When Oidipous questions Teiresias’s attitude, he uses the word εἰσελήλυθας, which in Athens technically means to come before the court. As a legal term the verb suggests that Teiresias is about to make an accusation. That may be what Oidipous is hoping for; it is why he summoned Teiresias, but the audience is expecting at some point to hear Oidipous named as Laios’ killer, and if double entendre is heard here, Oidipous’s language anticipates that moment while also pointing out that Teiresias has no stomach for the role of accuser. Why not? If Teiresias is a true seer, what keeps him from revealing what he knows? Is he afraid of Oidipous’s reaction (as Chalkas is afraid to name Agamemnon in Iliad, Book I)? Fear of the response raises a problem for the security of all prophets, for if mortals are to enjoy the benefits of access to divine insight, prophets must be protected from retribution. As Athens’ mid-century intervention at Delphi shows, even independent instutional prophets are subject to attempts at forceful control. To request Delphi’s help is an implicit request for correction. One who “comes before” Delphi invites the oracle to deliver an accusation and order correction. To threaten violence or use it against a prophet or seer destroys the potential for salubrious correction. [Mip] [Md] [Mw]