[4]
Lycinus
How do you make that out?Cynic
Well, consider the purpose of anything we require; the purpose of a house is protection?Lycinus
Yes.Cynic
Clothing—what is that for? protection too, I think.Lycinus
Yes.Cynic
But now, pray, what is the purpose of the protection, in turn? the better condition of the protected, I presume.Lycinus
I agree.Cynic
Then do you think my feet are in worse condition than yours?Lycinus
I cannot say.Cynic
Oh, yes; look at it this way;; what have feet to do?Lycinus
Walk.Cynic
And do you think my feet walk worse than yours, or than the average man’s?Lycinus
Oh, not that, I dare say.Cynic
Then they are not in worse condition, if they do their work as well.Lycinus
That may be so.Cynic
So it appears that, as far as feet go, I am in no worse condition than other people.Lycinus
No, I do not think you are.Cynic
Well, the rest of my body, then? If it is in worse condition, it must be weaker, strength being the virtue of the body. Is mine weaker?Lycinus
Not that I see.Cynic
Consequently, neither my feet nor the rest of my body need protection, it seems; if they did, they would be in bad condition; for want is always an evil, and deteriorates the thing concerned. But again, there is no sign, either, of my body’s being nourished the worse for its nourishment’s being of a common sort.Lycinus
None whatever.Cynic
It would not be healthy, if it were badly nourished; for bad food injures the body.Lycinus
That is true.Cynicus. Pseudo-Lucian. Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator). Medford, MA, USA. 2023-08-01.
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