THESEUS
Pirithous
was
able to help me by devising a plan stamped with all his
fertile ingenuity. Meanwhile our stay in the island
was
dragging on,
though both Ariadne and myself were obsessed with the idea of getting
away. But what Ariadne didn't know
was
that I
was
resolved not to
leave without Phaedra. Pirithous knew it, and this is how he helped me.
He had more freedom than !-Ariadne stuck to me like a ball–
and-chain-and he passed his leisure in the study and observation of
the customs of the island. "I think," he said to me one morning, "that
I've got just what we want. You know that Minos and Rhadamanthus,
those two model legislators, have drawn up a code of morals for the
island, paying particular attention to pederasty. As you know, too, the
Cretans are especially prone to this, as is evident from their culture. So
much so, in fact, that every adolescent who reaches manhood without
having been chosen by some older admirer becomes ashamed, and re–
gards his neglect as dishonorable; for if he is good-looking people gen–
erally conclude that some vice of heart or mind must be the cause.
Young Glaucus, the son of Minos, who is Phaedra's absolute double,
confided to me his anxiety in this respect. His friendless state causes him
much distress. I made the vain suggestion that no doubt his princely
rank has discouraged his admirers; he replied that this, though possible
did not make his position in any way less painful, and that people ought
to realize that it was also a grief to Minos; and that Minos as a rule
disregards all distinctions of rank and position. All the same, he would
certainly be flattered
if
an eminent prince like yourself were to be kind
enough to take an interest in his son. It occurred to me that Ariadne,
who shows herself so importunately jealous of her sister, would have
no such feelings about her brother. There is hardly a single instance of
a woman taking serious notice of the love of a man for a boy; in any
case, she would think it unbecoming to show resentment. You need have
no fear on that score."
"What!" I shouted, "Can you think that fear would ever stop
me? But although I am a Greek, I do not feel myself drawn in any
way towards people of my own sex, however young and attractive they
may be. In this I differ from Hercules, and would gladly let him keep
his Hylas. Your Glaucus may be like my Phaedra, but it is she whom
I desire, not he."
"You haven't grasped what I mean,'.' he resumed, "I'm not sug–
gesting you should take Glaucus in her place, but simply that you should
pretend to take him, in order to deceive Ariadne and let her believe, like
everybody else, that Phaedra, whom you are carrying off, is Glaucus. Now
listen, and follow me carefully. One of the customs of the island, and one
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