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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 headache；
I answered； but with an effort； that I did know。
And what is it？ he said。
I replied that it was a kind of leaf； which required to be accompanied by a
charm； and if a person would repeat the charm at the same time that he used
the cure； he would be made whole； but that without the charm the leaf would
be of no avail。
Then I will write out the charm from your dictation； he said。
With my consent？ I said； or without my consent？
With your consent； Socrates； he said； laughing。
Very good； I said； and are you quite sure that you know my name？
I ought to know you； he replied； for there is a great deal said about you
among my companions； and I remember when I was a child seeing you in
company with my cousin Critias。
I am glad to find that you remember me； I said； for I shall now be more at
home with you and shall be better able to explain the nature of the charm；
about which I felt a difficulty before。 For the charm will do more；
Charmides； than only cure the headache。 I dare say that you have heard
eminent physicians say to a patient who comes to them with bad eyes； that
they cannot cure his eyes by themselves； but that if his eyes are to be
cured； his head must be treated； and then again they say that to think of
curing the head alone； and not the rest of the body also； is the height of
folly。 And arguing in this way they apply their methods to the whole body；
and try to treat and heal the whole and the part together。 Did you ever
observe that this is what they say？
Yes； he said。
And they are right； and you would agree with them？
Yes； he said； certainly I should。
His approving answers reassured me； and I began by degrees to regain
confidence； and the vital heat returned。 Such； Charmides； I said； is the
nature of the charm； which I learned when serving with the army from one of
the physicians of the Thracian king Zamolxis； who are said to be so skilful
that they can even give immortality。 This Thracian told me that in these
notions of theirs； which I was just now mentioning； the Greek physicians
are quite right as far as they go； but Zamolxis； he added； our king； who is
also a god； says further； 'that as you ought not to attempt to cure the
eyes without the head； or the head without the body； so neither ought you
to attempt to cure the body without the soul； and this；' he said； 'is the
reason why the cure of many diseases is unknown to the physicians of
Hellas； because they are ignorant of the whole； which ought to be studied
also； for the part can never be well unless the whole is well。' For all
good and evil； whether in the body or in human nature； originates； as he
declared； in the soul； and overflows from thence； as if from the head into
the eyes。 And therefore if the head and body are to be well； you must
begin by curing the soul； that is the first thing。 And the cure； my dear
youth； has to be effected by the use of certain charms； and these charms
are fair words； and by them temperance is implanted in the soul； and where
temperance is； there health is speedily imparted； not only to the head； but
to the whole body。 And he who taught me the cure and the charm at the same
time added a special direction： 'Let no one；' he said； 'persuade you to
cure the head； until he has first given you his soul to be cured by the
charm。 For this；' he said； 'is the great error of our day in the treatment
of the human body； that physicians separate the soul from the body。' And
he added with emphasis； at the same time making me swear to his words； 'Let
no one； however rich； or noble； or fair； persuade you to give him the cure；
without the charm。' Now I have sworn； and I must keep my oath； and
therefore if you will allow me to apply the Thracian charm first to your
soul； as the stranger directed； I will afterwards proceed to apply the cure
to your head。 But if not； I do not know what I am to do with you； my dear
Charmides。
Critias； when he heard this； said： The headache will be an unexpected gain
to my young relation； if the pain in his head compels him to improve his
mind： and I can tell you； Socrates； that Charmides is not only pre…eminent
in beauty among his equals； but also in that quality which is given by the
charm； and this； as you say； is temperance？
Yes； I said。
Then let me tell you that he is the most temperate of human beings； and for
his age inferior to none in any quality。
Yes； I said； Charmides； and indeed I think that you ought to excel others
in all good qualities； for if I am not mistaken there is no one present who
could easily point out two Athenian houses； whose union would be likely to
produce a better or nobler scion than the two from which you are sprung。
There is your father's house； which is descended from Critias the son of
Dropidas； whose family has been commemorated in the panegyrical verses of
Anacreon； Solon； and many other poets； as famous for beauty and virtue and
all other high fortune： and your mother's house is equally distinguished；
for your maternal uncle； Pyrilampes； is reputed never to have found his
equal； in Persia at the court of the great king； or on the continent of
Asia； in all the places to which he went as ambassador； for stature and
beauty； that whole family is not a whit inferior to the other。 Having such
ancestors you ought to be first in all things； and； sweet son of Glaucon；
your outward form is no dishonour to any of them。 If to beauty you add
temperance； and if in other respects you are what Critias declares you to
be； then； dear Charmides； blessed art thou； in being the son of thy mother。
And here lies the point； for if； as he declares； you have this gift of
temperance already； and are temperate enough； in that case you have no need
of any charms； whether of Zamolxis or of Abaris the Hyperborean； and I may
as well let you have the cure of the head at once； but if you have not yet
acquired this quality； I must use the charm before I give you the medicine。
Please； therefore； to inform me whether you admit the truth of what Critias
has been saying；have you or have you not this quality of temperance？
Charmides blushed； and the blush heightened his beauty； for modesty is
becoming in youth； he then said very ingenuously； that he really could not
at once answer； either yes； or no； to the question which I had asked： For；
said he； if I affirm that I am n