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Call Number: PQ2613.12 O41 1961

Journal Title : Two legends : Gdipus and Theseus

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Journal Year: 1961
Article Title: Oedipus
Article Author: Gide, Andr6, 1869-1951. Andre Gide Article Pages: L2-30?
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ACT I

CHARACTERS:

Manq things are admirable;

(EDIPUS

but rww ntore admirable than man'

SOPHOCLES:

TIRESIAS

CHORUS F'ROM ANTIGONE

JO CAS TA

CRE ON

ANTIGONE
ETEOCLES

I am, all present and complete in this

instant of everlasting time; like someone who

rEDrpus: Here

might come down to the front of the stage and

sav:

POLYNICES

am CEdipus. Forty years old, and for twenty

a king. With my own strong arm I have

pulled -yt& up to the highest point of happi
iress. A waif and a foundling, without papers or
citizenship, I am glad above all that I owe nothing to anyone but myself. trIappiness was not
giien to me; I conquered it' That w-ay complafency lurks; and to guard against it I- wondered
at fiist if my case was not one of predestination'
Fearful of that giddying pride which has unsteadied certain leaders-and they not the least
famous- But there you are, CEdipus, off again on
those overlong phrases tlrat you don't always

vears

ISI{ENE
CIIORUS

know horv to finiih. Just say simply wiiat you have

to say, and don't go in for that inflated manner

1r
E
T,uso Legends

::

which you claim to have eut out of your life.

Keep things simple and they'll turn out all right.
Be simple yourself: direct as an arrow-strafuht
to the target. . . . That brings me back to wf,at
, *3: yyi"g just now: Yes, if I sometimes manage
to think that I have been launched on my *uy 6y
the- gods, I do it to redouble my own modesty
and to refer back to them the credit for my
destiny. For in my particular case it's rather
difficult not to get a little pufied-up about one_
self. I escape it by creating above me a holy
power to which, whether I like it or not, I am

subject. Who would not gladly bow down to such

if it led him to where I now am? A god
is guiding you, CEdipus, and there aren't two l-ike
you. That's what I tell myself on Sundays and
holidays. The rest of the week I've no time to
think about it. Besides, what would be the use?
I'm no_ good at reasoning; Iogic's not my strong
point;-I proceed by intuition. Some people, whenever they get mixgd up in the traffic, keep saying
to themselves: "should I give way? Have I-thE
right to overtake?"_For my part, I always behave
as if a god were tefiing *L i,hut to do.
a pow-er,

(The Chorus, dioided into tuso groups,

con-Les

to right and left of G,diVus.)

BorH cHoRUSns: We, the Chorus, whose particular
function in this place is to represent the opinion
of the majority, declare ourselves surprisei and
grieved by the profession of so aggressive an
individualism, The views that Gdipus has disclosed are intolerable in other people-unless
they are disguised.
doranstage,

Two Legends

Gdipus

',, ..,.r,.,-whi.ch you claim to h*-u ":j out of your life'

turn out all right.
,." :.:.,i l(eep things simple and they'll
:;'
an
arrow-straight
as
direct
,,i.,','
3e' iimple-yo'rself :
me
back to what
brings
That
:;,rr,:,i' to'the iurg"t.. , .
:,', I ' i *as sayiigjust now: Yes, if I sometimes manage
'
"t, to think that I have been launched on my way by
the gods, I do it to redouble my own modesty
and to refer back to them the credit for mv
destiny. For in my particular case it's rathJr
difficult not to get a little puffed-up about oneself. I escape it by creating above me a holy
power to which, whether I like it or not, I am
subject. Who would not gladly bow down to such
a pow-er, if it led hirn to where I now am? A god
is guiding you, CEdipus, and there aren,t two I'ike

you. That's what

tell myself on

Sundays and

holidays. The rest of the week I,ve no time to

think about it. Besides, what would be the use?
I'm no_ good at reasoning; Iogic,s not my strong
point;_I proceed by intuition. Some people, whenl
ever they get mixed up in the traffic, keep saying
to themselves: "Shoutrd I give wayp Have I- thI
right to overtake?" For my part, I always behave
as if a god were telling me *hat to do.
(The Chorus, diuided into two groups, conles
downstage, to right and teft of CEdipus.)
BorH cHoRUSas: We, the Chorus, whose particular
function in this place is to represent thi opinion
of the-majority, declare orrrselrres surprisei and
grieved
!y tt profession of so aggressive an

individualism. "The views that Gdipis has disclosed are intolerable in other peiople_unless
they are disguised.

Of course it is a good thing to put the gods on

one's side. But the surest way is to be on the side
of the priests. CEdipus would do well to consult
Tiresias; he's the man who's really got the gods in
hand. Under pretense of serving our interest,
CEdipus runs the risk of turning them against us,
and there's no doubt that it is to him that we owe
the evils which are overwhelming us at this moment. (ln a lower aoi,ce) We shall try, with inexpensive sacrifices and well-directed prayers, to
earn their indulgence; and, by dissociating ourselves from our king, to direct against him alone
the chastisement that his pride deserves.
RrcHr-HAND cHoRUS (to G,dlpus) : That you yourself
are happy, no one would deny, though you do
say it too often. But we are not happy, we, your
people, O CEdipus; but we, your people-ah, no,
we are not happy. We should prefer to hide it
from you; but the action of this drama could not
proceed unless we give you a most lamentable
piece of news. The plague-since we must give it
its real name-continues to bring mourning to
Thebes. Your family has so far been spared; but
it is seemly that a king should interest himself in
his people's misfortunes, even where these do not
afiect him directly.
LEFr-HAND cHoRUS: Besides, we can't help thinking
that your happiness and our unhappiness are
linked in some mystical way; at least, that is what
Tiresias' teaching has allowed us to glimpse. It is
good that we should get this point quite straight.
Apollo must give us the facts. You yourself have
been good enough to dispatch the excellent

ritti,:,::il1r1r1i:i:,: i::,

T,uo Legends
9r"ol,. your brother_in_Iaw, to tle sanctuary, and
will soon be here to give us the oracle,s

he

much-

he is, just back at this very moment.

CREOI

awaited answer.
(EDrpus: Here

T.

(Enter Creon. To Creon)

Well?

a
t

it be better if I spoke to you alonep

you-k1ow I despisJ
ail forms .f ;;_
terfuge. you shall therefore say
everything in
front of everyone. I invite, t
you to do
so. If anythinq can remedy
the"or.r'rnura
of ;y p""p;,
they as much"as I have t#,,gni"rit,
i;know it. Onty
thus can they help me to put-things
--right. What
-'*-'b"
r
did the oru"i" ,"yi
cnEoN: Just what I expected:
something is rotten in
the kingdom.
cDtprrs: Stop. The people are not
enough. your sister
locasta and our four children must also be
cREoN: Wouldn,t

CEDIPI

cEDrpus: Why?

CREOI

present.
cREoN: One moment. I,app_rove
of your summoning
Jocasta. you know thaii am
o1 ,fr" hveliest
family feeling. Besides, ,h" " ^lun
us vatuable

_t;;;

advice. But tie

"hitd.;o;;;i"";;
to take part inihe
discussion.

t
t

GDIPI

i
CREOT

f
\
CEDIPI

JocA!

)
)
a

very young

CREOI

GDrp:s: Antigone is already no

longer a
Eteocles and polynic", ur" *h"t-i?u, child.
at their
a.ge:.,re3kless, guick to act,
and anything il;
stupid..It is a good thing that they
should know
something- of anxiety. Af for
fr."6"",- she won,t

(EDIPI

understand.

(Enter Jocasta ar-rcl_ (Ecliptts,

four children)
cEDrpus
your brother i,
.(to locasta):
t
Pytho. I wanted you all to U" iurii""t o*
fro" with me to

JOCAI

CEDIPI

i
(

I
I
JOCAi
s

Tu:o Legends
Creon, your brother-in_law, to the sanctuary, and
he will soon be here to give us the oracle,s much_

awaited answer.

Here he is, just back at this very moment.

(Enter Creon. To Creon)

cEDrpus:

Well?
cREoN: Wouldn't

it

be better

if I

spoke to you alone?

know I despise all forms of sub_

terfuge. You shall therefoie say everything in
front of everyone. I invite, I command vo,, tX dn
so, If anything can remedy the evils of *y
peopl",
they as much as I have the right to know ii. Onty
thus can they help me to puf things right. WhJt
did the oracle say?
cREoN: Just what I expected: something is
rotten in
the kingdom.
cEDrprrs: Stop. The people are not enough. your
sister
Jocasta and our four children irust also be
cEDrpus: Why? You

present.
cREoN: One moment. I-approve of your summoning
Jocasta. You know that I am u -r, of the livehe#
family feeling. Besides, she may give us valuable

advice. But the children ,""- io"*" very

young
to take part in the discussion.
cEDrpus: Antigone is already no lonqer a
child.
Eteocles and Polynices are what I"v,as at their
age:_.re_ckless, quick to act, and anything
but
stupid. It is a good thing that they shouldlnow
something of anxiety. Ai for Ismlne, she won,t
understand.

(Enter locasta ancl (Ed,iptts, four child.ren)

(to locasta): your brother is just back from
Pytho, I wanted you all to be here with me to

cEDrpus

(Edipus 7
hear the god's answer. Come on, Creon, tell us
now: what did the oracle saY?
cREoN: That the wrath of God would never be turned
away frorn Thebes until Laius, the late king, had
been avenged.
cEDrPus: Avenged

of what?

you know that the man whose place

you have taken in my sister locasta's bed, and on
ihe throne of Thebes, died at the hand of an

c:REoN: Surely

assassin?

(xDrpus: Yes, tr know-but rvas the culprit not punished?

cREoN: The police could never lay hands on him. In

fact, we must even admit that they never looked

very hard.
oDleus (to locasta): You never told meJocASTA: Every time I wanted to tell you, my dear,
you interrupted me. "No, don't talk of the past,"
you burst out, "I don't want to know anything
about it. A golden age has begun. All things are
made

anew.

."

cREoN: The u,ord "justice" was turned on your lips to

"amnesty."
cEDTPUS:

If I

kner,v

the swine

who-

JocasrA: Calm yourself, my dear. It's ancient history.

Why go back to the past?
cEDrpus: I lvon't keep calm. I only wish I had known
it sooner, Damnation, I'll not rest till I find the
culprit. I'11 hunt him dorvn, no matter where he's
hiding. He'll not escape me-that I swear. How
long ago did all tiris happen?
JocASrA: I had been six months a widow when you
succeeded Laius. That was twenty years ago.

Two Legends

cEDrpus: Twenty,years

of happiness_
in the sighiof God are as one dav.
-which
(Tiresias,
blind, dressid, as a friar, has
in
unnoticed, accompani.ed, by Antigone "*u
and, ls-

TTRESTAS:

mene.)
cEDrpusi God,

what

bore that man

isl

Forever

meddling in-other people,s business.

