ll loved him dearly, and went to him for advice in
all their troubles. Finally the good times came to an end; and the
people were again terrified, because a plague, or great sickness, broke
out in the city, and many of the inhabitants died.

All kinds of medicines were tried, but without effect; and all the gods
were asked to lend their aid. In despair, OEdipus sent a messenger to
Delphi to ask the oracle how the disease could be stopped. The oracle
for once gave a plain answer, and said that the plague would cease only
when the murderer of Laius had been found and punished.

Investigations were now made for the first time, and it was found that
OEdipus was the one who had slain the king. At the same time, the
servant confessed that he had not killed the royal child; and the
shepherd told how he had found the babe and carried him to Corinth,
where he had been adopted by the king.

When OEdipus heard all this, he was driven almost mad with despair;
for now he knew not only that he had murdered his father and married his
mother, but that it was on his account that the plague had caused the
death of so many people in Thebes.

In her horror and grief at this discovery, Queen Jocasta killed herself.
When OEdipus learned that she was dead, he ran into the room where she
lay, and took one of the buckles which fastened her dress and put out
his eyes with it, saying, that, since they had beheld such a sorrowful
sight, they should never again see the light of day.

To rid the city of his accursed presence, and thus, if possible, save it
from the threatened destruction, OEdipus banished himself, and
wandered away, old, blind, and poor, for he would take none of his
riches with him.

He departed sorrowfully, leaving his kingdom to his two sons,
E-te'o-cles and Pol-y-ni'ces, and telling them to care for their
sisters, An-tig'o-ne and Is-me'ne.

Ismene wept bitterly when she said good-by to her father; but Antigone
placed her father's hand upon her shoulder, said that she would never
forsake him, and left the city, tenderly supporting and guiding him.

Father and daughter wandered thus from place to place, finding no rest;
for all the people shrank from even looking upon OEdipus, who, they
said, was evidently accursed by the gods, since he had committed such
frightful crimes.

After many days' wandering and much fatigue, the exiles arrived at last
on the border of a dark forest held sacred to the Furies,--the goddesses
who