would have felt as they do. But this is not my own experience, nor that of others whom I have known. How well I remember the aged poet Sophocles, when in answer to the question, How does love suit
evils their old age is the cause. But to me, Socrates, these complainers seem to blame that which is not really in fault. For if old age were the cause, I too being old, and every other old man,
fled away: there was a good time once, but now that is gone, and life is no longer life. Some complain of the slights which are put upon them by relations, and they will tell you sadly of how many
age flock together; we are birds of a feather, as the old proverb says; and at our meetings the tale of my acquaintance commonly is--I cannot eat, I cannot drink; the pleasures of youth and love are
that time which the poets call the `threshold of old age'--Is life harder towards the end, or what report do you give of it?"
"I will tell you, Socrates" he said "what my own feeling is. Men of my
which I too may have to go, and of whom I ought to enquire, whether the way is smooth and easy, or rugged and difficult. And this is a question which I should like to ask of you who have arrived at
you will be quite at home with us."
I replied "There is nothing which for my part I like better, Cephalus, than conversing with aged men; for I regard them as travellers who have gone a journey
body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm of conversation. Do not then deny my request, but make our house your resort and keep company with these young men; we are old friends, and
you I would not ask you to come to me. But at my age I can hardly get to the city, and therefore you should come more often to the Piraeus. For let me tell you, that the more the pleasures of the
arranged in a semicircle, upon which we sat down by him. He saluted me eagerly, and then he said:--
"You don't come to see me, Socrates, as often as you ought: If I were still able to go and see
long time, and I thought him very much aged. He was seated on a cushioned chair, and had a garland on his head, for he had been sacrificing in the court; and there were some other chairs in the room
Euthydemus, and with them Thrasymachus the Chalcedonian, Charmantides the Paeanian, and Cleitophon the son of Aristonymus. There too was Cephalus the father of Polemarchus, whom I had not seen for a
perverse."
Glaucon said "I suppose, since you insist, that we must."
"Very good." I replied.
Accordingly we went with Polemarchus to his house; and there we found his brothers Lysias and
night, which you certainly ought to see. Let us rise soon after supper and see this festival; there will be a gathering of young men, and we will have a good talk. Stay then, and do not be
horses!" I replied "That is a novelty. Will horsemen carry torches and pass them one to another during the race?"
"Yes" said Polemarchus "and not only so, but a festival will be celebrated at
are not going to listen; of that you may be assured."
Adeimantus added "Has no one told you of the torch-race on horseback in honour of the goddess which will take place in the evening?"
"With
there not be the alternative," I said, "that we may persuade you to let us go?"
"But can you persuade us, if we refuse to listen to you?" he said.
"Certainly not." replied Glaucon.
"Then we
are not far wrong." I said.
"But do you see" he rejoined "how many we are?"
"Of course."
"And are you stronger than all these? for if not, you will have to remain where you are."
"May
Niceratus the son of Nicias, and several others who had been at the procession.
Polemarchus said to me "I perceive, Socrates, that you and our companion are already on your way to the city."
"You
he is," said the youth, "coming after you, if you will only wait."
"Certainly we will," said Glaucon; and in a few minutes Polemarchus appeared, and with him Adeimantus, Glaucon's brother,
servant to run and bid us wait for him. The servant took hold of me by the cloak behind, and said: "Polemarchus desires you to wait."
I turned round, and asked him where his master was.
"There
spectacle, we turned in the direction of the city; and at that instant Polemarchus the son of Cephalus chanced to catch sight of us from a distance as we were starting on our way home, and told his
festival, which was a new thing. I was delighted with the procession of the inhabitants; but that of the Thracians was equally, if not more, beautiful. When we had finished our prayers and viewed the
I WENT down yesterday to the Piraeus with Glaucon the son of Ariston, that I might offer up my prayers to the goddess; and also because I wanted to see in what manner they would celebrate the
