Lucian of Samosata, Vitarum auctio, Austin Morris Harmon (Translator), 15

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HERMES

Do you want the Athenian over there, who has so much to say?¹

ZEUS

By all means.

HERMES

Come here, sir. We are putting up a righteous and intelligent philosophy. Who'll buy the height of sanctity?

BUYER

Tell me what you know best?

ACADEMIC

I am a lover, and wise in matters of love.

BUYER

How am I to buy you, then? What I wanted was a tutor for my son, who is handsome.

ACADEMIC

But who would be more suitable than I to associate with a handsome lad? It is not the body I love, it is the soul that I hold beautiful. As a matter of fact, even if they lie beneath the same cloak with me, they will tell you that I have done them no wrong.²

BUYER

I can’t believe what you say, that you, though a lover, take no interest in anything beyond the soul, even when you have the opportunity, lying beneath the same cloak.

Vitarum auctio. Lucian of Samosata. Austin Morris Harmon (Translator). United States. Perseus 5.0.

Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Philosophies for Sale (English) (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.)

Editions (1)

Βίων Πρᾶσις Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.) — 15 focus

Ἑρμῆς

βούλει τὸν Ἀθηναῖον ἐκεῖνον, τὸν στωμύλον;

Ζεύς

πάνυ μὲν οὖν.

Ἑρμῆς

δεῦρο ἐλθὲ σύ. βίον ἀγαθὸν καὶ συνετὸν ἀποκηρύττομεν. τίς ὠνεῖται τὸν ἱερώτατον;

Ἀγοράστης

εἰπέ μοι, τί μάλιστα εἰδὼς τυγχάνεις;

Σωκράτης

παιδεραστής εἰμι καὶ σοφὸς τὰ ἐρωτικά.

Ἀγοράστης

πῶς οὖν ἐγὼ πρίωμαί σε; παιδαγωγοῦ γὰρ ἐδεόμην τῷ παιδὶ καλῷ ὄντι μοι.

Σωκράτης

τίς δʼ ἂν ἐπιτηδειότερος ἐμοῦ γένοιτο συνεῖναι καλῷ; καὶ γὰρ οὐ τῶν σωμάτων ἐραστής εἰμι, τὴν ψυχὴν δὲ ἡγοῦμαι καλήν. ἀμέλει κἂν ὑπὸ ταὐτὸν ἱμάτιόν μοι κατακέωνται, ἀκούσει αὐτῶν λεγόντων μηδὲν ὑπʼ ἐμοῦ δεινὸν παθεῖν.

Ἀγοράστης

ἄπιστα λέγεις, τὸ παιδεραστὴν ὄντα μὴ πέρα τῆς ψυχῆς πολυπραγμονεῖν, καὶ ταῦτα ἐπʼ ἐξουσίας, ὑπὸ τῷ αὐτῷ ἱματίῳ κατακείμενον.

Translations (2)

Sale of Creeds Perseus (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 1. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.) — 15 focus

Heraclitus

The Athenian there? Old Chatterbox?

Zeus

By all means.

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.

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?

The Sale of Lives Perseus (Lucian. Selections from Lucian. Smith, Emily James, translator. New York: Harper Brothers, 1892.) — 15 focus

Hermes

That Athenian there, the chatterbox?

Zeus

By all means.

Hermes

Come here, you! We offer a good, sensible life. Who buys the most holy?

Buyer

Tell me, just what do you happen to know?

Sokrates

I am a lover and wise in the science of love.

Buyer

Then how in the world could I buy you? For what I want is a tutor for my pretty boy.

Sokrates

Well, who could be a better man than I to associate with the fair? It is beautiful souls that I love, not bodies.

Notes on the current edition

Philosophies for Sale

1. Both Socrates and Plato contribute to the picture of the typical Academic. Consequently some editors, misled by the manuscripts (see introductory note) ascribe the part of Academic to Socrates, some to Plato, and some divide it between the two.

