It was not an option for Teiresias not to come—Oidipous had sent a double escort to fetch him. He had to come, but he hopes not to have to speak, and therefore he claims to have forgotten what he has long since known. This seems to raise the question, whether a ruler can compel a man to speak. (Oidipous has already acknowledged that a man cannot compel a god to do so.) It is also becoming apparent that a god can compel a man to speak—he appears to have been making frequent comments through Oidipous. The seer serves both man and god, but he speaks for the god and gives the god precedence. Therefore, it should not be proper for a man to coerce his speech. The status of prophet or seer confers the privilege to speek or not, as the god wishes. [Mip]