Delphi Complete Works of Longus

by Longus

  Ἡ μὲν δὴ τράπεζα ταχέως ἐγένετο κενὴ ἄρτων καὶ κρεῶν: καθήμενοι δὲ περὶ τῆς Μυρτάλης καὶ τοῦ Λάμωνος ἐπυνθάνοντο καὶ εὐδαιμόνιζον αὐτοὺς τοιούτου γηροτρόφου εὐτυχήσαντας. Καὶ τοῖς ἐπαίνοις μὲν ἥδετο Χλόης ἀκροωμένης: ὅτε δὲ κατεῖχον αὐτόν, ὡς θύσοντες Διονύσῳ τῆς ἐπιούσης ἡμέρας, μικροῦ δεῖν ὑφ̓ ἡδονῆς ἐκείνους ἀντὶ τοῦ Διονύσου προσεκύνησεν. Αὐτίκα οὖν ἐκ τῆς πήρας προυκόμιζε μελιτώματα πολλὰ καὶ τοὺς θηραθέντας δὲ τῶν ὀρνίθων: καὶ τούτους ἐς τράπεζαν νυκτερινὴν ηὐτρέπιζον. Δεύτερος κρατὴρ ἵστατο καὶ δεύτερον πῦρ ἀνεκάετο. Καὶ ταχὺ μάλα νυκτὸς γενομένης, δευτέρας τραπέζης ἐνεφοροῦντο, μεθ̓ ἣν τὰ μὲν μυθολογήσαντες τὰ δὲ ᾄσαντες εἰς ὕπνον ἐχώρουν, Χλόη μετὰ τῆς μητρός, Δρύας ἅμα Δάφνιδι. Χλόῃ μὲν οὖν οὐδὲν χρηστὸν ἦν ὅτι μὴ τῆς ἐπιούσης ἡμέρας ὀφθησόμενος ὁ Δάφνις: Δάφνις δὲ κενὴν τέρψιν ἐτέρπετο: τερπνὸν γὰρ ἐνόμιζε καὶ πατρὶ συγκοιμηθῆναι Χλόης: ὥστε καὶ περιέβαλλεν αὐτὸν καὶ κατεφίλει πολλάκις, ταῦτα πάντα ποιεῖν Χλόην ὀνειροπολούμενος.

  3.9 The bread and meat soon disappeared from the table: then, remaining seated, his hosts began to ask him about Myrtale and Lamon, at the same time congratulating them upon having such a support in their old age. Daphnis was delighted at their commendation, since Chloe heard them: but when they invited him to stay until the following day, when they intended to offer sacrifice to Dionysus, he was ready to fall down and worship them in place of the God. He immediately pulled out the honey-cakes from his wallet and all the birds which he had caught: and they got them ready for the evening meal. A second goblet was prepared, and the fire re-lighted: and, when it was night, they sat down to another hearty meal. After this they sang and told stories, and then went to bed. Chloe with her mother, and Daphnis with Dryas. Chloe thought of nothing but the happiness of seeing Daphnis on the following day; while Daphnis satisfied himself with an idle enjoyment: he thought it happiness even to sleep with Chloe’s father, clasped him in his arms, and kissed him again and again, dreaming that he was kissing and embracing Chloe.

  Ὡς δὲ ἐγένετο ἡμέρα, κρύος μὲν ἦν ἐξαίσιον καὶ αὖρα βόρειος ἀπέκαε πάντα. Οἱ δὲ ἀναστάντες θύουσι τῷ Διονύσῳ κριὸν ἐνιαύσιον καὶ πῦρ ἀνακαύσαντες μέγα παρεσκευάζοντο τροφήν. Τῆς οὖν Νάπης ἀρτοποιούσης καὶ τοῦ Δρύαντος τὸν κριὸν ἕψοντος, σχολῆς ὁ Δάφνις καὶ ἡ Χλόη λαβόμενοι προῆλθον τῆς αὐλῆς ἵνα ὁ κιττός: καὶ πάλιν βρόχους στήσαντες καὶ ἰξὸν ἐπαλείψαντες ἐθήρων πλῆθος οὐκ ὀλίγον ὀρνίθων. Ἦν δ̓ αὐτοῖς καὶ φιλημάτων ἀπόλαυσις συνεχὴς καὶ λόγων ὁμιλία τερπνή. ‘Διὰ σὲ ἦλθον, Χλόη.’ ‘Οἶδα, Δάφνι.’ ‘Διὰ σὲ ἀπολλύω τοὺς ἀθλίους κοψίχους.’ ‘Τί οὖν σοι γένωμαι;’ ‘Μέμνησό μου.’ ‘Μνημονεύω, νὴ τὰς Νύμφας, ἃς ὤμοσά ποτε εἰς ἐκεῖνο τὸ ἄντρον , εἰς ὃ ἥξομεν εὐθύς, ἂν ἡ χιὼν τακῇ.’ ‘Ἀλλὰ πολλή ἐστι, Χλόη, καὶ δέδοικα μὴ ἐγὼ πρὸ ταύτης τακῶ.’ ‘Θάρρει, Δάφνι, θερμός ἐστιν ὁ ἥλιος.’ ‘Εἰ γὰρ οὕτως γένοιτο. Χλόη, θερμός, ὡς τὸ κᾶον πῦρ τὴν καρδίαν τὴν ἐμήν.’ ‘Παίζεις ἀπατῶν με.’ ‘Οὐ μὰ τὰς αἶγας, ἃς σύ με ἐκέλευες ὀμνύειν.’

