Histories

This matter was not, however, hidden from the people of +Apollonia [14.5833,38.0167] (Perseus) Apollonia, and when it came to their knowledge they brought him to judgment and condemned him to lose his eyesight for sleeping at his watch. So they blinded Evenius, but from the day of their so doing their flocks bore no offspring, nor did their land yield fruit as before.

Furthermore, a declaration was given to them at Dodona [20.8,39.55] (Perseus)Dodona and Delphi [22.5167,38.4917] (Perseus) Delphi, when they inquired of the prophets what might be the cause of their present ill: the gods told them by their prophets that they had done unjustly in blinding Evenius, the guardian of the sacred flock, “for we ourselves” (they said) “sent those wolves, and we will not cease from avenging him until you make him such restitution for what you did as he himself chooses and approves; when that is fully done, we ourselves will give Evenius such a gift as will make many men consider him happy.”

This was the oracle given to the people of +Apollonia [14.5833,38.0167] (Perseus) Apollonia. They kept it secret and charged certain of their townsmen to carry the business through; they acted as I will now show. Coming and sitting down by Evenius at the place where he sat, they spoke of other matters, till at last they fell to commiserating his misfortune. Guiding the conversation in this way, they asked him what compensation he would choose, if the people of +Apollonia [14.5833,38.0167] (Perseus) Apollonia should promise to requite him for what they had done.