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objects of my visit； it is plain I should first show my readiness to do as
much for him in a like case。
Soc。 Why； it seems you are an adept after all in all the philtres known
to man； only you chose to conceal your knowledge all the while； or is it
that you shrink from taking the first step because of the scandal you will
cause by kindly advances to your brother？ And yet it is commonly held to
redound to a man's praise to have outstripped an enemy in mischief or a
friend in kindness。 Now if it seemed to me that Chaerephon were better
fitted to lead the way towards this friendship；＇5＇ I should have tried to
persuade him to take the first step in winning your affection； but now I am
persuaded the first move belongs to you； and to you the final victory。
＇5＇ Reading ｛pros ten philian｝； or if ｛phusin｝； transl。 〃natural
disposition。〃
Chaer。 A startling announcement； Socrates； from your lips； and most
unlike you； to bid me the younger take precedence of my elder brother。
Why； it is contrary to the universal custom of mankind； who look to the
elder to take the lead in everything； whether as a speaker or an actor。
Soc。 How so？ Is it not the custom everywhere for the younger to step
aside when he meets his elder in the street and to give him place？ Is he not
expected to get up and offer him his seat； to pay him the honour of a soft
couch；＇6＇ to yield him precedence in argument？
＇6＇ Lit。 〃with a soft bed；〃 or； as we say； 〃the best bedroom。〃
My good fellow； do not stand shilly…shallying；＇7＇ but put out your
hand caressingly； and you will see the worthy soul will respond at once
with alacrity。 Do you not note your brother's character； proud and frank
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and sensitive to honour？ He is not a mean and sorry rascal to be caught by
a bribeno better way indeed for such riff…raff。 No！ gentle natures need a
finer treatment。 You can best hope to work on them by affection。
＇7＇ Or； 〃have no fears； essay a soothing treatment。〃
Chaer。 But suppose I do； and suppose that； for all my attempts； he
shows no change for the better？
Soc。 At the worst you will have shown yourself to be a good； honest；
brotherly man； and he will appear as a sorry creature on whom kindness is
wasted。 But nothing of the sort is going to happen； as I conjecture。 My
belief is that as soon as he hears your challenge； he will embrace the
contest； pricked on by emulous pride； he will insist upon getting the better
of you in kindness of word and deed。
At present you two are in the condition of two hands formed by God to
help each other； but which have let go their business and have turned to
hindering one another all they can。 You are a pair of feet fashioned on the
Divine plan to work together； but which have neglected this in order to
trammel each other's gait。 Now is it not insensate stupidity＇8＇ to use for
injury what was meant for advantage？ And yet in fashioning two brothers
God intends them； methinks； to be of more benefit to one another than
either two hands； or two feet； or two eyes； or any other of those pairs
which belong to man from his birth。＇9＇ Consider how powerless these
hands of ours if called upon to combine their action at two points more
than a single fathom's length apart；＇10＇ and these feet could not stretch
asunder＇11＇ even a bare fathom； and these eyes； for all the wide…reaching
range we claim for them； are incapable of seeing simultaneously the back
and front of an object at even closer quarters。 But a pair of brothers； linked
in bonds of amity； can work each for the other's good； though seas divide
them。＇12＇
＇8＇ 〃Boorishness verging upon monomania。〃
＇9＇ 〃With which man is endowed at birth。〃
＇10＇ 〃More than an 'arms'…stretch' asunder。〃
＇11＇ Lit。 〃reach at one stretch two objects； even over that small
distance。〃
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＇12＇ 〃Though leagues separate them。〃
IV
I have at another time heard him discourse on the kindred theme of
friendship in language well calculated； as it seemed to me； to help a man
to choose and also to use his friends aright。
He （Socrates） had often heard the remark made that of all possessions
there is none equal to that of a good and sincere friend； but； in spite of this
assertion； the mass of people； as far as he could see； concerned themselves
about nothing so little as the acquisition of friends。 Houses； and fields； and
slaves； and cattle； and furniture of all sorts （he said） they were at pains to
acquire； and they strove hard to keep what they had got； but to procure for
themselves this greatest of all blessings； as they admitted a friend to be； or
to keep the friends whom they already possessed； not one man in a
hundred ever gave himself a thought。 It was noticeable； in the case of a
sickness befalling a man's friend and one of his own household
simultaneously； the promptness with which the master would fetch the
doctor to his domestic； and take every precaution necessary for his
recovery； with much expenditure of pains； but meanwhile little account
would be taken of the friend in like condition； and if both should die； he
will show signs of deep annoyance at the death of his domestic； which； as
he reflects； is a positive loss to him； but as regards his friend his position is
in no wise materially affected； and thus； though he would never dream of
leaving his other possessions disregarded and ill cared for； friendship's
mute appeal is met with flat indifference。＇1＇
＇1＇ Or； 〃the cry of a friend for careful tending falls on deaf ears。〃
Or to take （said he） a crowning instance：＇2＇ with regard to ordinary
possessions； however multifarious these may be； most people are at least
acquainted with their number； but if you ask a man to enumerate his
friends； who are not so very many after all perhaps； he cannot； or if； to
oblige the inquirer； he essays to make a list； he will presently retract the
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