§769καὶ τοὐν δόμοισιν ἦν διαιτᾶσθαι γλυκύ, §770τότʼ ἐξεώθεις κἀξέβαλλες, οὐδέ σοι §771τὸ συγγενὲς τοῦτʼ οὐδαμῶς τότʼ ἦν φίλον·
And when it was sweet to live in the house, then you pushed me out and cast me out, and for you this kinship was in no way dear then.
§772νῦν τʼ αὖθις ἡνίκʼ εἰσορᾷς πόλιν τέ μοι §773ξυνοῦσαν εὔνουν τήνδε καὶ γένος τὸ πᾶν, §774πειρᾷ μετασπᾶν, σκληρὰ μαλθακῶς λέγων.
And now again, when you see this city being friendly to me and all my race with me, you try to draw me back, speaking harsh things softly.
§775καίτοι τίς αὕτη τέρψις ἄκοντας φιλεῖν;
And yet what pleasure is this, to love those who are unwilling?
§776ὥσπερ τις εἴ σοι λιπαροῦντι μὲν τυχεῖν §777μηδὲν διδοίη μηδʼ ἐπαρκέσαι θέλοι, §778πλήρη δʼ ἔχοντι θυμὸν ὧν χρῄζοις, τότε §779δωροῖθʼ, ὅτʼ οὐδὲν ἡ χάρις χάριν φέροι·
Just as if someone, when you are eager to obtain something, should give you nothing nor wish to help, but when you have your heart full of what you wanted, then should give it, when the favor would bring no pleasure.
§780ἆρʼ ἂν ματαίου τῆσδʼ ἂν ἡδονῆς τύχοις;
Would you obtain any but an empty joy in this?
Such indeed are the things you offer to me, noble in words, but evil in deeds.
§783φράσω δὲ καὶ τοῖσδʼ, ὥς σε δηλώσω κακόν.
And I will speak also to these men, that I may show you to be evil.
§784ἥκεις ἔμʼ ἄξων, οὐχʼ ἵνʼ ἐς δόμους ἄγῃς, §785ἀλλʼ ὡς πάραυλον οἰκίσῃς, πόλις δέ σοι §786κακῶν ἄνατος τῆσδʼ ἀπαλλαχθῇ χθονός.
You have come to take me, not that you may lead me to your house, but that you may settle me nearby, and that your city may escape unhurt from the evils of this land.
§787οὐκ ἔστι σοι ταῦτʼ, ἀλλά σοι τάδʼ ἔστʼ, ἐκεῖ §788χώρας ἀλάστωρ οὑμὸς ἐνναίων ἀεί· §789ἔστιν δὲ παισὶ τοῖς ἐμοῖσι τῆς ἐμῆς §790χθονὸς λαχεῖν τοσοῦτον, ἐνθανεῖν μόνον.
That is not for you, but this is for you: there, my avenging spirit of the land dwelling forever; and for my sons, it is theirs to inherit of my land only this much, to die in it.
§791ἆρʼ οὐκ ἄμεινον ἢ σὺ τἀν Θήβαις φρονῶ;
Do I not understand the affairs of Thebes better than you?
Much indeed, by as much as I hear from clearer sources, Apollo and Zeus himself, who is his father.
§794τὸ σὸν δʼ ἀφῖκται δεῦρʼ ὑπόβλητον στόμα, §795πολλὴν ἔχον στόμωσιν· ἐν δὲ τῷ λέγειν §796κάκʼ ἂν λάβοις τὰ πλείονʼ ἢ σωτήρια.
But your mouth has come here deceitful, having a sharp edge; but in speaking, you would receive more evils than safety.
§797ἀλλʼ οἶδα γάρ σε ταῦτα μὴ πείθων, ἴθι·
But indeed, since I know I do not persuade you of these things, go!
And let us live here; for we would not live ill, even in this state, if we should be pleased.
Do you think that I am unfortunate in your affairs, or you rather in your own, in the present argument?
For me indeed it is most sweet, if you are able neither to persuade me nor these neighbors near us.
O wretched man, will you not even with time show that you have grown any wisdom, but do you nurture a disgrace to old age?
You are clever with your tongue; but I know no just man who speaks well from every cause.
§808χωρὶς τό τʼ εἰπεῖν πολλὰ καὶ τὰ καίρια.