  3.10 At daybreak, it was bitterly cold, and a north wind was nipping everything. The family got up, and having sacrificed a year old ram to Dionysus, lighted a large fire, and made preparations for a meal. While Nape was making the bread, and Dryas cooking the meat, Daphnis and Chloe, being left to themselves, retired to the ivy bower in front of the yard, where they again set up the nets and smeared the twigs with birdlime, and caught a large number of birds. In the meantime, they continually kissed each other and held delightful converse.

  “It was for your sake that I came, dear Chloe.” “I know it, Daphnis.” “It is for your sake that I am destroying these poor birds. What then am I to you? Do not forget me.” “I do not forget you, I swear by the Nymphs whom I formerly invoked as the witnesses of my oath in the grotto, whither we will soon return, as soon as the snow melts.” “It lies very deep, Chloe: I am afraid that I myself shall melt first.” “Courage, Daphnis: the sun is hot.” “Would that it were as hot as the fire which consumes my heart.” “You are laughing at me and trying to deceive me.” “No, I swear it by the goats, by which you bade me swear.”

  Τοιαῦτα ἀντιφωνήσασα πρὸς τὸν Δάφνιν ἡ Χλόη καθάπερ ἠχώ, καλούντων αὐτοὺς τῶν περὶ τὴν Νάπην εἰσέδραμον, πολὺ περιττοτέραν τῆς χθιζῆς θήραν κομίζοντες: καὶ ἀπαρξάμενοι τῷ Διονύσῳ κρατῆρος ἤσθιον κιττῷ τὰς κεφαλὰς ἐστεφανωμένοι. Καὶ ἐπεὶ καιρὸς ἦν, ἰακχάσαντες καὶ εὐάσαντες προύπεμπον τὸν Δάφνιν, πλήσαντες αὐτοῦ τὴν πήραν κρεῶν καὶ ἄρτων. Ἔδωκαν δὲ καὶ τὰς φάττας καὶ τὰς κίχλας Λάμωνι καὶ Μυρτάλῃ κομίζειν, ὡς αὐτοὶ θηράσοντες ἄλλας, ἔστ̓ ἂν ὁ χειμὼν μένῃ καὶ ὁ κιττὸς μὴ λείπῃ. Ὁ δὲ ἀπῄει, φιλήσας αὐτοὺς προτέρους Χλόης, ἵνα τὸ ἐκείνης φίλημα καθαρὸν μείνῃ. Καὶ ἄλλας δὲ πολλὰς ἦλθεν ὁδοὺς ἐπ̓ ἄλλαις τέχναις, ὥστε μὴ παντάπασιν αὐτοῖς γενέσθαι τὸν χειμῶνα ἀνέραστον.

  3.11 While Chloe was thus answering Daphnis, like an echo, Nape called them. They ran into the house with their catch, which was much larger than that of the previous day. After they had poured libations to Dionysus, they ate, crowned with garlands of ivy. Then, when the time came, after they had celebrated the praises of Bacchus and chanted Evoe, Dryas and Nape sent Daphnis on his way, having first filled his wallet with bread and meat. They also gave him the wood-pigeons and thrushes to take to Lamon and Myrtale, since they knew that they would be able to catch as many as they wanted, as long as the winter and the ivy-berries lasted. Then Daphnis departed, after kissing them all - Chloe last, that her kiss might remain pure and without alloy. He afterwards found several fresh excuses for returning, so that they did not pass the winter entirely deprived of the joys of love.

