“Much more than common:—It is your master’s self. The dignity of his figure, the grace of his attitude, the nobility of his features, the divine benignity of his expression.—Had we not the original to worship, we might worship your copy.”
They were interrupted by the entrance of a crowd of disciples, in the midst of whose salutations young Sofron rushed in, breathless with running and convulsed with laughter.
CHAPTER IV.
“Prepare yourselves! Prepare yourselves!” cried the panting scholar. “Oh! Pollux! such a couple! The contrast might convulse a Scythian.”
“What is it? What is the matter?” cried a dozen voices.
“I’ll explain directly—Give me breath—and yet I must be quick, for they are close on my heels. Gryphus, the cynic—some of you must have seen him. Well, he’s coming side by side with young Lycaon.”
“Coming here!” said the master smiling. “What can have procured me the honor of such a visit?”
“Oh! your fame, of course.”
“I suspect you are making a fool of the old cynic,” said Epicurus.
“Nay, if he be a fool, he is one without my assistance: Lycaon and I were standing on the steps of the Prytaneum, disputing about something, I forget what, when by came Gryphus, and stopping short at bottom of the steps, ‘Are you disciples of Epicurus, of Gargettium?’ ‘We are,’ answered I, for Lycaon only stood staring in amazement. ‘You may show me the way to him then.’ ‘With all my heart,’ I again replying, Lycaon not yet finding his tongue. ‘We are, at present, for the Gardens, and shall hold it an honor to be conductors to so extraordinary a personage.’ I wanted to put him between us, but Lycaon seemed unambitious of his share in this distinction, for, stepping back, he slipped round to my other side. Oh! Jupiter! I shall never forget the contrast between my two companions. The rough, dirty, hairy cynic on my right hand, and the fine, smooth, delicate, pretty Aristippian on my left. We brought the whole street at our heels. Lycaon would have slunk away, but I held him tight by the sleeve. When we were fairly in the Gardens, I gave them the slip at a cross-path, and run on before to give timely notice, as you see. But, lo! Behold!”