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Discovering Diverse Content Through
Random Scribd Documents
[8] Saltus hi longe illis dulciorea; habent enim longieris temporis voluptatem.
[9] "Edocta eum ad patrandum non solum fortem esse, verum etiam libidine
turgere, ab reclinatione in latus factâ, ipsum erexit, seque tum perite substernens,
ilium ad viam duci quæsitam direxit; deinde non ultra peregrinum ipsum
circumduxit, ipsa natura, quod porro agendum restabat, docente."
[10] "Jacebit haud secus ac vulnerata, multo manens sanguine.—Verum non est
quod cruorem timeas; sed quando illam persuaseris, ut tibi morem gerat, tunc tu
illam in hunc adducit locum, ubi, si forté clamaverit, nemo audiat, si lacrimata
fuerit, nemo videat, si cruore fœdata fuerit, fonte se abluat."
[11] "cavens, ne vel illa veluti hoste conspecto clamaret, vel tanquam dolore
affecta fleret, vel sanguine fœdaretur tanquam contrucidata. Non ità dudum
namque periculum fecerat ipse, à Methymnæis plagis affectus: ideoque à sanguine
abhorrebat, sanguinemque de solo vulnere sequi opinabatur."
[12] κελευστής,(in Latin, Hortator or Portusculus) an officer in a ship who gave the
signal to the rowers, that they might keep time in rowing. The same name was
also given to the pole or hammer, by the striking of which he regulated the motion
of the oars.
"mediæ stat margine puppis,
Qui voce alternos nautarum temperet ictus,
Et remis dictat sonitum, pariterque relatis
Ad sonitum plaudat resonantia cœrula tonsis."
Silius Italicus, VI. 360.
See Æsch Persæ. 388.
[13] See Ovid, Met. iii. 356, for the legend of Echo and Narcissus.
[14] There is a painting, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, which represents Venus as
chiding Cupid for learning arithmetic.
[15] See Theocritus. Idyll xxvii.
[16]
"This is the prettiest low-born lass, that ever
Ran on the green-sord; nothing she does or seems
But smacks of something greater than herself,
Too noble for this place."—Winter's Tale.
[17] £122 18s. 4d.
[18] Tριβόλος—a corn-drag, consisting of a thick and ponderous wooden board,
armed underneath with pieces of iron, or sharp flints, and drawn over the corn by
a yoke of oxen, either the driver or a heavy weight being placed upon it, for the
purpose of separating the grain and cutting the straw.—Dict. of Greek and Rom.
Antiq. See Virg. Georg. i. 164.
[19] μνᾶσθαι νυμφιόν—the verb μναόμαι is properly employed only with reference
to the woman, signifying to woo to wife.
[20] Lamon appears to have been the ἐπίρoπos, or bailiff upon his master's estate.
[21] Ταρσοὶ—flat wicker baskets for making and stowing away cheeses.
"Ταρσοὶ μὲν τυρῶν βρῖθον."—Odyss. ix. 219.
.... "His strainers hung with cheese
Distended."...—Cowper.
"Ταρσοὶ δ' ὑπερσχθἐες αἰεὶ."—Theoc. Idyll. 37.
"My cheeses fail not in their hurdled row."—Chapman.
A passage in Ovid illustrates the process of cheese-making:—
.... "Veluti concretum vimine querno
Lac solet; utve liquor rari sub pondere cribri
Manat, et exprimitur per densa foramina spissus."
Met. xii. 434
[22]
.... "Is not love a Hercules,
Still climbing trees in the Hesperides?"—Shakspeare.

BOOK IV.

One of Lamon's neighbours, who was a fellow serf under the same
lord, called in his way from Mitylene, and informed him that their
master intended coming just before the vintage, to see whether the
incursion of the Methymnæans had done any damage to his lands.
The summer was now closing, and autumn approaching very fast;
Lamon, therefore, immediately began to put the house in such order
as might, in every respect, please his master's eyes. He cleansed the
fountains, that the water might be pure; carried the manure out of
the yard, that the smell might not be offensive; and trimmed his
garden, that all its beauty might be seen.
His garden was indeed a beautiful one, and laid out in a princely
style. It was situated on high ground, and was five hundred feet in
length, while in breadth it contained four acres, so that one might
have supposed it an extensive plain. In it were all kinds of trees,—
the apple, the myrtle, the pear, the pomegranate, the fig, the olive,
which grew here in perfection. On one side of this garden was a lofty
vine, whose branches, laden with blackening grapes, were
suspended above the apple and pear trees, as if vying with them in
the show of fruit. Such were the cultivated trees. There were also
cypresses, laurels, planes, and pines, over which an ivy instead of a
vine stretched out her branches, with berries in size and colour
resembling grapes.
The fruit-trees occupied the interior space. Those which did not bear
fruit were ranged on the outside, serving the purpose of an artificial
fence; and the whole was inclosed by a slight hedge. All were placed
in a strict and regular order,[1] so that their trunks were perfectly
distinct one from the other, but at a certain height their branches
met, and intermingled their leaves with a regularity which, though
the work of nature, appeared to be the effect of art. Here were also
beds of various flowers, some of which were cultivated plants, and
some the spontaneous production of the soil. The rose bushes,[2]
hyacinths, and lilies had been planted by the hand of man, the
violets, the narcissus, and the pimpernel sprang naturally from the
ground. There was shade for summer, flowers for spring, fruits for
autumn, and for all seasons of the year enjoyment.
From this garden was to be had a fine view of the plains with the
herds and flocks which grazed upon them; as well as of the sea, and
of the ships, as they were sailing along, so that the prospect was no
small portion of the beauty of the place. Exactly in the middle there
was a temple and an altar, dedicated to Bacchus. An ivy encircled
the altar, and a vine extended its branches round the temple; on the
interior the events in the history of the god were represented. The
delivery of Semele, Ariadne sleeping, Lycurgus fettered, Pentheus
torn in pieces,[3] the victories over the Indians, and the
metamorphosis of the Tyrrhenian sailors. On all sides were Satyrs
and Bacchantes dancing. Nor was Pan omitted; he was represented
sitting upon a rock, and playing upon his pipe an air intended
equally to regulate the motions of the men as they trod the grapes,
and of the women as they danced.
Such was the garden, which Lamon was busy in getting into order,
cutting away dead wood, and raising the branches of the vines. He
crowned the statue of Bacchus with flowers, he conducted water
from the fountain discovered by Daphnis, for the flowers, which was
used exclusively for them, and was called Daphnis's Fountain. Lamon
also charged the youth to get his goats into as good condition as
possible, since their master would certainly visit and examine them
after his long absence from the farm. Upon this head Daphnis felt
confident that he should be praised; for the herd, which he had
received in charge, was increased twofold: not one of them had
been seized by a wolf, and they were already fatter than sheep.
