§485οὔτε δοκοῦντʼ οὔτʼ ἀποφάσκονθʼ· ὅ τι λέξω δʼ ἀπορῶ.
neither approving nor denying; and I am at a loss what to say.
§486πέτομαι δʼ ἐλπίσιν οὔτʼ, ἐνθάδʼ ὁρῶν οὔτʼ ὀπίσω.
And I flutter with hopes, seeing neither the present nor the future.
§487τί γὰρ ἢ Λαβδακίδαις §490ἢ τῷ Πολύβου νεῖκος ἔκειτʼ, οὔτε πάροιθέν ποτʼ ἔγωγʼ §491ἔμαθον, πρὸς ὅτου δὴ βασανίζων βασάνῳ §492ἐπὶ τὰν ἐπίδαμον φάτιν εἶμʼ Οἰδιπόδα Λαβδακίδαις §495ἐπίκουρος ἀδήλων θανάτων.
For what quarrel lay between the Labdacids or the son of Polybus, neither in the past did I ever learn, from which as a touchstone I might go against the public fame of Oedipus, to be a helper to the Labdacids in avenging the unexplained death.
§496ἀλλʼ ὁ μὲν οὖν Ζεὺς ὅ τʼ Ἀπόλλων ξυνετοὶ καὶ τὰ βροτῶν §500εἰδότες· ἀνδρῶν δʼ ὅτι μάντις πλέον ἢ ʼγὼ φέρεται, §501κρίσις οὔκ ἔστιν ἀλαθής· σοφίᾳ δʼ ἂν σοφίαν §502παραμείψειεν ἀνήρ.
Yet indeed Zeus and Apollo are wise and know the affairs of mortals; but that a prophet among men wins more than I do, is no certain judgment; though in wisdom one man might surpass another.
§505ἀλλʼ οὔποτʼ ἔγωγʼ ἄν, πρὶν ἴδοιμʼ ὀρθὸν ἔπος, μεμφομένων ἂν καταφαίην.
But never would I, before I see the word proven true, assent to those who find fault with him.
§506φανερὰ γὰρ ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, πτερόεσσʼ ἦλθε κόρα §510ποτέ, καὶ σοφὸς ὤφθη βασάνῳ θʼ ἁδύπολις τῷ ἀπʼ ἐμᾶς §511φρενὸς οὔποτʼ ὀφλήσει κακίαν.
For visibly against him came the winged maiden once, and he was proven wise and, by the test, dear to the city; therefore by my judgment he shall never be convicted of wickedness.
§513ἄνδρες πολῖται, δείνʼ ἔπη πεπυσμένος §514κατηγορεῖν μου τὸν τύραννον Οἰδίπουν, §515πάρειμʼ ἀτλητῶν.
Fellow citizens, having heard that dread words are spoken against me by our king Oedipus, I am here, unable to bear it.
εἰ γὰρ ἐν ταῖς ξυμφοραῖς §516ταῖς νῦν νομίζει πρός γʼ ἐμοῦ πεπονθέναι §517λόγοισιν εἴτʼ ἔργοισιν εἰς βλάβην φέρον, §518οὔτοι βίου μοι τοῦ μακραίωνος πόθος, §519φέροντι τήνδε βάξιν.
For if in the present misfortunes he thinks he has suffered any harm at my hands whether in words or in deeds, tending to his hurt, indeed I have no desire for a long life, bearing such a charge.
οὐ γὰρ εἰς ἁπλοῦν §520ἡ ζημία μοι τοῦ λόγου τούτου φέρει, §521ἀλλʼ ἐς μέγιστον, εἰ κακὸς μὲν ἐν πόλει, §522κακὸς δὲ πρὸς σοῦ καὶ φίλων κεκλήσομαι.
For the damage of this charge does not lead for me to a simple issue, but to the greatest, if I am to be called a villain in the city, and a villain by you and my friends.
But indeed this reproach came perhaps forced by anger rather than by the judgment of the mind.
But was the word spoken, that by my advice the prophet was persuaded to speak false words?
§527ηὐδᾶτο μὲν τάδʼ, οἶδα δʼ οὐ γνώμῃ τίνι.
These things indeed were said, but I do not know with what intent.
