Which creature crawls in its infancy, walks on two legs for the majority of its life barring disability, and often requires a cane to assist with mobility in its old age?
Can YOU solve the Riddle of the Sphinx????
βThe answer is: βA Manβ,β said the Sphinx. βNow, donβt put up a fight, please, it releases unpleasant chemicals into the bloodstream.β
Teppic backed away from a slashing paw. βHold on, hold on,β he said. βWhat do you mean, a man?β
βItβs easy,β said the Sphinx. 'A baby crawls in the morning, stands on both legs at noon, and at evening an old man walks with a stick. Good, isnβt it?β
Teppic bit his lip. 'Weβre talking about one day here?β he said doubtfully.
There was a long, embarrassing silence.
'Itβs a wossname, a figure of speech,β said the Sphinx irritably, making another lunge.
'No, no, look, wait a minute,β said Teppic. 'Iβd like us to be very clear about this, right? I mean, itβs only fair, right?β
'Nothing wrong with the riddle,β said the Sphinx. 'Damn good riddle. Had that riddle for fifty years, sphinx and cub.β It thought about this. 'Chick,β it corrected.
'Itβs a good riddle,β Teppic said soothingly. 'Very deep. Very moving. The whole human condition in a nutshell. But youβve got to admit, this doesnβt all happen to one individual in one day, does it?β
'Well. No,β the Sphinx admitted. 'But that is self-evident from the context. An element of dramatic analogy is present in all riddles,β it added, with the air of one who had heard the phrase a long time ago and rather liked it, although not to the extent of failing to eat the originator.
'Yes, but,β said Teppic crouching down and brushing a clear space on the damp sand, 'is there internal consistency within the metaphor? Letβs say for example that the average life expectancy is seventy years, okay?β
'Okay,β said the Sphinx, in the uncertain tones of someone who has let the salesman in and is now regretfully contemplating a future in which they are undoubtedly going to buy life insurance.
'Right. Good. So noon would be age 35, am I right? Now considering that most children can toddle at a year or so, the four legs reference is really unsuitable, wouldnβt you agree? I mean, most of the morning is spent on two legs. According to your analogyβ he paused and did a few calculations with a convenient thighbone- 'only about twenty minutes immediately after 00.00 hours, half an hour tops, is spent on four legs. Am I right? Be fair.β
'Well-β said the Sphinx.
'By the same token you wouldnβt be using a stick by six p.m. because youβd be only, er, 52,β said Teppic, scribbling furiously. 'In fact you wouldnβt really be looking at any kind of walking aid until at least half past nine, I think. Thatβs on the assumption that the entire lifespan takes place over one day which is, I believe I have already pointed out, ridiculous. Iβm sorry, itβs basically okay, but it doesnβt work.β
'Well,β said the Sphinx, but irritably this time, 'I donβt see what I can do about it. I havenβt got any more. Itβs the only one Iβve ever needed.β
'You just need to alter it a bit, thatβs all.β
'How do you mean?β
'Just make it a bit more realistic.β
'Hmm.β The Sphinx scratched its mane with a claw.
'Okay,β it said doubtfully. 'I suppose I could ask: What is it that walks on four legsββ
'Metaphorically speaking,β said Teppic.
'Four legs, metaphorically speaking,β the Sphinx agreed, 'for aboutββ
'Twenty minutes, I think we agreed.β
'Okay, fine, twenty minutes in the morning, on two legsββ
'But I think calling it in βthe morningβ is stretching it a bit,β said Teppic. 'Itβs just after midnight. I mean, technically itβs the morning, but in a very real sense itβs still last night, what do you think?β
A look of glazed panic crossed the Sphinxβs face.
'What do you think?β it managed.
'Letβs just see where weβve got to, shall we? What, metaphorically speaking, walks on four legs just after midnight, on two legs for most of the dayββ
'Barring accidents,β said the Sphinx, pathetically eager to show that it was making a contribution.
'Fine, on two legs barring accidents, until at least suppertime, when it walks with three legsββ
'Iβve known people use two walking sticks,β said the Sphinx helpfully.
'Okay. How about: when it continues to walk on two legs or with any prosthetic aids of its choice?β
The Sphinx gave this some consideration.
'Ye-ess,β it said gravely. 'That seems to fit all eventualities.β
βPyramids, Terry Pratchett
