Mad were I, lost to all wise usages,
To seek to cast thee from us. 'Twas from thee
We saw of old blue sky and summer seas,
When Thebes in the storm and rain
Reeled, like to die.
Oh, if thou canst, again
Blue sky, blue sky...!
[Sidenote: vv. 697-713]
JOCASTA.
Husband, in God's name, say what hath ensued
Of ill, that thou shouldst seek so dire a feud.
OEDIPUS.
I will, wife. I have more regard for thee
Than these.--Thy brother plots to murder me.
JOCASTA.
Speak on. Make all thy charge. Only be clear.
OEDIPUS.
He says that I am Laïus' murderer.
JOCASTA.
Says it himself? Says he hath witnesses?
OEDIPUS.
Nay, of himself he ventures nothing. 'Tis
This priest, this hellish seer, makes all the tale.
JOCASTA.
The seer?--Then tear thy terrors like a veil
And take free breath. A seer? No human thing
Born on the earth hath power for conjuring
Truth from the dark of God.
Come, I will tell
An old tale. There came once an oracle
To Laïus: I say not from the God
Himself, but from the priests and seers who trod
His sanctuary: if ever son were bred
From him and me, by that son's hand, it said,
[Sidenote: vv. 714-732]
Laïus must die. And he, the tale yet stays
Among us, at the crossing of three ways
Was slain by robbers, strangers. And my son--
God's mercy!--scarcely the third day was gone
When Laïus took, and by another's hand
Out on the desert mountain, where the land
Is rock, cast him to die. Through both his feet
A blade of iron they drove. Thus did we cheat
Apollo of his will. My child could slay
No father, and the King could cast away
The fear that dogged him, by his child to die
Murdered.--Behold the fruits of prophecy!
Which heed not thou! God needs not that a seer
Help him, when he would make his dark things clear.
OEDIPUS.
Woman, what turmoil hath thy story wrought
Within me! What up-stirring of old thought!
JOCASTA.
What thought? It turns thee like a frightened thing.
OEDIPUS.
'Twas at the crossing of three ways this King
Was murdered? So I heard or so I thought.
JOCASTA.
That was the tale. It is not yet forgot.
OEDIPUS.
The crossing of three ways! And in what land?
[Sidenote: vv. 733-746]
JOCASTA.
Phokis 'tis called. A road on either hand
From Delphi comes and Daulia, in a glen.
OEDIPUS.
How many years and months have passed since then?
JOCASTA.
'Twas but a little time before proclaim
Was made of thee for king, the tidings came.
OEDIPUS.
My God, what hast thou willed to do with me?
JOCASTA.
Oedipus, speak! What is it troubles thee?
OEDIPUS.
Ask me not yet. But say, what build, what height
Had Laïus? Rode he full of youth and might?
JOCASTA.
Tall, with the white new gleaming on his brow
He walked. In shape just such a man as thou.
OEDIPUS.
God help me! I much fear that I have wrought
A curse on mine own head, and knew it not.
JOCASTA.
How sayst thou? O my King, I look on thee
And tremble.
[Sidenote: vv. 747-760]
OEDIPUS (_to himself_).
Horror, if the blind can see!
Answer but one thing and 'twill all be clear.
JOCASTA.
Speak. I will answer though I shake with fear.
OEDIPUS.
Went he with scant array, or a great band
Of armèd followers, like a lord of land?
JOCASTA.
Four men were with him, one a herald; one
Chariot there was, where Laïus rode alone.
OEDIPUS.
Aye me! Tis clear now.
Woman, who could bring
To Thebes the story of that manslaying?
JOCASTA.
A house-thrall, the one man they failed to slay.
OEDIPUS.
The one man...? Is he in the house to-day?
JOCASTA.
Indeed no. When he came that day, and found
Thee on the throne where once sat Laïus crowned,
He took my hand and prayed me earnestly
[Sidenote: vv. 761-779]
To send him to the mountain heights, to be
A herdsman, far from any sight or call
Of Thebes. And there I sent him. 'Twas a thrall
Good-hearted, worthy a far greater boon.
OEDIPUS.
Canst find him? I would see this herd, and soon.
JOCASTA.
'Tis easy. But what wouldst thou with the herd?
OEDIPUS.
I fear mine own voice, lest it spoke a word
Too much; whereof this man must tell me true.
JOCASTA.
The man shall come.--My lord, methinks I too
Should know what fear doth work thee this despite.
