The Halcyon (6-8)

And as for the strength of one adult man, it surpasses that of a child immeasurably, for one man could easily overpower any number of children, since it seems that by nature we have always in early life a time of perfect helplessness and impotence. Now, seeing that man apparently differs from man to such a degree, how shall we suppose the whole heaven compares with our powers in the eyes of those that attain to such vision? It will probably seem likely to many that the power and understanding and reason of the universe are as much in excess of what Sokrates or Chairephon has as its size surpasses that of our bodies.

Moreover, many things that are impossible to others are easy to you and me and hosts of men like us, and even the arts of flute-playing and reading and writing are more impossible to the uninstructed, until they learn them, than making birds into women or women into birds. Nature, we may say, deposits a footless, wingless creature in the honey-comb. Then she sets it upon feet, and gives it wings, and makes it bright with the bravery of many varying colors, and lo! it is a

Seeing, then, that the powers of the immortals are vast, and that we are mortal and altogether tiny and unable to understand. either great or small or even to cope with most of those things that concern ourselves, we can give no sure opinion about either halcyons or nightingales. But the famous story of thy lays, melodious mourner, I will hand down to my children as I received it from my fathers, and I will often chant thy dutiful, wifely love to my wives, Xanthippe and Myrto, and tell them all, but chiefly what glory the gods gave thee. You will do likewise, will you not, Chairephon?

Chairephon Yes, Sokrates; and what you have said may fitly be a double encouragement of love between man and wife.

Sokrates Then it is high time for us to say farewell to Halkyone and set out from Phaleron towards the town.

Chairephon Very well; I am ready.