Sexual life in ancient Greece : with thirty-two full-page plates

MaLeE HOMOSEXUALITY

through two cantos. Like a second Eros, only without wings and quiver, Ampelos appeared to the god as he formerly revealed himself in a forest of Phrygia, and he is excessively happy because of the love which Dionysus shows towards him. There ensues a love idyll, which is painted by the poet in detail and with great beauty. Dionysus has only the one fear, that Zeus may see the boy and carry him off, since he is even more beautiful than Ganymede. Zeus, however, does not begrudge him his happiness, and that in spite of the Greek idea that everything that is beautiful in the world is destined to find a speedy end. In youthful desire for adventure, Ampelos betakes himself to the hunt, laughing at Dionysus with boyish insolence as the god warns him against the wild animals of the wood. ‘Terrified by an evil omen, Dionysus goes after the boy, finds him safe and clasps him in his arms enchanted. But destiny does not slumber; an evil spirit prompts Ampelos to ride against an apparently harmless bull, but the bull suddenly turns on him and throws him off his horse, so that he is fatally hurt and dies.

Dionysus is inconsolable, covers the body of the boy, still beautiful in death, with flowers, and strikes up a touching lament. Afterwards he prays to his father Zeus to recall the loved one to lite only for a short hour that he may hear once more from his lips words of love ; indeed, he curses his immortality, since he cannot now be together with the boy for the whole length of eternity in Hades.

Eros himself takes compassion upon the despair of the mourner’s boundless grief; he appears to him in the form of a satyr, speaks to him affectionately and advises him to end his sorrow by taking a fresh love, “ for,” he says, “ the only remedy for an old love is a new one; look about therefore for a more excellent boy—even as did Zephyrus who, after the death of Hyacinthus,

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