14–17
Fourth Dealer
No one will be fool enough to bid for you at that rate.
Heraclitus
Young and old, him that bids and him that bids not, a murrain seize you all!
Fourth Dealer
A sad case. He will be melancholy mad before long. Neither of these is the creed for my money.
Heraclitus
The Athenian there? Old Chatterbox?
Heraclitus
Come forward!—A good sensible creed this. Who buys Holiness?
Fifth Dealer
Let me see. What are you good for?
Socrates
I teach the art of love.
5
Fifth Dealer
A likely bargain for me! I want a tutor for my young Adonis.
Socrates
And could he have a better? The love I teach is of. the spirit, not of the flesh. Under my roof, be sure, a boy will come to no harm.
Fifth Dealer
Very unconvincing that. A teacher of the art of love, and never meddle with anything but the spirit? Never use the opportunities your office gives you?
Socrates
Now by Dog and Plane-tree, it is as I say!
Fifth Dealer
Heracles! What strange Gods are these?
Socrates
Why, the Dog is a God, I suppose? Is not Anubis made much of in Egypt? Is there not a Dog-star in Heaven, and a Cerberus in the lower world?
Fifth Dealer
Quite so. My mistake. Now what is your manner of life?
Socrates
I live in a city of my own building; I make my own laws, and have a novel constitution of my own.
Fifth Dealer
I should like to hear some of your statutes.
Socrates
You shall hear the greatest of them all. No woman shall be restricted to one husband. Every man who likes is her husband.
