Lucian, De parasito sive artem esse parasiticam, Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator), 58

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[58]

Tychiades

I must say, you have done well for your kind against the philosophers. And now look at it from the patron’s point of view; does he get his money’s worth? It strikes me the rich man does the kindness, confers the favour, finds the food, and it is all a little discreditable to the man who takes them.

Simon

Now, really, Tychiades, that is rather silly of you. Can you not see that a rich man, if he had the gold of Gyges, is yet poor as long as he dines alone, and no better than a tramp if he goes abroad unattended? A soldier without his arms, a dress without its purple, a horse without its trappings, are poor things; and a rich man without his sponger is a mean, cheap spectacle. The sponger gives lustre to the patron, never the patron to the other.

De parasito sive artem esse parasiticam. Lucian. Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator). Medford, MA, USA. 2023-08-01.

Current edition Perseus

The Parasite: a Demonstration that Sponging is a Profession (English) (The Works of Lucian of Samosata, Vol. 3. Fowler, Henry Watson and Fowler, Francis George, translators. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905.)

Editions (1)

Περὶ τοῦ Παρασίτου ὅτι Τέχνη ἡ Παρασιτική Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 3. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1921.) — 58 focus

Τυχιάδης

ταῦτα μὲν ἱκανῶς διημίλληταί σοι τὰ πρὸς τοὺς φιλοσόφους ὑπὲρ τοῦ παρασίτου. λοιπὸν δὲ εἰ καλὸν καὶ λυσιτελές ἐστιν τὸ κτῆμα τοῦτο τῷ τρέφοντι, πειρῶ λέγειν· ἐμοὶ μὲν γὰρ δοκοῦσιν ὥσπερ εὐεργετοῦντες καὶ χαριζόμενοι τρέφειν αὐτοὺς οἱ πλούσιοι, καὶ εἶναι τοῦτο αἰσχύνην τῷ τρεφομένῳ.

Σίμων

ὡς ἠλίθιά γε σου, ὦ Τυχιάδη, ταῦτα, εἰ μὴ δύνασαι γινώσκειν ὅτι πλούσιος ἀνήρ, εἰ καὶ τὸ Γύγου χρυσίον ἔχοι, μόνος ἐσθίων πένης ἐστὶν καὶ προϊὼν ἄνευ παρασίτου πτωχὸς δοκεῖ, καὶ ὥσπερ στρατιώτης χωρὶς ὅπλων ἀτιμότερος καὶ ἐσθὴς ἄνευ πορφύρας καὶ ἵππος ἄνευ φαλάρων, οὕτω καὶ πλούσιος ἄνευ παρασίτου ταπεινός τις καὶ εὐτελὴς φαίνεται. καὶ μὴν ὁ μὲν πλούσιος κοσμεῖται ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ, τὸν δὲ παράσιτον πλούσιος οὐδέποτε κοσμεῖ.

Translations (1)

The Parasite Tychiades Perseus (Lucian, Vol. 3. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1921.) — 58 focus

[58]

TYCHIADES

You have satisfactorily championed the cause of the parasite against the philosophers. Next try to explain whether he is a good and useful acquisition to his supporter; for to me it seems that the rich play the part of benefactors and philanthropists in supporting them, and that this is dishonourable to the man who receives support.

SIMON

How silly df you, Tychiades, not to be able to realise that a rich man, even if he has the wealth of Gyges, is poor if he eats alone; that if he takes the gir without a parasite in his company he is considered a pauper, and that just as a soldier without-arms, or a mantle without a purple border, or a horse without trappings is held in less esteem, so a rich man without a parasite appears low and cheap. Truly, he is an ornament to the rich man, but the rich man is never an ornament to the parasite.

Lucian De parasito sive artem esse parasiticam 58

Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator)