23. Of the ancient oracles (1) many were delivered in prose, (2) the fashion of the times was for verse (cp. c. 18).
24. It is better that oracles should be given in current coin, not in the depreciated coin of verse. History of poetical usage.
25. In old times obscurity was thought dignified, now it provokes impatience; and it has become vulgarized through charlatans.
26. When cities and statesmen used to consult the oracle on questions of high policy, circumlocution was necessary.
27. Again, verse was a great help to memory, when intricate advice was given, as to Battus.
28. In these days of general rest, only homely questions are asked, and are best answered in homely prose.
29. Yet we fear lest the credit acquired in three thousand years by the straight concise answers of the oracle should be lost! We gush out with wealth, as the mythical Galaesus with milk. I am proud to have had some hand in this.
30. People who regret the old obscurity and bombast are like children who admire a rainbow more than the sun which makes it.
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.)