Symposium

Eryximachus, and for my part let what has been said be unsaid. But do not guard me, since I am afraid, about what is going to be said, not that I may say laughable things — for that would be a gain, and native to our Muse — but ridiculous ones.”

“Having taken your shot,” he said, “Aristophanes, you think you will get away; but pay attention, and speak as one who will have to give an account. 189c Perhaps, though, if I think fit, I shall let you go.”

“And indeed, Eryximachus,” said Aristophanes, “I have it in mind to speak in some other way than you and Pausanias spoke. For it seems to me that human beings have not perceived the power of love at all, since if they perceived it, at least, they would have built him the greatest temples and altars, and would make him the greatest sacrifices, not as now, when none of this takes place in his honour, though it ought to take place most of all. For he is of the gods the friendliest to human beings, 189d being their helper and the doctor of those things whose healing would be the greatest happiness for the human race. So I shall try to introduce his power to you, and you will be the teachers of the others. But first you must learn human nature and its sufferings. For our nature long ago was not the same as it is now, but different. First, the kinds of human beings were three, not two as now, male and female, 189e but there was also a third besides, common to both of these, whose name now remains, though it has itself vanished; for the androgyne¹ was then one thing, both in form and in name, made up from both, common to the male and the female; but now it is nothing but a name lying in reproach. Then each human being’s whole