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SCRIPTORES EROTICI GR^ECL 
 
 THE 
 
 GREEK ROMANCES 
 
 HELIODORUS, LONGUS, 
 ACHILLES TATIUS, 
 
 COMPRISING 
 
 THE ETHIOPICS ; OR, ADVENTURES OF THEAGENES 
 AND CHARICLEA; 
 
 THE PASTORAL AMOURS OF DAPHNIS AND CHLOE; 
 
 AND 
 
 THE LOVES OF CLITOPHO AND LEUCIPPE. 
 
 % ranslateb from % reek, foitjy 
 
 BY THE REV. ROWLAND SMITH, M.A., 
 
 FORMERLY OF ST. JOHN ? 3 03ILFGF, OXFOBD. 
 
 LONDON: GEORGE BELL AND SONS, YORK STREET, 
 COVENT GARDEN. 
 
 1889. 
 
LONDON : 
 
 PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, 
 STAMFORD STREET A>T> CHARING CROSS. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 PREFACE v 
 
 HELIODORUS. 
 
 THE ETHIOPICS; OR, ADVENTURES OF THEAGENES 
 AND CHARICLEA 1 
 
 SUMMARY OP THE STORY xx 
 
 LONGUS. 
 
 THE AMOURS OF DAPHNIS AND CHLOE 261 
 
 SUMMARY OP THE STORY..., xxv 
 
 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 THE LOVES OF CLITOPHO AND LEUCIPPE 349 
 
 SUMMARY OP THE STORY .. .. xsx 
 
 414864 
 
PREFACE 
 
 BY no reader of classical antiquity will any of its remains 
 be regarded as entirely devoid of worth. T*he " fine gold " 
 will naturally stand first in estimation, but the " silver and 
 brass and iron," nay even the " iron mingled with miry 
 clay," will each possess its respective value. Accordingly, 
 while the foremost place will ever be assigned to its His- 
 torians, Philosophers, Orators, and Poets, the time will not 
 be esteemed thrown away which makes him acquainted with 
 those authors who struck out a new vein of writing, and 
 abandoning the facts of history and the inventions of my- 
 thology, drew upon their own imagination and sought for 
 subjects in the manners and pursuits of domestic life. 
 
 The publication of a revised translation of Heliodorus 
 and Longus, and of a new translation of Achilles Tatius, 
 calls for some brief prefatory observations upon the origin 
 of fictitious narrative among the Greeks ; that department 
 of literature which, above any other, has been prolific in 
 finding followers, more especially in modern times ; and 
 which, according to the spirit in which it is handled, is. capa- 
 ble of producing some of the best or worst effects upon 
 society. 
 
 Works of fiction may, as we know, administer a poisoned 
 cup, but they may also supply a wholesome and pleasing 
 draught ; they may be the ministers of the grossest immo- 
 rality and absurdity, but they may likewise be the vehicles 
 of sound sense and profitable instruction. 
 
 " As real History'' says Bacon, "gives us not fbe suc- 
 cess of things according to the deserts of vice and virtue 
 
n PEEFACE. 
 
 Fiction connects it, and presents us with the fates and for 
 tunes of persons, rewarded or punished according to merit.' 
 
 "It is chiefly in the fictions of an age," sayc Dunlop, 
 ** that we can discover the modes of living, dress, and man- 
 ners of the period ;" and he goes on to say " But even if 
 the utility which is derived from Fiction were less than it 
 is, how much are we indebted to it for pleasure and enjoy- 
 ment ! It sweetens solitude and charms sorrow it occu- 
 pies the attention of the vacant, and unbends the mind of 
 the philosopher. Like the enchanter, Fiction shows us, as 
 it were in a mirror, the most agreeable objects ; recalls from 
 a distance the forms which are dear to us, and soothes our 
 own grief by awakening aur sympathy fit others. By its 
 means the recluse is placed in the midst of society ; and he 
 who is harassed and agitated in the city is transported to 
 rural tranquillity and repose. The rude are refined by an 
 introduction, as it were, to the higher orders of mankind, 
 and even the dissipated and selfish are. in some degree, cor- 
 rected by those paintings of virtue and simple nature, which 
 must ever be employed by the novelist, if he wish to awaken 
 emotion or delight." 
 
 Huet, Bishop of Avranches, was the first who wrote a 
 regular and systematic treatise on the origin of fictitious 
 narrative "De origine Fabularum Komanensium." 
 
 He gives it as his opinion, that " not in Provence (Pro- 
 vincia Eornanorum), nor yet in Spain, are we to look for 
 the fatherland of those amusing compositions called Eo- 
 mances ; but that it is among the people of the East, the 
 Arabs, the Egyptians, the Persians, and the Syrians, that 
 the germ and origin is to be found, of this species of ficti- 
 tious narrative, for which the peculiar genius and poetical 
 temperament of those nations particularly adapt them, and 
 in which they delight to a degree scarcely to be credited ; 
 for even their ordinary discourse is interspersed with figu- 
 rative expressions, and their maxims of theology and philo- 
 sophy, and above all, of morals and political science, are 
 invariably couched under the guise of allegory or parable." 
 In confirmation of this opinion he remarks, that "nearly 
 all those who in early times distinguished themselves as 
 writers of what are now called Romances, were of Oriental 
 birth or extraction ;" and he instances " Clearchus, a pupil 
 
PBEFACE. VU 
 
 of Aristotle, who was a native of Soli, in Cilicia, lam- 
 blicus, a Syrian Heliodorus and Lucian, natives, the one of 
 Emessa, the other of Samosata Achilles Tatius, of Alex- 
 andria." 
 
 This statement of Huet's is admitted to hold good, gene- 
 rally, by the author of a very interesting Article on the 
 "Early Greek Romances," in JSTo. CCCXXXIII. of Black- 
 wood's Magazine ; who however differs from the learned 
 Bishop in some particulars. 
 
 " While fully admitting," he says, "that it is to the vivid 
 fancy and picturesque imagination of the Orientals that 
 we owe the origin of all those popular legends, which 
 have penetrated under various changes of costume, into 
 every corner of Europe, we still hold, that the invention 
 of the Romance of ordinary life, on which the interest of 
 the story depends upon occurrences in some measure within 
 the bounds of probability, and in which the heroes and 
 heroines are neither invested with superhuman qualities, 
 nor extricated from their difficulties by supernatural means, 
 must be ascribed to a more European state of society than 
 that which produced those tales of wonder, which are com- 
 monly considered as characteristic of the climes of the 
 East." 
 
 This difference of opinion he fortifies, by remarking that 
 " the authors enumerated by the Bishop of Avranches 
 himself were all denizens of Greek cities of Asia Minor, 
 Syria, and Egypt, and consequently, in all probability, 
 Greeks by descent ; and though the scene of their works is 
 frequently laid in Asia, the costumes and characters intro- 
 duced are almost invariably on the Greek model." 
 
 He concludes this part of his subject by saying ; " these 
 writers, therefore, may fairly be considered as constituting a 
 distinct class from those more strictly Oriental not only in 
 birth but in language and ideas ; and as being in fact the 
 legitimate forerunners of modern novelists." 
 
