_OEdip._ Come forth, AEgeon.--Ha! why start'st thou, Phorbas? Forward, I say, and face to face confront him: Look wistly on him,--through him, if thou canst! And tell me on thy life, say, dost thou know him? Didst thou e'er see him? e'er converse with him Near mount Cithaeron? _Phor._ Who, my lord, this man? _OEdip._ This man, this old, this venerable man: Speak, did'st thou ever meet him there? _Phor._ Where, sacred sir? _OEdip._ Near mount Cithaeron; answer to the purpose, 'Tis a king speaks; and royal minutes are Of much more worth than thousand vulgar years: Did'st thou e'er see this man near mount Cithaeron? _Phor._ Most sure, my lord, I have seen lines like those His visage bears; but know not where, nor when. _AEge._ Is't possible you should forget your ancient friend? There are, perhaps, Particulars, which may excite your dead remembrance. Have you forgot I took an infant from you, Doomed to be murdered in that gloomy vale? The swaddling-bands were purple, wrought with gold. Have you forgot, too, how you wept, and begged That I should breed him up, and ask no more? _Phor._ Whate'er I begged, thou, like a dotard, speak'st More than is requisite; and what of this? Why is it mentioned now? And why, O why Dost thou betray the secrets of thy friend? _AEge._ Be not too rash. That infant grew at last A king; and here the happy monarch stands. _Phor._ Ha! whither would'st thou? O what hast thou uttered! For what thou hast said, death strike thee dumb for ever! _OEdip._ Forbear to curse the innocent; and be Accurst thyself, thou shifting traitor, villain, Damned hypocrite, equivocating slave! _Phor._ O heavens! wherein, my lord, have I offended? _OEdip._ Why speak you not according to my charge? Bring forth the rack: since mildness cannot win you, Torments shall force. _Phor._ Hold, hold, O dreadful sir! You will not rack an innocent old man? _OEdip._ Speak then. _Phor._ Alas! What would you have me say? _OEdip._ Did this old man take from your arms an infant? _Phor._ He did: And, Oh! I wish to all the gods, Phorbas had perished in that very moment. _OEdip._ Moment! Thou shalt be hours, days, years, a dying.-- Here, bind his hands; he dallies with my fury: But I shall find a way-- _Phor._ My lord, I said I gave the infant to him. _OEdip._ Was he thy own, or given thee by another? _Phor._ He was not mine, but given me by another. _OEdip._ Whence? and from whom? what city? of what house? _Phor._ O, royal sir, I bow me to the ground; Would I could sink beneath it! by the gods, I do conjure you to inquire no more. _OEdip._ Furies and hell! Haemon, bring forth the rack, Fetch hither cords, and knives, and sulphurous flames: He shall be bound and gashed, his skin flead off, And burnt alive. _Phor._ O spare my age. _OEdip._ Rise then, and speak. _Phor._ Dread sir, I will. _OEdip._ Who gave that infant to thee? _Phor._ One of king Laius' family.