Essays in Portraiture Defended (26-29)

Moreover, he not only compares human beings with gods, but likens the long hair of Euphorbus to

As far as personal appearance is concerned, it signifies comparatively little if one is said to be like a god. But how many there are who have copied the very names of the gods, calling themselves Dionysius, Hephaestion, Zeno, Poseidonius, Hermes! And there was a Leto, the wife of Evagoras, king of Cyprus; yet the goddess did not take on about it, though she might have turned her into stone as she did Niobe. The Egyptians I forbear to mention, who, though the most superstitious people in the world, yet use the names of the gods to their hearts’ content; in fact, most of their names are derived from Heaven.

It is not incumbent upon you, then, to be thus timorous in respect of praise. If any offence at all has been perpetrated against divinity in that essay, you are not accountable for it—unless you think that to listen makes one accountable; it is I whom

Although I might say much more to you, I shall stop for the sake of Polystratus here, so that he may be able to repeat from memory what has been said.

POLYSTRATUS I don’t know if that is any longer possible for me, Lycinus. Even as it is, you have made a long speech, far beyond your allowance of water. But I shall try to remember it all the same; and, as you see, I am already making off to her with my ears stopped for fear that something else may pop in to confuse its outline, and then I may have the bad luck to be hissed by my hearers!

LYCINUS That is your concern, Polystratus, to act your part to the best advantage. As for me, now that I have once for all put the play into your hands, I shall withdraw for the present; but when they announce the votes of the judges, I shall be there in person to see what will be the outcome of the contest.