And then, it is not clear what the lost object really is--cup, or flagon, or diadem; for one of the priests avers this, another that; they are not even in agreement as to its material: some will have it to be of brass, others of silver, or gold.

It thus becomes necessary to search the garments of all persons who have entered the temple, if the lost vessel is to be recovered.

And if you find a golden cup on the first of them, it will still be necessary to proceed in searching the garments of the others; for it is not certain that this cup really belonged to the temple.

Might there not be many such golden vessels ?--No! we must go on to every one of them, placing all that we find in the midst together, and then make our guess which of all those things may fairly be supposed to be the property of the god.

For, again, this circumstance adds greatly to our difficulty, that without exception every one searched is found to have something upon him--cup, or flagon, or diadem, of brass, of silver, [160] of gold: and still, all the while, it is not ascertained which of all these is the sacred thing.