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    Dialogue                                       grey = Comment text

  1 Lache|                                         Laches~
  2 Lache|               their request, Nicias and Laches have accompanied them to
  3 Lache|              accomplishment. Nicias and Laches are quite willing to give
  4 Lache|               tutor for his son, and to Laches, who had witnessed his heroic
  5 Lache|           younger than either Nicias or Laches, prefers to wait until they
  6 Lache|               the soldier in the field. Laches, the blunt warrior, is of
  7 Lache|                anything. But Nicias and Laches are older and richer than
  8 Lache|          submitted to this process; and Laches is quite willing to learn
  9 Lache|              weapons—‘What is Courage?’ Laches thinks that he knows this: (
 10 Lache|               amid pleasures and pains. Laches replies that this universal
 11 Lache|                 be solved? Socrates and Laches are not set ‘to the Dorian
 12 Lache|               argument about endurance. Laches is very willing, and is
 13 Lache|               Courage is intelligence.’ Laches derides this; and Socrates
 14 Lache|          courageous man can tell that.’ Laches draws the inference that
 15 Lache|                ordinary use of language Laches reclaims, but is in some
 16 Lache|               difference, appear in the Laches when compared with the Charmides
 17 Lache|             externals of the scene; the Laches has more play and development
 18 Lache|                characters of Nicias and Laches are indicated by their opinions
 19 Lache|               accept the new art, which Laches treats with ridicule, seeming
 20 Lache|            acquainted with his actions. Laches is the admirer of the Dorian
 21 Lache|                 not without difficulty, Laches is made to pass on from
 22 Lache| cross-examination which is practised by Laches and by Socrates, and also
 23 Lache|                 which the definition of Laches is made to approximate to
 24 Lache|            based on a natural instinct. Laches exhibits one aspect of courage;
 25 Lache|            battle of Mantinea, at which Laches fell. But if Socrates was
 26 Lache|                                         LACHES, OR COURAGE~PERSONS OF THE
 27 Lache|         Thucydides. Their sons. Nicias, Laches, Socrates.~LYSIMACHUS: You
 28 Lache|          fighting in armour, Nicias and Laches, but we did not tell you
 29 Lache|               will tell you, Nicias and Laches, even at the risk of being
 30 Lache|                 and I believe that you, Laches, will be equally glad.~LACHES:
 31 Lache|           Laches, will be equally glad.~LACHES: Certainly, Nicias; and
 32 Lache|                 after.~LYSIMACHUS: Why, Laches, has Socrates ever attended
 33 Lache|                to matters of this sort?~LACHES: Certainly, Lysimachus.~
 34 Lache|             means of knowing as well as Laches; for quite lately he supplied
 35 Lache|                 Socrates and Nicias and Laches, fall out of acquaintance
 36 Lache|              family ties being renewed.~LACHES: Indeed, Lysimachus, you
 37 Lache|                 which I have given. But Laches may take a different view;
 38 Lache|                hear what he has to say.~LACHES: I should not like to maintain,
 39 Lache|              have been required. But as Laches has voted one way and Nicias
 40 Lache|               us has had good teachers?~LACHES: Well but, Socrates; did
 41 Lache|             some things?~SOCRATES: Yes, Laches, I have observed that; but
 42 Lache|        excellence in one or more works.~LACHES: That is true.~SOCRATES:
 43 Lache|                SOCRATES: And therefore, Laches and Nicias, as Lysimachus
 44 Lache|               be surprised if Nicias or Laches may have discovered or learned
 45 Lache|               therefore, Lysimachus, as Laches suggested that you should
 46 Lache|                and advise you to detain Laches and Nicias, and question
 47 Lache|          anything of the kind. But you, Laches and Nicias, should each
 48 Lache|            friends; but you, Nicias and Laches, must determine whether
 49 Lache|               had better ask our friend Laches what his feeling may be.~
