/lit/ - Literature

>>17579759
Read erotic Greek poetry.

>>17521618
the greatest ode is Philostratus's "Letter to a Barefoot Boy." In this case, the subject is his pupil who had recently purchased new sandals which were too tight.
>Your condition is rather delicate, and it’s because, I am sure, your sandal
pinches; new leather, you know, is quite likely to cut into flesh that is tender.
That is why Asclepius readily heals wounds received in war and hunting and
all such accidents, but neglects these others because of the voluntariness of
the action—as due to indiscretion rather than to a god’s capricious malevolence. Why then don’t you walk barefoot? What grudge have you against the
earth? Slippers and sandals and top-boots and shoes are for the wearing of
invalids or the aged. Philoctetes, at any rate, is pictured in such protective
garb—because he was lame and ill. But the philosopher from Sinope and the
Theban Crates and Ajax and Achilles are pictured as wearing no shoes, and
Jason as wearing but one. For the story goes that, when Jason was crossing
the Anaurus River, one boot was caught by the mud and held fast under the
stream, and so he had one bare foot—not that he deliberately chose to have,
but that chance taught him what was best; and he went his way the victim of
a salutary robbery. Let nothing come between the earth and your bare foot.
Fear not, the dust will welcome your tread as it would welcome grass, and
we shall all kiss your footprints. Ο perfect lines of feet most dearly loved! Ο
flowers new and strange! Ο plants sprung from earth! Ο kiss left lying on the
ground!