Book 13
14
And Theophrastus, in his book on Love, says that Chseremon the tragedian said in one of his plays, that— As wine adapts itself to the constitution Of those who drink it, so likewise does Love Who, when he's moderately worshipp'd, Is mild and manageable; but if loosed From moderation, then is fierce and troublesome.
14
On which account the same poet afterwards, distinguishing his powers with some felicity, says— For he doth bend a double bow of beauty, And sometimes men to fortune leads, But sometimes overwhelms their lives With trouble and confusion. This is a blunder of Athenaeus; for the passage alluded to is evidently that in the Iphigenia in Aulis of Euripides. The lines as quoted in the text here are— Δίδυμα γὰρ τόξα αὐτὸν Ἐντείνεσθαι χαρίτων Τὸ μὲν ἐπ’ εὐαίωνι τύχᾳ Τὸ δ’ ἐπὶ συγχύσει βιοτᾶς. The passage in Euripides is— Δίδυμ’ ῎ερως ὁ χρυσοκόμας Τόξ’ ἐντείνεται χαρίτων Τό μὲν ἐπ’ εὐαίωνι πότμῳ Τὸ δ’ ἐπὶ συγχύσει βιοτᾶς. —Iph. In Aul. 552.
14
But the same poet also, in his play entitled The Wounded Man, speaks of people in love in this manner:— Who would not say that those who love alone Deserve to be consider'd living men? For first of all they must be skilful soldiers, And able to endure great toil of body, And to stick close to th' objects of their love : They must be active, and inventive too, Eager, and fertile in expedients, And prompt to see their way in difficulties.
