They had not seen, for ages, such beautiful gifts in Delphi <br />as these that had been sent by the two brothers, <br />the rival Ptolemaic kings. After they had received them <br />however, the priests were uneasy about the oracle. They will need <br />all their experience to compose it with astuteness, <br />which of the two, which of such two will be displeased. <br />And they hold secret councils at night <br />and discuss the family affairs of the Lagidae. <br /> <br />But see, the envoys have returned. They are bidding farewell. <br />They are returning to Alexandria, they say. And they do not ask <br />for any oracle. And the priests hear this with joy <br />(of course they will keep the marvellous gifts), <br />but they also are utterly perplexed, <br />not understanding what this sudden indifference means. <br />For they are unaware that yesterday the envoys received grave news. <br />The oracle was given in Rome; the division took place there.<br /><br />Constantine P. Cavafy<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/envoys-from-alexandria/
