Messenger
And no wonder, master. But I will bring clear recollection to his ignorance. I am sure he knows well of the time we dwelled in the region of Cithaeron for six month periods, from spring to Arcturus, he with two flocks, and I, his comrade, with one. And then for the winter I used to drive my flock to my own fold, and he took his to the fold of Laius. Did any of this happen as I tell it, or did it not?
Servant You speak the truth, though it was long ago.
Messenger Come, tell me now: do you remember having given me a boy in those days, to be reared as my own foster-son?
Servant What now? Why do you ask the question?
Messenger This man, my friend, is he who then was young.
Servant Damn you! Be silent once and for all!
Oedipus Do not rebuke him, old man. Your words need rebuking more than his.
Servant And in what way, most noble master, do I offend?
Oedipus In not telling of the boy about whom he asks.
Servant He speaks without knowledge, but is busy to no purpose.
Oedipus You will not speak with good grace, but will in pain.
Servant No, in the name of the gods, do not mistreat an old man.
Oedipus Someone, quick—tie his hands this instant!
Servant Alas, why? What do you want to learn?
Oedipus Did you give this man the child about whom he asks?
Servant I did. Would that I had perished that day!
Oedipus Well, you will come to that, unless you tell the honest truth.
Servant But if I speak I will be destroyed all the more.
Oedipus This man is bent, I think, on more delays.
Servant No, no! I said before that I gave it to him.
Oedipus Where did you get it from? From your own house, or from another?
Servant It was not my own: I received it from another.
Oedipus From whom of the citizens here? From what home?
Servant For the love of the gods, master, ask no more!
Oedipus You are dead if I have to question you again.
Servant It was a child, then, of the house of Laius.
Oedipus A slave? Or one of his own clan?
Servant Alas! I am on the brink of speaking the dreaded words.
Oedipus And I of hearing: I must hear nevertheless.
Servant You must know then, that it was said to be his own child. But your lady within could say best how these matters lie.
Oedipus How? Did she give it to you?
Servant Yes, my lord.
Oedipus For what purpose?
Servant That I should do away with it.
Oedipus Her own child, the wretched woman?
Servant Yes, from fear of the evil prophecies.
Oedipus What were they?
Servant The tale ran that he would slay his father.
Oedipus Why, then, did you give him to this old man?
Servant Out of pity, master, thinking that he would carry him to another land, from where he himself came. But he saved him for the direst woe. For if you are what this man says, be certain that you were born ill-fated.
Oedipus Oh, oh! All brought to pass, all true. Light, may I now look on you for the last time—I who have been found to be accursed in birth, accursed in wedlock, accursed in the shedding of blood.
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