w you how to dance.

So saying up he got, and mimicked the dances of the boy and girl in
burlesque fashion, and inasmuch as the spectators had been pleased to
think the natural beauty of the boy enhanced by every gesture of his
body in the dance, so the jester must give a counter-representation,
(44) in which each twist and movement of his body was a comical
exaggeration of nature.

(44) Reading {antepedeizen}. Cf. Plat. "Theaet." 162 B; "Ages." i. 12;
if vulg. {antapedeizen}, transl. "would prove per contra each
bend," etc. Cf. Aristot. "Rhet." ii. 26. 3.

And since the girl had bent herself backwards and backwards, till she
was nearly doubled into the form of a hoop, so he must try to imitate a
hoop by stooping forwards and ducking down his head.

And as finally, the boy had won a round of plaudits for the manner in
which he kept each muscle of the body in full exercise whilst dancing,
so now the jester, bidding the flute-girl quicken the time (presto!
presto! prestissimo!), fell to capering madly, tossing legs and arms
and head together, until he was fairly tired out, and threw himself dead
beat upon the sofa, gasping:

There, that's a proof that my jigs too are splendid exercise; at any
rate, I am dying of thirst; let the attendant kindly fill me the mighty
goblet. (45)

(45) Cf. Plat. "Symp." 223 C.

Quite right (said Callias), and we will pledge you. Our throats are
parched with laughing at you.

At this point Socrates: Nay, gentlemen, if drinking is the order of the
day, I heartily approve. Wine it is in very truth that moistens the soul
of man, (46) that lulls at once all cares to sleep, even as mandragora
(47) drugs our human senses, and at the same time kindles light-hearted
thoughts, (48) as oil a flame. Yet it fares with the banquets of men,
(49) if I mistake not, precisely as with plants that spring and shoot
on earth. When God gives these vegetable growths too full a draught
of rain, they cannot lift their heads nor feel the light air breathe
through them; but if they drink in only the glad supply they need, they
stand erect, they shoot apace, and reach maturity of fruitage. So we,
too, if we drench our throats with over-copious draughts, (50) ere long
may find our legs begin to reel and our thoughts begin to falter; (51)
we shall scarce be able to draw breath, much less to speak a word in
season. But if (to borrow language from the mint of Gorgias (52)), if
only the attendants will bed