That Oidipous now feels he has no strength even to look into the future for his children stands in extreme contrast to the rest of his life, when he felt he had sufficient strength to thwart a god. He expended his effort, however, in a futile contest. Had he then set his own strength below that of the god, he would now have it left to work with. And had he then dedicated himself to cooperating with Apollo, he would now have that god at his side. His comment that he has not the strength to look into the future recalls that the god has afforded him more than one opportunity to look into the future. Had he directed his strength to compliance with prophecy rather than resistance to it, he would now have no difficulty in foreseeing a happy future for himself, his family, and his city. [Mp] [Mip] [Mw]