Book 4, Chapter 33

70 “But let us allow the poets their play: in their stories we see Jupiter himself involved in this disgrace. Let us come to the philosophers, the teachers of virtue, who deny that love aims at sexual misconduct and on that point quarrel with Epicurus, who, in my opinion, is not far from the truth. What is this love of friendship? Why does no one love an ugly youth or a handsome old man? This custom seems to me to have originated in the Greek gymnasia, where loves of this kind are freely permitted. Ennius was right, then:

“‘Disgrace begins with baring bodies among fellow citizens.’

“Even if these lovers are chaste, as I see they can be, they are still troubled and anxious, all the more because they restrain and check themselves.

71 “To pass over love for women, to which nature has granted greater freedom, who can doubt what the poets mean by the rape of Ganymede, or fail to understand what Laius says and desires in Euripides? And what do the most learned men and greatest poets publish about themselves in their poems and songs? What Alcaeus, known in his own commonwealth as a courageous man, writes about love for young men! As for Anacreon, all his poetry is of love. The writings of Ibycus of Rhegium show that he burned with love more than any of them.”

70 “Leave the poets to their games: their tales involve Jupiter himself in this disgrace, as we see. Now for the philosophers, our teachers of virtue. They insist love isn’t a matter of illicit sex. In their dispute with Epicurus on this point, I think he’s telling little that’s untrue. What sort of love is this supposed friendship-love? Why is an ugly youth never its object, nor a good-looking old man? I suspect the practice began in Greece’s gymnasiums, where these affairs have freedom and permission. Ennius puts it well: “‘Stripping in front of fellow citizens is where disgrace starts.’ “They may remain chaste—I recognize that possibility—but they still have worry and anxiety. Indeed, holding back and restraining themselves makes these worse.

71 “I’ll leave aside love affairs with women, to which nature has allowed more freedom. Does anyone mistake the poets’ meaning in Ganymede’s kidnapping? Is anyone unclear about Laius’ words and desires in Euripides? Look, too, at what the finest poets, men of the greatest learning, disclose about themselves in their poems and songs. Alcaeus was known at home as a courageous man: just consider his writing on love for youths! Anacreon devotes his whole poetry to love. The writings of Ibycus from Rhegium reveal a love burning hotter than any of theirs.”