fig-tree reaches not maturity suddenly nor yet in a single hour, do you nevertheless desire so quickly and easily to reap the fruit of the mind of man? — Nay, expect it not, even though I bade you!”

XL

Epaphroditus(5) had a shoemaker whom he sold as being good-for-nothing. This fellow, by some accident, was afterwards purchased by one of Caesar’s men, and became shoemaker to Caesar. You should have seen what respect Epaphroditus paid him then. “How does the good Felicion? Kindly let me know!” And if any of us inquired, “What is Epaphroditus doing?” the answer was, “He is consulting about so and so with Felicion.” — Had he not sold him as good-for-nothing? Who had in a trice converted him into a wiseacre?