Si. Why, now? Because he wants the art which would enable him to save his life?
Tyc. Exactly.
Si. It follows that, if sponging was the negative of art, the sponger would not save his life by its means?
Tyc. Yes.
Si. A man is saved by art, not by the absence of it?
Tyc. Quite so.
Si. So sponging is an art?
Tyc. Apparently.
Si. Let me add that I have often known even good navigators and skilful drivers come to grief, resulting with the latter in bruises and with the former in death but no one will tell you of a sponger who ever made shipwreck. Very well, then, sponging is neither the negative of art, nor is it a quality; but it is a body of perceptions regularly employed. So it emerges from the present discussion an art.
Tyc. That seems to be the upshot. But now proceed to give us a good definition of your art.