"He can mitigate and relieve the suffering, but that is all; and of all the others, is there one fit to hand him a cup of water?
Perhaps he would be willing to cure me, but he can not; for I tell you, Philostratus, the gods will not have it so.

You know what sacrifices I have offered, what gifts I have brought.

I have prayed, I have abased myself before them, but none will hear.

One or another of the gods, indeed, appears to me not infrequently as Apollo did last night.

But is it because he favors me?
First, he laid his hand on my shoulder, as my father used to do; but his was so heavy, that the weight pressed me down till I fell on my knees, crushed.