Wishing to do everything which might render his master favourable
to his marriage, he exerted all his care and activity, driving them to
pasture very early, and returning very late, leading them to the
water twice every day, and choosing for them the richest pastures.
He also took care to provide fresh bowls,[4] many new milk-pails,
and larger cheese-racks. Such was his attention to his goats, that he
even oiled their horns, and curried their hair, and they might have
been supposed to be the sacred herd of Pan. Chloe shared in all his
toil, neglecting her own flock, that she might be of greater
assistance to him, which caused Daphnis to attribute the beauty of
his herd entirely to her.
While occupied in this manner, a second messenger came from the
city, with orders for them to get in their vintage as soon as possible;
he said he should remain there until they had made some of the
new wine, after which he should return to Mitylene, and bring their
master, at the end of the vintage season. Lamon and his family
received Eudromus, the runner (for his name was derived from his
employment) with a hearty welcome, and immediately began to strip
the vines, to put the grapes in the vats, and the must in the casks;
reserving some of the finest clusters with their branches, in order
that those also who came out of the city might form some idea of
the vintage, and its pleasures.
Before Eudromus departed, Daphnis made him various presents, and
in addition such as are usually given by a goat-herd, such as some
well-made cheeses, a young kid, a white shaggy goat-skin for him to
wear when running on errands in the winter, and many things
besides. He was greatly pleased with Daphnis and embraced him,
promising to speak favourably of him to his master: with these
friendly feelings he set out. Daphnis and Chloe were in a state of
great anxiety. She felt no small fear when she reflected that a youth
hitherto accustomed to see only his goats, the mountains, his fellow-
labourers in the fields, and herself, was for the first time soon to
behold his master, whom he had but recently known even by name.
She was anxious to know how he would conduct himself in the
presence of his betters; her mind was also filled with agitation
respecting their marriage, fearing lest all their expected happiness
might prove but a dream. Frequently did she and Daphnis kiss, and
frequently did they cling in embraces as close as though they grew
together;[5] yet their kisses were alloyed by fear, and their embraces
partook of sadness, as if afraid of the actual presence of their
master, or as if endeavouring to avoid his eyes.
The following addition to their present troubles likewise took place.
There was a certain Lampis, a herdsman of overweening disposition;
he also had been asking Chloe in marriage of Dryas, and had made
many handsome presents to promote his chance of success. Being
well aware, that if the master of the estate should give his consent,
Daphnis would obtain her for his bride, he resolved to plan some
scheme for setting Lamon's family at variance with their master; and
knowing that the latter was particularly fond of a garden, he
determined to injure it and destroy its beauty. He was aware that
should he venture to cut down the trees, the noise would betray
him, he determined therefore to vent his rage against the flowers, so
waiting till it was dark, he climbed over the hedge, and like a wild-
boar, rooted up some, broke others, and trampled upon every flower.
Having done this, he went away unobserved. When Lamon came the
next morning he was about to water his flowers with the streams
which had been conducted from the fountain, but seeing the whole
spot laid waste, and the damage of such a kind as some determined
enemy or spiteful thief would have committed, he rent his clothes,
and called loudly upon the gods, so that Myrtale threw down what
she had in her hands, and ran out; while Daphnis, who was driving
his herds to pasture, hurried back; and when they saw what had
taken place, they uttered a loud shriek, and burst into tears.
It was in vain to lament the loss of their flowers, but they wept from
dread of their master's anger; and had any stranger passed by he
would have wept also, for the whole garden was dismantled: nothing
remained but trampled clay The few flowers which here and there
had escaped destruction showed by their brilliant hues how beautiful
the garden must have been when in perfection. Νumbers of bees
rested upon them, and with incessant buzzing seemed to lament
their fate. Lamon, in his consternation, thus broke forth: "Alas! for
my rose bushes, how are they broken! Alas! for my violets, how are
they trodden under foot! Alas! for my narcissuses and hyacinths,
which some mischievous villain has rooted up! The spring will return,
but they will not put forth their buds! The summer will come, but
they will not be in their full bloom! The autumn will arrive, but they
will crown no one with garlands! And you, my protector, Bacchus,
did not you deign to pity the flowers, among which you dwell, which
daily you behold, and with which I have so often crowned your
brows? How can I show this garden to my lord? When he sees it,
what will be his feelings? He will hang his old servant, like a second
Marsyas, on one of those pines:—and perhaps he will hang Daphnis,
attributing the destruction of it to his goats!"
They ceased weeping for the flowers, and now wept for themselves.
Chloe shed tears at the idea of Daphnis being hanged, and prayed
that their master might never come. She passed days of
wretchedness, fancying she saw Daphnis already suffering under the
scourge.
Night was approaching when Eudromus returned, and informed
them that their master would be with them in three days' time, but
that his son would arrive next morning. They now began to
deliberate what was to be done respecting the misfortune which had
happened, and took Eudromus into their councils. Feeling a
friendship for Daphnis, he advised them to relate the whole affair to
their young master on his first arrival; he was his own foster-
brother; on which account he had no small interest with him, and he
promised to assist them in the matter.
On the following day they did as he had recommended. Astylus
came on horseback: a fawning parasite, who always accompanied
him, rode by his side. The former was but beginning to be bearded,
but the chin of Gnatho had long since felt the razor's edge. Lamon,
together with Myrtale and Daphnis, came out to meet them, and
falling at his young master's feet, besought him to have mercy upon
an unfortunate old man, and to avert his father's anger from one
who was not to blame in any respect; at the same time relating to
him all particulars. Astylus listened with great commiseration, and
when he came to the garden, and saw the havoc which had been
committed, he promised to plead their excuse with his father by
laying the fault on his own horses, which, he would say, had been
tethered there, but having become restive, had broken loose, and
had trampled down, and destroyed the flowers.
Lamon and Myrtale invoked upon him every blessing. Daphnis,
moreover, brought him as presents some kids, some cheese, some
birds with their young, some vine-branches covered with grapes, and
some apples still hanging on their boughs. Among his other gifts he
presented some fragrant Lesbian wine, very choice in flavour.
Astylus expressed himself pleased with the offerings of Daphnis, and
immediately betook himself to hare hunting, as was natural in a
young man abounding in wealth, nursed in luxury, and who had
come into the country merely for some change in his amusements.
Gnatho[6] being a fellow whose whole science consisted in eating
and drinking to excess, and who was nothing, in fact, but a
compound of gluttony, drunkenness, and sensuality,[7] had narrowly
watched Daphnis as he was offering his presents. He was naturally
fond of male beauty, and never having seen any one so handsome,
even in town, he determined to make an attempt upon Daphnis,
thinking easily to gain over a mere shepherd youth. Having formed
this determination, instead of going to hunt with Astylus, he
proceeded to the spot where Daphnis was feeding his flock, under
pretence of looking at the goats, but in reality to gaze upon their
master. In order to gain his goodwill, he began by praising the
appearance of the animals, and requested him to play a pastoral
tune upon his pipe, adding, that by his influence he could soon
obtain his freedom. Having in this manner put him at his ease, he
watched his opportunity, and when Daphnis was driving home his
herd at night, he ran up and kissed him, and then went on to make
proposals to him.[8] For some time the youth did not understand his
meaning, but when at last he did, he laid him prostrate with a blow;
for he was in liquor, and hardly able to stand; and then left him
sprawling, in need not of a boy whose beauty he might admire, but
of a man to pick him up and lead him home. For the time to come
Daphnis would hold no more communication with him, but
constantly changed the place of pasturage for his goats, avoiding
him, but keeping close to Chloe. Nor, to say the truth, was Gnatho
very eager to renew his acquaintance, having found by personal
experience that he was not only handsome in countenance but
stalwart in arm; nevertheless he determined to watch for an
opportunity of speaking to Astylus about him, and flattered himself
that he should easily obtain him as a gift from a young man who
was always ready to give largely, and upon all occasions.
Just then he could not carry out his plans, for Dionysophanes and
Clearista arrived; and not small was the stir caused by their train of
male and female servants, and their sumpter horses. Dionysophanes
was of middle age,[9] but tall and handsome; and one who would
not suffer by comparison even with far younger men. In riches he
had not many equals, in virtues he had none. On the first day of his
arrival he sacrificed to the deities who preside over the country,—to
Ceres, to Bacchus, to Pan, and to the Nymphs, and caused to be
prepared one common bowl for all present.[10] During the following
day he inspected Lamon's labours, and when he saw the fields well
ploughed, the flourishing condition of the vines, and the beauty of
the garden (for Astylus had taken the blame about the flowers on
himself), he was very much delighted, praised Lamon highly, and
promised to give him his freedom. After going over the farm, he
went to see the herds, and him who tended them.
Chloe fled to the woods: she was ashamed and frightened at the
thought of appearing before so many strangers. Daphnis, however,
stood still: he had on a shaggy goat-skin, a new scrip was
suspended from his shoulder; in one hand he held some fresh
cheeses, and with the other, two sucking kids. If ever Apollo tended
the herds of Laomedon, his appearance must have been like that of
Daphnis now. He did not say a word, but covered with blushes, hung
down his head, and presented his offerings.
"This, Master (said Lamon), is the young man who has taken care of
your goats. Fifty female, and two male goats were the number which
I received from you: this youth has increased the former to a
hundred, and the latter to ten. Observe how sound are their horns,
how fat and long-haired they are in body. He has even made them
musical; for all their movements are regulated by the pipe."
Clearista, who was present, and heard what was said, expressed a
wish to see a proof of what he asserted, and desired Daphnis to pipe
to his goats in his usual manner, promising him for his pains a tunic,
a cloak, and a pair of sandals. Daphnis disposed the company in a
semi-circle; then standing under the shade of a beech-tree, he took
his pipe from his scrip, and breathed into it very gently. The goats
stood still, merely lifting up their heads. Next he played the pasture-
tune,[11] on which they all put down their heads, and began to
graze. Now he produced some notes, soft and sweet in tone:—at
once all his herd lay down. After this he piped in a sharp key, and
they ran off to the wood, as if a wolf were in sight. Within a short
interval he played the recall, and immediately issuing from their
covert, they ran to his very feet. Few domestic servants will be seen
to obey their master so readily: all the company were astonished at
his skill, but more particularly Clearista, who reiterated her promise
of giving a reward to the handsome goatherd, who had shown such
skill in music. The party, returning to the farm, went to dinner, and
sent Daphnis a portion from their own table.
Daphnis shared the dainties with Chloe, and was delighted with the
flavour of city cookery, and felt very sanguine of obtaining his
master's consent and so of succeeding in his marriage.
Gnatho, still more captivated by this display of Daphnis's skill, and
reckless of life unless he could effect his purpose, watched for
Astylus as he was walking in the garden, and leading him to the
temple of Bacchus, began to kiss his feet and hands.
Upon Astylus inquiring why he did this, urging him to speak out, and
promising to grant his request, he replied, "It is all over with your
old friend Gnatho; I who once cared only for the table; I who used
to swear that nothing was better than generous old wine, and that
your city cooks were better than all the comely youths of Mitylene,—
now can find nothing handsome excepting Daphnis. I no longer
relish, nor even taste the choice dishes which are daily prepared in
such abundance, flesh, fish, and pastry; but would willingly be
transformed into a goat and browse on grass and leaves, if only I
could listen to the pipe of Daphnis, and be under his charge. Shew
yourself then, my preserver, and enable me to triumph in my suit; if
you refuse, I swear by Bacchus, that I will seize a dagger, and after
eating until I can eat no longer, will stab myself before the door of
Daphnis, and then you will no longer be able to call me your sweet
Gnatty,[12] as you are used to to do." The good-natured young man,
who was no stranger to the power of love, moved by his
blandishments and tears, promised to ask Daphnis of his father,
under pretence of requiring him for a slave, but in reality to be the
favourite of Gnatho. Then wishing to put him in good spirits he
jokingly asked whether he was not ashamed of taking a fancy to a
son of Lamon, a common goatherd; at the same time mimicking a
feeling of disgust at rank and goatish smells.
Gnatho, who was well schooled in the love-tales of mythology, which
he had heard at the tables of luxurious profligates, began to
discourse very learnedly of the matters relating to himself and
Daphnis.—"Lovers, my master, are not over nice; wheresoever they
see beauty, they own its influence and succumb to it; some have
fallen in love with a tree, some with a river, others with a wild beast,
—now who would not commiserate a lover who stood in dread of the
object of his love? I, however, am captivated by one who though a
slave in his condition, is worthy of being a freeman as regards his
beauty.
"His hair[13] is like the hyacinth, and his eyes sparkle under his eye
brows like gems set in a golden ring, his face is suffused with a rosy
hue of health, his mouth displays teeth as white as ivory. Who would
not wish to snatch a kiss from such a mouth? In taking a fancy to a
shepherd I do but imitate[14] the gods,—Anchises kept oxen and yet
captivated Venus,—Branchius was a goatherd and Apollo loved him.
