Page:Works of Plato his first fifty-five dialogues (Taylor 1804) (Vol 2 of 5) (IA Vol2worksofplato00plat).pdf/470



I SEE one, two, three, but where, friend Timæus, is that fourth perſon, who being received by me yeſterday at a banquet of diſputation, ought now in his turn to repay me with a ſimilar repaſt?

He labours, Socrates, under a certain infirmity; for he would not willingly be abſent from ſuch an aſſociation as the preſent.

It remains therefore for you, O Timaeus, and the company preſent, to fill up the part of this abſent gueſt.

Entirely ſo, Socrates. And we ſhall endeavour, to the utmoſt of our ability, to leave nothing belonging to ſuch an employment unaccompliſhed. For it would be by no means juſt that we, who were yeſterday entertained by you, in ſuch a manner as gueſts ought to be received, ſhould not return the hoſpitality with readineſs and delight.

Do you recollect the magnitude and nature of the things which I propoſed to you to explain?

Some things, indeed, I recollect; but ſuch as I have forgotten do you recall into my memory. Or rather, if it be not too much trouble, run over the whole in a curſory manner from the beginning, that it may be more firmly eſtabliſhed in our memory.

Let it be ſo. And to begin: The ſum of yeſterday’s diſpute was,