Oedipus was the son of Laius and Jocasta; and being descended from Venus,
was compelled to endure all the troubles which Juno might choose to inflict
on him, from the hatred she bore to the goddess of beauty.
[Illustration]
No sooner had the marriage of Laius taken place with Jocasta, than it was
foretold by the oracle, that he would fall by the hands {215} of his son.
Alarmed at so fearful a prediction, he resolved not to approach his wife.
Having broken this wise resolution, however, he became the father of
Oedipus, but to avert the oracle, he ordered Jocasta to destroy the infant
immediately he was born. The mother was unable to obey this cruel command,
but gave him in charge to one of her domestics, with directions to leave
him on the mountains. Instead of obeying this order, the servant bored a
hole in the feet of the child, and hung him on a tree on Mount Cithaeron,
where he was soon found by one of the shepherds of Polybus, King of
Corinth.
[Illustration]
The shepherd took him and presented him to Peribaea, the wife of Polybus,
who conceived a maternal tenderness for the deserted child, and adopted him
as her own.
The accomplishments of the boy, who was named Oedipus, soon became the
admiration of the age; he was informed that he was illegitimate, though
Peribaea, when he appealed to her, told him, {216} out of kindness, that
his suspicions were unfounded. He remained dissatisfied however, and
consulted the Delphian oracle, by which he was told not to return home, or
he must inevitably become the murderer of his father, and the husband of
his mother.
[Illustration]
As he travelled towards Phocis, he met, in a narrow passage, Laius, his
father, in a chariot with his arm bearer. Laius insolently ordered the
youth to move out of his way, which Oedipus, not knowing him, and irritated
at his tone and language, refused. A conflict ensued, and Laius with his
companion was slain.
----------------------"'His demeanour bold,
Imperative, and arrogant: from far
He waved his hand, that I should quit the path.
Most narrow was the place, and scarce allowed
To one, free passage. I was incensed
At his deportment, free myself by birth,
Hence I advanced with an undaunted step:
He, with a terrible accent, cried, "Make way."
I, on the other hand, exclaimed with rage,
Returned his menace, and bade him retire.
Already had we met: he from his side,
Unsheathed a dagger, and upon me leap'd.
{217}
I had no dagger, but I lacked not courage.
Me he assailed. I combated his onset,
Grasp'd him, and in less time than I relate it;
Flung him upon the earth: in vain he strove;
When to the contest he perceived himself
Inadequate, insidiously he feigned
Terms of submission: I consented to them:
Quitted my grasp, when treacherously a blow,
Such as thou sees't here, he aimed at me,
And pierced my clothes. The weapon grazed my flesh
The wound is slight, but boundless was my rage.
Blind with revenge I snatched the dagger from him,
And weltering in his blood he lay transfixed.'"