The torch ceremony with its ritual skippings often enabled

 

him to bestow a glimpse of his thigh, which was thus discovered to be of gold; it was presumably enveloped in cloth of gold, which glittered in the lamp-light. This gave rise to a debate between two wiseacres, whether the golden .high meant that he had inherited Pythagoras’s soul, or merely that their two souls were alike; the question was referred to Alexander himself, and King Glycon relieved their perplexity with an oracle:

 Waxes and wanes Pythagoras’ soul: the seer’s 

 Is from the mind of Zeus an emanation. 

 His Father sent him, virtuous men to aid, 

 And with his bolt one day shall call him home.