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jealous of the companions of their beloved； and will rather hate those
who refuse to be his associates； thinking that their favourite is
slighted by the latter and benefited by the former； for more love than
hatred may be expected to come to him out of his friendship with
others。 Many lovers too have loved the person of a youth before they
knew his character or his belongings； so that when their passion has
passed away； there is no knowing whether they will continue to be
his friends； whereas； in the case of non…lovers who were always
friends； the friendship is not lessened by the favours granted； but
the recollection of these remains with them； and is an earnest of good
things to come。
Further； I say that you are likely to be improved by me； whereas the
lover will spoil you。 For they praise your words and actions in a
wrong way； partly； because they are afraid of offending you； and also；
their judgment is weakened by passion。 Such are the feats which love
exhibits； he makes things painful to the disappointed which give no
pain to others； he compels the successful lover to praise what ought
not to give him pleasure； and therefore the beloved is to be pitied
rather than envied。 But if you listen to me； in the first place； I； in
my intercourse with you； shall not merely regard present enjoyment；
but also future advantage； being not mastered by love； but my own
master； nor for small causes taking violent dislikes； but even when
the cause is great； slowly laying up little wrath…unintentional
offences I shall forgive； and intentional ones I shall try to prevent；
and these are the marks of a friendship which will last。
Do you think that a lover only can be a firm friend？ reflect：…if
this were true； we should set small value on sons； or fathers； or
mothers； nor should we ever have loyal friends； for our love of them
arises not from passion； but from other associations。 Further； if we
ought to shower favours on those who are the most eager suitors；…on
that principle； we ought always to do good； not to the most
virtuous； but to the most needy； for they are the persons who will
be most relieved； and will therefore be the most grateful； and when
you make a feast you should invite not your friend； but the beggar and
the empty soul； for they will love you； and attend you； and come about
your doors； and will be the best pleased； and the most grateful； and
will invoke many a blessing on your head。 Yet surely you ought not
to be granting favours to those who besiege you with prayer； but to
those who are best able to reward you； nor to the lover only； but to
those who are worthy of love； nor to those who will enjoy the bloom of
your youth； but to those who will share their possessions with you
in age； nor to those who； having succeeded； will glory in their
success to others； but to those who will be modest and tell no
tales； nor to those who care about you for a moment only； but to those
who will continue your friends through life； nor to those who； when
their passion is over； will pick a quarrel with you； but rather to
those who； when the charm of youth has left you； will show their own
virtue。 Remember what I have said； and consider yet this further
point： friends admonish the lover under the idea that his way of
life is bad； but no one of his kindred ever yet censured the
non…lover； or thought that he was ill…advised about his own interests。
〃Perhaps you will ask me whether I propose that you should indulge
every non…lover。 To which I reply that not even the lover would advise
you to indulge all lovers； for the indiscriminate favour is less
esteemed by the rational recipient； and less easily hidden by him
who would escape the censure of the world。 Now love ought to be for
the advantage of both parties； and for the injury of neither。
〃I believe that I have said enough； but if there is anything more
which you desire or which in your opinion needs to be supplied； ask
and I will answer。〃
Now； Socrates； what do you think？ Is not the discourse excellent；
more especially in the matter of the language？
Soc。 Yes； quite admirable； the effect on me was ravishing。 And
this I owe to you； Phaedrus； for I observed you while reading to be in
an ecstasy； and thinking that you are more experienced in these
matters than I am； I followed your example； and； like you； my divine
darling； I became inspired with a phrenzy。
Phaedr。 Indeed； you are pleased to be merry。
Soc。 Do you mean that I am not in earnest？
Phaedr。 Now don't talk in that way； Socrates； but let me have your
real opinion； I adjure you； by Zeus； the god of friendship； to tell me
whether you think that any Hellene could have said more or spoken
better on the same subject。
Soc。 Well； but are you and I expected to praise the sentiments of
the author； or only the clearness； and roundness； and finish； and
tournure of the language？ As to the first I willingly submit to your
better judgment； for I am not worthy to form an opinion； having only
attended to the rhetorical manner； and I was doubting whether this
could have been defended even by Lysias himself； I thought； though I
speak under correction； that he repeated himself two or three times；
either from want of words or from want of pains； and also； he appeared
to me ostentatiously to exult in showing how well he could say the
same thing in two or three ways。
Phaedr。 Nonsense； Socrates； what you call repetition was the
especial merit of the speech； for he omitted no topic of which the
subject rightly allowed； and I do not think that any one could have
spoken better or more exhaustively。
Soc。 There I cannot go along with you。 Ancient sages； men and women；
who have spoken and written of these things； would rise up in judgment
against me； if out of complaisance I assented to you。
Phaedr。 Who are they； and where did you hear anything better than
this？
Soc。 I am sure that I must have heard； but at this moment I do not
remember from whom； perhaps from Sappho the fair； or Anacreon the
wise； or； possibly； from a prose writer。 Why do I say so？ Why； because
I perceive that my bosom is full； and that I could make another speech
as good as that of Lysias； and different。 Now I am certain that this
is not an invention of my own； who am well aware that I know
nothing； and therefore I can only infer that I have been filled
through the cars； like a pitcher； from the waters of another； though I
have actually forgotten in my stupidity who was my informant。
Phaedr。 That is grand：…but never mind where you beard the
discourse or from whom； let