In Theon’s long concluding speech (c. 19, p. 403 A to the end) he is no doubt expressing Plutarch’s own views. But the literary references and the touch of levity are quite in Theon’s style; ‘my young friend’, in c. 20, recalls the same phrase in c. 3. Later on, Plutarch is, as Wyttenbach has observed, indicated by τὸν καθηγεμόνα ταύτης τῆς πολιτείας. Professor Hartman (see Preface, p. xx) states his conviction that Theon was an older friend of Plutarch and his predecessor in the priesthood (pp. 166 and 617). In a Dialogue in which the Epicureans are attacked (_Non posse suaviter_, p. 1088 D) a long speech clearly belonging to Theon is introduced by the words ‘I (Plutarch) said’. This slip is probably due to the author. (See, on the general subject, Mr. John Oakesmith’s note on p. 149 of The Religion of Plutarch.) WHY THE PYTHIA DOES NOT NOW GIVE ORACLES IN VERSE [Sidenote: 394 D] _Basilocles._ The shades of evening, Philinus, while you are conducting the stranger round the votive gifts! Here am I, [Sidenote: E] fairly tired out in waiting for you. _Philinus._ Yes, Basilocles, we made slow progress, sowing arguments as we went and reaping them too; battle and war were beneath them, as they sprang and sprouted in our faces, like the ‘sown men’ of old. _Basilocles._ Then shall I have to call in some one else of your [Sidenote: F] company, or will you oblige us with the whole story? What were the arguments, and who were the speakers? _Philinus._ I shall have to do that myself, Basilocles, it seems, for you will not easily meet with any of the others in the town; I saw most of them going back to the Corycium and the Lycuria with the stranger. _Basilocles._ A good sight-seer this stranger, and a mighty good listener! _Philinus._ Say rather a good scholar and a good learner. Not that these are his most admirable points; there is a gentleness [Sidenote: 395] which is full of charm; and then his readiness to do battle and to raise sensible points: nothing captious or hard in his way of taking the answers. After a very short time in his company you would have to say ‘good father, good child’, for you know that Diogenianus was one of the very best. _Basilocles._ I never saw him myself, but I have met many who spoke with warm approval of his talk and his character, and in just the same terms about this young man. But how did the argument begin, and what started it?