OEDIPUS.
Thou shalt. When I am tossed to such an height
Of dark foreboding, woman, when my mind
Faceth such straits as these, where should I find
A mightier love than thine?
My father--thus
I tell thee the whole tale--was Polybus,
In Corinth King; my mother Meropê
Of Dorian line. And I was held to be
The proudest in Corinthia, till one day
A thing befell: strange was it, but no way
Meet for such wonder and such rage as mine.
A feast it was, and some one flushed with wine
[Sidenote: vv. 780-807]
Cried out at me that I was no true son
Of Polybus. Oh, I was wroth! That one
Day I kept silence, but the morrow morn
I sought my parents, told that tale of scorn
And claimed the truth; and they rose in their pride
And smote the mocker.... Aye, they satisfied
All my desire; yet still the cavil gnawed
My heart, and still the story crept abroad.
At last I rose--my father knew not, nor
My mother--and went forth to Pytho's floor
To ask. And God in that for which I came
Rejected me, but round me, like a flame,
His voice flashed other answers, things of woe,
Terror, and desolation. I must know
My mother's body and beget thereon
A race no mortal eye durst look upon,
And spill in murder mine own father's blood.
I heard, and, hearing, straight from where I stood,
No landmark but the stars to light my way,
Fled, fled from the dark south where Corinth lay,
To lands far off, where never I might see
My doom of scorn fulfilled. On bitterly
I strode, and reached the region where, so saith
Thy tale, that King of Thebes was struck to death....
Wife, I will tell thee true. As one in daze
I walked, till, at the crossing of three ways,
A herald, like thy tale, and o'er his head
A man behind strong horses charioted
Met me. And both would turn me from the path,
He and a thrall in front. And I in wrath
Smote him that pushed me--'twas a groom who led
The horses. Not a word the master said,
[Sidenote: vv. 808-828]
But watched, and as I passed him on the road
Down on my head his iron-branchèd goad
Stabbed. But, by heaven, he rued it! In a flash
I swung my staff and saw the old man crash
Back from his car in blood.... Then all of them
I slew.
Oh, if that man's unspoken name
Had aught of Laïus in him, in God's eye
What man doth move more miserable than I,
More dogged by the hate of heaven! No man, kin
Nor stranger, any more may take me in;
No man may greet me with a word, but all
Cast me from out their houses. And withal
'Twas mine own self that laid upon my life
These curses.--And I hold the dead man's wife
In these polluting arms that spilt his soul....
Am I a thing born evil? Am I foul
In every vein? Thebes now doth banish me,
And never in this exile must I see
Mine ancient folk of Corinth, never tread
The land that bore me; else my mother's bed
Shall be defiled, and Polybus, my good
Father, who loved me well, be rolled in blood.
If one should dream that such a world began
In some slow devil's heart, that hated man,
Who should deny him?--God, as thou art clean,
Suffer not this, oh, suffer not this sin
To be, that e'er I look on such a day!
Out of all vision of mankind away
To darkness let me fall ere such a fate
Touch me, so unclean and so desolate!
[Sidenote: vv. 829-850]
LEADER.
I tremble too, O King; but till thou hear
From him who saw, oh, let hope conquer fear.
OEDIPUS.
One shred of hope I still have, and therefore
Will wait the herdsman's coming. 'Tis no more.
JOCASTA.
He shall come. But what further dost thou seek?
OEDIPUS.
This. If we mark him close and find him speak
As thou hast, then I am lifted from my dread.
JOCASTA.
What mean'st thou? Was there something that I said...?
OEDIPUS.
Thou said'st he spoke of robbers, a great band,
That slaughtered Laïus' men. If still he stand
To the same tale, the guilt comes not my way.
One cannot be a band. But if he say
One lonely loin-girt man, then visibly
This is God's finger pointing toward me.
JOCASTA.
Be sure of this. He told the story so
When first he came. All they that heard him know,
[Sidenote: vv. 850-870]
Not only I. He cannot change again
Now. And if change he should, O Lord of men,
No change of his can make the prophecy
Of Laïus' death fall true. He was to die
Slain by my son. So Loxias spake.... My son!
He slew no man, that poor deserted one
That died.... And I will no more turn mine eyes
This way nor that for all their prophecies.
OEDIPUS.
Woman, thou counsellest well. Yet let it not
Escape thee. Send and have the herdsman brought.
JOCASTA.
