protagoras   

around him were seated on benches Eryximachus, the son of Acumenus,

and Phaedrus the Myrrhinusian, and Andron the son of Androtion, and

there were strangers whom he had brought with him from his native city

of Elis, and some others: they were putting to Hippias certain

physical and astronomical questions, and he, ex cathedra, was

determining their several questions to them, and discoursing of them.

Also, "my eyes beheld Tantalus"; for Prodicus the Cean was at

Athens: he had been lodged in a room which, in the days of Hipponicus,

was a storehouse; but, as the house was full, Callias had cleared this

out and made the room into a guest-chamber. Now Prodicus was still

in bed, wrapped up in sheepskins and bed-clothes, of which there

seemed to be a great heap; and there was sitting by him on the couches

near, Pausanias of the deme of Cerameis, and with Pausanias was a

youth quite young, who is certainly remarkable for his good looks,

and, if I am not mistaken, is also of a fair and gentle nature. I

thought that I heard him called Agathon, and my suspicion is that he

is the beloved of Pausanias. There was this youth, and also there were

the two Adeimantuses, one the son of Cepis, and the other of

Leucolophides, and some others. I was very anxious to hear what

Prodicus was saying, for he seems to me to be an all-wise and inspired

man; but I was not able to get into the inner circle, and his fine

deep voice made an echo in the room which rendered his words

inaudible.

No sooner had we entered than there followed us Alcibiades the

beautiful, as you say, and I believe you; and also Critias the son

of Callaeschrus.

On entering we stopped a little, in order to look about us, and then

walked up to Protagoras, and I said: Protagoras, my friend Hippocrates

and I have come to see you.

Do you wish, he said, to speak with me alone, or in the presence

of the company?

Whichever you please, I said; you shall determine when you have