Symposium

that it is beautiful to gratify lovers, and no one, young or old, would say that it is shameful, so that, I think, they may have no bother in trying to persuade the young by speech, since they are unable to speak; but in many places in Ionia and elsewhere, among all who live under barbarians,¹ it is held to be shameful. For among barbarians, because of their tyrannies, this is shameful, and so indeed are 182c philosophy and the love of exercise; for it is not to the advantage of the rulers, I think, that great thoughts should arise in those they rule, nor strong friendships and partnerships, which all other things, and love above all, tend to implant. The tyrants here too learned this in deed; for Aristogiton’s love and Harmodius’ friendship, once it became firm, put an end to their rule.² So where it has been laid down that it is shameful 182d to gratify lovers, this rests on the vice of those who laid it down, the greed of the rulers and the unmanliness of the ruled; and where it was held to be simply beautiful, on the idleness of soul of those who laid it down. But here it has been laid down by law far better than in these places, and, as I said, it is not easy to understand. For reflect: it is said to be more beautiful to be in love openly than in secret, and especially with the noblest and best, even if they are uglier than others; and again, the encouragement that comes from everyone to the one in love is marvellous, not as to one doing something shameful; and when he makes his catch it seems beautiful, 182e and when he fails, shameful; and for the attempt to make his catch the law has given the lover licence to be praised for doing marvellous deeds, deeds which, if anyone dared to do them in pursuit of anything else and 183a wanting to achieve anything but this, he would reap the greatest reproaches †of philosophy³ — for if, wanting to get money from someone, or to hold an office, or some other power, he were willing to do what lovers do toward their darlings, making supplications