for me to recognise the walker. It was Slofork, the so-called
sorcerer. I had never met him before, but I knew him by his
peculiarities of person. He was of a bright gamboge colour and
possessed a very long, proboscis-like nose, which appeared to be a
useful organ, but did not add to his beauty, as I knew beauty. He
was dubbed 'sorcerer' from his wondrous skill in budding limbs and
organs. The tale is told that one evening he slowly sawed his leg
off with a blunt stone and then lay for two days in agony while his
new leg was sprouting. He was not reputed to be a consistently wise
man, but he had periodical flashes of penetration and audacity that
none could equal.

"We sat down and faced one another, about two yards apart.

"'Which of us walks over the other?' asked Slofork. His manner was
as calm as the day itself, but, to my young nature, terrible with
hidden terrors. I smiled at him, but did not wish for this
humiliation. We continued sitting thus, in a friendly way, for many
minutes.

"'What is greater than Pleasure?' he asked suddenly.

"I was at an age when one wishes to be thought equal to any
emergency, so, concealing my surprise, I applied myself to the
conversation, as if it were for that purpose we had met.

"'Pain,' I replied, 'for pain drives out pleasure.'

"'What is greater than Pain?'