"Alas! young man, that none can say. For he that would solve the riddle must go up alone to the rock where she sits. Then and there she chants the riddle, and if he answer it not forthwith she tears him limb from limb. And if none go up to try the riddle, then she swoops down upon the city and carries off her victims, and spares not woman or child. Our wisest and bravest have gone up and our eyes have seen them no more. Now there is no man left who dare face the terrible beast." Then OEdipus said, "I will go up and face this monster. It must be a hard riddle indeed if I cannot answer it." "Oh, overbold and rash," they cried, "thinkest thou to succeed where so many have failed?" "Better to try, and fail, than never to try at all." "Yet, where failure is death, surely a man should think twice?" "A man can die but once, and how better than in trying to save his fellows?" As they looked at his strong young limbs and his fair young face they pitied him. "Stranger," they said, "who art thou to throw away thy life thus heedlessly? Are there none at home to mourn thee and no kingdom thou shouldst rule? For, of a truth, thou art a king's son and no common man." "Nay, were I to return, my home would be plunged in mourning and woe, and the people would drive me from my father's house." They marvelled at his answer, but dared question him no further; and, seeing that nothing would turn him from his purpose, they showed him the path to the Sphinx's rock, and all the people went out with him to the gate with prayers and blessings. At the gate they left him, for he who goes up to face the Sphinx must go alone, and none can stand by and help him. So he went through the Crenean gate and across the stream of Dirce into the wide plain, and the mountain of the Sphinx stood out dark and clear on the other side. Then he prayed to Pallas Athene, the grey-eyed goddess of Wisdom, and she took all fear from his heart. So he went up boldly to the rock, where the monster sat waiting to spring upon her prey; yet for all his courage his heart beat fast as he looked on her. For at first she appeared like a mighty bird, with great wings of bronze and gold, and the glancing sunbeams played about them, casting a halo of light around, and in the midst of the halo her face shone out pale and beautiful as a star at dawn. But when she saw him coming near, a greedy fire lit up her eyes, and she put out her cruel claws and lashed her tail from side to side like an angry lion waiting for his prey. Nevertheless, OEdipus spoke to her fair and softly, "Oh, lady, I am come to hear thy famous riddle and answer it or die." "Foolhardy manling, a dainty morsel the gods have sent this day, with thy fair young face and fresh young limbs." And she licked her cruel lips.