PROTAGORAS.
PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE.
| Socrates, who is the narrator of the Dialogue to his Companion.Hippocrates. |
| ||||
| Alcibiades. | Callias, a wealthy Athenian. | ||||
| Critias. |
Scene:—The House of Callias.
Steph. 309
Protagoras.Companion, Socrates.The fair Alcibiades.
COMPANION. Where do you come from, Socrates? And yet I need hardly ask the question, for I know that you have been compan 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.
Socrates. 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 espe- cially 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 hap- pened 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?
- ↑ Il. xxiv. 348.
