ey own a mutual devotion, (38) how can it but be, they will
take delight in gazing each into the other's eyes, hold kindly converse,
trust and be trusted, have forethought for each other, in success
rejoice together, in misfortune share their troubles; and so long as
health endures make merry cheer, day in day 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."