Epeisodion 4
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?
1045
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.
1050
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?
1055
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.
1060
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.
1065
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.
1070
Iocasta
Alas, alas, miserable man—that word alone can I say to you—and no other word ever again. She rushes into the palace.
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.
1075
Oedipus
Break forth what will! Be my race ever so lowly, I crave to learn it. That woman perhaps—for she is proud with more than a woman’s pride—feels ashamed of my lowly origin. But I, who hold myself son of Fortune
that gives good, will not be dishonored. She is the mother from whom I spring, and the months, my kinsmen, have marked me sometimes lowly, sometimes great. Such being my heritage, never more can I prove
1080
false to it, or keep from searching out the secret of my birth.
1085
