Prologos
Oedipus
My children, latest-born wards of old Cadmus, why do you sit before me like this with wreathed branches of suppliants, while the city reeks with incense,
rings with prayers for health and cries of woe? I thought it unbefitting, my children, to hear these things from the mouths of others, and have come here myself, I, Oedipus renowned by all. Tell me, then, venerable old man—since it is proper that you
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speak for these—in what mood you sit here, one of fear or of desire? Be sure that I will gladly give you all my help. I would be hard-hearted indeed if I did not pity such suppliants as these.
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Priest of Zeus
Oedipus, ruler of my land, you see the age of those who sit
on your altars—some, nestlings still too tender for flight, others, bowed with age, priests, like me of Zeus, and some, these here, the chosen youth. The rest of the folk sit
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with wreathed branches in the market-place, and before the shrines of Pallas, and where Ismenus gives answer by fire. For the city, as you yourself see, is now sorely vexed, and can no longer lift her head from beneath the angry waves of death.
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A blight has fallen on the fruitful blossoms of the land, the herds among the pastures, the barren pangs of women. And the flaming god, the malign plague, has swooped upon us, and ravages the town: he lays waste to the house of Cadmus, but enriches Hades with
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groans and tears. It is not because we rank you with the gods that I and these children
are suppliants at your hearth, but because we deem you the first among men in
life’s common fortunes and in dealings with the divinities:
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when you came to the city of the Cadmeans, you freed us from the tax that we rendered to the hard songstress, and that when you knew no more than anyone else, nor had you been taught, but rather by the assistance of a god, as the story goes, you uplifted our life.
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Now, Oedipus, king glorious in our eyes, we, your suppliants, beseech you to find some defence for us, whether you hear it from some divine omen, or learn of it from some mortal. For I see that the outcome of the councils of experienced men
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most often have effect. On, best of mortals, uplift our state! On, guard your fame, since now this land calls you savior on account of your former zeal. Let us not remember of your reign that
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we were first restored and then cast down: lift this state so that it falls no more! With good omen you provided us that past happiness: show yourself the same now too, since if you are to rule this land just as you do now, it is better to be lord of men than of a wasteland.
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Neither walled town nor ship is anything, if it is empty and no men dwell within.
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Oedipus
My piteous children, I know quite well the desires with which you have come: I know well that
you all are sick, and though you are sick I know well that there is not one of you who is as sick as I. Your pain comes on each of you for himself alone, and for no other, but my soul is in pain at once for the city, for myself, and for you.
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Thus you are not awakening me from sleep: no, be sure that I have wept many tears, wandered far and wide in my thought. I have made use of the only remedy which I could find after close consideration: I sent my relative
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Creon, Menoeceus’ son, to Apollo’s Pythian residence to learn what we might do or say to
protect this city. And now, when the lapse of days is reckoned, I am troubled
about what he is doing, for he has been away an unreasonably long time
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beyond what is fitting. But when he arrives, I would be no true man if did not perform all that the god reveals.
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Priest
You have spoken opportunely, since at this time these people here indicate that Creon is drawing near.
Oedipus
Lord Apollo, may he come to us in the brightness of saving fortune, even as his face is bright!
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Priest
He seems to bring comfort, since otherwise he would not be coming crowned so thickly with berry-laden bay.
Oedipus
We will soon know: he is within hearing-range.
Prince, my kinsman, child of Menoeceus, what news have you brought us from the god?
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Creon
Good news. I tell you that even troubles hard to bear will end in perfect peace if they find the right issue.
Oedipus
But what is the oracle ? So far, your words
neither encourage nor frighten me.
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Creon
If you want to hear in the presence of these people, I am ready to speak: otherwise we can go inside.
Oedipus
Speak to all. The sorrow that I bear for these is more than for my own life.
Creon
I will tell you what I heard from the god. Phoebus our lord clearly commands us to drive out the defilement which he said was harbored in this land, and not to nourish it so that it cannot be healed.
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Oedipus
With what sort of purification? What is the manner of the misfortune?
Creon
By banishing the man, or by paying back bloodshed with bloodshed, since it is this blood which brings the tempest on our city.
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Oedipus
And who is the man whose fate he thus reveals?
Creon
Laius, my lord, was the leader of our land before you assumed control of this state.
Oedipus
I know it well—by hearsay, for I never saw him.
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Creon
He was slain, and the god now bids us to take vengeance on his murderers, whoever they are.
Oedipus
Where on earth are they? Where shall the dim track of this old crime be found?
Creon
In this land, the god said. What is sought for can be caught; only that which is not watched escapes.
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Oedipus
Was it in the house, or in the field, or on foreign soil that Laius met his bloody end?
Creon
He left our land, as he said, on a mission to Delphi.
And once he had set forth, he never again returned.
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Oedipus
And was there none to tell? Was there no travelling companion who saw the deed, from whom tidings might have been gained, and used?
Creon
All perished, save one who fled in fear, and he could tell with assurance only one thing of all that he saw.
Oedipus
And what was that? One thing might hold the clue to many, if we could only get a small beginning for hope.
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Creon
He said that robbers fell upon them, not one man alone, but with a great force.
Oedipus
How then, unless some intrigue had been worked with bribes
from here in Thebes, would the robbers have been so bold?
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Creon
Such things were surmised. But once Laius was slain no avenger arose in the midst of our troubles.
Oedipus
But when royalty had fallen in this way, what trouble prevented a full search?
Creon
The riddling Sphinx had forced us to let things that were obscure go, and to investigate the pressing trouble.
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Oedipus
I will start afresh, and once more make dark things plain. Worthily has Phoebus Apollo—and worthily have you—bestowed this care on behalf of the dead. And so, as is fitting, you will find me allied with you
in seeking vengeance for this land, and for the god as well. I will dispel this taint not on behalf of far-off friends, but for my own benefit. For whoever killed Laius
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might wish to take vengeance on me also with a hand as fierce. Avenging Laius, therefore,
I serve myself. Come, my children, as quickly as possible rise from the
altar-steps, and lift these suppliant boughs. Let someone summon here Cadmus’
people, warning them that I will leave nothing untried.
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For with the god’s help our good fortune—or our ruin—will be made certain.
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Priest
My children, let us rise. What we came to seek, this man promises of his own accord. And may Phoebus, who sent these oracles,
come to us as savior and deliverer from the pestilence.
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