Page:Tragedies of Sophocles (Jebb 1917).djvu/57

1143—1162] given me a boy in those days, to be reared as mine own foster-son?

. What now? Why dost thou ask the question?

. Yonder man, my friend, is he who then was young.

. Plague seize thee—be silent once for all!

. Ha! chide him not, old man—thy words need chiding more than his.

. And wherein, most noble master, do I offend?

. In not telling of the boy concerning whom he asks.

. He speaks without knowledge—he is busy to no purpose.

. Thou wilt not speak with a good grace, but thou shalt on pain.

. Nay, for the gods' love, misuse not an old man!

. Ho, some one—pinion him this instant!

. Alas, wherefore? what more wouldst thou learn?

. Didst thou give this man the child of whom he asks?

. I did,—and would I had perished that day!

. Well, thou wilt come to that, unless thou tell the honest truth.

. Nay, much more am I lost, if I speak.

. The fellow is bent, methinks, on more delays…

. No, no!—I said before that I gave it to him.

. Whence hadst thou got it? In thine own house, or from another?