  Ἤδη δὲ ἦρος ἀρχομένου καὶ τῆς μὲν χιόνος λυομένης, τῆς δὲ γῆς γυμνουμένης καὶ τῆς πόας ὑπανθούσης οἵ τε ἄλλοι νομεῖς ἦγον τὰς ἀγέλας εἰς νομὴν καὶ πρὸ τῶν ἄλλων Χλόη καὶ Δάφνις, οἷα μείζονι δουλεύοντες ποιμένι. Εὐθὺς οὖν δρόμος ἦν ἐπὶ τὰς Νύμφας καὶ τὸ ἄντρον, ἐντεῦθεν ἐπὶ τὸν Πᾶνα καὶ τὴν πίτυν, εἶτα ἐπὶ τὴν δρῦν, ὑφ̓ ἣν καθίζοντες καὶ τ
ὰς ἀγέλας ἔνεμον καὶ ἀλλήλους κατεφίλουν. Ἀνεζήτησαν δὲ καὶ ἄνθη στεφανῶσαι θέλοντες τοὺς θεούς: τὰ δὲ ἄρτι ὁ ζέφυρος τρέφων καὶ ὁ ἥλιος θερμαίνων ἐξῆγεν: ὅμως δὲ εὑρέθη καὶ ἴα καὶ νάρκισσος καὶ ἀναγαλλὶς καὶ ὅσα ἦρος πρωτοφορήματα. Ἡ μὲν οὖν Χλόη καὶ ὁ Δάφνις ἀπὸ αἰγῶν καὶ ἀπὸ οἰῶν τινων γάλα νέον καὶ τοῦτο στεφανοῦντες τὰ ἀγάλματα κατέσπεισαν. Ἀπήρξαντο καὶ σύριγγος, καθάπερ τὰς ἀηδόνας ἐς τὴν μουσικὴν ἐρεθίζοντες: αἱ δ̓ ὑπεφθέγγοντο ἐν ταῖς λόχμαις καὶ τὸν Ἴτυν κατ̓ ὀλίγον ἠκρίβουν, ὥσπερ ἀναμιμνησκόμεναι τῆς ᾠδῆς ἐκ μακρᾶς σιωπῆς.

  3.12 With the commencement of spring the snow began to melt, the earth again became visible, and the green grass sprouted. The shepherds again drove their flocks into the fields, Daphnis and Chloe first of all, since they served a mightier shepherd. They ran first to the grotto of the Nymphs, then to the pine tree and the image of Pan, and after that to the oak, under which they sat down, watching their flocks and kissing each other. Then, to weave chaplets for the Gods, they went in search of some flowers, which were only just beginning to blossom under the fostering influence of Zephyr and the warmth of the sun: however, they found some violets, hyacinths, pimpernel, and other flowers of early spring. After they had drunk some new milk drawn from the sheep and goats, they crowned the images, and poured libations. Then they began to play upon their pipes, as if challenging to song the nightingales, which were warbling in the thickets and gradually perfecting their lamentation for Itys, as if anxious, after long silence, to recall their strains.

  Ἐβληχήσατό που καὶ ποίμνιον: ἐσκίρτησάν που καὶ ἄρνες καὶ ταῖς μητράσιν ὑποκλάσαντες τὴν θηλὴν ἔσπασαν: τὰς δὲ μήπω τετοκυίας οἱ κριοὶ καταδιώκοντες καὶ κάτω στήσαντες ἔβαινον ἄλλος ἄλλην. Ἐγίνοντο καὶ τράγων διώγματα καὶ ἐς τὰς αἶγας ἐρωτικώτερα πηδήματα, καὶ ἐμάχοντο περὶ τῶν αἰγῶν: καὶ ἕκαστος εἶχεν ἰδίας καὶ ἐφύλαττε μή τις αὐτὰς μοιχεύσῃ λαθών. Καὶ γέροντας ὁρῶντας ἐξώρμησεν ἂν εἰς ἀφροδίτην τὰ τοιαῦτα θεάματα: οἱ δὲ καὶ νέοι καὶ σφριγῶντες καὶ πολὺν ἤδη χρόνον ἔρωτα ζητοῦντες ἐξεκάοντο πρὸς τὰ ἀκούσματα καὶ ἐτήκοντο πρὸς τὰ θεάματα καὶ ἐζήτουν καὶ αὐτοὶ περιττότερόν τι φιλήματος καὶ περιβολῆς, μάλιστα δὲ ὁ Δάφνις. Οἷα γοῦν ἐνηβήσας τῇ κατὰ τὸν χειμῶνα οἰκουρίᾳ καὶ εὐσχολίᾳ πρός τε τὰ φιλήματα ὤργα καὶ πρὸς τὰς περιβολὰς ἐσκιτάλιζε καὶ ἦν ἐς πᾶν ἔργον περιεργότερος καὶ θρασύτερος.

