XI. When Boethus had finished, Serapion spoke: ‘The case is quite fairly put by Boethus against prophecies so indefinitely worded as those he mentions, with no basis of circumstance: “If victory has been foretold to a general, he has conquered. If the destruction of a city, it is lost.” But where not only the thing which is to happen is stated, but also the how, the when, after what event, with whose help, then it is not a guess at things which will perhaps be, but a clear prediction of things which will certainly be. Here are the lines[[94]] with reference to the lameness of Agesilaus: |C|
Sure though thy feet, proud Sparta, have a care,
A lame king’s reign may see thee trip—Beware!
Troubles unlooked for long shall vex thy shore,
And rolling Time his tide of carnage pour.
And then those about the island[[95]] which the sea cast up off Thera and Therasia, and also about Philip and his war with the Romans:
When Trojan race the victory shall win
From Punic foe, lo! wonders shall begin;
Unearthly fires from out the sea shall flash,
Whirlwinds toss stones aloft, and thunders crash,