That I see your daughter and my sister!
You’ll recognize her as soon as she speaks.
Enter ISMENE, having just dismounted from a small horse. She is accompanied by her Servant.
ISMENE
Father! Sister! It’s wonderful to say those names!
It was so hard to find you. Now that I have,
I can hardly see you through my tears.
OEDIPUS
You’ve come, child?
ISMENE
I hate to see you like this, Father.
OEDIPUS
But you’ve joined us.
ISMENE
Not without some trouble. 360
OEDIPUS
Touch me, daughter.
ISMENE
Each of you take a hand.
OEDIPUS, ANTIGONE, and ISMENE join hands and hold them a while.
OEDIPUS
My daughters. Sisters.
ISMENE
Two wretched lives!
OEDIPUS
Hers and mine?
ISMENE
Yes. And my life as well.
OEDIPUS
Why did you come, child?
ISMENE
I care about you, Father.
OEDIPUS
Then you missed me?
ISMENE
I did. And I bring news
I wanted you to hear from me.
I also brought our last faithful servant.
OEDIPUS
Our family’s menfolk, your brothers—
where are they when we need them?
ISMENE
They are . . . wherever they are. Grim times for them. 370
OEDIPUS
Those two boys imitate the Egyptians
in how they think and how they run their lives.
Egyptian men stay in their houses weaving,
while their women are out earning a living.
Your brothers, who should be here helping me,
are back home keeping house like little girls,
while you two shoulder your father’s hardships.
Antigone has been traveling with me
since she outgrew the care a child needs.
She gained enough strength to be an old man’s 380
guide, picking her way barefoot through forests,
hungry, rain-drenched, sun-scorched.
Home comforts
took second place to caring for her father.
And you, Ismene, slipped out of Thebes
undetected so many times—to bring
the latest oracles to your father.
You were my eyes inside Thebes after I
was banished. Ismene, what’s the news
you’ve brought? Why have you come?
I’m sure you haven’t traveled here empty- 390
handed. Is there something I should fear?
ISMENE
Father, I’d rather not describe
the trouble I had trying to find you.
Just let it be! Retelling it
would only revive all the misery.
It’s the real trouble your miserable sons are in—
it’s their wrath I’ve come to tell you about.
They were keen, at first, to let Kreon rule,
so as not to pollute the city, well
aware the curse we inherit from way back 400
still holds your house in a death grip.
But spurred on by a god, and by their own
disturbed minds, my brothers—three times cursed!—
began battling each other for dominance
and the king’s throne in Thebes.
Now that hothead,
Eteokles, your youngest, has stripped
Polyneikes, your firstborn, of all power
and driven him out of the country.
Polyneikes was, from the reports I hear,
exiled to Argos. There he married power, 410
gaining friends willing to fight his battles—
determined to make Argos glorious
if it can conquer Thebes,
or to lift Thebes’ reputation
sky-high should Argos lose.
It isn’t just loose talk, father,
it has become horrible fact.
When will the gods lighten
your troubles? I wish I knew.
OEDIPUS
Do you hold out some hope that the gods 420
might take notice and end my suffering?
ISMENE
I do, Father. I have new oracles.
OEDIPUS
What are they? What do they say, daughter?
ISMENE
That your own people will someday need you,
living—and dead—to ensure their survival.
OEDIPUS
How could a man like me save anyone?
ISMENE
They say: you will hold Thebes’ life in your hands.
OEDIPUS
When I’m nothing . . . how can I still be a man?
ISMENE
The gods who ruined you will now restore you.
OEDIPUS
Does little good to restore an old man 430
after they have laid waste to his youth.
ISMENE
Listen! The gods will transform you, and Kreon
will come here earlier than you might think.
OEDIPUS
Has he a plan, child? Tell me.
ISMENE
To station you at the Theban frontier,
but prevent you from crossing over.
OEDIPUS
What help am I if I’m outside their borders?
ISMENE
It’s your tomb. If it’s not paid proper respect,
that could cause them serious trouble.
OEDIPUS
They shouldn’t need a god to tell them that. 440
ISMENE
It’s still the reason they want you nearby,
not off someplace where you’d be in charge.
OEDIPUS
Then will they bury me in Theban earth?