 50 Lache|                what his feeling may be.~LACHES: I have but one feeling,
 51 Lache|                find out from Nicias and Laches what we want to know, for
 52 Lache|            SOCRATES: Let us, Nicias and Laches, comply with the request
 53 Lache|              sight and hearing to them.~LACHES: That is true, Socrates.~
 54 Lache|                are not our two friends, Laches, at this very moment inviting
 55 Lache|             improvement of their minds?~LACHES: Very true.~SOCRATES: Then
 56 Lache|                 we are wholly ignorant?~LACHES: I do not think that we
 57 Lache|               Socrates.~SOCRATES: Then, Laches, we may presume that we
 58 Lache|              know the nature of virtue?~LACHES: Yes.~SOCRATES: And that
 59 Lache|                 surely be able to tell?~LACHES: Certainly.~SOCRATES: I
 60 Lache|          probably be made easier to us.~LACHES: Let us do as you say, Socrates.~
 61 Lache|        generally thought to be courage?~LACHES: Yes, certainly.~SOCRATES:
 62 Lache|              certainly.~SOCRATES: Then, Laches, suppose that we first set
 63 Lache|               you can, what is courage.~LACHES: Indeed, Socrates, I see
 64 Lache|              that.~SOCRATES: Very good, Laches; and yet I fear that I did
 65 Lache|           intended to ask, but another.~LACHES: What do you mean, Socrates?~
 66 Lache|              and fights with the enemy?~LACHES: Certainly I should.~SOCRATES:
 67 Lache|           flying, instead of remaining?~LACHES: How flying?~SOCRATES: Why,
 68 Lache|              author of fear or flight.’~LACHES: Yes, Socrates, and there
 69 Lache|                rank.~SOCRATES: And yet, Laches, you must except the Lacedaemonians
 70 Lache|              won the battle of Plataea.~LACHES: That is true.~SOCRATES:
 71 Lache|                of courage—is there not, Laches?~LACHES: Certainly, Socrates.~
 72 Lache|           courage—is there not, Laches?~LACHES: Certainly, Socrates.~SOCRATES:
 73 Lache|        conditions, as I should imagine.~LACHES: Very true.~SOCRATES: Now
 74 Lache|                 understand what I mean?~LACHES: Not over well.~SOCRATES:
 75 Lache|               quickness to all of them?~LACHES: Quite true.~SOCRATES: And
 76 Lache|               any other sort of action.~LACHES: You would be quite correct.~
 77 Lache|             correct.~SOCRATES: And now, Laches, do you try and tell me
 78 Lache|                 was just now referring?~LACHES: I should say that courage
 79 Lache|              Hear my reason: I am sure, Laches, that you would consider
 80 Lache|                be a very noble quality.~LACHES: Most noble, certainly.~
 81 Lache|                 is also good and noble?~LACHES: Very noble.~SOCRATES: But
 82 Lache|           regarded as evil and hurtful?~LACHES: True.~SOCRATES: And is
 83 Lache|              which is evil and hurtful?~LACHES: I ought not to say that,
 84 Lache|            noble, but courage is noble?~LACHES: You are right.~SOCRATES:
 85 Lache|              wise endurance is courage?~LACHES: True.~SOCRATES: But as
 86 Lache|                you call him courageous?~LACHES: Assuredly not.~SOCRATES:
 87 Lache|               refuses; is that courage?~LACHES: No; that is not courage
 88 Lache|                his post, is the braver?~LACHES: I should say that the latter,
 89 Lache|              comparison with the other?~LACHES: That is true.~SOCRATES:
 90 Lache|               having no such knowledge?~LACHES: So I should say.~SOCRATES:
 91 Lache|                having such a knowledge?~LACHES: True.~SOCRATES: And he
 92 Lache|                who have this knowledge?~LACHES: Why, Socrates, what else
 93 Lache|                 that be what he thinks.~LACHES: But that is what I do think.~
 94 Lache|                 and endure are foolish, Laches, in comparison of those
 95 Lache|            having the skill to do them.~LACHES: That is true.~SOCRATES:
 96 Lache|                 base and hurtful to us.~LACHES: Quite true.~SOCRATES: Whereas
 97 Lache|     acknowledged to be a noble quality.~LACHES: True.~SOCRATES: And now
 98 Lache|               in dishonour, is courage.~LACHES: Very true.~SOCRATES: And
 99 Lache|              are we right in saying so?~LACHES: Indeed, Socrates, I am