 The first to imbibe a love for fictitious narrative from the 
 Eastern people among whom they dwelt, were the Mile- 
 sians, a colony of Greeks, and from them this species of 
 narrative derived the name of "Sermo Milesius." * A 
 
 * In the opening of his celebrated novel, the " Golden Ass" Apuleiua 
 says " At ego tibi sermone i&to Milesio varias fabulas conseram," &<x 
 
Till PREFACE. 
 
 specimen of the Milesian tale may be seen in the Stories of 
 Parthenius, which are chiefly of the amatory kind, and not 
 over remarkable for their moral tendency. From the Greek 
 inhabitants of Asia Minor, especially from the Milesians, it 
 was natural that a fondness for Fiction should extend itself 
 into Greece, and that pleasure should produce imitation. 
 But it was not until the conquests of Alexander, that a 
 greater intercourse between Greece and Asia became the 
 means of conveying the stores of fiction from the one 
 continent to the other. 
 
 The Eomance writers, who flourished previous to Helio- 
 dorus, are known only from the summary of their com- 
 positions preserved to us by Photius, Patriarch of Constan- 
 tinople,' in the ninth century. We subjoin their names and 
 the titles of their works : 
 
 Antonius Diogenes wrote "The incredible things in 
 Thule;" lamblicus, the " Babylonica," comprising the for- 
 midable number of sixteen books ; in addition to which 
 there is the " Ass " of Lucian, founded chiefly upon the 
 "Metamorphoses of Lucius." 
 
 The palm of merit, in every respect, especially " in the 
 arrangement of his fable," has been universally assigned to 
 HELIODORUS, Bishop of Tricca in Thessaly, who flourished 
 A.D. 400; "whose writing," says Huet, "the subsequent 
 novelists of those ages constantly proposed to themselves 
 as a model for imitation ; and as truly may they all be said 
 to have drunk of the waters of this fountain, as all the 
 Poets did of the Homeric spring." 
 
 The writers of Eomance, posterior to Heliodorus, who 
 alone are worthy of note, are Achilles Tatius, who is allowed 
 to come next to him in merit ; Longus, who has given the 
 first example of the " Pastoral Eomance ;" and Xenophon, 
 of Ephesus. 
 
 Having alluded to the various writers of fictitious nar- 
 rative, our farther remarks may be confined to Heliodorus, 
 Longus, and Achilles Tatius. With the Vv'ork of the author of 
 the " Ethiopics " are connected some curious circumstances, 
 which shall be given in the words of an Ecclesiastical His- 
 torian, quoted by the writer of the article in Blackwood. 
 
 Nicephorus, B. xii. c. 34, says " This Heliodorus, Bishop 
 of Tricca, had in his youth written certain love stories, 
 
PBEFACE. II 
 
 called 'Ethiopics,' which are highly popular, even at the 
 present day, though they are now better known by the title 
 of ' Chariclea ;' and it was by reason thereof that he lost his 
 see. For inasmuch as many of the youths were drawn into 
 peril of sin by the perusal of these amorous tales, it was 
 determined by the Provincial Synod, that either these 
 books, which kindled the fire of love, should themselves be 
 consumed by fire, or that the author should be deposed from 
 his episcopal functions ; and this choice being propounded to 
 him, he preferred resigning his bishoprickto suppressing his 
 writings. Heliodorus," continues the reviewer, "according 
 to the same authority, was the first Thessalian Bishop who 
 had insisted on the married clergy putting away their wives, 
 which may probably have tended to make him unpopular ; 
 but the story of his deposition, it should be observed, rests 
 solely on the statement of Nicephorus, and is discredited by 
 Bayle and Huet, who argue that the silence of Socrates, 
 (Eccles. Hist. B. v. c. 22), in the chapter where he expressly 
 assigns the authority of the ' Ethiopics ' to the ' Bishop ' 
 Heliodorus, more than counterbalances the unsupported 
 assertion of Mcephorus ; 'an author,' says Huet, ' of 
 more credulity than judgment.' If Heliodorus were, indeed, 
 as has been generally supposed, the same to whom several 
 of the Epistles of St. Jerome were addressed, this circum- 
 stance would supply an additional argument against the 
 probability of his having incurred the censures of the 
 Church ; but whatever the testimony of Nicephorus may be 
 worth on this point, his mention of the work affords un- 
 deniable proof of its long continued popularity, as his 
 Ecclesiastical History was written about A.D. 900, and 
 Heliodorus lived under the reign of the sons of Theodosius, 
 fully 500 years earlier." 
 
 Of the popularity of his work in more recent times, the 
 following instances may be given. "Tasso," says Grhi- 
 rardini, " became acquainted with this Romance when it 
 was introduced at the Court of Charles the IXth of France, 
 where it was read by the ladies and gentlemen in the trans- 
 lation made by Amiot. The poet promised the courtiers 
 that they should soon see the work attired in the most 
 splendid vestments of Italian poetry, and kept his promise, 
 by transferring to the heroine Clorinda (in the tenth 
 
X PBEFA.CE. 
 
 canto of the ' Gerusalemme ') the circumstances attend- 
 ing the birth and early life of the Ethiopian maiden Cha- 
 riclea. 
 
 " The proposed sacrifice and subsequent discovery of the 
 birth of Chariclea have likewise," observes Dunlop, " been 
 imitated in the Pastor Fido of Guarini, and through it, in 
 the Astreaof D'Urfe." 
 
 " Kacine had at one time intended writing a drama on 
 the subject of this Eomance, a plan which has been accom- 
 plished by Dorat, in his Tragedy of Theagenes and Cha- 
 riclea, acted at Paris in the year 1762. It also suggested 
 the plot of an old English tragi-comedy, by an unknown 
 author, entitled the ' Strange Discovery.' " 
 
 Hardy, the French poet, wrote eight tragedies in verse on 
 the same subject, without materially altering the ground- work 
 of the Romance ; " an instance of literary prodigality" 
 remarks Dunlop truly " which is perhaps unexampled." 
 
 Nor have authors only availed themselves of the work of 
 Heliodorus. Artists likewise have sought from his pages 
 subjects for their canvass. 
 
 " Two of the most striking incidents have been finely 
 delineated by Eaphael in separate paintings, in which he 
 was assisted by Julio Eomano. In one he has seized the 
 moment when Theagenes and Chariclea meet in the temple 
 of Delphi, and Chariclea presents Theagenes with a torch 
 to kindle the sacrifice. In the other be has chosen for his 
 subject, the capture of the Tyrian ship, in which Calasiris 
 was conducting Theagenes and Chariclea to the coast of 
 Sicily. The vessel is supposed to have already struck to 
 the Pirates, and Chariclea is exhibited, by the light of the 
 moon, in a suppliant posture, imploring Trachinus that she 
 might not be separated from her lover and Calasiris." 
 
 HELIODOBTJS, as has already been remarked, is allowed to 
 be far superior to any of his predecessors in "the dis- 
 position of the fable;" as also, "in the artful manner in 
 which the tale is disclosed;" and Tasso praises him for the 
 skill which he displays in keeping the mind of his reader in 
 suspense, and in gradually clearing up what appeared con- 
 fused and perplexed. His style is, in many parts, highly 
 poetical, abounding in expressions and turns of thought 
 borrowed from the Greek poets, to which, indeed, it is quite 
 
PREFACE. XI 
 
 impossible to do justice when translating them into another 
 language. 
 
 The chief defects in the composition of his work, are the 
 digressions for instance, the adventures of Cnemon and 
 the siege of Oyene ; together with certain critical and phi- 
 losophical discussions, which, while they take up consider- 
 able space, distract the attention of the reader, without 
 adding to his interest. 
 
