The MSS. have ‘Pandarus’, but ‘Pindar’ is a likely correction. Yet Plutarch cannot have supposed Pindar to have written this iambic line. It is quoted by Aristophanes, _Peace_, 699, in connexion with the stinginess of Sophocles _or_ Simonides, and the scholiast quotes from Pindar a censure of that vice in a poet: so some confusion is possible. Footnote 115: _Oeconom._ 7, 4 foll. Footnote 116: In the _Stheneboea_. Footnote 117: _Isthm._ 2, 3. Footnote 118: Fr. 16 (Nauck). Footnote 119: _Isthm._ 1, 69. Footnote 120: Fr. 707. Footnote 121: So Cobet (for Cinesons). Footnote 122: _Phoen._ 958. Footnote 123: See Herod. 4, 155 foll. and Pind. _Pyth._ 4. There is something amiss with Plutarch’s text here. Footnote 124: See his _Life_, c. 29. Footnote 125: _Od._ 2, 190. Footnote 126: See additional note on p. 312. Footnote 127: Fragm. adespota, 90. III ON THE CESSATION OF THE ORACLES A DIALOGUE INSCRIBED TO TERENTIUS PRISCUS THE SPEAKERS LAMPRIAS, Plutarch’s brother. CLEOMBROTUS, of Lacedaemon, a scientific traveller, and a theologian, who had been up the Red Sea, and, lately, to Ammon. DIDYMUS, a Cynic philosopher. PHILIPPUS, an historian. DEMETRIUS, a ‘grammarian’ of Tarsus, now returning from Britain. AMMONIUS, the philosopher. HERACLEON, of Megara, a young man. TIME: A little before the Pythian games of Callistratus’ year, perhaps A. D. 83-4. 1 and 2. CLEOMBROTUS mentions the undying lamp flame at Ammon, said to require less oil each year, a proof that the years are growing shorter. 3. DEMETRIUS thinks the cause inadequate and CLEOMBROTUS mentions other instances of important phenomena due to insignificant causes. 4. AMMONIUS points out that all the heavenly bodies are involved in the hypothesis, and suggests other causes, as changes in temperature or in the quality of the oil. 5. LAMPRIAS invites Cleombrotus to tell the company about the oracle of Ammon. DEMETRIUS suggests, as a subject nearer home, the failure of the oracles in Boeotia (except those in the neighbourhood of Lebadeia). 6. We were passing out of the temple, and were near the Hall of the Cnidians, where HERACLEON and our other friends were waiting for us, in silence. On a request from DEMETRIUS they agree to join in our discussion. 7. DIDYMUS the Cynic (‘Planetiades’) makes an angry protest: the wonder being that Providence itself had not deserted this bad world long ago. Heracleon and LAMPRIAS humour him, and he leaves the place quietly. 8. AMMONIUS addresses Lamprias: ‘I too deprecate the tone of Didymus. Still we may recognize other causes, besides providential action, for the cessation of the oracles, e.g. the depopulation of Greece and specially of Boeotia.’