...ever since Laius became a father against the will of the gods, begetting hapless Oedipus to be his own mother's husband. That bloody destruction of his eyes was planned by the gods as an example to Hellas ; and the sons of Oedipus went foolishly astray in wishing to throw over it the veil of time—as if they could outrun the gods! For by robbing their father of his due honor and allowing him no ...