And was this charge against me made with steady eyes and steady mind?
§530οὐκ οἶδʼ· ἃ γὰρ δρῶσʼ, οἱ κρατοῦντες οὐχ ὁρῶ.
I do not know; for I do not see what the rulers do.
§531αὐτὸς δʼ ὅδʼ ἤδη δωμάτων ἔξω περᾷ.
But here he comes himself now out of the house.
§532οὗτος σύ, πῶς δεῦρʼ ἦλθες;
You there, how did you come here?
ἦ τοσόνδʼ ἔχεις §533τόλμης πρόσωπον ὥστε τὰς ἐμὰς στέγας §534ἵκου, φονεὺς ὢν τοῦδε τἀνδρὸς ἐμφανῶς §535λῃστής τʼ ἐναργὴς τῆς ἐμῆς τυραννίδος;
Have you so much brazenness of face that you came to my house, being clearly the murderer of this man and the manifest robber of my sovereignty?
Come, tell me by the gods, was it cowardice or folly you saw in me that made you plot to do this?
Or did you think that I would not perceive this deed of yours creeping on in stealth, or that, having learned of it, I would not defend myself?
§540ἆρʼ οὐχὶ μῶρόν ἐστι τοὐγχείρημά σου, §541ἄνευ τε πλήθους καὶ φίλων τυραννίδα §542θηρᾶν, ὃ πλήθει χρήμασίν θʼ ἁλίσκεται;
Is not this attempt of yours foolish, to hunt for sovereignty without followers and friends, which is captured only by followers and wealth?
§543οἶσθʼ ὡς πόησον;
Do you know what you must do?
ἀντὶ τῶν εἰρημένων §544ἴσʼ ἀντάκουσον, κᾆτα κρῖνʼ αὐτὸς μαθών.
In place of what has been spoken, hear an equal reply, and then judge for yourself when you have learned.
You are clever at speaking, but I am bad at learning from you; for I have found you hostile and a burden to me.
§547τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ νῦν μου πρῶτʼ ἄκουσον ὡς ἐρῶ.
This very thing now first hear from me, how I will explain it.
§548τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ μή μοι φράζʼ, ὅπως οὐκ εἶ κακός.
This very thing do not tell me, that you are not a villain.
If you think that self-will is a possession of any value apart from sense, you do not think wisely.
If you think that by doing wrong to a kinsman you will not pay the penalty, you do not think well.
I agree with you that these things are justly said; but teach me what kind of injury you say you have suffered.
Did you persuade, or did you not, that I ought to send for that reverend prophet?
§557καὶ νῦν ἔθʼ αὑτός εἰμι τῷ βουλεύματι.
And even now I am still of the same opinion.
§558πόσον τινʼ ἤδη δῆθʼ ὁ Λάϊος χρόνον
How long a time is it now since Laius...
§559δέδρακε ποῖον ἔργον;
did what deed?
οὐ γὰρ ἐννοῶ.
For I do not understand.
§560ἄφαντος ἔρρει θανασίμῳ χειρώματι;
vanished from sight by a deadly blow?
§561μακροὶ παλαιοί τʼ ἂν μετρηθεῖεν χρόνοι.
Long and ancient times would be measured.
§562τότʼ οὖν ὁ μάντις οὗτος ἦν ἐν τῇ τέχνῃ;
At that time, then, was this prophet practicing his art?
§563σοφός γʼ ὁμοίως κἀξ ἴσου τιμώμενος.
Yes, equally wise and held in equal honor.
§564ἐμνήσατʼ οὖν ἐμοῦ τι τῷ τότʼ ἐν χρόνῳ;
Did he then make any mention of me at that time?
§565οὔκουν ἐμοῦ γʼ ἑστῶτος οὐδαμοῦ πέλας.
Certainly not while I was standing anywhere near.
§566ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔρευναν τοῦ κτανόντος ἔσχετε;
But did you not hold an inquiry into the murder?
§567παρέσχομεν, πῶς δʼ οὐχί; κοὐκ ἠκούσαμεν.
We held it, of course; and we heard nothing.
§568πῶς οὖν τόθʼ οὗτος ὁ σοφὸς οὐκ ηὔδα τάδε;
Why then did this wise man not say these things at that time?