Ganymede was a shepherd and was snatched away by Jupiter. Let
us not think lightly of a youth, whose very goats obey him as though
they were in love with him; and let us be thankful to the eagles for
leaving such an impersonation of beauty upon earth." Astylus
laughed heartily at hearing him talk thus, and saying that love made
folks great orators, promised to take an opportunity of mentioning
the subject of Daphnis to his father. Eudromus overheard their
conversation, and immediately gave information of it to Daphnis and
Lamon. He loved the young man because of his amiable disposition,
and could not bear to think that so much beauty and worth should
be subjected to Gnatho's drunken humours. Daphnis in his alarm
determined either to fly from the country, taking Chloe with him, or
to destroy himself and Chloe at the same time.
Lamon upon his part called Myrtale out of the house, and exclaimed,
"Ο my dear wife, we are undone. It is time for us to discover what
we have so long concealed. Our goats and all belonging to us will it
is true now be deserted; but I swear by Pan, and the Nymphs, that
even supposing I am myself to be left like an old ox in the stall (as
the saying is), I will no longer keep the history of Daphnis a secret. I
will tell how and where I found him exposed, I will explain how he
was nursed, and will shew the tokens, which were placed with him.
That rascally Gnatho shall know, to what manner of youth he, vile as
he is, has taken a liking!—Take care to have everything in
readiness!"
Having formed this resolution, they went into the house again.
Astylus, in the mean time, proceeding to his father, when he
happened to be disengaged, begged his permission to take Daphnis
home with them on their return, alleging, that so beautiful a youth
was too good for his present rustic situation, and would very soon
under Gnatho's care acquire the polish of city manners. His father
willingly complied with his request, and sending for Lamon and
Myrtale, communicated to them as good news, that Daphnis would
henceforth wait upon Astylus instead of tending goats, at the same
time promising them two goatherds to supply his place. It was then,
as the attendants were crowding round, and rejoicing to hear that
they were to have among them so handsome a fellow-slave, that
Lamon, having requested leave to speak, thus addressed his master.
"Be pleased, master, to listen to an old man and hear the truth. I
swear by Pan and the Nymphs, that I will not utter anything which is
false.—I am not the father of Daphnis, nor was Myrtale so fortunate
as to be his mother. The parents of this youth, whoever they were,
exposed him in his infancy; perhaps, because, they had already
more children than they knew how to maintain. I found him lying on
the earth, and one of my she-goats nursing him. When she died, I
buried her in the border of my garden, feeling a regard for her,
inasmuch as she had done a mother's duty. I confess having found
various tokens with the infant, which I still preserve; for they prove
him to be born to a higher station than that which he now fills with
me. I am not so high-minded as to slight the offer of his being an
attendant on Astylus—an excellent servant to a virtuous and
excellent master: but I cannot bear the idea of his being a sport for
the drunken hours of Gnatho, who would fain take him to Mitylene,
that he may be abused."
Lamon at the conclusion of this speech burst into tears. Gnatho
began to bluster, and threatened to strike him, but Dionysophanes
sternly frowning, ordered him to be silent; and again interrogating
Lamon, urged him to tell the truth, and not to invent a tale merely to
keep his son at home.—When Lamon continued unshaken in his
assertions, called upon the gods to be his witnesses, and professed
his readiness to submit to torture, should he be uttering a falsehood;
his master, in the presence of Clearista, who sat by him, began to
test the probability of the tale, as follows. "What motive can Lamon
have to tell a falsehood, when two goatherds are offered him in lieu
of one? How could a plain rustic possibly invent such a tale?—
Besides, is it not altogether unlikely that such an old man and such a
plain old woman can be the parents of so handsome a son."
He determined to rest no longer upon mere conjectures, but to
examine the tokens, and to see whether they bespoke an illustrious
birth. Myrtale had gone to fetch them, for they were preserved in an
old bag. Dionysophanes was the first to examine them, and when he
beheld the purple mantle, the golden clasp, and little sword with the
ivory hilt, he exclaimed, Lord Jupiter! and called to Clearista to come
and look at them.—When Clearista beheld them, she uttered a loud
shriek, and cried out, "The friendly Fates, are not these the very
things, which we exposed with our little one, when we sent
Sophrosyne to leave him in this part of the country! they are none
other, they are the very same, my husband! the child is ours.
Daphnis is your son, and he has been tending his own father's
flock."
Before she had done speaking, and while Dionysophanes was kissing
the tokens and shedding tears of joy, Astylus, who now understood
that Daphnis was his brother, threw off his cloak, and ran through
the garden to give him the first salute. When Daphnis saw Astylus
running towards him, followed by many others, and heard them
calling out his own name, he thought they were coming to seize him
and carry him off by violence. Accordingly he threw down his scrip,
and his pipe, and ran towards the sea with the determined
resolution to throw himself into it from the top of a high rock: and
perhaps (strange to say!) his being found would have proved the
occasion of his being lost for ever, had not Astylus perceiving the
occasion of his alarm, called out, "Stop, stop, Daphnis, I am your
brother: and they, who have hitherto been your masters, are now
your parents. Lamon has just now given us the whole account of the
she-goat, and has shewn us the tokens, which were found with you!
look back! see! with what cheerful and smiling faces they are coming
towards you! Brother, let me have the first kiss. I swear by the
Nymphs, I am not deceiving you."
Not without hesitation was Daphnis induced after this solemn
assertion to pause, and wait for Astylus, whom he received with a
kiss. While they were embracing, his father and mother with Lamon
and Myrtale and all the men and maid servants came thronging up,
threw their arms round him, and kissed him with tears of joy.
Daphnis affectionately saluted his father and mother before the rest
and as though he had long known them, clasped them to his breast,
and would not disengage himself from their embrace:—so soon does
natural affection assert her rights.
For a time even Chloe was almost forgotten. After returning to the
farm, and putting on a costly dress, he sat down by his real father,
who spoke to the following effect.
"My children, I married when very young; and in a short space of
time became as I considered myself a very fortunate father. First a
son was born to me, next a daughter, and then you, my Astylus. I
thought my family now large enough, for which reason I exposed
Daphnis, the boy who was born in addition to the others, placing
with him these ornaments, not as tokens, but to serve as funeral
weeds.—Fortune had different plans in view.—My eldest son and
daughter died of the same disease in one day: but the providence of
the gods has preserved you, Daphnis, that we might have an
additional stay in our old age.—Do not bear ill will towards me, from
the remembrance of my having exposed you; for I did not do so with
a willing mind, nor do you, Astylus, feel grieved that you will now
have a part only, instead of the whole of my estate; for to a wise
man no wealth is more valuable than a brother. Love each other;—
and as for wealth you shall be able to vie even with princes. I shall
leave to you extensive lands, a number of dexterous servants, stores
of gold and silver, and whatever else forms the possession of the
prosperous. Only this particular estate I reserve for Daphnis, with
Lamon and Myrtale, and the goats which he himself has tended."
