The picture which Plato here gives of Hipparchus is such as we might expect from a philosopher. He dwells upon the pains which Hipparchus took to have the recitation of the Homeric poems made frequent and complete: also upon his intimacy with the poets Anakreon and Simonides. The colouring which Plato gives to the intimacy between Aristogeiton and Harmodius is also peculiar. The [Greek: e)rastê\s] is represented by Plato as eager for the education and improvement of the [Greek: e)rô/menos]; and the jealousy felt towards Hipparchus is described as arising from the distinguished knowledge and abilities of Hipparchus, which rendered him so much superior and more effective as an educator.] The Companion resumes: Apparently, Sokrates, either you do not account me your friend, or you do not obey Hipparchus: for you are certainly deceiving me in some unaccountable way in your talk. You cannot persuade me to the contrary. [Side-note: Sokrates allows the companion to retract some of his answers. The companion affirms that some gain is good, other gain is evil.] _Sokr._--Well then! in order that you may not think yourself deceived, you may take back any move that you choose, as if we were playing at draughts. Which of your admissions do you wish to retract--That all men desire good things? That loss (to be a loser) is evil? That gain is the opposite of loss: that to gain is the opposite of to lose? That to gain, as being the opposite of evil is a good thing? _Comp._--No. I do not retract any one of these. _Sokr._--You think then, it appears, that some gain is good, other gain evil? _Comp._--Yes, that is what I do think.[8] _Sokr._--Well, I give you back that move: let it stand as you say. Some gain is good: other gain is bad. But surely the good gain is no more _gain_, than the bad gain: both are _gain_, alike and equally. _Comp._--How do you mean? [Footnote 8: Plat. Hipparch. 229 E, 230 A.] [Side-note: Questions by Sokrates--bad gain is _gain_, as much as good gain. What is the common property, in virtue of which both are called Gain? Every acquisition, made with no outlay, or with a smaller outlay, is gain. Objections--the acquisition may be evil--embarrassment confessed.] Sokrates then illustrates his question by two or three analogies. Bad food is just as much _food_, as good food: bad drink, as much _drink_ as good drink: a good man is no more _man_ than a bad man.[9] [Footnote 9: Plat. Hipparch. 230 C.]