1
(To an attendant.) You arrange the benches and make the place ready for the men that are coming. (To another avrenpant.) You bring on the philosophies and put them in line; but first groom them up, so that they will look well and will attract as many as possible. (Zo nErmeEs.) You, Hermes, be crier and call them together.
1
Under the blessing of Heaven, let the buyers now appear at the sales-room. We shall put up for sale philosophies of every type and all manner of creeds; and if anyone is unable to pay cash, he is to name a surety and pay next year.
2
Many are gathering, so we must avoid wasting time and delaying them. Let us begin the sale, then.
2
Which do you want us to bring on first?
2
This fellow with the long hair, the Ionian, for he seems to be someone of distinction.
2
You Pythagorean, come forward and let yourself be looked over by the company.
2
Hawk him now.
2
The noblest of philosophies for sale, the most distinguished; who'll buy? Who wants to be more than man? Who wants to apprehend the music of the spheres and to be born again?
2
For looks, he is not bad, but what does he know best?
2
Arithmetic, astronomy, charlatanry, geometry, music and quackery; you see in him a first-class soothsayer.
2
May I question him?
2
Yes, and good luck to you!
3
Where are you from?
3
From Samos.The birthplace of Pythagoras. Hence the “‘ Pythagorean philosophy” talks Ionic Greek.
3
Where were you educated?
3
In Egypt, with the sages there.
3
Come now, if I buy you, what will you teach me?
3
I shall teach thee nothing, but make thee remember.Before centering upon its round of transmigrations, the soul was all-wise; learning is merely remembering. Socrates expounds this theory in Plato’s Jeno.
3
How will you make me remember?
3
First by making thy soul pure and purging off the filth upon it.
3
Well, imagine that my purification is complete, what will be your method of making me remember?
3
In the first place, long silence and speechlessness, and for five entire years no word of talk.
