Essays in Portraiture (3-5)

POLYSTRATUS Well, inasmuch as you really and truly behaved like a stone in one way, at least, since you neither followed her nor questioned that Smyrniote, whoever he was, at least sketch her appearance in words as best you can. Perhaps in that way I might recognize her.

LYCINUS Are you aware what you have demanded? It is not in the power of words, not mine, certainly, to call into being a portrait so marvellous, to which hardly Apelles or Zeuxis or Parrhasius would have seemed equal, or even perhaps a Phidias or an Alcamenes. As for me, I shall but dim the lustre of the original by the feebleness of my skill.

POLYSTRATUS Nevertheless, Lycinus, what did she look like? It would not be dangerously bold if you should show your picture to a friend, no matter how well or ill it may be drawn.

LYCINUS But I think I shall act in a way that involves less risk for myself if I call in some of those famous artists of old for the undertaking, to model me a statue of the woman.

POLYSTRATUS What do you mean by that? How can they come to you when they died so many years ago?

LYCINUS Easily, if only you do not refuse to answer me a question or two.

POLYSTRATUS You have but to ask.

LYCINUS Were you ever in Cnidus, Polystratus?

POLYSTRATUS Yes indeed!

LYCINUS Then you certainly saw the Aphrodite there?

POLYSTRATUS Yes, by Zeus! The fairest of the creations of Praxiteles.[*] LYCINUS Well, have you also heard the story that the natives tell about it—that someone fell in love with the statue, was left behind unnoticed in the temple, and embraced it to the best of his endeavours? But no matter about that.[*]_ Since you have seen her, as you say, tell me whether you have also seen the Aphrodite in the Gardens, at Athens, by Alcamenes?[*] POLYSTRATUS Surely I should be the laziest man in all the world

if I had neglected the most beautiful of the sculptures of Alcamenes.

LYCINUS One question, at all events, I shall not ask you, Polystratus—whether you have often gone up to the Acropolis to look at the Sosandra of Calamis?[*] POLYSTRATUS I have often seen that, too.

LYCINUS So far, so good. But among the works of Phidias what did you praise most highly?

POLYSTRATUS What could it be but the Lemnian Athena, on which Phidias deigned actually to inscribe his name?[*] Qh, yes! and the Amazon who leans upon her spear.[*]

LYCINUS These are the most beautiful, my friend, so that we shall not need any other artists. Come now, out of them all I shall make a combination as best I can, and shall display to you a single portrait-statue that comprises whatever is most exquisite in each.

POLYSTRATUS How can that be done?

LYCINUS Nothing hard about it, Polystratus, if from now on we give Master Eloquence a free hand with those statues and allow him to adapt, combine, and unite them as harmoniously as he can, retaining at the same time that composite effect and the variety.

POLYSTRATUS Very well; by all means let him have a free hand and show us his powers, for I am eager to know what he really can do with the statues and how he can combine so many into one without making it discordant.