Now that he had reached the warm country, the Sparrow rested from his long and wearisome journey, flew about lazily, and spent each night in a different tree.
One day he came to a beautiful green stream and flew along its course. He came to a great, large plain. At first he thought he had reached the ocean again, but as far as he could see lay fine yellow sand. In the distance he saw something rising out of the sand which looked like a monstrous animal. He flew closer to it and saw that it really was a gigantic creature with the head of a human being and two large paws. It was made of grey-brown stone and was partly covered with sand.
The ugly animal lay quite still and grinned angrily. The Sparrow curtseyed carefully: would the beast wish to eat him? But no, it graciously acknowledged his greeting and said: “I have been lying here thousands of years, yet I have never seen a bird like you. Who are you? What are you doing here?”
The Sparrow related his story and the great beast listened patiently. Then the little bird inquired, “Will you tell me who you are? We have no animals like you at home.”
The great beast laughed and replied, “People call me the Sphinx. I am so old that I have lost count of my years; have seen everything, know everything.” [[31]]
“In my country the Owls say that, too,” was the Sparrow’s pert remark.
The Sphinx looked at him angrily. “The Owl is a conceited boaster!” he cried excitedly.
“Excuse me!” stammered the Sparrow, frightened. “I did not wish to insult you. You look much older than the Owl.”
“Indeed I am. I count my years by the thousands.”
“How much you must have seen!” cried the Sparrow.