Euthydemus (283)

Soc.

These were my words, Crito; and I set about giving the closest attention to what should follow, and observing in what fashion they would deal with the question, and how they would start exhorting the youth to practise wisdom and virtue. So then the elder of them, Dionysodorus, entered first upon the discussion, and we all turned our eyes on him expecting to hear, there and then, some wonderful arguments. And this result we certainly got; for wondrous, in a way, Crito, was the argument that the man then ushered forth, which is worth your hearing as a notable incitement to virtue. he said, At this I reflected that previously, as it seemed, they took us to be jesting, when we urged them to converse with the youth, and hence they made a jest of it and did not take it seriously. This reflection therefore made me insist all the more that we were in deadly earnest. Then Dionysodorus said: I know what I am about, I said: I know I shall never deny it. he proceeded; Certainly. he asked, He says he is not yet so—he is no vain pretender. he went on, We agreed. When I heard this I was confused; and he, striking in on my confusion, said: Ctesippus, on hearing this, was annoyed on his favorite’s account, and said: