Piscator

FRANKNESS See! Here comes another fish that looks like a plate,[*](The pun here is upon Πλάτων and πλατύς (flat). ) as if he were sliced lengthways, a sort of flatfish, opening his mouth for the hook. He has swallowed it; he is caught. Up with him! What is he?

INVESTIGATION The kind that styles itself Platonic.

FRANKNESS So you came to get the gold too, confound you ? What do vou say, Plato? What are we to do with him?

PLATO Over the same cliff with him! Let down for another.

FRANKNESS Ah, I see a very handsome one coming up, as far as can be judged in the deep water ; of many colours, with golden stripes on his back.[*](The Peripatetics were criticized for love of gay clothing and gold. ) Do you see him, Investigation ?

INVESTIGATION He is the kind that claims the name of Aristotle.

ARISTOTLE Don’t ask me about him, Frankness. I don’t know who he is.

FRANKNESS Then he too shall go over the cliff, Aristotle.

But look here! I see a great number of fish closely alike in colour, spiny and rough-skinned, harder to grasp than sea-urchins.[*](Stoics, then the most numerous school. They themselves were uncouth, and their doctrines spiny. ) Shall we need a seine for them?

PHILOSOPHY But we haven't any. It will be enough if we land only one out of the school. The one that comes to the hook will of course be the boldest of them.

INVESTIGATION Let down your line, if you want, but first arm it with iron for some distance, so that he may. not saw it off with his teeth after he has swallowed the gold.

FRANKNESS It is down. Poseidon, grant us a quick catch! Aha! _ they are fighting over the bait; some are nibbling the fig in schools and some have taken firm hold of the gold. Good! A very powerful one is on the hook! Come, let me see whose namesake you

INVESTIGATION Chrysippus here.

FRANKNESS I understand : because there was gold in the name, I take it. Well, Chrysippus, in the name of the Goddess of Wisdom tell us, do you know these fellows, and do you advise them to do as they do?

CHRYSIPPUS By Zeus, your questions are insulting, Frankness, if you imply that we have anything in common with that sort.

FRANKNESS Good, Chrysippus : that is handsome of you. He too shall go head first after the rest, as he is.spiny and there is danger that anyone who should try to eat him might get a hole in his gullet.

PHILOSOPHY Enough of fishing, Frankness. One of them— there are many capable of it—may snatch off the gold and the hook and make away with them, and then you will have to settle with the priestess. So let us go away to take our stroll, and as for you (to the. Philosophers), it is high time you went where you came from, that you may not overstay your leave. Frankness, you and Investigation seek them all out on every hand and either crown or brand them, as I said.

INVESTIGATION Where shall we go first? To the Academy, or to the Porch? Or shall we begin with the Lyceum ?

FRANKNESS It will make no difference. I am sure, however, that wherever we go we shall need few crowns of olive, but many brands.