Page:Philological Museum v2.djvu/41

31 Imaginary Con versa Hon. 31 SCIPIO. Your friendship comes under various forms to me, my dear Polybius, but it is always warm, and always welcome. Nothing can be kinder or more judicious in you, than to diversify as much as possible our conversation this day. Pa- netius would be more argumentative on luxury than I : even Euthymedes (it appears) was unanswerable. PANETIUS. the knave ! such men bring reproaches upon philosophy. SCIPIO. 1 see no more reason why they should, than why a wench who empties a chamber-pot on your head in the street, should make you cry, O Jupiter ! what a curse is water. PANETIUS. I am ready to propose almost such an exchange with you, Emilianus, as Diomedesis with Glaucus. . my robe for yours. SCIPIO. Panetius, could it be done, you would wish it undone. The warfare you undertake is the more difficult : we have not enemies on both sides, as you have. PANETIUS. If you had seen strait, you would have seen that the offer was, to exchange my philosophy for yours. You need less meditation, and employ more, than any man. Now if you have aught to say on luxury, let me hear it. SCIPIO. It would be idle to run into the parts of it, and to make a definition of that which we agree on ; but it is not so to remind you that we were talking of it in soldiers ; for the plea- sant tale of Thelymnia is enough to make us forget them, even while the trumpet is sounding. Believe me, my friend (or ask Polybius) a good general will turn this formidable thing, luxury, to some account. He will take care that, like the strong vinegar the legionaries carry with "^em, it shall be diluted, and thus be useful.