_Ly_. By Heracles (and his death on Oeta), they quit themselves like men, and have their reward, it seems. But there is one thing I should like to know: are they allowed to come down from their elevation sometimes, and have a taste of what they left behind them? or when they have once got up, must they stay there, conversing with Virtue, and smiling at wealth and glory and pleasure? _Her_. The latter, assuredly; more than that, a man once admitted of Virtue's company will never be subject to wrath or fear or desire any more; no, nor can he feel pain, nor any such sensation. _Ly_. Well, but--if one might dare to say what one thinks--but no--let me keep a good tongue in my head--it were irreverent to pry into what wise men do. _Her_. Nay, nay; let me know your meaning. _Ly_. Dear friend, I have not the courage. _Her_. Out with it, my good fellow; we are alone. _Ly_. Well, then--most of your account I followed and accepted--how they grow wise and brave and just, and the rest--indeed I was quite fascinated by it; but then you went on to say they despised wealth and glory and pleasure; well, just there (quite between ourselves, you know) I was pulled up; I thought of a scene t'other day with--shall I tell you whom? Perhaps we can do without a name? _Her_. No, no; we must have that too. _Ly_. Your own professor himself, then,--a person to whom all respect is due, surely, not to mention his years. _Her_. Well? _Ly_. You know the Heracleot, quite an old pupil of his in philosophy by this time--red-haired--likes an argument? _Her_. Yes; Dion, he is called. _Ly_. Well, I suppose he had not paid up punctually; anyhow the other day the old man haled him before the magistrate, with a halter made of his own coat; he was shouting and fuming, and if some friends had not come up and got the young man out of his hands, he would have bitten off his nose, he was in such a temper. _Her_. Ah, _he_ is a bad character, always an unconscionable time paying his debts. There are plenty of others who owe the professor money, and he has never treated any of them so; they pay him his interest punctually. _Ly_. Not so fast; what in the world does it matter to him, if they do not pay up? he is purified by philosophy, and has no further need of the cast clothes of Oeta. _Her_. Do you suppose his interest in such things is selfish? no, but he has little ones; his care is to save them from indigence. _Ly_. Whereas he ought to have brought them up to Virtue too, and let them share his inexpensive Happiness. _Her_. Well, I have no time to argue it, Lycinus; I must not be late for lecture, lest in the end I find myself left behind. _Ly_. Don't be afraid, my duteous one; to-day is a holiday; I can save you the rest of your walk. _Her_. What do you mean?