The Second-Hand Supper — Symposium

A companion asks Apollodorus for the speeches in praise of love at Agathon's supper. He has already told them to Glaucon, who stopped him two days earlier on the road from Phalerum. Glaucon's version, through Phoenix, was muddled. Glaucon thought the supper recent and Apollodorus present. Both are wrong. Agathon has been away from Athens for years. Apollodorus has known Socrates under three years. The supper was in their boyhood, after Agathon's first tragic victory. Aristodemus, who never wore shoes, was the witness, and Socrates confirmed parts of his account. The companion still wants the tale, and calls him a madman for raging at everyone except Socrates.

He then repeats Aristodemus. Socrates, in sandals, invited him unasked to the victory supper, then fell behind in thought. Aristodemus arrived alone. Socrates was fixed in a neighbour's portico and would not move, so they ate until the meal was half over. Agathon wanted that thought by a touch. Socrates said wisdom does not pour from a full man into an empty one, as water runs through wool, and he praised Agathon before more than thirty thousand Hellenes. Agathon called it mockery and left the judgment to Dionysus.

After the hymn they refused hard drinking. Eryximachus, as a physician, called it a bad practice. Each man would drink only as he pleased. He sent the flute girl away and asked for speeches. Love, Phaedrus often says, has no hymn, while even salt has been praised. Each guest, left to right, should praise Love, and Phaedrus should begin. Socrates agreed. Apollodorus then limits the report. Aristodemus forgot some speeches, and Apollodorus will keep only what seemed worth remembering, and what the chief speakers said.