Who asked
you to come?
JocAsrA (to CEdlpus).,. pty dear, you shouldn,t speak
so before the children. It isni wise to
diminish
the, authority of the man rvhom
we have chosen

to be their tutor, and who has to go with

them
everywhere. (To. Tiresias) you we#
saying_?
TTnESTAS: I do not wish to vex
the kins.
GDrpus: It is not what p-eople say thai
vexes me, but
what they think and dtn,t sav. So"rk
TTRESTAS: Alone, and man
to mari, d;;;r, we will
speak of your happiness_of

*t

ut yo'" call happi_

ness. But for the present we must

discuss.tie
unhappiness of the people. The p"opt"
are sufier-

ing, CEdipus, and theiiking

know it.
""rirot'but
Between the prosperity of the
few and the inqlgence ot the majority,
God weaves a mysterious
thread. The name of God, Gdip;,-i,
often on
your lips; I don't blame you for ihutJu,
from it
seeking to make God your assentor
in1b",,
Tr
stead ot your judge, and for feeling
no awe in His

presence.
cEDrpus:

have never been what is called a funk.

The more valiant a leader may be before
men, the more pleasing is his submissiveness
I

TTRESTAS:

to

God.

cEDrpus: Had

I felt awe in the presence

of the Sphinx,

could

not hav
BOTH CI{ORU
You knc
can't ha
RIGIIT-HAND

Sphinx;
sumed,
the aug
LEFT-HAND (

your slr

kill
BOTII

ther

CHORU

we real
destroy,
RTGHT-IIAND

was fro
LEFT-HAND (

left to

BOTH CHORU

ence, w
cEDTPUS

(to

rather

things

about i1
rmrsres: TI
But wh
beseech

pentant

We car
fore let
his beir
Meanw

T,zDo Legends

cEDrpus: Twenty years

of happiness_
TTRESTAS:
in the sighf of God are as one dav.
-which
(Tiresias,
blind, dressed as a friar, has
in
unnoticed, accompanied by Antigone "*n
and, Ismane,)

cEDrpus:

God, what

a bore that man is! Forever

meddling in other people,s business. Who asked

you to come?
JocASrA {1o A!nfuil.', My dear, you shouldn,t speak
so before the children. It isJt wise to diminish
the- authority of the man rvhom we have
chosen
to be their tutor, and who has to go with them
everywhere. (To Tiresias) you we# saying_?
rmESrAS: I do not wish to vex the king.
GDrpus: It is not what people say thai vexes
me, but
what they think and don,t sav. Speak,
TTRESTAs: Alone, and man to
man, ddiprr, we will
speak of your happiness-of what you
call happi_
ness. But for the present we must discrss'tie
unhappiness of the people. The people are
sufiering, (Edipus, and theiiking crrnot'but know
it.
Between the prosperity of the few and
the indlgence of the majority, God tveaves a
mysterious
thread. The name of God, CEdipus, is often
on
your lips; I don't blame you for that_far from
it
f^or seeking to make God your assentor
in-bu,t
stead of your judge, and for feeling no awe
in His
presence.

cEDrpus:

TTRESTAS:

have never been what is called a funk.

The more valiant a leader may be before

men, the more pleasing is his submissiveness

to
God.

cEDrpus: Had

I felt awe in the presence of the Sphinx,

Gdipus

not have answered its riddle and I should

not have been king'
BorH cFroRUsBs: It's no good, CEdipus, it's no good'
You know very well that with Tiresias even a king
can't have the last word'
the
Rrcrlr-HAND cHoRUS: No doubt you vanquished
Sphinx; but remember that afterr'vards you pres,imed, having solved the riddle, to do without
the auguries of the birds.
LEFT-HAND cno*us' And then when the birds troubled
your sleep, you deceitfully told us that we could
lill th"- off, in defiance of Tiresias.
BorH cHonusas: They made an excellent stew; but
we realized that we had done wrong when God
destroyed our crops with a plague of caterpillars.

I could

RrcHT-HAND ctroRUS:

And if we fasted that year, it

rvas from penitence, of courseLEFr-HAND cHoRUs: But also because we had nothing

left to

eat.

BorH cHoRusus: And so from now on, in total obedience, we urge you to listen to Tiresias.
cEDrpus (to his sorzs): The people would always
rather have a religious interpretation than explain
things naturally-there's nothing to be done
Ti,resias) All right-get on with it.
royal
police can seek out the criminal.
TTRESTAS: The
are
waiting for them to find him, I
But while we
beseech every one of you to show yourselves repentant; for every one of you is guilty before God,
We cannot imagine a man without stain. Therefore let each of you descend into the depths of
his being and there examine himself and repent'
Meanwhile a few ofierings may help to apPease

about

it. (To

----------------it

ro

Tu:o Legends
Him whose displeasure has laid so severe

the town. The dead are already

beyond counting, I was walking just now with
Polynices and he, who saw what I cannot see,
will tell youpoLyNrcES: Yes, father, not far from the palace we
came upon a group of people srnitten with the
plague. They were all smeared with vomit and
feces, and writhing in some terrible colic. It
seemed as if each r,vere helping the other to die.
We could hear nothing, all around us, but their
scourge upon

weeping, and sighing, and hiccuping, And when

they Iooked at uscREoN: Enough! Enough!

(lsmene has fainted.)
cEDrpus: Yes, quite enough! You've upset the

little

one

(to Polynices): You shouldn't have said

such things in front of your sister.
cEDrpus (to locasta): Be good enough to take the
children away. (Tiresias leaaes uith them.) Let
the people also leave us. I want to think.
((Edipus and. Creon are left alone.)
cB-EoN; You are inconsequent, like all impulsive people. What was the point of that oath you swore
ETEocLES

just now?

What oath?
cREoN: You see-you've forgotten it already. But the
people are there to remember it, and your children too, And Tiresias is there to bring it back to
your mind, You swore to avenge the king's death.
cEDrpus: That is true. Why was the criminal not
prosecuted?

,:
i

lt

ll LL,

thought it

im1

to it, and to le

like anY othe

cEDIPus: Yes, but

cREoN: Jocasta al

She thought

should be all
reign'

cEDrPus: ]ocasta
ness. She is

what a moth

norv!

cEDrPUs:

cREoN: The whole

GDrPus: BY whom
at
cREoN: BY me

mother, she
Tell me-he
him?

A great
cEDrPus: And ai

cREoN:

children?
cREoN: That's a

reallY tell

Then Y
insist on kn

(EDTPUS:

cREoN: VerY w<

dren, becat
CEDIPUS:

cREoN:

ThAt

-had b11

to death

theY were

see

'

this child

cEDTPUS:

cREoNl

It

was

g:

ro

Tuso Legends

Him whose

GdiPus

displeasure has

Iaid so severe
the town. The dead are ,fr""aia
beyond counting. I was walki"s
.rt now with
polynices and
he, who saw *t?,,r cannot
see,
will telJ you_
t,oLyNrcES: yes, father, not
far from the palace we
came upon a group of
people smitten with the
plague. They werd ail smejred
*itf, ,ro*it una
feces, and writhing tu ;;;;#bte
cotic. It
seemed as if each riere helping
the other to die.
We could hear.nothing, utt'nr8,rrJ
us, but their
scourge upon

yeepjnq, and sighing, and hiccuping. And

when

*)j

they looked at us_

Enought Enoughl

(Ismene has fatntid.)

cEDrpus: Yes, quite enough!

now!
ETEocLES

youve upset the

little one

(to porynices): you shouldn,t

- have
yourui.t".--

said

to take
"no,lgh
leaaes
iitn them.)

the

such things in front of

*r,.^"rt,,1-11 locasta).:_Be
good

cnildren arvay. ( Tiresias

t\qeopte

also ieave
i-*r",i"",ir",..
"r. left
(CEdipus and Creon are
cnnoN: You are inconsequent,
like all impulsive

thing was hushed up'

cREoN: The whole
.EDrPus: BY whom'l

gJ *" at first' I was regent at the time, and I

o"gll, it imprudent to call the people's attention
,, rii"a to lit them see that a king may be killed
like anY other man'
theY know it nolv'
GDTPUS: Yes, but
opposed the idea of an inquiry'
also
Iro*,
"'* Tocasta
Sh"' thought-and very wisely-that nothing
should be allowed to darken the first days of your

]"o;;
**-at

reign.

focasta has always watched over my

,r"rr. She is perfect, Jocasta' What a wife! And
what a mother! For me, who never knew my orvn

happi-

."rr*rrl

--

mother, she has been wife and mother in one'

Tell me-her first husband, did she really love
him?

le-t

A great deal less than you, that's certain'

cEDrpus: A-nd another thing-didn't they have
cREoNr

children?
cREoN: That's a long story.

I don't know if I

auy

should

really tell you about it.

,i;";.i-'

peo_

ple. What was the point of th;-";tfi

you swore
just nowP
cEDrpus; What oathp
cREoN: You see_you,ve forgotten
it already. But the
people are there to. reniember
it, ;;; your chil_
dren too. And Tir
there to bring lt back to
your mind. y", ,illlT -'s

cEDrpus: rhat is
prosecuted?

Ir

""x"iil;';:1*"J:"Iff;"1"T1;

ompus:-Then you should not have begun' But now I

insist on knowing'
cREoN: Very well. They didn't want to have any children, because the oracle-

That oracle again!

predicted that Laius would be stabbed
cREoN:
-had
to death by his own son. But, one festive evening,
they were carelesscEDrpus: I see what you mean. And what became of
this child of drunkenness?
cREoN: It was a son. As soon as he was born they gave
cEDTPUS:

Two Legends

t2

him over to a shepherd, whose sad duty it was

to abandon him on the mountainside, where he
was eaten by wild beasts,
cEDr?us r Is this shepherd still alive?
cneoNr You ask too many questions. If you want my
advice-don't fret about it. Live in peace.
cEDrpusi With such a thorn in my pillow, I fear I
should never sleep soundly again. Besides, you
heard what was said: it is God s will that ihe
murderer should be punished.
{I d"ur CEdipus, oracles are all very well
for the people, but they can't dictate to us. We
who rule should use them to reinforce our authority, and interpret them as suits us best, They told
us that Laius would be killed by his son; tut it
was the son who died. Laius is dead, all the same,
you may say. If he were alive, you would not be

cREoN:

sitting on his throne, So don't distress yourself

about his loss, and don't worry about the'*u.rrr".
of his death. Whoever killed him did it for you;
played your game; it's not for you to punish
fre
him, but rather to give him a reward.
cEDrpus:

(Exit GdiPus. i
Besides,

wr

I can hear
hear people's vo

TTRESTAS:

it

is not a

goo

reassured'
cREoN: What do yor
TrR-ESTAS:

His mind

soul is like somr

find no entranc

fear of God, an
untroubled hap
start a little cra
cREoN: Why?
TTRESTAS:

Because

it

little crack that

Eteocles and P,
with every day

confirm

it:

thei

them that they

which every mi
you in my owl

And what would Tiresias say?

cREoN: Are you afraid

of him?
But he has the ear of the peo_
ple. And I myself sometimes find the souni of
his voice disquieting-yes, the sound of it_it,s
as if it came from the nether world. Here he is
again. He approaches, and yet one never hears
his step. What do you want with us, Tiresias?
(Tiresias has come in.)
TmEsrAs: CEdipus, the queen would like to speak to
you. She is waiting for you in the palace.

heard every wo:

cREoN: You were lir

cEDrpus: Not-exactly.

