Book 2
9
Never in the memory of any man have we taken avote on a gift, or prevented anyone from sacrificing or giving. For this very reason, I think, the temple has prospered extraordinarily and is excessively rich in gifts. Therefore we ought not to make any innovation in the present case and break precedents by setting up the practice of censoring gifts and looking into the pedigree of things that are sent here, to see where they come from and from whom, and what they are: we should receive them and dedicate them without officiousness, serving bothparties, the god and the worshippers.
10
It seems to me, men of Delphi, that you will come to the best conclusion about the present case if you should consider the number and the magnitude of the issues involved in the question—first, the god, the temple, sacrifices, gifts, old. customs, timehonoured observances and the credit of the oracle; then the whole-city and-the interests not only of our body but of every man in Delphi; and more than all, our good or bad name in the world. I have no doubt that if you are in -your senses you will think nothing more important or more vital than these issues.
11
This is what we are in consultation about, then: it is not Phalaris (a single tyrant) or. this bull of bronze only, but all kings and all monarchs who now frequent the temple, and gold and silver and all other things of price that will be given the god on many occasions. The first point to be investigated should be the interest of the god. Why: should we not manage the matter of gifts as we have always done, as we did in the beginning?
