60–61
Tychiades You have stated your case without missing a point, Simon. Do not tell me you were unprepared again; you have been trained in a good school, man. But one thing more I should like to know. There is a nasty sound about the word sponger, don’t you think?
Simon See whether I have a satisfactory answer to that. Oblige me by giving what you consider the right answers to my questions, Sponging is an old word; what does it really mean?
Tychiades Getting your dinner at some one else’s expense.
Simon Dining out, in fact?
Simon And we may call a sponger an out-diner?
Tychiades The gravamen’s in that; he should dine at home.
Simon A few more answers, please. Of these pairs, which do you consider the best?. Which would you take, if you had the choice?—To sail, or to out-sail?
Simon Ride or out-ride, shoot or out-shoot?
5
Tychiades Still the same.
Simon So I presume an out-diner is better than a diner?
Tychiades Indisputable. Henceforward I shall come to you morne ing and afternoon like a schoolboy for lessons, And I am sure you ought to do your very best for me, as your first pupil. The first child is always the mother’s joy, you know.It has been necessary, in § 60, to tamper a little with the Greek in order to get the point, such as it is; but it has not been seriously misrepresented.