Delphi Complete Works of Longus

by Longus

  Ὁ δὲ ἐξορμηθεὶς ἀγροὺς μὲν οὐκ ἐλεηλάτει τῶν Μηθυμναίων οὐδὲ ἀγέλας καὶ κτήματα ἥρπαζε γεωργῶν καὶ ποιμένων, λῃστοῦ νομίζων ταῦτα ἔργα μᾶλλον ἢ στρατηγοῦ: ταχὺ δὲ ἐπὶ τὴν πόλιν αὐτὴν ἦγεν ὡς ἐπιπεσούμενος ἀφρουρήτοις ταῖς πύλαις. Καὶ αὐτῷ σταδίους ὅσον ἑκατὸν ἀπέχοντι κῆρυξ ἀπαντᾷ σπονδὰς κομίζων. Οἱ γὰρ Μηθυμναῖοι μαθόντες παρὰ τῶν ἑαλωκότων ὡς οὐδὲν ἴσασι Μυτιληναῖοι τῶν γεγενημένων, ἀλλὰ γεωργοὶ καὶ ποιμένες ὑβρίζοντας τοὺς νεανίσκους ταῦτα ἔδρασαν, μετεγίνωσκον μὲν ὀξύτερα τολμήσαντες εἰς γείτονα πόλιν ἢ σωφρονέστερα, σπουδὴν δὲ εἶχον ἀποδόντες πᾶσαν τὴν ἁρπαγὴν ἀδεῶς ἐπιμίγνυσθαι καὶ κατὰ γῆν καὶ κατὰ θάλατταν. Τὸν μὲν οὖν κήρυκα τοῖς Μυτιληναίοις ὁ Ἵππασος ἀποστέλλει, καίτοιγε αὐτοκράτωρ στρατηγὸς κεχειροτονημένος: αὐτὸς δὲ τῆς Μηθύμνης ὅσον ἀπὸ δέκα σταδίων στρατόπεδον βαλόμενος τὰς ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἐντολὰς ἀνέμενε. Καὶ δύο διαγενομένων ἡμερῶν ἐλθὼν ὁ ἄγγελος τήν τε ἁρπαγὴν ἐκέλευσε κομίσασθαι καὶ ἀδικήσαντα μηδὲν ἀναχωρεῖν οἴκαδε: πολέμου γὰρ καὶ εἰρήνης ἐν αἱρέσει γενόμενοι, τὴν εἰρήνην εὕρισκον κερδαλεωτέραν.

  3.2 Hippasus accordingly set out, but was careful not to plunder the territory of the Methymnaeans: he carried off neither flocks nor any kind of booty from the husbandmen and shepherds, considering such conduct to be rather the act of a brigand than of a general. He marched with all speed against the city itself, hoping to be able to attack it while the gates were left unguarded. When he was about one hundred stades distant from the city, a herald met them to propose a truce. The Methymnaeans, having learnt from the prisoners that the Mitylenaeans knew nothing of what had taken place, and that the whole affair was merely an attack of a few shepherds and labourers upon some insolent young men, regretted that they had behaved with greater violence than prudence towards a neighbouring city. They were accordingly anxious to restore all the plunder that they had taken, and to re-establish friendly relations between the two cities, both by sea and land. Hippasus sent the herald to the Mitylenaeans, although he had been appointed commander with unlimited power: at the same time he pitched his camp about ten stades from Methymna, to await instructions from his government. At the end of two days, the messenger returned with orders to the commander to receive the booty, and to return home without committing any act of hostility. Having the choice between peace and war, they were of opinion that peace would be more advantageous.

