I ^05 ] 



I'uppofe that they poffeffed fonie fecret mode of receiving intel- 

 ligence from the feveral nations who confulted them ? 



Croesus, after having been duped by various oracles began to 

 fufpefi their infalHbility, and to obferve that they made bad 

 verfes ; he refolved to try their powers of divination before he 

 put himfelf to any farther expenfe in coflly offerings. At a cer- 

 tain hour, on a particular day and at an appointed moment, the 

 meffengers whom he had difpatched to the different oracles de- 

 manded from them " What was at that inftant the employment 

 " of Croefus ?* 



All the oracles were mute, except the Delphic, which imme- 

 diately anfwered the meffengers of Crx)efus in thefe infpirei 

 lines f . 



" I know the fpace of fea — the number of the fand, 



" I hear the filent — mute I underftand. 



" A tender lamb, joined with tortoife flefli, 



" Thy mafter, king of Lydia, now does drefs ; 



" The fcent thereof doth in my noftrils hover, 



" From brazen pot clofed with brazen cover." 



Vol. VI. O Thi.s 



* Herodotus, ift vol. 

 .f I have preferred this tranflation to all others, as bed fuited to the oracle. 



