The word ἔφυν—here: “I am by nature” stems from the verb’s root meaning: to beget. This word should prompt the audience to recall Oidipous’s begetting by Laios through an act that had been explicitly proscribed by the god. [Gd] If Oidipous has inherited his father’s trait for independent action “by nature,” then, like his father, he is thinking badly. [Md] [Mpea] Certainly like his father he has engaged in proscribed sexual acts, even with the selfsame woman. On the other hand, unlike his father Oidipous has gone to great lengths to avoid this impropriety. [P] How then can he be justly faulted for it? [Aj]