'

God whom I r
and of our piour
people, who li
scourge which
being punished
over, how can
Jocasta love a I
the God whom
self, Creon, mt

t2

Two Legends

him over to a shepherd, whose sad duty it was

to abandon him on the mountainside, where he
was eaten by wild beasts.
cEDrpus: Is this shepherd still alive?
cREoN: You ask too many questions. If you want my
advice-don't fret about it. Live in peace.
rEDrpus: With such a thorn in my pillow, I fear I
should never sleep soundly again. Besides, you
heard what was said: it is Gid,s will that ihe
murderer should be punished.
{I dear CEdipus, oracles are all very well
for the people, but they can't dictate to us. We
who rule should use them to reinforce our authority, and interpret them as suits us best. They told
us that Laius would be killed by his son; tut it
was the son who died. Laius is dead, all the same,
you may say. If he were alive, you would not be

IREoN:

sitting on his throne. So don't distress yourself

about his loss, and don't worry about the manner

of his death. Whoever killed him did it for you;
nlayed your game; it's not for you to punish
|9
him, but rather to give him a reward,
TDTPUS: And what would Tiresias say?

nrox: Are you afraid of him?

iDrpus: Not-exactly. But he has the ear of the peo_
ple. And I myself sometimes find the souni of
his voice disquieting-yes, the sound of it_it,s
as if it came from the nether world. Here he is
3gain. He approaches, and yet one never hears
his step. What do you want with us, Tiresiasp
(Tiresias has ccmte in.)

nESTAS:

CEdipus, the qleen would like

to speak to

you. She is waiting for you in the palace.

Gdipus

13

{Exit G,di.pus. To Creon)

Besides, I wanted'him to leave us alone.
heard every word you were saying.
cREoN: You were listening?
rrnESrAS: I can hear without listening. Even before

I
I

I know their thoughts, Creon,

is not a good thing that CEdipus should be

hear people's voices

it

reassured.
cREoN: What do you mean?

His mind is already too much at rest. His

soul is like some sealed vessel, to which fear can
ffnd no entrance, My authority is based on the,
fear of God, and there is blasphemy in CEdipus'

TTRESTAS:

untroubled happiness. It is for you, Creon, to

start a little crack in that happiness.
cnroN: WhyP
rrnEsrAs: Because it is by means of that disquieting
little crack that God will ffnd a way into his heart.
Eteocles and Polynices are giving me the slipwith every day I ieel *or" ,i." oi it. locasta will
confirm it: their father's example has persuaded
them that they can cut free from the authority to
which every man should bow. I do not speak to
you in my own name, but in the name of the
God whom I represent; in the name of Jocasta
and of our pious Antigone; and in the name of the
people, who live in terror, inferring from the
scourge which now afHicts them that they are
being punished for their king's incredulity. Moreover, how can Antigone revere a {ather, and
Jocasta love a husband, whose heart has rejected
the God whom both of them worship? You yourself, Creon, must see that it is in everyone's in.

ii
it

t+

lilj
i:

Legends

terest that a king should bow to a higher power

::
):

Two

to whom each and all may appeal-be it

.

even

against their king.

(Enter locasta.)
JocAsra: CEdipus is dumbfounded by the news I
have just given him: Antigone wishes to take
orders.
cREoN: Antigone a vestal!

It's not surprising. The dear child hopes in

this way to offset her father's impiety.
JocASTA: She has confided her intentions to me, but
they are to remain a secret. Her brothers as yet
know nothing of them.
cnxoN: Ah, poor childl
rrRESrAs: Why poor? She will ftnd in God a surer
happiness than any fEdipus can show-a saintly
felicity consisting not in pride, but in humility.
cREoN: I think too that she was much distressed by
the misfortunes of the people.
JocASrA: She begged me to let her nurse the sick.
I protested that that could not be fit work for a
princess. "Then let me pray for them, intercede
for them," she said, And she added, more quietly:
, "and perhaps too for-" but could not go on for
rrRESrAs:

tears.
TrRESras: For someone yet more

gavely ill.

cREoN: Was she thinking of her father?

TTRESTAS: Of course. How did CEdipus take itP

At first he was both angry and afironted.

Then he cried out that he recognized Tiresias'
hand in the matter.
TTRESTAS: I am merely God's instrument. But, since
He is working through me, He will not now stay
His hand.
JocASrA:

MY belove

"TocAsrA:
stancY, all couru

offer these thin'

dutY-that I kn
TBESIAS: Creon mul

the king s

self-

disposed to acc'
cREoN: I shall be g
succeed. CEdiPt

bores him.

God will
the wr
with
me,
ne
has
cREoN: God
to
TmESIAS: OnIY

TTRESIAS:

insPiration'

Put mY
is through You
Most High.

JocASrAi

14

Two Legends
terest that a king should bow to a higher power
to whom each and all may appeal_Jbe it'even
against their king.

(Enter locasta.)
JocAsrA: CEdipus is dumbfounded by the news I
have just given him: Antigone *irh", to take

orders.
cREoNr Antigone a vestal!

*r,f.rr

It's not surprising. The dear child hopes in

this way to offset her father's impietv.
JocASrA: She has confided her intent'ioni to me, but
they are to remain a secret. Her brother,
y"i
know nothing of them.
",
cnEoN: Ah, poor child!
TTRESTAS: Why poor? She will ffnd
in God a surer
!1ppir"rr than any CEdipus can show_a saintly
felicity consisting not-in
iride, but in humility.
cnEoN: I think too that she was much distrerr"d
by
the misfortunes of the people.
JocASrA: She begged me to let her nurse the sick.
f protested that that could not be fit work for a
princess. "Then let me pray for them, intercede
for them," she said. andihe added, more quietly:
"and perhaps too for-" but could
not go on ftr
,
tears.

For someone yet more gravety ill.

rREoN: Was she thinking of her fatheri
rREsras: Of course. How did CEdipus take it?
nREsrAs:

At ffrst he was both angry and afironted.

Then he cried out that he recognized Tiresias,
hand in the matter.
TRESTAS: I am merely God's instrument.
But, since
He is working through me, He will not now stay
His hand.

iocAsra:

Gdipus

r5

My beloved husband is all virtue, all constancy, all courage; ttrat he should be brought to
offer these things to God should be our dearest
duty-that I know very well, Tiresias.
rrRESrAs: Creon must help me. He will break down
the king's self-confidence and make him more
TocAsrA:

disposed to accept what I say.

cREoN: I shall be glad to try, but I can't promise to
succeed. CEdipus does not readily listen to what

bores him.

rmESrAs: God will inspire you, as He has inspired

me, with the rvay to touch him on the quick.
cREoN: God has never inspired me very much.
rrRESrAs:

Only to the blind does He give all His

inspiration.
JocASra: I put myself in your hands, Tiresias, for it
is through you thai we learn the decisions of the

Most High.

ACT II

O Gd,ipus, O rashly engendered son of

ilrunkenness!

EIIRIPIDES:
PH(ENICIANS

(Gdi,pus and Creon come dounstage, in conoer'

sation.)
If we were not so unlike each other, we should
take less pleasure in our conversations' If I enjoy

cREoN:

talking

to-

it is because
to glimpse things-that I should

you, dear brother-in-law,

yo, ilo*'-e

never have remarked for myself' Where you are

all for novelfy and experiment, I myself am bound
by the past. Tradition I respect, and custom, and
law. But do you not agree that some"rtnbtit-h"d
should stand for those things, and
a
state
body in
thai I represent, vis-i-vis your spirit of initiative,
a desirable counterpoise? I keep you from going
too fast, I act as a brake on those over-venturesome projects of yours-they could often put the
social'system out of joint, you know, if I wasn't
there to clog you and weigh you down'
cEDlrus: (absent'mindadly) : Perhaps'

cREoN: Family feeling runs especially--strong in me'

You are ot e of my family, after all, and I am as

T'uo Legends
interested

in your children

as

am in my own'

Allow me to ask after Ismene's health' She is a

nervous child, and when she fainted yesterday,
while her brother was telling usThat's all over now.

(EDTPUS:

same, you ought to see that she takes

more exercise. Jocasta too-I don't think she's
been very well ior some little time. It upsets her
when things go badly for the people' You should
try to take her mind ofi it'
cEDTPUS: Oh, quite. Quite.
cREoN: And when we are less busy I must talk to you
about your two boys' Tiresias is a good teacher,
of couise, but they don't seem to pay much attention to him. They're a couple of rebels-I can't
quite define it, but there's no doubt they get it
fiom yor. Has Eteocles read you his reflections
on the malady of the age?
cEDTPUS: On the plague?
cREoN: No, no-the Matady of the Age, with the sublillet Our Presortt Disiontents' Naturally his discontents are of a most elevated sort. He's a phenomenon, that boy. And for good looks, strength,
and intelligence, Polynices is his equal' They
must both be like what you were at their age' I
expect you recognize yourself in them'

cREoN:

All the

(EDTPUS:

Sometimes.

They are unquiet spirits. Btrt at

have your example before their eyes. Whereas
you, feeling yourself a stranger at Polybius'courtis that why you went away? Weren't you at
ease in his palace?
cEDrpus: I? I lived llke a fighting-cock. But, to begin
with, I don't enjoy being coddled. At that time I

cREoN:

least they

be
so

fo
tu
th
al

A
St
ca

fr
$

Ir
(,

b
a

I]
n
f,

f'
v
C

\
(
(

CREO,

l
CEDIP
:

r8

CEdiPus

Two Legeruds
interested in your children as f am in my own.
Allow me to ask after Ismene's health. She is a
nervous child, and when she fainted yesterday,
while her brrother was telling us-

all over now.

All the same, you ought to

cDTPUS: That's

see that she takes

more exercise. Jocasta too-I don't think she's
been very well for some little time. It upsets her
when things go badly for the people. You should
try to take her mind off it,
cEDTPUS: Oh, quite. Quite.
cREoN: And when we are less busy I must talk to you
about your two boys. Tiresias is a good teacher,
of course, but they dont seem to pay much attention to him. They're a couple of rebels-I can't
quite define it, but there's no doubt they get it
from you. Has Eteocles read you his reflections
on the malady of the age?
cEDTPUS: On the plague?
cnEoN: No, no-the Malady of the Age, with the subtiil.e: Our Prosent Discontents. Naturally his discontents are of a most elevated sort. He's a phenomenon, that boy. And for good looks, strength,
and intelligence, Polynices is his equal. They
must both be like what you were at their age. I
expect you recognize yourself in them.
cREoN:

GDTPUs: Sometimes,

They are unquiet spirits. But at least they

have your example before their eyes. Whereas
you, feeling yourself a stranger at Polybius'courtIs that why you went away? Weren't you at
ease in his palace?
cEDrpus: I? I lived like a fighting-cock. But, to begin
with, I don't enjoy being coddled. At that time I
cREoN:

tg

was Polybius' son. Then one day a

to the court and be,gan telling
wanted to consult him' My
Everybody
fortunes.
pale, refused to speak in
turned
He
came.
turn
took me on one side,
others,
the
of
hearing
the
to kill my father.
destined
I
was
that
me
told
and
but he was so
his
at
prediction,
laughed
I
first
At
to take preit
best
I
thought
that
himself
of
sure
to speak
was
these
of
first
the
and
cautions;
the
surest
him
that
to
tell
and
Polybius
to
frankly
for
was
forecast
disastrous
this
fulfill
to
way not
it
would
as
much
forever,
his
court
leave
ms to
grieve me to do so, for I loved him. It was then,
Ind in order to reassure me, that he revealed to
me that I was not his child, that he had adopted
me, and that, as far as he was concerned, I therefore had nothing to fear. As to who had been my
father, he couldn't enlighten me. A shepherd,
while driving his flock to pasture, had found me
on the mountainside, hanging by one foot, like
a fruit, from the low branches of a shrub (that's
why I am slightly lame)-naked, expo,sed to wind
and rain, as if I had been the fruit of some clandestine passion, an unwanted, compromising
child. . . .
cREoN: A bastard. Yes, I can understand that that
must be verY Pain{ul.
cEDrpus: Oh, ceriainly not-I dont at all mind knowing that I am a bastard. When I thought I -was
Po"lybius' son, I tried to ape his virtues' I kept
asking myself : "What is there in me that I do not
o*" tlo my forefathers?" Attentive to the lesson of
the past, I looked only to yesterday-for approval
andidvice. Then suddenly the thread was broken'
believed

soothsayer came

zo

Ttao Legends

had gushed up from the unknown; no longer

any past, no longer any father's example, nothing

to lean on any more; everything to be built up

anew-country, forefathers-all to be invented,

all to be discovered. Nobody to take after but
myself. What does it matter from that moment
whether I am a Greek or a Welshman? O Creon,
you who are so submissive, so orthodox in every
way, how could you understand the splendor of
such demands? To know nothing of one's parents
is a summons to excel.
cREoN: But all the same, why did you leave Polybius
after he had given you this reassurance? He had
adopted you, and had no children of his own.
You had every hope of succeeding him on his
throne.

detest that kind of promotion and want

nothing that I have not earned on my own merits.
Great qualities were dormant rvithin me, and I
could not bear them to lie quiescent, I felt that
in the peace and comfort of Polybius' court I was

(EDrpus:

missing my destiny.

