[309a]
Friend
Where have you been now, Socrates? Ah, but of course you have been in chase of Alcibiades and his youthful beauty! Well, only the other day, as I looked at him, I thought him still handsome as a man—for a man he is, Socrates, between you and me, and with quite a growth of beard.Socrates
And what of that? Do you mean to say you do not approve of Homer,1 [309b] who said that youth has highest grace in him whose beard is appearing, as now in the case of Alcibiades?Friend
Then how is the affair at present? Have you been with him just now? And how is the young man treating you?Socrates
Quite well, I considered, and especially so today: for he spoke a good deal on my side, supporting me in a discussion—in fact I have only just left him. However, there is a strange thing I have to tell you: although he was present, I not merely paid him no attention, but at times forgot him altogether. [309c] Friend
Why, what can have happened between you and him? Something serious! For surely you did not find anyone else of greater beauty there,—no, not in our city.Socrates
Yes, of far greater.Friend
What do you say? One of our people, or a foreigner?Socrates
A foreigner.Friend
Of what city?Socrates
Abdera.Friend
And you found this foreigner so beautiful that he appeared to you of greater beauty than the son of Cleinias?Socrates
Why, my good sir, must not the wisest appear more beautiful?Friend
Do you mean it was some wise man that you met just now? [309d] Socrates
Nay, rather the wisest of our generation, I may tell you, if “wisest” is what you agree to call Protagoras.Friend
Ah, what a piece of news! Protagoras come to town!Socrates
Yes, two days ago.Friend
And it was his company that you left just now?
Where have you been now, Socrates? Ah, but of course you have been in chase of Alcibiades and his youthful beauty! Well, only the other day, as I looked at him, I thought him still handsome as a man—for a man he is, Socrates, between you and me, and with quite a growth of beard.Socrates
And what of that? Do you mean to say you do not approve of Homer,1 [309b] who said that youth has highest grace in him whose beard is appearing, as now in the case of Alcibiades?Friend
Then how is the affair at present? Have you been with him just now? And how is the young man treating you?Socrates
Quite well, I considered, and especially so today: for he spoke a good deal on my side, supporting me in a discussion—in fact I have only just left him. However, there is a strange thing I have to tell you: although he was present, I not merely paid him no attention, but at times forgot him altogether. [309c] Friend
Why, what can have happened between you and him? Something serious! For surely you did not find anyone else of greater beauty there,—no, not in our city.Socrates
Yes, of far greater.Friend
What do you say? One of our people, or a foreigner?Socrates
A foreigner.Friend
Of what city?Socrates
Abdera.Friend
And you found this foreigner so beautiful that he appeared to you of greater beauty than the son of Cleinias?Socrates
Why, my good sir, must not the wisest appear more beautiful?Friend
Do you mean it was some wise man that you met just now? [309d] Socrates
Nay, rather the wisest of our generation, I may tell you, if “wisest” is what you agree to call Protagoras.Friend
Ah, what a piece of news! Protagoras come to town!Socrates
Yes, two days ago.Friend
And it was his company that you left just now?
