The Fisher (47-48)

Parrhesiades

I will follow your instructions, Philosophy; you will soon find a large majority ornamented with fox or ape, and very few with olive. If you like, though, I will get some of them up here for you to see.

Philosophy

What do you mean? bring them back after that stampede?

Parrhesiades

Oh yes, if the priestess will lend me the line I see there and the Piraean fisherman’s votive hook; I will not keep them long.

Priestess of Athene

You can have them; and the rod to complete the equipment.

Parrhesiades

Thanks; now quickly, please, a few dried figs and a handful of gold.

Priestess of Athene

There.

Philosophy

What is all this about?

Priestess of Athene

He has baited his hook with the figs and gold, and is sitting on the parapet dangling it over the city.

Philosophy

What are you doing, Parrhesiades? do you think you are going to fish up stones from the Pelasgicum?

Parrhesiades

Hush! wait till I get a bite. Posidon, the fisherman’s friend, and you, dear Amphitrite, send me good fishing!

Parrhesiades

Ah, a fine bass; no, it is not; it is a gilthead.

Exposure

A shark, you mean; there, see, he is getting near the hook, open-mouthed too. He scents the gold; now he is close—touching—he has it; up with him!

Parrhesiades

Give me a hand with the line, Exposure; here he is. Now, my best of fishes, what do we make of you? Salmo Cynicus, that is what you are. Good gracious, what teeth! Aha, my brave fish, caught snapping up trifles in the rocks,

where you thought you could lurk unobserved? But now you shall hang by the gills for every one to look at you. Pull out hook and bait. Why, the hook is bare; he has not been long assimilating the figs, eh? and the gold has gone down too.

Diogenes

Make him disgorge; we want the bait for some more.

Parrhesiades

There, then. Now, Diogenes, do you know who it is? has the fellow anything to do with you?

Diogenes

Nothing whatever.

Parrhesiades

Well, what do you put him at? threepence was the price fi I the other day.

Diogenes

Too much. His flavour and his looks are intolerable— a coarse worthless brute. Drop him head first over the rock, and catch another. But take care your rod does not bend to breaking point.

Parrhesiades

No fear; they are quite light—about the weight of a gudgeon.

Diogenes

About the weight and about the wit. However, up with them.