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That is quite true （he answered）。
Hiero。 Then have you ever noticed that crowned heads display more
pleasure in attacking the bill of fare provided them； than private
persons theirs？
No； rather the reverse （the poet answered）； if anything； they show a
less degree of gusto；＇27＇ unless they are vastly libelled。
＇27＇ 〃No； not more pleasure； but exceptional fastidiousness； if what
people say is true。〃 ｛agleukesteron｝； said ap。 Suid。 to be a
Sicilian word = 〃more sourly。〃
Well （Hiero continued）； and all these wonderfully…made dishes which
are set before the tyrant； or nine…tenths of them； perhaps you have
observed； are combinations of things acid to the taste； or pungent； or
astringent； or akin to these？＇28＇
＇28＇ Lit。 〃and their congeners；〃 〃their analogues；〃 e。g。 〃curries；
pickles； bitters； peppery condiments。〃
To be sure they are （he answered）； unnatural viands； one and all； in
my opinion； most alien to ordinary palates。＇29＇
＇29＇ Or； 〃unsuited to man's taste；〃 〃'caviare to the general' I name
them。〃
Hiero。 In fact； these condiments can only be regarded as the
cravings＇30＇ of a stomach weakened by luxurious living； since I am
quite sure that keen appetites （and you； I fancy； know it well too）
have not the slightest need for all these delicate made things。
＇30＇ Cf。 Plat。 〃Laws；〃 687 C； 〃Hipp。〃 ii。 44。 Lit。 〃can you in fact
regard these condiments as other than 。 。 。〃 See Holden ad loc。
（ed。 1888）； Hartm。 op。 cit。 p。 259； suggests ｛enthumemata｝；
〃inventions。〃
It is true； at any rate （observed Simonides）； about those costly
perfumes； with which your persons are anointed； that your neighbours
rather than yourselves extract enjoyment from them； just as the
unpleasant odour of some meats is not so obvious to the eater as to
those who come in contact with him。
Hiero。 Good； and on this principle we say of meats； that he who is
provided with all sorts on all occasions brings no appetite to any of
them。 He rather to whom these things are rarities； that is the man
who； when some unfamiliar thing is put before him； will take his fill
of it with pleasure。＇31＇
＇31＇ ｛meta kharas｝。 Cf。 Aesch。 Fr。 237； ｛stomatos en prote khara｝； of
a hungry man； 〃Od。〃 xvii。 603。
It looks very much （interposed Simonides） as if the sole pleasure left
you to explain the vulgar ambition to wear a crown； must be that named
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；
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＇
＇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。