If the shepherd confirms that it was robbers, plural, Oedipus must be innocent - but if he mentions a lone traveller, then ... he must be guilty. But Jocasta says it's too late for the man to change his story - and anyway, Laius' death won't fit the prophecy, that a son of hers was supposed to kill him. The couple go into the house. The Chorus sing. What do they think?

• They can no longer trust the gods
• Their rulers do not respect the gods
• The gods will make certain their prophecies are fulfilled