33–36
And what about Aristippus of Cyrene? Is he not in your opinion one of the philosophers of distinction?
SIMON But he too lived in Syracuse at about the same time, playing parasite to Dionysius. In fact, of all the parasites he was in highest favour with him, — being, to be sure, somewhat more gifted for the art than the rest of them, so that Dionysius sent his cooks to him every day, to learn something from him.
Aristippus, indeed, appears to have been a worthy ornament to the art;
but your most noble Plato also came to Sicily for this purpose, and after being parasite to the tyrant only a few days, was turned out of his place as parasite on account of ineptitude. Then, after going back to Athens and working hard and preparing himself, he cruised once more to Sicily on a second venture, and again, after only a — few days of dining, was turned out on account of stupidity; and this “Sicilian disaster” of Plato’s is considered equal to that of Nicias.
TYCHIADES Why, who tells about this, Simon?
SIMON A great many; among them, Aristoxenus the musician, who deserves great consideration.The MSS. add: “and he himself was parasite to Neleus.” Both were pupils of Aristotle. Aristoxenus wrote a life of Plato, which was used by Diogenes Laertius. That Euripides was parasite to Archelaus until he died, and Anaxarchus to Alexander, you surely know.
As to Aristotle, he only made a beginning in Parasitic, as in every other art.
