Chapter X.—A Cool Retreat.

And a certain one amongst them—a rich man, and possessing a garden of evergreen plants^10351035    The text here is corrupt.  If we adopt Lobeck’s emendation of παμμιούσων into παμπλουσιον, the literal translation is, “possessing a property around him continually rich in leaves.”  [The offer of this man has a partial parallel in Recognitions, viii. 35–38.—R.]—said:  “Since it is very hot, let us retire for a little from the city to my gardens.”  Accordingly they went forth, and sat down in a place where there were pure streams of cool water, and a green shade of all sorts of trees.  There I sat pleasantly, and the others round about me; and they being silent, instead of a verbal request made to me, showed by their eager looks to me that they required the proof of my assertion.  And therefore I proceeded to speak thus:—