he once went to a festival, where his proud
manners so provoked one of his companions, that he taunted him with
being only a foundling. OEdipus, seeing the frightened faces around
him, now for the first time began to think that perhaps he had not been
told the truth about his parentage. So he consulted an oracle.

Instead of giving him a plain answer,--a thing which the oracles were
seldom known to do,--the voice said, "OEdipus, beware! You are doomed
to kill your father, marry your mother, and bring destruction upon your
native city!"

Horrified at this prophecy, and feeling sure that the King and Queen of
Corinth were his parents, and that the oracle's predictions threatened
misfortunes to them, OEdipus made up his mind to leave home forever.
He did not even dare to return to bid his family good-by, and he started
out alone and on foot to seek his fortunes elsewhere.

As he walked, he thought of his misfortunes, and grew very bitter
against the cruel goddess of fate, whom he had been taught to fear. He
fancied that this goddess could rule things as she pleased, and that it
was she who had said he would commit the dreadful crimes which he was
trying to avoid.

After several days' aimless wandering, OEdipus came at last to some
crossroads. There he met an old man riding in a chariot, and preceded by
a herald, who haughtily bade OEdipus make way for his master.

As OEdipus had been brought up as a prince, he was in the habit of
seeing everybody make way for him. He therefore proudly refused to stir;
and when the herald raised his staff to strike, OEdipus drew his sword
and killed him.

The old man, indignant at this deed of violence, stepped out of his
chariot and attacked OEdipus. Now, the young man did not know that it
was his father Laius whom he thus met for the first time, so he fell
upon and killed him also. The servants too were all slain when they in
turn attacked him; and then OEdipus calmly continued his journey,
little suspecting that the first part of the oracle's prediction had
been fulfilled.

Soon after this fight, OEdipus came to the city of Thebes. The streets
were filled with excited people, all talking at once; and the young
prince, in listening to what they said, soon learned the cause of their
excitement.

[Illustration: After a few moments' deep thought, OEdipus answered.]

It seems that a terrible monster called the Sphinx had taken up its
station on one of the principal roads leading t