1
Tychiades I am curious about you, Simon. Ordinary people, free and slaves alike, have some trade or profession that enables them to benefit themselves and others; you seem to be an exception.
1
Simon I do not quite see what you mean, Tychiades; put it a little clearer.
1
Tychiades I want to know whether you have a profession of any sort; for instance, are you a musician?
1
Simon Certainly not.
1
Tychiades A doctor?
1
Simon No.
1
Tychiades A mathematician?
1
Simon No.
1
Tychiades Do you teach rhetoric, then? I need not ask about philosophy; you have about as much to do with that as sin has.
1
Simon Less, if possible. Do not imagine that you are enlightening me upon my failings. I acknowledge myself a sinner— worse than you take me for.
1
Tychiades Very well. But possibly you have abstained from these professions because nothing great is easy. Perhaps a trade is more in your way; are you a carpenter or cobbler? Your circumstances are hardly such as to make a trade superfluous.
1
Simon Quite true. Well, I have no skill in any of these.
1
Tychiades But in——?
1
Simon An excellent one, in my opinion; if you were acquainted with it you would agree, I am sure. I can claim to be a practical master in the art by this time; whether I can give an account of my faith is another question.
1
Tychiades What is it?
1
Simon No, I do not think I have got up the theory of it sufficiently. For the present, rest assured that I have a profession, and cease your strictures on that head. Its nature you shall know another time.
1
Tychiades No, no; I will not be put off like that.
1
Simon Well, I am afraid my profession would be rather a shock to you.
1
Tychiades I like shocks.
1
Simon Well, I will tell you some day.
1
Tychiades Now, I say; or else I shall know you are ashamed of it.
1
Simon Well, then, I sponge.
2
Tychiades Why, what sane man would call sponging a profession?
