Reasoning that the townsmen must have seen this old man before, Oidipous concludes his recognition of the shepherd by deferring to them for confirmation, but the significance of the shepherd’s advanced age, which serves Oidipous as a basis for identification, will add to the audience’s awareness of his limitations, for he is unable to use the same powers of reasoning, inference by similarity (σύμμετρος), to solve the riddle of his own identity. His own word undermine the value of that skill upon which his entire reputation and capacity to rule are based. [Mp] [Mg] If the audience supposes that Apollo is again speaking (as might be indicated by the plural subject “we” of the verb seek), it will understand that the god wishes to make it clear that Oidipous’s legitimacy as a ruler is based upon an error; whether it takes the form of tyranny or hegemony, such power properly derives from the gods and depends more upon their aid than upon individual skills and capacities. [Gd] [Ad] [Mg] [Apc]