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Soc. And you said that I only just anticipated you in coming to you, for otherwise you would have come to me first for the purpose of inquiring why I am the only one who does not leave you?
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Alc. Yes, that was so.
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Soc. Then the reason was that I was the only lover of you, whereas the rest were lovers of what is yours; and that is losing its charm, while you are beginning to bloom. So now, if you are not blighted and deformed by the Athenian people, I shall never forsake you. For my chiefest fear is of your being blighted by becoming a lover of the people, since many a good Athenian has come to that ere now. For fair of face is the people of great-hearted Erechtheus;Hom. Il. 2.547 but you should get a view of it stripped: so take the precaution that I recommend.
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Alc. What is it?
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Soc. Exercise yourself first, my wonderful friend, in learning what you ought to know before entering on politics; you must wait till you have learnt, in order that you may be armed with an antidote and so come to no harm.
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Alc. Your advice seems to me good, Socrates; but try to explain in what way we can take pains over ourselves.
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Soc. Well, we have made one step in advance; for there is a pretty fair agreement now as to what we are, whereas we were afraid we might fail of this and take pains, without knowing it, over something other than ourselves.
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Alc. That is so.
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Soc. And the next step, we see, is to take care of the soul, and look to that.
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Alc. Clearly.
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Soc. While handing over to others the care of our bodies and our coffers.
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Alc. Quite so.
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Soc. Then how shall we obtain the most certain knowledge of it? For if we know that, it seems we shall know ourselves also. In Heaven’s name, do we fail to comprehend the wise words of the Delphic inscription, which we mentioned just now?
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Alc. With what intent do you say that, Socrates?
