Symposium.
Socrates, Agathon, Phaedrus.
564 Socrates more inclined to talk than to make a speech. Sym- posium. Socrates, Agathon, Phaedrus. Socrates is not allowed to talk. You want to cast a spell over me, Socrates, said Agathon, in the hope that I may be disconcerted at the expectation raised among the audience that I shall speak well. I should be strangely forgetful, Agathon, replied Socrates, of the courage and magnanimity which you showed when your own compositions were about to be exhibited, and you came upon the stage with the actors and faced the vast theatre altogether undismayed, if J thought that your nerves could be fluttered at a small party of friends. Do you think, Socrates, said Agathon, that my head is so full of the theatre as not to know how much more formidable to a man of sense a few good judges are than many fools ? Nay, replied Socrates, T should be very wrong in attri- buting to you, Agathon, that or any other want of refinement. And I am quite aware that if you happened to meet with any whom you thought wise, you would care for their opinion much more than for that of the many. Rut then we, having been a part of the foolish many in the theatre, cannot be regarded as the select wise ; though I know that if you chanced to be in the presence, not of one of ourselves, but of some really wise man, you would be ashamed of disgracing yourself before him — would you not ? Yes, said Agathon. But before the many you would not be ashamed, if you thought that you were doing something disgraceful in their presence ? Here Phaedrus interrupted them, saying : Do not answer him, my dear Agathon ; for if he can only get a partner with whom he can talk, especially a good-looking one, he will no longer care about the completion of our plan. Now I love to hear him talk ; but just at present I must not forget the encomium on Love which I ought to receive from him and from every one. When you and he have paid your tribute to the god, then you may talk. Very good, Phaedrus, said Agathon ; I see no reason why I should not proceed with my speech, as I shall have many other opportunities of conversing with Socrates. Let me say first how I ought to speak, and then speak : — The previous speakers, instead of praising the god Love, or unfolding his nature, appear to have congratulated mankind
