Messenger Was it really for fear of this that you became an exile from that city?
Oedipus And because I did not wish, old man, to be the murderer of my father.
Messenger Why have I not relieved you of this second fear, my lord, since I came to give you pleasure?
Oedipus And indeed you will have worthy thanks from me.
Messenger And indeed I came specially for this, that I might profit from your returning home.
Oedipus But by no means will I ever go near my parents again.
Messenger My son, it is crystal clear that you do not know what you are doing.
Oedipus How so, old man? In the name of the gods, tell me.
Messenger If on account of this you are fleeing from returning home.
Oedipus Fearing indeed lest Apollo’s prophecy come true in me.
Messenger Lest you acquire some pollution from your parents?
Oedipus This very thing, old man, this constantly frightens me.
Messenger Do you know, then, that your fears are wholly in vain?
Oedipus […] How so, if I was born of those parents?
Messenger Because you had no blood in common with Polybus.
Oedipus What are you saying? Was Polybus not my father?
Messenger Just as much, and no more, than he who speaks to you.
Oedipus And how can my father be equal to him who is as though nothing to me?
Messenger But he did not father you, any more than I did.
Oedipus How, then, did he call me his son?
Messenger Long ago he received you as a gift from my hands.
Oedipus And yet he loved me so dearly, who came from another’s hand?
Messenger His former childlessness won him over.
Oedipus And had you bought me or found me by chance, when you gave me to him?
Messenger I found you in Cithaeron’s winding glens.
Oedipus And why were you roaming those regions?
Messenger I was in charge of mountain flocks.
Oedipus What, you were a shepherd—a vagrant hireling?
Messenger But your savior, my son, in that hour.
Oedipus And what was my pain when you took me in your arms?
Messenger The ankles of your feet might bear witness.
Oedipus Ah me, why do you speak of that old trouble?
Messenger I freed you when you had your ankles pinned together.
Oedipus It was a dread brand of shame that I took from my cradle.
Messenger So much so that from that fortune you were called by that name which you still bear.
Oedipus Oh, in the name of the gods, was the deed my mother’s or father’s? Speak!
Messenger I know not. He who gave you to me knows better of that than I.
Oedipus What, you got me from another? You did not find me yourself?
Messenger No. Another shepherd gave you to me.
Oedipus Who was he? Can you tell clearly?
Messenger I think he was said to be one of the household of Laius.
Oedipus The king who ruled this country long ago?
Messenger The same. The man was a herdsman in his service.
Oedipus Is he still alive, that I might see him?
Messenger You natives of this country should know best.
Oedipus Is there any of you here present that knows the herdsman of whom he speaks, having seen him either in the pastures or here in town? Answer! The hour has come for these things to be revealed finally.
Chorus I think he speaks of no other than the peasant you already wanted to see. But our lady Iocasta might best tell you that.
Oedipus Lady, do you know the one whom we summoned just now? Is it of him that this man speaks?
Iocasta Why ask of whom he spoke? Regard it not; waste not a thought on what he said; it would be vain.
Oedipus It must not happen that, with such clues in my grasp, I fail to bring my birth to light.
Iocasta For the gods’ sake, if you have any care for your own life, do not continue this search! My anguish is enough.
Oedipus Be of good courage. Even if I should be found the son of a servile mother—a slave by three descents—you will not be proven baseborn.
Iocasta Hear me, I implore you: do not do this.
Oedipus I will not hear of not discovering the whole truth.
Iocasta Yet I wish you well—I counsel you for the best.
Oedipus These best counsels, then, vex my patience.
Iocasta Oh ill-fated man, may you never know who you are!
Oedipus Go, some one, fetch me the herdsman. Leave this woman to glory in her princely stock.
Iocasta Alas, alas, miserable man—that word alone can I say to you—and no other word ever again.
Chorus Why has this woman gone, Oedipus, rushing off in wild grief? I fear a storm of sorrow will soon break forth from this silence.
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