To Oidipous’s question, how the witness might be brought before him quickly, Iokaste’s response is ambiguous; πάρεστιν might mean, “He is near at hand,” but since the witness is not literally present and presumably still lives as far as possible from the palace, she might simply mean that he is near enough to be fetched. It might also be taken to mean, “It is possible” or “it is in my power.” As none of these readings entirely fits, the audience might explore the possibility of double entendre, and it might then hear Apollo underscore Iokaste’s reassurance that an appropriate witness, one in whose power it is to settle the issue of relative credibility, though unseen is present. [Gd] [Apc]