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therefore here present myself before you； and I greatly hope that no
similar hindrance will again occur。 Meanwhile； I have observed that your
pride has been too much for the pride of your admirers； they were numerous
and high…spirited； but they have all run away； overpowered by your superior
force of character； not one of them remains。 And I want you to understand
the reason why you have been too much for them。 You think that you have no
need of them or of any other man； for you have great possessions and lack
nothing； beginning with the body； and ending with the soul。 In the first
place； you say to yourself that you are the fairest and tallest of the
citizens； and this every one who has eyes may see to be true； in the second
place； that you are among the noblest of them； highly connected both on the
father's and the mother's side； and sprung from one of the most
distinguished families in your own state； which is the greatest in Hellas；
and having many friends and kinsmen of the best sort； who can assist you
when in need； and there is one potent relative； who is more to you than all
the rest； Pericles the son of Xanthippus； whom your father left guardian of
you； and of your brother； and who can do as he pleases not only in this
city； but in all Hellas； and among many and mighty barbarous nations。
Moreover； you are rich； but I must say that you value yourself least of all
upon your possessions。 And all these things have lifted you up； you have
overcome your lovers； and they have acknowledged that you were too much for
them。 Have you not remarked their absence？ And now I know that you wonder
why I； unlike the rest of them； have not gone away； and what can be my
motive in remaining。
ALCIBIADES： Perhaps； Socrates； you are not aware that I was just going to
ask you the very same questionWhat do you want？ And what is your motive
in annoying me； and always； wherever I am； making a point of coming？
（Compare Symp。） I do really wonder what you mean； and should greatly like
to know。
SOCRATES： Then if； as you say； you desire to know； I suppose that you will
be willing to hear； and I may consider myself to be speaking to an auditor
who will remain； and will not run away？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly； let me hear。
SOCRATES： You had better be careful； for I may very likely be as unwilling
to end as I have hitherto been to begin。
ALCIBIADES： Proceed； my good man； and I will listen。
SOCRATES： I will proceed； and； although no lover likes to speak with one
who has no feeling of love in him （compare Symp。）； I will make an effort；
and tell you what I meant： My love； Alcibiades； which I hardly like to
confess； would long ago have passed away； as I flatter myself； if I saw you
loving your good things； or thinking that you ought to pass life in the
enjoyment of them。 But I shall reveal other thoughts of yours； which you
keep to yourself； whereby you will know that I have always had my eye on
you。 Suppose that at this moment some God came to you and said：
Alcibiades； will you live as you are； or die in an instant if you are
forbidden to make any further acquisition？I verily believe that you would
choose death。 And I will tell you the hope in which you are at present
living： Before many days have elapsed； you think that you will come before
the Athenian assembly； and will prove to them that you are more worthy of
honour than Pericles； or any other man that ever lived； and having proved
this； you will have the greatest power in the state。 When you have gained
the greatest power among us； you will go on to other Hellenic states； and
not only to Hellenes； but to all the barbarians who inhabit the same
continent with us。 And if the God were then to say to you again： Here in
Europe is to be your seat of empire； and you must not cross over into Asia
or meddle with Asiatic affairs； I do not believe that you would choose to
live upon these terms； but the world； as I may say； must be filled with
your power and nameno man less than Cyrus and Xerxes is of any account
with you。 Such I know to be your hopesI am not guessing onlyand very
likely you； who know that I am speaking the truth； will reply； Well；
Socrates； but what have my hopes to do with the explanation which you
promised of your unwillingness to leave me？ And that is what I am now
going to tell you； sweet son of Cleinias and Dinomache。 The explanation
is； that all these designs of yours cannot be accomplished by you without
my help； so great is the power which I believe myself to have over you and
your concerns； and this I conceive to be the reason why the God has
hitherto forbidden me to converse with you； and I have been long expecting
his permission。 For； as you hope to prove your own great value to the
state； and having proved it； to attain at once to absolute power； so do I
indulge a hope that I shall be the supreme power over you； if I am able to
prove my own great value to you； and to show you that neither guardian； nor
kinsman； nor any one is able to deliver into your hands the power which you
desire； but I only； God being my helper。 When you were young （compare
Symp。） and your hopes were not yet matured； I should have wasted my time；
and therefore； as I conceive； the God forbade me to converse with you； but
now； having his permission； I will speak； for now you will listen to me。
ALCIBIADES： Your silence； Socrates； was always a surprise to me。 I never
could understand why you followed me about； and now that you have begun to
speak again； I am still more amazed。 Whether I think all this or not； is a
matter about which you seem to have already made up your mind； and
therefore my denial will have no effect upon you。 But granting； if I must；
that you have perfectly divined my purposes； why is your assistance
necessary to the attainment of them？ Can you tell me why？
SOCRATES： You want to know whether I can make a long speech； such as you
are in the habit of hearing； but that is not my way。 I think； however；
that I can prove to you the truth of what I am saying； if you will grant me
one little favour。
ALCIBIADES： Yes； if the favour which you mean be not a troublesome one。
SOCRATES： Will you be troubled at having questions to answer？
ALCIBIADES： Not at all。
SOCRATES： Then please to answer。
ALCIBIADES： Ask me。
SOCRATES： Have you not the intention which I attribute to you？
ALCIBIADES： I will grant anything you like； in the hope of hearing what
more you have to say。
SOCRATES： You do； then； mean； as I was saying； to come forward in a little
while in the character of an adviser of the Athenians？ And suppose that
when you are ascending the bema； I pull you by the sleeve and say；
Alcibiades； you are getting up to advise the Atheniansdo you know the
matter about which they are going to deliberate； better than they？How
would you answer？
ALCIBIADES： I should reply； that I was going to advise them about a matter
which I do know better than they。
SOCRATES： Then you are a good adviser about the things which you know？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly。
SOCRATES： And do you know anything but what you have learned of others； or
found out yourself？
ALCIBIADES： That is all。
SOCRATES： And would you have ever learned or discovered anything； if you
had not been willing either to learn of others or to examine yourself？
ALCIBIADES： I should not。
SOCRATES： And would you have been willing to learn or to examine what you
supposed that you knew？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly not。
SOCRATES： Then there was a time when you thought that you did not know
what you are now supposed to know？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly。
SOCRATES： I think that I know tolerably well the extent of your
acquirements； and you must tell me if I forget any of them： according to
my recollection； you learned the arts of writing； of playing on the lyre；
and of wrestling； the flute