laches,-or-courage   

Lys. You have seen the exhibition of the man fighting in armour,
Nicias and Laches, but we did not tell you at the time the reason why
my friend Melesias and I asked you to go with us and see him. I think
that we may as well confess what this was, for we certainly ought not
to have any reserve with you. The reason was, that we were intending
to ask your advice. Some laugh at the very notion of advising others,
and when they are asked will not say what they think. They guess at
the wishes of the person who asks them, and answer according to his,
and not according to their own, opinion. But as we know that you are
good judges, and will say exactly what you think, we have taken you
into our counsels. The matter about which I am making all this preface
is as follows: Melesias and I have two sons; that is his son, and he
is named Thucydides, after his grandfather; and this is mine, who is
also called after his grandfather, Aristides. Now, we are resolved to
take the greatest care of the youths, and not to let them run about as
they like, which is too often the way with the young, when they are no
longer children, but to begin at once and do the utmost that we can
for them. And knowing you to have sons of your own, we thought that
you were most likely to have attended to their training and
improvement, and, if perchance you have not attended to them, we may
remind you that you ought to have done so, and would invite you to
assist us in the fulfillment of a common duty. I will tell you, Nicias
and Laches, even at the risk of being tedious, how we came to think of
this. Melesias and I live together, and our sons live with us; and
now, as I was saying at first, we are going to confess to you. Both of
us often talk to the lads about the many noble deeds which our own
fathers did in war and peace-in the management of the allies, and in
the administration of the city; but neither of us has any deeds of his
own which he can show. The truth is that we are ashamed of this
contrast being seen by them, and we blame our fathers for letting us
be spoiled in the days of our youth, while they were occupied with the
concerns of others; and we urge all this upon the lads, pointing out
to them that they will not grow up to honour if they are rebellious
and take no pains about themselves; but that if they take pains they
may, perhaps, become worthy of the names which they bear. They, on
their part, promise to comply with our wishes; and our care is to
discover what studies or pursuits are likely to be most improving to
them. Some one commended to us the art of fighting in armour, which he
thought an excellent accomplishment for a young man to learn; and he
praised the man whose exhibition you have seen, and told us to go and
see him. And we determined that we would go, and get you to accompany
us; and we were intending at the same time, if you did not object, to
take counsel with you about the education of our sons. That is the
matter which we wanted to talk over with you; and we hope that you
will give us your opinion about this art of fighting in armour, and
about any other studies or pursuits which may or may not be desirable
for a young man to learn. Please to say whether you agree to our
proposal.
Nic. As far as I am concerned, Lysimachus and Melesias, I applaud your
purpose, and will gladly assist you; and I believe that you, Laches,
will be equally glad.
La. Certainly, Nicias; and I quite approve of the remark which
Lysimachus made about his own father and the father of Melesias, and
which is applicable, not only to them, but to us, and to every one who
is occupied with public affairs. As he says, such persons are too apt
to be negligent and careless of their own children and their private
concerns. There is much truth in that remark of yours, Lysimachus. But
why, instead of consulting us, do you not consult our friend Socrates
about the education of the youths? He is of the same deme with you,
and is always passing his time in places where the youth have any
noble study or pursuit, such as you are enquiring after.
Lys. Why, Laches, has Socrates ever attended to matters of this sort?
La. Certainly, Lysimachus.
Nic. That I have the means of knowing as well as Laches; for quite