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. For I know
not any greater blessing to a young man who is beginning life than a
virtuous lover, or to the lover than a beloved youth. For the principle
which ought to be the guide of men who would nobly live--that principle, I
say, neither kindred, nor honour, nor wealth, nor any other motive is able
to implant so well as love. Of what am I speaking? Of the sense of honour
and dishonour, without which neither states nor individuals ever do any
good or great work. And I say that a lover who is detected in doing any
dishonourable act, or submitting through cowardice when any dishonour is
done to him by another, will be more pained at being detected by his
beloved than at being seen by his father, or by his companions, or by any
one else. The beloved too, when he is found in any disgraceful situation,
has the same feeling about his lover. And if there were only some way of
contriving that a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their
loves (compare Rep.), they would be the very best governors of their own
city, abstaining from all dishonour, and emulating one another in honour;
and when fighting at each other's side, although a mere handful, they would
overcome the world. For what lover would not choose rather to be seen by
all mankind than by his beloved, either when abandoning his post or
throwing away his arms? He would be ready to die a thousand deaths rather
than endure this. Or who would desert his beloved or fail him in the hour
of danger? The veriest coward would become an inspired hero, equal to the
bravest, at such a time; Love would inspire him. That courage which, as
Homer says, the god breathes into the souls of some heroes, Love of his own
nature infuses into the lover.

Love will make men dare to die for their beloved--love alone; and women as