Source edition
Lucian, Vol. 4. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1925 (printing).
Source data
Perseus Digital Library · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
This work is a dialogue in which Lycinus, the author's alter ego, defends the lavish praises he bestowed upon a woman in a previous work. His friend Polystratus reports that the noble woman, Panthea, has rejected the descriptions comparing her to goddesses as impious and flattering, demanding a revision. In response, Lycinus undertakes his defense, drawing a clear distinction between servile flattery and genuine praise that elevates the subject's true virtues. He argues for the creative freedom of poets and artists to use metaphors and hyperbole, citing classical precedents like Homer. Ultimately, Lycinus justifies his use of divine comparisons as a traditional and respectful literary device, and Polystratus agrees to deliver this defense back to the lady.