All men are pregnant, both in body and in soul:
on reaching a certain age our nature yearns to beget.
This it cannot do upon an ugly person, but only on the beautiful:
the conjunction of man and woman is a begetting for both.
It is a divine affair, this engendering and bringing to birth,
an immortal element in the creature that is mortal;
and it cannot occur in the discordant.
The ugly is discordant with whatever is divine, 
whereas the beautiful is accordant.
Eros: He it is who casts alienation out, draws intimacy in;
he contrives politeness, outdrives moroseness;
he is kind giver of amity, giving no enmity;
he is gracious, superb; 
a marvel to the wise, a delight to the gods.
Eros is enviable by those without lot, 
but obtainable by those who are well-endowed by fortune;
he is father of luxury, tenderness, elegance, 
graces and longing and yearning;
he is careful of the good, careless of the bad;
in toil, in fear, in desire, in thought ...
he is  boatswain, supporter and best rescuer;
he is therefore ornament of all gods and men
as leader fairest and best.