That will I.--Come. Thou knowest I ne'er would do
Nor think of aught, save thou wouldst have it so.
[JOCASTA _and_ OEDIPUS _go together into the Palace._
CHORUS.
[_They pray to be free from such great sins as
they have just heard spoken of._
[_Strophe._
Toward God's great mysteries, oh, let me move
Unstainèd till I die
In speech or doing; for the Laws thereof
Are holy, walkers upon ways above,
Born in the far blue sky;
Their father is Olympus uncreate;
No man hath made nor told
Their being; neither shall Oblivion set
[Sidenote: vv. 870-893]
Sleep on their eyes, for in them lives a great
Spirit and grows not old. [_Antistrophe._
[_They wonder if these sins be all due to pride
and if_ CREON _has guilty ambitions;_
'Tis Pride that breeds the tyrant; drunken deep
With perilous things is she,
Which bring not peace: up, reeling, steep on steep
She climbs, till lo, the rock-edge, and the leap
To that which needs must be,
The land where the strong foot is no more strong!
Yet is there surely Pride
That saves a city; God preserve it long!
I judge not. Only through all maze of wrong
Be God, not man, my guide. [_Strophe._
[_Or if_ TIRESIAS _can really be a lying prophet with
no fear of God; they feel that all faith in
oracles and the things of God is shaken._
Is there a priest who moves amid the altars
Ruthless in deed and word,
Fears not the presence of his god, nor falters
Lest Right at last be heard?
If such there be, oh, let some doom be given
Meet for his ill-starred pride,
Who will not gain his gain where Justice is,
Who will not hold his lips from blasphemies,
Who hurls rash hands amid the things of heaven
From man's touch sanctified.
In a world where such things be,
What spirit hath shield or lance
[Sidenote: vv. 893-916]
To ward him secretly
From the arrow that slays askance?
If honour to such things be,
Why should I dance my dance?
[_Antistrophe._
I go no more with prayers and adorations
To Earth's deep Heart of Stone,
Nor yet the Abantes' floor, nor where the nations
Kneel at Olympia's throne,
Till all this dark be lightened, for the finger
Of man to touch and know.
O Thou that rulest--if men rightly call
Thy name on earth--O Zeus, thou Lord of all
And Strength undying, let not these things linger
Unknown, tossed to and fro.
For faint is the oracle,
And they thrust it aside, away;
And no more visible
Apollo to save or slay;
And the things of God, they fail
As mist on the wind away.
[JOCASTA _comes out from the Palace followed
by handmaids bearing incense and flowers._
JOCASTA.
Lords of the land, the ways my thought hath trod
Lead me in worship to these shrines of God
With flowers and incense flame. So dire a storm
Doth shake the King, sin, dread and every form
Of grief the world knows. 'Tis the wise man's way
To judge the morrow by the yester day;
[Sidenote: vv. 917-933]
Which he doth never, but gives eye and ear
To all who speak, will they but speak of fear.
And seeing no word of mine hath power to heal
His torment, therefore forth to thee I steal,
O Slayer of the Wolf, O Lord of Light,
Apollo: thou art near us, and of right
Dost hold us thine: to thee in prayer I fall.
[_She kneels at the altar of Apollo Lukeios._
Oh, show us still some path that is not all
Unclean; for now our captain's eyes are dim
With dread, and the whole ship must follow him.
[_While she prays a_ STRANGER _has entered and
begins to accost the Chorus._
STRANGER.
Good masters, is there one of you could bring
My steps to the house of Oedipus, your King?
Or, better, to himself if that may be?
LEADER.
This is the house and he within; and she
Thou seest, the mother of his royal seed.
[JOCASTA _rises, anxious, from her prayer._
STRANGER.
Being wife to such a man, happy indeed
And ringed with happy faces may she live!
JOCASTA.
To one so fair of speech may the Gods give
Like blessing, courteous stranger; 'tis thy due.
But say what leads thee hither. Can we do
Thy wish in aught, or hast thou news to bring?
[Sidenote: vv. 934-947]
STRANGER.
Good news, O Queen, for thee and for the King.
JOCASTA.
What is it? And from what prince comest thou?
STRANGER.
I come from Corinth.--And my tale, I trow,
Will give thee joy, yet haply also pain.
JOCASTA.
What news can have that twofold power? Be plain.
STRANGER.
'Tis spoke in Corinth that the gathering
Of folk will make thy lord our chosen King.
JOCASTA.
How? Is old Polybus in power no more?
