47–48
Priestess of Athene
You can have them; and the rod to complete the equipment.
Parrhesiades
Thanks; now quickly, please, a few dried figs and a handful of gold.
5
Priestess of Athene
There.
Philosophy
What is all this about?
Priestess of Athene
He has baited his hook with the figs and gold, and is sitting on the parapet dangling it over the city.
Philosophy
What are you doing, Parrhesiades? do you think you are going to fish up stones from the Pelasgicum?
Parrhesiades
Hush! wait till I get a bite. Posidon, the fisherman’s friend, and you, dear Amphitrite, send me good fishing!
10
Ah, a fine bass; no, it is not; it is a gilthead.
Exposure
A shark, you mean; there, see, he is getting near the hook, open-mouthed too. He scents the gold; now he is close—touching—he has it; up with him!
Parrhesiades
Give me a hand with the line, Exposure; here he is. Now, my best of fishes, what do we make of you? Salmo Cynicus, that is what you are. Good gracious, what teeth! Aha, my brave fish, caught snapping up trifles in the rocks, where you thought you could lurk unobserved? But now you shall hang by the gills for every one to look at you. Pull out hook and bait. Why, the hook is bare; he has not been long assimilating the figs, eh? and the gold has gone down too.
Diogenes
Make him disgorge; we want the bait for some more.
Parrhesiades
There, then. Now, Diogenes, do you know who it is? has the fellow anything to do with you?
5
Diogenes
Nothing whatever.
Parrhesiades
Well, what do you put him at? threepence was the price fi I the other day.
