Page:The Dialogues of Plato v. 1.djvu/562

 

 

the beauty of laws and institutions, until he perceives that all Sym- beauty is of one kindred ; and from institutions he should go on to the sciences, until at last the vision is revealed to him of a single science of universal beauty, and then he will behold the everlasting nature which is the cause of all, and will be near the 211 end. In the contemplation of that supreme being of love he will be purified of earthly leaven, and will behold beauty, not with the bodily eye, but with the eye of the mind, and will bring forth true 212 creations of virtue and wisdom, and be the friend of God and heir of inmiortality. Such, Phaedrus, is the tale which I heard from the stranger of Mantinea, and which you may call the encomium of love, or what you please. The company applaud the speech of Socrates, and Aristophanes is about to say something, when suddenly a band of revellers breaks into the court, and the voice of Alcibiades is heard asking 213 for Agathon. He is led in drunk, and welcomed by Agathon, whom he has como to crown with a garland. He is placed on a couch at his side, but suddenly, on recognizing Socrates, he starts up, and a sort of conflict is carried on between them, which Agathon is requested to appease. Alcibiades then insists 214 that they shall drink, and has a large wine-cooler filled, which he first empties himself, and then fills again and passes on to Socrates. He is informed of the nature of the entertainment ; and is ready to join, if only in the character of a drunken and disappointed lover he may be allowed to sing the praises of Socrates : — 215 He begins by comparing Socrates first to the busts of Silenus, which have images of the gods inside them ; and, secondly, to Marsyas the flute-player. For Socrates produces the same effect with the voice which Marsyas did with the flute. He is the great 216 speaker and enchanter who ravishes the souls of men; the con- vincer of hearts too, as he has convinced Alcibiades, and made 217 him ashamed of his mean and miserable life. Socrates at one time seemed about to fall in love with him ; and he thought that he would thereby gain a wonderful opportunity of receiving 218 lessons of wisdom. He narrates the failure of his design. He 219 has suffered agonies from him, and is at his wit's end. He then proceeds to mention some other particulars of the life of Socrates; posium.