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This Sceptic is still on our hands. Reddy,Pyrrhias (Reddy) is a slave name, brought in for the sake of the pun on the name of the founder of the Sceptic school, Pyrrho. come here and be put up without delay. The crowd is already drifting away, and there will be but few at his sale. However,—who'll buy this one?
27
I will. But first tell me, what do you know?
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Nothing.
27
What do you mean by that?
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That in my opinion nothing at all exists.
27
Then do not we exist?
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I don’t even know that.
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Not even that you yourself exist?
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I am far more uncertain about that.
27
Oh, what a state of doubt? But what are these scales of yours for?
27
I weigh arguments in them and make them balance one another, and when I see they are precisely alike and equal in weight, then, ah! then I do not know which is the truer.
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What else can you do fairly well?
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Everything except catch a runaway slave.
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Why can’t you do that?
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Because, my dear sir, I am unable to apprehend anything.The same joke is cracked by Lucian in the True Story, 2, 18, at the expense of the New Academy.
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Of course, for you look to be slow and lazy. But what is the upshot of your wisdom?
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Ignorance, and failure of hearing and vision.
27
Then you mean being both deaf and blind?
27
Yes, and devoid of judgement and feeling, and, in a word, no better than a worm.
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I must buy you for that reason. (Zo uenmes.) How much may I call him worth?
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An Attie mina.
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Here you are. (Yo scertic.) What have you to say, fellow? Have I bought you?
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Doubtful.
27
No, indeed, I have bought you and paid the price in cash.
27
I am suspending judgement on that point and thinking it over.
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Come now, fellow, walk along behind me as my servant should.
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Who knows if what you say is true?
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The crier, the mina, and the men present.
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Is there anyone here present?
27
Come, I'll chuck you into the mill and convince you that I am your master, with sorry logic!
