Menippus Have his beard off too, Hermes; only look what a ponderous bush of a thing! There’s a good five pounds’ weight there. Hermes Yes; the beard must go. A Philosopher And who shall shave me? Hermes Menippus here shall take it off with the carpenter’s axe; the gangway will serve for a block. Menippus Oh, can’t I have a saw, Hermes? It would be much better fun. Hermes The axe must serve.—Shrewdly chopped!—Why, you look more like a man and less like a goat already. Menippus A little off the eyebrows? Hermes Why, certainly; he has trained them up all over his forehead, for reasons best known to himself—Worm! what, snivelling? afraid of death? Oh, get on board with you. Menippus He has still got the biggest thumper of all under his arm. Hermes What’s that? Menippus Flattery; many is the good turn that has done him. A Philosopher Oh, all right, Menippus; suppose you leave your independence behind you, and your plain-speaking, and your indifference, and your high spirit, and your jests!—No one else here has a jest about him. Hermes Don’t you, Menippus! you stick to them; useful commodities, these, on shipboard; light and handy.—