Chapter 28 Volume Three, Chapter Eleven

Socrates visits Saadata and talks to her, verses 1-9.He tells her that no true friend is won without kindness and good affection, v. 9-12.He reminds her of the necessity of guarding against boredom while satisfying desire, v. 13-14.Socrates' Whispers at Farewell, No. 15— Section 18. At that time there lived in the city a woman named Saiadatai, who was such a person that she would have sex with anyone who won her favor.One of Socrates's companions mentioned her as a woman of indescribable beauty, and that painters used to paint her, and that she always tried to paint her as far as politeness permitted. Show them your own body.Socrates said, "We must go and see her, because since it is indescribable in words, it can never be understood by hearsay alone."

The person who mentioned it said, "Then follow me closely."So they set off towards Saadata, and happened to meet her posing in front of a painter, and they watched her for a while. When the painter had finished, Socrates said, "Gentlemen, should we be more grateful to Saiadatae for showing her beauty to us, or should she be more grateful to us for having seen her? Is the exhibition better for her, and she should be grateful to us, or is the visit better for us, and we should be grateful to her?" One person said it made sense.So Socrates continued, "So, now, the benefit she gets is our praise for her, and in the future, when we publicize this to many people, she will get more benefits." ;As for us, at this moment, we are already longing to be acquainted with [beauties] we have seen, and we shall go away with great emotion, and how much we shall miss them when we are gone! The natural consequence of this Yes, we will be her admirers, and she will be our object of admiration."

"In that case," Saidate said, "of course I should thank you for coming to see me." At this time, Socrates noticed that she was wearing very expensive clothes, the mother who was with her was also very unusually dressed, there were many well-dressed concubines, and other furnishings in the house were also very magnificent. "Please tell me, Saadata, do you have any land?" asked Socrates. "I don't have any land," Saiadatai replied. "Perhaps there is a house for rent?" "No house either," she replied. "Then, are there slaves who know how to do crafts?"

"There are no craftsman slaves either." "Then where do the necessities of life come from?" "If someone becomes my friend and is willing to do good things, he is my life." "Sayadata," said Socrates, "I tell you, referring to the goddess Hera, that this inheritance is excellent, and it is much better than acquiring a flock of sheep, goats, and bulls." "But," continued Socrates, "do you rely on luck, as if your friends come to you like flies, or do you use some trick to attract them?" "How could I come up with such a plan?" Saidate asked.

"Of course there is a way," Socrates said, "it's much more convenient than spiders weaving webs, because you know how spiders find health-preserving materials; for their own food." "Do you also suggest that I can't weave a net?" Saiadatai asked. "Of course, it cannot be said that one of the most valuable prey, such as a friend, can be hunted without cunning. Have you not noticed the many cunnings that hunters use to hunt hares, which are of little value? Since hares come out at night to hunt If there is no food, they prepare hounds with nocturnal hunting ability to chase them; because hares will run away and hide in the daytime, they prepare another kind of hounds, which can smell the leaves left by hares from grass to burrows. and as the hares are quick on their feet, and will soon be out of sight, they prepare another party of hounds, which run very fast, in order to catch them by running after them; Passing these hounds, they cast snares in their way of escape, and they run about in these snares, and their legs and feet are entangled."

"How can I hunt friends in such a way?" Saidatee asked. "Of course you can," Socrates replied, "as long as you don't use a hound but a person to find those beautiful and rich people for you, and after you find them, try to drive them into your net." . "Me, where did I get the snare?" Saiadatai asked. "Of course you have a snare, and you are very capable of entanglement. The snare is your body; and in the body you have a soul, which knows how to show its eyes, how to please people, and what to say to please people." It also knows how to cheerfully entertain courtiers, and shut doors to dandies; it takes good care of its weak friends, warmly congratulates those who have good achievements, and wholeheartedly Be kind to those who care about you warmly. As for loving each other, I believe you understand that it requires not only gentleness, but also a sincere and kind heart. The reason why your friends want to please you, I know it is because You won them over by your deeds as well as your words."

"Indeed," Saidate said, "I haven't thought of even one of these schemes." "Therefore," continued Socrates, "it is very important that a man be dealt with in the right way according to his temperament, because you can never hunt or keep a friend by force, for friends are such You are an animal, and you must treat him well and make him happy, before he can be captured by you and show his loyalty to you." "You're telling the truth," Saiadatai said. Socrates went on to say: "First of all, you can only ask those courting people to do what they can do with great effort, and then you have to repay them generously, so that they will sincerely express their loyalty to you. Loved you for a long time, and treated you as well as you could. But if you wait to give them your love until they ask you, they will appreciate you the most. Because you see, even the most delicious food If it is served to a person when he does not want to eat, he will feel tasteless. If it is served to him when he is full, it will even be annoying to him, but if it is served when people are hungry If you give people something, then even rough food will feel delicious.”

"How can I make people starve for my love?" Saidatee asked. "First," said Socrates, "don't give your love to those who are already satisfied, and don't remind them of it until their satisfaction has died and they feel need again. When the time comes, you deal with them with very serious talk and a half-hearted attitude, making their hunger and thirst culminate, because at such a time, the same bestowment is better than when the need is not felt so urgently. He's much stronger." "Then, Socrates," Saidate said, "why don't you come with me to hunt friends?"

"As long as you can convince me, I will do it," Socrates replied. "How can I convince you?" Saidatee asked. "If you really need me, you will find a way for yourself," said Socrates. "Then, come to me often," Saidate said.Socrates joked about his leisurely life: "But, Saidate, I am a person who does not easily get leisure time. Because there are many private and business affairs that keep me busy. I have many daughters. Friends, day and night, they will not allow me to leave them. They learn love arts and charms from me." "Ah, Socrates, do you understand this too?" Saidate asked.

"Do you think that Appaladorus and Antisthenes have not left me for some other reason? Why did Cabeta and Simmias come to me from Cybe? You should know You know, without a lot of love spells, spells and magic wheels, something like this wouldn't have happened." "Then please lend me this magic wheel," Saidatei said, "I will turn it first to draw you to me." "Where," Socrates said, "I don't want to be attracted by you, you should come to me." "I'll come to you," Saidate said, "but you want me to come in."

"As long as there is no one more lovely than you with me, I will always let you in!" said Socrates.