Parmenides

PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: Cephalus, Adeimantus, Glaucon, Antiphon, Pythodorus,Socrates, Zeno, Parmenides, Aristoteles.Cephalus rehearses a dialogue which is supposed to have been narrated in his presenceby Antiphon, the half-brother of Adeimantus and Glaucon, to certain Clazomenians.We had come from our home at Clazomenae to Athens, and met Adeimantus and Glauconin the Agora.

Welcome, Cephalus, said Adeimantus, taking me by the hand; is thereanything which we can do for you in Athens?Yes; that is why I am here; I wish to ask a favour of you.What may that be? he said.I want you to tell me the name of your half brother, which I have forgotten; he was amere child when I last came hither from Clazomenae, but that was a long time ago; hisfather's name, if I remember rightly, was Pyrilampes?Yes, he said, and the name of our brother, Antiphon; but why do you ask?Let me introduce some countrymen of mine, I said; they are lovers of philosophy, andhave heard that Antiphon was intimate with a certain Pythodorus, a friend of Zeno, andremembers a conversation which took place between Socrates, Zeno, and Parmenidesmany years ago, Pythodorus having often recited it to him.Quite true.And could we hear it?

I asked.Nothing easier, he replied; when he was a youth he made a careful study of the piece; atpresent his thoughts run in another direction; like his grandfather Antiphon he is devotedto horses.

But, if that is what you want, let us go and look for him; he dwells at Melita,which is quite near, and he has only just left us to go home.