The Tour · Chapter
XIII explained
Old Thrasyllus urges Lucius to abandon his grief for Ilia and seek wisdom in Egypt, proposing a journey up the Nile to Memphis and beyond.
What happens
Old Thrasyllus urges Lucius to abandon his grief for Ilia and seek wisdom in Egypt, proposing a journey up the Nile to Memphis and beyond. Caleb and Ghizla persuade the party to hire their thalamegus and services for the voyage, securing a lucrative contract.
Themes in this chapter
Grief and Healing
Thrasyllus urges Lucius to overcome his longing for Ilia through the pursuit of wisdom and travel.
Travel and Discovery
The decision to sail up the Nile to Memphis and Ethiopia in search of wisdom and healing.
Deception and Survival
Caleb and Ghizla's cunning business pitch to secure the party's patronage, hinting at hidden motives.
Characters to notice
- Thrasyllus
Advises Lucius to forget Ilia and seek wisdom in Egypt; proposes the journey up the Nile.
- Publius Lucius Sabinus
Weary and lovesick, agrees to Thrasyllus's plan and hires Caleb as guide.
- Caleb
Negotiates with Lucius to provide a thalamegus, guide services, and supplies for the Nile journey.
- Master Ghizla
Anxiously awaits the outcome of Caleb's negotiation; rushes with Caleb to prepare the wine cellars.
- Catullus
Jests with Caleb about the quality of Ethiopian liqueurs during the planning.
Key passages
“My son, do you intend always to cherish your illness and longing, like a serpent that devours you, bone and flesh?”
Thrasyllus asks Lucius if he plans to keep nurturing his sickness and desire, which consume him like a serpent eating his very bones and flesh.
Thrasyllus rebukes Lucius for wallowing in grief.
“Let us go farther. There is wisdom left in Egypt. And in the wisdom which we shall find you will be cured.”
Thrasyllus proposes they travel deeper into Egypt, where wisdom remains, and that this wisdom will heal Lucius.
Thrasyllus believes wisdom is the cure for Lucius's ailment.
“Hire from me and my brother Ghizla a comfortable and spacious Nile barge, a thalamegus, not only to ascend the Nile in, but also to live in, so far as possible, because the diversoria which you will find at Hermopolis, at Leontopolis, ay, even at Memphis and Thebes are bad.”
Caleb advises Lucius to rent a large, comfortable Nile houseboat from him and Ghizla, as the inns along the route are of poor quality.
Caleb pitches his services by disparaging local accommodations.