Oedipus
What say’st thou? was not Polybus my sire?
Messenger
As much thy sire as I am, and no more.
Oedipus
My sire no more to me than one who is naught!
Messenger
Since I begat thee not, no more did he.
Oedipus
What reason had he then to call me son?
Messenger
Know that he took thee from my hands, a gift.
Oedipus
Yet, if no child of his, he loved me well.