Iocasta Princes of the land, I am planning to visit the shrines of the gods, with this wreathed branch and these gifts of incense in my hands. For Oedipus excites his soul excessively with all sorts of grief, as he does not judge the new things from the old, like a man of sense, but is under the control of the speaker, if he speaks of frightful things. Since, then, I can do no good by counsel, to you, Lycean Apollo—for you are nearest— I have come as a suppliant with these symbols of prayer, that you may find us some escape from uncleanliness. For now we are all afraid, like those who see fear in the helmsman of their ship.
Messenger Can you tell me, strangers, where the house of King Oedipus is? Or better still, tell me where he himself is, if you know.
Chorus This is his dwelling, and he himself, stranger, is within. This lady here is the mother of his children.
Messenger Then may she be ever happy in a happy home, since she is his blessed queen.
Iocasta Happiness to you also, stranger! Your fair greeting deserves this. But say what you have come to seek or to tell.
Messenger Good tidings, lady, for your house and your husband.
Iocasta What are they? From whom have you come?
Messenger From Corinth, and at the message I will give now you will doubtless rejoice, though you may perhaps grieve too.
Iocasta What is it? Why has it this double potency?
Messenger The people will make him king of the Isthmian land, as it was said there.
Iocasta How then? Is the aged Polybus no longer in power?
Messenger No. For death holds him in the tomb.
Iocasta What do you mean? Is Polybus dead, old man?
Messenger If I do not speak the truth, I am content to die.
Iocasta Handmaid, away with all speed, and tell this to your master! Oracles of the gods, where do you stand now? It is this man that Oedipus long feared he would slay. And now this man has died in the course of destiny, not by his hand.
Oedipus Iocasta, dearest wife, why have you summoned me forth from these doors?
Iocasta Hear this man, and judge, as you listen, what the awful oracles have come to.
Oedipus Who is he and what news does he have for me?
Iocasta He comes from Corinth to tell you that your father Polybus lives no longer, but has perished.
Oedipus How, stranger? Let me have it from your own mouth.
Messenger If I must first make these tidings plain, know indeed that he is dead and gone.
Oedipus By treachery, or from illness?
Messenger A light tilt of the scale brings the aged to their rest.
Oedipus Ah, he died, it seems, of sickness?
Messenger Yes, and of the long years that he had lived.
Oedipus Alas, alas! Why indeed, my wife, should one look to the hearth of the Pythian seer, or to the birds that scream above our heads, who declared that I was doomed to slay my father? But he is dead, and lies beneath the earth, and here I am, not having put my hand to any spear—unless, perhaps, he died out of longing for me: thus, indeed, I would be the cause of his death. But as the oracles stand, at least, Polybus has swept them with him to his rest in Hades. They are worth nothing.
Iocasta Did I not long ago foretell this to you?
Oedipus You did, but I was mislead by my fear.
Iocasta Now no longer take any of those things to heart.
Oedipus But surely I must fear my mother’s bed.
Iocasta What should a mortal man fear, for whom the decrees of Fortune are supreme, and who has clear foresight of nothing? It is best to live at random, as one may. But fear not that you will wed your mother. Many men before now have slept with their mothers in dreams. But he to whom these things are as though nothing bears his life most easily.
Oedipus All these words of yours would have been well said, were my mother not alive. But as it is, since she lives, I must necessarily fear, though you do speak well.
Iocasta Your father’s death is a great sign for us to take cheer.
Oedipus Great, I know. But my fear is of her who lives.
Messenger And who is the woman about whom you fear?
Oedipus Merope, old man, the consort of Polybus.
Messenger And what is it in her that moves your fear?
Oedipus A divine oracle of dread import, stranger.
Messenger Proper, or improper, for another to know?
Oedipus Proper, surely. Loxias once said that I was doomed to marry my own mother, and to shed with my own hands my father’s blood. For which reasons I long shirked my home in Corinth—with a happy outcome, to be sure, but still it is sweet to see the face of one’s parents.
Cite This Text