4
Cynic And do you think my feet walk worse than yours, or than the average man’s?
4
Lycinus Oh, not that, I dare say.
4
Cynic Then they are not in worse condition, if they do their work as well.
4
Lycinus That may be so.
4
Cynic So it appears that, as far as feet go, I am in no worse condition than other people.
4
Lycinus No, I do not think you are.
4
Cynic Well, the rest of my body, then? If it is in worse condition, it must be weaker, strength being the virtue of the body. Is mine weaker?
4
Lycinus Not that I see.
4
Cynic Consequently, neither my feet nor the rest of my body need protection, it seems; if they did, they would be in bad condition; for want is always an evil, and deteriorates the thing concerned. But again, there is no sign, either, of my body’s being nourished the worse for its nourishment’s being of a common sort.
4
Lycinus None whatever.
4
Cynic It would not be healthy, if it were badly nourished; for bad food injures the body.
4
Lycinus That is true.
5
Cynic If so, it is for you to explain why you blame me and depreciate my life and call it miserable.
