Plato on Recording Socrates' Speech

Theaetetus 142c-143c

Eucleides
He was in a hurry to get home; for I begged and advised him to stop, but he would not. So I went along with him, and as I was coming back I thought of Socrates and wondered at his prophetic gift, especially in what he said about him. For I think he met him a little before his own death, when Theaetetus was a mere boy, and as a result of acquaintance and conversation with him, he greatly admired his qualities. When I went to Athens he related to me the conversation [142d] he had with him, which was well worth hearing, and he said he would surely become a notable man if he lived.

Terpsion
And he was right, apparently. But what was the talk? Could you relate it?

Eucleides
No, by Zeus, at least not offhand. [143a] But I made notes at the time as soon as I reached home, then afterwards at my leisure, as I recalled things, I wrote them down, and whenever I went to Athens I used to ask Socrates about what I could not remember, and then I came here and made corrections; so that I have pretty much the whole talk written down.

Terpsion
That is true. I heard you say so before; and really I have been waiting about here all along intending to ask you to show it to me. What hinders us from reading it now? Certainly I need to rest, since I have come from the country.

[143b]

Eucleides
And I myself went with Theaetetus as far as Erineum, so I also should not be sorry to take a rest. Come, let us go, and while we are resting, the boy shall read to us.

Terpsion
Very well.

Eucleides
Here is the book, Terpsion. Now this is the way I wrote the conversation: I did not represent Socrates relating it to me, as he did, but conversing with those with whom he told me he conversed. And he told me they were the geometrician Theodorus and Theaetetus. Now in order that [143c] the explanatory words between the speeches might not be annoying in the written account, such as “and I said” or “and I remarked,” whenever Socrates spoke, or “he agreed or he did not agree,” in the case of the interlocutor, I omitted all that sort of thing and represented Socrates himself as talking with them.

Terpsion
That is quite fitting, Eucleides.

Eucleides
Come, boy, take the book and read.

From http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=plat.+theaet.+142c