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You don't come to see me, Socrates, as often as you ought: If I

were still able to go and see you I would not ask you to come to

me. But at my age I can hardly get to the city, and therefore you

should come oftener to the Piraeus. For let me tell you, that the

more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is

the pleasure and charm of conversation. Do not then deny my

request, but make our house your resort and keep company with

these young men; we are old friends, and you will be quite at

home with us.

I replied: There is nothing which for my part I like better,

Cephalus, than conversing with aged men; for I regard them as

travellers who have gone a journey which I too may have to go,

and of whom I ought to enquire, whether the way is smooth and

easy, or rugged and difficult. And this is a question which I

should like to ask of you who have arrived at that time which the

poets call the 'threshold of old age'-Is life harder towards the

end, or what report do you give of it?