With this remedy, then, let's change our complexions, from hair to toe-nails! Then, in the guise of Ethiopian slaves, we shall be ready at hand to wait upon you, light-hearted as having escaped the torturer, and, with our altered complexions, we can impose upon our enemies!" "Yes, indeed," sneered Giton, "and be sure and circumcise us, too, so we will be taken for Jews, pierce our ears so we will look like Arabs, chalk our faces so that Gaul will take us for her own sons; as if color alone could change one's figure! As if many other details did not require consideration if a passable imposture is to result! Even granting that the stained face can keep its color for some time, suppose that not a drop of water should spot the skin, suppose that the garment did not stick to the ink, as it often does, where no gum is used, tell me! We can't make our lips so hideously thick, can we?
We can't kink our hair with a curling-iron, can we?
We can't harrow our foreheads with scars, can we?
We can't force our legs out into the form of a bow or walk with our ankle-bones on the ground, can we?
Can we trim our beards after the foreign style?
No! Artificial color dirties the body without changing it.

Listen to the plan which I have thought out in my desperation; let's tie our garments around our heads and throw ourselves into the deep!".