Countering (ἀλλὰ) that the gods will not grant his wish to subject himself to the suffering he deems best because they hate him most (ἔχθιστος), Oidipous gives Apollo grounds for resentment; he insists upon the right to judge himself. This insistence is altogether consistent with his behavior throughout his life; it is what set him at loggerheads with Apollo when the god informed him that he must sacrifice his father. The superlative ἔχθιστος is formed from the adjective ἐχθρός meaning “hostile” or “averse” and the noun means “enemy.” It is precisely by pitting himself against Apollo that he has shown himself to be the god’s enemy. Thus, where he means that he is hated by Apollo, he can be heard to say that he is the most hostile of mortals (only his parents could compare) towards Apollo. His adversity to divine command makes him of all mortals most difficult for Apollo to work with. [Gd] [Md] [P] [Dnc]