The Scythian or Consul (58)

HERMOTIMUS

This is mere burlesque and not like you. Now you tell me: have you ever bought wine yourself?

LYCINUS

Of course, many a time.

HERMOTIMUS

Then did you go round all the wine-merchants of the city in turn, tasting and comparing and judging the wines?

LYCINUS

Not at all.

HERMOTIMUS

I think that you must take away the first wine you come to that is good and satisfactory.

LYCINUS

Certainly.

HERMOTIMUS

Could you have said from that brief tasting what was the quality of the whole?

LYCINUS

Yes.

HERMOTIMUS

If you had approached the wine-merchants and said: “I wish to buy half a pint of wine; each of

you give me, please, the whole jar to drink, so that when I have drained it all I may learn who has the better wine and who is to receive my custom”—if you had said this, do you not think that they would have laughed at you, and if you troubled them further, you might have had a jug of water poured on you?

LYCINUS

I do think so, and I should deserve it.

HERMOTIMUS

Apply the same consideration to philosophy. Why drain a butt when the tasting of a little can indicate the quality of the whole?