symposium   

the lover and beloved in contests and trials, until they show to which

of the two classes they respectively belong. And this is the reason

why, in the first place, a hasty attachment is held to be

dishonourable, because time is the true test of this as of most

other things; and secondly there is a dishonour in being overcome by

the love of money, or of wealth, or of political power, whether a

man is frightened into surrender by the loss of them, or, having

experienced the benefits of money and political corruption, is

unable to rise above the seductions of them. For none of these

things are of a permanent or lasting nature; not to mention that no

generous friendship ever sprang from them. There remains, then, only

one way of honourable attachment which custom allows in the beloved,

and this is the way of virtue; for as we admitted that any service

which the lover does to him is not to be accounted flattery or a

dishonour to himself, so the beloved has one way only of voluntary

service which is not dishonourable, and this is virtuous service.

For we have a custom, and according to our custom any one who does

service to another under the idea that he will be improved by him

either in wisdom, or, in some other particular of virtue-such a

voluntary service, I say, is not to be regarded as a dishonour, and is

not open to the charge of flattery. And these two customs, one the

love of youth, and the other the practice of philosophy and virtue

in general, ought to meet in one, and then the beloved may

honourably indulge the lover. For when the lover and beloved come

together, having each of them a law, and the lover thinks that he is

right in doing any service which he can to his gracious loving one;

and the other that he is right in showing any kindness which he can to

him who is making him wise and good; the one capable of

communicating wisdom and virtue, the other seeking to acquire them

with a view to education and wisdom, when the two laws of love are

fulfilled and meet in one-then, and then only, may the beloved yield

with honour to the lover. Nor when love is of this disinterested