Hermes What do you say to that dirty one from Pontos? Zeus By all means. Hermes 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? Buyer What do you say, salesman? You offer a free man for sale? Hermes I do. Buyer Then are you not afraid he will sue you for kidnapping, and bring you before the criminal court? Hermes He does not mind being sold at all, for he believes he is free in all circumstances. Buyer What use could one put such a dirty, ill-conditioned fellow to, unless you set him to digging or carrying water? Hermes 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. Buyer Where does he come from and what discipline does he profess? Hermes Ask the man himself; that is the better way. Buyer I am afraid of him, with his sullen, dark look, lest he should bark and spring at me, and bite me, too, by Zeus! See how he brandishes his club, and knits his brows, and scowls beneath them in that threatening, angry way! Hermes Don't be afraid; he is tame.