The King had not gone very far outside the limits of his dominions when he met a Sphinx.  He had often heard of these creatures, although he had never seen one before.  But when he saw the winged body of a lion with a woman’s head, he knew instantly what it was.  He knew, also, that the chief business of a Sphinx was that of asking people questions, and then getting them into trouble if the right answers were not given.  He therefore determined that he would not be caught by any such tricks as these, and that he would be on his guard if the Sphinx spoke to him.  The creature was lying down when the King first saw it, but when he approached nearer it rose to its feet.  There was nothing savage about its look, and the King was not at all afraid.

“Where are you going?” said the Sphinx to him, in a pleasant voice.

“Give it up,” replied the King.

“What do you mean by that?” said the other, with an air of surprise.

“I give that up, too,” said the King.

The Sphinx then looked at him quite astonished.

“I don’t mind telling you,” said the King, “of my own free will, and not in answer to any questions, that I do not know where I am going.  I am a King, as you may have noticed, and I have been banished from my kingdom for a year.  I am now going to look into the government of other countries in order that I may find out what it is that is wrong in my own kingdom.  Every thing goes badly, and there is something very faulty at the bottom of it all.  What this is I want to discover.”

“I am much interested in puzzles and matters of that kind,” said the Sphinx, “and if you like I will go with you and help to find out what is wrong in your kingdom.”

“All right,” said the King.  “I shall be glad of your company.”

“What is the meaning of this long line of people following you at regular distances?” asked the Sphinx.

“Give it up,” said the King.

The Sphinx laughed.

“I don’t mind telling you,” said the King, “of my own free will, and not in answer to any question, that these men form a line of communication between me and my kingdom, where matters, I fear, must be going on worse than ever, in my absence.”

The two now travelled on together until they came to a high hill, from which they could see, not very far away, a large city.

“That city,” said the Sphinx, “is the capital of an extensive country.  It is governed by a king of mingled sentiments.  Suppose we go there.  I think you will find a government that is rather peculiar.”

The King consented, and they walked down the hill toward the city.

“How did the King get his sentiments mingled?” asked the King.