BUYER

My word, what generosity! And what is the gist of your wisdom?

ACADEMIC

My “ideas”; I mean the patterns of existing things: for of everything that you behold, the earth, with all that is upon it, the sky, the sea, invisible images exist outside the universe.

BUYER

Where do they exist?

ACADEMIC

Nowhere; for if they were anywhere, they would not be.As space cannot be predicated of anything outside the univerge, it cannot be predicated of the Platonic Ideas. To do so would be to make them phenomena instead of realities, for nothing in the universe is real.

BUYER

I do not see these patterns that you speak of.

ACADEMIC

Of course not, for the eye of your soul is blind; but I see images of everything,—an invisible “you,” another “me,” and in a word, two of everything.

BUYER

Then I must buy you for your wisdom and your sharp sight. (Zo Hermes.) Come, let’s see what price you will make me for him?

HERMES

Give me two talents.

BUYER

He is sold to me at the price you mention, But I will pay the money later on.

HERMES

What is your name?

BUYER

Dion of Syracuse.Chosen for mention, because he was Plato’s pupil.

HERMES

He is yours; take him, with good luck to you. Epicurean, I want you now. Who will buy him? He is a pupil of the laugher yonder and of the drunkard, both of whom we put up a short time ago.The Epicureans took over the atomic theory from Democritus and the idea that pleasure is the highest good from the Cyrenaics. In one way, however, he knows more than they, because he is more impious. Besides, he is agreeable and fond of good eating.

BUYER

What is his price?

HERMES

Two minas.

BUYER

Here you are. But, say! I want to know what food he likes.

HERMES

He eats sweets and honey-cakes, and, above all, figs.

BUYER

No trouble about that; we shall buy him cakes of pressed figs from Caria.