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indignantly oppose him and will not be urged on to do terrible and
unlawful deeds； but at last； when he persists in plaguing them； they
yield and agree to do as he bids them。
And now they are at the spot and behold the flashing beauty of the
beloved； which when the charioteer sees； his memory is carried to
the true beauty； whom he beholds in company with Modesty like an image
placed upon a holy pedestal。 He sees her； but he is afraid and falls
backwards in adoration； and by his fall is compelled to pull back
the reins with such violence as to bring both the steeds on their
haunches； the one willing and unresisting； the unruly one very
unwilling； and when they have gone back a little； the one is
overcome with shame and wonder； and his whole soul is bathed in
perspiration； the other； when the pain is over which the bridle and
the fall had given him； having with difficulty taken breath； is full
of wrath and reproaches； which he heaps upon the charioteer and his
fellow…steed； for want of courage and manhood； declaring that they
have been false to their agreement and guilty of desertion。 Again they
refuse； and again he urges them on； and will scarce yield to their
prayer that he would wait until another time。 When the appointed
hour comes； they make as if they had forgotten； and he reminds them；
fighting and neighing and dragging them on； until at length he； on the
same thoughts intent； forces them to draw near again。 And when they
are near he stoops his head and puts up his tail； and takes the bit in
his teeth。 and pulls shamelessly。 Then the charioteer is。 worse off
than ever； he falls back like a racer at the barrier； and with a still
more violent wrench drags the bit out of the teeth of the wild steed
and covers his abusive tongue and…jaws with blood； and forces his legs
and haunches to the ground and punishes him sorely。 And when this
has happened several times and the villain has ceased from his
wanton way； he is tamed and humbled； and follows the will of the
charioteer； and when he sees the beautiful one he is ready to die of
fear。 And from that time forward the soul of the lover follows the
beloved in modesty and holy fear。
And so the beloved who； like a god； has received every true and
loyal service from his lover； not in pretence but in reality； being
also himself of a nature friendly to his admirer； if in former days he
has blushed to own his passion and turned away his lover； because
his youthful companions or others slanderously told him that he
would be disgraced； now as years advance； at the appointed age and
time； is led to receive him into communion。 For fate which has
ordained that there shall be no friendship among the evil has also
ordained that there shall ever be friendship among the good。 And the
beloved when he has received him into communion and intimacy； is quite
amazed at the good…will of the lover； he recognises that the
inspired friend is worth all other friends or kinsmen； they have
nothing of friendship in them worthy to be compared with his。 And when
his feeling continues and he is nearer to him and embraces him； in
gymnastic exercises and at other times of meeting； then the fountain
of that stream； which Zeus when he was in love with Ganymede named
Desire； overflows upon the lover； and some enters into his soul； and
some when he is filled flows out again； and as a breeze or an echo
rebounds from the smooth rocks and returns whence it came； so does the
stream of beauty； passing through the eyes which are the windows of
the soul； come back to the beautiful one； there arriving and
quickening the passages of the wings； watering。 them and inclining
them to grow； and filling the soul of the beloved also with love。
And thus he loves； but he knows not what； he does not understand and
cannot explain his own state； he appears to have caught the
infection of blindness from another； the lover is his mirror in whom
he is beholding himself； but he is not aware of this。 When he is
with the lover； both cease from their pain； but when he is away then
he longs as he is longed for； and has love's image； love for love
（Anteros） lodging in his breast； which he calls and believes to be not
love but friendship only； and his desire is as the desire of the
other； but weaker； he wants to see him； touch him； kiss him； embrace
him； and probably not long afterwards his desire is accomplished。 When
they meet； the wanton steed of the lover has a word to say to the
charioteer； he would like to have a little pleasure in return for many
pains； but the wanton steed of the beloved says not a word； for he
is bursting with passion which he understands not；…he throws his
arms round the lover and embraces him as his dearest friend； and； when
they are side by side； he is not in it state in which he can refuse
the lover anything； if he ask him； although his fellow…steed and the
charioteer oppose him with the arguments of shame and reason。
After this their happiness depends upon their self…control； if the
better elements of the mind which lead to order and philosophy
prevail； then they pass their life here in happiness and
harmony…masters of themselves and orderly…enslaving the vicious and
emancipating the virtuous elements of the soul； and when the end
comes； they are light and winged for flight； having conquered in one
of the three heavenly or truly Olympian victories； nor can human
discipline or divine inspiration confer any greater blessing on man
than this。 If； on the other hand； they leave philosophy and lead the
lower life of ambition； then probably； after wine or in some other
careless hour； the two wanton animals take the two souls when off
their guard and bring them together； and they accomplish that desire
of their hearts which to the many is bliss； and this having once
enjoyed they continue to enjoy； yet rarely because they have not the
approval of the whole soul。 They too are dear； but not so dear to
one another as the others； either at the time of their love or
afterwards。 They consider that they have given and taken from each
other the most sacred pledges； and they may not break them and fall
into enmity。 At last they pass out of the body； unwinged； but eager to
soar； and thus obtain no mean reward of love and madness。 For those
who have once begun the heavenward pilgrimage may not go down again to
darkness and the journey beneath the earth； but they live in light
always； happy companions in their pilgrimage； and when the time
comes at which they receive their wings they have the same plumage
because of their love。
Thus great are the hea