Before he had finished speaking, Daphnis sprang from his seat, and
said, "Father, you very seasonably remind me of these matters. I will
go and lead my goats to water, they must now be thirsty, and are no
doubt waiting to hear my pipe, while I am sitting here." Every one
laughed at hearing the master so willing to be still the goatherd. One
of the servants was sent in place of Daphnis to tend the herd; while
he and the rest of the company, after sacrificing to Jove the preserver,
sat down together to a banquet. Gnatho was the only one who did
not come to the entertainment; for being under great alarm, he
remained all day and night in the temple of Bacchus, as a suppliant.
The report that Dionysophanes had found his son, and that Daphnis
the goatherd was now master of the estate, having soon spread
abroad, early the next morning numbers flocked to the cottage from
various parts with congratulations to the youth and gifts to the
father.—Dryas the foster-father of Chloe was among the first who
arrived.
Dionysophanes kept them all, after sharing of his joy, to partake of
an entertainment. Store of wine was provided, abundance of
wheaten bread, wild fowl, sucking pigs, and sweets of various kinds,
and many victims were sacrificed to the country's deities. Daphnis
collected all his pastoral equipments, and distributed them in
separate offerings to the gods. To Bacchus he presented his scrip,
and coat of skin. To Pan his pipe and transverse-flute. To the
Nymphs his crook, and the milkpails, which he had made with his
own hands. The happiness arising from our wonted condition is
however so much greater than that which springs from unexpected
good fortune, that he could not refrain from tears when parting with
each offering. He could not suspend his milkpails in the grotto
without once more milking into them: nor his coat of skin without
once more putting it on: nor his pipe without once more playing on
it. He kissed each of them in turn; he talked to his goats and called
them by their names; he drank from the fountain because he had so
often done so in company with Chloe.—Still he did not yet venture to
declare his love, but waited for a favourable opportunity.
While Daphnis was engaged in these religious ceremonies, the
following circumstances befel Chloe. She was sitting weeping and
watching her flock, and exclaiming (as was natural) "Daphnis has
forgotten me. He is dreaming of some wealthy match. To what
purpose did I make him swear by his goats instead of by the
Nymphs? he has deserted the former as well as me; nor even when
sacrificing to the Nymphs and to Pan, has he had any desire to see
his Chloe. Perhaps among his mother's waiting women, he has seen
some girl preferable to me. May he be happy! As for me I shall not
survive it."
While she was giving utterance to these thoughts, Lampis the
herdsman with a band of rustics suddenly came up and seized her.
He conceived that Daphnis would no longer marry her, and that
Dryas would be well content to have him as a son-in-law. While she
was being borne off with tears and shrieks, some one who had
witnessed the transaction, hastened to inform Nape: Nape informed
Dryas, and Dryas communicated it to Daphnis. Distracted at the
intelligence, afraid to explain the circumstance to his father, and
unable to restrain his own emotions, he betook himself to the outer
garden-walk and there vented his grief:—
"What an unhappy discovery of parentage, is mine! How much
better would it have been for me still to tend my herds! How much
happier was I, when a slave! then I could behold my Chloe!—but
now, Lampis has carried her away; this very night, perhaps, she will
be his wife! In the mean time I am here, drinking and feasting, and
have to no purpose sworn by Pan, by my goats, and by the
Nymphs."
These words were overheard by Gnatho, who was lurking in the
garden; he considered it a good opportunity for effecting a
reconciliation with Daphnis. Assembling some youths, who waited
upon Astylus, he pursued Dryas, whom he desired to conduct them
to the place where Lampis dwelt. They overtook him just as he was
dragging Chloe into his house, rescued her from him, and gave the
country-fellows, his companions, a sound drubbing. He was very
desirous also to seize and bind Lampis, and bring him back like a
prisoner of war, but the fellow was too much for him and ran away.
Having accomplished this exploit, he returned just as night was
coming on. Dionysophanes had already retired to rest; but finding
Daphnis still up and weeping in the garden, presented Chloe to him,
and gave him an account of the whole adventure, beseeching him to
bear no ill-will, but to retain him in his service, in which he would
prove himself of use, and not to banish him from his father's table,
which would deprive him of his bread. When Daphnis saw Chloe,
and once more had her in his possession, he forgave Gnatho,
because of his good deed, and began to apologize to the maiden for
his neglect.
Upon holding a consultation, Daphnis at first resolved to marry Chloe
privately, and to keep her in concealment, making no one but her
own mother acquainted with the matter; Dryas would not concur in
this plan, he was for communicating every thing to Daphnis's father,
and himself undertook the task of obtaining his consent. Accordingly,
taking the tokens with him in his scrip, he went the next day to
Dionysophanes and Clearista, who were sitting in the garden, in
company with Astylus and Daphnis; silence ensued upon his
appearance, when he addressed them thus:—
"The same necessity, which influenced Lamon, now urges me to
publish circumstances, which hitherto have remained secret. I am
not Chloe's father; nor was she in the first instance brought up by
me. Other persons were her parents, and when lying in the grotto of
the Nymphs, a ewe became her nurse. I saw this myself, to my
astonishment, and under the power of this feeling, I adopted her.
Her beauty confirms what I say; for she does not resemble either
me or my wife. These tokens, which I likewise found with her, prove
the truth of my assertion, for they are too valuable to belong to any
shepherd. Examine them, endeavour to find out the maiden's
relatives, and perhaps she will prove worthy of your son."
This last expression was not thrown out undesignedly by Dryas: nor
was it heard heedlessly by Dionysophanes, who turning his eyes
upon Daphnis, and observing him turn pale, while a tear stole down
his cheeks, easily discovered the youth's love. Moved more by regard
for his own child than by any concern for the unknown maiden, he
weighed the words of Dryas with great attention. After viewing the
tokens produced before him, the gilt sandals, the anklets, and the
head-dress, he called Chloe to him, and bid her take courage, for
she had already got a husband, and most probably would soon
discover her real father and mother. Clearista now took her, and
dressed her as became the intended wife of her son.
Dionysophanes, in the mean time, retired apart with Daphnis, and
inquired whether she was still a virgin; and upon his declaring that
nothing had passed between them, beyond kisses and vows:
pleased with their mutual oaths of fidelity, he made them join the
banquet.
Now might it be seen what beauty is when set off by the accessories
of ornament, Chloe when richly dressed, with her hair braided, and
her face resplendent from the bath, appeared to all so much more
beautiful than before, that Daphnis himself could hardly recognize
her. Any spectator, even without knowing anything about the tokens,
would have sworn that Dryas could not be the father of so fair a
maiden. Nevertheless he was invited to the feast, where he and
Nape, with Lamon and Myrtale for their companions, reclined on a
separate couch.
