others seemed to press. His face resembled that of a slave or satyr,
and there were Athenians who thought they could trace in it the
marks of all kinds of wickedness and crime. On hearing of such
suspicions, Socrates is said to have remarked, "Think how much
Socrates must have had to contend against, for he is neither wicked
nor a criminal!"

This was the man known to the whole population of Athens as an
eccentric character who carried on philosophical discussions in
streets and market-places, in drinking-houses and brothels. He
shunned no society, and was on equally intimate terms with Pericles,
the head of the state, and with the licentious Alcibiades. He sat
down to table with tradesmen and artisans, drank with sailors in the
Piraeus, and lived himself with his family in the suburb Ceramicus.
When it was asked why Socrates was always out of doors, his friends
answered, "because he was not comfortable at home." And when his
more intimate friends asked how he could be on intimate terms with
seamen and tax-gatherers, Socrates himself answered, "They are
also men!"

At the philosopher's side, and when he sat, standing behind him, was
always to be seen a youth, whose broad brow attracted attention.
This was his best disciple, whose real name was Aristokles, but who,
on account of his forehead, had the nickname Plato.

Vying with him in an almost jealous rivalry to appear by the
Master's side, stood the beautiful Alcibiades.

The third after them was the stately austere Euripides, the tragic
dramatist. Turning his back to the company, absorbed in thought and