100 Lache|              your statement, you and I, Laches, are not attuned to the
101 Lache|                 about courage just now.~LACHES: That is most true.~SOCRATES:
102 Lache|         condition of ours satisfactory?~LACHES: Quite the reverse.~SOCRATES:
103 Lache|           speaking to a certain extent.~LACHES: To what extent and what
104 Lache|              very likely, be endurance.~LACHES: I am ready to go on, Socrates;
105 Lache|                 track, and not be lazy?~LACHES: Certainly, he should.~SOCRATES:
106 Lache|                we are. What do you say?~LACHES: I should like that.~SOCRATES:
107 Lache|                  Socrates, that you and Laches are not defining courage
108 Lache|              SOCRATES: Do you hear him, Laches?~LACHES: Yes, I hear him,
109 Lache|                Do you hear him, Laches?~LACHES: Yes, I hear him, but I
110 Lache|            courage is a sort of wisdom.~LACHES: What can he possibly mean,
111 Lache|                you must ask of himself.~LACHES: Yes.~SOCRATES: Tell him
112 Lache|            knowledge then, and of what?~LACHES: I think that you put the
113 Lache|                  NICIAS: I mean to say, Laches, that courage is the knowledge
114 Lache|                 in war, or in anything.~LACHES: How strangely he is talking,
115 Lache|            SOCRATES: Why do you say so, Laches?~LACHES: Why, surely courage
116 Lache|              Why do you say so, Laches?~LACHES: Why, surely courage is
117 Lache|                just what Nicias denies.~LACHES: Yes, that is what he denies;
118 Lache|                 of abusing him?~NICIAS: Laches does not want to instruct
119 Lache|               have been doing the same.~LACHES: Very true, Nicias; and
120 Lache|         courageous?~NICIAS: Not at all.~LACHES: No more than the husbandmen
121 Lache|                 that.~SOCRATES: What is Laches saying, Nicias? He appears
122 Lache|              than this. Do you imagine, Laches, that the physician knows
123 Lache|               be the better of the two?~LACHES: Yes certainly so in my
124 Lache|              those who had better live?~LACHES: Certainly not.~NICIAS:
125 Lache|                 understand his meaning, Laches?~LACHES: Yes; I suppose
126 Lache|         understand his meaning, Laches?~LACHES: Yes; I suppose that, in
127 Lache|                grounds of hope or fear?~LACHES: Indeed I do: who but he?~
128 Lache|               one who is no soothsayer.~LACHES: I cannot understand what
129 Lache|                 I quite agree with you, Laches, that he should not. But
130 Lache|              not, we will instruct him.~LACHES: Do you, Socrates, if you
131 Lache|                 will do for both of us.~LACHES: Very good.~SOCRATES: Then
132 Lache|                  or rather tell us, for Laches and I are partners in the
133 Lache|                 pretensions to courage.~LACHES: Capital, Socrates; by the
134 Lache|             their courage.~NICIAS: Why, Laches, I do not call animals or
135 Lache|               actions are wise actions.~LACHES: Behold, Socrates, how admirably,
136 Lache|             courageous.~NICIAS: Not so, Laches, but do not be alarmed;
137 Lache|          courageous and therefore wise.~LACHES: I could answer that; but
138 Lache|            SOCRATES: Do not answer him, Laches; I rather fancy that you
139 Lache|           pieces of words of this sort.~LACHES: Yes, Socrates; and the
140 Lache|               is worthy of examination.~LACHES: Then examine for yourself,
141 Lache|          consideration of the question.~LACHES: I will if you think that
142 Lache|               Do you not agree to that, Laches?~LACHES: Yes, Socrates,
143 Lache|              not agree to that, Laches?~LACHES: Yes, Socrates, entirely.~
144 Lache|              see whether you agree with Laches and myself as to a third
145 Lache|               not correct in saying so, Laches?~LACHES: Quite correct.~
146 Lache|           correct in saying so, Laches?~LACHES: Quite correct.~SOCRATES:
147 Lache|                is.~NICIAS: We have not.~LACHES: And yet, friend Nicias,
148 Lache|              Damon.~NICIAS: I perceive, Laches, that you think nothing
149 Lache|              much in want of knowledge.~LACHES: You are a philosopher,
150 Lache|              knowledge which Nicias and Laches have not, then I admit that