然而，即便如此，俄狄浦斯依然无法保持沉默。忒修斯将他宾客的两个女儿追回后，说了一句：“我的一个亲人——尽管不是来自忒拜的，但现在已经到达科罗诺斯，并在我刚刚进行祭祀的波塞冬神庙前圣坛上跪下祈祷。” “这是我的儿子波吕尼刻斯！” 俄狄浦斯愤怒地说，“除了仇恨，他什么也不配得到。我甚至不愿再和他说话。” 但安提戈涅却喜欢这个哥哥，因为她知道他是两个兄弟中较为温顺慈爱的一位。因此，她劝她的父亲不要再生气，并支持至少听听那个不幸的儿子的来意。俄狄浦斯请求他的保护者准备好帮助他，万一来人企图用武力将他带走。他然后召见了他的儿子。

开始时，波吕尼刻斯的态度与其舅父克瑞翁大相径庭，而安提戈涅也成功地使她父亲注意到了这一点。“我看见一个人正向这边走来，”她喊道，“他独自一人来，且满面流泪。” 俄狄浦斯只把头转开问：“是他么？” “亲爱的父亲，这正是他，”她回答。“你的儿子波吕尼刻斯已站在你的面前。”

波吕尼刻斯跪在了他的父亲面前并抱住了他的双膝。他抬头看着自己的父亲，看见的是穿着乞丐服装、满脸尘土、两眼空洞、灰白色头发随风飘动的人物，他的心里充满了悲哀。“我看到这一切太晚了！” 他悲叹道，“我悔改——我诅咒自己——我忘记了我的父亲！倘若不是我的妹妹侍奉着你，你会变成什么样？啊，我恳求你！你能饶恕我吗？你沉默吗？啊，请开口，不要这样愤怒地转过头去！”

“请通知我们您为什么而到这里，” 安提戈涅温柔地说，“或许您的言语能够触动您那苦难嘴唇的话语吧！” 因此，波吕尼刻斯特ells them about how his brothers drove him out of Thebes, how he fled to Argos, where King Adrastus received him and gave him one of his daughters in marriage. He also tells them about the seven kings who allied with him to pursue a noble cause and besieged Thebes.

But despite his son's repentance, this deeply wounded man remains unmoved. "You wretched villain!" he shouts without allowing the supplicant to rise. "When you had power over throne and sceptre, you chased your father away. You yourself dressed him in beggar's rags, and now that you have met the same misfortune, you are only moved by it. You and your brother are not my true sons. If I were to rely on you, I would be dead already. But divine retribution awaits you both - death among your own blood."

Boeotian citizens were amazed at this sudden turn of events as they saw their king standing tall amidst the chaos around him.

The stormy sky above seemed to reflect the turmoil within as thunder boomed across the heavens while lightning flashed ominously through clouds like veins on an ancient parchment.

As for Boeotian citizens who bore witness to these events were left dumbfounded by what was unfolding before their eyes—how their once wise leader stood firm amidst such chaos—their voices silenced by awe-inspiring sight of nature’s fury unleashed upon mortal men.

With a heavy heart filled with sorrow but determination unbroken—a steadfast resolve etched upon each face—the people remained frozen in time waiting for whatever fate may bring forth from this tempestuous day that shook even Mount Olympus itself!