150–151
Socrates
Soc. You see, then, how unsafe it is for you to approach the god with your prayers, for it may chance that when he hears your irreverent speech he will reject your sacrifice altogether, and you may perhaps be accorded some other bad thing as well. In my opinion, therefore, it is best to hold your peace: for I expect you will not consent to use the Spartan’s prayer, you have such a romantic spirit—to give it the fairest of folly’s names. Cf. Plat. Alc. 2.140c. It is necessary, therefore, to bide one’s time until one can learn how one should behave towards gods and men.
5
Alcibiades
Alc. Well, when will that time arrive, Socrates, and who is to be my instructor? For I feel I should very much like to see who the man is,
Socrates
Soc. It is he who is concerned about you. But I think, as Homer relates how Athena removed the mist from the eyes of Diomede,That be might well discern both god and man,Hom. Il. 5.127. so you too must first have the mist removed which now enwraps your soul, and then you will be ready to receive the means whereby you will discern both evil and good. For at present I do not think you could do so.
Alcibiades
Alc. Let him remove the mist or whatever else he likes to call it: for I am prepared to obey every one of his commands, without shirking, whoever the man may be, so long as I am to be the better for them.
Socrates
Soc. I tell you, he on his part is prodigiously anxious to help you.
Alcibiades
Alc. Then I think it best to defer the sacrifice also till the time comes.
