Great, I know. But my fear is of her who lives. Messenger And who is the woman about whom you fear? Oedipus Merope, old man, the consort of Polybus. Messenger And what is it in her that moves your fear? Oedipus A divine oracle of dread import, stranger. Messenger Proper, or improper, for another to know? Oedipus Proper, surely. Loxias once said that I was doomed to marry my own mother, and to shed with my own hands my father’s blood. For which
 reasons I long shirked my home in Corinth—with a happy outcome, to be sure, but
 still it is sweet to see the face of one’s parents. Messenger Was it really for fear of this that you became an exile from that city? Oedipus And because I did not wish, old man, to be the murderer of my father. Messenger Why have I not relieved you of this second fear, my lord, since I came to give you pleasure? Oedipus And indeed you will have worthy thanks from me. Messenger And indeed I came specially for this, that I might profit from your returning home. Oedipus But by no means will I ever go near my parents again. Messenger My son, it is crystal clear that you do not know what you are doing. Oedipus How so, old man? In the name of the gods, tell me. Messenger If on account of this you are fleeing from returning home. Oedipus Fearing indeed lest Apollo’s prophecy come true in me. Messenger Lest you acquire some pollution from your parents? Oedipus This very thing, old man, this constantly frightens me. Messenger Do you know, then, that your fears are wholly in vain? Oedipus How so, if I was born of those parents? Messenger Because you had no blood in common with Polybus. Oedipus What are you saying? Was Polybus not my father? Messenger Just as much, and no more, than he who speaks to you. Oedipus And how can my father be equal to him who is as though nothing to me? Messenger But he did not father you, any more than I did. Oedipus How, then, did he call me his son? Messenger Long ago he received you as a gift from my hands.