“Untouchable” (ἅθικτον) repeats a word sung by the Chorus in the preceding strophe when it cursed anyone who works folly by touching things untouchable (ἀθίκτων; l. 891). Vowing no “no longer” to approach the untouchable, the Athenian chorus (Or is it resuming its role as the Theban collective?) seems to acknowledge that it has in fact been guilty of wrongdoing towards the god and to be in the midst of pledging never again to do so. Yet in what sense have the Thebans been touching what they should not? It is Oidipous who has been touching the untouchable mother. The townfolk’s impiety seems to have consisted in looking to Oidipous to serve in a god’s stead. As the Athenian audience may already have applied this charge to itself (m867), the pledge challenges the audience to consider doing likewise—to acknowledge its wrongdoing, such as extortion of its client cities, and to commit itself no longer to touch that which the god has proscribed. [Gt-a] [P] [Mg]