53
Socrates
Soc. Well then, we shall have no need of many such examples in our discussion of pleasure; we see well enough from this one that any pleasure, however small or infrequent, if uncontaminated with pain, is pleasanter and more beautiful than a great or often repeated pleasure without purity.
10
Protarchus
Pro. Most certainly; and the example is sufficient.
Socrates
Soc. Here is another point. Have we not often heard it said of pleasure that it is always a process or generation and that there is no state or existence of pleasure? There are some clever people who try to prove this theory to us, and we ought to be grateful to them.
Protarchus
Pro. Well, what then?
Socrates
Soc. I will explain this whole matter, Protarchus, by asking questions.
Protarchus
Pro. Go on; ask your questions.
15
Socrates
Soc. There are two parts of existence, the one self-existent, the other always desiring something else.
Protarchus
Pro. What do you mean? What are these two?
Socrates
Soc. The one is by nature more imposing, the other inferior.
Protarchus
Pro. Speak still more plainly.
Socrates
Soc. We have seen beloved boys who are fair and good, and brave lovers of them.
20
Protarchus
Pro. Yes, no doubt of it.
Socrates
Soc. Try to find another pair like these in all the relations we are speaking of.
Protarchus
Pro. Must I say it a third time? Please tell your meaning more plainly, Socrates.
Socrates
Soc. It is no riddle, Protarchus; the talk is merely jesting with us and means that one part of existences always exists for the sake of something, and the other part is that for the sake of which the former is always coming into being.
