Phaedrus — Plato

PH^DRUS 143 the same complaint as himself: he saw and rejoiced ; now, thought he, ** I shall have a partner in my revels.*' And he invited him to come with him.

But when the lover of discourse asked to hear the tale, he gave himself airs and said, " No, I can't,'* as if he didn't like ; although, if the hearer had refused, the end would have been that he would have made him listen whether he would or no. Therefore, Phaedrus, as he will soon speak in any case, beg him to speak at once.

Phcedr, As you don't seem very likely to let me off until 1 speak in some way, the best thing that I can do is to speak as I best may. Soc, That is a very true observation of yours. Phcedr.

I will do my best, for believe me, Socrates, I did not learn the very words ; O no, but I have a general notion of what he said, and will repeat concisely, and in order, the several arguments by which the case of the non-lover was proved to be superior to that of the lover ; let me begin at the beginning. Soc.

Yes, my friend ; but you must first of all show what you have got in your left hand under your cloak, for that roll, as I suspect, is the actual discourse. Now, much as I love you, I would not have you suppose that I am going to have your memory exercised upon me, if you have Lysias himself here. Fhcedr, Enough ; I see that I have no hope of practicing upon you. But if I am to read, where would you please to sit ? ^^^ Soc.

Turn this way ; let us go to the Ilissus, and sit down at some quiet spot. Phcedr, I am fortunate in not having my sandals, and as you never have any, 1 think that we may go along the brook and cool our feet in the water : this is the easiest way, and at midday and in the summer is far from being unpleasant. Soc, Lead on, and look out for a place in which we can sit down. Phcedr, Do you see that tallest plane - tree in the distance ? Soc. Yes.

Phcedr. There are shade and gentle breezes, and grass on which we may either sit or lie down. Soc. Move on. Phcedr, I should like to know, Socrates, whether the place 2p. 144is not somewhere here at which Boreas ^^ is said to have carried off Orithyia from the banks of the Ilissus. Soc, That is the tradition. Fhcedr. And is this the exact spot ? The little stream is delightfully clear and bright ; I can fancy that there might be maidens playing near. Soc.

I believe that the spot is not exactly here, but about a quarter of a mile lower down, where you cross to. the temple of Artemis, ^2 and I think that there is some sort of altar of Boreas at the place. Fhcedr, I don't recollect ; but I wish that you would tell me whether you believe this tale. Soc. The wise are doubtful, and if, like them, I also doubted, there would be nothing very strange in that.

I might have a rational explanation that Orithyia was playing with Pharmacia,'^ when a northern gust carried her over the neighboring rocks : and this being the manner of her death, she was said to have been carried away by Boreas. There is a discrepancy, however, about the locality, as according to another version of the story she was taken from the Areopagus,^* and not from this place.

Now I quite acknowledge that these explanations are very nice, but he is not to be envied who has to give them; much labor and ingenuity will be required of him ; and when he has once begun, he must go on and rehabilitate centaurs ^ and chimeras ^* dire. Gorgons *^ and winged steeds flow in apace, and numberless other inconceivable and impossible monstrosities and marvels of nature.

And if he is skeptical about them, and would fain reduce them all to the rules of probability, this sort of crude philosophy will take up all his time. Now I have certainly not time for »' Boreas (b6'r€-as) : mythological personification of the north wind, who lived in Thrace.

He loved Orithyia (orT-thy'y^), daughter of the king of Athens, and carried her away from the banks of the Ilissus where she was playing games. »2 Artemis (ar'te-mfs) : one of the major Greek divinities, goddess of the moon, and of the chase, corresponding to the Roman Diana. "Pharmacia (far-ma'si-a) : the nymph of a spring near the Ilissus, and playmate of Orithyia. »< Areopagus (Sr'e-Cp'a-gus) or Mars Hill : a hill in Athens. See Acts XVii. 22.

" Centaur (s^n't^ur) : a fabulous creature, half man and half horse. "Chimera (kF-me'ri): a fire-breathing monster with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a serpent. >' See Symposium, note 04.