 He has also been blamed for making a third person 
 Calasiris recount the adventures of the hero and heroine ; 
 instead of letting them tell their own story. As regards 
 the two principal characters, it must be allowed that the 
 hero, like many heroes in modern novels, is "insipid." Upon 
 certain occasions, it is true that Theagenes " comes out :" 
 he does battle boldly with the pirate lieutenant ; distances 
 his rival, in good style, in the running match ; effectually 
 cools the courage of the Ethiopian bully ; and gives proof 
 of the skill of reasoning man over the strength of the irra- 
 tional brute in the scene of the Taurocaihapsia ; but with 
 these exceptions, he is remarkable chiefly for his resistance 
 to temptations, and for the constancy of his affections no 
 slight merits, however, especially in a heathen, and like 
 other "quiet virtues," of greater intrinsic value than more 
 sparkling and showy qualities. 
 
 Of Chariclea, on the other hand, it has with justice been 
 observed,* that " her character makes ample amends for the 
 defects in that of her lover. The masculine firmness and 
 presence of mind which she evinces in situations of peril 
 and difficulty, combined at all times with feminine delicacy ; 
 and the warmth and confiding simplicity of her love lor 
 Theagenes, attach to her a degree of interest which belongs 
 to none of the other personages." 
 
 "The course of true love never did run smooth," says 
 the Poet ; and however defective may be the work of Helio- 
 dorus, in other respects, none of its readers will deny that 
 the author has exemplified the words of the Bard in the 
 perils, and escapes, separations, and unexpected reunion ot 
 the hero and heroine of the " Ethiopics." 
 
 * Author of article in Blackwood, 
 
Xll PREFACE. 
 
 None there are, we trust but will rejoice, when at the 
 conclusion, they find 
 
 " How Fate to Virtue paid her debt, 
 And for their troubles, bade them prove 
 A lengthened life of peace and love." 
 
 The forte of Heliodorus lies especially in descriptions ; 
 his work abounds in these, and apart from the general 
 story, the most interesting portions are, the account of the 
 haunts of the Buccaneers ; the procession at Delphi, with 
 the respective retinues and dresses of Theagenes and Cha- 
 riclea ; the wrestling match, and the bull fight all these 
 are brought before the reader with picturesque effect, and 
 in forcible and vivid language ; nor should we omit what is 
 very curious and valuable in an antiquarian point of view, 
 his minute description of the panoply worn by man and 
 horse composing the flower of the Persian army, which 
 paints to the life, the iron-clad heroes of the Crusades, so 
 many centuries before they appeared upon the scene. 
 
 With reference to the writers of Greek Romance, in 
 general, there is one particular point which deserves men- 
 tion ; the more prominent manner in which they bring for- 
 ward that sex, whose influence is so powerful upon society, 
 but whose seclusion in those early times banished them 
 from a participation in the every day affairs of life. 
 " The Greek Romances," says Dunlop, " may be considered 
 as almost the first productions, in which woman is in any 
 v egree represented as assuming her proper station of the 
 friend and companion of man. Hitherto she had been con- 
 sidered almost in the light of a slave, ready to bestow her 
 affections on whatever master might happen to obtain her ; 
 but in Heliodorus and his followers, we see her an affec- 
 tionate guide and adviser. "We behold an union of hearts 
 painted as a mainspring of our conduct in life we are 
 delighted with pictures of fidelity, constancy, and chastity." 
 
 The same writer sums up his observations upon the 
 Greek Romances, by saying : " They are less valuable than 
 they might have been, from giving too much to adventure, 
 and too little to manners and character ; but these have not 
 been altogether neglected, and several pleasing pictures are 
 
PREFACE. Xitf 
 
 delineated of ancient customs and feelings. In short, these 
 early fictions are such as might have been expected at the 
 first effort, and must be considered as not merely valuable 
 in themselves, but as highly estimable in pointing out the 
 method of awaking the most pleasing sympathies of our 
 nature, and affecting most powerfully the fancy and heart." 
 The popularity of Heliodorus has found translators for his 
 Eomance in almost every European language France, 
 Spain, Italy, Poland, Germany, and Holland have contri- 
 buted their versions. 
 
 Four Translations have appeared in English, by Thomas 
 Underdowne, Lond.,1587 ; W. Lisle, Lond., 1622 ; N. Tate 
 and another hand, 1686 ; lastly, the translation upon which 
 the present one is based, 1791. 
 
 Among these, Lisle, who favoured the world with a 
 Poetical version of the Prose Eomance, affords us an 
 example of an adventurous and ill fated wight. 
 
 " Carmina qui scripsit Musis et Apoiline nullo." 
 
 " Apollo and the Nine ; their heavy curse 
 On him did lay ; they bid him go, write verse." 
 
 The Eeviewer in Blackwood designates his production, as 
 " one of the most precious specimens of balderdash in exist- 
 ence ; a perfect literary curiosity in its way.*' Of the 
 truth of which any one, who will be at the trouble of turning 
 over his pages, may satisfy himself. 
 
 The worthy man, at starting, prays earnestly for " A sip 
 of liquor Castaline," and having done this, he mounts and 
 does his best to get Pegasus into a canter ; but it is all in 
 vain whip and spurs avail not ; the poor jade, spavined 
 and galled, will not budge an inch; however, nothing daunted, 
 the rowels and scourge are most unmercifully applied ; the 
 wretched brute gets into a kind of hobbling trot, which 
 enables the rider to say at the end of his journey 
 
 " This haye I wrought with day and nightly swinke 
 
 That after-comers know, when I am dead, 
 I, some good thing in life endeavoured ; 
 
 To keep my name undrown'd in Lethe pool ; 
 In vain (may seem) is wealth or learning lent 
 To man that leaves thereof no monument." 
 
XIV PEEFACE. 
 
 The version upon which the present one is founded, is in 
 many places more of a paraphrase than a translation. 
 Several passages are entirely omitted, while of others the 
 sense has been mistaken ; it has been the endeavour of the 
 translator to remedy these defects, and to give the meaning 
 of his author as literally as is consistent with avoiding stiff- 
 ness and ruggedness of style. 
 
 With regard to LONGUS nothing is known of his birth- 
 place, nor is it certain at what period he flourished ; he is 
 generally supposed however to have lived during the reign 
 of Theodosius the Great, in the fourth century. Photius 
 and Suidas, who have preserved the names of various Greek 
 Romance writers, and have likewise given us summaries of 
 their works, make no mention of him. 
 
 An extract from the work of Mr. Dunlop, on the " His- 
 tory of Fiction," will form a suitable Introduction to this 
 Pastoral Eomance, the first of its kind, and one which is 
 considered to have had much influence upon the style of 
 subsequent writers of Eomance, in ancient times, as also 
 among those of the moderns who have chosen for their 
 theme a Pastoral subject. 
 
 After reviewing the Ethiopics of Heliodorus, Mr. Dunlop 
 goes on to say : 
 
 " We now proceed to the analysis of a romance different 
 in its nature from the works already mentioned ; and of a 
 species which may be distinguished by the appellation of 
 Pastoral Eomance. 
 
