30
How different is the case of Sponging! for Greeks or barbarians, one in nature and subject and method. No one will tell you that these sponge this way, and those that; there are no spongers with peculiar principles, to match those of Stoics and Epicureans, that I know of; they are all agreed; their conduct and their end alike harmonious, Sponging, I take it on this showing, is just Wisdom itself.
31
Tychiades Yes, I think you have dealt with that point sufficiently; apart from that, how do you show the inferiority of Philosophy to your art?
31
Simon I must first mention that no sponger was ever in love with Philosophy; but many philosophers are recorded to have set their hearts on Sponging, to which they still remain constant.
31
Tychiades Philosophers caring to sponge? Names, please.
31
Simon Names? You know them well enough; you only play at not knowing because you regard it as a slur on their characters, instead of as the credit it is.
31
Tychiades Simon, I solemnly assure you Te cannot think where you will find your instances.
31
Simon Honour bright? Then I conclude you never patronize their biographers, or you could not hesitate about my reference.
31
Tychiades Seriously, I long to hear their names.
31
Simon Oh, I will give you a list; not bad names either; the dite, if 1 am correctly informed; they will rather surprise you.
32
Aeschines the Socratic, now, author of dialogues as witty as they are long, brought them with him to Sicily in the hope that they would gain him the royal notice of Dionysius; having given a reading of the Miltiades, and found himself famous, he settled down in Sicily to sponge on Dionysius and forget Socratic composition.
33
Again, I suppose you will pass Aristippus of Cyrene as a distinguished philosopher?
33
Tychiades Assuredly.
