Juppiter Tragoedus

Timokles Well, since you do not think the analogy of the ship very forcible, listen while I cast the last blessed anchor I have, which you will not drag by any device.

Zeus What in the world is he going to say?

Timokles For see now whether my syllogism is fallacious, and whether you can possibly overturn it. If altars exist, gods exist also. But altars certainly exist, therefore gods exist also. What have you to say to that?

Damis Let me have my laugh out first and then I will answer you.

Timokles But it looks as if you would never be done laughing. However, tell me why my speech struck you as ridiculous.

Damis Because you do not perceive that you have slung your anchor on a slender thread, though it is the last blessed one you have. For when you have made fast the proposition "gods. exist" to the proposition "altars exist" you imagine that you have brought it to a safe anchorage. So since you have nothing more blessed to urge let us adjourn at once.