The Symposium

Apollodorus tells his Companions how he heard about the Banquet

ap. I believe I have got the story you inquire of pretty well by heart. The day before yesterday I chanced to be going up to town from my house in Phalerum, when one of my acquaintance caught sight of me from behind, some way off, and called in a bantering tone—” Hullo, Phalerian! I say, Apollodorus, wait a moment.” So I stopped and waited. Then, “Apollodorus,” he said, “do you know, I have just been looking for you, as I want to hear all about the banquet that brought together Agathon and Socrates and Alcibiades and the rest of that party, and what were the speeches they delivered upon love. For somebody else was relating to me the account he had from Phoenix,¹ son of Philip, and he mentioned that you knew it too. But he could not tell it at all clearly; so you must give me the whole story, for you are the most proper reporter of your dear friend’s discourses. But first tell me this,” he went on; “were you at that party yourself, or not? “To which my answer was: “You have had anything but a clear account from your informant, if you suppose the party you are asking about to have been such a recent affair