Page:Sophocles' King Oedipus.pdf/44

34. Ah, my son, it is plain enough, you do not know what you do.

. How, old man? For the gods’ love, tell me.

. If for these reasons you shrink from going home.

. I am afraid lest Phoebus has spoken true.

. You are afraid of being made guilty through Merope?

. That is my constant fear.

. A vain fear.

. How so, if I was born of that father and mother?

. Because they were nothing to you in blood.

. What do you say? Was Poly­bius not my father?

. No more nor less than myself.

. How can my father be no more to me than you who are nothing to me?

. He did not beget you any more than I.

. No? Then why did he call me his son?

. He took you as a gift from these hands of mine.

. How could he love so dearly what came from another’s hands?

. He had been childless.