“These” (τῶνδ’) can be read on two levels: while he means to compare his respect for his wife to his respect for the townspeople, Oidipous has no good reason to compare Iokaste’s right to receive information to that of the general population, for he has not denied them information and they have in any case witnessed all the verbal exchanges that she has missed. The verb σέβω, “reverence,” connotes respect for the gods, whom Oidipous ought to respect and whom Iokaste has just invoked. If the definite article is taken to refer to the gods, however, Oidipous appears to set his respect for them below his respect for his wife. The double entendre points up an improper attitude that challenges the audience to identify in what respect Oidipous respects the gods too little. [Gd] [Md] [P]