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Agathon； who was reclining alone at the end of the table； begged that he would take the place next to him； that 〃I may touch you；〃 he said； 〃and have the benefit of that wise thought which came into your mind in the portico； and is now in your possession； for I am certain that you would not have come away until you had found what you sought。〃 How I wish； said Socrates； taking his place as he was desired； that wisdom could be infused by touch； out of the fuller the emptier man； as water runs through wool out of a fuller cup into an emptier one； if that were so； how greatly should I value the privilege of reclining at your side！ For you would have filled me full with a stream of wisdom plenteous and fair； whereas my own is of a very mean and questionable sort； no better than a dream。 But yours is bright and full of promise； and was manifested forth in all the splendour of youth the day before yesterday； in the presence of more than thirty thousand Hellenes。 You are mocking； Socrates； said Agathon； and ere long you and I will have to determine who bears off the palm of wisdom…of this Dionysus shall be the judge； but at present you are better occupied with supper。 Socrates took his place on the couch； and supped with the rest； and then libations were offered； and after a hymn had been sung to the god； and there had been the usual ceremonies； they were about to commence drinking； when Pausanias said； And now； my friends； how can we drink with least injury to ourselves？ I can assure you that I feel severely the effect of yesterday's potations； and must have time to recover； and I suspect that most of you are in the same predicament； for you were of the party yesterday。 Consider then： How can the drinking be made easiest？ I entirely agree； said Aristophanes； that we should； by all means； avoid hard drinking； for I was myself one of those who were yesterday drowned in drink。 I think that you are right； said Eryximachus； the son of Acumenus； but I should still like to hear one other person speak： Is Agathon able to drink hard？ I am not equal to it； said Agathon。 Then； the Eryximachus； the weak heads like myself； Aristodemus； Phaedrus； and others who never can drink； are fortunate in finding that the stronger ones are not in a drinking mood。 （I do not include Socrates； who is able either to drink or to abstain； and will not mind； whichever we do。） Well； as of none of the company seem disposed to drink much； I may be forgiven for saying； as a physician； that drinking deep is a bad practice； which I never follow； if I can help； and certainly do not recommend to another； least of all to any one who still feels the effects of yesterday's carouse。 I always do what you advise； and especially what you prescribe as a physician； rejoined Phaedrus the Myrrhinusian； and the rest of the company； if they are wise； will do the same。 It was agreed that drinking was not to be the order of the day； but that they were all to drink only so much as they pleased。 Then； said Eryximachus； as you are all agreed that drinking is to be voluntary； and that there is to be no compulsion； I move； in the next place； that the flute…girl； who has just made her appearance； be told to go away and play to herself； or； if she likes； to the women who are within。 To…day let us have conversation instead； and； if you will allow me； I will tell you what sort of conversation。 This proposal having been accepted； Eryximachus proceeded as follows：… I will begin； he said； after the manner of Melanippe in Euripides；
Not mine the word
which I am about to speak； but that of Phaedrus。 For often he says to me in an indignant tone： 〃What a strange thing it is； Eryximachus； that； whereas other gods have poems and hymns made in their honour； the great and glorious god； Love； has no encomiast among all the poets who are so many。 There are the worthy sophists too…the excellent Prodicus for example； who have descanted in prose on the virtues of Heracles and other heroes； and； what is still more extraordinary； I have met with a philosophical work in which the utility of salt has been made the theme of an eloquent discourse； and many other like things have had a like honour bestowed upon them。 And only to think that there should have been an eager interest created about them； and yet that to this day no one has ever dared worthily to hymn Love's praises！ So entirely has this great deity been neglected。〃 Now in this Phaedrus seems to me to be quite right； and therefore I want to offer him a contribution； also I think that at the present moment we who are here assembled cannot do better than honour the。 god Love。 If you agree with me； there will be no lack of conversation； for I mean to propose that each of us in turn； going from left to right； shall make a speech in honour of Love。 Let him give us the best which he can； and Phaedrus； because he is sitting first on the left hand； and because he is the father of the thought； shall begin。 No one will vote against you； Eryximachus； said Socrates。 How can I oppose your motion； who profess to understand nothing but matters of love； nor； I presume； will Agathon and Pausanias； and there can be no doubt of Aristophanes； whose whole concern is with Dionysus and Aphrodite； nor will any one disagree of those whom I； see around me。 The proposal； as I am aware； may seem rather hard upon us whose place is last； but we shall be contented if we hear some good speeches first。 Let Phaedrus begin the praise of Love； and good luck to him。 All the company expressed their assent； and desired him to do as Socrates bade him。 Aristodemus did not recollect all that was said； nor do I recollect all that he related to me； but I will tell you what I thought most worthy of remembrance； and what the chief speakers said。 Phaedrus began by affirming that love is a mighty god； and wonderful among gods and men； but especially wonderful in his birth。 For he is the eldest of the gods； which is an honour to him； and a proof of his claim to this honour is； that of his parents there is no memorial； neither poet nor prose…writer has ever affirmed that he had any。 As Hesiod says：
First Chaos came； and then broad…bosomed Earth； The everlasting seat of all that is； And Love。
In other words； after Chaos； the Earth and Love； these two； came into being。 Also Parmenides sings of Generation：
First in the train of gods； he fashioned Love。
And Acusilaus agrees with Hesiod。 Thus numerous are the witnesses who acknowledge Love to be the eldest of the gods。 And not only is he the eldest； he is also the source of the greatest benefits to us。 For I know not any greater blessing to a young man who is beginning life than a virtuous lover or to the lover than a beloved youth。 For the principle which ought to be the guide of men who would nobly live at principle； I say； neither kindred； nor honour； nor wealth； nor any other motive is able to implant so well as love。 Of what am I speaking？ Of the sense of honour and dishonour； without which neither states nor individuals ever do any good or great work。 And I say that a lover who is detected in doing any dishonourable act； or submitting through cowardice when any dishonour is done to him by another； will be more pained at being detected by his beloved than at being seen by his father； or by his companions； or by any one else。 The beloved too； when he is found in any disgraceful situation； has the same feeling about his lover。 And if there were only some way of contriving that a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their loves； they would be the very best governors of their own city； abstaining from all dishonour； and emulating one another in honour； and when fighting at each other's side； although a mere handful； they would overcome the world。 For what lover would not choose rather to be seen by all mankind than by his beloved； either when abandoning his post or throwing away his arms？ He would be ready to die a thousand deaths rather than endure this。 Or who would desert his beloved or fail him in the hour of danger？ The veriest coward would become an inspired hero； equal to the bravest； at such a time； Love would inspire him。 That courage which； as Homer says； the god b