Laches

LACHES: Nicias, my attitude to discussions is simple, or if you prefer, not simple, but twofold. In fact, someone might think me a lover of discourse, and then again a hater of discourse. For whenever I hear a man discoursing on the subject of excellence or any sort of wisdom, a true man who is worthy of the words he is speaking, I am delighted beyond measure when I see that both the speaker and the words spoken are mutually appropriate and in harmony. And such a person seems genuinely musical to me, attuned to the noblest harmony, not of a lyre or instruments of entertainment, but in truth he makes his own life a concord of words with deeds, attuned not, I believe, to the Ionic mode, nor to the Phrygian nor the Lydian, but to the Doric mode, which is the only harmony that is indeed Greek. When a man like this speaks, he makes me happy, and anyone would think me a lover of discourse because I accept what the man says so eagerly. But someone who behaves in the opposite way pains me, and the better he seems to speak, the greater the pain, and he makes me seem, in turn, to be a hater of discourse. Now, I’m not acquainted with Socrates’ words, but it seems that I do have previous experience of his deeds, and therein I found him worthy of noble words and total freedom of speech. So, if he also has this quality, we are like-minded, and I would gladly submit to scrutiny by such a man as this, and would not be reluctant to learn from him, since I too agree with that precept of Solon, with just one reservation: I am willing to grow old, learning a lot in the process, but only from worthy men. Let Solon concede this point to me, that my teacher should also be good, so that I do not turn out to be a difficult pupil with a distaste for learning. But if my teacher is to be younger than I am, or is not yet famous or has some other shortcoming of that kind, that does not concern me. So, Socrates, I invite you to teach me and refute me in whatever way you please, and also to learn, in turn, anything that I know, such is the regard I have for you ever since that day when you were my companion in danger and gave proof of your own excellence – the sort that a man who intends to do justice to himself ought to give. So say anything you like and do not take account of our age difference.

SOCRATES: It seems we cannot accuse you two of being reluctant to give advice and join our enquiry.

LYSIMACHUS: But it’s our work you are doing, Socrates, for I count you as one of us, so take my place on behalf of the young men and make the enquiry. Find out whatever we need to know from these gentlemen, and then act as our adviser by discussing it with the boys. For I am inclined nowadays, because of my age, to forget for the most part the questions I intend to ask, and any answers too, and if other arguments are introduced during the process my memory goes completely, so you should do the talking. Go through the issues we are inter-ested in among yourselves.