← Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone

Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone — Page 4

English → Fr Full Text Level 8/10

And now, O Oedipus, our peerless king,

Et maintenant, ô Œdipe, notre roi sans pareil,

All we thy votaries beseech thee, find

Nous tous, tes fidèles serviteurs, te supplions de trouver

Some succor, whether by a voice from heaven

Quelque secours, que ce soit par une voix venue du ciel

Whispered, or haply known by human wit.

Murmurée, ou peut-être connue par la sagesse humaine.

Tried counselors, methinks, are aptest found1

Les conseillers éprouvés, je crois, sont les plus aptes

To furnish for the future pregnant rede.

À fournir pour l'avenir un conseil fécond.

Upraise, O chief of men, upraise our State!

Relève-nous, ô chef des hommes, relève notre État !

Look to thy laurels! for thy zeal of yore

Veille sur ta gloire ! car pour ton zèle d'antan

Our country's savior thou art justly hailed:

Tu es justement salué comme le sauveur de notre pays :

O never may we thus record thy reign:—

Ô puissions-nous ne jamais ainsi consigner ton règne :

"He raised us up only to cast us down."

« Il nous a relevés pour mieux nous abattre. »

Uplift us, build our city on a rock.

Élève-nous, bâtis notre cité sur le roc.

Thy happy star ascendant brought us luck,

Ton heureuse étoile à l'ascendant nous a porté bonheur,

O let it not decline! If thou wouldst rule

Ô qu'elle ne décline pas ! Si tu veux gouverner

This land, as now thou reignest, better sure

Cette terre, comme tu règnes à présent, il vaut certes mieux

To rule a peopled than a desert realm.

Gouverner un royaume peuplé qu'un royaume désert.

Nor battlements nor galleys aught avail,

Ni remparts ni galères ne servent à rien,

If men to man and guards to guard them tail.

Si les hommes pour les habiter et les gardes pour les défendre font défaut.

OEDIPUS.

ŒDIPE.

Ah! my poor children, known, ah, known too well,

Ah ! mes pauvres enfants, je connais, ah, je connais trop bien,

The quest that brings you hither and your need.

La quête qui vous amène ici et votre besoin.

Ye sicken all, well wot I, yet my pain,

Vous souffrez tous, je le sais bien, pourtant ma douleur,

How great soever yours, outtops it all.

Si grande que soit la vôtre, surpasse tout.

Your sorrow touches each man severally,

Votre chagrin touche chaque homme en particulier,

Him and none other, but I grieve at once

Lui et nul autre, mais moi je souffre à la fois

Both for the general and myself and you.

Pour tous en général, pour moi-même et pour vous.

Therefore ye rouse no sluggard from day-dreams.

Aussi ne réveillez-vous pas un paresseux de ses rêveries.

Many, my children, are the tears I've wept,

Nombreuses, mes enfants, sont les larmes que j'ai versées,

And threaded many a maze of weary thought.

Et j'ai parcouru maints labyrinthes de pensées épuisantes.

Vocabulary

maintenant: Adverb meaning 'now', referring to the present moment.
ô: Exclamation used to address someone with emotion or solemnity.
notre: Possessive adjective meaning 'our', indicating shared ownership.
roi: Noun meaning 'king', a male monarch or ruler.
sans: Preposition meaning 'without', indicating absence or lack.
pareil: Adjective meaning 'equal' or 'without equal', matchless.
Nous: First-person plural pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us'.
tous: Pronoun or adjective meaning 'all' or 'everyone'.
tes: Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (plural nouns, informal).
fidèles: Adjective or noun meaning 'faithful' or 'loyal servants'.
serviteurs: Noun meaning 'servants', those who serve another person.
te: Second-person singular pronoun meaning 'you' (indirect object).
supplions: Verb 'supplier' conjugated; meaning 'we beg' or 'we implore'.
trouver: Infinitive verb meaning 'to find' or 'to discover'.
Quelque: Adjective meaning 'some' or 'any', indicating an indefinite amount.
secours: Noun meaning 'help', 'aid', or 'rescue'.
ce: Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this' or 'it'.
soit: Subjunctive form of 'être'; meaning 'be' or 'whether'.
par: Preposition meaning 'by', 'through', or 'via'.
voix: Noun meaning 'voice', sound produced by speaking or singing.
venue: Past participle of 'venir'; meaning 'come' or 'arrived'.
ciel: Noun meaning 'sky' or 'heaven', the space above earth.
Murmurée: Past participle of 'murmurer'; meaning 'whispered' or 'murmured'.
peut-être: Adverb meaning 'perhaps' or 'maybe', expressing uncertainty.
connue: Past participle of 'connaître'; meaning 'known' or 'recognized'.
sagesse: Noun meaning 'wisdom', the quality of being wise and knowledgeable.
humaine: Adjective meaning 'human', relating to humanity or people.
conseillers: Noun meaning 'advisors' or 'counselors', those who give advice.
éprouvés: Adjective meaning 'proven' or 'tested', reliable through experience.
crois: First-person singular of 'croire'; meaning 'I believe' or 'I think'.
plus: Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most', used in comparisons.
aptes: Adjective meaning 'apt', 'capable', or 'suited' for a task.
fournir: Infinitive verb meaning 'to provide' or 'to supply'.
avenir: Noun meaning 'future', the time yet to come.
conseil: Noun meaning 'advice' or 'counsel', a recommendation given.
fécond: Adjective meaning 'fruitful', 'fertile', or 'productive'.
Relève-nous: Imperative phrase meaning 'lift us up' or 'raise us'.
chef: Noun meaning 'leader' or 'chief', a person in command.
hommes: Noun meaning 'men' or 'people', plural of 'homme'.
relève: Verb 'relever' conjugated; meaning 'raise', 'lift', or 'restore'.
État: Noun meaning 'State', an organized political community or government.
Veille: Imperative of 'veiller'; meaning 'watch over' or 'guard'.
ta: Possessive adjective feminine meaning 'your' (informal singular).
gloire: Noun meaning 'glory', honor and great praise or admiration.
car: Conjunction meaning 'for' or 'because', explaining a reason.
ton: Possessive adjective masculine meaning 'your' (informal singular).
zèle: Noun meaning 'zeal', enthusiastic devotion to a cause.
antan: Noun meaning 'bygone days' or 'yesteryear', times long past.
justement: Adverb meaning 'justly', 'rightly', or 'precisely'.
salué: Past participle of 'saluer'; meaning 'greeted' or 'hailed'.
comme: Conjunction or preposition meaning 'as' or 'like'.
sauveur: Noun meaning 'savior' or 'rescuer', one who saves others.
pays: Noun meaning 'country' or 'land', a nation or territory.
Ô: Exclamation used for solemn or poetic address; 'O'.
puissions-nous: Subjunctive phrase meaning 'may we', expressing a wish.
jamais: Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever', regarding any time.
ainsi: Adverb meaning 'thus', 'so', or 'in this way'.
consigner: Verb meaning 'to record' or 'to write down' officially.
règne: Noun meaning 'reign', the period a monarch rules.
relevés: Past participle of 'relever'; meaning 'raised up' or 'lifted'.
mieux: Adverb meaning 'better', comparative form of 'bien'.
abattre: Infinitive verb meaning 'to knock down', 'to fell', or 'to defeat'.
Élève-nous: Imperative phrase meaning 'elevate us' or 'raise us up'.
bâtis: Imperative of 'bâtir'; meaning 'build', construct something solid.
cité: Noun meaning 'city' or 'citadel', an organized urban settlement.
roc: Noun meaning 'rock' or 'bedrock', solid stone foundation.
Ton: Possessive adjective masculine meaning 'your' (informal singular).
heureuse: Adjective feminine meaning 'happy', 'fortunate', or 'lucky'.
étoile: Noun meaning 'star', a luminous celestial body in the sky.
ascendant: Noun meaning 'ascendancy', rising influence or dominant power.
porté: Past participle of 'porter'; meaning 'carried' or 'brought'.
bonheur: Noun meaning 'happiness' or 'good fortune', a state of joy.
décline: Verb 'décliner' conjugated; meaning 'declines' or 'wanes'.
Si: Conjunction meaning 'if', introducing a conditional clause.
veux: First/second-person singular of 'vouloir'; meaning 'want'.
gouverner: Infinitive verb meaning 'to govern' or 'to rule' a territory.
Cette: Demonstrative adjective feminine meaning 'this' or 'that'.
terre: Noun meaning 'land', 'earth', or 'ground', the soil or territory.
règnes: Second-person singular of 'régner'; meaning 'you reign' or 'rule'.
présent: Noun or adjective meaning 'present', the current time or moment.
vaut: Third-person singular of 'valoir'; meaning 'is worth'.
certes: Adverb meaning 'certainly', 'admittedly', or 'indeed'.
Gouverner: Infinitive meaning 'to govern', to exercise political authority.
royaume: Noun meaning 'kingdom', a country ruled by a king or queen.
peuplé: Adjective meaning 'populated' or 'inhabited', having many residents.
désert: Noun or adjective meaning 'desert' or 'deserted', barren and empty.
Ni: Conjunction meaning 'neither' or 'nor', used in negation.
remparts: Noun meaning 'ramparts' or 'walls', defensive fortification walls.
ni: Conjunction meaning 'nor', used in paired negative constructions.
galères: Noun meaning 'galleys', ancient oar-powered warships.
servent: Third-person plural of 'servir'; meaning 'serve' or 'are useful'.
rien: Pronoun meaning 'nothing', indicating the absence of anything.
habiter: Infinitive verb meaning 'to live' or 'to inhabit' a place.
gardes: Noun meaning 'guards', people who protect or defend a place.
défendre: Infinitive verb meaning 'to defend' or 'to protect'.
défaut: Noun meaning 'lack', 'fault', or 'deficiency'; absence of something.
pauvres: Adjective meaning 'poor', 'wretched', or 'unfortunate' people.
enfants: Noun meaning 'children', young people or offspring.
connais: First-person singular of 'connaître'; meaning 'I know'.
trop: Adverb meaning 'too' or 'too much', indicating excess.
bien: Adverb meaning 'well', indicating quality or manner.
quête: Noun meaning 'quest' or 'search', a pursuit of something desired.
amène: Third-person singular of 'amener'; meaning 'brings' or 'leads'.
ici: Adverb meaning 'here', referring to this place or location.
votre: Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (plural or formal).
besoin: Noun meaning 'need' or 'necessity', something required urgently.
souffrez: Second-person plural of 'souffrir'; meaning 'you suffer'.
sais: First-person singular of 'savoir'; meaning 'I know'.
pourtant: Conjunction meaning 'yet', 'however', or 'nevertheless'.
douleur: Noun meaning 'pain', 'sorrow', or 'grief', physical or emotional.
grande: Adjective feminine meaning 'great', 'large', or 'intense'.
vôtre: Possessive pronoun meaning 'yours', belonging to you (formal/plural).
surpasse: Verb 'surpasser' conjugated; meaning 'surpasses' or 'exceeds'.
tout: Pronoun or adjective meaning 'all', 'everything', or 'every'.
Votre: Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (plural or formal).
chagrin: Noun meaning 'sorrow', 'grief', or 'distress', deep sadness.
touche: Verb 'toucher' conjugated; meaning 'touches' or 'affects'.
chaque: Adjective meaning 'each' or 'every', referring to individual items.
homme: Noun meaning 'man' or 'human being', an adult male person.
particulier: Adjective meaning 'particular' or 'individual', specific to one.
Lui: Third-person singular pronoun meaning 'him', 'her', or 'to him'.
nul: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'no', 'none', or 'nobody'.
autre: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other', a different person or thing.
mais: Conjunction meaning 'but', introducing a contrast or objection.
souffre: First/third-person singular of 'souffrir'; meaning 'suffer'.
fois: Noun meaning 'time' or 'times', indicating frequency or instances.
général: Adjective or noun meaning 'general', relating to all or the whole.
moi-même: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'myself', emphasis on personal action.
Aussi: Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'therefore'.
réveillez-vous: Imperative reflexive phrase meaning 'wake up' or 'rouse yourselves'.
paresseux: Adjective meaning 'lazy', tending to avoid work or effort.
ses: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (plural nouns).
rêveries: Noun meaning 'daydreams' or 'reveries', pleasant idle fantasies.
Nombreuses: Adjective feminine plural meaning 'numerous' or 'many'.
larmes: Noun meaning 'tears', drops of liquid produced when crying.
versées: Past participle of 'verser'; meaning 'shed' (tears) or 'poured'.
parcouru: Past participle of 'parcourir'; meaning 'traveled through' or 'traversed'.
maints: Adjective meaning 'many' or 'numerous', used in formal contexts.
labyrinthes: Noun meaning 'labyrinths', complex mazes or intricate structures.
pensées: Noun meaning 'thoughts', ideas or reflections in one's mind.
épuisantes: Adjective meaning 'exhausting', causing extreme tiredness or fatigue.

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