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Section 132

SOCRATES. This then is the cause, that I alone was your lover, but the others of your things; and your things are ceasing their prime, but you are beginning to bloom. And now at least if you are not corrupted by the Athenian demos and become uglier, I will by no means forsake you. For this indeed I fear most, that becoming a lover of the demos you may be corrupted; for many and good Athenians have already suffered this. For the demos of great-hearted Erechtheus has a beautiful face; but one must view it stripped. Take care therefore with the care which I say.

ALCIBIADES. What is it?

SOCRATES. Exercise first, blessed one, and learn what one must learn to go into the affairs of the city, but not before, so that you may go having antidotes and suffer nothing terrible.

ALCIBIADES. You seem to me to speak well, Socrates; but try to explain in what way we might take care of ourselves.

SOCRATES. Therefore this much has been concluded for us beforehand—for what we are has been reasonably agreed—and we feared lest, stumbling from this, we escape notice caring for something else but not ourselves.

ALCIBIADES. That is so.

SOCRATES. And after this indeed that one must care for the soul and look to this.

ALCIBIADES. Clear.

SOCRATES. But the care of bodies and money must be handed over to others.

ALCIBIADES. Of course.

SOCRATES. In what way then might we know it most clearly? Since knowing this, as it seems, we shall also know ourselves. By the gods, do we not understand the Delphic inscription we just mentioned speaking well?

ALCIBIADES. Having what sort of thing in mind do you speak, Socrates?

SOCRATES. I will tell you what I at least suspect this inscription says and advises us. For it risks not even having an example in many places, but only in sight.

ALCIBIADES. How do you mean this?

SOCRATES. Consider it yourself too. If it advised our eye like a man and said see yourself, how would we have understood what it advised? Would it not be to look at this thing, looking at which the eye was going to see itself?

ALCIBIADES. Clear.

SOCRATES. Let us consider then looking at what among existing things we might see both it and ourselves at the same time?

ALCIBIADES. It is clear indeed, Socrates, that it is in mirrors and such things.

SOCRATES. You speak correctly. Does there not also exist something of such things in the eye with which we see?

ALCIBIADES. Very much so.