49
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?
49
The kind that styles itself Platonic.
49
So you came to get the gold too, confound you? What do vou say, Plato? What are we to do with him?
50
Over the same cliff with him! Let down for another.
50
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?
50
He is the kind that claims the name of Aristotle.
50
He came up and then swam away again. He is making a careful survey. Now he has come back again; he has opened his mouth; he is caught. Up with him.
50
Don’t ask me about him, Frankness. I don’t know who he is.
50
Then he too shall go over the cliff, Aristotle.
51
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?
51
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.
51
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.
51
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 say you are. But itis silly of me to try to make a fish talk; these anyhow are certainly dumb! Come, Investigation, tell us whom he has for master.
51
Chrysippus here.
