Part 8 (1/2)

OEDIPUS A vagrant shepherd journeying for hire?

MESSENGER True, but thy savior in that hour, my son.

OEDIPUS My savior? from what harm? what ailed me then?

MESSENGER Those ankle joints are evidence enow.

OEDIPUS Ah, why remind me of that ancient sore?

MESSENGER I loosed the pin that riveted thy feet.

OEDIPUS Yes, from my cradle that dread brand I bore.

MESSENGER Whence thou deriv'st the name that still is thine.

OEDIPUS Who did it? I adjure thee, tell me who Say, was it father, mother?

MESSENGER I know not.

The man from whom I had thee may know more.

OEDIPUS What, did another find me, not thyself?

MESSENGER Not I; another shepherd gave thee me.

OEDIPUS Who was he? Would'st thou know again the man?

MESSENGER He pa.s.sed indeed for one of Laius' house.

OEDIPUS The king who ruled the country long ago?

MESSENGER The same: he was a herdsman of the king.

OEDIPUS And is he living still for me to see him?

MESSENGER His fellow-countrymen should best know that.

OEDIPUS Doth any bystander among you know The herd he speaks of, or by seeing him Afield or in the city? answer straight!

The hour hath come to clear this business up.

CHORUS Methinks he means none other than the hind Whom thou anon wert fain to see; but that Our queen Jocasta best of all could tell.

OEDIPUS Madam, dost know the man we sent to fetch?

Is the same of whom the stranger speaks?

JOCASTA Who is the man? What matter? Let it be.

'Twere waste of thought to weigh such idle words.

OEDIPUS No, with such guiding clues I cannot fail To bring to light the secret of my birth.

JOCASTA Oh, as thou carest for thy life, give o'er This quest. Enough the anguish _I_ endure.

OEDIPUS Be of good cheer; though I be proved the son Of a bondwoman, aye, through three descents Triply a slave, thy honor is unsmirched.