Imagines

Lucian of Samosata

Lucian, Vol. 4. Harmon, A. M., editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1925.

LYCINUS Yes, Polystratus, for it is marvellous. But paint more of them.

POLYSTRATUS That of her goodness and loving-kindness, my friend, which will disclose the gentleness of her nature and its graciousness to all those who make demands upon her? Then let her be compared with that Theano who was wife of Antenor,[*](Theano, priestess of Athena in Troy (Iliad 6, 298), brought up Pedacus, her husband's illegitimate child, as if he were her own son (Jliad 5, 69). ) and with Arete,[*](See Odyssey 7, 67 sq. ) and Arete’s daughter Nausicaa, and with any other who in high station behaved with propriety in the face of her good fortune.

Next in order, let her modesty be portrayed, and her love for her consort, in such a way as to be most like the daughter of Icarius, described by

v.4.p.291

Homer as modest and prudent (for that is the way he drew the picture of Penelope); or like her own homonym, the wife of Abradatas, whom we mentioned a little while ago.[*](See page275. ) LYCINUS Once more you have created a very beautiful picture, Polystratus; and now, perhaps, your portraits are finished, for you have traversed all of her soul in praising it part by part.