It is quite natural that I should look at things

difierently. Had I been a bastard, perhaps I too
should have striven to acquire such things, both
spiritual and material, as had not come to me by
lawful inheritance. But I was the son of one king
and the brother of another. I cannot be other than
conservative, Without being myself a king, I
enjoyed at Laius' court, as I now enjoy at your
own, all the advantages of a crown, with none of
its burdens and anxieties.
cEDrpus: Enjoy them in peace, Creon, enjoy them in
peace. No doubt it is all to the good that men
cREoN:

of mY temPeramen
see the children c<
without showing ou
(G,di,Pus and Creo
stage. Enter Antigo

ror,YNrcrs, F ree thoug

first removes the tv
oort to the mind'
I.

aNrrGoNE:

It

You

gle

will warP the min

mY mind has taken
able to think stra

there is no longer
directs itself towa:
PoLYMCES: Go on'
its

ANTTcoNE:

-directs
PoLYNTcES: WhY didn'
ANTtcoNE: Because I
God.

is sirr
thoughts'
of Your
ANrrcoNE: With all n
If I were talkinP

PoLYNTcES: God

saY:

"with aII mY

thL soul either'

PoLYNTcES: PerhaPs

in vours' But th
J4

exist apart trom

ANTIGoNE: WhY Yes,

Him'
PoLYNTcES:

You simP

virtues.
ANTTcoNE: On the co

There is no

virt

CEdiPus

Two Legmds
ad gushed up from the unknown; no longer
'past, no longer any father's example, nothing
lean on any more; everything to be built up
w-country, forefathers-all to be invented,
to be discovered. Nobody to take after but
;elf. What does it matter from that moment
:ther I am a Greek or a Welshman? O Creon,
who are so submissive, so orthodox in every
z, how could you understand the splendor of
h demands? To know nothing of one's parents
summons to excel.
But all the same, why did you leave Polybius
r he had given you this reassurance? He had
pted you, and had no children of his own.
had every hope of succeeding him on his
rne.

detest that kind of promotion and want

ring that I have not earned on my own merits.
at qualities were dormant rvithin me, and I
.d not bear them to lie quiescent. I felt that
le peace and comfort of Polybius' court I was
;ing my destiny,
tt is quite natural that I should look at things

xently. Had I been a bastard, perhaps I too

rld have striven to acquire such things, both
itual and material, as had not come to me by
:ul inheritance. But I was the son of one king
the brother of another. I cannot be other than
ervative. Without being myself a king, I
yed at Laius'court, as I now enjoy at your
, all the advantages of a crown, with none of
urdens and anxieties.
Enjoy them in peace, Creon, enjoy them in
:e. No doubt it is all to the good that men

2r

very rare' But I

of my temperament should be
listen to them
r""",i,"- "irifdren coming' Let us

without showing ourselves'

side of the
( (Ed,ip'us and, Croon uithdlaw to the
irogu.' n"t n, Antigone and P ohlnic-es')
thoight is impossible unless one
no"#iirt,Free
'""^iir* t"*oves the tivist that religious practices imnort to the mind'
giu" way to the passions' they too
"""^*iff*urp
^*"r5o*,-fiyoo
tt'""*i"a, at'd mote dangerously' Yes'
being
*v *tdnus taken io itself the bent of only
you that
;;il;-.hi;k straight' I can promise
but
ih"r" i, no longer iny impulse of my being
directs itself towardPoLYNIcES: Go on'

o*r"o*u, -directs itself toward'God'at once?

whY didn't You say that

;;;;;;,
;;;;,

Beca,,se

kriow that you dont believe in

God.

pyt.1t the far end

beliet'e in Him?
teally
of vour thoughts''O'o yo'
all mv mind'
with
and
;v hJart
I should
you
but
^"r;;J;'
If I were talking'to anybody don't believe
in
you
,uvt "*ith all mi soul"' But

poLYNrcES: God is simply what you

*il;ii

thl soul either'

end by making me believe
*o"t*"ur,
'*-;;"*' Perhaps you'Il
of-does He

g"i til'it God you speak

exiit aPart from Yourself?

it is He who draws me to
ANTTGoNE: khy y"', since
Him.

poLYNrcES: You simply see the reflection

virtues.
ANrrcoNE: On the contrary,

of your own

the reflection'
in Him'
There is no virtue but has its source

I am myself

zz

Tuto Legends

poLyNrcES: Listen, Antigone.

am going to ask you.

ANrrcoNE:

Dont blush at what I

am blushing already. But go on.

poLyNrcES; Is one forbidden to

marry one,s sister?

PolYnices I
together' We ha'
isn't one of mY P

trTEOCLES:

I believe, that

is

ANrrcoNE: Yes, of course-forbidden by God and man

alike. Why do you askp
poLyNrcES: Because is I could
marry you absolutely,

being reflected i
knor
rsMENE: I don't

should Iet myself be guided by yi"

toward your God.
ANTTGoNE: How can one hope to attain what is good
while doing what is evil?
por,yNrcEs: Good, evil-those are
the only words you

ablY detest him

one can't share'

I think I

know.
ANrrcoNE: Not a word comes to my lips that has not

first been in my heart.

(Creon and Gdipus are sti.ll in hiding, and,

re_

rnain so during the next scena.)

cREoN (to CEdipus): But look here! That,s incest_I
can't stomach that.
cEDrpus: Be quiet.
(Po_lynices and Antigone go off. Enter Eteocles
and lsmene.)

It's rare to find you alone-you,re always

with your brother, How do you manage to get
on so well with him?

TsMENE:

ETEocLES: Surely it's natural that one,s brother should

understand one better than somebody from out_
sideP
ISMENE: Antigone and I have such difierent tastes

that I quarrel with her all the time. Whenever

] 1i\" " !h1"g, she reproaches me and says it,s for_
bidden. I don't even dare to laugh or play in front
of her. Of course she's older th; I arii, but really
one would think she'd never been young.

have a double'

We havel
All the sarr

E-TEocLES:

TsMENE:

ETEocLES: Poohl Pe

$MENE: And when

ETEocLES: We've aL
shall reign bY t

And what
(ThaY laugh')
ETEocLES: I must g

6MENE:

(Exit Eteocles
ANTIGONE: HOW

CA

in mourning?
ISMENE: YOU dON,I
around You'
ANTTGoNE: EverYw

more sorrow t
rsNrENE: ]oY is wit
heart. One d
weePing for
svmPathize

6thit

o:

P"oPl"'

ANTIGONE: ThETE

haPPiness is '
TsMENE: Some Pe
ANTIGoNE:

MY

fe

,r

zz

polyNrcEs: Listen,.Antigone.
Dont blush at what I
am going to ask you.
ANTTcoNE: I am blushing already. But go
on.
poLyNrcES: Is one forbidden
to marry Jre,s sisterp
ANrrcoNE: yes, of course_forbidden by
God and man
alike. Why do you ask?
polyNrcEs: Because if I could
marry vou absolriel.,
I think I should let myself be
fuided by ;;;
toward your God.
ANTTcoNE:

How can one hope to attain what is good

while doing what is evii?
por,yNrcEs: Good, evil*those
are the only words you
knorv.

Not a word comes to my lips that has not

first been in my heart.
(Creon and CEdipus are still in hid,ing,
and, re_
mai.n so during the noxt scene.)
cREoN (.to CEdipus): But look herei
That,s incest_I
can't stomach that.
cEDrpus: Be quiet.
(Polynices and Antigone go off. Enter
Eteocles
and lsmene.)
TSMENE: It's rare to find_ you
alone_you,re always
with your brother, How do yo, ,iu.rrg" to
get
on so well with him?
ETEocLES: Surely it's natural that one,s
brother should
understand one better than somebody from
out_
ANTTGoNE:

side?

Antigone and I have such different tastes

t quarrel with her all the time. Whenever
!h-al
li\"
, thing, she reproaches me and says it,s for_
J
bidden. I don't everr dareto Jaugh or
play ln front
of her. Of course she s older tfrr]" f arir, but
really
one would think she,d never been young.

ISMENE:

GdiPws

Tuso Legends
and
ETEocLES: Polynices

23

were born and brought up

"'"-,L"th"t' We have everything in common' There

rnv thoughts'
;;;i;;; of my pleasu'"i' 'o' one of
by
redoubled
is
his-and
also
not
iU"t*r", thai ii
him'
in
tr -i.o refected
very much like to
,-*rli,'i do''t kt'o* that II should
I should probone'
had
if
""'"nfr" u double' And
a","t, him' Besides, there are some things

"tiu
one can't share'

We haven't come across them yet'

i*o*, AII the same, if one of you fell in loveshall pick.on,twins'
;;;;;"rt, Pooh! Perhaps we to
king?
;*;r, And when it comes being
other that we
each
We've already promised
ETEocLES:

;;;;;rt'

shall reign bY turns'

,r*r*r, Arri *t'at if you don't ffnd those twins?

(TheY laugh')
ask him about it'
ETEocLES:" I must go and
(Exit Eteocles. Ente'r Antigone')
when the people are
ANTIGoNE: How can you laugtr

in rnourning?
**r"*, you d8nt laugh even rvhen all goes well
around You.
ANTIGoNE: EverYwhere on
more sorrow than ioY'

this earth there is,

alas,

within me, and I hear it singing in my

h"u.i. brr" doesn't make things any better by
weeping for those r'vho are unhappy' But you
.r*irutf,ir" only with those who are in trouble'
6thl, p"opte's tappiness puts-you- out of humor'
Ismene' whose
ANTTGoNE: th&" ur"^,-o*" people,
disquieting'
is
happiness

TsMENE: Joy is

rsN,rENE: Some PeoPIe?

;;;";^",

My'fatirer's' The more

love him' the

2+ Tuo Legends
I fear the happiness of which he boasts. He
leaves God out of account; and nothing can stand
solidly that has not its base in God.
more

TsMENE:

I4y joy is a wingdd thing.

(Thay go off.)

