symposium   

conceptions?-wisdom and virtue in general. And such creators are poets

and all artists who are deserving of the name inventor. But the

greatest and fairest sort of wisdom by far is that which is

concerned with the ordering of states and families, and which is

called temperance and justice. And he who in youth has the seed of

these implanted in him and is himself inspired, when he comes to

maturity desires to beget and generate. He wanders about seeking

beauty that he may beget offspring-for in deformity he will beget

nothing-and naturally embraces the beautiful rather than the

deformed body; above all when he finds fair and noble and

well-nurtured soul, he embraces the two in one person, and to such

an one he is full of speech about virtue and the nature and pursuits

of a good man; and he tries to educate him; and at the touch of the

beautiful which is ever present to his memory, even when absent, he

brings forth that which he had conceived long before, and in company

with him tends that which he brings forth; and they are married by a

far nearer tie and have a closer friendship than those who beget

mortal children, for the children who are their common offspring are

fairer and more immortal. Who, when he thinks of Homer and Hesiod

and other great poets, would not rather have their children than

ordinary human ones? Who would not emulate them in the creation of

children such as theirs, which have preserved their memory and given

them everlasting glory? Or who would not have such children as

Lycurgus left behind him to be the saviours, not only of Lacedaemon,

but of Hellas, as one may say? There is Solon, too, who is the revered

father of Athenian laws; and many others there are in many other

places, both among hellenes and barbarians, who have given to the

world many noble works, and have been the parents of virtue of every

kind; and many temples have been raised in their honour for the sake

of children such as theirs; which were never raised in honour of any

one, for the sake of his mortal children.

"These are the lesser mysteries of love, into which even you,