BUYER Then we are to say the same of the fees that you get for your wisdom from young men, and obviously none but the scholar will get paid for his virtue? STOIC Your understanding of the matter is correct. You see, I donot take pay on my own account, but for the sake of the giver himself: for since there are two classes of men, the disbursive and the receptive, I train myself to be receptive and my pupil to be disbursive. BUYER On the contrary, the young man ought to be receptive and you, who alone are rich, disbursive! STOIC You are joking, man. Look out that I don’t shoot you with my indemonstrable syllogism. Indemonstrable in the sense that its propositions do not require demonstration, or indeed admit of it. BUYER What have I to fear from that shaft? STOIC Perplexity and aphasia and a sprained intellect. STOIC But the great thing is that if I wish I can turn you into a stone forthwith. BUYER How will you turn me into a stone? You are not a Perseus, I think, my dear fellow. STOIC In this way. Isa stone a substance? BUYER Yes. STOIC And how about this—is not an animal a substance? BUYER Yes. STOIC And you are an animal? BUYER So it appears, anyhow. STOIC Then you are a substance, and therefore a stone! BUYER Don’t say that! Distribute my middle, for Heaven’s sake, and make me a man again. STOIC That is not difficult. Be a man once more!—Tell me, is every substance an animal? BUYER No. STOIC Well, is a stone an animal? BUYER No. STOIC You are a substance? BUYER Yes. STOIC But even if you are a substance, you are an animal. BUYER Yes. STOIC Then you are not a stone, being an animal. BUYER Thank you kindly; my legs were already as cold and solid as Niobe’s. Iwill buy you. (Zo uunmes.) How much have I to pay for him? HERMES Twelve minas. BUYER Here you are. HERMES Are you the sole purchaser? BUYER No, indeed; there are all these men whom you see. HERMES Yes, there are many of them, heavy-shouldered fellows, fit associates for the Reaper.