Speaking in the first-person plural, Oidipous now numbers himself among a metaphorical group of citizen suppliants (ἱκτήριοι) like those earlier gathered prostrate like dogs around the altar in the center of the orchestra. Yet, projecting the image of himself assuming the position earlier taken by the priest and suppliants around his own feet, not only does Oidipous only claim to grovel before the prophet (when in fact he remains upright on his feet), he cannot really mean to seek the protection of one whom he mistrusts and in whose legitimate connection to the god he seems to have no faith. If one does seek the protection of a higher power, surely one must submit genuinely, humbly, and without reservation to that power. [P] [Me] [Md]