Epeisodion 1
Oedipus
Well, may he come with good fortune both for his own city and for me! What noble man is not his own friend?
Antigone
O Zeus! What shall I say? What shall I think, my father?
310
Oedipus
What is it, Antigone, my child?
Antigone
I see a woman coming towards us, mounted on a colt of Etna; she wears a Thessalian bonnet to screen her face from the sun.
What shall I say? Is it she, or is it not? Does my judgment err? Yes—no—I cannot tell—ah, me! It is no other, yes! She greets me with bright glances
315
as she draws near, and makes a signal. Here is Ismene, clearly, and no other before me.
320
Oedipus
What is that you say, my child?
Antigone
That I see your daughter, my sister. By her voice right away you can know her.
Ismene
Father and sister, names most sweet to me! How hard it was to find you!
And how hard now to look upon you for my tears!
325
Oedipus
My child, have you come?
Ismene
Father, your fate is sad to see!
Oedipus
Are you with us, my child?
Ismene
Not without toil, indeed, for myself.
Oedipus
Touch me, my daughter!
Ismene
I give a hand to each at once.
Oedipus
Ah my children, my sisters!
330
Ismene
Alas, twice-wretched life!
330
Oedipus
Her life and mine?
Ismene
And mine, wretched me, makes a third.
