desire for intercourse with one of them; and
first of all, seeing that the epithet "beautiful" was conjoined with
that of "good," every beautiful person I saw, I must needs approach
in my endeavour to discover, [12] if haply I might somewhere see the
quality of good adhering to the quality of beauty. But, after all, it
was otherwise ordained. I soon enough seemed to discover [13] that some
of those who in their outward form were beautiful were in their inmost
selves the veriest knaves. Accordingly I made up my mind to let go
beauty which appeals to the eye, and address myself to one of
those "beautiful and good" people so entitled. And since I heard of
Ischomachus [14] as one who was so called by all the world, both men and
women, strangers and citizens alike, I set myself to make acquaintance
with him.

[12] Or, "and try to understand."

[13] Or, "understand."

[14] See Cobet, "Pros. Xen." s.n.

VII

It chanced, one day I saw him seated in the portico of Zeus Eleutherios,
[1] and as he appeared to be at leisure, I went up to him and, sitting
down by his side, accosted him: How is this, Ischomachus? you seated
here, you who are so little wont to be at leisure? As a rule, when I
see you, you are doing something, or at any rate not sitting idle in the
market-place.

[1] "The god of freedom, or of freed men." See Plat. "Theag." 259 A.
The scholiast on Aristoph. "Plutus" 1176 identifies the god with
Zeus Soter. See Plut. "Dem." 859 (Clough, v. 30).

Nor would you see me now so sitting, Socrates (he answered), but that I
promised to meet some strangers, friends of mine, [2] at this place.

[2] "Foreign friends."

And when you have no such business on hand (I said) where in heaven's
name do you spend your time and how do you employ yourself? I will
not conceal from you how anxious I am to learn from your lips by what
conduct you have earned for yourself the title "beautiful and good." [3]
It is not by spending your days indoors at home, I am sure; the whole
habit of your body bears witness to a different sort of life.

[3] "The sobriquet of 'honest gentleman.'"

Then Ischomachus, smiling at my question, but also, as it seemed to
me, a little pleased to be asked what he had done to earn the title
"beautiful and good," made answer: Whether that is the title by which
folk call me when they talk to you about me, I cannot say; all I know
is, when they challenge me to exchange properties, [4] or els