Classical literature; Philosophy, Ancient; Socrates, 470 BC-399 BC
(67) Plat. "Symp." 179 E, puts the sentiment into the mouth of
Phaedrus: "And if there were only some way of contriving that a
state or an army should be made up of lovers and their loves, they
would be the very best governors of their own city, abstaining
from all dishonour, and emulating one another in honour; and when
fighting at one another's side, although not a mere handful, they
would overcome the world. For what lover would not choose rather
to be seen by all mankind than by his beloved, either when
abandoning his post or throwing away his arms? He would be ready
to die a thousand deaths rather than endure this. Or would desert
his beloved or fail him in the hour of danger? The veriest coward
would become an inspired hero, equal to the bravest, at such a
time; Love would inspire him. That courage which, as Homer says,
the god breathes into the soul of heroes, Love of his own nature
infuses into the lover" (Jowett). Cf. "Hunting," xii. 20; "Anab."
VII. iv. 7; "Cyrop." VII. i. 30.
(68) Sc. in their institutions. Cf. Plat. "Symp." 182, "in Elis and
Boeotia"; "Pol. Lac." ii. 13; Ael. "V. H." iii. 12, xiii. 5;
Athen. xiii. 2. For the Theban Sacred Band see Plut. "Pelop." 18,
19 (Clough, ii. 218).
(69) Or, "not in pari materia, so to speak."
(70) Is not Xenophon imputing himself to Socrates? Henkel cf. Plat.
"Crito," 52 E. See Newman, op. cit. i. 396.
(71) Or, "shape to so fine a manhood that..."
(72) Reading {en te aute taxei}. Al. {... polei}, transl. "nor
indeed in the same city." Cf. "Hell." V. iv. 33, re death of
Cleonymus at Leuctra.
(73) Lit. "Aidos not Anaideia." See Paus. "Lac." xx. 10; "Attica,"
xvii. 1; Cic. "de Leg." ii. 11, a reference which I owe to M.
Eugene Talbot, "Xen." i. 236.
I fancy we should all agree with one another on the point in question,
if we thus approached it. Ask yourself to which type of the two must
he (74) accord, to whom you would entrust a sum of money, make him
the guardian of your children, look to find in him a safe and sure
depositary of any favour? (75) For my part, I am certain that the very
lover addicted to external beauty would himself far sooner have his
precious things entrusted to the keeping of one who has the inward
beauty of the soul. (76)
(74) He (the master-mistress of my passion).
(75) {kharitas} = "kindly offices," beneficia. Cf. "Ages." iv. 4;
"Mem." IV. iv. 17. Al. = delicias, "to deposit some darling
object."
(76) Or, "some one truly lovable in soul and heart."
Ah, yes! and you, my friend (he turned to Callias), you have good reason
to be thankful to the gods who of their grace inspired you with love for
your Autolycus. Covetous of honour, (77) beyond all controversy, must he
be, who could endure so many toils and pains to hear his name proclaimed
(78) victor in the "pankration."
(77) See "Mem." II. iii. 16; "Isocr." 189 C, {ph. kai megalopsukhoi}.
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