按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
affirmed that he had any。 As Hesiod says：
First Chaos came； and then broad…bosomed Earth； The everlasting seat of all that is； And Love。
In other words； after Chaos； the Earth and Love； these two； came into being。 Also Parmenides sings of Generation：
First in the train of gods； he fashioned Love。
And Acusilaus agrees with Hesiod。 Thus numerous are the witnesses who acknowledge Love to be the eldest of the gods。 And not only is he the eldest； he is also the source of the greatest benefits to us。 For I know not any greater blessing to a young man who is beginning life than a virtuous lover or to the lover than a beloved youth。 For the principle which ought to be the guide of men who would nobly live at principle； I say； neither kindred； nor honour； nor wealth； nor any other motive is able to implant so well as love。 Of what am I speaking？ Of the sense of honour and dishonour； without which neither states nor individuals ever do any good or great work。 And I say that a lover who is detected in doing any dishonourable act； or submitting through cowardice when any dishonour is done to him by another； will be more pained at being detected by his beloved than at being seen by his father； or by his companions； or by any one else。 The beloved too； when he is found in any disgraceful situation； has the same feeling about his lover。 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 each other's side； although 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 who 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 souls of some heroes； Love of his own nature infuses into the lover。 Love will make men dare to die for their beloved…love alone； and women as well as men。 Of this； Alcestis； the daughter of Pelias； is a monument to all Hellas； for she was willing to lay down her life on behalf of her husband； when no one else would； although he had a father and mother； but the tenderness of her love so far exceeded theirs； that she made them seem to be strangers in blood to their own son； and in name only related to him； and so noble did this action of hers appear to the gods； as well as to men； that among the many who have done virtuously she is one of the very few to whom； in admiration of her noble action； they have granted the privilege of returning alive to earth； such exceeding honour is paid by the gods to the devotion and virtue of love。 But Orpheus； the son of Oeagrus； the harper； they sent empty away； and presented to him an apparition only of her whom he sought； but herself they would not give up； because he showed no spirit； he was only a harp…player； and did not…dare like Alcestis to die for love； but was contriving how he might enter hades alive； moreover； they afterwards caused him to suffer death at the hands of women； as the punishment of his cowardliness。 Very different was the reward of the true love of Achilles towards his lover Patroclus…his lover and not his love （the notion that Patroclus was the beloved one is a foolish error into which Aeschylus has fallen； for Achilles was surely the fairer of the two； fairer also than all the other heroes； and； as Homer informs us； he was still beardless； and younger far）。 And greatly as the gods honour the virtue of love； still the return of love on the part of the beloved to the lover is more admired and valued and rewarded by them； for the lover is more divine； because he is inspired by God。 Now Achilles was quite aware； for he had been told by his mother； that he might avoid death and return home； and live to a good old age； if he abstained from slaying Hector。 Nevertheless he gave his life to revenge his friend； and dared to die； not only in his defence； but after he was dead Wherefore the gods honoured him even above Alcestis； and sent him to the Islands of the Blest。 These are my reasons for affirming that Love is the eldest and noblest and mightiest of the gods； and the chiefest author and giver of virtue in life； and of happiness after death。 This； or something like this； was the speech of Phaedrus； and some other speeches followed which Aristodemus did not remember； the next which he repeated was that of Pausanias。 Phaedrus； he said； the argument has not been set before us； I think； quite in the right form；…we should not be called upon to praise Love in such an indiscriminate manner。 If there were only one Love； then what you said would be well enough； but since there are more Loves than one；…should have begun by determining which of them was to be the theme of our praises。 I will amend this defect； and first of all I would tell you which Love is deserving of praise； and then try to hymn the praiseworthy one in a manner worthy of him。 For we all know that Love is inseparable from Aphrodite； and if there were only one Aphrodite there would be only one Love； but as there are two goddesses there must be two Loves。 And am I not right in asserting that there are two goddesses？ The elder one； having no mother； who is called the heavenly Aphrodite…she is the daughter of Uranus； the younger； who is the daughter of Zeus and Dione…her we call common； and the Love who is her fellow…worker is rightly named common； as the other love is called heavenly。 All the gods ought to have praise given to them； but not without distinction of their natures； and therefore I must try to distinguish the characters of the two Loves。 Now actions vary according to the manner of their performance。 Take； for example； that which we are now doing； drinking； singing and talking these actions are not in themselves either good or evil； but they turn out in this or that way according to the mode of performing them； and when well done they are good； and when wrongly done they are evil； and in like manner not every love； but only that which has a noble purpose； is noble and worthy of praise。 The Love who is the offspring of the common Aphrodite is essentially common； and has no discrimination； being such as the meaner sort of men feel； and is apt to be of women as well as of youths； and is of the body rather than of the soul…the most foolish beings are the objects of this love which desires only to gain an end； but never thinks of accomplishing the end nobly； and therefore does good and evil quite indiscriminately。 The goddess who is his mother is far younger than the other； and she was born of the union of the male and female； and partakes of both。 But the offspring of the heavenly Aphrodite is derived from a mother in whose birth the female has no part；…she is from the male only； this is that love which is of youths； and the goddess being older； there is nothing of wantonness in her。