Why in the world is it, Simon, that while other men, both slave and free, each know some art by which they are of use to themselves and to someone else, you apparently have no work which would enable you to make any profit yourself or give away anything to anybody else?
What do you mean by that question, Tychiades ? I do not understand. Try to put it more clearly.
Is there any art that you happen to know? Music, for instance? °
No, indeed.
Well, medicine ?
Not that, either.
Geometry, then?
Not by any means.
Indeed, even more so, if possible. So don’t suppose you have touched me with that taunt, as if I did not know it. I admit that I am vicious, and worse than you think!
Quite so. Well, it may be that although you have not learned those arts because of their magnitude and difficulty, you have learned one of the vulgar arts like carpentry or shoemaking; you are not so well off in every way as not to need even such an art.
You are right, Tychiades ; but I am not acquainted with any of these either.
What other art, then?
What other? A fine one, I think. If you knew about it, I believe you would speak highly of it too. In practice, I claim to be successful at it already, but whether you will find me so in theory also I can't say.
What is it?
I do not feel that I have yet thoroughly mastered
the literature on that subject. So for the present
But I can’t wait.
The nature of the art will perhaps seem extraordinary when you hear it.
Tr aly, that is just why I am keen to know about it.
‘Some other day, Tychiades.
Oh, no! Tell me now—unless you are ashamed !
Parasitic.