R. G. Bury, The Symposium of Plato

λιπὼν τάξιν ἢ ὅπλα ἀποβαλών. “The principal military offences at Athens were dealt with by one law. A citizen was liable to indictment, and, if convicted, to disfranchisement for (1) Failure to join the army—ἀστρατείας: (2) Cowardice in battle—δειλίας: (3) Desertion of his post—λιποταξίου: (4) Desertion from the army—λιποστρατίου. Of these terms, λιποταξίου was that used in the widest sense, and might include any of the others” (Smith, D. A. I. 212^{b}). Cp. Rep. 468 A, Laws 943 D ff., and the compounds ῥίψασπις (Laws 944 B, C; Ar. Vesp. 19), ἀσπιδαποβλής (Vesp. 592). The conduct of the ideal ἐραστής on such an occasion is shown in 220 E infra.

κινδυνεύοντι. For the sing. dat. referring to παιδικοῖς, cp. Phaedrus 239 A, and 184 D infra. After κινδυνεύοντι we should expect the sentence to conclude with οὐδεὶς τολμῴη ἂν or the like: the fact that a new ending is substituted may be regarded (with Ast) as due to the agitation (real or pretended) of the speaker “vom furor eroticus ergriffen.”

ἔνθεον πρὸς ἀρετήν. For ἔνθεος, “god-inhabited,” “inspired,” cp. Ion 533 E ἔνθεοι ὄντες καὶ κατεχόμενοι: ibid. 534 B and below, 180 B. φύσει, denoting “natural” temper, is here opposed to this supervenient grace. For the thought cp. Spenser (H. to Love), “(The lover) dreads no danger, nor misfortune feares...Thou cariest him to that which he hath eyde Through seas, through flames, through thousand swords and speares.”