  Ὁ μὲν δὴ Μηθυμναίων καὶ Μυτιληναίων πόλεμος ἀδόκητον λαβὼν ἀρχὴν καὶ τέλος οὕτω διελύθη. Γίνεται δὲ χειμὼν Δάφνιδι καὶ Χλόῃ τοῦ πολέμου πικρότερος: ἐξαίφνης γὰρ περιπεσοῦσα χιὼν πολλὴ πάσας μὲν ἀπέκλεισε τὰς ὁδούς, πάντας δὲ κατέκλεισε τοὺς γεωργούς. Λάβροι μὲν οἱ χείμαρροι κατέρρεον, ἐπεπήγει δὲ κρύσταλλος: τὰ δένδρα ἐῴκει κατεσκελετευμένοις: ἡ γῆ πᾶσα ἀφανὴς ἦν ὅτι μὴ περὶ πηγάς που καὶ ῥεύματα. Οὔτ̓ οὖν ἀγέλην τις ἐς νομὴν ἦγεν οὔτε αὐτὸς προῄει τῶν θυρῶν, ἀλλὰ πῦρ καύσαντες μέγα περὶ ᾠδὰς ἀλεκτρυόνων οἱ μὲν λίνον ἔστρεφον, οἱ δὲ αἰγῶν τρίχας ἔπλεκον, οἱ δὲ πάγας ὀρνίθων ἐσοφίζοντο. Τότε βοῶν ἐπὶ φάτναις φροντὶς ἦν ἄχυρον ἐσθιόντων, αἰγῶν καὶ προβάτων ἐν τοῖς σηκοῖς φυλλάδας, ὑῶν ἐν τοῖς συφεοῖς ἄκυλον καὶ βαλάνους.

  3.3 Thus ended the war between Methymna and Mitylene, as suddenly as it had commenced. Winter came on, a greater hardship than the war for Daphnis and Chloe: suddenly there was a heavy fall of snow, which blocked up all the roads and kept all the labourers indoors. Torrents rushed down with violence from the mountains, the water was frozen hard, the trees seemed buried beneath the hoar frost: the earth was completely hidden, except around the fountains and the banks of the streams. No herdsman led his flocks to pasture, or set foot outside his door: in the morning, at cockcrow, they lighted a large fire, round which they gathered, some twisting hemp, others weaving goats’ hairs or making snares for birds. The only thing they had to think about was to give the oxen in the stalls straw to eat, the sheep and goats in the cotes plenty of leaves, and the pigs in the sties acorns and beech nuts.

  Ἀναγκαίας οὖν οἰκουρίας ἐπεχούσης ἅπαντας οἱ μὲν ἄλλοι γεωργοὶ καὶ νομεῖς ἔχαιρον πόνων τε ἀπηλλαγμένοι πρὸς ὀλίγον καὶ τροφὰς ἑωθινὰς ἐσθίοντες καὶ καθεύδοντες μακρὸν ὕπνον, ὥστε αὐτοῖς τὸν χειμῶνα δοκεῖν καὶ θέρους καὶ μετοπώρου καὶ ἦρος αὐτοῦ γλυκύτερον. Χλόη δὲ καὶ Δάφνις ἐν μνήμῃ γενόμενοι τῶν καταλειφθέντων τερπνῶν, ὡς ἐφίλουν, ὡς περιέβαλλον, ὡς ἅμα τὴν τροφὴν προσεφέροντο, νύκτας τε ἀγρύπνους διῆγον καὶ λυπηρὰς καὶ τὴν ἠρινὴν ὥραν ἀνέμενον ἐκ θανάτου παλιγγενεσίαν. Ἐλύπει δὲ αὐτοὺς ἢ πήρα τις ἐλθοῦσα εἰς χεῖρας, ἐξ ἧς συνήσθιον, ἢ γαυλὸς ὀφθείς, ἐξ οὗ συνέπιον, ἢ σύριγξ ἀμελῶς ἐρριμμένη, δῶρον ἐρωτικὸν γεγενημένη. Εὔχοντο δὴ ταῖς Νύμφαις καὶ τῷ Πανὶ καὶ τούτων αὐτοὺς ἐκλύσασθαι τῶν κακῶν καὶ δεῖξαί ποτε αὐτοῖς καὶ ταῖς ἀγέλαις ἥλιον: ἅμα τε εὐχόμενοι τέχνην ἐζήτουν, δἰ ἧς ἀλλήλους θεάσονται. Ἡ μὲν δὴ Χλόη δεινῶς ἄπορος ἦν καὶ ἀμήχανος: ἀεὶ γὰρ αὐτῇ συνῆν ἡ δοκοῦσα μήτηρ ἔριά τε ξαίνειν διδάσκουσα καὶ ἀτράκτους στρέφειν καὶ γάμου μνημονεύουσα: ὁ δὲ Δάφνις, οἷα σχολὴν ἄγων καὶ συνετώτερος κόρης, τοιόνδε σόφισμα εὗρεν ἐς θέαν τῆς Χλόης.

