PROTAGORAS

Alcibiades. I saw the day before yesterday; and he had got a beard
like a man-and he is a man, as I may tell you in your ear. But I

thought that he was still very charming.
Soc. What of his beard? Are you not of Homer's opinion, who says

Youth is most charming when the beard first appears?

And that is now the charm of Alcibiades.
Com. Well, and how do matters proceed? Have you been visiting him,

and was he gracious to you?
Soc. Yes, I thought that he was very gracious; and especially

to-day, for I have just come from him, and he has been helping me in an argument. But shall I tell you a strange thing? I paid no attention to him, and several times I quite forgot that he was present.

Com. What is the meaning of this? Has anything happened between you and him? For surely you cannot have discovered a fairer love than he is; certainly not in this city of Athens.