Chaer. No doubt I should set him a good example by inviting him myself
on a like occasion.

Soc. And if you wanted to induce some friend to look after your
affairs during your absence abroad, how would you achieve your
purpose?

Chaer. No doubt I should present a precedent in undertaking to look
after his in like circumstances.

Soc. And if you wished to get some foreign friend to take you under
his roof while visiting his country, what would you do?

Chaer. No doubt I should begin by offering him the shelter of my own
roof when he came to Athens, in order to enlist his zeal in furthering
the objects of my visit; it is plain I should first show my readiness
to do as much for him in a like case.

Soc. Why, it seems you are an adept after all in all the philtres
known to man, only you chose to conceal your knowledge all the while;
or is it that you shrink from taking the first step because of the
scandal you will cause by kindly advances to your brother? And yet it
is commonly held to redound to a man's praise to have outstripped an
enemy in mischief or a friend in kindness. Now if it seemed to me that
Chaerephon were better fitted to lead the way towards this
friendship,[5] I should have tried to persuade him to take the first
step in winning your affection, but now I am persuaded the first move
belongs to you, and to you the final victory.

[5] Reading {pros ten philian}, or if {phusin}, transl. "natural