Dialogue
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
so that there is much more hope
among the many
of there happening to be
one worthy of your friendship (philia)
// 231δ
ὥστε πολὺ πλείων ἐλπὶς ἐν τοῖς πολλοῖς ὄντα τυχεῖν τὸν ἄξιον τῆς σῆς φιλίας
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
whereas if from the others
(you wanted to take
the one) most fitting (epitedeios) for you
(your selection would be) from many
// 231δ
εἰ δ᾽ ἐκ τῶν ἄλλων τὸν σαυτῷ ἐπιτηδειότατον ἐκ πολλῶν
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
and so then if
from lovers (eran)
you wanted to take the best
your selection would be from few
// 231δ
καὶ μὲν δὴ εἰ μὲν ἐκ τῶν ἐρώντων τὸν βέλτιστον αἱροῖο ἐξ ὀλίγων ἄν σοι ἡ ἔκλεξις εἴη
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
so how then
when understanding (phroneein) well
would they (still) suppose these to hold beautifully (kalos echein)
about which
being affected (dia-keimai) in this way
they deliberate? (bouleuein)
// 231δ
ὥστε πῶς ἂν εὖ φρονήσαντες ταῦτα καλῶς ἔχειν ἡγήσαιντο περὶ ὧν οὕτω διακείμενοι βουλεύονται
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
and know (eidenai)
that they are understanding (phroneein)
badly (kakos)
but don’t have power (dunamai)
to rule themselves (kratein)
// 231δ
καὶ εἰδέναι ὅτι κακῶς φρονοῦσιν ἀλλ᾽ οὐ δύνασθαι αὑτῶν κρατεῖν
//
my pretty ear
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
for they themselves agree (homo-logein)
they are sick (nosein)
more than of sound mind (sophronein)
// 231δ
καὶ γὰρ αὐτοὶ ὁμολογοῦσι νοσεῖν μᾶλλον ἢ σωφρονεῖν
//
alt title “juicy fast”
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
which none would attempt (epi-cheirein)
even being experienced (empeiros)
to turn away (apotrepein)
// 231δ
ἣν οὐδ᾽ ἂν ἐπιχειρήσειεν οὐδεὶς ἔμπειρος ὢν ἀποτρέπειν
//
previously i wrote a poem called “Δ” that performed my severance with social media; it was also a faceoff between monsters (?); i wont link it because i havent read it in a while but the search button usually works
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
and further
how is it likely (a good idea) (eikos)
to give over such a deed (pragma)
to one having (echein)
such a mishap (sumphora)
// 231ξ
καίτοι πῶς εἰκός ἐστι τοιοῦτον πρᾶγμα προέσθαι τοιαύτην ἔχοντι συμφοράν
//
the implied “mishap” remains erotic love; the “deed” is never specified.
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
that however many
they may later love
they will make more of those
than of these
// 231ξ
ὅτι ὅσων ἂν ὕστερον ἐρασθῶσιν ἐκείνους αὐτῶν περὶ πλείονος ποιήσονται
//
cumin & chili
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
it is easy to know
if they speak the true
// 231ξ
ῥᾴδιον γνῶναι εἰ ἀληθῆ λέγουσιν
//
ἀληθής or alethes is usually translated as “true” but means literally unconcealed or unhidden (a - lethos “concealment”) —
if they speak (the) unhidden
the idea that what is true is what is unhidden is well-matched by Heraclitus fragment B123 —
φύσις κρύπτεσθαι φιλεῖ
nature loves to hide
which is another memorable triple-shot
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
and they are ready
by speeches and deeds
incurring the hatred of others
to please the beloved ones
// 231ξ
καὶ ἕτοιμοί εἰσι καὶ ἐκ τῶν λόγων καὶ ἐκ τῶν ἔργων τοῖς ἄλλοις ἀπεχθανόμενοι τοῖς ἐρωμένοις χαρίζεσθαι
//
black sesame milk
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
that they claim
they most love (philein)
those whom they love (eran)
// 231ξ
ὅτι τούτους μάλιστά φασιν φιλεῖν ὧν ἂν ἐρῶσιν
//
philos and eros
cacao and sea salt
or the dog
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
furthermore, if it is worthy
through this (eros and/or the following argument)
to make (poiein)
lovers (eran)
worth much
// 231β
ἔτι δὲ εἰ διὰ τοῦτο ἄξιον τοὺς ἐρῶντας περὶ πολλοῦ ποιεῖσθαι
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
but to make or do (poiein)
zealously (prothumos)
whatever they suppose
will gratify them (charizomai)
when they have gone through with it (prassein)
// 231β
ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ποιεῖν προθύμως ὅτι ἂν αὐτοῖς οἴωνται πράξαντες χαριεῖσθαι
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
so with such great evils
stripped away
// 231β
ὥστε περιῃρημένων τοσούτων κακῶν
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
nor (do they) place blame
for differences with relations (prosekein)
(through this)
// 231β
οὔτε τὰς πρὸς τοὺς προσήκοντας διαφορὰς αἰτιάσασθαι
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
nor (do they) keep count (hupo-logizomai)
of the troubles (ponos)
that have come and gone (para-erchomai)
(through this)
// 231β
οὔτε τοὺς παρεληλυθότας πόνους ὑπολογίζεσθαι
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
but for the non-loving (me erosin)
the lack of care taken (a-meleia)
for their own things (oikeios)
through this (eros)
is not used as an excuse (prophasizomai)
// 231β
τοῖς δὲ μὴ ἐρῶσιν οὔτε τὴν τῶν οἰκείων ἀμέλειαν διὰ τοῦτο ἔστιν προφασίζεσθαι
//
Phaedrus: (as Lysias, cont.)
they suppose long ago
they have paid back the worth of the grace (charis)
to the beloveds (eromenois, pass. part. of eran)
// 231β
ἡγοῦνται πάλαι τὴν ἀξίαν ἀποδεδωκέναι χάριν τοῖς ἐρωμένοις
//