Well! They certainly put things well, those

children of yours! "My ioy is a wingdd thing"I must remember that. As for Antigone, it may
not have seemed very rnuch, but it's very deep,
you know, what she was saying. ]ust what I
wanted to make you feel, but I didn't know quite
how to go about it,
cEDTPUS: What do you mean?
cREoN: Why, that your happiness doesn't seem to
me so well founded as all that. But now let's
listen to your boys.
(Enter Eteocles and Polyni,ces.)
ErEocLEs: Let's get down to it. What is that we look
for in books? It's always, in greater or less degree, an authorization. Even those who claim to
be in love with order and to respect things as
they are, those whom Tiresias calls "right-thinking people"-what they want from books is authority to bore, oppress, and terrorize their neighbors. What they want is some maxim, some
theory that will make their consciences comfortable and put them themselves on the side of the
right.
por,yNrcEs: And what we, the wrong-thinkers, are
after is authority to do what tradition and good
form, or the law with its apparatus of fear and
constraint, have told us not to do.
ETEocLES: In other words, freedom to behave indecREoN:

cently.

POLYMCTS:

YES,

FOT :
ETEOCLES:
for a Phras

Ismene'
cREoN (to Gd1

ror,YNrcrs: Wit
ETEOCLESI WitT
TOLYNICES:

If

cREoN: Two vi
GDTPUS (to Cre
(Exit Crec
urnocr-rs: If I
ror,YNrcus: Thi
remedY-r
ffnd, I m'

altogether

rrrocr-rs: Oh,
ing in boo
pol,vNtcns: Yo

Wh
out for al
sakepolYNrcrs: Fc
Btsocr,rs: Yes
a damn.

ETEOCLES:

pol,vNlcns: At

sonaliYETEoclrs:

Tr

we share
to confid
it's not tt

por,vNrcus: v
you and

nrrocr,rs: u1

2+

CEdiPus

Two Legends

more I fear the happiness of which he boasts. He

Ieaves God out of account; and nothing can stand
solidly that has not its base in God.
rsMEr{E: N4y joy is a wingdd thing.

(They go off.)

They certainly put things well, those

-Well!
children of yoursl "My ioy is a wingdd thing,,I must remember that. As for Antigone, it iray
not have seemed very much, but itt very deep,
you know, what she was saying. Just what -I
wanted to make you feel, but I didn't know quite
how to go about it.
cEDrpus: What do you mean?
cREoN: Why, that your happiness doesn't seem to
me so well founded as all that. But now let,s
cREoN:

Iisten to your boys.

(Enter Eteocles and Polynices.)
ErEocLEs: Let's get down to it. What is that we Iook
for in books? It's always, in greater or less degree, an authorization. Even those rvho claim to

be in love with order and to respect things as

they are, those whom Tiresias calls "right-thinking people"-what they want from books is au_
thority to bore, oppress, and terrorize their neighbors. What they want is some maxim, sJme
theory that will make their consciences comfortable and put them themselves on the side of the
right.
por,yNrcEs: And what we, the wrong-thinkers, are
after is au-thority to do what tradition and good
form, or the law with its apparatus of fear"and
constraint, have told us not to do.
.ETEocLES: In other words, freedom to behave indecently.

25

that'
poLYMcES: Yes, more or less-something-like

For instanc", I'- looking at this

,ilo""r.,
"'""r;; phrur" that will authorize me to sleep with
moment

Ismene'

Gd'i2ru;): Vicious little brute!

"*^-ii, With Your sister?
"o""*r""t,With our sister' What of it?
me'
"ilo""ut,
poLYNrcES: If you find it-pass it on to
Two vicious little brutesl
out'
"u"o*,
cEDrPus (to Creon) I Get
Creon')
(Exit
ETEocLES: If I find what?
there's another
Io""*"rr, That authorization' But
easier to
remedy-more general, - and therefore
ffnd. I mean, you could do without authority
altogether.

Oh, well, I haven't spent my time searching in books for thatpor,yNrcEsi You mean you've iust acted upon it?
I'm now looking
,*o"tut, What do you think? If it's
rather for her
out for an honoiable motive'

r*ol"ri,

sakePoLYNTcES:

,rro*"r,

For Ismene's?
Yes,

for

a damn.
poLyNrcES:
And
-

Ismene's' Personally

don't care

were to break your jaw' perlittle?

,orrUy--ould you begin to-care.a
yo"
I
iealous! Haven't
''
ETEocLES: Try it ,,,h
'""'
wrong
now?
to
up
we shared everything ^besides' Was I
idiot'
great
you
to confide in you? A"nd
you'
provoke
it
to
said
it's not true. L only
poLYNrcES: WilI you swear there's nothing between
you and Ismene?
Brsotlrs: Up to now, no' I'm holding back'

--

if I

F
26

T,uso Legends

PoLYNrcEs: Not as much as

ETEocLES:

If I hadn't told

am.

you about it, the idea would

never have entered your head.

polyNicEs: That's to say I shouldn't have known my
own thoughts. There are lots of things we think
of without knowing it.
ErEocLEs: That's what our dreams are made of.
poLyNrcES: Dont you ever wonder what are the limits

oi human thought? In my last ode I

ErEOCLES: 1

a gift f

POLYNICES:

oods,

D-

(GdiP

oprPus: \Mt
tening

compare

thought to a dragon of which as a rule we know

only the body and that part, the tail, which drags
along in the past; a sphinx, one might say, whose
invisible nostrils are somewhere inside me, scenting, snufiing, nosing about. Nothing is safe from
its disruptive curiosity. The rest of its body folIows as and when it can.
ETEocLES: That is the dragon I call "the malady of
the age." I too feel it within me, forever asking,
asking. It's fairly eating me up with questions.
poLyNrcES: I am thinking of the dragon that Cadmus
slew. They say that from his teeth we sprang.
ETEooLES: You believe in that, Polynices? They also
say that Semele, who was Cadmus'daughter, and
a mortal, carried Bacchus the god within her
womb. ln our present state of advanced civilization, and now that our father has killed the last
of- the sphinxes, gods and monsters no longer

inhabit the upper air or the open countryside;

they are within us.
poLyNrcES: Cadmus, Lycus, and Amphion, to whom
we owe the alphabet by which thought has been
preserved. . Ah, how old humanity seems to
me, and how distant all of that! I dream of the
age when speech itself had not yet been invented.

rePrc

often.
must rt

lies too
To gro

And

a;

persua(

much I
glimPsr

itself

ETEOCLES: '

oolpusl W
ture th

earth'
allegia

our ci
back u
of his
was n(
dragor

'

like th
of Tht
triuml
his m;
courthimsel
those

-E

fl]

26

Not as much as I am.

hadn't told you about it, the idea would
never have entered your head.
r,oLyNrcES: That's to-say I shouldn't have known my
own thoughts. There are lots of things we thini<
of without knowing it.
ETEocLES: That's what our dreams are made of.
poLyNrcES: Don't you ever wonder what are
the limits
oJ human thought? Il
last
ode
I
compare
Ty
thought to a dragon of which as a rule *e kirow
only the body and that part, the tail, which drags
the past; a sphinx, one might ,uy, *ho!"
3lo:g- i"
invisible nostrils are somewhere inside me, scenting,_snufling, nosing about. Nothing is safe from
its disruptive curiosity. The rest oiit, body fol_
lows as and when it can.
ETEocLES; That is the dragon I call ..the malady of
the age." I too feel it ;ithin me, forever
"r(irrg,
asking. It's fairly eating me up with questions.
poLyNrCES: I am thinking of the dragon
that Cadmus
slerv. They
that from his teeih we sprang.
-say
ETEocLES: You believe in that, polynices? They"also
say that Semele, who was Cadmus, daughter, and
a mortal, carried Bacchus the god within her
womb. In our present state of advanced civiliza_
tion, and now that our father has killed the last
of- the sphinxes, gods and monsters no longer
inhabit the
air or the open countrysiie;
-upper
they are within us.
poLyNrcES: Cadmus, Lycus, and
Amphion, to whom
we owe the alphabet by which thought has been
preserved. . Ah, how old humanity seems to
me, and how distant all of thatl I dream of the
age when speech itself had not yet been invented.
poLYNICES:

E:rEocLES:

l''

li:ll
ti,rl

I'
jri

li

ij

tl

CEdiPus

Tuso Legends

If I

27

tells us that speech came to men as

ErEocLEs: Tiresias
gods'
the
A o:f:t from

no"*rZrr, I

would iather believe

in

heroes than in

oods.

aryoaches his soru')

you as my sons' LiscEDrpus: Well said! I recognize
you saidherrrd
everything
I
tening to you-yes,
to
you more
talking
for
not
myself
I repioach
boys
all-you
of
first
to
say
want
I
ofte;. But
of
what
conquest
The
sisters
must respect your
lies too ciose at hand can never be very profitable'
To grow up, one must look far beyond oneself'
Andagaini don't always look-behind you' Be
persuaded that humanity is beyond question
iauch farther from its goal, which we cannot yet
glimpse, than from its point of departure, which
itsef has already vanished from our view'
ETEocLES: This goal-what can it be?
cEDrpus: Whatever it is, it lies before us' I can picture the time, far distant from our own, when the
earth will be peopled by a race of men, owing
allegiance to no one, who will look back upon
our civilization of today as we ourselves look
back upon the condition of man at the beginning
of his slow progress' If I overcame the Sphinx,-it
was not to th"i you should take your ease' The
dragon of which you were speaking, Eteocles, is
IikJthe one that was waiting for me at the gates
of Thebes, where I owed it to myself to enter in
triumph, Tiresias bores us with his morality- and
his mysticism. I had learned all that at Polybius'
court-Tiresias has never thought of anything for
himself and could never give his approval to
those who are all for discovery and invention'

iaalput

28

T'uo Legends
He claims to be inspired by God, with his auguries and revelations, but it wasn't he who
answered the riddle. It was I and I alone who

understood that the only password, if one didn't

want to be eaten alive by the Sphinx, was Man.
No doubt it took a certain courage to bring out
that word. But I had it ready even before I heard
the riddle; and my strength was that I would
admit of no other answer, no matter what the
question might be.
You must understand, my boys, that each one
of us encounters at the beginning of his journey
a monster that confronts him with the riddle that
may prevent him from going farther. And although to each one of us, my children, the Sphinx
may put a difierent question, you must persuade
yourselves that the answer is always the same.
Yes, there is only this one same answer to those
many and various questions; and that this one
answer is: Man; and that this one man, for each
and all of us, is: Oneself.
(Enter Tiresias,)
TTREsTAS: CEdipus, is that the last word of your wisdom? Is that where all your knowledge leads?
(EDrpus: Not at all. That's where it begins. That is the
first word.
'rrREsrAS: And what are the words that come after?
(EDrpus: My sons will have to ffnd them.
TTBESTAS: They will not ffnd them, any more than you
yourself have found them.
cEDrpus (aside): He is more exhausting than the
Sphinx itself. (to his sons) Leave us.
(Exeunt Eteocles and Polynices.)
TrRESras: Yes-you ask your sons to go away when

you have no
i<nowledge hr

pride to

tea<

from man, no
GDrPus: For a I
quided bY a

,rur#o,' A

god

yes, Yourself
cEDrPus: A god

could do wit
ft
TTRESTAS: That
God, not tht
who none tl
stlrveys you
who knows
GDTPUS:

What r

self?

The fr

rmESrAS:
cEDTPUS:

WhY

s}

am?

TrRESras:

The i'

great wish
cEDTPUS:

Are

Yo

TrResras: Yes,

O GdiPus

dont

even

teach You
cEDrPus: To he
I was the

rrnssres:

If m'

can see be

oorPusl And
sPirit?

trnpsres: Your

28

T'uto Legends
He claims to be inspired by God, with his ausuries and revelations, but it wasn't he who
Irrs*e.ed the riddle. It was I and I alone who

understood that the only password, if one didn't

want to be eaten alive by the Sphinx, was Man.
No doubt it took a -certain courage to bring out
that word, But I had it ready even before I [eard

the riddle; and my strength rvas that I would

admit of no other answer, no matter what the
question might be.
You must understand, my boys, that each one
of us encounters at the beginning of his journey
a monster that confronts him with the riddle that

may prevent him from going farther. And

GdiPus

Tr-',
I

al_

though to each one of us, my children, the Sphinx

may put a difierent question, you must perzuade
yourselves that the answer is always the same.
Yes, there is only this one same answer to those
many and various questions; and that this one
answer is: Man; and that this one man, for each
and all of us, is: Oneself.

(Enter Tiresias.)
is that the last word of your wis_
-CEdipus,
dom? Is that where all your knowledge leads?
cEDrpus: Not at all. That's where it begins. That is the
first word.
'ITTRESTAS: And what are the words that come after?
cEDrpus: My sons will have to find them.
TTRESTAS: T_!ey will not find them, any more than you
rrnrsrAsr

yourself have found them.

rDrpus (asi.de): He is more exhausting than the

Sphinx itself. (ro his sons) Leave us.
(Exeunt Eteocles and Polynices.)
irREsras: Yes-you ask your sons to go away when

29

them and your

a,n, have nothing more to tell
You have nothing but
'r'o*'
that starts
1","a"-,o',"uch them' All knowledge
worthless'
is
t;;t"'", not from God'I believed myself to be
a long time

il:il;;;";;'-"?"
*rJ;;;-'F;r

orrided bY a god'

,*rrl,irl

i i"J i^'n9 was none other than yourself;

deified'

ves. Youiself

*rJ;''i;;J

(this

learned from vou) whom

could do without'

the real
certainly:
.not
^but
but
know'
to
not the Goi whom-you refuse
tl"p
every
:'q
i,fro' ,or" the less watches your
not the God
sllrveys your most secret thoughts:

false god'
rrRE;;-That
"'*e;;,

yourself'
who knows you as you do n-ot-kn-ow
do not know myI
think
you
makes
*rr*rr,-What
self?

rBE;,
*#"tl
I

The fact that you think yourself happy'

wfry should I not think myself happy' when

am?

he is well has no

rrnBsres, The invalid who thinks

great wish to be cured'
convince me that
cEDTPUS: Are you trying to

am ill?

it'

Yes, and'thJ more ill for not knowing

and you
O CEdipus, you try to escape from God'
like to
don't eien i.,'o* *ho yo"- u"; I should

;;;r;t,

teach You to see Yourself'

that
To hear you talk, anybody would think
I was the blind one of us two'
are closed' it is so that I
TTRESTAS: If my eyes of flesh
can see better with the eyes of the spirit'
eyes of the
(EDTPUS: And what do you sle with the
soirit?
-Vour
miseries' But tell me this: since when
rr"orlt,

cEDTPUS:

'ffi

30 Two Legends
have you ceased to adore God?
cEDrpus: Since I began to stay away

from His altars.

Of course our faith must languish if we neglect our devotions. But why, if you were still a
believer, did you stop going to the altars?
cEDrpus: Because my hands were no longer clean.
TTRESTAS: With what crime were they sullied?
(EDrpus: On the road that was leading me to my
consultation with God and my struggle with the
TTRESTAS:

committed murder.
TTRESTAS: Whom did you killP
cEDrpus: An unknown man, whose carriage lay across
Sphinx

my road.
TTREsTAS: That road was taking you to God. It was not
on that road that you met the Sphinx. But you
knew that God will not answer those whose hands
were sullied.
cEDrpus: Quite right-that is why I decided to forfeit
His advice, changed my direction, and took the
road that led me to the Sphinx.
TTRESTAS; What were you going to ask of God?
cEDrpus: To tell me whose son I was. Then suddenly
I decided to remain in ignorance.
TTRESTAS: After the murder.
cEDrpus: And suddenly I realized that that very ignorance could be the source of my strength.
TTRESTAS: I thought that you always insisted on knowing everything. But just tell me this, CEdipus:
before you took your stand on knowing nothing,
why were you so anxious to know the answer to
that question-the one you were going to put to
God?
(EDrpus: Because

a fortune-teller had predicted that

should . . . Tiresias, you are importunate. I'm

not goin
rrnrsres: Th
Laius tl
CEdiPus

ruler th
that Yot

piness

God

hr

huppy'

(Exit
oprPus:

Ge

haPPin

of twel
with fir
was th'
in the r

my o'n
know'
mY be:
mY de

to ofie
this Pr
that u
much.

was it

I left
reallY

didr

even

ofi to
to Gc
anSwr

the ri

to

so

io

Two

CEdiPus

Legends

have you ceased to adore God?

EDrpus: Since I began to stay away from
rmEsrAS: Of course our faith must languish

lect our devotions. But why,

if

His altars.

if

we neg-

you were still a

believer, did you stop going to the altars?
EDrpus: Because my hands were no longer clean.
'Inxsras: With what crime were'they sullied?
EDrpus: On the road that was leading me to my
consultation with God and my struggle with the
Sphinx I committed murder.
TRESTAS: Whom did you kill?
EDrpus: An unknown man, whose carriage lay across
my road.
rRESrAs: That road was taking you to God. It was not
on that road that you met the Sphinx. But you
knew that God will not answer those whose hands
were sullied.
rDrpus: Quite right-that is why I decided to forfeit
His advice, changed my direction, and took the
road that led me to the Sphinx.
rREsrAS: What were you going to ask of God?
rDrpus: To tell me whose son I was. Then suddenly
I decided to remain in ignorance.
IRESTAS: After the murder.
rDrpus: And suddenly I realized that that very ignorance could be the source of my strength.
tRESrAs: I thought that you always insisted on knowing everything. But just tell me this, CEdipus:
before you took your stand on knowing nothing,
why were you so anxious to know the answer to
that question-the one you were going to put to
God?

iDrpus: Because

should

a fortune-teller had predicted that

. . . Tiresias, you

3r

any l-nor.e oj
not going to answer
fortune-tell"i hud also predicted to
"*"iur,r, that he would be killed Uy !t: own son'
"r*iil,"il';,
and blasphemous
6itp"t,= Odipus' foundling
your past
ignorance'of
in
is
It
arel
ruler that you
of yourself' Your hapil;;";; h'ave become sure eyes
tq loul miseryopen your
"*i,r'atu*"
;;;Jt i. blind'
the right to be
yoo
i'o*
ffi1;t
Your questions'

are importunate. I'm

happy'

(Exit Tiresias')
As if I had ever souqht
*rr"li,"C", out! bet out!
*"'-irppir"ssl
that as a boy
escape
It was to
I":
lt on my toes'
Polybius
from
of ii"""ty I ran away
how beautiful
;,i, [Jl clenched' i'{o"" "uo iay
forward
I
as
;;,h" dawn above Parnassus I hadwent
but
nothing
oracle'
i, in" a"* to hear God's
didn't
I
Yet
strength to helP T:'.u"d
;fi;
of
the
all
Possibilities
know who I was, but wiih
answerGod's
Yes'
mv being I was rich enough'
glad I was
*i a"t,i", depended on it' and howsomething
at
is
there
;"fi;; ;it"u to Hi-! But
true
It's
understand'
ihls point'that I don't quite
it very
that up to now I haven't thought about
time I
that
at
ind
much. One must stop to think'
doing'
' When
was in a hurry to bie up and
was it
God'
to
me
f i"tt tt road that was iaking
puref
longer
"
no
really because my hands weie
I
now
but
then'
I didn't worry about such things
me
sent
first
that
even think that it was my crime
one look
ofi to meet the Sphinx' For what does
the
myself
was
I
to God? For answLrs' I felt that
was
It
answer to some as yet unknown question'
sharp enough
the riddle of the Sphi'*' and I rvis
got
everything
to solve it. But siice then hasn't

aa

Two

Legends

steadily darker before me? Since then, since

then-

What have you done, CEdipus? Dulled by *y

rewards, I had been twenty years asleep. But
now at last I feel within me the new monster
stirring. A great destiny awaits me, lurking somewhere in the shadows of evening. CEdipus, your
days of tranquillity are over. You must awake
from happiness.

Ibt

l
l

ti
]

.i

(ED]

j
:

JOr

Jo
G]
JC

).
tt

]HI

Two Legends

ffi

steadily darker before me? Since then, since thenCEdipusP Dulled by *y

What have you

had been twenty years asleep. But

now at last I feel within me the new nionster
stirring. A great destiny awaits me, Iurking somewhere in the shadows of evening. CEdipris, your
days of tranquillity are over. you muit awake
from happiness.
rewards,

ACT III

-done,

f#

;!l

$
xl
iLil
i,rii
rtH{

E
r3
trifl

,:!i

beg you, do not take me for one uho despises the laws'

iti
'ilrj

SOPHOCLES:

CEDIPUS

AT

t1;

COLONUS

$
il*

iii
i,i.fl
i

GDrpus (clinging to locasta by a fold of her rogal

robes): No, no-I insist on knowing' Do not slip
away like a shadow. I have not done with you
yet. Not till I have every particle of truth, every
scrap that you have so far withheld-not till then
shali I let you go. There is something crooked
in all this; cost what it may, I shall put it straight.
First of all, when I entered Thebes after my
triumph over the Sphinx, did you already know
that Laius was dead?
JocAsrA: Horv could I promise the throne to the conqueror of the Sphinx before I knew that I was a

widow?
(EDrpus: Answering

the Sphinx's riddle did not in

itself win for me the crown of Thebes. The king

had also to be killed.
JocASrA: Of what are you going to accuse yourself?
cEDrpus: Not so tast, not so fast. I only mean that
Laius had to be dead.
JocAsrA: Listen. I dont really remember what hap-

,:ii
.:ll
r.i
,,il
i{

i
ii

!?liilrr::l i:11,rrr

3+

Tzao Legends

pened, or how long ago it was. . Creon must

iemember. He will tell you'
cEDrpus: As if I cared for Creon! Do you know what

he has told me already? That I should reward

rather than punish the murderer of Laius since,
but for his crime, I could never have become
king. But tell me now, Jocasta, the death of Laius
did know about it, didnt you?
-youBut, my dear, how do you expect me to
JocAsrA:
remember? Why do you torment yourself so? I
only know one thing: the moment I saw you, I
wanted you.
(EDrpus: If I was to have this throne, this bed, they
had first to be made empty. Only the king's murder allowed me to have them. But you-you
didn't know, then, that you were already free?
JocASra: Dear, dear Gdipus, d,o not call attention to
it. None of the historians has noticed yet.
(EDrpus: Norv I see it all. You knew- The man who
killed the king . . .
.Jocesre: Stop!
cEDrpus: The man who killed the king was f.
JocasrA: Not so loud!
cEDrpus: When I went to meet the Sphinx I was still
sullied with the blood of a man.
JocASTA: No more, no more!
cEDrpus: He wanted to stop me. His carriage barred
my road. I picked a quarrel with him, so that he
should leave the way free, and I killed him. That
unknown man, for all that he wore no crown,

wasJocAsrA: Why must you know?

cEDrPUs: I need very much to know.