 " It may be conjectured with much probability, that 
 pastoral composition sometimes expressed the devotion, 
 and sometimes formed the entertainment of the first gene- 
 rations of mankind. The sacred writings sufficiently inform 
 us that it existed among the eastern nations during the 
 earliest ages. Rural images are everywhere scattered 
 through the Old Testament ; and the Song of Solomon in 
 particular beautifully delineates the charms of a country 
 life, while it paints the most amiable affections of the mind, 
 and the sweetest scenery of nature. A number of passages 
 of Theocritus bear a striking resemblance to descriptions in 
 the inspired pastoral; and many critics have believed that he 
 had studied its beauties and transferred them to his eclogues. 
 
PBEFACE. XV 
 
 Theocritus was imitated in his own dialect by Moschus 
 andBion; and Virgil, taking advantage of a different lan- 
 guage copied, yet rivalled the Sicilian. The Bucolics of the 
 Eoman bard seem to have been considered as precluding alj 
 attempts of the same kind ; for, if we except the feeble 
 efforts of Calpurnius and his contemporary Nemesianus, 
 who lived in the third century, no subsequent specimen of 
 pastoral poetry was, as far as I know, produced till the 
 revival of literature. 
 
 " It was during this interval that Longus, a Greek so- 
 phist, who is said to have lived soon after the age of Tatius, 
 wrote his pastoral romance of Daphnis and Chloe, which is 
 the earliest, and by far the finest example that has appeared 
 of this species of composition. Availing himself of the 
 beauties of the pastoral poets who preceded him, he has 
 added to their simplicity of style, and charming pictures of 
 Nature, a story which possesses considerable interest. In 
 some respects a prose romance is better adapted than the 
 eclogue or drama to pastoral composition. The eclogue is 
 confined within narrow limits, and must terminate before 
 interest can be excited. A series of Bucolics, where two or 
 more shepherds are introduced contending for the reward 
 of a crook or a kid, and at most descanting for a short 
 time on similar topics, resembles a collection of the first 
 scenes of a number of comedies, of which the commencement 
 can only be listened to as unfolding the subsequent action. 
 The drama is, no doubt, a better form of pastoral writing 
 than detached eclogues, but at the same time does not well 
 accord with rustic manners and descriptions. 
 
 " In dramatic composition, the representation of strong 
 passions is best calculated to produce interest or emotion, 
 but the feelings of rural existence should be painted as 
 tranquil and calm. In choosing a prose romance as the 
 vehicle of pastoral writing, Longus has adopted a form that 
 may include all the beauties arising from the description of 
 rustic manners, or the scenery of nature, and which, as far 
 as the incidents of rural life admit, may interest by an 
 agreeable fable, and delight by a judicious alternation of nar- 
 rative and dialogue. Longus has also avoided many of the 
 faults into which his modern imitators have fallen, and 
 which have brought this style of composition into so much 
 
XVI FltEFACE. 
 
 disrepute ; his characters never express the conceits of 
 affected gallantry, nor involve themselves in abstract rea- 
 soning ; he has not loaded his romance with those long and 
 constantly recurring episodes, which fatigue the attention, 
 and render us indifferent to the principal story. Nor does 
 he paint that chimerical state of society, termed the golden 
 age, in which the characteristic traits of rural life are erased, 
 but attempts to please by a genuine imitation of Nature, 
 and by descriptions of the manners, the rustic occupations, 
 or rural enjoyments of the inhabitants of the country where 
 the scene of the pastoral is laid. 
 
 " The pastoral is in general very beautifully written ; the 
 style, though it has been censured on account of the reite- 
 ration of the same forms of expression, and as betraying 
 the sophist in some passages by a play on words, and 
 affected antithesis, is considered as the purest specimen of 
 the Greek language produced in that late period ; the de- 
 scriptions of rural scenery and rural occupations are ex- 
 tremely pleasing, and if I may use the expression, there is 
 a sort of amenity and calm diffused over the whole romance. 
 This, indeed, may be considered as the chief excellence in a 
 pastoral ; since we are not so much allured by the feeding 
 of sheep as by the stillness of the country. In all our 
 active pursuits, the end proposed is tranquillity, and even * 
 when we lose the hope of happiness, we are attracted by 
 that of repose ; hence we are soothed and delighted with its 
 representation, and fancy we partake of the pleasure. 
 
 " There can be no doubt that the pastoral of Longus had 
 a considerable influence on the style and incidents of the 
 subsequent Greek romances, particularly those of Eusta- 
 thius and Theodorus Prodromus ; but its effects on modern 
 pastorals, particularly those which appeared in Italy during 
 the sixteenth century, is a subject of more difficulty. Huet 
 is of opinion, that it was not only the model of the Astrea 
 of D'TJrfe, and the Diana of Montemayor, but gave rise to 
 the Italian dramatic pastoral. This opinion is combated by 
 Villoison, on the grounds that the first edition of Longus 
 was not published till 1598, and that Tasso died in the 
 year 1595. It is true that the first Greek edition of Longus 
 was not published till 1598, but there was a Trench trans- 
 atioD by Amyot, which appeared in 1559, and one in Latin 
 
PREFACE. XV11 
 
 verse by G-ambara in 1569, either of which might have 
 been seen by Tasso. But although this argument, brought 
 forward by Villoison, be of little avail, he is probably right 
 in the general notion he has adopted that Daphnis and 
 Chloe was not the origin of the pastoral drama. The 
 Sacrificio of Agostino Beccari, which was the earliest 
 specimen of this style of composition, and was acted at 
 Ferrara in 1554, was written previous to the appearance of 
 any edition or version of Longus. Nor is there any simi- 
 larity in the story or incidents of the Aminta to those in 
 Daphnis and Chloe, which should lead us to imagine that the 
 Greek romance had been imitated by Tasso. 
 
 ff 'It bears, however, a stronger likeness to the more recent 
 dramatic pastorals of Italy. These are frequently founded 
 on the exposure of children who, after being brought up as 
 shepherds by reputed fathers, are discovered by their real 
 parents by means of tokens fastened to them when they 
 were abandoned. There is also a considerable resemblance 
 between the story of Daphnis and Chloe and that of the 
 Gentle Shepherd : the plot was suggested to Eamsay by 
 one of his friends, who seems to have taken it from the 
 Greek pastoral. Marmontel, too, in his Annette and Lubin, 
 has imitated the simplicity and inexperience of the lovers of 
 Longus. But of all modern writers the author who has 
 most closely followed this romance is Gessner. In his Idylls 
 there is the same poetical prose, the same beautiful rural 
 descriptions, and the same innocence and simplicity in the 
 rustic characters. In his pastoral of Daphnis, the scene of 
 which is laid in Greece, he has painted, like Longus, the 
 early and innocent attachment of a shepherdess and swain, 
 and has only embellished his picture by the incidents that 
 arise from rural occupations and the revolutions of the year." 
 
 To these observations we may add, that Longus is sup- 
 posed by some to have furnished to Bernardin de St. Pierre 
 the groundwork for his beautiful tale of Paul and Virginia. 
 Many points of resemblance may certainly be traced be- 
 tween the hero and heroine of the respective works ; the 
 description of their innocence their simple and rustic 
 mode of life, and their occupation and diversions. Among 
 the rest may be mentioned the descriptions of the sen- 
 
 b 
 
XV111 PREFACE. 
 
 sations of love when first arising in Virginia ; and the pan- 
 tomimic dance in which she and Paul take part. 
 
