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will share their meat and drink without a pang。 Not bloom of lusty
youth； nor love's delights can warp their self…control； nor will they
be tempted to cause pain where pain should be unknown。 It is theirs
not merely to eschew all greed of riches； not merely to make a just
and lawful distribution of wealth； but to supply what is lacking to
the needs of one another。 Theirs it is to compose strife and discord
not in painless oblivion simply； but to the general advantage。 Theirs
also to hinder such extravagance of anger as shall entail remorse
hereafter。 And as to envy they will make a clean sweep and clearance
of it： the good things which a man possesses shall be also the
property of his friends； and the goods which they possess are to be
looked upon as his。 Where then is the improbability that the beautiful
and noble should be sharers in the honours＇19＇ of the state not only
without injury； but even to their mutual advantage？
＇18＇ Or； as we say； 〃the elite of human kind。〃
＇19＇ 〃And the offices。〃
They indeed who covet and desire the honours and offices in a state
for the sake of the liberty thereby given them to embezzle the public
moneys； to deal violently by their fellow…creatures； and to batten in
luxury themselves； may well be regarded as unjust and villainous
persons incapable of harmony with one another。 But if a man desire to
obtain these selfsame honours in order that； being himself secure
against wrong…doing； he may be able to assist his friends in what is
right； and； raised to a high position；＇20＇ may essay to confer some
blessing on the land of his fathers； what is there to hinder him from
working in harmony with some other of a like spirit？ Will he； with the
〃beautiful and noble〃 at his side； be less able to aid his friends？ or
will his power to benfit the community be shortened because the flower
of that community are fellow…workers in that work？ Why； even in the
contests of the games it is obvious that if it were possible for the
stoutest combatants to combine against the weakest； the chosen band
would come off victors in every bout； and would carry off all the
prizes。 This indeed is against the rules of the actual arena； but in
the field of politics； where the beautiful and good hold empery； and
there is nought to hinder any from combining with whomsoever a man may
choose to benefit the state； it will be a clear gain； will it not； for
any one engaged in state affairs to make the best men his friends；
whereby he will find partners and co…operators in his aims instead of
rivals and antagonists？ And this at least is obvious： in case of
foreign war a man will need allies； but all the more if in the ranks
opposed to him should stand the flower of the enemy。＇21＇ Moreover；
those who are willing to fight your battles must be kindly dealt with；
that goodwill may quicken to enthusiasm； and one good man＇22＇ is
better worth your benefiting that a dozen knaves； since a little
kindness goes a long way with the good； but with the base the more you
give them the more they ask for。
＇20＇ 〃As archon；〃 or 〃raised to rule。〃
＇21＇ Lit。 〃the beautiful and good。〃
＇22＇ Or； 〃the best； though few； are better worth your benefiting than
the many base。〃
So keep a good heart； Critobulus； only try to become good yourself；
and when you have attained； set to your hand to capture the beautiful
and good。 Perhaps I may be able to give you some help in this quest；
being myself an adept in Love's lore。＇23＇ No matter who it is for whom
my heart is aflame； in an instant my whole soul is eager to leap
forth。 With vehemence I speed to the mark。 I； who love； demand to be
loved again； this desire in me must be met by counter desire in him；
this thirst for his society by thirst reciprocal for mine。 And these
will be your needs also； I foresee； whenever you are seized with
longing to contract a friendship。 Do not hide from me； therefore； whom
you would choose as a friend； since； owing to the pains I take to
please him who pleases me； I am not altogether unversed； I fancy； in
the art of catching men。＇24＇
＇23＇ 〃An authority in matters of love。〃 Cf。 Plat。 〃Symp。〃 177 D； Xen。
〃Symp。〃 viii。 2。
＇24＇ See below； III。 xi。 7； cf。 Plat。 〃Soph。〃 222； N。 T。 Matt。 iv。 19；
｛alieis anthropon｝。
Critobulus replied： Why； these are the very lessons of instruction；
Socrates； for which I have been long athirst； and the more
particularly if this same love's lore will enable me to capture those
who are good of soul and those who are beautiful of person。
Soc。 Nay； now I warn you； Critobulus； it is not within the province of
my science to make the beautiful endure him who would lay hands upon
them。 And that is why men fled from Scylla； I am persuaded； because
she laid hands upon them； but the Sirens were differentthey laid
hands on nobody； but sat afar off and chanted their spells in the ears
of all； and therefore； it is said； all men endured to listen； and were
charmed。
Cri。 I promise I will not lay violent hands on any； therefore； if you
have any good device for winning friends； instruct your pupil。
Soc。 And if there is to be no laying on of the hands； there must be no
application either of the lips； is it agreed？
Cri。 No； nor application of the lips to any onenot beautiful。
Soc。 See now！ you cannot open your mouth without some luckless
utterence。 Beauty suffers no such liberty； however eagerly the ugly
may invite it； making believe some quality of soul must rank them with
the beautiful。
Cri。 Be of good cheer then； let the compact stand thus： 〃Kisses for
the beautiful； and for the good a rain of kisses。〃 So now teach us the
art of catching friends。
Soc。 Well then； when you wish to win some one's affection； you will
allow me to lodge information against you to the effect that you
admire him and desire to be his friend？
Cri。 Lodge the indictment； with all my heart。 I never heard of any one
who hated his admirers。
Soc。 And if I add to the indictment the further charge that through
your admiration you are kindly disposed towards him； you will not feel
I am taking away your character？
Cri。 Why； no； for myself I know a kindly feeling springs up in my
heart towards any one whom I conceive to be kindly disposed to me。
Soc。 All this I shall feel empowered to say about you to those whose
friendship you seek； and I can promise further help； only there is a
comprehensive 〃if〃 to be considered： if you will further authorise me
to say that you are devoted to your friends； that nothing gives you so
much joy as a good friend； that you pride yourself no less on the fine
deeds of those you love than on your own； and on their good things
equally with your own； that you never weary of plotting and planning
to procure them a rich harvest of the same； and lastly； that you have
discovered a man's virtue is to excel his friends in kindness and his
foes in hostility。 If I am authorised thus to report of you； I think
you will find me a serviceable fellow…hunter in the quest of friends；
which is the conquest of the good。
Cri。 Why this appeal to me？as if you had not free permission to say
exactly what you like about me。
Soc。 No； that I deny； on the