As Fantasia talked I saw various groupes of figures as they walked among the allies of the gardens or were seated on the grassy plots either in contemplation or conversation several advanced together towards the fountain where I sat—­As they approached I observed the principal figure to be that of a woman about 40 years of age her eyes burned with a deep fire and every line of her face expressed enthusiasm & wisdom—­Poetry seemed seated on her lips which were beautifully formed & every motion of her limbs although not youthful was inexpressibly graceful—­her black hair was bound in tresses round her head and her brows were encompassed by a fillet—­her dress was that of a simple tunic bound at the waist by a broad girdle and a mantle which fell over her left arm she was encompassed by several youths of both sexes who appeared to hang on her words & to catch the inspiration as it flowed from her with looks either of eager wonder or stedfast attention with eyes all bent towards her eloquent countenance which beamed with the mind within—­I am going said Fantasia but I leave my spirit with you without which this scene wd fade away—­I leave you in good company—­that female whose eyes like the loveliest planet in the heavens draw all to gaze on her is the Prophetess Diotima the instructress of Socrates[93]—­The company about her are those just escaped from the world there they were unthinking or misconducted in the pursuit of knowledge.  She leads them to truth & wisdom untill the time comes when they shall be fitted for the journey through the universe which all must one day undertake—­farewell—­

And now, gentlest reader—­I must beg your indulgence—­I am a being too weak to record the words of Diotima her matchless wisdom & heavenly eloquence[.] What I shall repeat will be as the faint shadow of a tree by moonlight—­some what of the form will be preserved but there will be no life in it—­Plato alone of Mortals could record the thoughts of Diotima hopeless therefore I shall not dwell so much on her words as on those of her pupils which being more earthly can better than hers be related by living lips[.]

Diotima approached the fountain & seated herself on a mossy mound near it and her disciples placed themselves on the grass near her—­Without noticing me who sat close under her she continued her discourse addressing as it happened one or other of her listeners—­but before I attempt to repeat her words I will describe the chief of these whom she appeared to wish principally to impress—­One was a woman of about 23 years of age in the full enjoyment of the most exquisite beauty her golden hair floated in ringlets on her shoulders—­her hazle eyes were shaded by heavy lids and her mouth the lips apart seemed to breathe sensibility[94]—­But she appeared thoughtful & unhappy—­her cheek was pale she seemed as if accustomed to suffer and as if the lessons she now heard were the only words of wisdom to which she had ever listened—­The youth beside her