Oidipous’s words (as related by the staffperson) reveal that his mind grasps his predicament in terms of the same agricultural metaphor employed by the Chorus (“furrows,” ll. 1211-13) and Iokaste (“seed,” l. 1246). The appropriateness of this metaphor to the manifestation of Thebes’ pollution in the form of a plague on crops again suggests the god’s unerring control of Oidipous’s speech even when he himself cannot think clearly. [Gd] [Apcmu] That Apollo is directing him now to speak in metaphorical language that suits the long-term large-scale action wrought to bring this moment to pass bespeaks not only the power and consistency of the god’s conception but also the god’s intention to make apparent to mortals his advantages and his capacity to realize them. [Ad] [Apa] Association with the plague will again prompt the audience to give consideration to the possible link between the plague in Athens and Athenian attitudes toward prophecy. [Apaon] [Mpea] [Mip] In this light the plague in Athens will be seen as the god’s doing, and the apparently rational and independent discourse of the city’s leaders as they reassure the citizenry that it can safely ignore prophecy may be expected soon to take the form of a manic and mantic raving that expresses the superiority of the god’s capacity to make good his prophetic word. [Gt-a]