[39] i.e. "Eros, the Lord of Passion, must lend his hand." "But," he
proceeds, "the god is coy; he has little liking for the breasts of
kings. He is more likely to be found in the cottage of the peasant
than the king's palace."

But least of all is true love's passion wont to lodge in the hearts of
monarchs, for love delights not to swoop on ready prey; he needs the
lure of expectation.[40]

[40] Or, "even on the heels of hoped-for bliss he follows."

Well then, just as a man who has never tasted thirst can hardly be
said to know the joy of drinking,[41] so he who has never tasted
Passion is ignorant of Aphrodite's sweetest sweets.

[41] Reading with Holden (after H. Steph.) {osper oun an tis . . .} or
with Hartm. (op. cit. p. 259) {osper ouk an tis . . .}

So Hiero ended.

Simonides answered laughingly: How say you, Hiero? What is that?
Love's strong passion for his soul's beloved incapable of springing up
in any monarch's heart? What of your own passion for Dailochus,
surnamed of men "most beautiful"?

Hiero. That is easily explained, Simonides. What I most desire of him
is no ready spoil, as men might reckon it, but rather what it is least
of all the privilege of a tyrant to obtain.[42] I say it truly, I--the
love I bear Dailochus is of this high sort. All that the constitution