Page:Edward Prime-Stevenson - The Intersexes.djvu/69

 the average Greek pedophilist in vigorous and normal life, who repudiated all idea of bodily desire in his passion for a beautiful youth. Socrates cannot be acquitted of just this real and natural sort of similisexual love of the pederastic sort. His admirations and intimacies were not merely psycho-pedophilic: no matter what are specious counter-arguments or such occasional anecdotes as that well-known one by Alcibiades—a tale of dubious sincerity. Indeed much of what is written as "apologetic" and controversive of pederasty in Hellenic temperaments is rhetoric. The pages of Plutarch and of Athenaeus are lavish in instances of the fact that every phase of hellenic society was influenced by the physical passion of the male for the male. Grave political events could turn on such a sentiment, and even valuable national concomitants. In Plutarch's Life of Pelopidas, a considerable account occurs of the celebrated "Sacred Band," originated by Gorgias, exclusively composed of young warriors. Each one was the declared lover of some comrade, his associate in battle or peace, with whom his career and life were indissolubly united in a homosexual emotion, tending toward their mutual advance in bravery and virtue. The story of Aristides specially recognizes the fact that the life-long feud between Aristides and Themistocles took its course because of their early rivalry for the love of a certain youth called Stesilaos of Keos, spoken of "as the most beautiful young man of his time;" for the exclusive possession of whom the two men struggled obstinately. Plutarch says that this Stesilaos "was adored by them both with an affection that passed all bounds." Agesilaos the noble sovereign of Sparta, was highly susceptible to similisexual passions. His relationships to one or another beautiful boy, were famous. We read of his intimacy with Megabetes, the handsome son of Spithridates; of the swift attraction which he exercised on the beautiful young son of Pharnabazus; of his similisexual attitude toward the young king Agesipolis, his ward; indeed of his special