SOCRATES TALKS TO HIPPOTHALES, THEN LYSIS AND MENEXENUS, THEN LYSIS BY HIMSELF (203a–210d)

The Lysis begins when Socrates is brought together with a group of young men, one of whom, Hippothales, is in love with one of a number of beautiful boys who are also present, namely Lysis. This introduces a first subject-matter of the Lysis: erōs (being in love, erotic love, sexual passion). Socrates quickly turns one of the questions he addresses to the lover Hippothales, namely ‘Who is the favoured beauty?’ (204b1–2) into the question ‘How should a lover speak to his darling?’ Socrates' answer to this question, as it soon emerges (206a1–c7, 210e1–5), is in effect ‘Don't sing his praises, and so puff him up. Instead, take him down a peg.’ Socrates is subtle enough not to carry the banter on the lover's strategy so far as to make it explicit that Kni. the only way in which one should take the darling down a peg is by showing the darling that he needs knowledge.

Nevertheless, we take this to be the clear purport of the opening section of the dialogue (203a1–206d6), when this is taken together with the questioning of Lysis at 207d5–210d8 that serves as an illustration of the strategy Socrates recommends for a lover.

Lysis and Menexenus, another beautiful boy, now appear on the scene.