  3.13 The sheep began to bleat, the lambs gambolled, or stooped under their mothers’ bellies to suck their teats. The rams chased the sheep which had not yet borne young, and mounted them. The he-goats also chased the she-goats with even greater heat, leaped amorously upon them, and fought for them. Each had his own mate, and jealously guarded her against the attacks of a wanton rival. At this sight even old men would have felt the fire of love rekindled within them: the more so Daphnis and Chloe, who were young and tortured by desire, and had long been in quest of the delights of love. All that they heard inflamed them, all that they saw melted them and they longed for something more than mere embraces and kisses, but especially Daphnis, who, having spent the winter in the house doing nothing, kissed Chloe fiercely, pressed her wantonly in his arms, and showed himself in every respect more curious and audacious.

  Ἤτει δὴ τὴν Χλόην χαρίσασθαί οἱ πᾶν ὅσον βούλεται καὶ γυμνὴν γυμνῷ συγκατακλινῆναι μακρότερον ἢ πρόσθεν εἰώθεσαν: τοῦτο γὰρ λείπειν τοῖς Φιλητᾶ παιδεύμασιν, ἵνα δὴ γένηται τὸ μόνον ἔρωτα παῦον φάρμακον. Τῆς δὲ πυνθανομένης τί πλέον ἐστὶ φιλήματος καὶ περιβολῆς καὶ αὐτῆς κατακλίσεως καὶ τί ἔγνωκε δρᾶσαι γυμνὸς γυμνῇ συγκατακλινείς, ‘τοῦτο’ εἶπεν ‘ὃ οἱ κριοὶ ποιοῦσι τὰς οἶς καὶ οἱ τράγοι τὰς αἶγας. Ὁρᾷς ὡς μετὰ τοῦτο τὸ ἔργον οὔτε ἐκεῖναι φεύγουσιν ἔτι αὐτοὺς οὔτε ἐκεῖνοι κάμνουσι διώκοντες, ἀλλ̓ ὥσπερ κοινῆς λοιπὸν ἀπολαύσαντες ἡδονῆς συννέμονται; Γλυκύ τι, ὡς ἔοικεν, ἐστὶ τὸ ἔργον καὶ νικᾷ τὸ ἔρωτος πικρόν.’ ‘Εἶτα οὐχ ὁρᾷς, ὦ Δάφνι, τὰς αἶγας καὶ τοὺς τράγους καὶ τοὺς κριοὺς καὶ τὰς οἶς ὡς ὀρθοὶ μὲν ἐκεῖνοι δρῶσιν, ὀρθαὶ δὲ ἐκεῖναι πάσχουσιν, οἱ μὲν ἐπιπηδήσαντες, αἱ δὲ κατανωτισάμεναι; Σὺ δέ με ἀξιοῖς συγκατακλινῆναι καὶ ταῦτα γυμνήν; Καίτοιγε ἐκεῖναι πόσον ἐκδεδυμένης ἐμοῦ λασιώτεραι;’ Πείθεται Δάφνις καὶ συγκατακλινεὶς αὐτῇ πολὺν χρόνον ἔκειτο καὶ οὐδὲν ὧν ἕνεκα ὤργα ποιεῖν ἐπιστάμενος ἀνίστησιν αὐτὴν καὶ κατόπιν περιεφύετο μιμούμενος τοὺς τράγους. Πολὺ δὲ μᾶλλον ἀπορηθείς, καθίσας ἔκλαεν εἰ καὶ κριῶν ἀμαθέστερος εἰς τὰ ἔρωτος ἔργα.

