Platos Symposium
Concerning the things about which you ask to Your informant, Glaucon, I said, must have be informed I believe that I am not ill-prepared been very indistinct indeed, if you imagine that with an answer. For the day before yesterday I the occasion was recent; or that I could have been was coming from my own home at Phalerum to of the party.
the city, and one of my acquaintance, who had Why, yes, he replied, I thought so.
caught a sight of me from behind, calling out Impossible: I said. Are you ignorant that for playfully in the distance, said: Apollodorus, O
many years Agathon has not resided at Athens; thou Phalerian (Probably a play of words on and not three have elapsed since I became ac-
(Greek), ‘bald-headed.’) man, halt! So I did quainted with Socrates, and have made it my as I was bid; and then he said, I was looking for daily business to know all that he says and does.
you, Apollodorus, only just now, that I might There was a time when I was running about the ask you about the speeches in praise of love, world, fancying myself to be well employed, but which were delivered by Socrates, Alcibiades, I was really a most wretched being, no better and others, at Agathon’s supper. Phoenix, the than you are now. I thought that I ought to do son of Philip, told another person who told me anything rather than be a philosopher.
of them; his narrative was very indistinct, but Well, he said, jesting apart, tell me when the he said that you knew, and I wish that you would meeting occurred.
give me an account of them. Who, if not you, In our boyhood, I replied, when Agathon won should be the reporter of the words of your the prize with his first tragedy, on the day after friend? And first tell me, he said, were you that on which he and his chorus offered the sac-present at this meeting?
rifice of victory.