Good Heavens! As long as that!

Yes, Lycinus; my struggles are for great prizes.

Perhaps so. But those twenty years—has your teacher promised you that length of life? If he has he must be more than a wise man—a prophet, or an oracle-monger, or an expert in Chaldean lore, as well—they say that they know this sort of thing. For, if it is not certain that you will live to reach Virtue, it is quite unreasonable to take all this trouble and wear yourself out night and day, not knowing whether Fate as you near the top will come and pull you down by the foot with your hopes unfulfilled.

Away with you! That, Lycinus, is blasphemy. May I live to enjoy happiness through wisdom for just one day!

Would that repay you for all your labours—just one day?

For me even a moment is enough.