A Conspectus of Various Translations, Organized by Date, of Sophocles Oedipus the King Prinsky 1

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1 A Conspectus of Various Translations, Organized by Date, of Sophocles Oedipus the King Prinsky 1 Dr. Norman Prinsky Associate Professor Emeritus Department of English & Foreign Languages Augusta State University / Georgia Regents University R.C. Jebb, 1904; dean of late nineteenth-century translators of the ancient Greek drama; the translation is in prose OEDIPUS. My children, latest-born to Cadmus who was of old, why are you set before me thus with wreathed branches of suppliants, while the city reeks with incense, rings with prayers for health and cries of woe? I deemed it unmeet, my children, to hear these things at the mouth of others, and have come here myself, I, Oedipus, renowned of all. Tell me then, venerable man, since it is your natural part to speak for these others, in what mood are you placed here, with what dread or what desire? Be sure that I would gladly give all aid; I should be hard of heart if I did not pity such suppliants as these. Dudley Fitts and Robert Fitzgerald, ; both great translators of ancient Greek literature; the translation is in verse; Fitzgerald's translations of Homer's Iliad & Odyssey and Vergil s Aeneid have become standards My children, generations of the living In the line of Kadmos, nursed at his ancient hearth: Why have you strewn yourselves before these altars In supplication, with your boughs and garlands? The breath of incense rises from the city With a sound of prayer and lamentation. I would not have you speak through messengers, And therefore I have come myself to hear you -- I, Oedipus, who bear the famous name. You, there [to a priest], since you are eldest in the company, Speak for them all, tell me what preys upon you, Whether you come in dread, or crave some blessing; Tell me, and never doubt that I will help you In every way I can; I should be heartless Were I not moved to find you suppliant here. David Grene translation, 1942 E.F. Watling translation, 1947 Oedipus: Children, young sons and daughters of old Cadmus, why do you sit here with your suppliant crowns? The town is heavy with a mingled burden of sounds and smells, of groans and hymns and incense; I did not think it fit that I should hear of this from messengers but came myself, -- I Oedipus whom all men call the Great. [He turns to the Priest.] You're old and they are young; come, speak for them. What do you fear or want, that you sit here suppliant? Indeed I'm willing to give all that you may need; I would be very hard should I not pity suppliants like these. Children, new blood of Cadmus' ancient line -- What is the meaning of this supplication, These branches and garlands, the incense filling the city, These prayers for the healing of pain, these lamentations? I have not thought it fit to rely on my messengers, But am here to learn for myself -- I, Oedipus, Whose name is known afar. [To the Priest:] You, reverend sir, In right of age should speak for all of them. What is the matter? Some fear? Something you desire? I would willingly do anything to help you; Indeed I should be heartless, were I to stop my ears To a general petition such as this.

2 A Conspectus of Various Translations, Organized by Date, of Sophocles Oedipus the King Prinsky 2 Albert Cook translation, 1948 and 1957 Peter Arnott, 1950 O children, last born stock of ancient Cadmus, What petitions are these you bring to me With garlands on your suppliant olive branches? The whole city teems with incense fumes, Teems with prayers for healing and with groans. Thinking it best, children, to hear all this Not from some messenger, I came myself, The world renowned and glorious Oedipus. But tell me, aged priest, since you are fit To speak before these men, how stand you here, In fear or want? Tell me, as I desire To do my all; hard hearted I would be To feel no sympathy for such a prayer. OEDIPUS. My children, in whom old Cadmus is reborn, Why have you come with wreathed boughs in your hands To sit before me as petitioners? The town is full of smoke from altar fires And voices crying, and appeals to heaven. I thought it, children, less than just to hear Your cause at second-hand, but come in person -- I, Oedipus, a name that all men know. Speak up, old man; for you are qualified To be their spokesman. What is in your minds? Are you afraid? In need? Be sure I am ready to do all I can. I should truly be hard-hearted To have no pity on such prayers as these. Theodore Banks translation, 1956 Paul Roche translation, 1958 Why are you here as suppliants, my children, You in whose veins the blood of Cadmus flows? What is the reason for your boughs of olive, The fumes of incense, the laments and prayers That fill the citiy? Because I thought it wrong, My children, to depend on what was told me, I have come to you myself, I, Oedipus, Renowned in the sight of all. [to Priest:] Tell me -- you are Their natural spokesman -- what desire or fear Brings you before me? I will gladly give you Such help as is in my power. It would be heartless Not to take pity on a plea like this. Children, children! Scions of the ancient Cadmean line! What is the meaning of this thronging round my feet -- this holding out of olive boughs all wreathed in woe? The city droops with elegiac sound and hymns with palls of incense hang. I come to see it with my eyes, no messenger's. Yes, I whom men call Oedipus the Great. [He turns to the Priest] Speak, Elder, you are senior here. Say what this pleading means, what frightens you, what you beseech. There's not a thing I could coldbloodedly refuse petitioners so pitiful.

