This, Phidolaus, was my notion of Socrates's Daemon,
whilst he lived and since his death; and I look upon all
they mention about omens, sneezings, or the like, to be
dreams and fooleries. But what I heard Timarchus discourse upon the same subject, lest some should think I
delight in fables, perhaps it is best to conceal. By no
[p. 407]
means, cried Theocritus, let's have it; for though they do
not perfectly agree with it, yet I know many fables that
border upon truth; but pray first tell us who this Timarchus was, for I never was acquainted with the man. Very
likely, Theocritus, said Simmias; for he died when he was
very young, and desired Socrates to bury him by Lampocles, the son of Socrates, who was his dear friend, of the
same age, and died not many days before him. He being
eager to know (for he was a fine youth, and a beginner in
philosophy) what Socrates's Daemon was, acquainting none
but Cebes and me with his design, went down into Trophonius's cave, and performed all the ceremonies that were
requisite to gain an oracle. There he stayed two nights
and one day, so that his friends despaired of his return
and lamented him as lost; but the next morning he came
out with a very cheerful countenance, and having adored
the God, and freed himself from the thronging inquisitive
crowd, he told us many wonderful things that he had seen
and heard; for this was his relation.
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