Phaedo — We have come, Socrates, to discuss with you, if you will permit us, the question of the ownership of land.  Crito and Hippias and myself and others were considering that subject the other day, and we were not able to agree.  Hippocrates, whom you know, has lately returned from the region of Mount Olympus, and as he was hunting one day on the lower slopes of the mountain, he came, haply, upon a beautiful vale, fertile and well watered, wherein was no habitation or sign of man.  The soft breezes blew gently over the rich green plain whereon the red deer grazed peacefully and turned not at his approach.  And when Hippocrates returned from his hunt he found upon inquiry that no man of the region knew of that vale or had ever heard thereof.  So, as he had marked the entrance thereto, he returned thither with the intent to remain there for a space.  And remaining there through the warm summer he fenced in the vale and the deer in it, and built him a house, and remained there a full year.  But certain concerns of his family at that time constrained Hippocrates to return to Athens, and since he can no more live in his vale he offered to sell it to Hipparchus for a talent of silver for a place to keep summer boarders.  And Hipparchus was content; but when they repaired to the Demosion to exchange the price for the deed, Hippocrates was unable to produce any parchment showing his title to the vale.  And when he was unable to do that, Hipparchus would not pay down his silver, until he could make further inquiry.  The next day, we all, meeting at the house of Phidias, fell to debating whether Hippocrates owned the land and could sell it to Hipparchus.  And some said one thing and some another, and in the end we agreed that when some of us were next together, we would go to the house of Socrates, and if he were content, we would discuss the matter with him.  And today happening to so meet we have come to you, Socrates, and would be glad to hear whether you think Hippocrates owns that vale, and may sell it or no.

Socrates — You are very welcome, Phaedo, and your friends, and as for the matter you name, I shall be glad to talk of it with you and see if we can come to some understanding of it.  But before we can proceed in the discussion, it will be necessary to find some starting point upon which we can all agree, because until we agree, at the beginning, upon some one thing pertaining to the matter, as certain and not to be doubted, discussion is useless, but if we can find such a thing, which none of us doubt, we may be able to make something of the matter.  I propose, therefore, O Phaedo, that you propound someone statement which all you who have been discussing the matter believe.

Phaedo — Of a truth, Socrates, we discussed the matter till the sun went down, but I do not remember any one thing to which we all agreed except that there is such a vale at the foot of Mount Olympus, as Hippocrates describes, and that he lived therein for a year.  That we believe because Hippocrates so told us, and all Athens knows Hippocrates for a truthful man.