Page:Works of Voltaire Volume 16.djvu/225

PHORBAS.

The child to death—— What dost thou say? remember,
Remember what?

ICARUS.

Remember what? Thou hast no cause to fear;
Be not alarmed: thou mayest rejoice, that infant
Was——Œdipus.

PHORBAS.

Was——Œdipus. The lightning blast thee, wretch!
What hast thou said?

ICARUS.

What hast thou said? Doubt not, my lord, whatever
[To Œdipus.
This Theban says, he gave thee to my arms;
Thy fate is known; this old man is thy father.

ŒDIPUS.

What complicated misery! Alas!
[To Phorbas.
If thou art indeed my father, will the gods
Ever suffer me to shed thy blood?

PHORBAS.

Ever suffer me to shed thy blood? O no!
For thou art not my son.

ŒDIPUS.

For thou art not my son. And didst not thou
Expose me in my infancy?

PHORBAS.

Expose me in my infancy? My lord,
Permit me to retire, and hide from thee
The dreadful truth.