STRANGER.
Death has a greater power. His reign is o'er.
JOCASTA.
What say'st thou? Dead?... Oedipus' father dead?
STRANGER.
If I speak false, let me die in his stead.
JOCASTA.
Ho, maiden! To our master! Hie thee fast
And tell this tale.
[_The maiden goes._
Where stand ye at the last
[Sidenote: vv. 948-961]
Ye oracles of God? For many a year
Oedipus fled before that man, in fear
To slay him. And behold we find him thus
Slain by a chance death, not by Oedipus.
[OEDIPUS _comes out from the Palace._
OEDIPUS.
O wife, O face I love to look upon,
Why call'st thou me from where I sat alone?
JOCASTA.
Give ear, and ponder from what this man tells
How end these proud priests and their oracles.
OEDIPUS.
Whence comes he? And what word hath he for us?
JOCASTA.
From Corinth; bearing news that Polybus
Thy father is no more. He has found his death.
OEDIPUS.
How?--Stranger, speak thyself. This that she saith ...
STRANGER.
Is sure. If that is the first news ye crave,
I tell thee, Polybus lieth in his grave.
OEDIPUS.
Not murdered?... How? Some passing of disease?
STRANGER.
A slight thing turns an old life to its peace.
[Sidenote: vv. 962-978]
OEDIPUS.
Poor father!... 'Tis by sickness he is dead?
STRANGER.
The growing years lay heavy on his head.
OEDIPUS.
O wife, why then should man fear any more
The voice of Pytho's dome, or cower before
These birds that shriek above us? They foretold
Me for my father's murderer; and behold,
He lies in Corinth dead, and here am I
And never touched the sword.... Or did he die
In grief for me who left him? In that way
I may have wrought his death.... But come what may,
He sleepeth in his grave and with him all
This deadly seercraft, of no worth at all.
JOCASTA.
Dear Lord, long since did I not show thee clear...?
OEDIPUS.
Indeed, yes. I was warped by mine own fear.
JOCASTA.
Now thou wilt cast it from thee, and forget.
OEDIPUS.
Forget my mother?... It is not over yet.
JOCASTA.
What should man do with fear, who hath but Chance
Above him, and no sight nor governance
[Sidenote: vv. 979-993]
Of things to be? To live as life may run,
No fear, no fret, were wisest 'neath the sun.
And thou, fear not thy mother. Prophets deem
A deed wrought that is wrought but in a dream.
And he to whom these things are nothing, best
Will bear his burden.
OEDIPUS.
All thou counsellest
Were good, save that my mother liveth still.
And, though thy words be wise, for good or ill
Her I still fear.
JOCASTA.
Think of thy father's tomb!
Like light across our darkness it hath come.
OEDIPUS.
Great light; but while she lives I fly from her.
STRANGER.
What woman, Prince, doth fill thee so with fear?
OEDIPUS.
Meropê, friend, who dwelt with Polybus.
STRANGER.
What in Queen Meropê should fright thee thus?
OEDIPUS.
A voice of God, stranger, of dire import.
STRANGER.
Meet for mine ears? Or of some secret sort?
[Sidenote: vv. 994-1009]
OEDIPUS.
Nay, thou must hear, and Corinth. Long ago
Apollo spake a doom, that I should know
My mother's flesh, and with mine own hand spill
My father's blood.--'Tis that, and not my will,
Hath kept me always far from Corinth. So;
Life hath dealt kindly with me, yet men know
On earth no comfort like a mother's face.
STRANGER.
'Tis that, hath kept thee exiled in this place?
OEDIPUS.
That, and the fear too of my father's blood.
STRANGER.
Then, surely, Lord ... I came but for thy good ...
'Twere well if from that fear I set thee free.
OEDIPUS.
Ah, couldst thou! There were rich reward for thee.
STRANGER.
To say truth, I had hoped to lead thee home
Now, and myself to get some good therefrom.
OEDIPUS.
Nay; where my parents are I will not go.
STRANGER.
My son, 'tis very clear thou dost not know
What road thou goest.
OEDIPUS.
How? In God's name, say!
How clear?
[Sidenote: vv. 1010-1019]
STRANGER.
'Tis this, keeps thee so long away
From Corinth?
OEDIPUS.
'Tis the fear lest that word break
One day upon me true.
STRANGER.
Fear lest thou take
Defilement from the two that gave thee birth?
OEDIPUS.
