82
When he had finished, mark the reverend philosopher’s answer, You should consider, he said, that if he had never come to me, he would have behaved far worse—very possibly have come to the gallows. As it 1s, philosophy and the respect he has for it have been a check upon him, so that you find he keeps within bounds and is not quite unbearable; the philosophic system and name tutor him with their presence, and the thought of disgracing them shames him. I should be quite justified in taking your money, if not for any positive improvement I have effected, yet for the abstentions due to bis respect for philosophy; the very nurses will tell you as much: children should go to school, because, even if they are not old enough to learn, they will at least be out of mischief there. My conscience is quite easy about him; if you like to select any of your friends who ts acquainted with Stoicism and bring him bere to-morrow, you shall see how the boy can question and answer, how much he has learnt, how many books he has read on axioms, syllogisms, conceptions, duty, and all sorts of subjects. As for his hitting bis mother or seducing girls, what have I to do with that? am I his keeper?
83
A dignified defence of philosophy for an old man! Perhaps you will say too that it is a good enough reason for pursuing it, if it will keep us from worse employments. Were our original expectations from philosophy at all of a different nature, by the way? did they contemplate anything beyond a more decent behaviour than the average 2? Why this obstinate silence?
83
Hermotimus Oh, why but that I could cry like a baby? It cuts me to the heart, it is all so true; it is too much for me, when I think of my wretched, wasted years—paying all that money for iny own labour, too! I am sober again after a debauch, I see what the object of my maudlin affection is like, and what it has brought upon me.
