Plato, Republic 329 b = T 80a Radt
καὶ δὴ καὶ Σοφοκλεῖ ποτε τῶι ποιητῆι παρεγενόμην ἐρωτωμένωι ὑπό τινος· “πῶς,” ἔφη, “ὦ Σοφόκλεις, ἔχεις πρὸς τἀφροδίσια; ἔτι οἷός τε εἶ γυναικὶ συγγίγνεσθαι;” καὶ ὅς “εὐφήμει,” ἔφη, “ὦ ἄνθρωπε· ἀσμενέστατα μέντοι αὐτὸ ἀπέφυγον, ὥσπερ λυττῶντά τινα καὶ ἄγριον δεσπότην ἀποφυγών.” εὖ οὖν μοι καὶ τότε ἔδοξεν ἐκεῖνος εἰπεῖν, καὶ νῦν οὖχ ἧττον.
In particular, I was once with the poet Sophocles when someone asked him, ‘how are you these days with regard to love-matters, Sophocles; are you still capable of having sex with a woman?’ He replied, ‘hush, gentleman. I have escaped it very gladly, like someone who has escaped from a raving and savage master.’ At that time I thought that he had spoken well, and I still think so, even now.
| Relevant guides | Sophocles |
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