'Tis that, old man, 'tis that doth fill the earth
With terror.
STRANGER.
Then thy terror all hath been
For nothing.
OEDIPUS.
How? Were not your King and Queen
My parents?
STRANGER.
Polybus was naught to thee
In blood.
OEDIPUS.
How? He, my father!
STRANGER.
That was he
As much as I, but no more.
OEDIPUS.
Thou art naught;
'Twas he begot me.
[Sidenote: vv. 1020-1028]
STRANGER.
'Twas not I begot
Oedipus, neither was it he.
OEDIPUS.
What wild
Fancy, then, made him name me for his child?
STRANGER.
Thou wast his child--by gift. Long years ago
Mine own hand brought thee to him.
OEDIPUS.
Coming so,
From a strange hand, he gave me that great love?
STRANGER.
He had no child, and the desire thereof
Held him.
OEDIPUS.
And thou didst find somewhere--or buy--
A child for him?
STRANGER.
I found it in a high
Glen of Kithairon.
[_Movement of_ JOCASTA, _who stands riveted
with dread, unnoticed by the others._
OEDIPUS.
Yonder? To what end
Wast travelling in these parts?
STRANGER.
I came to tend
The flocks here on the mountain.
[Sidenote: vv. 1029-1037]
OEDIPUS.
Thou wast one
That wandered, tending sheep for hire?
STRANGER.
My son,
That day I was the saviour of a King.
OEDIPUS.
How saviour? Was I in some suffering
Or peril?
STRANGER.
Thine own feet a tale could speak.
OEDIPUS.
Ah me! What ancient pain stirs half awake
Within me!
STRANGER.
'Twas a spike through both thy feet.
I set thee free.
OEDIPUS.
A strange scorn that, to greet
A babe new on the earth!
STRANGER.
From that they fain
Must call thee Oedipus, "_Who-walks-in-pain_."
OEDIPUS.
Who called me so--father or mother? Oh,
In God's name, speak!
[Sidenote: vv. 1038-1046]
STRANGER.
I know not. He should know
Who brought thee.
OEDIPUS.
So: I was not found by thee.
Thou hadst me from another?
STRANGER.
Aye; to me
One of the shepherds gave the babe, to bear
Far off.
OEDIPUS.
What shepherd? Know'st thou not? Declare
All that thou knowest.
STRANGER.
By my memory, then,
I think they called him one of Laïus' men.
OEDIPUS.
That Laïus who was king in Thebes of old?
STRANGER.
The same. My man did herding in his fold.
OEDIPUS.
Is he yet living? Can I see his face?
STRANGER.
[_Turning to the Chorus._
Ye will know that, being natives to the place.
[Sidenote: vv. 1047-1062]
OEDIPUS.
How?--Is there one of you within my pale
Standing, that knows the shepherd of his tale?
Ye have seen him on the hills? Or in this town?
Speak! For the hour is come that all be known.
LEADER.
I think 'twill be the Peasant Man, the same,
Thou hast sought long time to see.--His place and name
Our mistress, if she will, can tell most clear.
[JOCASTA _remains as if she heard nothing._
OEDIPUS.
Thou hear'st him, wife. The herd whose presence here
We craved for, is it he this man would say?
JOCASTA.
He saith ... What of it? Ask not; only pray
Not to remember.... Tales are vainly told.
OEDIPUS.
'Tis mine own birth. How can I, when I hold
Such clues as these, refrain from knowing all?
JOCASTA.
For God's love, no! Not if thou car'st at all
For thine own life.... My anguish is enough.
OEDIPUS (_bitterly_).
Fear not!... Though I be thrice of slavish stuff
From my third grand-dam down, it shames not thee.
[Sidenote: vv. 1063-1075]
JOCASTA.
Ask no more. I beseech thee.... Promise me!
OEDIPUS.
To leave the Truth half-found? 'Tis not my mood.
JOCASTA.
I understand; and tell thee what is good.
OEDIPUS.
Thy good doth weary me.
JOCASTA.
O child of woe,
I pray God, I pray God, thou never know!
OEDIPUS (_turning from her_).
Go, fetch the herdsman straight!--This Queen of mine
May walk alone to boast her royal line.
JOCASTA.
[_She twice draws in her breath through her
teeth, as if in some sharp pain._
Unhappy one, goodbye! Goodbye before
I go: this once, and never never more!
[_She comes towards him as though to take a last
farewell, then stops suddenly, turns, and
rushes into the Palace._
LEADER.
