[227a]
Socrates
Dear Phaedrus, whither away, and where do you come from?Phaedrus
From Lysias, Socrates, the son of Cephalus; and I am going for a walk outside the wall. For I spent a long time there with Lysias, sitting since early morning; and on the advice of your friend and mine, Acumenus, I am taking my walk on the roads; for he says they are less fatiguing [227b] than the streets.Socrates
He is right, my friend. Then Lysias, it seems,was in the city?Phaedrus
Yes, at Epicrates' house, the one that belonged to Morychus, near the Olympieum.Socrates
What was your conversation? But it is obvious that Lysias entertained you with his speeches.Phaedrus
You shall hear, if you have leisure to walk along and listen.Socrates
What? Don't you believe that I consider hearing your conversation with Lysias
Lead on, then.Socrates
Speak.Phaedrus
Indeed, Socrates, you are just the man to hear it. For the discourse about which we conversed, was in a way, a love-speech. For Lysias has represented one of the beauties being tempted, but not by a lover; this is just the clever thing about it; for he says that favors should be granted rather to the one who is not in love than to the lover.Socrates
O noble Lysias! I wish he would write that they should be granted to the poor rather than to the rich, to the old rather than to the young, and so of all the other qualities that I and most of us have; [227d] for truly his discourse would be witty and of general utility. I am so determined to hear you, that I will not leave you, even if you extend your walk to Megara, and, as Herodicus says, go to the wall and back again.2Phaedrus
What are you saying, my dear Socrates?
Dear Phaedrus, whither away, and where do you come from?Phaedrus
From Lysias, Socrates, the son of Cephalus; and I am going for a walk outside the wall. For I spent a long time there with Lysias, sitting since early morning; and on the advice of your friend and mine, Acumenus, I am taking my walk on the roads; for he says they are less fatiguing [227b] than the streets.Socrates
He is right, my friend. Then Lysias, it seems,was in the city?Phaedrus
Yes, at Epicrates' house, the one that belonged to Morychus, near the Olympieum.Socrates
What was your conversation? But it is obvious that Lysias entertained you with his speeches.Phaedrus
You shall hear, if you have leisure to walk along and listen.Socrates
What? Don't you believe that I consider hearing your conversation with Lysias
as Pindar says?1 [227c] Phaedrus“a greater thing even than business,
”Pind. Isthm 1.1
Lead on, then.Socrates
Speak.Phaedrus
Indeed, Socrates, you are just the man to hear it. For the discourse about which we conversed, was in a way, a love-speech. For Lysias has represented one of the beauties being tempted, but not by a lover; this is just the clever thing about it; for he says that favors should be granted rather to the one who is not in love than to the lover.Socrates
O noble Lysias! I wish he would write that they should be granted to the poor rather than to the rich, to the old rather than to the young, and so of all the other qualities that I and most of us have; [227d] for truly his discourse would be witty and of general utility. I am so determined to hear you, that I will not leave you, even if you extend your walk to Megara, and, as Herodicus says, go to the wall and back again.2Phaedrus
What are you saying, my dear Socrates?
