suppliant

one praying humbly for something

My children, latest born to Cadmus old,

Why sit ye here as suppliants, in your hands
Branches of olive filleted with wool?

venerable
impressive by reason of age

Ho! aged sire, whose venerable locks

Proclaim thee spokesman of this company,
Explain your mood and purport.

Another definition of "venerable" is "profoundly honored"--this would also be a fitting description

of the priest's status among everyone praying, but Oedipus picks the priest out of the crowd
because of his age and white hair, which are assumed to be connected to wisdom and worthy of
respect.

obdurate
showing unfeeling resistance to tender feelings

Ruthless indeed were I and obdurate

If such petitioners as you I spurned.