parmenides   

We had come from our home at Clazomenae to Athens, and met

Adeimantus and Glaucon in the Agora. Welcome, Cephalus, said

Adeimantus, taking me by the hand; is there anything which we can do

for you in Athens?

Yes; that is why I am here; I wish to ask a favour of you.

What may that be? he said.

I want you to tell me the name of your half brother, which I have

forgotten; he was a mere child when I last came hither from

Clazomenae, but that was a long time ago; his father's name, if I

remember rightly, was Pyrilampes?

Yes, he said, and the name of our brother, Antiphon; but why do

you ask?

Let me introduce some countrymen of mine, I said; they are lovers of

philosophy, and have heard that Antiphon was intimate with a certain

Pythodorus, a friend of Zeno, and remembers a conversation which

took place between Socrates, Zeno, and Parmenides many years ago,

Pythodorus having often recited it to him.

Quite true.

And could we hear it? I asked.

Nothing easier, he replied; when he was a youth he made a careful

study of the piece; at present his thoughts run in another

direction; like his grandfather Antiphon he is devoted to horses. But,

if that is what you want, let us go and look for him; he dwells at

Melita, which is quite near, and he has only just left us to go home.

Accordingly we went to look for him; he was at home, and in the

act of giving a bridle to a smith to be fitted. When he had done

with the smith, his brothers told him the purpose of our visit; and he

saluted me as an acquaintance whom he remembered from my former visit,

and we asked him to repeat the dialogue. At first he was not very

willing, and complained of the trouble, but at length he consented. He

told us that Pythodorus had described to him the appearance of

Parmenides and Zeno; they came to Athens, as he said, at the great