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discussion which had arisen between us as we were going along； and
we stood talking in the vestibule until we had finished and come to an
understanding。 And I think that the doorkeeper； who was a eunuch；
and who was probably annoyed at the great inroad of the Sophists； must
have heard us talking。 At any rate； when we knocked at the door； and
he opened and saw us； he grumbled： They are Sophists …he is not at
home； and instantly gave the door a hearty bang with both his hands。
Again we knocked； and he answered without opening： Did you not hear me
say that he is not at home； fellows？ But； my friend； I said； you
need not be alarmed； for we are not Sophists； and we are not come to
see Callias； but we want to see Protagoras； and I must request you
to announce us。 At last； after a good deal of difficulty； the man
was persuaded to open the door。
When we entered； we found Protagoras taking a walk in the
cloister； and next to him； on one side； were walking Callias； the
son of Hipponicus； and Paralus； the son of Pericles； who； by the
mother's side； is his half…brother； and Charmides； the son of Glaucon。
On the other side of him were Xanthippus； the other son of Pericles；
Philippides； the son of Philomelus； also Antimoerus of Mende； who of
all the disciples of Protagoras is the most famous； and intends to
make sophistry his profession。 A train of listeners followed him；
the greater part of them appeared to be foreigners； whom Protagoras
had brought with him out of the various cities visited by him in his
journeys； he； like Orpheus； attracting them his voice； and they
following。 I should mention also that there were some Athenians in the
company。 Nothing delighted me more than the precision of their
movements： they never got into his way at all； but when he and those
who were with him turned back； then the band of listeners parted
regularly on either side； he was always in front； and they wheeled
round and took their places behind him in perfect order。
After him； as Homer says； 〃I lifted up my eyes and saw〃 Hippias
the Elean sitting in the opposite cloister on a chair of state； and
around him were seated on benches Eryximachus； the son of Acumenus；
and Phaedrus the Myrrhinusian； and Andron the son of Androtion； and
there were strangers whom he had brought with him from his native city
of Elis； and some others： they were putting to Hippias certain
physical and astronomical questions； and he； ex cathedra； was
determining their several questions to them； and discoursing of them。
Also； 〃my eyes beheld Tantalus〃； for Prodicus the Cean was at
Athens： he had been lodged in a room which； in the days of Hipponicus；
was a storehouse； but； as the house was full； Callias had cleared this
out and made the room into a guest…chamber。 Now Prodicus was still
in bed； wrapped up in sheepskins and bed…clothes； of which there
seemed to be a great heap； and there was sitting by him on the couches
near； Pausanias of the deme of Cerameis； and with Pausanias was a
youth quite young； who is certainly remarkable for his good looks；
and； if I am not mistaken； is also of a fair and gentle nature。 I
thought that I heard him called Agathon； and my suspicion is that he
is the beloved of Pausanias。 There was this youth； and also there were
the two Adeimantuses； one the son of Cepis； and the other of
Leucolophides； and some others。 I was very anxious to hear what
Prodicus was saying； for he seems to me to be an all…wise and inspired
man； but I was not able to get into the inner circle； and his fine
deep voice made an echo in the room which rendered his words
inaudible。
No sooner had we entered than there followed us Alcibiades the
beautiful； as you say； and I believe you； and also Critias the son
of Callaeschrus。
On entering we stopped a little； in order to look about us； and then
walked up to Protagoras； and I said： Protagoras； my friend Hippocrates
and I have come to see you。
Do you wish； he said； to speak with me alone； or in the presence
of the company？
Whichever you please； I said； you shall determine when you have
heard the purpose of our visit。
And what is your purpose？ he said。
I must explain； I said； that my friend Hippocrates is a native
Athenian； he is the son of Apollodorus； and of a great and
prosperous house； and he is himself in natural ability quite a match
for anybody of his own age。 I believe that he aspires to political
eminence； and this he thinks that conversation with you is most likely
to procure for him。 And now you can determine whether you would wish
to speak to him of your teaching alone or in the presence of the
company。
Thank you； Socrates； for your consideration of me。 For certainly a
stranger finding his way into great cities； and persuading the
flower of the youth in them to leave company of their kinsmen or any
other acquaintances； old or young； and live with him； under the idea
that they will be improved by his conversation； ought to be very
cautious； great jealousies are aroused by his proceedings； and he is
the subject of many enmities and conspiracies。 Now the art of the
Sophist is； as I believe； of great antiquity； but in ancient times
those who practised it； fearing this odium； veiled and disguised
themselves under various names； some under that of poets； as Homer；
Hesiod； and Simonides； some； of hierophants and prophets； as Orpheus
and Musaeus； and some； as I observe； even under the name of
gymnastic…masters； like Iccus of Tarentum； or the more recently
celebrated Herodicus； now of Selymbria and formerly of Megara； who
is a first…rate Sophist。 Your own Agathocles pretended to be a
musician； but was really an eminent Sophist； also Pythocleides the
Cean； and there were many others； and all of them； as I was saying；
adopted these arts as veils or disguises because they were afraid of
the odium which they would incur。 But that is not my way； for I do not
believe that they effected their purpose； which was to deceive the
government； who were not blinded by them； and as to the people； they
have no understanding； and only repeat what their rulers are pleased
to tell them。 Now to run away； and to be caught in running away； is
the very height of folly； and also greatly increases the
exasperation of mankind； for they regard him who runs away as a rogue；
in addition to any other objections which they have to him； and
therefore I take an entirely opposite course； and acknowledge myself
to be a Sophist and instructor of mankind； such an open
acknowledgement appears to me to be a better sort of caution than
concealment。 Nor do I neglect other precautions； and therefore I hope；
as I may say； by the favour of heaven that no harm will come of the
acknowledgment that I am a Sophist。 And I have been now many years