The OEdipus tyrannus of Sophocles; with English notes ... By Howard Crosby ...

ARGUU ENT.
LAIMU, King of Thebes, had been forewarned by the oracle, that his
son should be his murderer; and should become the husband of his
wife Jocasta. He, accordingly, determined to destroy whatever male
children should be born to him. In pursuance of this resolution, he
gave his newly-born son CEdipus* to a servant to be exposed on Mount
Cithaeron. The babe was, however, rescued and carried to Polybus,
King of Corinth, by whom he was nourished. When the chlild had
become a man, he learned from the oracle that he should be the murderer of his father, and tlie husband of his mother. To avoid such
issues he fled from Corinth, supposing thus he was leaving his own
parents. This very step prepared the fulfilment of the prophecy. For
as he was journeying through Phocis, he met a chariot carrying a man
of distinction, who was accompanied by several attendants. Being
ordered to remove out of the way by the charioteer, he refused. A
contest arose, in which (Edipus slew his opponents, one servant alone
escaping. On arriving at Thebes, CEdipus found the people in great
grief, by reason of the presence of the Sphynx (a monster, part woman,
part lion, and part bird), who had propounded a riddle to the citizens,
and was destroying them one by one until they should-solve it. As
the King Laius was dead, the citizens promised the- kingdom and
Laius' widow to any one who should solve the riddle, and thus rid the
* Edipus was not so called by his parents, but by Polybus, as having " swollen
feet," by reason of his exposure, thongs having been passed through then