Book 10
5
Peeled! my dear sir, what, with all this fleshy encumbrance? Come, off with it; we should go to the bottom if you put one foot aboard. And those crowns, those victories, remove them.
5
There; no mistake about it this time; I am as light as any shade among them.
6
That’s more the kind of thing. On with you.—Crato, you can take off that wealth and luxury and effeminacy; and we can’t have that funeral pomp here, nor those ancestral glories either; down with your rank and reputation, and any votes of thanks or inscriptions you have about you; and you need not tell us what size your tomb was; remarks of that kind come heavy.
6
Well, if I must, I must; there’s no help for it.
7
Hullo! in full armour? What does this mean? and why this trophy?
7
I am a great conqueror; a valiant warrior; my country’s pride.
7
The trophy may stop behind; we are at peace; there is no demand for arms.—
8
Whom have we here? whose is this knitted brow, this flowing beard? 'Tis some reverend sage, if outside goes for anything; he mutters; he is wrapped in meditation.
8
That’s a philosopher, Hermes; and an impudent quack into the bargain. Have him out of that cloak; you will find something to amuse you underneath it.
8
Off with your clothes first; and then we will see to the rest. My goodness, what a bundle: quackery, ignorance, quarrelsomeness, vainglory; idle questionings, prickly arguments, intricate conceptions; humbug and gammon and wishywashy hair-splittings without end; and hullo! why here’s avarice, and self-indulgence, and impudence! luxury, effeminacy and peevishness!—Yes, I see them all; you need not try to hide them. Away with falsehood and swagger and superciliousness; why, the three-decker is not built that would hold you with all this luggage.
8
I resign them all, since such is your bidding.
9
Have his beard off too, Hermes; only look what a ponderous bush of a thing! There’s a good five pounds’ weight there.
9
Yes; the beard must go.
9
And who shall shave me?
