ῥίψον τὸ κυνάριον εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ, ἵνα μανθάνῃ τὸ νήχεσθαι,
fling the dog into the water, that he may learn to swim.
ἰδοῦ—νήχεται—ὡς εὐμαθὲς τὸ θρέμμα,
there he goes—he swims—what a clever creature!
ποίησον σὺ κατὰ ταὐτά, do you the same.
οὐδαμῶς· φοβοῦμαι μὴ βαπτίσῃ με τὸ κῦμα,
no; I fear the wave will overwhelm me.
γελοῖα λέγεις· ἐλαφρότερον γὰρ τὸ σῶμα τὸ ἀνθρώπινον τοῦ ὕδατος,
nonsense; the human body is lighter than the water.
οὐ καταποντίσει σε τὸ ὕδωρ ἀλλὰ ὁ φόβος,
it is not the water that will drown you, but fear.
πιθανόν· ὅμως ἀντέχομαι τῆς ξηρᾶς,
likely enough; nevertheless I hold by the dry land.
σοφός σύ γε, δεξιώτερον δὲ τὸ ζῷον. χαῖρε,
you are wise, but the animal is more clever. Adieu.
English Affinities
Anthracite. Barometer. Phlogiston. Caustic. Ferry. Mimetic. Pantomime. Hydropathy. Baptize. Anthropology. Dexterity.