2. See Plato’s Symposium, particularly 216 p-219 D.

Lucian of Samosata Vitarum auctio 15

Austin Morris Harmon (Translator)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

HERMES

Do you want the Athenian over there, who has so much to say?¹

ZEUS

By all means.

HERMES

Come here, sir. We are putting up a righteous and intelligent philosophy. Who'll buy the height of sanctity?

BUYER

Tell me what you know best?

ACADEMIC

I am a lover, and wise in matters of love.

BUYER

How am I to buy you, then? What I wanted was a tutor for my son, who is handsome.

ACADEMIC

But who would be more suitable than I to associate with a handsome lad? It is not the body I love, it is the soul that I hold beautiful. As a matter of fact, even if they lie beneath the same cloak with me, they will tell you that I have done them no wrong.²

BUYER

I can’t believe what you say, that you, though a lover, take no interest in anything beyond the soul, even when you have the opportunity, lying beneath the same cloak.

Current edition Perseus

Ἑρμῆς

βούλει τὸν Ἀθηναῖον ἐκεῖνον, τὸν στωμύλον;

Ζεύς

πάνυ μὲν οὖν.

Ἑρμῆς

δεῦρο ἐλθὲ σύ. βίον ἀγαθὸν καὶ συνετὸν ἀποκηρύττομεν. τίς ὠνεῖται τὸν ἱερώτατον;

Ἀγοράστης

εἰπέ μοι, τί μάλιστα εἰδὼς τυγχάνεις;

Σωκράτης

παιδεραστής εἰμι καὶ σοφὸς τὰ ἐρωτικά.

Ἀγοράστης

πῶς οὖν ἐγὼ πρίωμαί σε; παιδαγωγοῦ γὰρ ἐδεόμην τῷ παιδὶ καλῷ ὄντι μοι.

Ἀγοράστης

ἄπιστα λέγεις, τὸ παιδεραστὴν ὄντα μὴ πέρα τῆς ψυχῆς πολυπραγμονεῖν, καὶ ταῦτα ἐπʼ ἐξουσίας, ὑπὸ τῷ αὐτῷ ἱματίῳ κατακείμενον.

Heraclitus

The Athenian there? Old Chatterbox?

Zeus

By all means.

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.

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?

Hermes

That Athenian there, the chatterbox?

Zeus

By all means.

Hermes

Come here, you! We offer a good, sensible life. Who buys the most holy?

Buyer

Tell me, just what do you happen to know?

Sokrates

I am a lover and wise in the science of love.

Buyer

Then how in the world could I buy you? For what I want is a tutor for my pretty boy.

Sokrates

Well, who could be a better man than I to associate with the fair? It is beautiful souls that I love, not bodies.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

HERMES Do you want the Athenian over there, who has so much to say? 1

ZEUS By all means.

HERMES Come here, sir. We are putting up a righteous and intelligent philosophy. Who'll buy the height of sanctity?

BUYER Tell me what you know best?

ACADEMIC I am a lover, and wise in matters of love.

BUYER How am I to buy you, then? What I wanted was a tutor for my son, who is handsome.

ACADEMIC But who would be more suitable than I to associate with a handsome lad? It is not the body I love, it is the soul that I hold beautiful. As a matter of fact, even if they lie beneath the same cloak with me, they will tell you that I have done them no wrong. 2

BUYER I can’t believe what you say, that you, though a lover, take no interest in anything beyond the soul, even when you have the opportunity, lying beneath the same cloak.

Current edition Perseus

Ἑρμῆς βούλει τὸν Ἀθηναῖον ἐκεῖνον, τὸν στωμύλον;

Ζεύς πάνυ μὲν οὖν.