 An anonymous and "select" translation of Longus, 
 published at Truro, in 1803, has been taken as the basis of 
 the present version. The passages (and there are many) 
 omitted by the former translator are here given, together 
 with a considerable fragment, first discovered by M. Paul 
 Louis Courier, in 1810, in the Laurentian Library at Flo- 
 rence. It has been the endeavour of the present translator 
 to make his version convey the sense of the original as 
 faithful as possible, except in some few passages (" egregio 
 inspersos corpore nsevos") where it has been considered 
 advisable to employ the veil of a learned language. 
 
 In reading the work of Longus, we must bear in mind 
 that he was most probably a heathen, or at any rate, that 
 he describes the heathen state of morals. 
 
 The following passage from Dr. Xott's Preface to his 
 translation of Catullus will illustrate the principle upon 
 which the present translator has gone, in presenting in an 
 English dress passages entirely omitted in the anonymous 
 version, before referred to : 
 
 " When an ancient classic is translated and explained, 
 the work may be considered as forming a link in the chain 
 of history. History should not be falsified, we ought 
 therefore* to translate him somewhat fairly, and when he 
 gives us the manners of his own day, however disgusting to 
 our sensations and repugnant to our natures they may 
 oftentimes prove, we must not, in translation, suppress or 
 even too much gloss them over, through a fastidious regard 
 to delicacy." * 
 
 ACHILLES TATIUS was a native of Alexandria, commonly 
 assigned to the second or third century of the Christian sera, 
 
 * KB. There have been two other English versions of the -work 
 of Longus, one by George Thornley, in 1657, another by James Craggs, 
 in 1764. 
 
 There are translations in Italian by Caro and Gozzi, and a French 
 one by Amyot ; the first version of the Romance into a modern lan- 
 guage, which gives the sense of the original with fidelity, and at the 
 same time with great spirit and quaintness. 
 
PREFACE. XIX 
 
 but considered by the best critics to have flourished after 
 Heliodorus, to whom he is looked upon as next in point of 
 literary merit, and whom he has more or less imitated in 
 various parts of his works, like him frequently introducing 
 into the thread of his narrative the ^Egyptian buccaneers. 
 According to Suidas, he became, towards the end of his life, 
 a Christian and a Bishop ; a statement which is however 
 considered doubtful, as no mention is made by that lexi- 
 cographer of his Episcopal see, and Photius, who mentions 
 him in three different places, is silent upon the subject. 
 
 In point of style, Achilles Tatius is considered to excel 
 Heliodorus an<J the other writers of Greek Eomance. Pho- 
 tius says of him, " "With regard to diction and compo- 
 sition, Tatius seems to me to excel when he employs 
 figurative language : it is clear and natural ; his sentences 
 are precise and limpid, and such as by their sweetness 
 greatly delight the ear." 
 
 Like Heliodorus, one of his principal excellences lies in 
 descriptions ; and though these, as Mr. Dunlop observes, 
 " are too luxuriant, they are in general beautiful, the objects 
 being at once well selected, and so painted as to form in the 
 mind of the reader a distinct and lively image. As an 
 example of his merit in this way, may be mentioned his 
 description of a garden, and of a tempest followed by a ship- 
 wreck; also his accounts of the pictures of Europa, An- 
 dromeda, and Prometheus, in which his descriptions and 
 criticisms are executed with very considerable taste and 
 feeling." The same writer, however, justly notes the absurd 
 and aukward manner in which the author, as if to show his 
 various acquirements, drags in without the slightest neces- 
 sity, some of those minute descriptions, viz., those of the 
 necklace, and of different zoological curiosities, in the Second 
 Book, together with the invention of purple-dying, and the 
 accounts drawn from natural history, which are interspersed 
 in the Fourth Book." 
 
 In his discussions upon the passions of love, and its power 
 over human nature, however we may object to the warmth 
 of his description, we cannot but allow the ability with 
 which the colours are laid on. 
 
 " The rise and progress of the passion of Clitopho for 
 Leucippe," observes Mr. Dunlop, " is extremely well exe- 
 
 62 
 
XI PREFACE. 
 
 cuted, of this there is nothing in the romance of Helio- 
 dorus. Theagenes and Chariclea, are at first sight violently 
 and mutually enamoured ; in Tatius we have more of the 
 restless agitation of love and the arts of courtship. Indeed 
 this is by much the best part of the Clitopho and Leucippe, 
 as the author discloses very considerable acquaintance with 
 the human heart. This knowledge also appears in the sen- 
 timents scattered through the work, though it must be con- 
 fessed, that in many of his remarks he is apt to subtilize 
 and refine too much." 
 
 In the hero of his work, Achilles Tatius is more unfor- 
 tunate even than Heliodorus. " Clitopho," says a reviewer, 
 " is a human body, uninformed with a human soul, but 
 delivered up to all the instincts of nature and the senses. 
 He neither commands respect by his courage, nor affection 
 by his constancy." As in the work of HELIODOETJS so in 
 that of Achilles Tatius, it is the heroine who excites our 
 sympathy and interest : " Leucippe, patient, high-minded, 
 resigned and firm, endures adversity with grace ; preserving 
 throughout the helplessness and temptations of captivity, 
 irreproachable purity and constancy unchangeable." 
 
 In concluding these remarks upon one of the three chief 
 writers of Greek Romance, one more observation of Mr. 
 Dunlop will not be out of place. "Tatius," he says, "has 
 been much blamed for the immorality of his Eomance, and 
 it must be acknowleged that there are particular passages 
 which are extremely exceptionable; yet, however odious 
 some of these may be considered, the general moral tendency 
 of the story is good ; a remark which may be extended to all 
 the Greek Romances. Tatius punishes his hero and heroine 
 for eloping from their father's house, and afterwards rewards 
 them for their long fidelity." 
 
 Several .French translations of Achilles Tatius have 
 appeared ; an Italian one by Coccio ; also an English one, 
 published at Oxford in 1638, which the present writer, after 
 many inquiries, has been unable to procure a sight of. 
 
 E. S. 
 October, 1855. 
 
HELIODOBUS. 
 
 ETHIOPICS: 
 
 OE, 
 
 ADVENTURES OF THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 
 
 SIJMMAEY. 
 
 As the thread of the story in the Ethiopics is rather 
 entangled, through the author's method of telling it, the 
 following summary from Dunlop's " History of Fiction/' 
 will be useful. 
 
 " The action of the romance is supposed to take place pre- 
 vious to the age of Alexander the Great, while Egypt was 
 tributary to the Persian monarchs. During that period a 
 queen of Ethiopia, called Persina, having viewed at an 
 amorous crisis a statue of Andromeda, gives birth to a 
 daughter of fair complexion. Fearing that her husband 
 might not think the cause proportioned to the effect, she 
 commits the infant in charge to Sisimithres, an Ethiopian 
 senator, and deposits in his hands a ring and some writings, 
 explaining the circumstances of her birth. The child is 
 named Chariclea, and remains for seven years with her 
 reputed father. At the end of this period he becomes 
 doubtful of her power to preserve her chastity any longer 
 in her native country; he therefore determines to carry 
 her along with him, on an embassy to which he had been 
 appointed, to Oroondates, satrap of Egypt. In that land he 
 accidentally meets Charicles, priest of Delphi, who was tra- 
 velling on account of domestic afflictions, and to him he 
 transfers the care of Chariclea. Charicles brings her to 
 
XX11 HELIODORUS. DUNLOP S SUMMAET. 
 