3 A Conspectus of Various Translations, Organized by Date, of Sophocles Oedipus the King Prinsky 3 Bernard Knox translation, 1959 Kenneth Cavander, 1962 My sons! Newest generation of this ancient city of Thebes! Why are you here? Why are you seated there at the altar, with these branches of supplication? The city is filled with the smoke of burning incense, with hymns to the healing god, with laments for the dead. I did not think it right, my children, to hear reports of this from others. Here I am, myself, world-famous Oedipus. You, old man, speak up -- you are the man to speak for the others. In what mood are you sitting there -- in fear or resignation? You may count on me; I am ready to do anything to help. I would be insensitive to pain, if I felt no pity for my people seated here. My children, why do you crowd and wait at my altars? Olive branches... and wreathes of sacred flowers -- Why do you bring these, my people of Thebes? Your streets Are heavy with incense, solemn with prayers for healing, And when I heard your voices, I would not let My messengers tell me what you said. I came To be your messenger myself, Oedipus, whose name Is greatest known and greatest feared. [To Priest:] Will you tell me, then? You have dignity enough To speak for them all -- is it fear that makes you kneel Before me, or do you need my help? I am ready, Whatever you ask will be done... Come, I am not cold Or dead to feeling -- I will have pity on you. H.D. Kitto, 1962 Luci Berkowitz and Theodore Brunner, 1970 OEDIPUS. My children, latest brood of ancient Cadmus, What purpose brings you here, a multitude Bearing the boughs that mark the suppliant? Why is our air so full of frankincense, So full of hymns and prayers and lamentations? This, children, was no matter to entrust To others: therefore I myself am come Whose fame is known to all -- I, Oedipus. -- You, Sir, are pointed out by length of years To be the spokesman: tell me, what is in Your hearts? What fear? What sorrow? Count on all That I can do, for I am not so hard As not to pity such a supplication. What is it, children, sons of the ancient house of Cadmus? Why do you sit as suppliants crowned with laurel branches? What is the meaning of the incense which fills the city? The pleas to end pain? The cries of sorrow? I chose not to hear it from my messengers, but came myself -- I came, Oedipus, Oedipus, whose name is known to all. You, old one -- age gives you the right to speak for all of them - - you tell me why they sit before my altar. Has something frightened you? What brings you here? Some need? Some want? I'll help you all I can. I would be cruel did I not greet you with compassion when you are gathered here before me.

4 A Conspectus of Various Translations, Organized by Date, of Sophocles Oedipus the King Prinsky 4 Thomas Gould, 1970 Robert Fagles, 1977, 1979 My children, ancient Cadmus' newest care, why have you hurried to those seats, your boughs wound with the emblems of the suppliant? The city is weighed down with fragrant smoke, with hymns to the Healer and the cries of mourners. I thought it wrong, my sons, to hear your words through emissaries, and have come out myself, I, Oedipus, a name that all men know. Old man -- for it is fitting that you speak for all -- what is your mood as you entreat me, fear or trust? You may be confident that I'll do anything. How hard of heart if an appeal like this did not rouse my pity! Oh my children, the new blood of ancient Thebes, why are you here? Huddling at my altar, praying before me, your branches wound in wool. Our city reeks with the smoke of burning incense, rings with cries for the Healer and wailing for the dead. I thought it wrong, my children, to hear the truth from others, messengers. Here I am myself -- You all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus. [Helping a Priest to his feet:] Speak up, old man. Your years, your dignity -- you should speak for the others. Why here and kneeling, what preys upon you so? Some sudden fear? some strong desire? You can trust me. I am ready to help, I'll do anything. I would be blind to misery not to pity my people kneeling at my feet. Stephen Berg and Diskin Clay, 1978 Robert Bagg, 1982 Why, children, why are you here, why are you holding those branches tied with wool, begging me for help? Children, the whole city smolders with incense. Wherever I go I hear sobbing, praying. Groans fill the air. Rumors, news from messengers, they are not enough for me. Others cannot tell me what you need. I am king, I had to come. As king, I had to know. Know for myself, know for me. Everybody everywhere knows who I am: Oedipus. King. Priest of Zeus, we respect your age, your high office. Speak. Why are you kneeling? Are you afraid, old man? What can I give you? How can I help? Ask. Ask me anything. Anything at all. My heart would be a stone if I felt no pity for these poor shattered people of mine kneeling here, at my feet. My children you are the fresh green life old Kadmos nurtures and protects. Why do you surge at me like this with your wool-strung boughs? While the city is swollen with howls of pain, reeking incense, and prayers sung to the Healing God? To have others tell me these things would not be right, my sons. So I ve come out myself. My name is Oedipus the famous as everyone calls me. Tell me, old man, yours is the natural voice for the rest, what troubles you? You re terrified? Looking for reassurance? Be certain I ll give you all the help I can. I d be a hard man if an approach like yours failed to rouse my pity.

