2 ?b90

255
oculta" (1,361). Lezama seems to be condemning any frivolous flirtation
with the idea of homosexuality, any biased proselytism of the same, because,
in Fronesis' words, "Es tan extensa la cantidad de sensaciones que se ocul-
tan detr&s del rostro o m4scara de la palabra homosexual
...
" (1,362).
The diversity of physical manifestations of sexuality is further complica-
ted by a certain understanding of the nature of the body, attributed by
Fronesis to the Greeks: "El cuerpo es la permanencia de un oleaje innum. era-
ble, la forma de un recuerdo, es decir, una imagen. En cada hombre esa
imagen repta con mutaciones casi inapresables, pero ese inasible tiene la
medida de su sexualidad" (1,362). If one sees the body as fashioned in
God's image, sexuality can no longer be discussed in merely physical terms
since Man will partake of His spirit. Foci6n is so startled by this no-
tion that his chaotic thoughts break out in a shout of protest: "en el Evaip-
gelio de San Mateo se afirma que tambi4n los eunucos pueden estar en el
paraiso ...
" (1,363). It is almost a cry of despair and lays the founda-
tion for Cemi's later warning speech to Foci6n. The exchange of insults
at this point seems to draw the two characters both mentally and physically
closer. Foci6n becomes more like his friend by his quite humble apology,
whereas Fronesis' rather crude joke and mocking tone ("una cita ...
traida
en una inscripci6n grabada a navaja por las posaderas de un eunuco de la
dinastia de los Colmeno, en Bizancio"; 1,363) appears to reduce him to
Foci6n's level. The close interaction of the characters at this point may
be symbolized in a gesture made by Fronesis towards Foci6n, which seems to
have sexual undertones: "El sudor caliente del cuello de Foci6n se fue ex-
tendiendo como un aguarrAs por el cuenco de la mano de Fronesis" (1,363).
The incident, accompanied by an avowal of friendship, does not necessarily
imply that on the basic level of the plot the two are lovers. It is rather
an indication of a small degree of contact and influence at work between the
polar opposites. Yet they remain separate: "eres tambi4n mi mejor inasible