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also because I am afraid of Love himself； I desire to wash the brine
out of my ears with water from the spring； and I would counsel
Lysias not to delay； but to write another discourse； which shall prove
that ceteris paribus the lover ought to be accepted rather than the
non…lover。
Phaedr。 Be assured that he shall。 You shall speak the praises of the
lover； and Lysias shall be compelled by me to write another
discourse on the same theme。
Soc。 You will be true to your nature in that； and therefore I
believe you。
Phaedr。 Speak； and fear not。
Soc。 But where is the fair youth whom I was addressing before； and
who ought to listen now； lest； if he hear me not； he should accept a
non…lover before he knows what he is doing？
Phaedr。 He is close at hand； and always at your service。
Soc。 Know then； fair youth； that the former discourse was the word
of Phaedrus； the son of Vain Man； who dwells in the city of Myrrhina
（Myrrhinusius）。 And this which I am about to utter is the
recantation of Stesichorus the son of Godly Man （Euphemus）； who
comes from the town of Desire （Himera）； and is to the following
effect： 〃I told a lie when I said〃 that the beloved ought to accept
the non…lover when he might have the lover； because the one is sane；
and the other mad。 It might be so if madness were simply an evil；
but there is also a madness which is a divine gift； and the source
of the chiefest blessings granted to men。 For prophecy is a madness；
and the prophetess at Delphi and the priestesses at Dodona when out of
their senses have conferred great benefits on Hellas； both in public
and private life； but when in their senses few or none。 And I might
also tell you how the Sibyl and other inspired persons have given to
many an one many an intimation of the future which has saved them from
falling。 But it would be tedious to speak of what every one knows。
There will be more reason in appealing to the ancient inventors of
names； who would never have connected prophecy （mantike） which
foretells the future and is the noblest of arts； with madness
（manike）； or called them both by the same name； if they had deemed
madness to be a disgrace or dishonour；…they must have thought that
there was an inspired madness which was a noble thing； for the two
words； mantike and manike； are really the same； and the letter t is
only a modern and tasteless insertion。 And this is confirmed by the
name which was given by them to the rational investigation of
futurity； whether made by the help of birds or of other signs…this；
for as much as it is an art which supplies from the reasoning
faculty mind （nous） and information （istoria） to human thought
（oiesis） they originally termed oionoistike； but the word has been
lately altered and made sonorous by the modern introduction of the
letter Omega （oionoistike and oionistike）； and in proportion
prophecy （mantike） is more perfect and august than augury； both in
name and fact； in the same proportion； as the ancients testify； is
madness superior to a sane mind （sophrosune） for the one is only of
human； but the other of divine origin。 Again； where plagues and
mightiest woes have bred in certain families； owing to some ancient
blood…guiltiness； there madness has entered with holy prayers and
rites； and by inspired utterances found a way of deliverance for those
who are in need； and he who has part in this gift； and is truly
possessed and duly out of his mind； is by the use of purifications and
mysteries made whole and except from evil； future as well as
present； and has a release from the calamity which was afflicting him。
The third kind is the madness of those who are possessed by the Muses；
which taking hold of a delicate and virgin soul； and there inspiring
frenzy； awakens lyrical and all other numbers； with these adorning the
myriad actions of ancient heroes for the instruction of posterity。 But
he who； having no touch of the Muses' madness in his soul； comes to
the door and thinks that he will get into the temple by the help of
art…he； I say； and his poetry are not admitted； the sane man
disappears and is nowhere when he enters into rivalry with the madman。
I might tell of many other noble deeds which have sprung from
inspired madness。 And therefore； let no one frighten or flutter us
by saying that the temperate friend is to be chosen rather than the
inspired； but let him further show that love is not sent by the gods
for any good to lover or beloved； if he can do so we will allow him to
carry off the palm。 And we； on our part； will prove in answer to him
that the madness of love is the greatest of heaven's blessings； and
the proof shall be one which the wise will receive； and the witling
disbelieve。 But first of all； let us view the affections and actions
of the soul divine and human； and try to ascertain the truth about
them。 The beginning of our proof is as follows：…
The soul through all her being is immortal； for that which is ever
in motion is immortal； but that which moves another and is moved by
another； in ceasing to move ceases also to live。 Only the self…moving；
never leaving self； never ceases to move； and is the fountain and
beginning of motion to all that moves besides。 Now； the beginning is
unbegotten； for that which is begotten has a beginning； but the
beginning is begotten of nothing； for if it were begotten of
something； then the begotten would not come from a beginning。 But if
unbegotten； it must also be indestructible； for if beginning were
destroyed； there could be no beginning out of anything； nor anything
out of a beginning； and all things must have a beginning。 And
therefore the self…moving is the beginning of motion； and this can
neither be destroyed nor begotten； else the whole heavens and all
creation would collapse and stand still； and never again have motion
or birth。 But if the self…moving is proved to be immortal； he who
affirms that self…motion is the very idea and essence of the soul will
not be put to confusion。 For the body which is moved from without is
soulless； but that which is moved from within has a soul； for such
is the nature of the soul。 But if this be true； must not the soul be
the self…moving； and therefore of necessity unbegotten and immortal？
Enough of the soul's immortality。
Of the nature of the soul； though her true form be ever a theme of
large and more than mortal discourse； let me speak briefly； and in a
figure。 And let the figure be composite…a pair of winged horses and
a charioteer。 Now the winged horses and the charioteers of the gods
are all of them noble and of nobl