On the following day victims were again sacrificed to the gods;
bowls were prepared, and Chloe suspended her pastoral equipments
—her pipe, her scrip, her cloak of goat-skin, and her milkpails. She
also mingled wine with the waters of the fountain in the grotto,
because she had been suckled near it, and had so often bathed
there, then she crowned with flowers the ewe's grave, which Dryas
pointed out to her. She, too, piped once more to her flock, and
having done so, prayed the Nymphs that her parents might prove
worthy of the union of Daphnis and herself.
When the party had had enough of their rural festivities, they
determined upon returning to the city, in order to try and discover
Chloe's parents, and no longer to defer the marriage. By break of
day the next morning they were prepared for their journey. Before
their departure they made Dryas a present of another three
thousand drachmas; with liberty to reap half the corn, and gather
half the grapes annually for his own use; they likewise gave him the
goats, goatherds, four yoke of oxen, and some winter garments; his
wife also was presented with her freedom.
After this they took the road to Mitylene, travelling in grand style
with horses and carriages. They arrived at the city by night, and so
for the time escaped the notice of the citizens; but early the next
day the doors were surrounded by multitudes of men and women.
The men congratulated Dionysophanes on having found his son, the
more particularly when they saw his beauty. The women gave
Clearista joy at bringing with her not only her son, but likewise an
intended bride. Chloe excited the admiration even of the women,
displaying as she did, charms which could not be surpassed. The
whole city was in a bustle on account of the youth and the maiden,
predicting already that the marriage would be a happy one, and
wishing that the parents of the maiden might prove to be of a rank
worthy of her beauty. Many of the richest ladies prayed the gods
that they might be reputed to be the mothers of so much loveliness.
Dionysophanes, fatigued with excess of anxious thought, fell into a
deep sleep, during which he saw the following vision. The Nymphs
appeared to be requesting the god of love at length to grant them
his consent to the celebration of the marriage. Slackening the string
of his bow, and placing it by the side of his quiver, he addressed
Dionysophanes, bidding him to invite those of highest rank of
Mitylene to a banquet, and when he had filled the last goblet, to
exhibit the tokens before each of them, and then to commence the
hymeneal song. After what he had seen and heard, Dionysophanes
arose in the morning, and ordered a magnificent feast to be
prepared, in which all the delicacies which the sea, the earth, the
lakes, and even the rivers could produce, were to be collected
together. All the chiefs of Mitylene were his guests. When night was
come, and when the goblet was filled from which to pour out the
libation[15] to Mercury, a slave brought forward the ornaments in a
silver vase, and holding them in his right hand carried them round,
and displayed them to all the visitors. No one acknowledged them,
till Megacles, who, on account of his age, was honoured with the
highest couch, recognising them, cried out with a loud and animated
voice,—"What do I see! what has been the fate of my daughter! is
she indeed alive? or did some shepherd find these things, and carry
them away. Tell me, I pray, Dionysophanes, where did you meet with
these tokens of my child? Now that you have found your son, do not
enviously begrudge me the discovery of my daughter."
Dionysophanes requested him first of all to give them an account of
the exposure of his daughter; and Megacles in the same loud and
earnest tone replied,—"Formerly my income was very narrow, for I
had expended my fortune in equipping choruses and fitting out
galleys.[16] While my affairs were in this condition I had a daughter
born. Loath to bring her up to the miseries of poverty, and knowing
that there are many who are willing to become even reputed
parents,[17] I dressed her in these very tokens, and exposed her.
She was laid in the grotto of the Nymphs, and committed to their
protection. Since that time wealth began to pour in upon me every
day, when I had no heir to enjoy it, for I was never so fortunate as
to become the father even of another daughter; but, as if wishing to
make a mock of me, the gods are continually sending dreams by
night, signifying, forsooth, that a ewe will make me father."
Upon this Dionysophanes called out in a yet louder tone than
Megacles, and springing from his couch led in Chloe sumptuously
dressed, exclaiming,—"This is the child whom you exposed. This
maiden, through the providence of the gods, was suckled by a
sheep, and preserved for you; as Daphnis was reared by a goat, and
saved for me. Take the tokens, and your daughter; take her, and
bestow her as a bride on Daphnis. Both were exposed; both have
been again found by us, their parents; both have been under the
peculiar care of Pan, of the Nymphs, and of the God of Love."
Megacles at once assented, clasped Chloe to his bosom, and sent for
his wife Rhode. They slept at the house that night, for Daphnis had
sworn by the gods that he would not part with Chloe even to her
own father.
The next morning they all agreed to return to the country: this was
done at the entreaty of Daphnis and Chloe, who were weary of their
sojourn in the city; and had formed a scheme for celebrating their
nuptials in a pastoral manner.
Upon their arrival at Lamon's cottage, they introduced Dryas to
Megacles, and Nape was made known to Rhode, after which the
preparations were made for the festival on a splendid scale. Chloe
was devoted to the guardianship of the Nymphs by her father. He
suspended the tokens, among various other things, as offerings to
them; and increased the six thousand drachmas, which Dryas now
possessed, to ten thousand.
As the day was very fine, Dionysophanes caused couches of green
leaves to be spread inside the grotto, and all the villagers were
invited and sumptuously regaled. There were present Lamon and
Myrtale, Dryas and Nape, Dorco's kinsmen, and Philetas with his
sons Chromis and Lycænium; even Lampis, who had been forgiven,
was among the guests. All the amusements were, of course, as
among such merrymakers, of a rustic and pastoral kind. Reaping-
songs were sung; and the jokes of the vintage-season were
repeated. Philetas played on the pipe, and Lampis on the flute, while
Lamon and Dryas danced. Chloe and Daphnis passed the time in
kissing. The goats came and grazed near them, as if they also were
partakers of the festival. This was not very agreeable to the dainty
city folks; Daphnis, however, called several of them by name, gave
them some leaves, which they eat out of his hand, while he held
them by the horns, and kissed them.
Not only now, but during the remainder of their days, Daphnis and
Chloe led a pastoral life, worshipping as their deities the Nymphs,
Pan, and the God of Love. Their flocks of goats and sheep were
numerous, and their favourite food consisted of the fruits of autumn,
and milk. They had their first-born, a boy, suckled by a goat; their
second, a girl, was brought up by a ewe; the former was named
Philopœmen,[18] the latter Agele.[19] In this manner of life, and in
this spot, they lived to a good old age. They adorned the grotto of
the Nymphs; erected statues; raised an altar to Cupid the Shepherd;
and instead of a pine reared a temple for the habitation of Pan, and
dedicated it to Pan the Warrior; these names, however, were given,
and these things done, in after years. At the time we are now
speaking of, when night arrived, all the guests conducted them to
the bridal chamber, some playing on the pipe, some on the flute,
some holding large torches; and upon arriving at the door, they
raised their voices in harsh and rugged tones, which sounded more
like a concert of fellows breaking up the ground with mattocks than
a chorus of human beings singing the nuptial hymn.[20] Daphnis and
Chloe, on their part, went to bed in nature's own adornment, where
they kissed and embraced each other, and were as wakeful as the
very owls. Daphnis carried into practice the instructions of his
preceptress Lycænium, and Chloe learnt, for the first time in her life,
that all their doings in the woods had been but so much child's play.

