The Symposium [26]
out; or if either of them should fall on sickness, then will their intercourse be yet more constant; and if they cared for one another face to face, much more will they care when parted.[39] Are not all these the outward tokens of true loveliness?[40] In the exercise of such sweet offices, at any rate, they show their passion for holy friendship's state, and prove its bliss, continuously pacing life's path from youth to eld.
[38] For beauty of style (in the original) Zeune cf. "Mem." II. vi. 28 foll.; III. xi. 10.
[39] "Albeit absent from one another in the body, they are more present in the soul." Cf. Virg. "Aen." iv. 83, "illum absens absentem auditque videtque."
[40] Or, "bear the stamp of Aphrodite."
But the lover who depends upon the body,[41] what of him? First, why should love-for-love be given to such a lover? because, forsooth, he bestows upon himself what he desires, and upon his minion things of dire reproach? or that what he hastens to exact, infallibly must separate that other from his nearest friends?
[41] Or, "is wholly taken up with." Cf. Plat. "Laws," 831 C.
If it be pleaded that persuasion is his instrument, not violence; is that no reason rather for a deeper loathing? since he who uses violence[42] at any rate declares himself in his true colours as a villain, while the tempter corrupts the soul of him who yields to his persuasions.
[42] Cf. "Hiero," iii. 3; "Cyrop." III. i. 39.
Ay, and how should he who traffics with his beauty love the purchaser, any more than he who keeps a stall in the market-place and vends to the highest bidder? Love springs not up, I trow, because the one is in his prime, and the other's bloom is withered, because fair is mated with what is not fair, and hot lips are pressed to cold. Between man and woman it is different. There the wife at any rate shares with her husband in their nuptial joys; but here conversely, the one is sober and with unimpassioned eye regards his fellow, who is drunken with the wine of passion.[43]
[43] Lit. "by Aphrodite." Cf. Plat. "Phaedr." 240, "But the lover . . . when he is drunk" (Jowett); "Symp." 214 C.
Wherefore it is no marvel if, beholding, there springs up in his breast the bitterest contempt and scorn for such a lover. Search and you shall find that nothing harsh was ever yet engendered by attachment based on moral qualities; whilst shameless intercourse, time out of mind, has been the source of countless hateful and unhallowed deeds.[44]
[44] Zeune cf. Ael. "V. H." viii. 9, re Archelaus king of Macedon, concerning whom Aristotle, "Pol." v. 10. 1311 B: "Many conspiracies have originated in shameful attempts made by sovereigns on the persons of their subjects. Such was the attack of Crataeus upon Archelaus," etc. (Jowett).
I have next to show that the society of him whose love is of the body, not the soul, is in itself illiberal. The true educator who trains another in the path of virtue, who will teach us excellence, whether of speech or conduct,[45] may well be honoured, even as Cheiron and Phoenix[46] were honoured by Achilles. But what can he expect, who stretches forth an eager hand to clutch the body, save to be treated[47] as a beggar? That is his character; for ever cringing and petitioning a kiss, or some other soft caress,[48] this sorry suitor dogs his victims.
[45] Phoenix addresses Achilles, "Il." ix. 443:
{muthon te reter' emenai, prektera te ergon}
Therefore sent he (Peleus) me to thee to teach thee all things, To be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds (W. Leaf).
[46] See "Il." xi. 831; "Hunting," ch. i., as to Cheiron and his scholars, the last of whom is Achilles.
[47] {an periepoito}. "He will be scurvily treated." Cf. "Hell." III. i. 19.
[48] Cf. "Mem." I. ii. 29.
If my language has a touch of turbulence,[49] do not marvel: partly the wine exalts me; partly that love which ever dwells within my heart of hearts now pricks me forward to use great boldness of speech[50] against his base antagonist. Why, yes indeed, it seems
[38] For beauty of style (in the original) Zeune cf. "Mem." II. vi. 28 foll.; III. xi. 10.
[39] "Albeit absent from one another in the body, they are more present in the soul." Cf. Virg. "Aen." iv. 83, "illum absens absentem auditque videtque."
[40] Or, "bear the stamp of Aphrodite."
But the lover who depends upon the body,[41] what of him? First, why should love-for-love be given to such a lover? because, forsooth, he bestows upon himself what he desires, and upon his minion things of dire reproach? or that what he hastens to exact, infallibly must separate that other from his nearest friends?
[41] Or, "is wholly taken up with." Cf. Plat. "Laws," 831 C.
If it be pleaded that persuasion is his instrument, not violence; is that no reason rather for a deeper loathing? since he who uses violence[42] at any rate declares himself in his true colours as a villain, while the tempter corrupts the soul of him who yields to his persuasions.
[42] Cf. "Hiero," iii. 3; "Cyrop." III. i. 39.
Ay, and how should he who traffics with his beauty love the purchaser, any more than he who keeps a stall in the market-place and vends to the highest bidder? Love springs not up, I trow, because the one is in his prime, and the other's bloom is withered, because fair is mated with what is not fair, and hot lips are pressed to cold. Between man and woman it is different. There the wife at any rate shares with her husband in their nuptial joys; but here conversely, the one is sober and with unimpassioned eye regards his fellow, who is drunken with the wine of passion.[43]
[43] Lit. "by Aphrodite." Cf. Plat. "Phaedr." 240, "But the lover . . . when he is drunk" (Jowett); "Symp." 214 C.
Wherefore it is no marvel if, beholding, there springs up in his breast the bitterest contempt and scorn for such a lover. Search and you shall find that nothing harsh was ever yet engendered by attachment based on moral qualities; whilst shameless intercourse, time out of mind, has been the source of countless hateful and unhallowed deeds.[44]
[44] Zeune cf. Ael. "V. H." viii. 9, re Archelaus king of Macedon, concerning whom Aristotle, "Pol." v. 10. 1311 B: "Many conspiracies have originated in shameful attempts made by sovereigns on the persons of their subjects. Such was the attack of Crataeus upon Archelaus," etc. (Jowett).
I have next to show that the society of him whose love is of the body, not the soul, is in itself illiberal. The true educator who trains another in the path of virtue, who will teach us excellence, whether of speech or conduct,[45] may well be honoured, even as Cheiron and Phoenix[46] were honoured by Achilles. But what can he expect, who stretches forth an eager hand to clutch the body, save to be treated[47] as a beggar? That is his character; for ever cringing and petitioning a kiss, or some other soft caress,[48] this sorry suitor dogs his victims.
[45] Phoenix addresses Achilles, "Il." ix. 443:
{muthon te reter' emenai, prektera te ergon}
Therefore sent he (Peleus) me to thee to teach thee all things, To be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds (W. Leaf).
[46] See "Il." xi. 831; "Hunting," ch. i., as to Cheiron and his scholars, the last of whom is Achilles.
[47] {an periepoito}. "He will be scurvily treated." Cf. "Hell." III. i. 19.
[48] Cf. "Mem." I. ii. 29.
If my language has a touch of turbulence,[49] do not marvel: partly the wine exalts me; partly that love which ever dwells within my heart of hearts now pricks me forward to use great boldness of speech[50] against his base antagonist. Why, yes indeed, it seems