weight to all the parts of the body, that join upon the neck, the shoulders, the breast, the back, and the hips, may be said to be glued to the body, and to weigh nothing at all.”  “For this,” said Pistias, “I value the arms I make.  It is true that some choose rather to part with their money for arms that are gilt and finely carved, but if with all this they fit not easy upon them, I think they buy a rich inconveniency.”  Socrates went on:—­“But since the body is not always in the same posture, but sometimes bends, and sometimes raises itself straight, how can arms that are very fit be convenient and easy?” “They never can,” said Pistias.  “Your opinion therefore is,” said Socrates, “that the best arms are not those that are most fit, and fit closest to the body, but those that do not incommode the person that wears them.”  “You, too, are of the same opinion,” replied Pistias, “and you understand the matter aright.”

Chapter XI.  Discourse of Socrates with Theodota, an Athenian lady, of no good character; wherein he ENDEAVOURETH, in the most artful and engaging manner, to win her over from the criminal pleasures to which she was addicted unto the sublimer and more innocent delights of philosophy and virtue.

There was at Athens a very beautiful lady called Theodota, who had the character of a loose dame.  Some person was speaking of her in presence of Socrates, and saying that she was the most beautiful woman in the whole world; that all the painters went to see her, to draw her picture, and that they were very well received at her house.  “I think,” said Socrates, “we ought to go see her too, for we shall be better able to judge of her beauty after we have seen her ourselves than upon the bare relation of others.”  The person who began the discourse encouraged the matter, and that very moment they all went to Theodota’s house.  They found her with a painter who was drawing her picture; and having considered her at leisure when the painter had done, Socrates began thus:—­“Do you think that we are more obliged to Theodota for having afforded us the sight of her beauty than she is to us for coming to see her?  If all the advantage be on her side, it must be owned that she is obliged to us; if it be on ours, it must be confessed that we are so to her.”  Some of the company saying there was reason to think so, Socrates continued in these words:—­“Has she not already had the advantage of receiving the praises we have given her?  But it will be yet a much greater to her when we make known her merit in all the companies we come into; but as for ourselves, what do we carry from hence except a desire to enjoy the things we