When Oedipus was grown up, 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 goodby, 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.