  3.4 The necessity of remaining at home gladdened the hearts of the other labourers and shepherds, who thus enjoyed some relaxation from their daily task, and, after they had breakfasted, had a long sleep. In this respect the winter seemed to them more enjoyable than spring, summer, or autumn. But Daphnis and Chloe had always in mind the pleasant pastimes which they were now forced to abandon - their kisses, embraces, and meals shared together: they passed sad and sleepless nights, and waited for the return of spring as a resurrection. It grieved them sorely when they touched a wallet from which they had eaten, or saw a pail from which they had drunk together, or a pipe, carelessly thrown aside, that had been a gift of affection. They prayed to Pan and the Nymphs to put an end to their sorrows, and to show the sun again to them and their flocks; at the same time, they endeavoured to find some means of seeing each other. Chloe was terribly embarrassed, and did not know what to do: for her supposed mother
never left her for a moment: she taught her to card wool, and turn the spindle, and talked to her of marriage. Daphnis, however, since he had more time to himself, and was cleverer than the young girl, devised the following scheme for seeing her.

  Πρὸ τῆς αὐλῆς τοῦ Δρύαντος, ὑπ̓ αὐτῇ τῇ αὐλῇ, μυρρίναι μεγάλαι δύο καὶ κιττὸς ἐπεφύκει: αἱ μυρρίναι πλησίον ἀλλήλων, ὁ κιττὸς ἀμφοτέρων μέσος, ὥστε ἐφ̓ ἑκατέραν διαθεὶς τοὺς ἀκρεμόνας ὡς ἄμπελος ἄντρου σχῆμα διὰ τῶν φύλλων ἐπαλλαττόντων ἐποίει: καὶ ὁ κόρυμβος πολὺς καὶ μέγας ὅσος βότρυς κλημάτων ἐξεκρέματο. Ἦν οὖν πολὺ πλῆθος περὶ αὐτὸν τῶν χειμερινῶν ὀρνίθων ἀπορίᾳ τῆς ἔξω τροφῆς: πολὺς μὲν κόψιχος, πολλὴ δὲ κίχλη, καὶ φάτται καὶ ψᾶρες καὶ ὅσον ἄλλο κιττοφάγον πτερόν. Τούτων τῶν ὀρνίθων ἐπὶ προφάσει θήρας ἐξώρμησεν ὁ Δάφνις, ἐμπλήσας μὲν τὴν πήραν ὀψημάτων μεμελιτωμένων, κομίζων δὲ ἐς πίστιν ἰξὸν καὶ βρόχους. Τὸ μὲν οὖν μεταξὺ σταδίων ἦν οὐ πλέον δέκα: οὔπω δὲ ἡ χιὼν λελυμένη πολὺν αὐτῷ κάματον παρέσχεν: ἔρωτι δὲ ἄρα πάντα βάσιμα καὶ πῦρ καὶ ὕδωρ καὶ Σκυθικὴ χιών.

  3.5 In front of Dryas’s cottage, close to the courtyard gate, grew two large myrtles and an ivy plant. The myrtles almost touched, and the ivy had worked its way between them in such a manner that, spreading its branches on either side like a vine, it formed a kind of arbour shaded by its intertwining foliage: berries, large as grapes, hung down from the branches, upon which settled swarms of birds, which were unable to procure food outside - blackbirds, thrushes, doves, starlings, and all the birds that are fond of feeding on ivy. Daphnis went out under pretence of catching some of these birds, taking with him a wallet full of honey-cakes, and some birdlime and snares, so as to allay all suspicion. Although the distance was ten stades at the most, the snow, which was not yet melted, caused him great inconvenience: but Love can make its way through everything, through fire, water, and the snows of Scythia.

