[214a]
for he saw it would hold a good half-gallon and more. This he got filled to the brim, and after quaffing it off himself bade them fill up for Socrates, saying, “Against Socrates, sirs, my crafty plan is as nought. However large the bumper you order him, he will quaff it all off and never get tipsy with it.”Socrates drank as soon as the boy had filled: but “What procedure is this, Alcibiades?” asked Eryximachus. “Are we to have nothing to say
[214b]
or sing over the cup? Are we going to drink just like any thirsty folk?”To this Alcibiades answered: “Ha, Eryximachus, ‘of noblest, soberest sire most noble son’; all hail!”“And the same to you,” said Eryximachus: “but what are we to do?”“Whatever you command, for we are bound to obey you:“One learned leech is worth the multitude.
”1So prescribe what you please.”“Then listen,” said Eryximachus. “We resolved, before your arrival, that each in order from left to right should make the finest speech he could upon Love, [214c] and glorify his name. Now all of us here have spoken; so you, since you have made no speech and have drained the cup, must do your duty and speak. This done, you shall prescribe what you like for Socrates, and he for his neighbor on the right, and so on with the rest.”“Very good, Eryximachus,” said Alcibiades; “but to pit a drunken man against sober tongues is hardly fair. [214d] Besides, my gifted friend, you are surely not convinced by anything that Socrates has just told you? You must know the case is quite the contrary of what he was saying. It is he who, if I praise any god in his presence of any person other than himself, will not keep his hands off me.”“Come, enough of this,” said Socrates.“On the honor of a gentleman,” said Alcibiades, “it is no use your protesting, for I could not praise anyone else in your presence.”“Well, do that if you like,” said Eryximachus; “praise Socrates.”“You mean it?” said Alcibiades; “you think I had better, Eryximachus? Am I to set upon the fellow and have my revenge before you all?” [214e] “Here,” said Socrates; “what are you about,—to make fun of me with your praises, or what?”“I shall speak the truth; now, will you permit me?”“Ah well, so long as it is the truth, I permit you and command you to speak.”“You shall hear it this moment,” said Alcibiades; “but there is something you must do. If I say anything that is false,
”1So prescribe what you please.”“Then listen,” said Eryximachus. “We resolved, before your arrival, that each in order from left to right should make the finest speech he could upon Love, [214c] and glorify his name. Now all of us here have spoken; so you, since you have made no speech and have drained the cup, must do your duty and speak. This done, you shall prescribe what you like for Socrates, and he for his neighbor on the right, and so on with the rest.”“Very good, Eryximachus,” said Alcibiades; “but to pit a drunken man against sober tongues is hardly fair. [214d] Besides, my gifted friend, you are surely not convinced by anything that Socrates has just told you? You must know the case is quite the contrary of what he was saying. It is he who, if I praise any god in his presence of any person other than himself, will not keep his hands off me.”“Come, enough of this,” said Socrates.“On the honor of a gentleman,” said Alcibiades, “it is no use your protesting, for I could not praise anyone else in your presence.”“Well, do that if you like,” said Eryximachus; “praise Socrates.”“You mean it?” said Alcibiades; “you think I had better, Eryximachus? Am I to set upon the fellow and have my revenge before you all?” [214e] “Here,” said Socrates; “what are you about,—to make fun of me with your praises, or what?”“I shall speak the truth; now, will you permit me?”“Ah well, so long as it is the truth, I permit you and command you to speak.”“You shall hear it this moment,” said Alcibiades; “but there is something you must do. If I say anything that is false,