King, what was that? She passed like one who flies
In very anguish. Dread is o'er mine eyes
Lest from this silence break some storm of wrong.
[Sidenote: vv. 1076-1097]
OEDIPUS.
Break what break will! My mind abideth strong
To know the roots, how low soe'er they be,
Which grew to Oedipus. This woman, she
Is proud, methinks, and fears my birth and name
Will mar her nobleness. But I, no shame
Can ever touch me. I am Fortune's child,
Not man's; her mother face hath ever smiled
Above me, and my brethren of the sky,
The changing Moons, have changed me low and high.
There is my lineage true, which none shall wrest
From me; who then am I to fear this quest?
CHORUS.
[_They sing_ OEDIPUS _as the foundling of their
own Theban mountain, Kithairon, and
doubtless of divine birth._
[_Strophe._
If I, O Kithairon, some vision can borrow
From seercraft, if still there is wit in the old,
Long, long, through the deep-orbèd Moon of the morrow--
So hear me, Olympus!--thy tale shall be told.
O mountain of Thebes, a new Theban shall praise thee,
One born of thy bosom, one nursed at thy springs;
And the old men shall dance to thy glory, and raise thee
To worship, O bearer of joy to my kings.
And thou, we pray,
Look down in peace, O Apollo; I-ê, I-ê!
[Sidenote: vv. 1098-1120]
[_Antistrophe._
What Oread mother, unaging, unweeping,
Did bear thee, O Babe, to the Crag-walker Pan;
Or perchance to Apollo? He loveth the leaping
Of herds on the rock-ways unhaunted of man.
Or was it the lord of Cyllênê, who found thee,
Or glad Dionysus, whose home is the height,
Who knew thee his own on the mountain, as round thee
The White Brides of Helicon laughed for delight?
'Tis there, 'tis there,
The joy most liveth of all his dance and prayer.
OEDIPUS.
If I may judge, ye Elders, who have ne'er
Seen him, methinks I see the shepherd there
Whom we have sought so long. His weight of years
Fits well with our Corinthian messenger's;
And, more, I know the men who guide his way,
Bondsmen of mine own house.
Thou, friend, wilt say
Most surely, who hast known the man of old.
LEADER.
I know him well. A shepherd of the fold
Of Laïus, one he trusted more than all.
[_The_ SHEPHERD _comes in, led by two thralls.
He is an old man and seems terrified._
OEDIPUS.
Thou first, our guest from Corinth: say withal
Is this the man?
[Sidenote: vv. 1120-1130]
STRANGER.
This is the man, O King.
OEDIPUS.
[_Addressing the_ SHEPHERD.
Old man! Look up, and answer everything
I ask thee.--Thou wast Laïus' man of old?
SHEPHERD.
Born in his house I was, not bought with gold.
OEDIPUS.
What kind of work, what way of life, was thine?
SHEPHERD.
Most of my days I tended sheep or kine.
OEDIPUS.
What was thy camping ground at midsummer?
SHEPHERD.
Sometimes Kithairon, sometimes mountains near.
OEDIPUS.
Saw'st ever there this man thou seëst now?
SHEPHERD.
There, Lord? What doing?--What man meanest thou?
OEDIPUS.
[_Pointing to the_ STRANGER.
Look! Hath he ever crossed thy path before?
[Sidenote: vv. 1131-1146]
SHEPHERD.
I call him not to mind, I must think more.
STRANGER.
Small wonder that, O King! But I will throw
Light on his memories.--Right well I know
He knows the time when, all Kithairon through,
I with one wandering herd and he with two,
Three times we neighboured one another, clear
From spring to autumn stars, a good half-year.
At winter's fall we parted; he drove down
To his master's fold, and I back to mine own....
Dost call it back, friend? Was it as I say?
SHEPHERD.
It was. It was.... 'Tis all so far away.
STRANGER.
Say then: thou gavest me once, there in the wild,
A babe to rear far off as mine own child?
SHEPHERD.
[_His terror returning._
What does this mean? To what end askest thou?
STRANGER.
[_Pointing to_ OEDIPUS.
That babe has grown, friend. 'Tis our master now.
SHEPHERD.
[_He slowly understands, then stands for a moment horror-struck._
No, in the name of death!... Fool, hold thy peace.
[_He lifts his staff at the_ STRANGER.
[Sidenote: vv. 1147-1157]
OEDIPUS.