_Fr._ And did this stranger appear to you so beautiful that you thought him more beautiful than the son of Clinias? _Socr._ But how, my dear friend, can the wisest be thought otherwise than more beautiful? _Fr._ Have you come then, Socrates, from meeting one of our wise men? _Socr._ Yes, and from the wisest of the present day, if you think Protagoras is the wisest. _Fr._ Ha! What say you? Is Protagoras here? _Socr._ And has been, these three days. _Fr._ And are you just now come from his company? _Socr._ I have, and from a very long conversation with him. 3. _Fr._ Why then should you not relate this conversation to us, unless something hinders you, having made this boy rise up, and seating yourself in his place? _Socr._ Certainly; and I shall be obliged to you if you will listen to me. _Fr._ And we to you, if you will tell us. _Socr._ The obligation will be mutual. Listen then. This morning, while it was yet dark, Hippocrates, son of Apollodorus and brother of Phason, knocked very hard at my gate with his stick, and as soon as it was opened to him he came in, in great haste, and calling out with a loud voice, said, “Socrates, are you awake or asleep?” And I, knowing his voice, said, “Hippocrates is here: do you bring any news?” “None,” he replied, “but what is good.” “You say well,” said I, “but what is it? and why have you come so early?” “Protagoras is come,” said he, standing by my side. 4. “He came the day before yesterday,” said I, “and have you only just heard of it?” “By the gods,” he replied, “only yesterday evening,” and at the same time feeling about my bed, he sat down at my feet, and said, “Yesterday evening, very late, on my return from the village of Œnoe, for my slave Satyrus ran away, and I was purposing to tell you that I was going in pursuit of him, but something else put it out of my head; but when I had returned, and we had supped, and were going to bed, then my brother told me that Protagoras was arrived, and my first thought was to come immediately to you, but afterwards it appeared to me too late at night. As soon, however, as sleep had refreshed me after my fatigue, I immediately arose and came here.” 5. And I, knowing his earnestness and excitability, said, “What is this to you? Does Protagoras do you any harm?” And he, laughing, said, “By the gods, Socrates, he does, because he alone is wise, and does not make me so.” “But, by Jupiter,” said I, “if you give him money and persuade him, he will make you wise too.”