JocasTA:
CEDPUS:

mad

for

neec

clou

ma]

(8,

flNESIAS:
CEDIPUS:

boti
meCREON:

Thr

wh
thir
brc
CEDIPUSi

my

tht
CREON:

m(
un
(EDIPUS

dl,

of
m'
w.

w
sI

Jr
h,

lc

{fl

Tuo

34

CEdiPus

Legends

pened, or how long ago it was. . Creon must

remember. He will tell you.
cEDrpus: As if I cared for Creon! Do you know what
he has told me already? That I should reward
th-an punish the murderer of Laius since,
1athe1
but for his crime, I could never have be"o*e

king. But tell me now,

Jocasta, the death of Laius
did know about it, didn,t you?
-you
dear, how do you expect me to
JocAsrA: But,
remember?-my
Why do you torment yoirself so?
only know or." itirrg, tlr" *o*"rrt'I'.u* you,
wanted you.

(EDrpus:

If I

I
I

was to have this throne, this bed, they

had first to be made empty. Only the king,s

-ui_
der allowed me to have them. But you_you

didn't know, then, that you were already tr""i

JocASTA: Dear, dear CEdipus, do not call attention to
it. None of the historians has noticed yet.
cEDrpus: Norv I see it all. you knew_ The man
who
killed the king . . .
Siocasre: Stop!
cEDrpus: The man who killed the king was I.
JocASTA: Not so loudl
cEDrpus: When I went to meet the Sphinx I was

still

sullied with the blood of u

-rr.
JocASTA: No more, no more!
(EDrpus: He wanted t_o stop me. His
carriage barred
my road. I picked a quarrel with him, so that he
should leave the *aylree, and I killed him. That
unknown man, for all that he wore no crown,

was_

JocasrA: Why must you know?

cEDrpus: I need very much to know.

35

i1
llr:d
,i!i;5

no pity
rocASrA: Have you

-"P:',Io"

happiness?

Lxti#y"m**:s-i'1."il#:H"rqxil:l

'i;;";""ple, I dare"sull ro' my part' I dont

now! The golden
;;J;'b"iuppy' It's ali over
has blown away' You

that enchantment
"f in, Tiresias'
"fr"acome
mav
'it"t* Tiresias,ted bY Creon')
of me?
*rror, You have need
first, go dgwn fo the verv
#;;;; Not vet' I mustThis
*""to,,o*
king lvhom I killed' tell
of the abyss'
it all' I was his son'
I
see
["- Xo, don't speak'
What's.that I hear?
*otdl
cREoN: WeIl, upon my
"'*"rnr, *o,rla make Ly sister his mother! CEdipus'
imagine. any;l;* I thought so much ofl I can't
if he's my
know
to
Not
,frti *or" #ominable!
brotter-inJaw or mY nePhew!
problems? If
*-';;
*rr"ir*-Wfry bother *y f'"ui with such love them
shall
I
*y brothers'
,orrJ ur"
"1'o
it'
for
better
the
clnfils.ion of senticREoN: Ailow me to say that this
as your
ment is most painful to me' Besides'
respect'
uncle, I am entitled to a certain
that rid*r*, Horv hideously am I rewarded,for
side
other
the
on
dle! So that is *hut it hidden
congratulated
of tf." Sphinxt And for me' who
to
*yt"fi o"t "ot knowing my parentsl Thanks
alas!-and
which I married -y Loit'"i-alasl
valor
with her all my puti' I see now why

-my
to me'
call

slumbered. In vain did the future

in
me backward-Jo:as-ta' who tried
Jo"urtu drew
I
whom
be'
her madness to suppress whai had to
son'
a
as
io""a ut a husbani^and, all unwittingiy'

iili
I

l'li
rri

rt
i
i
,li
i

36

Two Legmds

Now

it

is time. Leave me!

am breaking the

cord that binds us. , . . And you, my children,

the companions of my somnolence, the darkened
image of my satisfied desires, it is without you
that I must enter the evening of my life and fulffll
my destiny.
TTRESTAS: CEdipus, son of error and of sin, be born
anewl You needed to sufier to be reborn. Repentl
Come to God, who is waiting for youl Your crime
shall be forgiven.
cEDrpusr That crime was imposed by God. His was
the ambush on my road. Before even I was born,
the trap was laid, and I could not but fall into it.
For either your oracle was lying or I had no possible escape. I was caught.
TTRESTAS: Caught by God, who alone can reconcile
you with yourself and wash away your sin. No
other solution is open to you. But should not the
people be told? You yourself have led them to
hope that, in order to deliver them from their misfortunes, the culprit will be punished in accordance

with God's

decree.

Warn whom you please. It is my

wish that all should know. Fetch my children
also. But teIl them yourself, teII everyone, what I
myself could never say-tell them of the crime
that I know not how to name.
(Exi,t Tiresias.)
JocAsra: Why make public what may still be our
own secret? Nobody would have guessed. It's not
yet too late. People have forgotten the crime.
So far from hindering your happiness, it has made
it possible. Nothing has changed.

cEDrpus: Go, then.

How can- Yc
vou realize that
mv lidless eyes,
Aird besides-t'
it. I had no ne(
merelY to wait'
rocAsrA: The gods
Lrrrrr, What I did
self guided bY
mv confidence i:
that belief in o
nothing but mY
nize mYself in r
astream with b
devising, that I
PletelY is its asJ

cEDIPus:

-now

with

new

ferent to me'
wa
JocASrA: A god
God,
cEDTPUS:
You I
even God Him
Him, when I n

That's what I'

was content to
led me to glort
commit a crim
hid from me'
of God, no lon
still God's PuP
I must do nex
out, O Tiresiat

If

onlY

I could

me, escaPe fro

36

GdiPus

Two Legmds

. Now it is time. Leave me! I am breaking the

cord that binds us. . . . And you, my children,
the companions of my somnolence, the darkened
image of my satisffed desires, it is without you
that I must enter the evening of my life and fulfiil
my destiny.
TTREsTAS: CEdipus, son of error and of sin, be born
anew! You needed to suffer to be reborn. Repent!
Come to God, who is waiting for you! your crime
shall be forgiven.
cEDrpus; That crime was imposed by God. His was
the ambush on my road, Before even I was born,
the trap was laid, and I could not but fall into it.
For either your oracle was lying or I had no possible escape. I was caught.
TTRESTAS: Caught by God, who alone can reconcile
you with yourself and wash away your sin. No
other solution is open to you. But should not the
people be told? You yourself have led them to
hope that, in order to deliver them from their misfortunes, the culprit will be punished in accordance with God's decree.
cEDrpus: Go, then. Warn whom you please. It is my
wish that all should know. Fetch my children
also. But tell them yourself, tell everyone, what I
myself could never say-tell them of the crime
that I know not how to name.
(Exit Tiresias.)
JocasrA: Why make public what may still be our
own secret? Nobody would have guessed, It's not
yet too late. People have forgotten the crime.
So far from hindering your happiness, it has made
it possible. Nothing has changed.

37

you say nothing has changed? Do

that nothing can now reassume' for
of innocence?
L"u fraf"tt eyes, its priitine look
knowing
without
son
king's
a
was
iia U"tia"t-I
but
king'
a
become
kill-to
to
need
no
ii,-i rr"a
merelY to wait'
otherwise'
TocAsrA: The gods decided
do' I who thought myto
had
I
did
;;;, what T
*"'-Jf
that belief I founded
On
a
godl
guided by
Later I gave up even
happiness'
in
mv c"onfidence
to believe in
'at
[henceforward
belief in orderit
longer-recogno
I
now
But
nothing but myself.
nir" m"yt"Il in my actions' There is one of them'
own
astream with blood, and yet clearly of my
comdisavow-so
to
like
devising, that I should
it
pletelyls its aspect altered' Or at any rate I see
diflooks
everything
now with new eyes, and
ferent to me.
blinding you in those days'
JocASrA: A god was
Lro,rr, God] you say. I felt strong enough to resist
even God Himself. I wanted to turn away from
ylt'Y!
Him, when I made ofi toward the Sphinx'
I
today'
That's what I've come to understand
He
while
God
to
was content to remain subiect
led me to glory, but not if He was driving me-to
commit a crime-and a crime whose horror He
hid from me. Oh, most cowardly betrayal
of God, no longer to be tolerated' And now am I
still God's puplet? Has the oracle foretold what
I must do ""*ti Must I still consult it? And find
out, O Tiresias, what the birds have to say? ' ' '

How can
rEDrpus:
"ir, -realize

*""

could escape from the God who envelops

me, escape from myself! Something heroic' some-

II

only

38

fj:::

Two Legends

:l

thing superhuman torments me.

invent some new form

I should like to

of unhappiness_some

mad gesture to astonish you all, and astonish my_

self, and astonish the gods.

(Exit CEdipus,)
JocASrA: Follow him, Creon. Do not leave him alone
for a single moment.
(Exit Creon.)
O unhappy CEdipus! Why did you have to
know? I did what I could to stop you from tearing aside the veil that protected our happiness.
Now that you have repulsed me, left *" hid"-

ously- exposed, how can I dare to reappear before

you, before our children, before the people whom
I hear approaching? . . . If only i could turn
back and undo what was done-forget our
shameful bed and face the dead who await me as
the wife of Laius alone, whom I long to re-

join! . . .
(Exit locasta. Enter Druble Chorus.)

Dounlr Cnonus (in antiphony)

Where's the queen

going?

To hide herself,

of

course!

Where is

CEdipus?

He too is hiding. He

is

ashamed.

Sleeping with his

mother All that is family history

and getting her with

dren in his turn.

chil-

-no

concern of ours.

It concerns the gods, and And then there is the

very annoyed they are. murder of Laius, of
which CEdipus, his son,
was guilty.

And which CEdiPus

self has sworn to ave:

The judge must

arrr

hirnself, and has Poir

to himself as the vic

it's natural,
should s
king
a
that
it,
Besides,

fice himself for his

ple?

(The Chorus he
O CEdiPus,
yet you were w

cHoRUS:

we had never kn
the Sphinx, true

the gods earned

outweigh the be
won in despite
acquired; early t
Let us raise ou:
comes Tiresias.
(Enter Tiresias
rrRESrAs: My childre:
when a father's
you. Hearken to

into life: CEdiPu

death of Laius.
ETEocLES: He can n
PoLYNTcES: He can t
AIYTIGoNE: Do not s1
can hear and w

t8

Tuso Legends
thing superhuman torments me. I should like to
invent some new form of unhappiness_some
mad gesture to astonish you all, and^astonish myself, and astonish the gods.

(Exit

CEdipus.)

ocASTA: Follow him, Creon. Do not leave him alone

for a single moment.

(Exit Creon.)
O ynhlnpy CEdipus! Why did you have to
-knowP
I did what I could to stop you from tearing aside the veil that protected olr, happiness.
Now that you have repulsed me, left *"- hid"-

ously exposed, how can I dare to reappear before

you, before our children, before the people whom
I hear approaching? . . . If only i could turn

back and undo what was done-forget our

shameful bed and face the dead who await me as

the wife of Laius alone, whom I long to

join! . . .
(Exit locasta. Enter Double Chorus.)

re_

Dounlr Crronus (i.n antiphony)

/here's the queen

going?

To hide herself,

of

course!

/here is

CEdipus?

