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44 . Ho thou, old man—I would have thee look this way, and answer all that I ask thee.—Thou wast once in the service of Laïus?

I was—a slave not bought, but reared in his house.

. Employed in what labour, or what way of life?

. For the best part of my life I tended flocks.

. And what the regions that thou didst chiefly haunt?

. Sometimes it was Cithaeron, sometimes the neighbouring ground.

. Then wottest thou of having noted yon man in these parts—

. Doing what?…What man dost thou mean?…

. This man here—or of having ever met him before?

. Not so that I could speak at once from memory.

. And no wonder, master. But I will bring clear recollection to his ignorance. I am sure that he well wots of the time when we abode in the region of Cithaeron,—he with two flocks, I, his comrade, with one,—three full half-years, from spring to Arcturus; and then for the winter I used to drive my flock to mine own fold, and he took his to the fold of Laïus. Did aught of this happen as I tell, or did it not?

. Thou speakest the truth—though 'tis long ago.

. Come, tell me now—wottest thou of having