Death in Venice - Mil Folhas Collection 27

“And between gentle words and witty graces, Socrates taught Phaedrus about desire and virtue. He spoke to him of the burning awe that assails the sensitive man when his eyes glimpse a likeness of eternal beauty: he spoke to him of the avidity of the impious and vile man, incapable of conceiving beauty when seeing its image, incapable of veneration; he spoke of the sacred fear that invades the noble man when he beholds a divine face, a perfect body – how he then trembles and is beside himself, scarcely daring to look, and how he venerates him who is beautiful, yes, how he would offer himself in sacrifice to this idol, if he did not fear appearing ridiculous in the eyes of men.”