Poetry · Classical Athens
Look ye, countrymen and Thebans, this is Oedipus the great,He who knew the Sphinx’s riddle and was mightiest in our state.Who of all our townsmen gazed not on his fame with envious eyes?Now, in what a sea of troubles sunk and overwhelmed he lies!Therefore wait to see life’s ending ere thou count one mortal blest;Wait till free from pain and sorrow he has gained his final rest.
The play’s last words. Oedipus, blind and begging to be exiled, is led back into the palace. He had won the throne by solving the Sphinx’s riddle.