42
Aha! What a lot of them! The road up to the gate is full of men hustling after the two minas, as soon as they heard of them; others are coming up beside the Pelasgicon;The prehistoric wall of the Acropolis. Only tumble-down pieces were then to be seen (cf. § 47). The bit. referred to here was at the north-west corner, by the cave of Pan (Double Indictment, § 9). others by the precinct of Asclepius;On the south slope, near the theatre of Dionysus. even more of them along the Areopagus;To the west, near the main entrance. some, too, by the tomb of Talus;Talus (or Calus) was nephew of Daedalus, who out of jealousy threw him down the cliff. Certain stones at the back of the theatre of Dionysus are thought to belong to his tomb. and some have set ladders against the temple of the Twin BrethrenNorth side: exact site uncertain. and are climbing up with a hum, by Heaven, and “in clusters” like swarming bees, to use the words of Homer;Iliad 2, 89. from that side right many, and from the other Thousands of men, like the leaves and the flowers that come in the springtime.Iliad2, 468. The Acropolis is full in a trice as they noisily settle in place, Iliad2, 463. and everywhere are begging-bags and flattery, beards and shamelessness, staves and gluttony, syllogisms and avarice. The few that came up in answer to the first summons are obscure and inconspicuous, intermingled with the crowd of others, and they escape the eye in the general similarity of garb.
42
In fact, that is the worst feature of it all, Philosophy, and the one for which you could be most criticized, that you have set no mark and token upon them. These cheats are often more convincing than the genuine philosophers.
42
That shall be seen to presently; but let us welcome them now.
43
We Platonists should get our share first.
43
No! we Pythagoreans, for Pythagoras was earlier.
43
Nonsense! we of the Porch are better.
43
Not at all; in matters of money we of the Walk should be first.