THE END.
[1]
.... "Nec secus omnes in unguem,
Arboribus positis secto via limite quadret."—Virg. G. ii. 278.
[2] Plutarch, speaks of the practice of setting off the beauties (we may also add,
the fragrance) of roses and violets, by planting them side by side with leeks and
onions. The originator of this fashion went upon the principle, no doubt, of
"Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci."
[3]
.... "Oriens tibi victus, adusque
Decolor extremo quæ cingitur India Gange,
Penthea tu, venerande, bipenniferumque Lycurgum,
Sacrilegos mactas; Tyrrhenaque mittas in æquor
Corpora."—Ovid. Met. iv. 20.
[4] σκαφίδων καινών, καὶ γαυλῶν πολλῶν.
The same distinction of milking vessels is found in the Odyssey, ix. 223.
Γαυλοί τε σκαφίδες τε.
"His pails and bowls."—Cowper.
[5] ὥσπερ συμπεφυκότων....
"She rose ... and threw
Herself upon his breast and there she grew."—Byron.
[6] Compare the admirable picture of Gnatho'a prototype in the Eunuchus of
Terence, Act II. Sc. II.
"Videnme?
Qui color, nitor vestitus, quæ habitus est corporis,
Omnia habeo, nec quicquam habeo; nil quum eat, nil defit tamen."
[7] In the Greek there is a play upon words: Ό δὲ Γνάθων oὐδὲν ἄλλο ὢν, ἢ,
γνάθος καὶ γαστὴρ, καὶ τὰ ὺπὸ γαστέρα.
[8] "Deinde, ut more caprarum, hircis sui copiam facientium, sibi tergum obvertat,
precatur. Hæc cum serius animadvertisset Daphnis dixit, capras quod ineant hirci,
id quidem se rectè habere, sed hircum nunquam et nusquam gentium vidisse inire
hircum, neque arietem pro ovibus arietem, neque gallos gallinarum loco gallos."
[9] μεσαιπόλιoς.
[10] κρητῆρας στήσασθαι. To set up bowls as a sign of feasting.—See Odyss. ii.
431.
κρητῆρας στήσασθαι θιοῖς. To do the same in honour of the gods.—Il. vi. 628.
[11] τὸ νόμιον.
[12] Γναθωνάριον.
[13] Of a very dark hue.—The locks of Ulysses are in two passages of the Odyssey
compared to "hyacinthine flowers."—vi. 231. xxiii. 158.
[14]
"That Dionysius in the valleys green
Once tended kine, she never heard, I ween;
Nor knows that Cypris on a cowherd doted,
And on the Phrygian hills herself devoted
To tend his herd; nor how the same Dionis
In thickets kiss'd, in thickets wept, Adonis.
Who was Endymion? him tending kine
Stooped down to kiss Selene the divine;
Who from Olympus to the Latmian grove,
Glided to slumber with her mortal love.
Didst not thou, Rhea, for a cowherd weep?
And didst not thou, high Zeus! the heaven sweep,
In form of winged bird, and watch indeed,
To carry off the cowherd Ganymede?"—Chapman's Theoc.
[15]
"Eὖρε δὲ Φαίηκων ἡγήτορας, ἠδὲ μέδοντας
Σπένδοντας δεπάεσσιν ἐῦσκόπῳ Ἀργειφόντῃ
Ὦ πυμάτῳ σπένδεσκον, ὅτε μνησαίατο κοίτον."
—Odyss. vii. 136.
[16] Εἰς χορηγίας καὶ τριηραρχίας ἐξίδαπάνησα. The business of the Choregus, or
chorus master, was to defray the expenses of the scenical representations, and
those of the solemn festivals; the Trierarch had to fit out a ship of war, the state
providing only the vessel and the crew. Both offices involved of course very heavy
expenses.
[17]
.... "Stat Fortuna improba noctu,
Arridens nudis infantibus; hos fovet omnes
Involvitque sinu; domibus tunc porrigit altis."—Juv. vi. 605.
[18] A lover of the flock.
[19] A lover of the herd.
[20] "Καθάπερ τριάιναις γῆν ἀναῥρηγνύντες, οὐχ υμέναιον ἄδοντες."
 THE LOVES OF CLITOPHO AND LEUCIPPE

BOOK I.

Sidon is situated upon the coast of the Assyrian sea; it is the

mother[1] city of the Phœnicians, and its inhabitants were the
founders of Thebes. It has a harbour of capacious extent, which
gradually admits within it the waters of the sea; it is double,
because, to the right, a passage has been dug into an inner basin,
which likewise admits the sea; in this manner the first harbour
becomes the entrance to a second, which affords a secure haven to
vessels during summer, while in winter they can ride at anchor safely
in the former. Upon arriving here after encountering a severe storm,
I made thank-offerings[2] on account of my preservation, to the
goddess of the Phœnicians, called by the Sidonians, Astarte.[3] As I
was wandering about the city, surveying the votive offerings in the
temples, I saw a painting containing a view both of sea and land.
Europa[4] formed the subject, and the scene was laid partly on the
Phœnician sea, partly on the coast of Sidon. In a meadow was seen
a band of maidens; a bull was swimming in the sea, directing his
course towards Crete, and having a fair damsel seated upon his
back. The meadow was diversified with flowers intermixed with trees
and shrubs; the trees were near to one another, and their
branches[5] and leaves united so closely overhead, as to form a
cover for the flowers below. The artist had shewn great skill in
managing the shade; for the sun-rays were seen dispersedly
breaking through the overarching roof of leaves, and lighting up the
meadow, which, situated as I have said, beneath a leafy screen, was
surrounded on all sides by a hedge. Under the trees, beds of flowers
were laid out, in which bloomed the narcissus, the rose, and the
myrtle. Bubbling up from the ground, a stream flowed through the
midst of this enamelled meadow, watering the flowers and shrubs;
and a gardener was represented with his pickaxe opening a channel
for its course. The maidens above mentioned were placed by the
painter, in a part of the meadow bordering upon the sea. Their
countenances wore a mingled expression of joy and fear; they had
chaplets upon their heads, their hair fell dishevelled about their
shoulders; their legs were entirely bare—for a cincture raised their
garments above the knee—and their feet were unsandalled; their
cheeks were pale and contracted through alarm; their eyes were
directed towards the sea; their lips were slightly opened as if about
to give vent to their terror in cries; their hands were stretched out
towards the bull; they were represented upon the verge of the sea,
the water just coming over their feet; they appeared eager to hasten
after the bull, but at the same time fearful of encountering the
waves. The colour of the sea was twofold: towards the land it had a
ruddy hue;[6] farther out it was dark blue; foam also, and rocks and
waves were represented; the rocks projecting from the shore, and
whitened with foam, caused by the crests of the waves breaking
upon their rugged surface.
