Part 173

“What sort of huntsman, then, would he appear to you to be, who in hunting should scare away his prey, and make it more difficult to be caught?”

“Without doubt, a bad one.”

“And by speeches and songs not to soothe but exasperate, shews a great want of skill; does it not?”

“It appears so to me.”

“Consider then, Hippothales, whether you will not expose yourself to all these charges by your poetry. Though I think you would not be willing to allow that a man who harms himself by his poetry can be a good poet, in that he harms himself.”

“No, by Jupiter,” said he, “for that would be a great piece of folly. But on this very account, Socrates, I communicate the matter to you, and if you have any thing else to suggest, advise me, by saying what or by doing what one may win the affections of one’s favourite.”

“It is not easy to say,” I replied: “but if you will make Lysis himself converse with me, I could perhaps shew you what you ought to say to him, instead of the things which your friends allege that you say and sing.”

8. “There is no difficulty in that,” he replied. “For if you will enter with Ctesippus here, and sit down and converse, I think that he will join you of his own accord, for he is exceedingly fond of listening, Socrates, and moreover, as they are celebrating the Hermæa, young men and boys are all mixed up together. He will therefore join you: but if not, he is intimate with Ctesippus, through his cousin Menexenus; for Menexenus is his most particular friend. Let him call him, therefore, if he does not join you of his own accord.”

“This,” said I, “we must do.” And at the same time, laying hold of Ctesippus, I entered the palæstra, and the others came after us.

On entering there, we found that the boys had finished their sacrifices, and, the ceremonies being now nearly ended, playing at dice, and all full dressed. 9. Many of them were playing in the court outside, but some in a corner of the dressing-room were playing at odd and even with a great number of dice which they drew out of certain little baskets. Others stood round these, looking on; and among them was Lysis, and he stood in the midst of the boys and youths, crowned, and surpassing them in form, so as not only to deserve to be called beautiful, but beautiful and noble. Then we withdrawing to the opposite side sat down, (for it was quiet there,) and entered into conversation with each other. Lysis, thereupon, turning round, frequently looked at us, and was evidently anxious to come to us; but for some time he hesitated, and was averse to approach alone. Then, Menexenus comes in, in the midst of his game from the court, and as soon as he saw me and Ctesippus, came and seated himself by us. 10. Lysis, therefore, seeing him, followed, and sat down by the side of Menexenus. Others likewise came up, and moreover Hippothales, when he saw a good many standing round, concealing himself behind them, took up a position where he thought Lysis could not see him, fearing lest he should give him offence, and in this position he listened to our discourse. And I, looking towards Menexenus, said, “Son of Demophon, which of you is the elder?”

“We are in doubt,” he replied.

“Should you not also contend which of you is the more noble?” said I.

“Certainly,” said he.

“And in like manner, which of you is the more beautiful?”

Hereupon they both laughed. “However,” said I, “I will not ask which of you is the more rich, for you are friends; are you not?”

“Certainly,” they replied.

“Now the property of friends is said to be common, so that in this respect there will be no difference between you if what you say about friendship is true.”

They assented.

After this, I was purposing to ask, which of them was the more just and the more wise; but in the meanwhile some one came and made Menexenus get up, saying that the master of the palæstra called him; for he appeared to me to be one concerned in the sacrifices. He therefore left us; and I questioned Lysis: 11. “Doubtless,” said I, “Lysis, your father and mother love you very much?”

“Certainly,” he replied.

“Would they not, then, wish you to be as happy as possible?”

“How not?”

“Does a man appear to you to be happy who is a slave, and who is not permitted to do any thing he desires?”

“By Jupiter, no,” said he.

“If, therefore, your father and mother love you and wish that you may be happy, this is quite evident, that they endeavour to make you happy?”

“How should they not?” said he.

“Do they, therefore, permit you to do what you please, and in no respect find fault with you or hinder you from doing whatever you desire?”

“By Jupiter, Socrates,” said he, “they do indeed hinder me in very many things.”