symposium   

No one will vote against you, Eryximachus, said Socrates. How can

I oppose your motion, who profess to understand nothing but matters of

love; nor, I presume, will Agathon and Pausanias; and there can be

no doubt of Aristophanes, whose whole concern is with Dionysus and

Aphrodite; nor will any one disagree of those whom I, see around me.

The proposal, as I am aware, may seem rather hard upon us whose

place is last; but we shall be contented if we hear some good speeches

first. Let Phaedrus begin the praise of Love, and good luck to him.

All the company expressed their assent, and desired him to do as

Socrates bade him.

Aristodemus did not recollect all that was said, nor do I

recollect all that he related to me; but I will tell you what I

thought most worthy of remembrance, and what the chief speakers said.

Phaedrus began by affirming that love is a mighty god, and wonderful

among gods and men, but especially wonderful in his birth. For he is

the eldest of the gods, which is an honour to him; and a proof of

his claim to this honour is, that of his parents there is no memorial;

neither poet nor prose-writer has ever affirmed that he had any. As

Hesiod says:



First Chaos came, and then broad-bosomed Earth,

The everlasting seat of all that is,

And Love.



In other words, after Chaos, the Earth and Love, these two, came

into being. Also Parmenides sings of Generation:



First in the train of gods, he fashioned Love.



And Acusilaus agrees with Hesiod. Thus numerous are the witnesses

who acknowledge Love to be the eldest of the gods. And not only is

he the eldest, he is also the source of the greatest benefits to us.