Then he said: You seem, my friends, to be sober, which is a thing not to
be endured; you must drink--for that was the agreement under which I was
admitted--and I elect myself master of the feast until you are well drunk.
Let us have a large goblet, Agathon, or rather, he said, addressing the
attendant, bring me that wine-cooler. The wine-cooler which had caught his
eye was a vessel holding more than two quarts--this he filled and emptied,
and bade the attendant fill it again for Socrates. Observe, my friends,
said Alcibiades, that this ingenious trick of mine will have no effect on
Socrates, for he can drink any quantity of wine and not be at all nearer
being drunk. Socrates drank the cup which the attendant filled for him.

Eryximachus said: What is this, Alcibiades? Are we to have neither
conversation nor singing over our cups; but simply to drink as if we were
thirsty?

Alcibiades replied: Hail, worthy son of a most wise and worthy sire!

The same to you, said Eryximachus; but what shall we do?

That I leave to you, said Alcibiades.

'The wise physician skilled our wounds to heal (from Pope's Homer, Il.)'

shall prescribe and we will obey. What do you want?

Well, said Eryximachus, before you appeared we had passed a resolution that
each one of us in turn should make a speech in praise of love, and as good
a one as he could: the turn was passed round from left to right; and as
all of us have spoken, and you have not spoken but have well drunken, you
ought to speak, and then impose upon Socrates any task which you please,