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after Aphrodite。 For in this field it is your privilege to consort with
whatever fairest fair your eyes may light on。
Hiero。 Nay； now you have named that one thing of all others； take my
word for it； in which we princes are worse off than lesser people。＇32＇
＇32＇ Reading ｛saph' isthi｝； or if as Cobet conj。 ｛saphestata｝； transl。
〃are at a disadvantage most clearly by comparison with ordinary
folk。〃
To name marriage first。 I presume a marriage＇33＇ which is contracted
with some great family； superior in wealth and influence； bears away the
palm； since it confers upon the bridegroom not pleasure only but
distinction。＇34＇ Next comes the marriage made with equals； and last；
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wedlock with inferiors； which is apt to be regarded as degrading and
disserviceable。
＇33＇ Cf。 〃Hunting；〃 i。 9。 Holden cf。 Eur。 〃Rhes。〃 168； 〃Androm。〃 1255。
＇34＇ Cf。 Dem。 〃in Lept。〃 S。 69； p。 499。 See Plat。 〃Rep。〃 553 C。
Now for the application： a despotic monarch； unless he weds some
foreign bride； is forced to choose a wife from those beneath him； so that
the height of satisfaction is denied him。＇35＇
＇35＇ Al。 〃supreme content； the quintessential bliss； is quite unknown
to him。〃
The tender service of the proudest…souled of women； wifely rendered；
how superlatively charming！＇36＇ and by contrast； how little welcome is
such ministration where the wife is but a slavewhen present； barely
noticed； or if lacking； what fell pains and passions will it not engender！
＇36＇ Or； 〃the gentle ministrations of loftiest…thoughted women and
fair wives possess a charm past telling； but from slaves； if tendered；
the reverse of welcome； or if not forthcoming 。 。 。〃
And if we come to masculine attachments； still more than in those
whose end is procreation； the tyrant finds himself defrauded of such
mirthfulness；＇37＇ poor monarch！ Since all of us are well aware； I fancy；
that for highest satisfaction；＇38＇ amorous deeds need love's strong
passion。＇39＇
＇37＇ 〃Joys sacred to that goddess fair and free in Heaven yclept
Euphrosyne。〃
＇38＇ For ｛polu diapherontos｝ cf。 Browning （〃Abt Vogler〃）； not indeed
of Aphrodisia conjoined with Eros； but of the musician's gift：
That out of three sounds he frame not a fourth sound； but a
star。
＇39＇ i。e。 〃Eros； the Lord of Passion； must lend his hand。〃 〃But；〃 he
proceeds； 〃the god is coy； he has little liking for the breasts of kings。
He is more likely to be found in the cottage of the peasant than the
king's palace。〃
But least of all is true love's passion wont to lodge in the hearts of
monarchs； for love delights not to swoop on ready prey； he needs the lure
of expectation。＇40＇
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＇40＇ Or； 〃even on the heels of hoped…for bliss he follows。〃
Well then； just as a man who has never tasted thirst can hardly be said
to know the joy of drinking；＇41＇ so he who has never tasted Passion is
ignorant of Aphrodite's sweetest sweets。
＇41＇ Reading with Holden （after H。 Steph。） ｛osper oun an tis 。 。 。｝ or
with Hartm。 （op。 cit。 p。 259） ｛osper ouk an tis 。 。 。｝
So Hiero ended。
Simonides answered laughingly： How say you； Hiero？ What is that？
Love's strong passion for his soul's beloved incapable of springing up in
any monarch's heart？ What of your own passion for Dailochus； surnamed
of men 〃most beautiful〃？
Hiero。 That is easily explained； Simonides。 What I most desire of him
is no ready spoil； as men might reckon it； but rather what it is least of all
the privilege of a tyrant to obtain。＇42＇ I say it truly； Ithe love I bear
Dailochus is of this high sort。 All that the constitution of our souls and
bodies possibly compels a man to ask for at the hands of beauty； that my
fantasy desires of him； but what my fantasy demands； I do most earnestly
desire to obtain from willing hands and under seal of true affection。 To
clutch it forcibly were as far from my desire as to do myself some mortal
mischief。
＇42＇ Lit。 〃of tyrant to achieve；〃 a met。 from the chase。 Cf。
〃Hunting；〃 xii。 22。
Were he my enemy； to wrest some spoil from his unwilling hands
would be an exquisite pleasure； to my thinking。 But of all sweet favours
the sweetest to my notion is the free…will offering of a man's beloved。 For
instance； how sweet the responsive glance of love for love； how sweet the
questions and the answers；＇43＇ and； most sweet of all； most love…
enkindling； the battles and the strifes of faithful lovers。＇44＇ But to
enjoy＇45＇ one's love perforce （he added） resembles more an act of robbery；
in my judgment； than love's pastime。 And； indeed； the robber derives some
satisfaction from the spoils he wins and from the pain he causes to the man
he hates。 But to seek pleasure in the pain of one we love devoutly； to kiss
and to be hated； to touch＇46＇ and to be loathedcan one conceive a state
of things more odious or more pitiful？ For； it is a certainty； the ordinary
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person may accept at once each service rendered by the object of his love
as a sign and token of kindliness inspired by affection； since he knows
such ministry is free from all compulsion。 Whilst to the tyrant； the
confidence that he is loved is quite foreclosed。 On the contrary；＇47＇ we
know for certain that service rendered through terror will stimulate as far
as possible the ministrations of affection。 And it is a fact； that plots and
conspiracies against despotic rulers are oftenest hatched by those who
most of all pretend to love them。＇48＇
＇43＇ 〃The 'innere Unterhaltung'〃； the ｛oarismos｝。 Cf。 Milton； 〃P。 L。〃：
With thee conversing； I forget all time。
＇44＇ Cf。 Ter。 〃Andr。〃 iii。 3。 23； 〃amantium irae amoris
intergratiost。〃
＇45＇ 〃To make booty of。〃
＇46＇ For ｛aptesthai｝ L。 & S。 cf。 Plat。 〃Laws；〃 840 A； Aristot。 〃H。 A。〃
v。 14。 27； Ep。 1 Cor。 vii。 1。
＇47＇ Reading ｛au｝。 〃If we do know anything it is this； that；〃 etc。
＇48＇ Or； 〃do oftenest issue from treacherous make…believe of warmest
friendship。〃 Cf。 Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 xi。 288； 〃Hell。〃 VI。 iv。 36。
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II
To these arguments Simonides replied： Yes； but the topics you have
named are to my thinking trifles； drops； as it were； in the wide ocean。 How
many men； I wonder； have I seen myself； men in the deepest sense；＇1＇ true
men； who choose to fare but ill in respect of meats and drinks and
delicacies； ay； and what is more； they voluntarily abstain from sexual
pleasures。 No！ it is in quite a different sphere； which I will name at once；
that you so far transcend us private citizens。＇2＇ It is in your vast designs；
your swift achievements； it is in the overflowing wealth of your
possessions； your horses； excellent for breed and mettle； the choice beauty
of your arms； the exquisite finery of your wives； the gorgeous palaces in
which you dwell； and these； too； furnished with the costliest works of art；
add to which the throng of your retainers； courtiers； followers； not in
number only but accomplishments a most princely retinue； and lastly； but
not least of all； in your supreme ability at once to afflict your foes and
benefit your friends。
＇1＇ Lit。 〃many among those reputed to be men。〃 Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 V。 v。 33；
〃Hell。〃 i。 24； 〃their hero〃； and below； viii。 3。 Aristoph。 〃Ach。〃 78； ｛oi
barbaroi gar andras egountai monous｝ ｜ ｛tous