To speak much and to speak to the point are two different things.
§809ὡς δὴ σὺ βραχέα, ταῦτα δʼ ἐν καιρῷ λέγεις.
As if you indeed speak briefly, and these things in season!
§810οὐ δῆθʼ ὅτῳ γε νοῦς ἴσος καὶ σοὶ πάρα.
Not indeed to anyone who has a mind equal to yours.
§811ἄπελθʼ, ἐρῶ γὰρ καὶ πρὸ τῶνδε, μηδέ με
Go away!
§812φύλασσʼ ἐφορμῶν ἔνθα χρὴ ναίειν ἐμέ.
For I will speak also on behalf of these men, and do not watch me, besieging the place where I must dwell.
§813μαρτύρομαι τούσδʼ, οὐ σέ· πρὸς δὲ τοὺς φίλους §814οἷʼ ἀνταμείβει ῥήματʼ, ἤν σʼ ἕλω ποτέ §815τίς δʼ ἄν με τῶνδε συμμάχων ἕλοι βίᾳ;
I call these men to witness, not you; and for your friends, what kind of words you return in answer, if ever I catch you— And who of these allies could take me by force?
§816ἦ μὴν σὺ κἄνευ τοῦδε λυπηθεὶς ἔσει.
Indeed, even without this, you will be grieved.
§817ποίῳ σὺν ἔργῳ τοῦτʼ ἀπειλήσας ἔχεις;
With what deed have you made this threat?
Of your two daughters, one I have just now snatched away and sent, and the other I will lead away quickly.
§820οἴμοι.
Woe is me!
§820aτάχʼ ἕξεις μᾶλλον οἰμώζειν τάδε.
Soon you will have more cause to wail these things.
§821τὴν παῖδʼ ἔχεις μου;
Do you have my child?
§821aτήνδε τʼ οὐ μακροῦ χρόνου.
And this one too in no long time.
§822ἰὼ ξένοι, τί δράσετʼ;
O strangers, what will you do?
ἦ προδώσετε, §823κοὐκ ἐξελᾶτε τὸν ἀσεβῆ τῆσδε χθονός;
Will you betray me, and not drive the impious man out of this land?
§824χώρει, ξένʼ, ἔξω θᾶσσον.
Go, stranger, outside quickly!
οὔτε γὰρ τὰ νῦν §825δίκαια πράσσεις οὔθʼ ἃ πρόσθεν εἴργασαι.
For neither what you do now is just, nor what you have done before.
It would be time for you to lead this girl out by force, if she does not go willingly.
§828οἴμοι τάλαινα, ποῖ φύγω;
Woe is me, wretched one! Whither shall I flee?
ποίαν λάβω §829θεῶν ἄρηξιν ἢ βροτῶν;
What help of gods or of men shall I find?
§829aτί δρᾷς, ξένε;
What are you doing, stranger?
§830οὐχ ἅψομαι τοῦδʼ ἀνδρός, ἀλλὰ τῆς ἐμῆς.
I will not touch this man, but what is mine.
§831ὦ γῆς ἄνακτες.
O lords of the land!
§831aὦ ξένʼ, οὐ δίκαια δρᾷς.
O stranger, you do not do what is just.
§832δίκαια.
It is just.
§832aπῶς δίκαια;
How is it just?
§832bτοὺς ἐμοὺς ἄγω.
I am leading away my own.
§833ἰὼ πόλις.
O city!
§834τί δρᾷς, ὦ ξένʼ;
What are you doing, O stranger?
οὐκ ἀφήσεις;
Will you not let go?
τάχʼ εἰς βάσανον εἶ χερῶν.
Soon you will come to a trial of hands.
§835εἴργου.
Keep off!
§835aσοῦ μὲν οὔ, τάδε γε μωμένου.
Not from you, while you attempt these things.
§836πόλει μαχεῖ γάρ, εἴ τι πημανεῖς ἐμέ.
For you will fight with the city, if you harm me.
§837οὐκ ἠγόρευον ταῦτʼ ἐγώ;
Did I not declare these things?
§838aμὴ ʼπίτασσʼ ἃ μὴ κρατεῖς.
Do not command what you do not control.
§840χαλᾶν λέγω σοι.
I tell you to let go.
§840aσοὶ δʼ ἔγωγʼ ὁδοιπορεῖν.
And I tell you to go on your way.