 Delphi, and destines her for the wife of his nephew Alca- 
 menes. In order to reconcile her mind to this alliance, he 
 delivers her over to Calasiris, an Egyptian priest, who at 
 that period resided at Delphi, and undertook to prepossess 
 her in favour of the young man. About the same time, 
 Theagenes, a Thessalian, and descendant of Achilles, comes 
 to Delphi, for the performance of some sacred rite : The- 
 agenes and Chariclea, having seen each other in the temple, 
 become mutually enamoured. 
 
 " Calasiris, who had been engaged to influence the mind 
 of Chariclea in favour of her intended husband Alcamenes, is 
 warned in a vision by Apollo that he should return to his 
 own country, and take Theagenes and Chariclea along with 
 him. Henceforth his whole attention is directed to deceive 
 Charicles, and effect his escape from Delphi. Having met 
 with some Phoenician merchants, and having informed the 
 lovers of his intentions, he sets sail along with them for 
 Sicily, to which country the Phoenician vessel was bound ; 
 but soon after, passing Zacynthus, the ship is attacked by 
 pirates, who carry Calasiris and those under his protection 
 to the coast of Egypt. 
 
 " On the banks of the Nile, Trachinus, the captain of the 
 pirates, prepares a feast to solemnize his nuptials with Cha- 
 riclea; but Calasiris, with considerable ingenuity having 
 persuaded Pelorus, the second in command, that Chariclea 
 is enamoured of him, a contest naturally arises between 
 him and Trachinus during the feast, and the other pirates, 
 espousing different sides of the quarrel, are all slain except 
 Pelorus, who is attacked and put to flight by Theagenes. 
 The stratagem of Calasiris, however, is of little avail, 
 except to himself: for immediately after the contest, while 
 Calasiris is sitting on a hill at some distance, Theagenes and 
 Chariclea are seized by a band of Egyptian robbers, who 
 conduct them to an establishment formed on an island in a 
 remote lake. Thyamis, the captain of the banditti, becomes 
 enamoured of Chariclea, and declares an intention of espous- 
 ing her. Chariclea pretends that she is the sister of Thea- 
 genes, in order that the jealousy of the robber may not be 
 excited, and the safety of her lover endangered. Chariclea, 
 however, is not long compelled to assume this character of 
 sister. 
 
HELIODORUS. DUNLOP S SUMMARY. XX111 
 
 " The colony is speedily destroyed by the forces of the 
 satrap of Egypt, who was excited to this act of authority 
 by a complaint from Nausicles, a Greek merchant, that the 
 banditti had carried off his mistress. Thyamis, the captain 
 of the robbers, escapes by flight, and Cnemon, a young 
 Athenian, who had been detained in the colony, and with 
 whom Theagenes had formed a friendship during his con- 
 finement, sets out in quest of him. 
 
 " Theagenes and Chariclea depart soon after on their way 
 to a certain village, where they had agreed to meet Cnemon, 
 but are intercepted on the road by the satrap's forces. 
 
 " Theagenes is sent as a present to the King of Persia ; 
 and Chariclea, being falsely claimed by Nausicles as his mis- 
 tress, is conducted to his house. Here Calasiris had acci- 
 dentally fixed his abode, since his separation from Thea- 
 genes and Chariclea ; and was also doing the honours of 
 the house to Cnemon in the landlord's absence. Chariclea 
 being recognised by Calasiris, Nausicles abandons the claim 
 to her which he had advanced, and sets sail with Cnemon 
 for Greece, while Calasiris and Chariclea proceed in search 
 of Theagenes. On arriving at Memphis, they find that with 
 his usual good luck, he had again fallen into the power of 
 Thyamis, and was besieging that capital along with the robber. 
 A treaty of peace, however, is speedily concluded. Thy- 
 amis is discovered to be the son of Calasiris, and is elected 
 high-priest of Memphis. 
 
 " Arsace, who commanded in that city, in the absence of 
 her husband, falls in love with Theagenes ; but as he per- 
 severes in resisting all her advances, and in maintaining his 
 fidelity to Chariclea, she orders him to be put to the tor- 
 ture : she also commands her nurse, who was the usual 
 confidant of her amours and instrument of her cruelty, to 
 poison Chariclea; but the cup-bearer having given the 
 nurse the goblet intended for Chariclea. she expires in con- 
 vulsions. This, however, serves as a pretext to condemn 
 Chariclea as a poisoner, and she is accordingly appointed to 
 be burnt. After she had ascended the pile, and the fire had 
 been lighted, she is saved for that day by the miraculous 
 effects of the stone Pantarbe, which she wore about her 
 person, and which warded off the flames. During the en- 
 suing night a messenger arrives from Oroondates, the 
 husband of Arsace, who was at the time carrying on a 
 
XXIV HELIODORUS. DUNLOP S SUMMAEY. 
 
 war against the Ethiopians : he had been informed of the 
 misconduct of his wife, and had despatched one of his 
 officers to Memphis, with orders to bring Theagenes and 
 Chariclea to his camp. Arsace hangs herself ; but the lovers 
 are taken prisoners, on their way to Oroondates, by the 
 scouts of the Ethiopian army, and are conducted to Hy- 
 daspes, who was at that time besieging Oroondates in 
 Syene. This city having been taken, and Oroondates van- 
 quished in a great battle, Hydaspes returns to his capital, 
 Meroe, where, by advice of the G-ymnosophists, he proposes 
 to sacrifice Theagenes and Chariclea to the Sun and Moon, 
 the deities of Ethiopia. 
 
 " As virgins were alone entitled to the privilege of being 
 accepted as victims, Chariclea is subjected to a trial of chas- 
 tity. * Theagenes, while on the very brink of sacrifice, per- 
 forms many feats of strength and dexterity. A bull, which 
 was his companion in misfortune, having broken from the 
 altar, Theagenes follows him on horseback and subdues him: 
 At length, when the two lovers are about to be immo- 
 lated, Chariclea, by means of the ring and fillet which had 
 been attached to her at her birth, and had been carefully 
 preserved, is discovered to be the daughter of Hydaspes, 
 which is further confirmed by the testimony of Sisimithres, 
 once her reputed father ; and by the opportune arrival of 
 Charicles, priest of Delphi, who was wandering through the 
 world in search of Chariclea. After some demur on the 
 part of the G-ymnosophists, Chariclea obtains her own 
 release and that of Theagenes, is united to him in marriage, 
 and acknowledged as heiress of the Ethiopian empire." 
 
L N G U S. 
 ROMANCE OF DAPHNIS AND CHLOE, 
 
 SUMMARY.* 
 
 " IN the neighourhood of Mytilene, the principal city of 
 Lesbos, Lamon, a goatherd, as he was one day tending his 
 flock, discovered an infant sucking one of his goats with 
 surprising dexterity. He takes home the child, and pre- 
 sents him to his wi'fe Myrtale ; at the same time he delivers 
 to her a purple mantle with which the boy was adorned, and 
 a little sword with an ivory hilt, which was lying by his 
 side. Lamon having no children of his own, resolves to 
 bring up the foundling, and bestows on him the pastoral 
 name of Daphnis. 
 
 " About two years after this occurrence, Dryas, a neigh- 
 bouring shepherd, finds in the cave of the Nymphs, a 
 female infant, nursed by one of his ewes. The child is 
 brought to the cottage of Dryas, receives the name of Chloe, 
 and is cherished by the old man as if she had been his 
 daughter. 
 
