Greek Texts & Translations

So those two staffs will never again support your path. 850But since you wish to overcome your country and your friends, whose will I, though tyrant as well, am here discharging, then I wish you victory. For in time, I am sure, you will come to recognize all this, that now too as in time past, it is you who have done yourself no good, by indulging your anger despite your friends. 855This has always been your ruin.

Stop there, stranger!

Hands off, I say!

I will not let go, unless you give back the maidens.

Then you will soon give the city a more valuable prize, for I will lay hands on more than those two girls.

860What! What do you intend?

This man here will be my captive.

A valiant threat!

Straightaway it will be done.

Indeed, unless the ruler of this realm prevents you.

Voice of shamelessness! Will you really lay hands on me?

Shut up, I say!

865No! May the powers of this place grant me to utter this further curse! Most evil of men, when these eyes were dark, you wrenched from me the helpless one who was my eyesight and made off with her by force. Therefore to you and to your race may the Sun, the god who sees all things, 870grant in time an old age such as mine!

Do you see this, people of the land?

They see both you and me. They know that I have suffered in deeds, and my defense is mere words.

I will not check my anger. Though I am alone 875and slow with age, I will take this man by force.

Ah, my wretchedness!

What arrogance you have come with, stranger, if you think you will achieve this!

I will.

Then I think this city no longer exists.

880For men who are just, you see, the weak vanquishes the strong.

Do you hear his words?

Yes, but he will not achieve them.

Zeus knows perhaps, but you do not.

This is an outrage!

An outrage which you must bear.

Hear people, hear rulers of the land! Come quickly, come! 885These men are on their way to cross our borders!

What is this shout? What is the trouble? What fear has moved you to stop my sacrifice at the altar to the sea-god, the lord of your Colonus? Speak, so that I may know the situation; for that is why I have sped 890here more swiftly than was pleasant.

Dearest of men! I know your voice. Terrible are the things I have just suffered at the hands of this man here.

What things are these? And who has pained you? Speak!

Creon, whom you see here, 895has torn from me my children—my only two.

What is that you say?

You have heard my wrongs.