ISMENE
Father, that’s not allowed. You killed your father.
OEDIPUS
Then they must never have me in their power!
ISMENE
If they don’t, things will go badly for Thebes.
OEDIPUS
What will cause things to go badly, daughter?
ISMENE
Your rage, when they’re deployed around your tomb.
OEDIPUS
Who told you, child, what you have just told me?
ISMENE
Sacred envoys sent to the Delphic hearth. 450
OEDIPUS
Did the god truly say this about me?
ISMENE
All the returning envoys swore he did.
OEDIPUS
Did either of my sons hear them say it?
ISMENE
They heard it and they both knew what it meant.
OEDIPUS
With this knowledge, did those scoundrels
put the kingship ahead of helping me?
ISMENE
It hurts me to say this, Father. Yes, they did.
OEDIPUS
Gods, don’t interfere with this brawl you’ve ordained!
But give me the right to decide how it ends—
this battle toward which my sons lift up spears 460
and on which they’re now dead set. May my son
in power, who wields the scepter, lose it.
May my exiled son never make it home.
When I was driven shamefully from Thebes,
they made no move to stop it or help me.
They were spectators to my banishment.
They heard me proclaimed a homeless outcast!
You might think that Thebes acted properly,
that it gave me what I once craved. That’s wrong.
On the far-off day when my fury seethed, 470
a death by stoning was my heartfelt wish.
&nb
sp; But there was no one willing to grant it.
Later, when my suffering diminished,
I realized my rage had gone too far
in punishing my mistakes. Only then
did the city decide to force me out—
after all those years. And my own two sons,
who could have saved their father, did nothing.
It would have taken just one word. But I
wandered off into permanent exile. 480
My two unmarried girls fed me as best
they could. They sheltered and protected me,
my only family. But my sons traded
their father for power and a kingdom.
You can be certain I’ll give them no help
in fighting their battles, and they will gain
nothing from having been rulers of Thebes.
I know that because, when I heard the oracles
this girl brought, I recalled some prophecies—
ones Phoibos Apollo has now fulfilled. 490
I’m ready. Let them send Kreon to find me—
or anyone who’s powerful in Thebes.
If you strangers, together with those
intimidating goddesses who live
among you, are willing to enlist me,
you’ll get a champion in the bargain,
someone who will defend your country
against its enemies, and damage his own.
LEADER
You’ve earned our pity, Oedipus,
both you and your daughters here. 500
And because you’ve offered to defend us,
I’m going to give you some advice.
OEDIPUS
Whatever my host wants done, I’ll do.
LEADER
met here, and whose ground you’ve invaded.
OEDIPUS
By what means? Tell me what I must do, friends.
LEADER
Dip water from a stream that flows year round,
wash your hands in it, then bring some here.
OEDIPUS
And when I’ve brought this pure water, what then?
LEADER
You’ll find bowls made by a skilled craftsman. 510
Adorn their handles and their rims.
OEDIPUS
With branches or wool cloths—and then what?
LEADER
Gather fresh-cut fleece from a she-lamb.
OEDIPUS
How shall I end the ritual?
LEADER
Face the sunrise and pour an offering.
OEDIPUS
From the bowls you’ve just described?
LEADER
Spill some from each bowl, then empty the last.
OEDIPUS
Tell me what to put in the bowls.
LEADER
No wine. Just pure water sweetened with honey.
OEDIPUS
After I’ve drenched the ground under the trees? 520
LEADER
Using both hands, set out three bundles of nine
olive twigs each, while you recite a prayer.
OEDIPUS
That’s it—get to the heart of the matter.
LEADER
Pray that the goddesses called the Gracious Ones
protect the suppliant, in their kindness,
and grant him a safe refuge. That’s your prayer,
or someone else’s who will pray for you.
Don’t raise your voice, pray quietly,
and, without looking back, leave.
Do as I’ve said, and I’m sure you’ll succeed. 530
If you don’t, stranger, I’m afraid for you.
OEDIPUS
Daughters, have you heard what our friend here said?
ANTIGONE
We heard. What would you like us to do?
OEDIPUS
I lack the eyes—and the strength—to go myself.
My double loss. One of you must do it.
It is possible for one living soul
to pay a debt that’s owed by ten thousand,
provided it’s done with conviction.
