The Parasite Tychiades (8)

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.