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Socrates
Socrates. Dear Phaedrus, whither away, and where do you come from?
Phaedrus
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 than the streets.
Socrates
Socrates. He is right, my friend. Then Lysias, it seems,was in the city?
Phaedrus
Phaedrus. Yes, at Epicrates’ house, the one that belonged to Morychus, near the Olympieum.
Socrates
Socrates. What was your conversation? But it is obvious that Lysias entertained you with his speeches.
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Phaedrus
Phaedrus. You shall hear, if you have leisure to walk along and listen.
Socrates
Socrates. What? Don’t you believe that I consider hearing your conversation with Lysias a greater thing even than business,Pind. Isthm 1.1as Pindar says?Pind. I. 1.1Μᾶτερ ἐμά, τὸ τεόν, χρύσασπι Θήβα, πρᾶγμα καὶ ἀσχολίας ὑπέρτερον θήσομαι. My mother, Thebes of the golden shield, I will consider thy interest greater even than business.
Phaedrus
Phaedrus. Lead on, then.
Socrates
Socrates. Speak.
Phaedrus
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.
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