Oedipus Tyrannus (100-165)

By banishing the man, or by paying back bloodshed with bloodshed, since it is this blood which brings the tempest on our city.

And who is the man whose fate he thus reveals?

Laius, my lord, was the leader of our land before you assumed control of this state.

I know it well—by hearsay, for I never saw him.

He was slain, and the god now bids us to take vengeance on his murderers, whoever they are.

Where on earth are they? Where shall the dim track of this old crime be found?

In this land, the god said. What is sought for can be caught; only that which is not watched escapes.

Was it in the house, or in the field, or on foreign soil that Laius met his bloody end?

He left our land, as he said, on a mission to Delphi.

And once he had set forth, he never again returned.

And was there none to tell? Was there no travelling companion who saw the deed, from whom tidings might have been gained, and used?

All perished, save one who fled in fear, and he could tell with assurance only one thing of all that he saw.

And what was that? One thing might hold the clue to many, if we could only get a small beginning for hope.

He said that robbers fell upon them, not one man alone, but with a great force.

How then, unless some intrigue had been worked with bribes

from here in Thebes, would the robbers have been so bold?

Such things were surmised. But once Laius was slain no avenger arose in the midst of our troubles.

But when royalty had fallen in this way, what trouble prevented a full search?

The riddling Sphinx had forced us to let things that were obscure go, and to investigate the pressing trouble.

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

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.

For with the god’s help our good fortune—or our ruin—will be made certain.

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.