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If anyone will but review and recollect constantly these and similar instances, he may conceivably stop taking pleasure in foolish chatter. But as for me, that famous case of the slave puts me utterly to shame when I reflect what immense importance it is to pay attention to what is said and to be master of our purpose. Pupius Piso, the orator, not wishing to be troubled, ordered his slaves to speak only in answer to questions and not a word more. Subsequently, wishing to pay honour to Clodius when he was a magistrate, Piso gave orders that he be invited to dinner and prepared what was, we may suppose, a sumptuous banquet. When the hour came, the other guests were present, but Clodius was still expected, and Piso repeatedly sent the slave who regularly carried invitations to see if Clodius was approaching. And when evening came and he was finally despaired of, Piso said to the slave, See here, did you give him the invitation? I did, said the slave. Why hasn’t he come then? Because he declined. Then why didn’t you tell me at once? Because you didn’t ask me that. So a Roman slave, but the Athenian slave while digging will tell his master On what terms the truce is made,Kock, Com. Att. Frag., iii. p. 473; Cf. 518 f - 519 a, infra. so great in all things is the force of habit. And of this let us now speak.