5 A Conspectus of Various Translations, Organized by Date, of Sophocles Oedipus the King Prinsky 5 Don Taylor, 1986 Paul Roche, 1991 OEDIPUS. My children. You are the modern descendants Of King Cadmus, who founded our city. Why do you come here with these laurel branches, Ritually dressed, and all the sings Of desperate people begging for help? In the city I hear prayers for the sick, And the sound of weeping. The air is heavy With incense and tears. What more do you want? I can't rely on second-hand reports, I have come to find out for myself. I am Oedipus the king. Everyone knows my name. You, sir, you are a priest, A man old enough to be wise And entitled to speak first. A sudden panic Is it, or a demand for action? Anything I can do, I will do, of course. I would have to be a man without feeling To close my eyes and stop my ears To a petition from everyone, such as this. My children, scions of the ancient Cadmean line, what is the meaning of this thronging round my feet, this holding out of olive boughs all wreathed in woe? The city droops with elegaic sound and hymns with palls of incense hang. I come to see it with my eyes, no messenger's. Yes, I whom men call Oedipus the Great. [He turns to the Priest:] Speak, Elder, you are senior here. Say what this pleading means, what frightens you, what you beseech. Coldblooded would I be, to be unmoved by petitioners so pitiful. Hugh Lloyd-Jones, 1994 Peter Meineck and Paul Woodruff translation, 2000 Children, latest to be reared from the stock of Cadmus, why do you sit like this before me, with boughs of supplication wreathed with chaplets? and why is the city filled at the same time with incense, and with the sound of paeans and lamentations? Thinking it wrong to hear this from the report of others, my children, I have come myself, I who am called Oedipus, renowned to all. Come, aged man, tell me, since it is fitting you should speak for these, what is your state, one of fear or one of longing? Know that I am willing to render every kind of aid; I would be hard of heart if I felt no pity at such a supplication. My children, new nurtured by old Thebes, Why have you come here pleading, Wearing wreaths and clutching boughs? The city burns with pungent spice. Healing hymns echo the sounds of suffering. To have heard such news from others Would not have been right. My children, I am here, famous Oedipus. [Oedipus addresses an elderly priest:] Old man, it is your duty to speak for all. Why are you kneeling in supplication -- What do you fear, what do you want? I will help. Only a heartless man could bear To see such sorrow and not feel pity.

6 A Conspectus of Various Translations, Organized by Date, of Sophocles Oedipus the King Prinsky 6 Ruby Blondell, 2002 Ian Johnston, 2007 OIDIPOUS My children, youngest nurslings of your ancestor Kadmos, why do you sit here so beseechingly, bearing these suppliant branches garlanded with wool? The city is filled up alike with incest-smoke, alike with prayers to Paian and with groaning cries. I thought it was not right for me to hear this by report from others, children, so I've come myself: I, famed to everyone, the man called Oidipous. Come, tell me, aged one -- since you're the natural and fitting spokesman for these others -- why you're sitting here: in dread or in desire? You can be sure I wish to aid you fully. I would be immune to grief, did I not pity suppliants like these. OEDIPUS My children, latest generation born from Cadmus, why are you sitting here with wreathed sticks in supplication to me, while the city fills with incense, chants, and cries of pain? Children, it would not be appropriate for me to learn of this from any other source, so I have come in person I, Oedipus, whose fame all men acknowledge. But you there, old man, tell me you seem to be the one who ought to speak for those assembled here. What feeling brings you to me fear or desire? You can be confident that I will help. I shall assist you willingly in every way. I would be a hard-hearted man indeed, if I did not pity suppliants like these. David Mulroy, 2011 Children of Cadmus, ancient king's new brood, why have you taken seats before me here as suppliants with olive boughs and wreaths? Meanwhile the city's full of fragrant smoke and loud with sacred songs and cries of grief. Not thinking it correct to hear about such matters second-hand, I came myself, the celebrated man called Oedipus. But tell me, ancient sir -- it's only right for you to be their spokesman -- what accounts for this? Some fear or longing? I'll assist in every way. He'd be a callous man, who didn't pity suppliants like these.