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s heart on carrying off the palm of victory in the pankration； he took you into his counsel；＇10＇ and will again take counsel to discover the fittest friend to aid him in his high endeavour；＇11＇ and with this friend associate。
＇10＇ It looks as if something had been lost intimating that Autolycus would have need of some one to instruct him in spiritual things。 For attempts to fill up the lacuna see Schenkl。
＇11＇ Or； 〃these high pursuits。〃
Thereupon several of the company exclaimed at once。 〃Where will he find a teacher to instruct him in that wisdom？〃 one inquired。 〃Why； it is not to be taught！〃 exclaimed another； to which a third rejoined： 〃Why should it not be learnt as well as other things？〃＇12＇
＇12＇ Cf。 for the question ｛ei arete didakton｝； 〃Mem。〃 I。 ii。 19； IV。 i； 〃Cyrop。〃 III。 i。 17； III。 iii。 53。
Then Socrates： The question would seem at any rate to be debatable。 Suppose we defer it till another time； and for the present not interrupt the programme of proceedings。 I see； the dancing…girl is standing ready； they are handing her some hoops。
And at the instant her fellow with the flute commenced a tune to keep her company； whilst some one posted at her side kept handing her the hoops till she had twelve in all。 With these in her hands she fell to dancing； and the while she danced she flung the hoops into the air overhead she sent them twirlingjudging the height they must be thrown to catch them； as they fell； in perfect time。＇13＇
＇13＇ 〃In time with the music and the measure of the dance。〃
Then Socrates： The girl's performance is one proof among a host of others； sirs； that woman's nature is nowise inferior to man's。 All she wants is strength and judgment；＇14＇ and that should be an encouragement to those of you who have wives； to teach them whatever you would have them know as your associates。＇15＇
＇14＇ Reading； as vulg。 ｛gnomes de kai iskhuos deitai｝； al。 continuing ｛ouden｝ from the first half of the sentence； transl。 〃she has no lack of either judgment or physical strength。〃 Lange conj。 ｛romes｝ for ｛gnomes｝； 〃all she needs is force and strength of body。〃 See Newman； op。 cit。 i。 419。
＇15＇ Lit。 〃so that； if any of you has a wife； he may well take heart and teach her whatever he would wish her to know in dealing with her。〃 Cf。 〃N。 A。〃 i。 17。
Antisthenes rejoined： If that is your conclusion； Socrates； why do you not tutor your own wife； Xanthippe；＇16＇ instead of letting her＇17＇ remain； of all the wives that are； indeed that ever will be； I imagine； the most shrewish？
＇16＇ See Cobet； 〃Pros。 Xen。〃 p。 56； 〃Mem。〃 II。 ii。 1； Aul。 Gell。 〃N。 A。〃 i。 17。
＇17＇ Lit。 〃dealing with her；〃 〃finding in her〃； ｛khro｝ corresponding to ｛khresthai｝ in Socrates' remarks。
Well now； I will tell you （he answered）。 I follow the example of the rider who wishes to become an expert horseman： 〃None of your soft… mouthed； docile animals for me；〃 he says； 〃the horse for me to own must show some spirit〃：＇18＇ in the belief； no doubt； if he can manage such an animal； it will be easy enough to deal with every other horse besides。 And that is just my case。 I wish to deal with human beings； to associate with man in general； hence my choice of wife。＇19＇ I know full well； if I can tolerate her spirit； I can with ease attach myself to every human being else。
＇18＇ Lit。 〃Because I see the man who aims at skill in horsemanship does not care to own a soft…mouthed； docile animal； but some restive； fiery creature。〃
＇19＇ Lit。 〃being anxious to have intercourse with all mankind； to deal with every sort of human being； I possess my wife。〃
A well…aimed argument； not wide of the mark by any means！＇20＇ the company were thinking。
＇20＇ Cf。 Plat。 〃Theaet。〃 179 C。
Hereupon a large hoop studded with a bristling row of upright swords＇21＇ was introduced； and into the centre of this ring of knives and out of it again the girl threw somersaults backwards； forwards； several times； till the spectators were in terror of some accident； but with the utmost coolness and without mishap the girl completed her performance。
＇21＇ See Becker； 〃Char。〃 p。 101。 Cf。 Plat。 〃Symp。〃 190； 〃Euthyd。〃 294。
Here Socrates； appealing to Antisthenes： None of the present company； I take it； who have watched this spectacle will ever again deny that courage can be taught；＇22＇ when the girl there； woman should she be； rushes so boldly into the midst of swords。
＇22＇ Cf。 〃Mem。〃 III。 ix。 1。
He； thus challenged； answered： No； and what our friend； the Syracusan here； should do is to exhibit his dancing…girl to the state。＇23＇ Let him tell the authorities he is prepared； for a consideration； to give the whole Athenian people courage to face the hostile lances at close quarters。
＇23＇ Or； 〃to the city；〃 i。e。 of Athens。
Whereat the jester： An excellent idea； upon my word； and when it happens； may I be there to see that mighty orator＇24＇ Peisander learning to throw somersaults＇25＇ into swords； since incapacity to look a row of lances in the face at present makes him shy of military service。＇26＇
＇24＇ Or； 〃tribune of the people。〃 Cf。 Plat。 〃Gorg。〃 520 B； 〃Laws；〃 908 D。
＇25＇ Or； 〃learning to go head over heels into swords。〃
＇26＇ For Peisander see Cobet； 〃Pros。 Xen。〃 p。 46 foll。 A thoroughgoing oligarch （Thuc。 viii。 90）； he was the occasion of much mirth to the comic writers （so Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 viii。 12）。 See re his 〃want of spirit〃 Aristoph。 〃Birds；〃 1556：
｛entha kai Peisandros elthe deomenos psukhen idein； e zont ekeinon proulipe； k。t。l。｝
where the poet has a fling at Socrates also：
Socrates beside the brink； Summons from the murky sink Many a disembodied ghost； And Peisander reached the coast To raise the spirit that he lost； With conviction strange and new； A gawky camel which he slew； Like Ulysses。Whereupon； etc。
H。 Frere
Cf。 〃Peace；〃 395； 〃Lysistr。〃 490。
At this stage of the proceedings the boy danced。
The dance being over； Socrates exclaimed： Pray； did you notice how the beauty of the child； so lovely in repose； became enhanced with every movement of his supple body？
To which Charmides replied： How like a flatterer you are！ one would think you had set yourself to puff the dancing…master。＇27＇
＇27＇ See 〃The Critic；〃 I。 ii。
To be sure （he answered solemnly）； and there's another point I could not help observing： how while he danced no portion of his body remained idle； neck and legs and hands together； one and all were exercised。＇28＇ That is how a man should dance； who wants to keep his body light and healthy。＇29＇ （Then turning to the Syracusan； he added）： I cannot say how much obliged I should be to you； O man of Syracuse； for lessons in deportment。 Pray teach me my steps。＇30＇
＇28＇ Cf。 〃Pol。 Lac。〃 v。 9。
＇29＇ Cf。 Aristot。 〃H。 A。〃 vi。 21。 4。
＇30＇ 〃Gestures；〃 〃postures；〃 〃figures。〃 See Eur。 〃Cycl。〃 221； Aristoph。 〃Peace；〃 323； Isocr。 〃Antid。〃 183。
And what use will you make of them？ （the other asked）。
God bless me！ I shall dance； of course （he answered）。
The remark was greeted with a peal of merriment。
Then Socrates； with a most serious expression of countenance：＇31＇ You are pleased to laugh at me。 Pray； do you find it so r