"The mightiest kings have had their minions;

Great Alexander loved Hephaestion,

The conquering Hercules for Hylas wept;

And for Patroclus, stern Achilles drooped.

And not kings only, but the wisest men:

The Roman Tully loved Octavius,

Grave Socrates, wild Alcibiades."

(da Edward The Second, 1592)

(Christopher Marlowe, soprannominato Kit; Canterbury, febbraio 1564 – Londra, 30 maggio 1593)