stance, or at any rate
one-sided, (69) seeing that what they look upon as lawful with us is
scandalous. (70) Indeed, it strikes me that this vaunted battle-order
would seem to argue some mistrust on their part who adopt it--a
suspicion that their bosom friends, once separated from them, may forget
to behave as brave men should. But the men of Lacedaemon, holding that
"if a man but lay his hand upon the body and for lustful purpose, he
shall thereby forfeit claim to what is beautiful and noble"--do, in
the spirit of their creed, contrive to mould and fashion their "beloved
ones" to such height of virtue, (71) that should these find themselves
drawn up with foreigners, albeit no longer side by side with their own
lovers, (72) conscience will make desertion of their present friends
impossible. Self-respect constrains them: since the goddess whom the men
of Lacedaemon worship is not "Shamelessness," but "Reverence." (73)

(64) See Cobet, "Pros. Xen." p. 15; Plat. "Protag." 315 D; Ael. "V.
H." ii. 21.

(65) Ib.; Aristot. "Poet." ix.

(66) Or, "in his 'Apology' for."

(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 impu