Ἑρμῆς δεῦρο ἐλθὲ σύ. βίον ἀγαθὸν καὶ συνετὸν ἀποκηρύττομεν. τίς ὠνεῖται τὸν ἱερώτατον;

Ἀγοράστης εἰπέ μοι, τί μάλιστα εἰδὼς τυγχάνεις;

Σωκράτης παιδεραστής εἰμι καὶ σοφὸς τὰ ἐρωτικά.

Ἀγοράστης πῶς οὖν ἐγὼ πρίωμαί σε; παιδαγωγοῦ γὰρ ἐδεόμην τῷ παιδὶ καλῷ ὄντι μοι.

Ἀγοράστης ἄπιστα λέγεις, τὸ παιδεραστὴν ὄντα μὴ πέρα τῆς ψυχῆς πολυπραγμονεῖν, καὶ ταῦτα ἐπʼ ἐξουσίας, ὑπὸ τῷ αὐτῷ ἱματίῳ κατακείμενον.

Heraclitus The Athenian there? Old Chatterbox?

Zeus By all means.

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.

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?

Hermes That Athenian there, the chatterbox?

Zeus By all means.

Hermes Come here, you! We offer a good, sensible life. Who buys the most holy?

Buyer Tell me, just what do you happen to know?

Sokrates I am a lover and wise in the science of love.

Buyer Then how in the world could I buy you? For what I want is a tutor for my pretty boy.

Sokrates Well, who could be a better man than I to associate with the fair? It is beautiful souls that I love, not bodies.

Notes on the current edition

Stable identifiers

HERMES

Do you want the Athenian over there, who has so much to say?¹

ZEUS

By all means.

HERMES

Come here, sir. We are putting up a righteous and intelligent philosophy. Who'll buy the height of sanctity?

BUYER

Tell me what you know best?

ACADEMIC

I am a lover, and wise in matters of love.

BUYER

How am I to buy you, then? What I wanted was a tutor for my son, who is handsome.

ACADEMIC

But who would be more suitable than I to associate with a handsome lad? It is not the body I love, it is the soul that I hold beautiful. As a matter of fact, even if they lie beneath the same cloak with me, they will tell you that I have done them no wrong.²

BUYER

I can’t believe what you say, that you, though a lover, take no interest in anything beyond the soul, even when you have the opportunity, lying beneath the same cloak.

Ἑρμῆς

βούλει τὸν Ἀθηναῖον ἐκεῖνον, τὸν στωμύλον;

Ζεύς

πάνυ μὲν οὖν.

Ἑρμῆς

δεῦρο ἐλθὲ σύ. βίον ἀγαθὸν καὶ συνετὸν ἀποκηρύττομεν. τίς ὠνεῖται τὸν ἱερώτατον;

Ἀγοράστης

εἰπέ μοι, τί μάλιστα εἰδὼς τυγχάνεις;

Σωκράτης

παιδεραστής εἰμι καὶ σοφὸς τὰ ἐρωτικά.

Ἀγοράστης

πῶς οὖν ἐγὼ πρίωμαί σε; παιδαγωγοῦ γὰρ ἐδεόμην τῷ παιδὶ καλῷ ὄντι μοι.

Ἀγοράστης

ἄπιστα λέγεις, τὸ παιδεραστὴν ὄντα μὴ πέρα τῆς ψυχῆς πολυπραγμονεῖν, καὶ ταῦτα ἐπʼ ἐξουσίας, ὑπὸ τῷ αὐτῷ ἱματίῳ κατακείμενον.

Heraclitus

The Athenian there? Old Chatterbox?

Zeus

By all means.

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.

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?

Hermes

That Athenian there, the chatterbox?

Zeus

By all means.

Hermes

Come here, you! We offer a good, sensible life. Who buys the most holy?

Buyer

Tell me, just what do you happen to know?

Sokrates

I am a lover and wise in the science of love.

Buyer

Then how in the world could I buy you? For what I want is a tutor for my pretty boy.

Sokrates

Well, who could be a better man than I to associate with the fair? It is beautiful souls that I love, not bodies.