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which occurs in the Prologues to the Parmenides； but seems rather to belong
to a later stage of the philosophy of Plato。
CHARMIDES； OR TEMPERANCE
by
Plato
Translated by Benjamin Jowett
PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE： Socrates； who is the narrator； Charmides；
Chaerephon； Critias。
SCENE： The Palaestra of Taureas； which is near the Porch of the King
Archon。
Yesterday evening I returned from the army at Potidaea； and having been a
good while away； I thought that I should like to go and look at my old
haunts。 So I went into the palaestra of Taureas； which is over against the
temple adjoining the porch of the King Archon； and there I found a number
of persons； most of whom I knew； but not all。 My visit was unexpected； and
no sooner did they see me entering than they saluted me from afar on all
sides； and Chaerephon； who is a kind of madman； started up and ran to me；
seizing my hand； and saying； How did you escape； Socrates？（I should
explain that an engagement had taken place at Potidaea not long before we
came away； of which the news had only just reached Athens。）
You see； I replied； that here I am。
There was a report； he said； that the engagement was very severe； and that
many of our acquaintance had fallen。
That； I replied； was not far from the truth。
I suppose； he said； that you were present。
I was。
Then sit down； and tell us the whole story； which as yet we have only heard
imperfectly。
I took the place which he assigned to me； by the side of Critias the son of
Callaeschrus； and when I had saluted him and the rest of the company； I
told them the news from the army； and answered their several enquiries。
Then； when there had been enough of this； I； in my turn； began to make
enquiries about matters at homeabout the present state of philosophy； and
about the youth。 I asked whether any of them were remarkable for wisdom or
beauty； or both。 Critias； glancing at the door； invited my attention to
some youths who were coming in； and talking noisily to one another；
followed by a crowd。 Of the beauties； Socrates； he said； I fancy that you
will soon be able to form a judgment。 For those who are just entering are
the advanced guard of the great beauty； as he is thought to be； of the day；
and he is likely to be not far off himself。
Who is he； I said； and who is his father？
Charmides； he replied； is his name； he is my cousin； and the son of my
uncle Glaucon： I rather think that you know him too； although he was not
grown up at the time of your departure。
Certainly； I know him； I said； for he was remarkable even then when he was
still a child； and I should imagine that by this time he must be almost a
young man。
You will see； he said； in a moment what progress he has made and what he is
like。 He had scarcely said the word； when Charmides entered。
Now you know； my friend； that I cannot measure anything； and of the
beautiful； I am simply such a measure as a white line is of chalk； for
almost all young persons appear to be beautiful in my eyes。 But at that
moment； when I saw him coming in； I confess that I was quite astonished at
his beauty and stature； all the world seemed to be enamoured of him；
amazement and confusion reigned when he entered； and a troop of lovers
followed him。 That grown…up men like ourselves should have been affected
in this way was not surprising； but I observed that there was the same
feeling among the boys； all of them； down to the very least child； turned
and looked at him； as if he had been a statue。
Chaerephon called me and said： What do you think of him； Socrates？ Has he
not a beautiful face？
Most beautiful； I said。
But you would think nothing of his face； he replied； if you could see his
naked form： he is absolutely perfect。
And to this they all agreed。
By Heracles； I said； there never was such a paragon； if he has only one
other slight addition。
What is that？ said Critias。
If he has a noble soul； and being of your house； Critias； he may be
expected to have this。
He is as fair and good within； as he is without； replied Critias。
Then； before we see his body； should we not ask him to show us his soul；
naked and undisguised？ he is just of an age at which he will like to talk。
That he will； said Critias； and I can tell you that he is a philosopher
already； and also a considerable poet； not in his own opinion only； but in
that of others。
That； my dear Critias； I replied； is a distinction which has long been in
your family； and is inherited by you from Solon。 But why do you not call
him； and show him to us？ for even if he were younger than he is； there
could be no impropriety in his talking to us in the presence of you； who
are his guardian and cousin。
Very well； he said； then I will call him； and turning to the attendant； he
said； Call Charmides； and tell him that I want him to come and see a
physician about the illness of which he spoke to me the day before
yesterday。 Then again addressing me； he added： He has been complaining
lately of having a headache when he rises in the morning： now why should
you not make him believe that you know a cure for the headache？
Why not； I said； but will he come？
He will be sure to come； he replied。
He came as he was bidden； and sat down between Critias and me。 Great
amusement was occasioned by every one pushing with might and main at his
neighbour in order to make a place for him next to themselves； until at the
two ends of the row one had to get up and the other was rolled over
sideways。 Now I； my friend； was beginning to feel awkward； my former bold
belief in my powers of conversing with him had vanished。 And when Critias
told him that I was the person who had the cure； he looked at me in such an
indescribable manner； and was just going to ask a question。 And at that
moment all the people in the palaestra crowded about us； and； O rare！ I
caught a sight of the inwards of his garment； and took the flame。 Then I
could no longer contain myself。 I thought how well Cydias understood the
nature of love； when； in speaking of a fair youth； he warns some one 'not
to bring the fawn in the sight of the lion to be devoured by him；' for I
felt that I had been overcome by a sort of wild…beast appetite。 But I
controlled myself； and when he asked me if I knew the cure of the headac