Chapters VIII through X Summary

Marcellus and Demetrius travel together to Athens. On the way, Demetrius attempts to draw Marcellus into conversation. At one point Demetrius mentions the views of Lucretius on god. As Demetrius tells it, Lucretius says that the human belief that gods care about people is "the source of nothing but unhappiness." Marcellus says that the biggest problem facing Lucretius was that he had too much time to think and eventually drove himself crazy. Marcellus then says that he is doing the same.

Upon their arrival at the House of Eupolis, Marcellus is told that slaves do not share their master's quarters, but Marcellus insists and the host - a man named Dion - gives in. His wife Phoebe and widowed sister Ino help welcome Marcellus. Both Ino and then Dion's daughter, Theodosia, speak to Demetrius. Theodosia stammers when...