He too is hiding. He

is

ashamed,

eeping with his mother AII that is family history

rd getting her with chil-no concern of ours.
'en in his turn.

and And then there is the

are. murder of Laius, of

concerns the gods,

rry annoyed they

which CEdipus,
was guilty.

his

sor5

@dipus 39
And which CEdipus

rriifrrt

sworn to

him- Ah! He s put himself

avenge'

in

a ffne mess there, and no

mistake.

The iudge must arraign Doubtless nothing less

fri-r.iff,ind has pointed than a-king would have
io t imt"U as the victim. satisfied the gods, - so

*"'"

Besides,

it, that

our

misfor-

fJ:::.
it's natural, isn't Yes, if that sacrifice is to

a king should

sacri-

deliver us from our woes'

fice himself for his People?

(The Chorus here forms one grouP.)

cHoRUS: O CEdipus, who called yourself happy while
yet you were wallowing in infamy, would that
we had never known youl You delivered us from
the Sphinx, true enough; but your contempt for
the gods earned us woes beyond number, which
outweigh tl-re benefits we owe you. AII happiness
won in despite of the gods is happiness falsely
acquired; early or late, the gods exact their price.
Let us raise our voices in this strain, for here
comes Tiresias.

(Enter Tiresi,as aith G,dipus' chi,ldren.)

TTRESTAS: My children, you know where to seek refuge
when a father's protection is withdrawn {rom
you. Hearken to what will shortly precipitate you
into life; CEdipus is bound by oath to avenge the
death of Laius.
ETEocLESi He can no longer rule in Thebes.
poLyNrcES: He can no longer remain in the country'
ANrrrcoNE: Do not speak cruel words which the gods
can hear and will later turn against you.

T'uo Legends

4o

We shall follow our father's example.

But we at least shall not need to kill in
order to sticceed him on the throne.
ANTTGoNE: My father did not wittingly commit his
ETEocLES:

por-yNrcEs:

crime.

We shall have no crime to expiate.

(Cries within.)
cHoRUs: What shouts are those?
ETEocr-ES:

@DIPUS: YOU

that I car
find Tires
eNrrCoNr: Th
oPrPus: Near

TsMENE: I am afraid.
ANTTcoNE: Corne close

flnrsres: Yes,
speak to
GDrPus: Is th
:

to me,
(Creon comas out from the palace.)
cREoN: The punishment is more terrible than the
crime. Jocasta, your mother, is no more. While
I kept watch over CEdipus, she put an end to
her life. "What mine eyes should never have
beheld" (those were CEdipus'words)-that did I
see, I saw my poor sister hanging. Then a moment later, when I was running to help her,
CEdipus, running in his turn, snatched up his
royal cloak, wrenched ofi its golden clasps, and
plunged them deep into his eyes-most savagely,
until their jelly, mixed with blood, bespattered
me and streamed across his face. The cries you
heard were his-of horror first, and then of grief.
TTRESTAS: We no longer hear them.
cREoN: No doubt he has fainted.
cHoRUs: No, here he comes, with hesitant step.
(Lear:i,ng lsmene, Antigone throws herself at
CEdi,pus' feet.)
ANTTcoNE: Father-

jealousy

into yout
celestial

their fail
you over
blind.
rmrsras: So
dash out

forfeit ir
merely tl
Gplpus: Now

grief bY
I can de

that this
you, wht
control o

to

escapt

myself w
have ma,

Is this Antigone whose hair I am touching?

Antigone, at once my sister and my daugh-

(EDrpus:
ter.

ANrrcoNE: Ah! Do not remind me of that disgrace.

do not wi
your dau6

myself.

onlY bY

CREON:

I AM

all in a1l
for me tt

GdiPus

Two Legends

40

We shall follow our father's example.

poLyNrcES: But we at least shall not need to kill in
order to succeed him on the throne.
Ar{rrGoNE: My father did not wittingly commit his
ETEocLES:

crime.
ETEocLES: We shall have no crime

to expiate.

(Cries within.)
What shouts are those?

cHoRUS:
TSMENE:

am afraid.

ANTTcoNE: Come close

to

me.

(Creon comes out from the palace.)

The punishment is more terrible than the

crime. Jocasta, your mother, is no more. While
I kept watch over CEdipus, she put an end to
her life. "What mine eyes should never have
beheld" (those were CEdipus'words)-that did I
see. I saw my poor sister hanging. Then a moment later, when I was running to help her,
CEdipus, running in his turn, snatched up his
royal cloak, wrenched ofi its golden clasps, and
plunge_d them deep into his eyes-most savagely,
until their jeliy, mixed with blood, bespattered
me and streamed across his face. The cries you
heard were his-of horror first, and then of giief.
TTRESTAS: We no Ionger hear them.
cB-EoN: No doubt he has fainted,
cHoRUs: No, here he comes, with hesitant step.
(Lear:ing lsmene, Antigone throws herself at
G,dipus'feet.)
cREoN:

FatherIs this Antigone whose hair I am touching?

Antigone, at once my sister and my daugh-

ANTTGoNE:

cEDrpus:

ter.

ANrrcoNE: Ah! Do not remind me of that disgrace.

+r

other than
do not wish to see myself as anything
vour daughter'
"have

never lied to me' Tell me'

*"--,tlu,
-.rr'rrg You no longer see for myself, where I
I can

now
may

find Tiresias'
aNrrGoNE: There, Father, in front of you'
enough for hirn to hear my voice?
-rrr"t, Near
I heir you, CEdipus' You wished to
Yes,
ilrrr*,
me?
to
sDeak
*rr",i5: Is that what you wanted, Tiresias? In your
drag me
lealousy of my light, did you seek to
the
oow
upon
gaze
too,
I,
dari<nesi?
into yor.
for
eyes
these
have
punished
I
dark.
celesiirl
can
more
No
thither.
me
guide
to
their failure
you overwhelm me with the superiority of the
blind.
that made you
TTBESTAS: So it is pride, still pride,
this new
expect
did
not
God
dash out your eyes.
but
crimes,
early
for
your
forfeit in payment
rePent'
merely that you should
(EDrpus: Iriow that I am calmer and I have eased my
grief by turning it in exasperation against myself,
I can debate with you, Tiresias. I am surprised
that this ofier of repentance should come from
you, who believe that the gods are in complete
control of us, and that it was never in my porver
to escape my destiny. Doubtless my offering- of
myself was also foreseen, so that I could not but
have made it. No matter! Willingly do I sacrifice
myself. I had gone so far that I could go-farther
myself'
only
-I by turning in violence against
am delighted, my dear CEdipus, to see that,
cREoN:
all in all, your griefs are bearable; for it remains
for me to give ybu a rather painful piece of news'

rrii

irii
,;:i
i;iL

;!
::i
:ti

'],

it

42

Tuo Legends

After what has happened, and now that the peo.

-rime,
you can
to"g".'rJ_
/o.,,
"o
main in Thebes.
cHoRUSi W3 asf you, in accordance with
the expressed wish of the gods, to disembarrass
us at
once of your presence and of our woes,
cREoN: Eteocles and polynices already hanker
after
the tlrrone. If they aie perhaps stiil rather
y;;;
to reign, I shall once again u"t a, ,"g"rrt.
rmEs^rAs-:
-I fancy you will not be aitonished to
ffnd that your sons have acted upon the t"u"hi.r!
that you gave them?
cEDtpus: All willingly do I leave them, for
their undoing, a kingdom neither won nor deserved. But
they have picked out from my example *"r"ly
what flatters them-authority and license_and
Iet slip what is best and most dificult_self_dis_
ple. know-o{

cipline.

ANficoNE: Father, I l<now very

always choose whatever

well that you will

is noblest. That

shall never leave "orrrr"

you.
TrREsrAs: You are already promised to God,
and caunot dispose of yourself.
AMrrcoNE: No, I shall not break my promise.
In
escaping from you, Tiresias, I shail rimain faithful to God. It even seems to me that I shall serve
is why

Him better by following my father than I did by

being with you. Until
I hstened to you'r
interpretation of God;loaly
but now, and yet more

reverently, I shall listen only to my own heart and

mind. Father, lay your hand on'my shoulder. I
shall not flinch. you can rest on me. I shall clear
the briers from your path. Tell me where you
want to go.

cEDIPus:

don'l

forward wit

Oh!

TsMENE:

give me tim

up with yor
TrREsras: Before

to what

thr
great blessir

will

rest.

cnEoN: Well, th;

ter you'd do
to some arrr

Too lat

(EDrPUs:

from Thebes
broken. I ar
nameless tra
his great nar
cHoRUS: Stay wi

you well, yc
did us great
gods agains
vengeance uI

bans, your p
who do not k
(EDTPUS: Whoever

be glad to b:
my sufierings

It is

TTRESTAS:

seek,
cEDrPUs:

nc

but

the
leave

Farewell! Co
my children,
you I put m.
alone shall bt

Two Legmds

42

After what has happened, and now that the people know of your crime, you can no longer remain in Thebes.
cHoRUS: We ask you, in accordance with the expressed wish of the gods, to disembarrass us at
once of your presence and of our woes.
cREoN: Eteocles and Polynices already hanker after
the tl-uone. If they are perhaps still rather young
to reign, I shall once again act as regent.
fancy you will not be astonished to
TTRESTAS:
find that your sons have acted upon the teaching
that you gave them?

All willingly do I leave them, for their undoing, a kingdom neither won nor deserved. But
they have picked out from my example merely

cEDrpus:

what flatters them-authority and license-and

let slip what is best and most dificult-self-discipline.
ANTTcoNE:

Father,

know very well that you will

always choose whatever course is noblest. That

is why I shall never leave you.
TTRESTAS: You are already promised to God, and can-

not dispose of yourself.

shall not
Ar{TrcoNE: No,

break my promise. In

escaping from you, Tiresias, I shall remain faithful to God. It even seems to me tfrat I shall serve

Him better by following my father than I did by

being with you. Until today I listened to your
interpretation of God; but now, and yet more
reverently,

shall listen only to my own heart and

mind. Father, lay your hand on my shoulder. I

shall not flinch. You can rest on me. I shall clear
tfre briers from your path, Tell me where you
want to go.

CEdipus 43
I don't know. Straight ahead. Hence-

GDtrus:
forward with no roof, no country for my own'
I can't bear to -t9" IoY go like this' Just
TsMENE: Oh!
to order a black dress and I'll catch
time
oive me
on
ip with You horseback'
r*rrrit, Before we let CEdipus go, listen, all of you,
to what the gods reveal to me. They promise
great blessings to the country in which his bones

will

rest.

Well, that's capital! You see how much better you'd do to stay with us. We can always come
to some arrangement.
6eDrpus: Too late, Creon' My soul is already gone
cnEoN:

from Thebes, and aIl that bound me to the past is

broken. I am no longer a king; nothing but a
nameless traveler who renounces his possessions,
his great name, and himself.
croRUS: Stay with us, CEdipus. We shall look after
you well, youll find. Remember that you once
did us great service. If your crimes did put the

gods against us, you have taken master's

vengeance upon yourself. Think of your dear Thebans, your people. What can you care for those
who do not know you?

Whoever they may be, they are men' I shall

be glad to bring them happiness at the price of
my sufierings.
TTBESTAS: It is not their happiness that one should
seek, but their salvation.
cEDrpus: I leave you to explain that to the people.
Farewell! Come, my daughter. In you, alone of
my chiidren, do I wish to recognize myself. In
you I put my trust, unblemished Antigone. You
alone shall be my guide.
cEDrpus: