When Socrates had done speaking, the company applauded, and Aristophanes
was beginning to say something in answer to the allusion which Socrates had
made to his own speech, when suddenly there was a great knocking at the
door of the house, as of revellers, and the sound of a flute-girl was
heard. Agathon told the attendants to go and see who were the intruders.
'If they are friends of ours,' he said, 'invite them in, but if not, say
that the drinking is over.' A little while afterwards they heard the voice
of Alcibiades resounding in the court; he was in a great state of
intoxication, and kept roaring and shouting 'Where is Agathon? Lead me to
Agathon,' and at length, supported by the flute-girl and some of his
attendants, he found his way to them. 'Hail, friends,' he said, appearing
at the door crowned with a massive garland of ivy and violets, his head
flowing with ribands. 'Will you have a very drunken man as a companion of
your revels? Or shall I crown Agathon, which was my intention in coming,
and go away? For I was unable to come yesterday, and therefore I am here
to-day, carrying on my head these ribands, that taking them from my own
head, I may crown the head of this fairest and wisest of men, as I may be
allowed to call him. Will you laugh at me because I am drunk? Yet I know
very well that I am speaking the truth, although you may laugh. But first
tell me; if I come in shall we have the understanding of which I spoke
(supra Will you have a very drunken man? etc.)? Will you drink with me or
not?'

The company were vociferous in begging that he would take his place among
them, and Agathon specially invited him. Thereupon he was led in by the
people who were with him; and as he was being led, intending to crown
Agathon, he took the ribands from his own head and held them in front of
his eyes; he was thus prevented from seeing Socrates, who made way for him,
and Alcibiades took the vacant place between Agathon and Socrates, and in