Herdsman: Why dost thou ask this question? What of that?
Messenger: Friend, he that stands before thee was that child.
Herdsman: A plague upon thee! Hold thy wanton tongue!
Oedipus: Softly, old man, rebuke him not; thy words Are more deserving chastisement than his.
Herdsman: O best of masters, what is my offence?
Oedipus: Not answering what he asks about the child.
Herdsman: He speaks at random, babbles like a fool.
Oedipus: If thou lack’st grace to speak, I’ll loose thy tongue.
Herdsman: For mercy’s sake abuse not an old man.
Oedipus: Arrest the villain, seize and pinion him!
Herdsman: Alack, alack! What have I done? what wouldst thou further learn?
Oedipus: Didst give this man the child of whom he asks?
Herdsman: I did; and would that I had died that day!
Oedipus: And die thou shalt unless thou tell the truth.
Herdsman: But, if I tell it, I am doubly lost.
Oedipus: The knave methinks will still prevaricate.
Herdsman: Nay, I confessed I gave it long ago.
Oedipus: Whence came it? was it thine, or given to thee?
Herdsman: I had it from another, ’twas not mine.
Oedipus: From whom of these our townsmen, and what house?
Herdsman: Forbear for God’s sake, master, ask no more.
Oedipus: If I must question thee again, thou’rt lost.
Herdsman: Well then—it was a child of Laius’ house.
Oedipus: Slave-born or one of Laius’ own race?
Herdsman: Ah me! I stand upon the perilous edge of speech.