wonder, are of no account with him, and are utterly despised by him: he
regards not at all the persons who are gifted with them; mankind are
nothing to him; all his life is spent in mocking and flouting at them. But
when I opened him, and looked within at his serious purpose, I saw in him
divine and golden images of such fascinating beauty that I was ready to do
in a moment whatever Socrates commanded: they may have escaped the
observation of others, but I saw them. Now I fancied that he was seriously
enamoured of my beauty, and I thought that I should therefore have a grand
opportunity of hearing him tell what he knew, for I had a wonderful opinion
of the attractions of my youth. In the prosecution of this design, when I
next went to him, I sent away the attendant who usually accompanied me (I
will confess the whole truth, and beg you to listen; and if I speak
falsely, do you, Socrates, expose the falsehood). Well, he and I were
alone together, and I thought that when there was nobody with us, I should
hear him speak the language which lovers use to their loves when they are
by themselves, and I was delighted. Nothing of the sort; he conversed as
usual, and spent the day with me and then went away. Afterwards I
challenged him to the palaestra; and he wrestled and closed with me several
times when there was no one present; I fancied that I might succeed in this
manner. Not a bit; I made no way with him. Lastly, as I had failed
hitherto, I thought that I must take stronger measures and attack him
boldly, and, as I had begun, not give him up, but see how matters stood
between him and me. So I invited him to sup with me, just as if he were a
fair youth, and I a designing lover. He was not easily persuaded to come;
he did, however, after a while accept the invitation, and when he came the
first time, he wanted to go away at once as soon as supper was over, and I
had not the face to detain him. The second time, still in pursuance of my
design, after we had supped, I went on conversing far into the night, and
when he wanted to go away, I pretended that the hour was late and that he
had much better remain. So he lay down on the couch next to me, the same