  Δρόμῳ οὖν πρὸς τὴν αὐλὴν ἔρχεται καὶ ἀποσεισάμενος τῶν σκελῶν τὴν χιόνα τούς τε βρόχους ἔστησε καὶ τὸν ἰξὸν ῥάβδοις μακραῖς ἐπήλειψε: καὶ ἐκαθέζετο τὸ ἐντεῦθεν ὄρνιθας καὶ τὴν Χλόην μεριμνῶν. Ἀλλ̓ ὄρνιθες μὲν καὶ ἧκον πολλοὶ καὶ ἐλήφθησαν ἱκανοί, ὥστε πράγματα μυρία ἔσχε συλλέγων αὐτοὺς καὶ ἀποκτιννὺς καὶ ἀποδύων τὰ πτερά: τῆς δὲ αὐλῆς προῆλθεν οὐδείς, οὐκ ἀνήρ, οὐ γύναιον, οὐ κατοικίδιος ὄρνις, ἀλλὰ πάντες τῷ πυρὶ παραμένοντες ἔνδον κατεκέκλειντο, ὥστε πάνυ ἠπορεῖτο ὁ Δάφνις ὡς οὐκ ἐπ̓ αἰσίοις ὄρνισιν ἐλθών: καὶ ἐτόλμα πρόφασιν σκηψάμενος ὤσασθαι διὰ θυρῶν καὶ ἐζήτει πρὸς αὑτὸν ὅ τι λεχθῆναι πιθανώτατον. ‘Πῦρ ἐναυσόμενος ἦλθον.᾿ ῾Μὴ γὰρ οὐκ ἦσαν ἀπὸ σταδίου γείτονες;᾿ ῾Ἄρτους αἰτησόμενος ἧκον.᾿ ῾Ἀλλ̓ ἡ πήρα μεστὴ τροφῆς.᾿ ῾Οἴνου δέομαι.᾿ ῾Καὶ μὴν χθὲς καὶ πρώην ἐτρύγησας.᾿ ῾Λύκος με ἐδίωκε.᾿ ῾Καὶ ποῦ τὰ ἴχνη τοῦ λύκου;᾿ ῾Θηράσων ἀφικόμην τοὺς ὄρνιθας.᾿ ῾Τί οὖν θηράσας οὐκ ἄπει;᾿ ῾Χλόην θεάσασθαι βούλομαι.’ Πατρὶ δὲ τίς καὶ μητρὶ παρθένου τοῦτο ὁμολογεῖ; Πταίων δὴ πανταχοῦ ‘ἀλλ̓ οὐδὲν’ ἔφη ‘τούτων ἁπάντων ἀνύποπτον. Ἄμεινον ἄρα σιγᾶν: Χλόην δὲ ἦρος ὄψομαι, ἐπεὶ μὴ εἵμαρτο, ὡς ἔοικε, χειμῶνός με ταύτην ἰδεῖν.’ Τοιαῦτα δή τινα διανοηθεὶς καὶ σιωπῇ τὰ θηραθέντα συλλαβὼν ὥρμητο ἀπιέναι: καὶ ὥσπερ αὐτὸν οἰκτείραντος τοῦ Ἔρωτος τάδε γίνεται.

  3.6 He made all haste to the cottage, and, having shaken the snow from his feet, he set up his snares, and smeared some long sticks with birdlime: then he sat down waiting for the birds and thinking of Chloe. The birds came in great numbers, and he caught so many that he had plenty to do to pick them up, kill, and pluck them. But no one left the house, neither man, nor woman, nor fowl: for all had shut themselves up and were seated round the fire. Daphnis was utterly at a loss what to do, and cursed his unlucky star: then he thought of venturing to knock at the door, but did not know what plausible excuse to make. He discussed the matter with himself as follows: “If I say that I have come to fetch something to light a fire with, they will ask me if I have no nearer neighbours. If I ask for some bread, they will tell me that my wallet is full of food. If I say I want wine, they will answer that we have only just got in the vintage. If I say I have been chased by a wolf, they will ask where his footprints are. If I say that I came to catch birds, they will ask me why I do not return home, now that I have caught enough. And, as for declaring openly that I want to see Chloe, who would make such a confession to a girl’s mother and father? All such excuses are open to suspicion: the best thing will be to hold my tongue. I shall see Chloe again in the spring, since I am not destined to see her this winter.”

  After this soliloquy he picked up his birds and was preparing to go, when, as if Love had taken compassion upon him, the following incident occurred.

  Περὶ τράπεζαν εἶχον οἱ ἀμφὶ τὸν Δρύαντα: κρέα διῃρεῖτο, ἄρτοι παρετίθεντο, κρατὴρ ἐκίρνατο. Εἷς δὴ κύων τῶν προβατευτικῶν ἀμέλειαν φυλάξας, κρέας ἁρπάσας ἔφυγε διὰ θυρῶν. Ἀλγήσας ὁ Δρύας ῾καὶ γὰρ ἦν ἐκείνου μοῖρἀ ξύλον ἀράμενος ἐδίωκε κατ̓ ἴχνος ὥσπερ κύων: διώκων δὲ κατὰ τὸν κιττὸν γενόμενος ὁρᾷ τὸν Δάφνιν ἀνατεθειμένον ἐπὶ τοὺς ὤμους τὴν ἄγραν καὶ ἀποσοβεῖν ἐγνωκότα. Κρέως μὲν οὖν καὶ κυνὸς αὐτίκα ἐπελάθετο, μέγα δὲ βοήσας ‘χαῖρε, ὦ παῖ’ περιεπλέκετο καὶ κατεφίλει καὶ ἦγεν ἔσω λαβόμενος. Μικροῦ μὲν οὖν ἰδόντες ἀλλήλους εἰς τὴν γῆν κατερρύησαν: μεῖναι δὲ καρτερήσαντες ὀρθοὶ προσηγόρευσάν τε καὶ κατεφίλησαν: καὶ τοῦτο οἱονεὶ ἔρεισμα αὐτοῖς τοῦ μὴ πεσεῖν ἐγένετο.

  3.7 Dryas was at table with his family: the meat had been cut up and distributed, the bread served, and the goblet mixed, when one of the sheep dogs, taking advantage of the moment when no one was watching him, seized a piece of meat, and ran out of doors. Dryas, greatly enraged (for the piece of meat was his own portion), snatched up a cudgel, and ran after him like another dog. In his pursuit, he passed close to the ivy, and saw Daphnis who had just flung his spoil over his shoulders, and had made up his mind to depart. Then, immediately forgetting all about the meat and the dog, he shouted, “Good day, my lad,” embraced him, and led him into the house. When Daphnis and Chloe saw each other, they nearly fainted for joy: however, they managed to keep on their feet, and greeted and saluted each other: and
this helped to prevent them from falling.

  Τυχὼν οὖν ὁ Δάφνις παῤ ἐλπίδας καὶ φιλήματος καὶ Χλόης τοῦ τε πυρὸς ἐκαθέσθη πλησίον καὶ ἐπὶ τὴν τράπεζαν ἀπὸ τῶν ὤμων τὰς φάττας ἀπεφορτίσατο καὶ τοὺς κοψίχους, καὶ διηγεῖτο πῶς ἀσχάλλων πρὸς τὴν οἰκουρίαν ὥρμησε πρὸς ἄγραν, καὶ ὅπως τὰ μὲν αὐτῶν βρόχοις τὰ δὲ ἰξῷ λάβοι τῶν μύρτων καὶ τοῦ κιττοῦ γλιχόμενα. Οἱ δὲ ἐπῄνουν τὸ ἐνεργὸν καὶ ἐκέλευον ἐσθίειν ὧν ὁ κύων κατέλιπεν, ἐκέλευον δὲ καὶ τῇ Χλόῃ πιεῖν ἐγχέαι. Καὶ ἣ χαίρουσα τοῖς τε ἄλλοις ὤρεξε καὶ Δάφνιδι μετὰ τοὺς ἄλλους: ἐσκήπτετο γὰρ ὀργίζεσθαι, διότι ἐλθὼν ἔμελλεν ἀποτρέχειν οὐκ ἰδών: ὅμως μέντοι πρὶν προσενεγκεῖν ἀπέπιεν, εἶθ̓ οὕτως ἔδωκεν. Ὁ δέ, καίτοι διψῶν, βραδέως ἔπινε, παρέχων ἑαυτῷ διὰ τῆς βραδυτῆτος μακροτέραν ἡδονήν.

  3.8 Thus Daphnis, having, beyond all expectation, both seen and kissed Chloe, took a seat near the fire, and laid upon the table the doves and blackbirds with which his shoulders were burdened. He told them how, weary of being obliged to stay at home, he had set out to catch birds, and how he had trapped them with snares and birdlime, owing to their greediness for myrtle and ivy-berries. They praised his activity, and pressed him to eat some of what the dog had left. Chloe was bidden to pour out wine for them to drink, which she gladly did. She served all the rest first, reserving Daphnis for the last: for she pretended to be angry with him because, having come so far, he was on the point of going home without seeing her. However, before she offered him the cup, she dipped her lips into it and then gave it to him: and he, although very thirsty, drank the contents slowly, in order to make the pleasure last longer.