are stories that reflect the culture and beliefs of a society and explain natural phenomena by using powerful gods and. Download and play free Puzzle Games. Challenge your mind with jigsaws, brain teasers, hidden objects, and more with our huge collection of Puzzle Games! ADITI f Hinduism, Indian, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Kannada Means "boundless, entire" or "freedom, security" in Sanskrit. This is the name of an ancient Hindu goddess. ![]() Summary: Ancient and mediaeval epic tales like the Iliad and Odyssey, Gilgamesh, and the Chanson de Roland had plots made up of modular elements taken from. The Elemental Powers trope as used in popular culture. In the past, it was thought that all of matter could be classified into easily viewable "elements". Ancient Greek civilization provided the foundations of Western culture. Philosophically, artistically, scientifically and politically, the Greeks reached an. HADES & THE WAR OF THE TITANS. Haides and his brothers Zeus and Poseidon battled the Titanes for the rule of the cosmos. Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 1. But a shepherd found thebabe and tended him, and delivered him to another shepherd who tookhim to his master, the King or Corinth. Polybus being childlessadopted the boy, who grew up believing that he was indeed the King'sson. Afterwards doubting his parentage he inquired of the Delphic godand heard himself the weird declared before to Laius. Wherefore hefled from what he deemed his father's house and in his flight heencountered and unwillingly slew his father Laius. Arriving at Thebeshe answered the riddle of the Sphinx and the grateful Thebans madetheir deliverer king. So he reigned in the room of Laius, andespoused the widowed queen. Children were born to them and Thebesprospered under his rule, but again a grievous plague fell upon thecity. Again the oracle was consulted and it bade them purgethemselves of blood- guiltiness. Oedipus denounces the crime of whichhe is unaware, and undertakes to track out the criminal. Step bystep it is brought home to him that he is the man. The closing scenereveals Jocasta slain by her own hand and Oedipus blinded by his ownact and praying for death or exile. DRAMATIS PERSONAEOedipus. The Priest of Zeus. Creon. Chorus of Theban Elders. Teiresias. Jocasta. Messenger. Herd of Laius. Second Messenger. Scene: Thebes. Before the Palace of Oedipus. OEDIPUS REXSuppliants 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. 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. PRIESTYea, 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. For, as thou seest thyself, our ship of State, Sore buffeted, can no more lift her head, Foundered beneath a weltering surge of blood. A blight is on our harvest in the ear, A blight upon the grazing flocks and herds, A blight on wives in travail; and withal Armed with his blazing torch the God of Plague Hath swooped upon our city emptying The house of Cadmus, and the murky realm Of Pluto is full fed with groans and tears. Therefore, O King, here at thy hearth we sit, I and these children; not as deeming thee A new divinity, but the first of men; First in the common accidents of life, And first in visitations of the Gods. Art thou not he who coming to the town of Cadmus freed us from the tax we paid To the fell songstress? Nor hadst thou received Prompting from us or been by others schooled; No, by a god inspired (so all men deem,And testify) didst thou renew our life. And now, O Oedipus, our peerless king,All we thy votaries beseech thee, find. Some succor, whether by a voice from heaven. Whispered, or haply known by human wit. Tried counselors, methinks, are aptest found ! If thou wouldst rule. This land, as now thou reignest, better sure. To rule a peopled than a desert realm. Nor battlements nor galleys aught avail,If men to man and guards to guard them tail. OEDIPUS. Ah! What's amiss? CREON. Banishment, or the shedding blood for blood. This stain of blood makes shipwreck of our state. OEDIPUS. Whom can he mean, the miscreant thus denounced? CREON. Before thou didst assume the helm of State,The sovereign of this land was Laius. OEDIPUS. I heard as much, but never saw the man. CREON. He fell; and now the god's command is plain: Punish his takers- off, whoe'er they be. OEDIPUS. Where are they? Where in the wide world to find. The far, faint traces of a bygone crime? CREON. In this land, said the god; ? One clue might lead us far,With but a spark of hope to guide our quest. CREON. Robbers, he told us, not one bandit but. A troop of knaves, attacked and murdered him. OEDIPUS. Did any bandit dare so bold a stroke,Unless indeed he were suborned from Thebes? CREON. So 'twas surmised, but none was found to avenge. His murder mid the trouble that ensued. OEDIPUS. What trouble can have hindered a full quest,When royalty had fallen thus miserably? CREON. The riddling Sphinx compelled us to let slide. The dim past and attend to instant needs. OEDIPUS. Well, I will start afresh and once again. Make dark things clear. Right worthy the concern. Of Phoebus, worthy thine too, for the dead; I also, as is meet, will lend my aid. To avenge this wrong to Thebes and to the god. Not for some far- off kinsman, but myself,Shall I expel this poison in the blood; For whoso slew that king might have a mind. To strike me too with his assassin hand. Therefore in righting him I serve myself. Up, children, haste ye, quit these altar stairs,Take hence your suppliant wands, go summon hither. The Theban commons. With the god's good help. Success is sure; 'tis ruin if we fail. Sweet- voiced daughter of Zeus from thy gold- paved Pythian shrine. Wafted to Thebes divine,What dost thou bring me? My soul is racked and shivers with fear.(Healer of Delos, hear!)Hast thou some pain unknown before,Or with the circling years renewest a penance of yore? Offspring of golden Hope, thou voice immortal, O tell me.(Ant. First on Athene I call; O Zeus- born goddess, defend! Goddess and sister, befriend,Artemis, Lady of Thebes, high- throned in the midst of our mart! Lord of the death- winged dart! Your threefold aid I crave. From death and ruin our city to save. If in the days of old when we nigh had perished, ye drave. From our land the fiery plague, be near us now and defend us!(Str. Ah me, what countless woes are mine! All our host is in decline; Weaponless my spirit lies. Earth her gracious fruits denies; Women wail in barren throes; Life on life downstriken goes,Swifter than the wind bird's flight,Swifter than the Fire- God's might,To the westering shores of Night.(Ant. Wasted thus by death on death. All our city perisheth. Corpses spread infection round; None to tend or mourn is found. Wailing on the altar stair. Wives and grandams rend the air—Long- drawn moans and piercing cries. Blent with prayers and litanies. Golden child of Zeus, O hear. Let thine angel face appear!(Str. And grant that Ares whose hot breath I feel,Though without targe or steel. He stalks, whose voice is as the battle shout,May turn in sudden rout,To the unharbored Thracian waters sped,Or Amphitrite's bed. For what night leaves undone,Smit by the morrow's sun. Perisheth. Father Zeus, whose hand. Doth wield the lightning brand,Slay him beneath thy levin bold, we pray,Slay him, O slay!(Ant. O that thine arrows too, Lycean King,From that taut bow's gold string,Might fly abroad, the champions of our rights; Yea, and the flashing lights. Of Artemis, wherewith the huntress sweeps. Across the Lycian steeps.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
October 2017
Categories |