Following this view, he makes pretty sport of the parasites, whom he represents as forming a large and educated class.  Patroclus he counts as Achilles’ parasite, and includes several philosophers, who, he says, sponged upon Dionysius of Syracuse, “but Plato failed in the art.”  He commends them in merry irony, and describes the parasite as stout and robust—­bold, with an eye full of fire and spirit.  Who could venture a bet against a parasite, whether in jesting or feasting?  Who could contribute more to the diversion of the company?  A parasite is obliged to be strict in his conduct.  He has an annual salary, but is always beaten down in it.  He does not receive the same food as the chief people, and in travelling he is put with the servants.  Jokes are made at his expense by the company, and when he receives a present of his patron’s old clothes, he has to fee the servants for them.  Of philosophers, some are poisoned, some are burned alive.  None ever tell of a parasite who came to such an end—­he dies gently and sweetly, amidst loaded dishes and flowing bowls, and should one of them come to a violent death, it is merely from indigestion.  The parasite does honour to the rich man—­not the rich man to the parasite.

Lucian’s “True History” deserves especial notice as having been the first extravagant story written under the form of a circumstantial narration of travels.  It was the precursor of “The Voyage to the Moon,” Baron Muenchausen, and various Utopias.  We must therefore allow it the merit of originality, and it evinces talent, for mere exaggeration would not be entertaining.  The intention was to ridicule the marvellous travellers’ stories then current.  Much of this history is merely florid, and we may compare it to a waving line, in which the fable is constantly undulating between humour and poetry.

Lucian says he is going to write about what never can be.  He sets sail on a voyage of discovery for the Western Ocean, and reaches a beautiful island.  There they find a river of wine, navigable in many places.  He could not trace the source of it, but near the place where it seemed to rise, were several vines full of grapes, and at the root of every one wine flowed out.  They found fish in the stream, and after eating some, felt intoxicated; when they cut them up, they found grape-stones in them.  Passing the river, they found a most wonderful species of vine; the lower parts, which touched the ground, were green and thick, the upper formed the most beautiful women, from the top of whose fingers branches sprang forth full of grapes; and on their heads, instead of hair, they had leaves and tendrils.  Two of his companions, going up to embrace them, became so entangled that they could not again disengage themselves.  After this, they left the island, and were caught in such a violent storm that the vessel was lifted out of the water, so high that it could not come down again.  Then they came to another island, round