Page:The Dialogues of Plato v. 1.djvu/168

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PROTAGORAS.

PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE.

Socrates, who is the narrator of
the Dialogue to his Companion.Hippocrates.
Protagoras, Sophists.
Prodicus,
Hippias,
Alcibiades. Callias, a wealthy Athenian.
Critias.

Scene:—The House of Callias.

Steph. 309

Protagoras.
Companion, Socrates.The fair Alcibiades. Com. Where do you come from, Socrates? And yet I need hardly ask the question, for I know that you have been in chase of the fair Alcibiades. I saw him the day before yesterday; and he had got a beard like a man,—and he is a man, as I may tell you in your ear. But I thought that he was still very charming.

Soc. What of his beard? Are you not of Homer's opinion, who says[1]

'Youth is most charming when the beard first appears'?

And that is now the charm of Alcibiades.

Com. Well, and how do matters proceed? Have you been visiting him, and was he gracious to you?

Soc. Yes, I thought that he was very gracious; and especially to-day, for I have just come from him, and he has been helping me in an argument. But shall I tell you a strange thing? I paid no attention to him, and several times I quite forgot that he was present.

Com. What is the meaning of this? Has anything happened between you and him? For surely you cannot have discovered a fairer love than he is; certainly not in this city of Athens.

But there is a fairer still. Soc. Yes, much fairer.

Com. What do you mean—a citizen or a foreigner?

  1. ↑ Il. xxiv. 348.
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