The Fisher (16-20)

Ladies, will you stroll in the Poecile meanwhile? I will join you when I have given judgement.

Who are these, Philosophy? methinks their appearance is seemly as your own.

This with the masculine features is Virtue; then there is Temperance, and Justice by her side. In front is Culture; and this shadowy creature with the indefinite complexion is Truth.

I do not see which you mean.

Not see her? over there, all naked and unadorned, shrinking from observation, and always slipping out of sight.

Now just discern her. But why not bring them all with you? there would be a fullness and completeness about that commission. Ah yes, and I should like to brief Truth on my behalf.

Well thought of; come, all of you; you will not mind sitting through a single case—in which we have a personal interest, too?

Go on, the rest of you; it is superfluous for me to hear what I know all about before.

But, Truth dear, your presence will be useful to us; you will show us what to think.

May I bring my two favourite maids, then?

And as many more as you like.

Come with me, Freedom and Frankness; this poor little adorer of ours is in trouble without any real reason; we shall be able to get him out of it. Exposure, my man, we shall not want you.

Ah yes, Mistress, let us have him, of all others; my opponents are no ordinary ruffians; they are people who make a fine show and are hard to expose; they have always some back way out of a difficulty; we must have Exposure.

Yes, we must, indeed; and you had better bring Demonstration too.

Come all of you, as you are such important legal persons.

What is this? Philosophy, he is employing Truth against us!

And are Plato and Chrysippus and Aristotle afraid of her lying on his behalf, being who she is?

Oh, well, no; only he i is a sad plausible- rogue; he will take her in.

Never fear; no wrong will be done, with madam Justice on the bench by us. Let us go up.

Prisoner, your name?

Parrhesiades, son of Alethion, son of Elenxicles.[*]

And your country?

I am a Syrian from the Euphrates, my lady. But is the question relevant? Some of my accusers I know to be as much barbarians by blood as myself; but character and culture do

True, the question was unnecessary. But what is your profession? that at least is essential.

I profess hatred of pretension and imposture, lying, and pride; the whole loathsome tribe of them I hate; and you know how numerous they are.

Upon my word, you must have your hands full at this profession!

I have; you see what general dislike and danger it brings upon me. However, I do not neglect the complementary branch, in which love takes the place of hate; it includes love of truth and beauty and simplicity and all that is akin to love. But the subjects for this branch of the profession are sadly few; those of the other, for whom hatred is the right treatment, are reckoned by the thousand. Indeed there is some danger of the one feeling being atrophied, while the other is over-developed.

That should not be; they run in couples, you know. Do not separate your two branches; they should have unity in diversity.

You know better than I, Philosophy. My way is just to hate a villain, and love and praise the good.