Oidipous’s focus is on bringing the witness back to the palace; like Iokaste he seems not to have noted that the witness appeared to have something to hide in relation to Laios’ death and his own accession to power. Since for Oidipous everything now rides on the veracity of the slave’s testimony, one would expect him to note the oddness of his request and perhaps even to anticipate that he may have falsified his report of Laios’ killing out of fear of punishment or shame. That Oidipous makes no mention of any of these possibilities suggests that he, like Iokaste, is not always equally perceptive or equally consequential with his rationality even when he receives clear indications that closer attention is warranted. The audience, on the other hand, understanding that the witness most feared an interview like the one that Oidipous has now begun to pursue, can anticipate that the witness will be reluctant to offer new testimony. Thus, the audience can recognize how problematic it will be to establish the relative credibility of circumstantial evidence and prophecy. [Md] [Mi] [Mpew]