INTRODUCTION

IX. The third Interlude: 193 D—194 E.

Some conversation ensues between Aristophanes, Eryximachus, Socrates, and Agathon. Upon Socrates attempting to entangle Agathon in an argument, Phaedrus intervenes and bids Agathon proceed without further delay to offer his tribute of praise to the god.

X. The Discourse of Agathon: 194 E—197 E.

Prologue: The method of previous speakers needs amendment. The correct method, which I shall adopt, is to praise first the character of Eros, and secondly his gifts to men.

(A) The attributes of Eros are (1) supreme happiness, (due to) (2) supreme beauty and (3) goodness.
(2) Eros is most beautiful, since he is (a) the youngest of gods (all tales to the contrary being false), witness his aversion to old age; (b) most tender, witness his choosing soft souls for his abode; (c) supple, witness his power to steal unnoticed in and out of souls; (d) symmetrical, because he is comely, as all allow; (e) fair-of-skin, for he feeds on flowers amid sweet scents.

(3) Eros is supremely good, since he is (a) most just, having no part in violence or injustice; (b) most temperate, for he is the master of pleasure, since no pleasure is greater than love; (c) most courageous, as holding sway over Ares, the most courageous of the gods; (d) most wise, being expert (α) in both musical and creative poetry, and (β) in the practical arts, as instructor of Zeus, Apollo, and Athene in their respective crafts (he, too, inspired the gods with a love of beauty and dethroned Necessity).

(B) The blessings conferred by Eros are, like his attributes, beauty and goodness. He produces peace and pleasantness in all spheres of life: he is the object of universal admiration, the author of all delights, and the best guide and captain for gods and men alike, whose praises it behooves all to chant in unison.

Epilogue: Such is my tribute of praise, not wholly serious nor wholly playful.

XI. The fourth Interlude: 198 A—199 c.

Agathon “brought down the house” with his conclusion; and Socrates remarked to Eryximachus that its eloquence left him in despair—petrified by the Gorgon A reference to the mythical creature whose gaze turned men to stone; here, it implies Socrates was stunned by Agathon’s brilliant rhetoric. of Agathon’s brilliant stylistic flourishes. “Now,”