De Defectu Oraculorum

Proceeding onward from the temple, we had by this time reached the doors of the Cnidian Clubhouse.[*](In the north-east corner of the sacred precinct. The foundations may still be seen.) Accordingly we passed inside, and there we saw sitting and waiting for us the friends to whom

we were going. There was quiet among the other people there because of the hour, as they were engaged in taking a rub-down or else watching the athletes. Then Demetrius with a smile said, Shall I tell you a falsehood or speak out the truth?[*](Homer, Od. iv. 140.) You seem to have on hand nothing worth considering; for I see that you are sitting about quite at your ease and with faces quite relaxed.

Yes, said Heracleon of Megara in reply, for we are not investigating which of the two lambdas in the verb hurl [*](Present βάλλω, future βαλῶ .) is the one that it loses in the future tense; nor from what positives the adjectives worse and better and worst and best are formed; for these and similar problems may set the face in hard lines, but the others it is possible to examine in a philosophic spirit, without knitting the brows, and to investigate quietly without any fierce looks or any hard feelings against the company.

Then permit us to come in, said Demetrius, and with us a subject which has naturally occurred to us, one which is related to the place and concerns all of us on account of the god; and beware of knitting your brows when you attack it!