  3.14 He begged her to grant him all he desired, and to lie with him naked longer than they had been accustomed to do: “This,” said he, “is the only one of Philetas’s instructions that we have not yet followed, the only remedy that can appease Love.” When Chloe asked him what else there could be besides kisses, embraces, and lying together, and what he meant to do, if they both lay naked together, he replied: “The same as the rams and the he-goats do to their mates. You see how, after this has been accomplished, the former no longer pursue the latter, nor do the latter flee from the former: but, from that moment, they feed quietly together, as if they had enjoyed the same pleasure in common. This pastime, methinks, is something sweet, which can overcome the bitterness of love.” “But,” answered Chloe, “do you not see that he-goats and she goats, rams and sheep, all satisfy their desire standing upright: the males leap upon the females, who receive them on their backs? You ask me to lie down with you naked: but see how much thicker their fleece is than my garments.” Daphnis obeyed (!), lay down by her side, and held her for a long time clasped in his arms: but, not knowing how to do what he was burning to do, he made her get up, and embraced her behind, in imitation of the he-goats, but with even less success: then, utterly at a loss what to do, he sat down on the ground and began to weep at the idea of being more ignorant of the mysteries of love than the rams.

  Ἦν δέ τις αὐτῷ γείτων, γεωργὸς γῆς ἰδίας, Χρῶμις τοὔνομα, παρηβῶν ἤδη τὸ σῶμα. Τούτῳ γύναιον ἦν ἐπακτὸν ἐξ ἄστεος, νέον καὶ ὡραῖον καὶ ἀγροικίας ἁβρότερον: τούτῳ Λυκαίνιον ὄνομα ἦν. Αὕτη ἡ Λυκαίνιον ὁρῶσα τὸν Δάφνιν καθ̓ ἑκάστην ἡμέραν παρελαύνοντα τὰς αἶγ
ας ἕωθεν εἰς νομήν, νύκτωρ ἐκ νομῆς, ἐπεθύμησεν ἐραστὴν κτήσασθαι δώροις δελεάσασα. Καὶ δή ποτε λοχήσασα μόνον καὶ σύριγγα δῶρον ἔδωκε καὶ μέλι ἐν κηρίῳ καὶ πήραν ἐλάφου: εἰπεῖν δέ τι ὤκνει, τὸν Χλόης ἔρωτα καταμαντευομένη: πάνυ γὰρ ἑώρα προσκείμενον αὐτὸν τῇ κόρῃ. Πρότερον μὲν οὖν ἐκ νευμάτων καὶ γέλωτος συνεβάλετο τοῦτο, τότε δὲ ἐξ ἑωθινοῦ σκηψαμένη πρὸς Χρῶμιν ὡς παρὰ τίκτουσαν ἄπεισι γείτονα κατόπιν τε αὐτοῖς παρηκολούθησε καὶ εἴς τινα λόχμην ἐγκρύψασα ἑαυτήν, ὡς μὴ βλέποιτο, πάντα ἤκουσεν ὅσα εἶπον, πάντα εἶδεν ὅσα ἔπραξαν: οὐκ ἔλαθεν αὐτὴν οὐδὲ κλαύσας ὁ Δάφνις. Συναλγήσασα δὴ τοῖς ἀθλίοις καὶ καιρὸν ἥκειν νομίσασα διττόν, τὸν μὲν εἰς τὴν ἐκείνων σωτηρίαν, τὸν δὲ εἰς τὴν ἑαυτῆς ἐπιθυμίαν, ἐπιτεχνᾶταί τι τοιόνδε.

  3.15 In the neighbourhood there dwelt a labourer named Chromis, already advanced in years, who farmed his own estate. He had a wife whom he had brought from the city, young, beautiful, and more refined than the countrywomen: her name was Lycaenium. Every morning she saw Daphnis driving his goats to pasture, and back again at night. She was seized with a desire of winning him for her lover by presents. Having watched until he was alone, she gave him a pipe, a honeycomb, and a deerskin wallet, but she was afraid to say anything, suspecting his love for Chloe. For she had observed that he was devoted to the girl, although hitherto she had only guessed his affection from having seen them exchange nods and smiles. One day, in the morning, making the excuse to Chromis that she was going to visit a neighbour who had been brought to bed, she followed them, concealed herself in a thicket to avoid being seen, and heard all they said, and saw all they did. Even Daphnis’s tears did not escape her. Pitying the poor young couple, and thinking that she had a two-fold opportunity - of getting them out of their trouble and, at the same time, satisfying her own desires - she had recourse to the following stratagem.