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

Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone — Page 7

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Did any bandit dare so bold a stroke,

Osò mai qualche bandito un gesto così ardito,

Unless indeed he were suborned from Thebes?

A meno che non fosse stato sobillato da Tebe?

CREON.

CREONTE.

So 'twas surmised, but none was found to avenge

Così si supponeva, ma nessuno fu trovato per vendicare

His murder mid the trouble that ensued.

Il suo assassinio tra i tumulti che ne seguirono.

OEDIPUS.

EDIPO.

What trouble can have hindered a full quest,

Quale turbamento può aver ostacolato un'indagine completa,

When royalty had fallen thus miserably?

Quando la regalità era caduta in modo così miserabile?

CREON.

CREONTE.

The riddling Sphinx compelled us to let slide

La Sfinge degli enigmi ci costrinse a lasciar scivolare

The dim past and attend to instant needs.

Il passato oscuro e a badare ai bisogni immediati.

OEDIPUS.

EDIPO.

Well, _I_ will start afresh and once again

Ebbene, _io_ ricomincerò da capo e ancora una volta

Make dark things clear.

Porterò alla luce le cose oscure.

Right worthy the concern

Giustamente degna è la preoccupazione

Of Phoebus, worthy thine too, for the dead;

Di Febo, degna anche la tua, per il defunto;

I also, as is meet, will lend my aid

Anch'io, come si conviene, presterò il mio aiuto

To avenge this wrong to Thebes and to the god.

Per vendicare questo torto fatto a Tebe e al dio.

Not for some far-off kinsman, but myself,

Non per qualche lontano parente, ma per me stesso,

Shall I expel this poison in the blood;

Espellerò questo veleno nel sangue;

For whoso slew that king might have a mind

Poiché chiunque abbia ucciso quel re potrebbe avere in mente

To strike me too with his assassin hand.

Di colpire anche me con la sua mano assassina.

Therefore in righting him I serve myself.

Quindi nel rendergli giustizia servo me stesso.

Up, children, haste ye, quit these altar stairs,

Su, figlioli, affrettatevi, lasciate questi gradini dell'altare,

Take hence your suppliant wands, go summon hither

Portate via i vostri rami da supplici, andate a convocare qui

The Theban commons.

Il popolo tebano.

With the god's good help

Con il buon aiuto del dio

Success is sure; 'tis ruin if we fail.

Il successo è certo; è rovina se falliamo.

[Exeunt OEDIPUS and CREON]

[Escono EDIPO e CREONTE]

PRIEST.

SACERDOTE.

Come, children, let us hence; these gracious words

Venite, figlioli, andiamocene; queste parole benevole

Forestall the very purpose of our suit.

Anticipano il fine stesso della nostra supplica.

And may the god who sent this oracle

E possa il dio che ha inviato questo oracolo

Save us withal and rid us of this pest.

Salvarci al contempo e liberarci da questo flagello.

[Exeunt PRIEST and SUPPLIANTS]

[Escono il SACERDOTE e i SUPPLICI]

CHORUS.

CORO.

(Str. 1)

(Str. 1)

Sweet-voiced daughter of Zeus from thy gold-paved Pythian shrine

Dolce-voce figlia di Zeus dal tuo aureo santuario Pizio

Wafted to Thebes divine,

Portata alla divina Tebe,

What dost thou bring me? My soul is racked and shivers with fear.

Che cosa mi rechi? La mia anima è straziata e trema di paura.

Vocabulary

Osò
o-ZÒ — He/she dared; third person singular past tense of osare
mai
MA-i — Never; or ever, depending on context
qualche
KWAL-ke — Some; a few; used before singular nouns
bandito
ban-DI-to — Bandit; outlaw; criminal fugitive
un
un — A; an; masculine indefinite article
gesto
JES-to — Gesture; a movement expressing meaning or emotion
così
ko-ZÌ — So; thus; in this way
ardito
ar-DI-to — Bold; daring; audacious in action or spirit
A
a — To; at; preposition indicating direction or location
meno
ME-no — Less; fewer; used in comparisons
che
ke — That; which; who; a versatile conjunction or pronoun
non
non — Not; negation particle used before verbs
fosse
FOS-se — Were; past subjunctive of essere (to be)
stato
STA-to — Been; past participle of essere; also means state
sobillato
so-bil-LA-to — Instigated; incited; stirred up to wrongdoing
da
da — By; from; since; versatile Italian preposition
Così
ko-ZÌ — So; thus; in this manner
si
si — Reflexive pronoun; oneself; also impersonal subject
supponeva
sup-po-NE-va — It was supposed; assumed; imperfect of supporre
ma
ma — But; however; conjunction indicating contrast
nessuno
nes-SU-no — Nobody; no one; not anyone
fu
fu — Was; third person singular past absolute of essere
trovato
tro-VA-to — Found; past participle of trovare (to find)
per
per — For; in order to; through; Italian preposition
vendicare
ven-di-KA-re — To avenge; to take revenge for a wrong
Il
il — The; masculine singular definite article
suo
SU-o — His; her; its; possessive adjective or pronoun
assassinio
as-sas-SI-nio — Murder; assassination; intentional killing of a person
tra
tra — Among; between; amidst; Italian preposition
i
i — The; masculine plural definite article
tumulti
tu-MUL-ti — Tumults; uproars; violent disturbances or commotions
ne
ne — Of it; about it; partitive or locative pronoun
seguirono
se-GUI-ro-no — Followed; third person plural past of seguire
Quale
KWA-le — Which; what kind of; interrogative or relative adjective
turbamento
tur-ba-MEN-to — Disturbance; trouble; emotional or social disruption
può
pwò — Can; is able to; third person singular of potere
aver
a-VER — To have; infinitive of avere, truncated form
ostacolato
os-ta-ko-LA-to — Hindered; obstructed; impeded from proceeding normally
un'
un — An; feminine indefinite article before a vowel
indagine
in-DA-ji-ne — Investigation; inquiry; thorough search for information
completa
kom-PLE-ta — Complete; full; thorough; lacking nothing
Quando
KWAN-do — When; at the time that; temporal conjunction
la
la — The; feminine singular definite article
regalità
re-ga-li-TÀ — Royalty; kingship; the status or dignity of a king
era
E-ra — Was; third person singular imperfect of essere
caduta
ka-DU-ta — Fallen; past participle of cadere; also means fall
in
in — In; into; at; common Italian preposition
modo
MO-do — Way; manner; mode of doing something
miserabile
mi-ze-RA-bi-le — Miserable; wretched; pitiful in condition or quality
La
la — The; feminine singular definite article
degli
DE-lyi — Of the; masculine plural articulated preposition
enigmi
e-NIG-mi — Riddles; enigmas; puzzling questions hard to solve
ci
ci — Us; to us; reflexive/locative pronoun meaning here or us
costrinse
kos-TRIN-se — Forced; compelled; past absolute of costringere
a
a — To; at; preposition indicating purpose or direction
lasciar
la-SHAR — To let; to leave; infinitive of lasciare, truncated
scivolare
shi-vo-LA-re — To slide; to slip; to glide away unnoticed
passato
pas-SA-to — Past; gone by; also past tense in grammar
oscuro
os-KU-ro — Dark; obscure; unclear or hidden from understanding
e
e — And; basic coordinating conjunction
badare
ba-DA-re — To attend to; to take care of; to mind
ai
ai — To the; masculine plural articulated preposition
bisogni
bi-ZO-nyi — Needs; necessities; urgent requirements of daily life
immediati
im-me-DIA-ti — Immediate; urgent; requiring attention right away
Ebbene
eb-BE-ne — Well then; so then; used to introduce a conclusion
_io_
io — I; first person singular subject pronoun, emphasized
ricomincerò
ri-ko-min-che-RÒ — I will begin again; future tense of ricominciare
capo
KA-po — Head; beginning; also chief or leader
ancora
an-KO-ra — Again; still; yet; adverb of continuation or repetition
una
U-na — A; one; feminine indefinite article
volta
VOL-ta — Time; occasion; once; used in expressions like una volta
Porterò
por-te-RÒ — I will bring; first person singular future of portare
alla
AL-la — To the; feminine singular articulated preposition
luce
LU-che — Light; illumination; also metaphor for revelation
le
le — The; feminine plural definite article
cose
KO-ze — Things; objects; matters; affairs
oscure
os-KU-re — Dark; obscure; mysterious; plural feminine form
Giustamente
jus-ta-MEN-te — Rightly; justly; in a fair and appropriate manner
degna
DE-nya — Worthy; deserving; fitting for someone or something
è
è — Is; third person singular present of essere
preoccupazione
pre-ok-ku-pa-TSIO-ne — Concern; worry; anxiety about a situation
Di
di — Of; from; by; common Italian preposition
anche
AN-ke — Also; too; even; additive adverb
tua
TU-a — Your; feminine possessive adjective, second person singular
il
il — The; masculine singular definite article
defunto
de-FUN-to — Deceased; the dead person; the late individual
Anch'
an-ke — Also; too; even; elided form before a vowel
io
IO — I; first person singular subject pronoun
come
KO-me — As; how; like; conjunction or adverb of comparison
conviene
kon-VIE-ne — It is fitting; it is appropriate; from convenire
presterò
pres-te-RÒ — I will lend; I will provide; future of prestare
mio
MI-o — My; first person singular masculine possessive adjective
aiuto
a-IU-to — Help; assistance; aid offered to someone in need
Per
per — For; because of; on account of; Italian preposition
questo
KWES-to — This; masculine singular demonstrative adjective or pronoun
torto
TOR-to — Wrong; injustice; offense committed against someone
fatto
FAT-to — Done; made; past participle of fare; also means fact
al
al — To the; masculine singular articulated preposition
dio
DI-o — God; deity; divine being worshipped in religion
Non
non — Not; negation particle placed before verbs
lontano
lon-TA-no — Far; distant; not near in place or relation
parente
pa-REN-te — Relative; family member; person sharing kinship
me
me — Me; first person singular object pronoun
stesso
STES-so — Same; himself/herself/itself; emphatic reflexive
Espellerò
es-pel-le-RÒ — I will expel; I will drive out; future of espellere
veleno
ve-LE-no — Poison; venom; toxic substance harming living beings
nel
nel — In the; masculine singular articulated preposition
sangue
SAN-gwe — Blood; the vital fluid flowing through living bodies
Poiché
poi-KÉ — Since; because; seeing that; causal conjunction
chiunque
kiun-KWE — Whoever; anyone who; indefinite relative pronoun
abbia
AB-bia — Has; present subjunctive of avere (to have)
ucciso
ut-CHI-zo — Killed; past participle of uccidere (to kill)
quel
kwel — That; masculine singular demonstrative adjective
re
re — King; monarch; ruler of a kingdom
potrebbe
po-TREB-be — Could; might; conditional of potere (to be able)
avere
a-VE-re — To have; infinitive of the auxiliary verb avere
mente
MEN-te — Mind; intellect; mental faculty of thought
colpire
kol-PI-re — To strike; to hit; to attack with force
con
kon — With; together with; Italian preposition of accompaniment
sua
SU-a — His; her; its; feminine possessive adjective
mano
MA-no — Hand; the part of the body used to grasp things
assassina
as-sas-SI-na — Murderous; assassin; relating to killing, feminine form
Quindi
KWIN-di — Therefore; so; thus; consequential adverb
rendergli
REN-der-lyi — To render to him; to give him; combined verb and pronoun
giustizia
jus-TI-tsja — Justice; fairness; the principle of moral rightness
servo
SER-vo — Servant; slave; one who serves another person
Su
su — Up; come on; interjection urging action
figlioli
fi-LYO-li — Children; little ones; affectionate term for young people
affrettatevi
af-fret-TA-te-vi — Hurry up; make haste; imperative of affrettarsi
lasciate
la-SHA-te — Leave; abandon; plural imperative of lasciare
questi
KWES-ti — These; masculine plural demonstrative adjective
gradini
gra-DI-ni — Steps; stairs; individual steps of a staircase
dell'
del — Of the; elided articulated preposition before a vowel
altare
al-TA-re — Altar; sacred table used in religious ceremonies
Portate
por-TA-te — Carry; bring; plural imperative of portare
via
VI-a — Away; off; also means road or street
vostri
VOS-tri — Your; masculine plural possessive adjective
rami
RA-mi — Branches; boughs; twigs cut from trees or shrubs
supplici
SUP-pli-chi — Suppliants; those humbly begging for divine help
andate
an-DA-te — Go; plural imperative of andare (to go)
convocare
kon-vo-KA-re — To convoke; to summon; to call people together
qui
kwi — Here; in this place; locative adverb
popolo
PO-po-lo — People; populace; the common citizens of a nation
Con
kon — With; together with; Italian preposition
buon
bwon — Good; truncated form of buono before masculine nouns
del
del — Of the; masculine singular articulated preposition
successo
sut-CHES-so — Success; favorable outcome; also means happened
certo
CHER-to — Certain; sure; definitely; adverb or adjective
rovina
ro-VI-na — Ruin; downfall; destruction of something or someone
se
se — If; conditional conjunction introducing hypothetical clauses
falliamo
fal-LIA-mo — We fail; first person plural present of fallire
Escono
ES-ko-no — They exit; third person plural present of uscire
SACERDOTE
sa-cher-DO-te — Priest; religious official performing sacred rituals
Venite
ve-NI-te — Come; plural imperative of venire (to come)
andiamocene
an-dia-MO-che-ne — Let us go away; cohortative with reflexive and locative
queste
KWES-te — These; feminine plural demonstrative adjective or pronoun
parole
pa-RO-le — Words; spoken or written utterances of language
benevole
be-NE-vo-le — Benevolent; kind; showing goodwill toward others
Anticipano
an-ti-CI-pa-no — They anticipate; foreshadow; third person plural present
fine
FI-ne — End; conclusion; also means purpose or goal
della
DEL-la — Of the; feminine singular articulated preposition
nostra
NOS-tra — Our; feminine singular possessive adjective
supplica
SUP-pli-ka — Supplication; humble plea; earnest entreaty for help
E
e — And; basic Italian coordinating conjunction
possa
POS-sa — May; can; present subjunctive of potere
ha
a — Has; third person singular present of avere
inviato
in-via-TO — Sent; dispatched; past participle of inviare
oracolo
o-RA-ko-lo — Oracle; divine prophecy or the place delivering it
Salvarci
sal-VAR-chi — To save us; infinitive of salvare with us-clitic
contempo
kon-TEM-po — At the same time; simultaneously; shortened from contemporaneamente
liberarci
li-be-RAR-chi — To free us; to liberate us; infinitive with clitic
flagello
fla-JEL-lo — Plague; scourge; devastating affliction upon a community
SUPPLICI
SUP-pli-chi — Suppliants; those seeking divine mercy or protection
CORO
KO-ro — Chorus; group of singers or commentators in drama
Dolce-voce
DOL-che VO-che — Sweet-voiced; having a gentle and melodious voice
figlia
FI-lya — Daughter; female child in relation to her parents
di
di — Of; from; by; common Italian preposition
dal
dal — From the; masculine singular articulated preposition
tuo
TU-o — Your; masculine singular possessive adjective
aureo
AU-re-o — Golden; of gold; radiant and splendid in appearance
santuario
san-tua-RIO — Sanctuary; sacred place of worship or divine presence
Portata
por-TA-ta — Brought; carried; past participle of portare
divina
di-VI-na — Divine; heavenly; of or relating to a deity
Che
ke — What; that; which; interrogative or relative pronoun
cosa
KO-za — Thing; what; used in questions like che cosa
mi
mi — Me; to me; first person singular object pronoun
rechi
RE-ki — Do you bring; present subjunctive of recare
mia
MI-a — My; feminine singular first person possessive adjective
anima
A-ni-ma — Soul; spirit; the inner life of a person
straziata
stra-TSIA-ta — Tormented; anguished; torn apart by grief or pain
trema
TRE-ma — Trembles; shakes; third person singular of tremare
paura
pa-U-ra — Fear; fright; a strong feeling of alarm or dread
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