On this account you shun the journey home!

OEDIPUS

Of course I fear lest Phoebus turn out true.

MESSENGER

Lest through your parents you incur foul stain?

OEDIPUS

Yes, father, yes; that is what always scares me.

MESSENGER

Now do you know you tremble, really, at nothing?

OEDIPUS

How can that be, if I was born their child?

MESSENGER

Because Polybus was nought akin to you!

OEDIPUS

What, did not Polybus beget me?

MESSENGER

No,

No more than I did; just so much as I!

OEDIPUS

How, my own sire no more than—nobody?

MESSENGER

But neither he begat you, nor did I.

OEDIPUS

Then from what motive did he call me son?

MESSENGER

Look here; he had you as a gift from me.

OEDIPUS

And loved me then, so much, at second hand?

MESSENGER

Yes, his long childlessness prevailed on him.

OEDIPUS

And did you find or purchase me, to give him?

MESSENGER

I found you in Cithaeron’s wooded dells.

OEDIPUS

How came you to be journeying in these parts?

MESSENGER

I tended flocks upon the mountains here.

OEDIPUS

You were a shepherd, and you ranged for hire?

MESSENGER

But at the same time your preserver, son!

OEDIPUS

You found me in distress? What was my trouble?

MESSENGER

Your ankle joints may witness.

OEDIPUS

O, why speak you

Of that old evil?

MESSENGER

I untied you, when

You had the soles of both your feet bored through.

OEDIPUS

A shameful sort of swaddling bands were mine.

MESSENGER

Such, that from them you had the name you bear. *

OEDIPUS

Tell me, by heaven! at sires or mother’s hand—

MESSENGER

I know not: he who gave you knows of that

Better than I.

OEDIPUS

You got me from another?

You did not find me?

MESSENGER

No, another shepherd

Gave you to me.

OEDIPUS

Who was he? are you able

To point him out?

MESSENGER

They said that he was one

Of those who followed Laius, whom you know.

OEDIPUS

Him who was once the monarch of this land?

MESSENGER

Precisely! This man was his herdsman.

OEDIPUS

Now

Is this man still alive for me to see?

MESSENGER

You must know best, the people of the place.

OEDIPUS

Is any here among you bystanders,

Who knows the herdsman whom he tells us of,

From seeing him, either in the fields or here?

Speak! it were time that this had been cleared up.

1 SENATOR

I think he is no other than that peasant

Whom you were taking pains to find, before;

But she could say as well as any one—

Jocasta.

OEDIPUS

Lady, you remember him

Whose coming we were wishing for but now;

Does he mean him?

JOCASTA

Why ask who ‘twas he spoke of?

Nay, never mind—never remember it—

’Twas idly spoken!

OEDIPUS

Nay, it cannot be

That having such a clue I should refuse

To solve the mystery of my parentage!

JOCASTA

For Heaven’s sake, if you care for your own life,

Don’t seek it! I am sick, and that’s enough!