Well, I noticed that he was in an agony of embarrassment at what we had been saying, and I remembered how, in standing near, he wished to hide himself from Lysis.
211a
So I checked myself and withheld this remark. In the meantime, Menexenus came back, and sat down by Lysis in the place he had left on going out. Then Lysis, in a most playful, affectionate manner, unobserved by Menexenus, said softly to me:
Socrates, tell Menexenus what you have been saying to me.
To which I replied: You shall tell it him yourself, Lysis; for you gave it your closest attention.
I did, indeed, he said.
Then try, I went on, to recollect it as well as you can, 211b so that you tell him the whole of it clearly: but if you forget any of it, mind that you ask me for it again when next you meet me.
I will do so, Socrates, he said, by all means, I assure you. But tell him something else, that I may hear it too, until it is time to go home.
Well, I must do so, I said, since it is you who bid me. But be ready to come to my support, in case Menexenus attempts to refute me. You know what a keen disputant he is.
Yes, on my word, very keen; that is why I want you to have a talk with him. 211c
So that I may make myself ridiculous? I said.
No, no, indeed, he replied; I want you to trounce him.
How can I? I asked. It is not easy, when the fellow is so formidable—a pupil of Ctesippus. And here—do you not see?—is Ctesippus himself.
Take no heed of anyone, Socrates, he said; just go on and have a talk with him.
I must comply, I said.
Now, as these words passed between us,— What is this feast, said Ctesippus, that you two are having by yourselves, without allowing us a share in your talk? 211d
Well, well, I replied, we must give you a share. My friend here fails to understand something that I have been saying, but tells me he thinks Menexenus knows, and he urges me to question him.
Why not ask him then? said he.
But I am going to, I replied. Now please answer, Menexenus, whatever question I may ask you. There is a certain possession that I have desired from my childhood, as every one does in his own way. One person wants to get possession of horses, 211e another dogs, another money, and another distinctions: of these things I reck little, but for the possession of friends I have quite a passionate longing, and would rather obtain a good friend than the best quail or cock in the world; yes, and rather, I swear, than any horse or dog. I believe, indeed, by the Dog, that rather than all Darius’s gold I would choose to gain a dear comrade—far sooner than I would Darius himself, so fond I am of my comrades.
To which I replied: You shall tell it him yourself, Lysis; for you gave it your closest attention.
I did, indeed, he said.
Then try, I went on, to recollect it as well as you can, 211b so that you tell him the whole of it clearly: but if you forget any of it, mind that you ask me for it again when next you meet me.
I will do so, Socrates, he said, by all means, I assure you. But tell him something else, that I may hear it too, until it is time to go home.
Well, I must do so, I said, since it is you who bid me. But be ready to come to my support, in case Menexenus attempts to refute me. You know what a keen disputant he is.
Yes, on my word, very keen; that is why I want you to have a talk with him. 211c
So that I may make myself ridiculous? I said.
No, no, indeed, he replied; I want you to trounce him.
How can I? I asked. It is not easy, when the fellow is so formidable—a pupil of Ctesippus. And here—do you not see?—is Ctesippus himself.
Take no heed of anyone, Socrates, he said; just go on and have a talk with him.
I must comply, I said.
Now, as these words passed between us,— What is this feast, said Ctesippus, that you two are having by yourselves, without allowing us a share in your talk? 211d
Well, well, I replied, we must give you a share. My friend here fails to understand something that I have been saying, but tells me he thinks Menexenus knows, and he urges me to question him.
Why not ask him then? said he.
But I am going to, I replied. Now please answer, Menexenus, whatever question I may ask you. There is a certain possession that I have desired from my childhood, as every one does in his own way. One person wants to get possession of horses, 211e another dogs, another money, and another distinctions: of these things I reck little, but for the possession of friends I have quite a passionate longing, and would rather obtain a good friend than the best quail or cock in the world; yes, and rather, I swear, than any horse or dog. I believe, indeed, by the Dog, that rather than all Darius’s gold I would choose to gain a dear comrade—far sooner than I would Darius himself, so fond I am of my comrades.
Lysis. Plato. Walter Rangeley Maitland Lamb (Translator). Cambridge, MA. 1925.
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