Chapter Epimenides to Ereenia of E by Brewer's Readers Handbook

(4) Philip of Macedon: Similarly, when Philip of Macedon sent to Delphi to inquire if his Persian expedition would prove successful, he received for reply, “The ready victim crowned for sacrifice stands before the altar.’ Philip took it for granted that the “ready victim” was the king of Persia, but it was he himself.

(5) Pyrrhus and the Romans: When Pyrrhus consulted the Delphic oracle respecting his war with the Romans, he received for answer: “Credo te, Æacide, Romanos vincere posse” (i.e. “The Romans, I believe, you will conquer”); which may mean either “you will conquer them” or “they will conquer you.”

(6) Salamis (The battle of): When the allied Greeks demanded of the Delphic oracle what would be the issue of the battle of Salamis, they received for answer—

Seed-time and harvest, weeping sires shall tell
How thousands fought at Salamis and fell;

but whether the oracle referred to the Greeks or Persians who were to fall by “thousands,” was not stated.

2. From puns on proper names—

(1) Cambyses and Ecbatana: Cambyses, son of Cyrus, was told that he should die in Ecbatana, which he supposed meant the capital of Media. Being wounded accidentally in Syria, he asked the name of the place; and being told it was Ecbatana, he replied, “Here, then, I am destined to end my life.”

(2) Edward IV. and the Letter G.: A wizard told Edward IV. that “after him G. would reign.” The king thought the person meant was his brother George, but the duke of Gloucester was the person pointed at.—Holinshed: Chronicles; Shakespeare; Richard III. act i. sc. 1.

(3) Henry IV. and Jerusalem: Henry IV. was told that “he should die in Jerusalem,” which he supposed meant the Holy Land; but he died in the Jerusalem Chamber, London, which is the chapter-house of Westminster Abbey.

Pope Sylvester and Jerusalem: Similarly, Pope Sylvester was told that he should die at Jerusalem, and he died while saying mass in a church so called at Rome.

(4) Somerset and the Castle: Jourdain, the wizard, told the duke of Somerset, if he wished to live, to “avoid where castles mounted stand.” The duke died in an ale-house called the Castle, in St. Albans.—Shakespeare: 2 Henry VI. act v. sc. 2.

(5) Wolsey and Kingston: In early life, Wolsey was cautioned to “Beware of Kingston.” In consequence of this warning he would never enter the town of Kingston-on-Thames. When, in old age, he was incarcerated by Henry VIII., a blare of trumpets announced the approach of armed officials, and sir Edward Kingston entered. The warning of his youth flashed across his mind; he knew his hour was come, and he uttered those memorable words: “If I had served my God as faithfully as I have served my king, He would not have forsaken me in my grey hairs.”

3. From puns on words—

(1) Aper and a Boar: Diocletian was told he would become emperor if he slew a boar. On the death of Carinus by his brother Numerian, Arrius Aper (præfect of the prætorian guard) slew Numerian, but Dioclétian slew Aper [Latin for a boar], and was elected emperor by the legions.

(2) Constantine and Cygno, or Signo: It is said that Constantine, marching against Maxentius, saw in the skies a cross, and the Christians in his army cried aloud, “In hoc signe vinces.” But the constellation Cygnus was visible at the time, the upper star being in the zenith, and the lower one towards the horizon. To the ear the words would be “In hoc signo” or “In hoc cygno,” and the priests would make capital of the pun—“There is the Cross, in Cygnus,” an omen of victory.