Chorus
Who is he of whom the divine voice from the Delphian rock has said to have wrought with blood-red hands horrors that no tongue can tell? It is time that he ply in flight a foot stronger than the feet of storm-swift steeds. The son of Zeus is springing upon him with fiery lightning, and with him come the dread unerring Fates.
Chorus
Recently the message has flashed forth from snowy Parnassus ordering all to search for the unknown man. He wanders under cover of the wild wood, among caves and rocks, fierce as a bull, wretched and forlorn on his joyless path, still seeking to separate himself from the doom revealed at the central shrine of the earth. But that doom lives forever, forever flits around him.
Chorus
The wise augur moves me, neither approving nor denying, with dread, with dread indeed. I am at a loss what to say. I am flustered in my expectations, seeing neither the present nor the future clearly. Never in past days or in these have I heard how the house of Labdacus or the son of Polybus had any quarrel with one another that I could bring as proof in assailing the public reputation of Oedipus, seeking to avenge the line of Labdacus for the undiscovered murder.
Chorus
Zeus and Apollo indeed are keen of thought and know the affairs of the earth. But there is no sure test of whether a mortal seer attains more knowledge than I do, though man may surpass man in wisdom. But until I see the word made good, I will never assent when men blame Oedipus. Before all eyes the winged maiden came against him once upon a time, and he was seen to be wise, and bore the test in welcome service to the state. Never, therefore, will he be adjudged guilty of evil.
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