ὅσοι μὲν οὖν τῶν ἀνδρῶν τοῦ κοινοῦ τμῆμά εἰσιν , ὃ δὴ τότε ἀνδρόγυνον ἐκαλεῖτο , φιλογύναικές τέ εἰσι καὶ οἱ πολλοὶ τῶν μοιχῶν ἐκ τούτου τοῦ γένους γεγόνασιν , καὶ ὅσαι αὖ γυναῖκες φίλανδροί τε καὶ μοιχεύτριαι ἐκ τούτου τοῦ γένους γίγνονται . ὅσαι δὲ τῶν γυναικῶν γυναικὸς τμῆμά εἰσιν , οὐ πάνυ αὗται τοῖς ἀνδράσι τὸν νοῦν προσέχουσιν , ἀλλὰ μᾶλλον πρὸς τὰς γυναῖκας τετραμμέναι εἰσί , καὶ αἱ ἑταιρίστριαι ἐκ τούτου τοῦ γένους γίγνονται . ὅσοι δὲ ἄρρενος τμῆμά εἰσι , τὰ ἄρρενα διώκουσι , καὶ τέως μὲν ἂν παῖδες ὦσιν , ἅτε τεμάχια ὄντα τοῦ ἄρρενος , φιλοῦσι τοὺς ἄνδρας καὶ χαίρουσι συγκατακείμενοι καὶ συμπεπλεγμένοι τοῖς ἀνδράσι , καί εἰσιν οὗτοι βέλτιστοι τῶν παίδων καὶ μειρακίων , ἅτε ἀνδρειότατοι ὄντες φύσει .

Φασὶ δὲ δή τινες αὐτοὺς ἀναισχύντους εἶναι , ψευδόμενοι · οὐ γὰρ ὑπ’ ἀναισχυντίας τοῦτο δρῶσιν ἀλλ’ ὑπὸ θάρρους καὶ ἀνδρείας καὶ ἀρρενωπίας , τὸ ὅμοιον αὐτοῖς ἀσπαζόμενοι . μέγα δὲ τεκμήριον · καὶ γὰρ τελεωθέντες μόνοι ἀποβαίνουσιν εἰς τὰ πολιτικὰ ἄνδρες οἱ τοιοῦτοι . ἐπειδὰν δὲ ἀνδρωθῶσι , παιδεραστοῦσι καὶ πρὸς γάμους καὶ παιδοποιίας οὐ προσέχουσι τὸν νοῦν φύσει , ἀλλ’ ὑπὸ τοῦ νόμου ἀναγκάζονται · ἀλλ’ ἐξαρκεῖ αὐτοῖς μετ’ ἀλλήλων καταζῆν ἀγάμοις . πάντως μὲν οὖν ὁ τοιοῦτος παιδεραστής τε καὶ φιλεραστὴς γίγνεται , ἀεὶ τὸ συγγενὲς ἀσπαζόμενος . ὅταν μὲν οὖν καὶ αὐτῷ ἐκείνῳ ἐντύχῃ τῷ αὑτοῦ ἡμίσει καὶ ὁ παιδεραστὴς καὶ ἄλλος πᾶς , τότε καὶ θαυμαστὰ ἐκπλήττονται φιλίᾳ τε καὶ οἰκειότητι καὶ ἔρωτι , οὐκ ἐθέλοντες ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν χωρίζεσθαι ἀλλήλων οὐδὲ σμικρὸν χρόνον .

Those who are a section of what was formerly one man and woman , are lovers of the female sex , and most of the adulterers , and those women who fall in love with men and intrigue with them , belong to this species . Those women who are a section of what in its unity contained two women , are not much attracted by the male sex , but have their inclinations principally engaged by their own . And those who become adulteresses with female partners belong to this division . Those who are a section of what in the beginning was entirely male seek the society of males ; and before they arrive at manhood , such being portions of what was masculine , are delighted with the intercourse and familiarity of men . These are the youths who , being of a more manly nature , promise the fairest harvest of future excellence .

Some attach to them the reproach of libertinism and immodesty , but without justice ; for they do not seek an intercourse with men from any immodesty but from the impulses of a generous , aspiring and manly nature . A great proof of which is that such alone ever attain to political power . When they arrive at manhood they still only associate with those of their own sex ; and they never engage in marriage and the propagation of the species from sensual desire but only in obedience to the laws . It would be sufficient to them if they lived forever unmarried in the mutual society of their equals . Such as I have described is ever an affectionate lover and a faithful friend , delighting in that which is in conformity with his own nature . Whenever , therefore , any such as I have described are impetuously struck , through the sentiment of their former union , with love and desire and the want of community , they are ever unwilling to be divided even for a moment .

Now all who are the men’s slice from the common genus , which was then called androgynous , are lovers of women ; and many adulterers have been of this genus ; and , in turn , all who are women of this genus prove to be lovers of men and adulteresses . And all women who are sliced off from woman hardly pay attention to men but are rather turned toward women , and lesbians arise from this genus . But all who are male slices pursue the males ; and while they are boys—because they are cutlets of the male—they are friendly to men and enjoy lying down together with and embracing men ; and these are the best of boys and lads , because they are naturally the manliest .

Some , to be sure , assert that such boys are shameless , but they lie . For it is not out of shamelessness that they do this but out of boldness , manliness , and masculinity , feeling affection for what is like to themselves . And there is a great proof of this , for once they have reached maturity , only men of this kind go off to political affairs . When they are fully grown men , they are pederasts and naturally pay no attention to marriage and procreation , but are compelled to do so by the law ; whereas they would be content to live unmarried with one another . Now it is one of this sort who wholly becomes a pederast and passionate lover , always feeling affection for what is akin to himself . And when the pederast or anyone else meets with that very one who is his own half , then they are wondrously struck with friendship , attachment , and love , and are just about unwilling to be apart from one another even for a short time .