XV. Alcibiades' eulogy of Socrates: 215 A-222 C.
Prologue: My eulogy will take the form of
parables—aiming not at mockery but at truth. Socrates resembles a
Silenus-statuettes which serve as caskets for sacred images; b the Satyr Marsyas.
I. In
form he resembles both a the Sileni, and b the Satyr.
II. (In character) he resembles (b) the Satyr, being (1) a mocker, (2) a
flute-player. As to (2) he excels Marsyas, since his words alone, without an
instrument, fascinate all, old and young. Me he charms far more than even Pericles
could, filling me with shame and selfcontempt, and driving me to my wit's end.
III. He resembles a
the Sileni in the contrast between his
exterior and interior. (
α)
Externally
he adopts an erotic attitude towards beautiful youths: (
β) but
internally he despises beauty and wealth,
as I know from experience. For I tried to bribe him with my beauty, but all my many
attempts came to nothing. Private conversations, gymnastics together, a supper-party
à deux, even a night on the same
couch—all was of no use. Against my battery of charms he was
armed (by his
temperance) in “complete
steel”; and I charge him now before you with the crime of
ὕβρις. His
hardihood was shown in
the Potidaea campaign, where none could stand the cold like him. His
valour was displayed in the battle where he saved my life, and
in the retreat from Delium. Especially amazing is his unique
originality, which makes it impossible to find anyone else like
him—except Satyrs and Sileni.
IV. His
speeches too, I forgot to say, are like the
Silenus-statuettes, in outward seeming ridiculous, but in inner content supremely
rational and full of images of virtue and wisdom.
Epilogue: Such is my eulogy, half praise, half blame. Let my
experience, and that of many another, be a warning to you, Agathon: court Socrates
less as an “erastes” than as an
“anterastes”!
