and this alteration may be supported by the authority of Homer himself, who
not only demolishes but literally outrages the proverb. For, after
picturing Agamemnon as the most valiant of men, he makes Menelaus, who is
but a fainthearted warrior, come unbidden (Iliad) to the banquet of
Agamemnon, who is feasting and offering sacrifices, not the better to the
worse, but the worse to the better.

I rather fear, Socrates, said Aristodemus, lest this may still be my case;
and that, like Menelaus in Homer, I shall be the inferior person, who

'To the feasts of the wise unbidden goes.'

But I shall say that I was bidden of you, and then you will have to make an
excuse.

'Two going together,'

he replied, in Homeric fashion, one or other of them may invent an excuse
by the way (Iliad).

This was the style of their conversation as they went along. Socrates
dropped behind in a fit of abstraction, and desired Aristodemus, who was
waiting, to go on before him. When he reached the house of Agathon he
found the doors wide open, and a comical thing happened. A servant coming
out met him, and led him at once into the banqueting-hall in which the
guests were reclining, for the banquet was about to begin. Welcome,
Aristodemus, said Agathon, as soon as he appeared--you are just in time to
sup with us; if you come on any other matter put it off, and make one of
us, as I was looking for you yesterday and meant to have asked you, if I
could have found you. But what have you done with Socrates?