Phaedrus 230a–e
Plato, Phaedrus 230a–e — Socrates admires the plane tree by the Ilissus · 33 lines
230aΣωκράτης
ἀτάρ, ὦ ἑταῖρε, μεταξὺ τῶν λόγων, ἆρ᾽ οὐ τόδε ἦν τὸ δένδρον ἐφ᾽ ὅπερ ἦγες ἡμᾶς;
But, my friend, in the middle of our talk — was not this the tree to which you were leading us?
Φαῖδρος
τοῦτο μὲν οὖν αὐτό.
That very one, indeed.
230bΣωκράτης
νὴ τὴν Ἥραν, καλή γε ἡ καταγωγή.
By Hera, it is a fine resting-place indeed!
ἥ τε γὰρ πλάτανος αὕτη μάλ᾽ ἀμφιλαφής τε καὶ ὑψηλή,
For this plane tree is both very spreading and tall,
τοῦ τε ἄγνου τὸ ὕψος καὶ τὸ σύσκιον πάγκαλον,
and the height of the chaste-tree and its deep shade are altogether lovely,
καὶ ὡς ἀκμὴν ἔχει τῆς ἄνθης, ὡς ἂν εὐωδέστατον παρέχοι τὸν τόπον·
and how it is at the very peak of its blossom, so that it would make the place as fragrant as could be!
ἥ τε αὖ πηγὴ χαριεστάτη ὑπὸ τῆς πλατάνου ῥεῖ μάλα ψυχροῦ ὕδατος, ὥστε γε τῷ ποδὶ τεκμήρασθαι.
And the spring in turn, a most charming one, flows beneath the plane tree with very cool water, to judge at least by the foot.
Νυμφῶν τέ τινων καὶ Ἀχελῴου ἱερὸν ἀπὸ τῶν κορῶν τε καὶ ἀγαλμάτων ἔοικεν εἶναι.
And it seems, from the figurines and the statues, to be a shrine of some Nymphs and of Achelous.
230cεἰ δ᾽ αὖ βούλει, τὸ εὔπνουν τοῦ τόπου ὡς ἀγαπητὸν καὶ σφόδρα ἡδύ·
And then again, if you like — how welcome and exceedingly sweet the fresh air of the place is!
θερινόν τε καὶ λιγυρὸν ὑπηχεῖ τῷ τῶν τεττίγων χορῷ.
Summery and clear, it echoes in answer to the chorus of the cicadas.
πάντων δὲ κομψότατον τὸ τῆς πόας, ὅτι ἐν ἠρέμα προσάντει ἱκανὴ πέφυκε κατακλινέντι τὴν κεφαλὴν παγκάλως ἔχειν.
But the most exquisite thing of all is the business of the grass, because it has grown thick enough on a gently sloping rise for one to lie down and have his head beautifully placed.
ὥστε ἄριστά σοι ἐξενάγηται, ὦ φίλε Φαῖδρε.
And so you have played the guide excellently, dear Phaedrus.
Φαῖδρος
σὺ δέ γε, ὦ θαυμάσιε, ἀτοπώτατός τις φαίνῃ.
But you, my remarkable friend, appear to be a most extraordinary sort of man.
ἀτεχνῶς γάρ, ὃ λέγεις, ξεναγουμένῳ τινὶ καὶ οὐκ ἐπιχωρίῳ ἔοικας·
For, exactly as you say, you are just like some stranger being shown around, and not like a local at all.
230dοὕτως ἐκ τοῦ ἄστεος οὔτ᾽ εἰς τὴν ὑπερορίαν ἀποδημεῖς, οὔτ᾽ ἔξω τείχους ἔμοιγε δοκεῖς τὸ παράπαν ἐξιέναι.
So completely do you fail to travel abroad out of the city beyond the borders — and you don't seem to me to go outside the walls at all.
Σωκράτης
συγγίγνωσκέ μοι, ὦ ἄριστε. φιλομαθὴς γάρ εἰμι·
Forgive me, my excellent friend. For I am a lover of learning.
τὰ μὲν οὖν χωρία καὶ τὰ δένδρα οὐδέν μ᾽ ἐθέλει διδάσκειν, οἱ δ᾽ ἐν τῷ ἄστει ἄνθρωποι.
Now the fields and the trees are not willing to teach me anything, but the people in the city are.
σὺ μέντοι δοκεῖς μοι τῆς ἐμῆς ἐξόδου τὸ φάρμακον ηὑρηκέναι.
You, however, seem to me to have discovered the drug to get me out.
ὥσπερ γὰρ οἱ τὰ πεινῶντα θρέμματα θαλλὸν ἤ τινα καρπὸν προσείοντες ἄγουσιν,
For just as people lead hungry animals along by dangling a branch or some fruit in front of them,
σὺ ἐμοὶ λόγους οὕτω προτείνων ἐν βιβλίοις τήν τε Ἀττικὴν φαίνῃ περιάξειν ἅπασαν καὶ ὅποι ἂν ἄλλοσε βούλῃ.
so you, holding out speeches to me in books in just this way, look as though you will lead me all around Attica and anywhere else you like.
230eνῦν δ᾽ οὖν ἐν τῷ παρόντι δεῦρ᾽ ἀφικόμενος ἐγὼ μέν μοι δοκῶ κατακείσεσθαι,
So now, for the present, having arrived here, I for my part think I shall lie down,
σὺ δ᾽ ἐν ὁποίῳ σχήματι οἴει ῥᾷστα ἀναγνώσεσθαι, τοῦθ᾽ ἑλόμενος ἀναγίγνωσκε.
but you — whatever posture you think you will read most easily in, pick that one and read.