The Sale of Lives (6-7)

What are your habits of life?

I touch no sort of animal food, but anything else except beans.

What is the reason of that? Perhaps you dislike beans?

Not at all, but they are sacred and of a marvellous nature. But, what is more important, it is the custom of the Athenians to vote for officers with beans.

All your remarks are lofty and priestlike. But take off your clothes and let me see you stripped. Good heavens, his thigh is golden! He seems to be a god, not a mortal. I will buy him, by all means. How much do you ask for him?

Two hundred dollars.

I will take him at the price.

Make a note of the buyer's name and country.

He is an Italian, I should think, from Croton or Tarentum, or somewhere in Magna Graecia. But he is not the sole purchaser; almost three hundred clubbed together with him.

Let them take him off. Put up another.

What do you say to that dirty one from Pontos?

By all means.

Come here, you with the wallet slung from your shoulder, and the bare arms. Walk round the room. I offer a manly life, a noble and generous life, a free life! Who buys?

What do you say, salesman? You offer a free man for sale?

I do.

Then are you not afraid he will sue you for kidnapping, and bring you before the criminal court?

He does not mind being sold at all, for he believes he is free in all circumstances.

What use could one put such a dirty, ill-conditioned fellow to, unless you set him to digging or carrying water?

Those are not his only uses. If you make a hall-porter of him you will find you can rely on him better than on your dogs; in fact, he has even the name of a dog.

Where does he come from and what discipline does he profess?

Ask the man himself; that is the better way.

I am afraid of him, with his sullen, dark

Don't be afraid; he is tame.