symposium   

Two going together,



he replied, in Homeric fashion, one or other of them may invent an

excuse by the way.

This was the style of their conversation as they went along.

Socrates dropped behind in a fit of abstraction, and desired

Aristodemus, who was waiting, to go on before him. When he reached the

house of Agathon he found the doors wide open, and a comical thing

happened. A servant coming out met him, and led him at once into the

banqueting-hall in which the guests were reclining, for the banquet

was about to begin. Welcome, Aristodemus, said Agathon, as soon as

he appeared-you are just in time to sup with us; if you come on any

other matter put it off, and make one of us, as I was looking for

you yesterday and meant to have asked you, if I could have found

you. But what have you done with Socrates?

I turned round, but Socrates was nowhere to be seen; and I had to

explain that he had been with me a moment before, and that I came by

his invitation to the supper.

You were quite right in coming, said Agathon; but where is he

himself?

He was behind me just now, as I entered, he said, and I cannot think

what has become of him.

Go and look for him, boy, said Agathon, and bring him in; and do

you, Aristodemus, meanwhile take the place by Eryximachus.

The servant then assisted him to wash, and he lay down, and

presently another servant came in and reported that our friend

Socrates had retired into the portico of the neighbouring house.

"There he is fixed," said he, "and when I call to him he will not

stir."

How strange, said Agathon; then you must call him again, and keep

calling him.