(82)
Hair and leaves, and thick feathers of birds, and the scales that grow on mighty limbs, are the same thing.
(83)
But the hair of hedgehogs is sharp-pointed and bristles on their backs.
(84)
And even as when a man thinking to sally forth through a stormy night, gets him ready a lantern, a flame of blazing fire, fastening to it horn plates to keep out all manner of winds, and they scatter the blast of the winds that blow, but the light leaping out through them, 5shines across the threshold with unfailing beams, as much of it as is finer;[1] even so did she (Love) then entrap the elemental fire, the round pupil, confined within membranes and delicate tissues, which are pierced through and through with wondrous passages. They keep out the deep water that surrounds the pupil, 10but they let through the fire, as much of it as is finer. R. P. 177 b.
(85)
But the gentle flame (of the eye) has but a scanty portion of earth.
(86)
Out of these divine Aphrodite fashioned unwearying eyes.
(87)
Aphrodite fitting these together with rivets of love.
(88)
One vision is produced by both the eyes.
(89)
Know that effluences flow from all things that have come into being. R. P. 166 h.
- ↑ See Beare, p. 16, n. 1, where Plato, Tim. 45 b 4 (τοῦ πυρὸς ὅσον τὸ μὲν κάειν οὐκ ἔσχεν, τὸ δὲ παρέχειν φῶς ἥμερον) is aptly quoted.
