Oedipus Bless you, and for this errand may the god prove a kinder guardian to you than he has to me. My children, where are you? Come, here, here to the hands of the one whose mother was your own, the hands that have made your father’s once bright eyes to be such orbs as these—his, who seeing nothing, knowing nothing, became your father by her from whom he was born! For you also do I weep, though I cannot see you, when I think of the bitter life that men will make you live in days to come. To what company of the citizens will you go, to what festival, from which you will not return home in tears, not sharing in the holiday? But when you reach a ripe age for marriage, who shall he be, who shall be the man, my daughters, to risk taking upon himself the reproaches that will certainly be baneful to my offspring and yours? What misery is lacking? Your father killed his own father, and bore you from the source of his own being! Such are the taunts that will be cast at you. And who then will wed you? The man does not live, no, it cannot be, my children, but you will wither in barren maidenhood. Son of Menoeceus, hear me: since you are the only father left to them—we, their parents, are both gone— do not allow them to wander poor and unwed, for they are your own kin, nor abase them to the level of my woes. Pity them, seeing them deprived of everything but you at such an age. Promise, noble man, and touch them with your hand. To you, children, I would have given much counsel, if your minds were mature. But now pray that you may live where occasion allows, and that the life which is your lot may be happier than your father’s.
Creon Your grief has had a sufficient scope: move on into the house.
Oedipus I must obey, though I do it in no way gladly.
Creon Yes, for it is in season that all things are good.
Oedipus Do you know on what terms I will go?
Creon You will tell me, and then I will know when I have heard them.
Oedipus See that you send me to dwell outside this land.
Creon You ask for what the god must give.
Oedipus But to the gods I have become most hateful.
Creon Then you will quickly get your wish.
Oedipus So you consent?
Creon It is not my way to say idly what I do not mean.
Oedipus Then it is time to lead me away.
Creon Come, then, but let your children go.
Oedipus No, do not take them from me!
Creon Do not wish to be master in all things: the mastery which you did attain has not followed you through life.
Chorus Residents of our native Thebes, behold, this is Oedipus, who knew the renowned riddle, and was a most mighty man. What citizen did not gaze on his fortune with envy? See into what a stormy sea of troubles he has come! Therefore, while our eyes wait to see the final destined day, we must call no mortal happy until he has crossed life’s border free from pain.
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