as to that which I shall know; if I shall not know anything, that which I don’t know I’ll tell you of.TYNDARUS(aside.)Now is the old fellow in the barber’s shop; now, at this very instant, is Philocrates wielding the razorWielding the razor: It is hard to say whether by the word cultros, in this passage, razors or scissors are meant.. He hasn’t cared, indeed, to put on the barber’s clothTo put on the barber’s cloth: He probably means by thus expression that Philocrates has made no preamble, and shown no hesitation, in commencing at once to dupe the old man., so as not to soil his dress. But whether to say that he’s going to shave him close, or trim himOr trim him: He alludes here to the two kinds of shaving and trimming the beard used by the barbers among the ancients. The one was close strictim, when they shaved to the skin; the other was, when with a pair of scissors they clipped the hair, with the interposition of a comb. The former fashion was called by the Greeks δκάφιον; the latter method, which was borrowed from the Persians, κῆπιος;. Esse in tonstrinâ, to be in the barber’s shop, was a proverbial expression to denote being imposed upon. Tyndarus is wondering to what extent Philocrates is going to impose upon Hegio. through the combThrough the comb: The Greeks and Romans made their combs of boxwood, much of which was imported from Paphlagonia. The Egyptians used them made of wood and of ivory, and toothed on one side only; while those of the Greeks had teeth on both sides., I don’t know; but if he’s wise, he’ll scrape him right well to the very quick.HEGIO(to PHILOCRATES.) Which would you? Would you prefer to be a slave, or a free man?—Tell me.PHILOCRATES That which is the nearest to good, and the furthest off from evil, do I prefer; although my servitude hasn’t proved very grievous to me, nor has it been otherwise to me than if I had been a son in the family.TYNDARUS(aside.) Capital! I wouldn’t purchase, at a talent’s price even, Thales the MilesianThales the Milesian: A talent would be a low price for such a learned slave as Thales the Milesian, who was one of the seven wise men of Greece. He says, however, that Thales at such a low price would be nothing in comparison with Philocrates for the same money.;for compared with this man’s wisdom, he was a very twaddler. How cleverly has he suited his language to the slave’s condition.