The stranger has just called Oidipous “son” (at 1008) to which Oidipous responded by addressing him as “old man” (γεραιέ; l. 1009), but here he fittingly calls the stranger πρέσβυ: “old man,” “elder,” or “ambassador.” Performance of an ambassador’s duties requires a heightened awareness of verbal nuance and a high degree of self-control. The stranger from Corinth does not, however, appear to possess either of these qualities; the mission he has conceived for himself seems therefore bound to fail. He nevertheless seems likely to realize the god’s plan, which suggests that the god can make use of any mortal, even one unaware of nuance and lacking self-control, to carry his message and perform his errands. [Mpei] [Apcmu] [Apamu]