Since the evening was warm, supper was
served in the Aula, or inner court, which was surrounded by Corinthian
colonnades, and lighted by many lamps which hung between the pillars.
After they had taken a light meal, ivy wreaths were distributed and
cups were set before the guests.
Aspasia, the only woman present, had the place of honour next to
Pericles. She had come at the beginning, accompanied by her slaves,
and was waiting impatiently for the verbal contests to begin. But
Pericles was depressed and tired. Socrates lay on his back, silent,
and looked up at the stars, Euripides chewed a wood-splinter and was
morose; Phidias kneaded balls of bread, which in his hand took the
shapes of animals; Protagoras whispered to Plato, who, with becoming
youthful modesty, kept in the background.
Quite at the bottom of the table sat the skeleton, with a wreath of
roses round its white forehead. In order to counteract the uncanny
feeling likely to be aroused by this unbidden guest, Alcibiades had
placed an onion between its front teeth, and in one of its hands an
asphodel lily, which the skeleton appeared to smell at.
When the silence at last became oppressive, Pericles roused himself
from his lethargy, and opened the conversation.
"I should like," he said, "without raising any bitterness or strife,
to suggest as a subject for discussion the often-raised question of
Euripides' supposed misogyny.
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