He has made a rascal seer his mouth piece: as for himself, he keeps his lips wholly pure. Iocasta Then absolve yourself of the things about which you are speaking. Listen to me, and take comfort in learning that nothing of mortal birth shares in the science of the seer. I will give you a pithy proof of this. An oracle came to Laius once—I will not say from Phoebus himself, but from his ministers—saying that he would suffer his doom at the hands of the child to be born to him and me. And Laius—as, at least, the rumor goes—was murdered one day by foreign robbers at a place
 where the three highways meet. And the child’s birth was not yet three days
 past, when Laius pinned his ankles together and had him thrown, by others’
 hands, on a remote mountain. So, in that case, Apollo did not bring it to pass that the child should become the slayer
 of his father, or that Laius should suffer that which he feared, death at the
 hands of his child: thus the messages of the seer’s art had mapped out the
 future. Pay them no regard. Whatever necessary event the god seeks, he himself will easily bring to light. Oedipus What restlessness of soul, lady, what tumult has come upon me since I heard you speak! Iocasta What anxiety has startled you, that you say this? Oedipus I thought that I heard this from you—that Laius was slain where the three roads meet. Icasta Yes, that was the report, and so it is still thought. Oedipus And where is the place where this occurred? Iocasta The land is called Phocis ; the branching forks lead to the same spot from Delphi and from Daulia. Oedipus And how much time has passed since these events took place? Iocasta The news was announced to the town shortly before you first attained power over this land. Oedipus O Zeus, what have you decreed for me? Iocasta Why, Oedipus, does this matter weigh upon your heart? Oedipus Do not ask me yet. Tell me rather what stature Laius had, and how ripe his manhood was. Iocasta He was tall—the silver just lightly strewn among his hair—and his form was not greatly unlike your own. Oedipus Unhappy that I am! I think that I have laid myself under a terrible curse without realizing it. Iocasta How do you mean? I tremble when I look at you, my lord. Oedipus I have dread fears that the seer can see. But you will reveal the matter better if you tell me one thing more. Iocasta Indeed, though I tremble, I will hear and answer all that you ask. Oedipus Did he go with a small force, or like a chieftain, with many armed followers? Iocasta Five they were in all—a herald among them—and there was one carriage which bore Laius. Oedipus Alas! It is all clear now! Who gave you this information, lady? Iocasta A servant, the only survivor who returned home. Oedipus Is he by any chance in the house now? Iocasta No. Soon after he returned and found you ruling in Laius’ stead,