One of you go—but don’t leave me alone.
My body’s too weak to move without help. 540
ISMENE
I’ll carry out the ritual, but someone
must show me the right place to perform it.
LEADER
Go around to the far side of the grove.
If you need anything else, there’s a man
living nearby who will point you the way.
ISMENE
I’ll go now, Sister. You stay with Father.
Helping a parent who can’t help himself
should never seem a burden.
Exit ISMENE and her Servant.
LEADER
Unpleasant it may be, stranger, to stir up
a long dormant grief. Yet there is something 550
I would like to hear straight from you.
OEDIPUS
What’s your concern?
LEADER
That bitter, incurable anguish—
the kind you had to wrestle with.
OEDIPUS
Out of consideration for a guest,
don’t dwell on my unfortunate past.
LEADER
Your story’s widely told, my friend.
I’d like to hear the truth of it.
OEDIPUS
(pronouncing with a brusque hissing sound)
Ssstop!
LEADER
Hear me out, let me speak!
OEDIPUS
(aspirated vowel; spoken querulously)
Whhhy? 560
LEADER
You owe me this. I’ve granted all you’ve asked.
OEDIPUS
I suffered anguish, friends,
suffered what my own
blind actions caused.
But let the gods testify:
I chose to do none.
LEADER
Then how did this happen?
OEDIPUS
Thebes married me, who suspected nothing,
to a woman who would destroy me.
LEADER
Was she your mother, as I’ve heard, 570
who shared your infamous marriage bed?
She was. Your words feel
harsh as death in my ears.
And those daughters I fathered . . .
LEADER
What are you saying now?
OEDIPUS
—twin scourges—
LEADER
O Zeus!
OEDIPUS
. . . were born from the birth pangs
of the mother we shared.
LEADER
They’re your daughters, and . . .
OEDIPUS
Yes! They’re my sisters.
OLD MEN
(low whispering)
How horrible.
OEDIPUS
Oh yes! A thousand evils 580
surge back, all through me.
LEADER
Then you suffered . . .
OEDIPUS
I suffered an indelible torment.
LEADER
Then you’ve sinned . . .
OEDIPUS
There was no sin.
LEADER
How did you not?
OEDIPUS
I was presented with a gift—
one that would break my heart—
to repay me for all the help
I gave Thebes. It was a gift
I should never have accepted. 590
LEADER
Horrible. And then? You killed . . . ?
OEDIPUS
Why this? What are you asking me?
LEADER
. . . your father?
OEDIPUS
You open one old wound after another.
LEADER
Then you killed him.
OEDIPUS
Yes, I killed him. But I have . . .
LEADER
You have what?
OEDIPUS
Justice on my side.
LEADER
How could that be?
OEDIPUS
Let me tell you. The men
I fought and killed
would have killed me.
Before the law
my hands are clean. 600
My actions were driven
not by malice,
but by ignorance.
One of Theseus’ Men enters, whispers to the LEADER, and then exits.
LEADER
Aigeus’ son, our king, has arrived, willing
to do all you have asked of him.
Enter THESEUS, who walks up and examines OEDIPUS.
THESEUS
For years I’ve heard that you had done
bloody damage to your eyes—so I
recognize you, son of Laios. What I learned
on my way here made me almost certain.
And to see you now at your journey’s end 610
removes all doubt. Your clothes, your ravaged face,
tell me your name. Oedipus, I
truly pity you. And I will help you.
You and this poor girl have come here
suddenly—why? To request a favor
from Athens and from me? If so, ask it.
You would need to tell me an appalling
story indeed before I’d turn you down.
Remember, I was also raised in exile,
combating threats to my life of a kind 620
no other man has ever had to face.
I would never refuse a homeless man—
which you are—my help. I’m also mortal,
like you, with no greater assurance
than you have that I’ll be alive tomorrow.
OEDIPUS
There’s little I need add, Theseus.
With a few gracious words
you’ve said exactly who I am, and who
my father was, and what country I’m from—
so nothing remains. Except to tell you 630
what most concerns me. Then I’ll be silent.
THESEUS
Go on. Say what you mean. I must know.
OEDIPUS
I came to offer you my disfigured
body as a gift. Though not pleasant