“Lysis, or Friendship” - Plato I WAS GOING FROM THE ACADEMY straight to the Ly-Palaestra; and the entertainment is generally con-ceum, intending to take the outer road, which is versation, to which you are welcome.
close under the wall. When I came to the postern Thank you, I said; and is there any teacher there?
gate of the city, which is by the fountain of Panops, Yes, he said, your old friend and admirer, Miccus.
I fell in with Hippothales, the son of Hieronymus, Indeed, I replied; he is a very eminent professor.
and Ctesippus the Paeanian, and a company of Are you disposed, he said, to go with me and see young men who were standing with them.
them?
Hippothales, seeing me approach, asked whence I Yes, I said; but I should like to know first, what is came and whither I was going.
expected of me, and who is the favourite among I am going, I replied, from the Academy straight you?
to the Lyceum.
Some persons have one favourite, Socrates, and Then come straight to us, he said, and put in here; some another, he said.
you may as well.
And who is yours? I asked: tell me that, Who are you, I said; and where am I to come?
Hippothales.
He showed me an enclosed space and an open At this he blushed; and I said to him, O
door over against the wall. And there, he said, is Hippothales, thou son of Hieronymus! do not say the building at which we all meet: and a goodly that you are, or that you are not, in love; the con-company we are.
fession is too late; for I see that you are not only in And what is this building, I asked; and what sort love, but are already far gone in your love. Simple of entertainment have you?
and foolish as I am, the Gods have given me the The building, he replied, is a newly erected power of understanding affections of this kind.