Note 121 — BOOK X SUMMARIES, AND THE WORD OF TRUTH
Francis Legge translation
οὐ πτωχεύει. The phrase has given much concern to commentators. Cruice suggests δὲ γὰρ πολυωρεῖ, “has a great esteem for thee.” Wordsworth translates “has a longing for thee.” Macmahon “(by such signal condescension) does not diminish aught of the dignity of His divine perfection.” The phrase is probably an allusion to the heathen notion formally stated by Aelius Aristides and others that the gods had need of the sacrifices of mortals.