Phaedrus asks why Socrates has stopped at this point and not gone on to describe the benefits of the non-lover (rather than just the defects of the lover). Socrates declares that he’s said all he needs to say and intends to leave, but then says he has received a “supernatural sign” that has prevented him from walking away. This supernatural intuition tells his speech was blasphemous, and that he has offended the gods, including the god of Love, by speaking against lovers.

Socrates now insists that they have both sinned against Love in their speeches, and that he must correct his error by offering a refutation of the previous speeches. He declares that love, in its truest and best form, is much different from what they have been describing. Socrates then begins his second speech. He reminds Phaedrus that Lysias had better do the same as well, before the god of Love has his revenge on him, or before anyone acts on his advice.

As in his first speech, Socrates once more speaks in the voice of the admirer of a young man. He begins by disavowing the previous speech and blaming Phaedrus for its argument.