In the midst of the sea, the bull was represented swimming, the
waves rising in mountains from the motion of his legs. The maiden
was seated upon his back, not astride, but sideways; she grasped
his horn with her left hand, as a charioteer would hold the reins; and
the bull inclined his head in that direction, as if guided by her hand.
She was dressed in a white tunic as far as her middle, the rest of her
body was clothed in a purple robe; the whole dress, however, was so
transparent[7] as to disclose the beauties of her person. You could
discern the deep-seated navel, the well proportioned[8] stomach, the
narrow waist, gradually widening until it reached the chest, the
gently budding breasts.[9]—These, as well as the tunic, were
confined by a cincture, and from its transparency, the tunic became,
so to speak, a mirror to reflect her person. Both her hands were
extended, one towards the horn, the other towards the tail; and with
either of them she held an extremity of the veil which was expanded
above her shoulders, and which appeared in every part inflated by
the artist's "painted wind."[10]
Thus seated upon the bull, the maiden resembled a vessel in full
sail, her veil serving for the canvass.[11] Dolphins[12] leaped, Loves
sported round the bull; you might have sworn that they moved
"instinct with life." Cupid, in person, was drawing on the bull; Cupid,
in guise of a little child, was spreading his wings, bearing his quiver,
holding his torch, and turning towards Jove, was archly laughing as
if in mockery of him, who, on his account had become a bull.
I admired every part of this painting, but my attention was more
especially rivetted upon Cupid leading forward the bull; and I
exclaimed, "How wonderfully does a mere child lord it over heaven
and earth and sea!"[13]
Upon this, a young man, who happened to be standing near, said, "I
can speak from experience of the power of Love, having suffered so
severely from his caprices."—"Pray," said I, "what are the ills which
you have suffered? To speak the truth, your countenance betokens
you to be not unacquainted with the mysteries of this deity."—"You
are stirring up a whole swarm of words," replied he, "mystery will
sound like a fable."—"In the name of Jupiter and Love himself, my
good fellow," rejoined I, "do not hesitate to gratify my curiosity,
however fabulous may seem your story."
After this, taking him by the hand, I led him to a neighbouring
grove, thickly planted with plane trees, through which flowed a
stream of water, cold and transparent as that which proceeds from
newly melted snow.[14] Having placed him upon a low seat, I sat
down beside him, and said, "Now is the time for hearing your tale;
this spot is in every way agreeable and exactly suited for a love
story." Upon this, he began as follows:—
I am a native of Phœnicia, was born at Tyre, and am named
Clitopho; my father's name is Hippias; Sostratus is the name of his
brother by the father's side—for the two had different mothers—the
latter having a Byzantian, the former a Tyrian lady for his mother.
Sostratus always resided at Byzantium, having inherited large
property in that city from his mother; my father lived at Tyre. I never
saw my mother, she having died during my infancy: after her
decease, my father married a second wife, by whom he had a
daughter named Calligone, whom he designed to unite to me in
marriage.[15] The will of the Fates, however, more powerful than
that of men, had in store for me a different wife. Now, the Deity is
often wont to reveal the future to mortals, in dreams by night; not in
order that they may ward off suffering (for it is impossible to defeat
destiny[16]), but that they may bear more lightly their load of evils.
Calamity, when it comes suddenly and in a "whole battalion,"
paralyses, and, as it were, overwhelms the soul by its
unexpectedness, whereas when anticipated and dwelt upon by the
mind, the edge of grief becomes blunted. It was when I had reached
the age of nineteen, and when my father was preparing to have my
marriage celebrated, the following year, that the drama of my fate
began. During my sleep, in thought I had coalesced with, and grown
into, the person of a maiden, as far as the middle, and that from
thence upward we formed two bodies. A tall and terrible-looking
woman, savage in aspect, with blood-shot eyes, inflamed cheeks,
and snaky hair, stood over us. In her right hand she held a scimitar,
in her left, a torch. Angrily raising her falchion, she let it fall exactly
upon the loins where was the juncture of our bodies, and severed
the maiden from me. Leaping up in terror, I mentioned the dream to
no one, but foreboded evil in my own mind. Meanwhile, a
messenger arrived from Byzantium, bringing a letter from my
father's brother; it contained the following words:—

"Sostratus to his brother Hippias, sends greeting,

"My daughter Leucippe, and my wife Panthea, are on their way
to you, for war has broken out between the Thracians and
Byzantians; till it is concluded, keep under your protection those
dearest objects of my affection. Farewell."
No sooner had my father read the letter than, rising from his seat,
he hurried down to the harbour; and not long after returned,
followed by a number of male and female slaves, whom Sostratus
had sent with his wife and daughter. Among them was a tall lady,
richly dressed: while looking at her, I remarked at her left hand, a
maiden, the beauty of whose countenance at once dazzled my eyes
—she resembled the Europa, whom, in the picture I had seen sitting
upon the bull. Her sparkling[17] eyes had a pleasing expression, her
hair was golden-hued, short and curling, her eyebrows were jet
black, her cheeks were fair, save that in the middle they had a tinge
bordering upon purple, like that with which the Lydian women stain
the ivory;[18] her mouth was like the rose when it begins to bud. No
sooner did I see her than my fate was sealed—for beauty[19] inflicts
a wound sharper than any arrow, finding a passage to the soul
through the eyes, for it is the eye which makes a way for the
wounds of love. I was overwhelmed by conflicting feelings;
admiration, astonishment, agitation, shame, assurance: I admired
her figure, I was astonished at her beauty; my heart palpitated, I
gazed upon her with assurance, yet I was ashamed at the idea of
being remarked. I endeavoured to withdraw my eyes from the
maiden; they however were unwilling to obey, and, following the
fascination of her countenance, in the end completely gained the
day.
Upon the arrival of the visitors, my father assigned a part of the
house for their use, and then ordered the supper to be prepared. At
the appointed time we reclined by twos on couches, for such was my
father's order. He and I were in the centre, the two elder ladies
occupied the right-hand couch, the maidens were to the left. Upon
hearing the proposed arrangement I was very near embracing my
father, for thus placing the maiden within my view. As to what I ate,
on my faith I cannot tell you, for I was like a man eating in a dream;
all I know is, that leaning upon my elbow, and bending forwards, my
whole attention was given to stealing furtive glances at her—this
was the sum total of my supper. When the meal was ended, a slave
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