 "When Daphnis had reached the age of fifteen and 
 Chloe that of twelve, Lamon and Dryas, their reputed 
 fathers, had corresponding dreams on the same night. The 
 Nymphs of the cave in which Chloe had been discovered 
 appear to each of the old shepherds, delivering Daphnis and 
 Chloe to a winged boy, with a bow and arrows, who com- 
 mands that Daphnis should be sent to keep goats, and the 
 girl to tend the sheep. Daphnis and Chloe have not long 
 
 * From Dunlop's History of Fiction. 
 
XXVI LONGUS. DUNLOP S SUMMA2T. 
 
 entered on their new employments, which they exercise 
 with a care of their flocks increased by a knowledge of the 
 circumstances of their infancy, when chance brings them to 
 pasture on the same spot. Daphnis collects the wandering 
 sheep of Chloe, and Chloe drives from the rocks the goats 
 of Daphnis. They make reeds in common, and share 
 together their milk and their wine ; their youth, their 
 beauty, the season of the year, everything tends to inspire 
 them with a mutual passion : at length Daphnis having 
 one day fallen into a covered pit which was dug for a 
 wolf, and being considerably hurt, receives from Chloe a 
 kiss, which serves as the first fuel to the flame of love. 
 
 " Chloe had another admirer, Dorco the cowherd, who 
 having in vain requested her in marriage from Dryas, her 
 reputed father, resolves to carry her off by force ; for this 
 purpose he disguises himself as a wolf, and lurks among 
 some bushes near a place where Chloe used to pasture her 
 sheep. In this garb he is discovered and attacked by the 
 dogs, but is preserved from being torn to pieces by the 
 timely arrival of Daphnis. 
 
 "In the beginning of autumn some Tyrian pirates, having 
 landed on the island, seize the oxen of Dorco, and carry off 
 Daphnis whom they meet sauntering on the shore. Chloe 
 hearing him calling for assistance from the ship, flies for 
 help to Dorco, and reaches him when he is just expiring of 
 the wounds inflicted by the corsairs of Tyre. Before his 
 death he gives her his pipe, on which, after she had closed his 
 eyes, she plays according to his instructions a certain tune, 
 which being heard by the oxen in the Tyrian vessel, they 
 all leap overboard and overset the ship. The pirates being 
 loaded with heavy armour are drowned, but Daphnis swims 
 safe to shore. 
 
 " Here ends the first book ; and in the second the author 
 proceeds to relate, that during autumn Daphnis and Chloe 
 were engaged in the labours, or rather the delights, of the 
 vintage. After the grapes had been gathered and pressed, 
 and the new wine treasured in casks, having returned to 
 feed their flocks, they are accosted one day by an old man, 
 named Philetas, who tells them a long story of seeing Cupid 
 in a garden, adding, that Daphnis and Chloe were to be 
 dedicated to his service ; the lovers naturally enquire who 
 
LOKGUS. DUNLOP 8 SUMMARY. XXV11 
 
 Cupid is, for, although they had felt his influence, they were 
 ignorant of his name. Philetas describes his power and his 
 attributes, and points out the remedy for the pain he 
 inflicts. 
 
 " The progress of their love was on one occasion inter- 
 rupted by the arrival of certain youths of Methymnsea, who 
 landed near that part of the island where Daphnis fed his 
 flocks, in order to enjoy the pleasures of the chace during 
 vintage. The twigs by which the ship of these sportsmen 
 was tied to the shore had been eaten through by some goats, 
 and the vessel had been carried away by the tide and the 
 land breeze. Its crew having proceeded up the country in 
 search of the owner of the animals, and not having found 
 him, seized Daphnis as a substitute, and lash him severely, 
 till other shepherds come to his assistance. Philetas 
 is appointed judge between Daphnis and the Methym- 
 naeans, but the latter, refusing to abide by his decision, 
 which was unfavourable to them, are driven from the terri- 
 tory. They return, however, next day, and carry off Chloe, 
 with a great quantity of booty. Having landed at a place 
 of shelter which lay in the course of their voyage, they pass 
 the night in festivity, but at dawn of day they are terrified 
 by the unlooked-for appearance of Pan, who threatens them 
 with being drowned before they arrive at their intended 
 place of destination, unless they set Chloe at liberty. 
 Through this interposition she is allowed to return home, 
 and is speedily restored to the arms of Daphnis. The 
 grateful lovers sing hymns to the Nymphs. On the follow- 
 ing day they sacrifice to Pan, and hang a goat's skin on a 
 pine adjoining his image. The feast which follows this 
 ceremony is attended by all the old shepherds in the neigh- 
 bourhood, who recount the adventures of their youth, and 
 their children dance to the sound of the pipe. 
 
 " The Third Book commences with the approach of winter. 
 The season of the year precludes the interviews of Daphnis 
 and Chloe. They could no longer meet in the fields, and 
 Daphnis was afraid to excite suspicion by visiting the object 
 of his passion at the cottage of Dryas. He ventures, how- 
 ever, to approach its vicinity, under pretext of laying snares 
 for birds. Engaged in this employment, he waits a long 
 time without any person appearing from the house. At 
 
XXviii LONGUS. DUNLOP'S SUMMARY. 
 
 length, when about to depart, Dryas himself comes out in 
 pursuit of a dog, who had run off with the family dinner. 
 He perceives Daphnis with his game, and accordingly, as a 
 profitable speculation, invites him into the cottage. The 
 birds he had caught are prepared for supper, a second cup is 
 filled, a new fire is kindled, and Daphnis is asked to remain 
 next day to attend a sacrifice to be performed to Bacchus. 
 By accepting the invitation, he for some time longer enjoys 
 the society of Chloe. The lovers part, praying for the revival 
 of spring ; but while the winter lasted, Daphnis frequently 
 visits the habitation of Dryas. "When spring returns, Daph- 
 nis and Chloe are the first to lead out their flocks to pasture. 
 Their ardour when they meet in the fields is increased by long 
 absence and the season of the year, but their hearts remain 
 innocent, a purity which the author still imputes, not to 
 virtue, but to ignorance. 
 
 " Chromis, an old man in the neighbourhood, had married 
 a young woman called Lycsenium, who falls in love with 
 Daphnis ; she becomes acquainted with the perplexity in 
 which he is placed with regard to Chloe, and resolves at once 
 to gratify her own passion and to free him from his embar- 
 rassment. 
 
 " Daphnis, however, still hesitates to practise with Chloe 
 the lesson he had received from Lycsenium. 
 
 " In the Fourth Book we are told that, towards the close 
 of summer, a fellow-servant of Lamon arrives from Myti- 
 lene, to announce that the lord of the territory on which the 
 reputed fathers of Daphnis and Chloe pasture their flocks, 
 would be with them at the approach of vintage. Lamon 
 prepares everything for his reception with much assiduity, 
 but bestows particular attention on the embellishment of a 
 spacious garden which adjoined his cottage, and of. which the 
 different parts are described as having been arranged in a 
 manner fitted to inspire all the agreeable emotions which the 
 art of gardening can produce. On this garden Daphnis 
 had placed his chief hopes of conciliating the good- will of his 
 master ; and, through his favour, of being united to Chloe. 
 Lampis, a cowherd, who had asked Chloe in mnrriage from 
 Dryas, and had been refused, resolves on the destruction of 
 this garden. Accordingly, when it is dark, he tears out the 
 shrubs by the roots and tramples on ths flowers. Dreadful 
 
LO^GUS. DUNLOP S SUMMARY. XXII 
 
 is the consternation of Lamon on beholding on the follow- 
 ing morning the havoc that had been made. Towards even- 
 ing his terror is increased by the appearance oi Eudromus, 
 one of his master's servants, who gives notice that he would 
 be with them in three days. Astylus (the son of Dionv- 
 sophanes, proprietor of the territory) arrives first, and 
 promises to obtain pardon from his father of the mischance 
 that had happened to the garden. Astylus is accompanied 
 by a parasite, G-natho, who is smitten with a friendship a la 
 Grecque for Daphnis. This having come to the knowledge 
 of Lamon, who overhears the parasite ask and obtain 
 Daphnis as a page from Astylus, he conceives it incumbent 
 on him to reveal to Dionysophanes, who had by this time 
 arrived, the mysteries attending the infancy of Daphnis. 
 He at the same time produces the ornaments he had found 
 with the child, on which Dionysophanes instantly recognizes 
 his son. Having married early in youth, he had a daughter 
 and two sons, but being a prudent man, and satisfied with 
 this stock, he had exposed his fourth child, Daphiiis : a 
 measure which had become somewhat less expedient, as his 
 daughter and one of his sons died immediately after, on the 
 same day, and Astylus alone survived. The change in the 
 situation of Daphnis does not alter his attachment to Chloe. 
 He begs her in marriage of his father, who, being informed 
 of the circumstances of her infancy, invites all the distin- 
 guished persons in the neighbourhood to a festival, at which 
 the articles of dress found along with Chloe are exhibited. 
 The success of this device fully answers expectation, Chloe 
 being acknowledged as his daughter by Megacles, one of the 
 guests, who was now in a prosperous condition, but had 
 exposed his child while in difficulties. There being now no 
 farther obstacle of the union of Daphnis and Chloe, their 
 marriage is solemnized with rustic pomp, and they lead 
 through the rest of their days a happy and pastoral life. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 THE LOVES OF CLITOPHO AND LEUCIPPE. 
 
 SUMMAEY.* 
 
 " CLITOPHO, engaged in marriage to his half-sister Cal- 
 ligone, resided at his father fiippias 5 house in Tyre, where 
 his cousin Leucippe came to seek refuge from a war which 
 was at that time carried on against her native country 
 Byzantium. These young relatives became mutually ena- 
 moured. Callisthenes of Byzantium carries oft' Calligone 
 by mistake instead of Leucippe, and Leucippe's mother 
 having discovered Clitopho one night in the chamber of her 
 daughter, the lovers resolved to avoid the effects of her 
 anger by flight. 
 
 u Accompanied by Clinias, a friend of Clitopho, they 
 sailed, in the first instance, for Berytus. After a short stay 
 there, the fugitives set out for Alexandria : the vessel was 
 wrecked on the third day of the voyage, but Clitopho and 
 Leucippe, adhering with great presence of mind to the same 
 plank, were driven on shore near Pelusium, in Egypt. At 
 this place they hired a vessel to carry them to Alexandria, 
 but while sailing up the Nile they were seized by a band of 
 robbers, who infested the banks of the river. The robbers 
 were soon after attacked by the Egyptian forces, com- 
 manded by Charmides, to whom Clitopho escaped during 
 the heat of the engagement. Leucippe, however, remained 
 in the power of the enemy, who, with much solemnity ap- 
 parently ripped up our heroine close to the army of Char- 
 mides, and in the sight of her lover, who was prevented 
 from interfering by a deep fosse which separated the two 
 armies. 
 
 " The ditch having been filled up, Clitopho in the course 
 of the night went to immolate himself on the spot where 
 
 * From Dunlop's History of Fiction. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. DTJKLOP S SUMMARY. XXXI 
 
 Leucippe had been interred. He arrived at her tomb, but 
 was prevented from executing his purpose by the sudden 
 appearance of his servant Satyrus, and of Menelaus, a 
 young man who had sailed with him in the vessel from 
 Berytus. These two persons had also escaped from the 
 shipwreck, and had afterwards fallen into the power of the 
 robbers. By them Leucippe had been accommodated with 
 a false uterus, made of sheep's skin, which gave rise to the 
 deceptio visus above related. 
 
 " At the command of Menelaus, Leucippe issued from 
 the tomb, and proceeded with Clitopho and Menelaus to 
 the quarters of Charmides. In a short time this com- 
 mander became enamoured of Leucippe, as did also Grorgias, 
 one of his officers. Gorgias gave her a potion calculated to 
 inspire her with reciprocal passion ; but which being too 
 strong, affected her with a species of madness of a very 
 indecorous character. She is cured, however, by Chaereas, 
 another person who had fallen in love with her, and had 
 discovered the secret of the potion from the servant of 
 G-orgias. 
 
 " Taking Chaereas along with them, Clitopho and Leu- 
 cippe sail for Alexandria. Soon after their arrival, Leucippe 
 was carried off from the neighbourhood of that place, and 
 hurried on board a vessel by a troop of banditti employed 
 by Chaereas. Clitopho pursued the vessel, but when just 
 coming up with it he saw the head of a person whom he 
 mistook for Leucippe struck off by the robbers. Disheart- 
 ened by this incident, he relinquished the pursuit, and 
 returned to Alexandria. There he was informed that 
 Melitta, a rich Ephesian widow, at that time residing at Alex- 
 andria, had fallen in love with him. This intelligence he 
 received from his old friend Clinias, who after the wreck of 
 the vessel in which he had embarked with Clitopho, had got 
 on shore by the usual expedient of a plank, and now 
 suggested to his friend that he should avail himself of the 
 predilection of Melitta. 
 
 " In compliance with this suggestion, he set sail with her 
 for Ephesus, but persisted in postponing the nuptials till 
 they should reach that place, in spite of the most vehement 
 importunities on the part of the widow. On their arrival 
 at Ephesus the marriage took place ; but before Melitta's 
 
XXX11 ACHILLES TATIUS. DUNLOP S SUMMARY. 
 
 object had been accomplished, Clitopho discovered Leucippe 
 among his wife's slaves ; and Thersander, Melitta's husband, 
 who was supposed to be drowned, arrived at Ephesus. 
 
 Clitopho was instantly confined by the enraged husband ; 
 but, on condition of putting the last seal to the now invalid 
 marriage, he escaped by the intervention of Melitta. He 
 had not proceeded far when he was overtaken by Ther- 
 sander, and brought back to confinement. Thersander, of 
 course, fell in love with Leucippe, but not being able to 
 engage her aifections, he brought two actions ; one declara- 
 tory, that Leucippe was his slave, and a prosecution against 
 Clitopho for marrying his wife. Clitopho escapes being 
 put to the torture by the opportune arrival of JSostratus, 
 Leucippe' s father, sent on a sacred embassy. 
 
 " Leucippe is at last subjected to a trial of chastity in the 
 cave of Diana, from which the sweetest music issued when 
 entered by those who resembled its goddess. Never were 
 notes heard so melodious as those by which Leucippe was 
 vindicated. Thersander was, of course, nonsuited, and re- 
 tired, loaded with infamy. Leucippe then related to her 
 father and Clitopho that it was a woman dressed in her 
 clothes whose head had been struck off by the banditti, in 
 order to deter Clitopho from further pursuit, but that a 
 quarrel having arisen among them on her account, