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

Plays of Sophocles: Oedipus the King; Oedipus at Colonus; Antigone — Page 10

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But if an alien from a foreign land

Ma se uno straniero da terra straniera

Be known to any as the murderer,

Sia noto a qualcuno come l'assassino,

Let him who knows speak out, and he shall have

Chi sa parli, ed egli avrà

Due recompense from me and thanks to boot.

Il giusto compenso da me e i miei ringraziamenti per giunta.

But if ye still keep silence, if through fear

Ma se voi continuate a tacere, se per timore

For self or friends ye disregard my hest,

Per voi stessi o per gli amici disattendete il mio comando,

Hear what I then resolve; I lay my ban

Ascoltate ciò che allora decido; pongo il mio bando

On the assassin whosoe'er he be.

Sull'assassino chiunque egli sia.

Let no man in this land, whereof I hold

Nessun uomo in questa terra, della quale io detengo

The sovereign rule, harbor or speak to him;

Il potere sovrano, gli dia rifugio o gli rivolga la parola;

Give him no part in prayer or sacrifice

Non lo faccia partecipe di preghiera o sacrificio

Or lustral rites, but hound him from your homes.

O di riti lustrali, ma cacciatelo dalle vostre case.

For this is our defilement, so the god

Poiché questa è la nostra contaminazione, così il dio

Hath lately shown to me by oracles.

Mi ha recentemente rivelato per mezzo di oracoli.

Thus as their champion I maintain the cause

Così, come loro difensore, sostengo la causa

Both of the god and of the murdered King.

Sia del dio che del Re assassinato.

And on the murderer this curse I lay

E sull'assassino questa maledizione io pongo

(On him and all the partners in his guilt):—

(Su di lui e su tutti i complici della sua colpa):—

Wretch, may he pine in utter wretchedness!

Miserabile, possa egli languire in totale miseria!

And for myself, if with my privity

E per me stesso, se con mia consapevolezza

He gain admittance to my hearth, I pray

Egli venga accolto al mio focolare, io prego

The curse I laid on others fall on me.

Che la maledizione che ho posto sugli altri ricada su di me.

See that ye give effect to all my hest,

Fate in modo di dare esecuzione a tutti i miei comandi,

For my sake and the god's and for our land,

Per amor mio e del dio e per la nostra terra,

A desert blasted by the wrath of heaven.

Un deserto devastato dall'ira del cielo.

For, let alone the god's express command,

Poiché, a prescindere dall'esplicito comando del dio,

It were a scandal ye should leave unpurged

Sarebbe uno scandalo che voi lasciaste impunito

The murder of a great man and your king,

L'assassinio di un grand'uomo e vostro re,

Nor track it home.

Senza indagarne la causa fino in fondo.

Vocabulary

Ma: ma — Conjunction meaning 'but', used to contrast ideas.
se: se — Conjunction meaning 'if', introduces conditional clauses.
uno: uno — Indefinite article or number meaning 'a' or 'one'.
straniero: stra-NYEH-ro — A male foreigner or stranger from another land.
da: da — Preposition meaning 'from', 'by', or 'since'.
terra: TER-ra — Noun meaning 'land', 'earth', or 'ground'.
straniera: stra-NYEH-ra — A female foreigner or something foreign in origin.
Sia: SEE-a — Subjunctive form of 'essere', meaning 'let it be'.
noto: NO-to — Adjective meaning 'known' or 'well-known', familiar.
a: a — Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
qualcuno: kwal-KOO-no — Pronoun meaning 'someone' or 'anybody', indefinite person.
come: KO-me — Adverb or conjunction meaning 'how' or 'as/like'.
l': l' — Elided definite article 'il/la' before vowel sounds.
assassino: as-sas-SEE-no — Noun meaning 'murderer' or 'assassin', one who kills.
Chi: kee — Pronoun meaning 'who' or 'whoever', referring to people.
sa: sa — Third-person singular of 'sapere', meaning 'knows'.
parli: PAR-lee — Subjunctive of 'parlare', meaning 'let them speak'.
ed: ed — Variant of 'e' (and), used before vowels for euphony.
egli: EL-yee — Formal third-person singular pronoun meaning 'he'.
avrà: av-RA — Future tense of 'avere', meaning 'he/she will have'.
Il: il — Definite masculine singular article meaning 'the'.
giusto: JOOS-to — Adjective meaning 'just', 'right', or 'fair'.
compenso: kom-PEN-so — Noun meaning 'reward', 'compensation', or 'payment'.
me: me — Stressed pronoun meaning 'me', object form of 'io'.
e: e — Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses.
i: i — Definite plural masculine article meaning 'the'.
miei: MYEH-ee — Possessive adjective meaning 'my', masculine plural form.
ringraziamenti: rin-gra-tsya-MEN-tee — Noun meaning 'thanks' or 'expressions of gratitude'.
per: per — Preposition meaning 'for', 'through', or 'in order to'.
giunta: JOON-ta — Noun/phrase; 'per giunta' means 'moreover' or 'besides'.
voi: voy — Second-person plural pronoun meaning 'you all'.
continuate: kon-ti-NWAH-te — Imperative of 'continuare', meaning 'continue', 'keep on'.
tacere: ta-CHEH-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to be silent' or 'to keep quiet'.
timore: ti-MO-re — Noun meaning 'fear', 'dread', or 'reverence'.
Per: per — Preposition meaning 'for', 'because of', or 'through'.
stessi: STES-see — Pronoun meaning 'yourselves', emphatic reflexive plural form.
o: o — Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative choice.
gli: lyee — Definite article or indirect pronoun meaning 'the'/'to him'.
amici: a-MEE-chee — Plural noun meaning 'friends', close companions.
il: il — Definite masculine singular article meaning 'the'.
mio: MEE-o — Possessive adjective meaning 'my', masculine singular.
comando: ko-MAN-do — Noun meaning 'command', 'order', or 'authority'.
Ascoltate: as-kol-TAH-te — Imperative of 'ascoltare', meaning 'listen' or 'hear'.
ciò: cho — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that', 'this', or 'what'.
che: ke — Relative pronoun or conjunction meaning 'that', 'which', 'who'.
allora: al-LO-ra — Adverb meaning 'then', 'at that time', or 'so'.
decido: de-CHEE-do — First-person singular of 'decidere', meaning 'I decide'.
pongo: PON-go — First-person singular of 'porre', meaning 'I place/impose'.
bando: BAN-do — Noun meaning 'banishment', 'decree', or 'proclamation'.
Sull': sull' — Contraction of 'su' + 'l'', meaning 'on the'.
chiunque: kyun-KWE — Pronoun meaning 'whoever' or 'anyone who'.
sia: SEE-a — Subjunctive of 'essere', meaning 'may be' or 'whether'.
Nessun: nes-SOON — Adjective meaning 'no', 'not any', negating a noun.
uomo: WO-mo — Noun meaning 'man' or 'human being', male person.
in: in — Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'within'.
questa: KWES-ta — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this', feminine singular.
della: DEL-la — Contraction of 'di' + 'la', meaning 'of the'.
quale: KWA-le — Relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'who', referring back.
io: EE-o — First-person singular pronoun meaning 'I'.
detengo: de-TEN-go — First-person singular of 'detenere', meaning 'I hold/wield'.
potere: po-TEH-re — Noun or verb meaning 'power' or 'to be able to'.
sovrano: sov-RA-no — Adjective or noun meaning 'sovereign', 'supreme ruler'.
dia: DEE-a — Subjunctive of 'dare', meaning 'let them give' or 'give'.
rifugio: ri-FOO-jo — Noun meaning 'refuge', 'shelter', or 'safe haven'.
rivolga: ri-VOL-ga — Subjunctive of 'rivolgere', meaning 'to address' or 'to turn'.
la: la — Definite feminine singular article meaning 'the'.
parola: pa-RO-la — Noun meaning 'word' or 'speech', unit of language.
Non: non — Adverb of negation meaning 'not', used to negate verbs.
lo: lo — Masculine singular pronoun meaning 'him' or 'it'.
faccia: FAT-cha — Subjunctive of 'fare', meaning 'let them make/do'.
partecipe: par-TEH-chi-pe — Noun/adjective meaning 'participant' or 'sharer', involved party.
di: di — Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or indicating possession.
preghiera: pre-GYEH-ra — Noun meaning 'prayer', a supplication addressed to deity.
sacrificio: sa-kri-FEE-cho — Noun meaning 'sacrifice', an offering made to gods.
O: o — Conjunction meaning 'or', or exclamation 'O!' addressing someone.
riti: REE-tee — Plural noun meaning 'rites' or 'rituals', ceremonial acts.
ma: ma — Conjunction meaning 'but', introduces a contrast or exception.
cacciatelo: kat-CHA-te-lo — Imperative meaning 'drive him out' or 'chase him away'.
dalle: DAL-le — Contraction of 'da' + 'le', meaning 'from the' (plural).
vostre: VOS-tre — Possessive adjective meaning 'your' (plural), feminine form.
case: KA-ze — Plural noun meaning 'houses' or 'homes', dwellings.
Poiché: poi-KE — Conjunction meaning 'since' or 'because', causal relation.
è: è — Third-person singular of 'essere', meaning 'is'.
nostra: NOS-tra — Possessive adjective meaning 'our', feminine singular form.
contaminazione: kon-ta-mi-na-TSYO-ne — Noun meaning 'contamination', pollution or moral defilement.
così: ko-ZEE — Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'in this way'.
dio: DEE-o — Noun meaning 'god' or 'deity', a divine being.
Mi: mi — Reflexive or indirect pronoun meaning 'me' or 'to me'.
Ha: a — Third-person singular of 'avere', meaning 'has'.
recentemente: re-chen-te-MEN-te — Adverb meaning 'recently', a short time ago.
rivelato: ri-ve-LA-to — Past participle of 'rivelare', meaning 'revealed'.
mezzo: MED-zo — Noun/adjective meaning 'means', 'half', or 'through'.
oracoli: o-RA-ko-lee — Plural noun meaning 'oracles', divine prophetic utterances.
Così: ko-ZEE — Adverb meaning 'thus' or 'so', indicating manner or result.
loro: LO-ro — Pronoun meaning 'their', 'them', or 'they'.
difensore: di-fen-SO-re — Noun meaning 'defender' or 'advocate', one who protects.
sostengo: sos-TEN-go — First-person singular of 'sostenere', meaning 'I uphold/support'.
causa: KOW-za — Noun meaning 'cause' or 'case', a matter championed.
del: del — Contraction of 'di' + 'il', meaning 'of the'.
Re: re — Noun meaning 'King', a male sovereign ruler.
assassinato: as-sas-si-NA-to — Past participle meaning 'assassinated' or 'murdered'.
E: e — Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting clauses or ideas.
sull': sull' — Contraction meaning 'on the', before a vowel.
maledizione: ma-le-di-TSYO-ne — Noun meaning 'curse' or 'malediction', a harmful invocation.
Su: su — Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'over'.
lui: lwee — Stressed pronoun meaning 'him' or 'he'.
su: su — Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', used for location.
tutti: TOOT-tee — Adjective/pronoun meaning 'all' or 'everyone', entire group.
complici: KOM-pli-chee — Plural noun meaning 'accomplices', those sharing in a crime.
sua: SOO-a — Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
colpa: KOL-pa — Noun meaning 'fault', 'guilt', or 'blame' for wrongdoing.
Miserabile: mi-ze-RA-bi-le — Adjective meaning 'miserable', wretched, pitiable person.
possa: POS-sa — Subjunctive of 'potere', meaning 'may he be able'.
languire: lan-GWEE-re — Infinitive meaning 'to languish', to suffer weakly.
totale: to-TA-le — Adjective meaning 'total', 'complete', or 'utter'.
miseria: mi-ZEH-rya — Noun meaning 'misery', 'poverty', or 'wretchedness'.
stesso: STES-so — Adjective meaning 'same' or 'himself', emphasizing identity.
con: kon — Preposition meaning 'with', indicating accompaniment or means.
mia: MEE-a — Possessive adjective meaning 'my', feminine singular form.
consapevolezza: kon-sa-pe-vo-LET-sa — Noun meaning 'awareness', 'consciousness', or 'knowledge'.
Egli: EL-yee — Formal pronoun meaning 'he', third-person masculine singular.
venga: VEN-ga — Subjunctive of 'venire', meaning 'let him come'.
accolto: ak-KOL-to — Past participle of 'accogliere', meaning 'welcomed' or 'received'.
al: al — Contraction of 'a' + 'il', meaning 'at the' or 'to the'.
focolare: fo-ko-LA-re — Noun meaning 'hearth' or 'fireside', center of home.
prego: PRE-go — First-person singular of 'pregare', meaning 'I pray/beg'.
Che: ke — Conjunction meaning 'that', introducing subordinate clauses.
ho: o — First-person singular of 'avere', meaning 'I have'.
posto: POS-to — Past participle of 'porre', meaning 'placed' or 'imposed'.
sugli: SOOL-yee — Contraction of 'su' + 'gli', meaning 'on the' (masculine plural).
altri: AL-tree — Pronoun meaning 'others', referring to other people.
ricada: ri-KA-da — Subjunctive of 'ricadere', meaning 'may it fall back upon'.
Fate: FA-te — Imperative of 'fare', meaning 'make' or 'ensure' (you all).
modo: MO-do — Noun meaning 'way', 'manner'; 'in modo da' means 'so as to'.
dare: DA-re — Infinitive meaning 'to give', fundamental Italian verb.
esecuzione: e-ze-ku-TSYO-ne — Noun meaning 'execution' or 'carrying out' of orders.
comandi: ko-MAN-dee — Plural noun meaning 'commands' or 'orders', directives.
amor: a-MOR — Poetic form of 'amore', meaning 'love'; 'for the love of'.
Un: un — Indefinite masculine article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
deserto: de-ZER-to — Noun or adjective meaning 'desert' or 'desolate', barren.
devastato: de-vas-TA-to — Past participle meaning 'devastated' or 'laid waste'.
dall': dall' — Contraction of 'da' + 'l'', meaning 'by the' or 'from the'.
ira: EE-ra — Noun meaning 'wrath', 'anger', or 'fury'.
cielo: CHEH-lo — Noun meaning 'sky' or 'heaven', the celestial realm.
esplicito: es-PLEE-chi-to — Adjective meaning 'explicit', clear and directly expressed.
Sarebbe: sa-REB-be — Conditional of 'essere', meaning 'it would be'.
scandalo: SKAN-da-lo — Noun meaning 'scandal' or 'outrage', disgraceful situation.
lasciaste: la-SHA-ste — Past tense of 'lasciare', meaning 'you left/allowed' (plural).
impunito: im-pu-NEE-to — Adjective meaning 'unpunished', allowed to escape consequence.
assassinio: as-sas-SEE-nyo — Noun meaning 'assassination' or 'murder', killing of someone.
un: un — Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an', masculine singular.
grand': grand' — Elided form of 'grande', meaning 'great' or 'grand'.
vostro: VOS-tro — Possessive adjective meaning 'your', masculine singular form.
re: re — Noun meaning 'king', a male sovereign monarch.
Senza: SEN-tsa — Preposition meaning 'without', indicating absence or lack.
indagarne: in-da-GAR-ne — Verb with clitic meaning 'to investigate it', to inquire into.
fino: FEE-no — Preposition meaning 'until', 'up to', or 'as far as'.
fondo: FON-do — Noun meaning 'bottom', 'depth'; 'fino in fondo' means 'thoroughly'.

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