symposium-第5节
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of diseases on animals and plants； for hoar…frost and hail and blight spring from the excesses and disorders of these elements of love； which to know in relation to the revolutions of the heavenly bodies and the seasons of the year is termed astronomy。 Furthermore all sacrifices and the whole province of divination； which is the art of communion between gods and men…these； I say； are concerned with the preservation of the good and the cure of the evil love。 For all manner of impiety is likely to ensue if； instead of accepting and honouring and reverencing the harmonious love in all his actions； a man honours the other love； whether in his feelings towards gods or parents； towards the living or the dead。 Wherefore the business of divination is to see to these loves and to heal them； and divination is the peacemaker of gods and men； working by a knowledge of the religious or irreligious tendencies which exist in human loves。 Such is the great and mighty； or rather omnipotent force of love in general。 And the love； more especially； which is concerned with the good； and which is perfected in company with temperance and justice； whether among gods or men； has the greatest power； and is the source of all our happiness and harmony； and makes us friends with the gods who are above us； and with one another。 I dare say that I too have omitted several things which might be said in praise of Love； but this was not intentional； and you； Aristophanes； may now supply the omission or take some other line of commendation； for I perceive that you are rid of the hiccough。 Yes； said Aristophanes； who followed； the hiccough is gone； not； however； until I applied the sneezing； and I wonder whether the harmony of the body has a love of such noises and ticklings； for I no sooner applied the sneezing than I was cured。 Eryximachus said： Beware； friend Aristophanes； although you are going to speak； you are making fun of me； and I shall have to watch and see whether I cannot have a laugh at your expense； when you might speak in peace。 You are right； said Aristophanes； laughing。 I will unsay my words； but do you please not to watch me； as I fear that in the speech which I am about to make； instead of others laughing with me； which is to the manner born of our muse and would be all the better； I shall only be laughed at by them。 Do you expect to shoot your bolt and escape； Aristophanes？ Well； perhaps if you are very careful and bear in mind that you will be called to account； I may be induced to let you off。 Aristophanes professed to open another vein of discourse； he had a mind to praise Love in another way； unlike that either of Pausanias or Eryximachus。 Mankind； he said； judging by their neglect of him； have never； as I think； at all understood the power of Love。 For if they had understood him they would surely have built noble temples and altars； and offered solemn sacrifices in his honour； but this is not done； and most certainly ought to be done： since of all the gods he is the best friend of men； the helper and the healer of the ills which are the great impediment to the happiness of the race。 I will try to describe his power to you； and you shall teach the rest of the world what I am teaching you。 In the first place； let me treat of the nature of man and what has happened to it； for the original human nature was not like the present； but different。 The sexes were not two as they are now； but originally three in number； there was man； woman； and the union of the two； having a name corresponding to this double nature； which had once a real existence； but is now lost； and the word 〃Androgynous〃 is only preserved as a term of reproach。 In the second place； the primeval man was round； his back and sides forming a circle； and he had four hands and four feet； one head with two faces； looking opposite ways； set on a round neck and precisely alike； also four ears； two privy members； and the remainder to correspond。 He could walk upright as men now do； backwards or forwards as he pleased； and he could also roll over and over at a great pace； turning on his four hands and four feet； eight in all； like tumblers going over and over with their legs in the air； this was when he wanted to run fast。 Now the sexes were three； and such as I have described them； because the sun； moon； and earth are three；…and the man was originally the child of the sun； the woman of the earth； and the man…woman of the moon； which is made up of sun and earth； and they were all round and moved round and round： like their parents。 Terrible was their might and strength； and the thoughts of their hearts were great； and they made an attack upon the gods； of them is told the tale of Otys and Ephialtes who； as Homer says； dared to scale heaven； and would have laid hands upon the gods。 Doubt reigned in the celestial councils。 Should they kill them and annihilate the race with thunderbolts； as they had done the giants； then there would be an end of the sacrifices and worship which men offered to them； but； on the other hand； the gods could not suffer their insolence to be unrestrained。 At last； after a good deal of reflection； Zeus discovered a way。 He said： 〃Methinks I have a plan which will humble their pride and improve their manners； men shall continue to exist； but I will cut them in two and then they will be diminished in strength and increased in numbers； this will have the advantage of making them more profitable to us。 They shall walk upright on two legs； and if they continue insolent and will not be quiet； I will split them again and they shall hop about on a single leg。〃 He spoke and cut men in two； like a sorb…apple which is halved for pickling； or as you might divide an egg with a hair； and as he cut them one after another； he bade Apollo give the face and the half of the neck a turn in order that the man might contemplate the section of himself： he would thus learn a lesson of humility。 Apollo was also bidden to heal their wounds and compose their forms。 So he gave a turn to the face and pulled the skin from the sides all over that which in our language is called the belly； like the purses which draw in； and he made one mouth at the centre； which he fastened in a knot （the same which is called the navel）； he also moulded the breast and took out most of the wrinkles； much as a shoemaker might smooth leather upon a last； he left a few； however； in the region of the belly and navel； as a memorial of the primeval state。 After the division the two parts of man； each desiring his other half； came together； and throwing their arms about one another； entwined in mutual embraces； longing to grow into one； they were on the point of dying from hunger and
self…neglect； because they did not like to do anything apart； and when one of the halves died and the other survived； the survivor sought another mate； man or woman as we call them； being the sections of entire men or women； and clung to that。 They were being destroyed； when Zeus in pity of them invented a new plan： he turned the parts of generation round to the front； for this had not been always their position and they sowed the seed no longer as hitherto like grasshoppers in the ground； but in one another； and after the transposition the male generated in the female in order that by the mutual embraces of man and woman they might breed； and the race might continue； or if man came to man they might be satisfied； and rest； and go their ways to the business of life： so ancient is the desire of one another which is implanted in us； reuniting our original nature； making one of two； and healing the state of man。 Each of us when separated； having one side only； like a flat fish； is but the indenture of a man； and he is always looking for his other half。 Men who are a section of that double nature which was once called Androgynous are lovers of women； adulterers are generally of this breed； and also adulterous women who lust after men： the women who are a section of the woman do not care for men； but have female attachments； the female companions are of this sort。 But they who are a section of the male follow the male； and while they are young； being slices of the original man； they hang about men and embrace them； and they are themselves the best of boys and youths； because they have the most manly nature。 Some indeed assert that they are shameless； but this is not true； for they do not act thus from any want of shame； but because they are valiant and manly； and have a manly countenance； and they embrace that which is like them。 And these when they grow up become our statesmen； and these only； which is a great proof of the truth of what I am saving。 When they reach manhood they are loves of youth； and are not naturally inclined to marry or beget children；…if at all； they do so only in obedience to the law； but they are satisfied if they may be allowed to live with one another unwedded； and such a nature is prone to love and ready to return love； always embracing that which is akin to him。 And when one of them meets with his other half； the actual half of himself； whether he be a lover of youth or a lover of another sort； the pair are lost in an amazement of love and friendship and intimacy； and would not be out of the other's sight； as I m
