Symposium.
Companion, Apollodorus.

l^he tale of love. 543 Companion. I see, Apollodorus, that you are just the same Sym- always speaking evil of yourself, and of others ; and I do /"■"""'• believe that you pity all mankind, with the exception of Companion, Socrates, yourself first of all, true in this to your old name, dorus. which, however deserved, I know not how you acquired, of Apollodorus the madman ; for you are always raging against yourself and everybody but Socrates. Apollodorus. Yes, friend, and the reason why 1 am said to be mad, and out of my wits, is just because I have these notions of myself and you; no other evidence is required. Com. No more of that, Apollodorus ; but let me renew my request that you would repeat the conversation. Apoll. Well, the tale of love was on this wise : — But perhaps ¹⁷⁴ I had better begin at the beginning, and endeavour to give you the exact words of Aristodemus : lie said that he met Socrates fresh from the bath and san- Aristode- dalled : and as the sight of the sandals was unusual, he asked ™^^ . ^ , narrator him whither he was going that he had been converted into had gone such a beau :— '° "^'^ ^"- ... qaet on the To a banquet at Agathon s, he replied, whose mvitation to invitation his sacrifice of victory I refused yesterday, fearing a crowd, ofSocratfes. but promising that I would come to-day instead ; and so 1 have put on my finery, because he is such a fine man. What say you to going with me unasked ? I will do as you bid me, I replied. Follow then, he said, and let us demolish the proverb : — ' To the feasts of inferior men the good unbidden go ; ' instead of which our proverb will run : — ' To the feasts of the good the good unbidden go ; ' and this alteration may be supported by the authority of Homer Homer himself, who not only demolishes but literally out- ^'°'^'^^his ' -^ -^ own rule, rages the proverb. For, after picturing Agamemnon as the most valiant of men, he makes Menelaus, who is but a faint- hearted warrior, come unbidden^ to the banquet of Agamem- non, who is feasting and offering sacrifices, not the better to the worse, but the worse to the better. I rather fear, Socrates, said Aristodemus, lest tliis may stili ' Iliad ii. 408, and xvii. 588.