The Parasite Tychiades (6-10)

That Parasitic is based not only on knowledge, but on exercised knowledge, you may readily assure yourself from this fact: the knowledges that belong to the other arts often remain unexercised for days and nights and months and years, and yet the arts are not lost to those who possess them; but if the . parasite’s knowledge is not in exercise daily, not only the art, I take it, but the artist himself, is lost thereby!

And as to its being “directed to some end. useful to the world,” it would be crazy, don’t you think, to investigate that point. I, for my part, cannot discover that anything in the world is more useful than eating and drinking, and in fact without them it is impossible to live at all!

TYCHIADES Quite so.

SIMON Again, Parasitic is not the same sort of thing as beauty and strength, so as to be considered a gift,. like them, rather than an art.[*]

SIMON But on the other hand, it is not want of art; for want of art never achieves anything for its possessor.[*] For example, if you should put yourself in command of a ship at sea in a storm without knowing how to steer, should you come safely through?

TYCHIADES Not by any means.

SIMON How about a man who should take horses in hand without knowing how to drive?

TYCHIADES He would not come through, either.

SIMON Why, pray, except because he does not possess the art by which he would be able to save himself?

TYCHIADES To be sure.

SIMON Then the parasite would not be saved by Parasitic if it were want of art? TY CHIADES True.

SIMON Then it is art that saves him, and not want of art?

TYCHIADES Quite so.

TYCHIADES It is, apparently.

SIMON I assure you I know of many instances when good helmsmen have been wrecked and expert drivers thrown from their seats, and some had _ broken bones, while others were completely done for; but nobody can cite any such mishap in the case of a parasite. Then if Parasitic is not want of art and not a gift, but a complex of knowledges exercised in combination, evidently we have reached an agreement to-day that it is an art.

TYCHIADES As far as I can judge from what has been said. But wait a bit: give us a first-class definition of Parasitic.

SIMON Right. It seems to me that the definition might best be expressed’ thus: Parasitic is that art which is concerned with food and drink and what must be said and done to obtain them, and its end is pleasure.

TYCHIADES That, to my mind, is a tip-top definition of your art; but look out that you do not get into conflict with some of the philosophers over the end.[*]

wise Homer, admiring the life of a parasite on the ground that it alone is blessed and enviable, says:

I for my own part hold that there is no end more delightful

Than when cheerfulness reigneth supreme over all of the people;

Banqueters down the long halls give ear to the bard as he singeth,

Sitting in regular order, and by each man is a table

Laden with bread and with meat; while the server from out of the great bowl

Dippeth the mead, and beareth and poureth it into the beakers.

This is a thing that to me in my heart doth seem very goodly.

by each man is a table

Laden with bread and with meat.