Oedipus, speak! What is it troubles thee? OEDIPUS. Ask me not yet. But say, what build, what height Had Laius? Rode he full of youth and might? JOCASTA. Tall, with the white new gleaming on his brow He walked. In shape just such a man as thou. OEDIPUS. God help me! I much fear that I have wrought A curse on mine own head, and knew it not. JOCASTA. How sayst thou? O my King, I look on thee And tremble. [Sidenote: vv. 747-760] OEDIPUS (_to himself_). Horror, if the blind can see! Answer but one thing and 'twill all be clear. JOCASTA. Speak. I will answer though I shake with fear. OEDIPUS. Went he with scant array, or a great band Of armed followers, like a lord of land? JOCASTA. Four men were with him, one a herald; one Chariot there was, where Laius rode alone. OEDIPUS. Aye me! Tis clear now. Woman, who could bring To Thebes the story of that manslaying? JOCASTA. A house-thrall, the one man they failed to slay. OEDIPUS. The one man...? Is he in the house to-day? JOCASTA. Indeed no. When he came that day, and found Thee on the throne where once sat Laius crowned, He took my hand and prayed me earnestly [Sidenote: vv. 761-779] To send him to the mountain heights, to be A herdsman, far from any sight or call Of Thebes. And there I sent him. 'Twas a thrall Good-hearted, worthy a far greater boon. OEDIPUS. Canst find him? I would see this herd, and soon. JOCASTA. 'Tis easy. But what wouldst thou with the herd? OEDIPUS. I fear mine own voice, lest it spoke a word Too much; whereof this man must tell me true. JOCASTA. The man shall come.--My lord, methinks I too Should know what fear doth work thee this despite. OEDIPUS. Thou shalt. When I am tossed to such an height Of dark foreboding, woman, when my mind Faceth such straits as these, where should I find A mightier love than thine? My father--thus I tell thee the whole tale--was Polybus, In Corinth King; my mother Merope Of Dorian line. And I was held to be The proudest in Corinthia, till one day A thing befell: strange was it, but no way Meet for such wonder and such rage as mine. A feast it was, and some one flushed with wine [Sidenote: vv. 780-807]