Bern, Burgerbibliothek, Cod. 402

Some lovers fill their hands with flowers or apples.

Clearchus of Soli A student of Aristotle who wrote extensively on eastern cultures and the nature of love. in his work On Matters of Love, asks: why do we carry flowers and apples and such things in our hands? Is it because through the affection for these objects, desire is revealed to those who are in the flower of their youth hōras The Greek word "hōra" refers to both the "season" of the year and the "prime" or "bloom" of a young person’s beauty.? Or is it because these seasonal items original: "ta hōraia" are a kind of image or reflection of their appearance and grace, and so they delight in them? Or is it perhaps as a token of grace that they carry them around? For it happened that they are seen, because through these things their intention becomes perceptible. For these very things presented serve to sketch out that it is through their softness that they are in their bloom, or that these seasonal flowers and fruits belong to them; instead of a mere reputation, the bloom of the body summons those who receive them. Or perhaps they possess the beauty of these things as a consolation, rejoicing in their desires for those in their prime. For they perceive through the breath of these flowers the longing for the beautiful. Or is it for the sake of the adornment around them, and having composed a beautification from the breath of the flowers themselves, they bring these and delight in them? For it is not only visible to the beautiful ones, but the whole effect is completed by the impression of those holding them in their hands. Perhaps it is simply because of a love of beauty. It is a sign of loving beautiful things and being friendly toward the seasonal. For both the autumn fruit and the bloom hōras are beautiful when seen in fruits or flowers. In this way, all lovers take pride in garlands and the seasonal scent for the beautiful ones. Those who see beautiful and seasonal things are competitive about gathering flowers. And Sappho The famous lyric poet from Lesbos. says she saw "a very tender girl gathering flowers."

He is called soft original: "malthakas," a term often implying effeminacy or decadence through luxury..

Clearchus says that Polycrates, the tyrant of Samos A powerful ruler of the 6th century BCE known for his great wealth and eventual downfall., was destroyed because of the lack of restraint in his life, having envied the soft ways of the Lydians. From this, even a temperate city replaced its sweetness with the so-called "Laura" laura A term for a narrow street or alleyway, often denoting a specific district or quarter. established among the Samians. And these Lydian ways drove out everything that once characterized the men of Samos. Of these, the Samian Laura was envied for its "curious" women meaning women of loose or extravagant habits. and for all the foods for enjoyment and lack of restraint, with which it filled Greece. And the "flowers of Samos"—the various beauties among both women and men—were seen throughout the entire city in festivals and drunken revels. Clearchus gives this account; and I myself, among my fellow Alexandrians, know of a certain "Laura" called even until now the "Weaving Quarter," in which everything for luxury was sold.