Chapter 1 (227-234) Summary

Socrates runs into Phaedrus outside Athens, who follows his exercising routine suggested by their common friend and doctor Acumenus. Phaedrus has just left Lysias, son of Cephalus, a well known rhetorician and his lover, who gave a speech on love. Socrates convinces Phaedrus to share its details in a discourse. They analyze the content of the speech and the manner in which it is written.

Lysias has been visiting Epicrates at Moruchia house. He discussed with Phaedrus various types of love. Socrates wants to share its details in a discourse and convinces Phaedrus to do that while they both walk along the Illisus stream. Phaedrus reveals the content of the speech concerning a relationship between a lover and a non-lover that can be more rewarding than the one based only on love.

They both follow Illisus into the countryside that is...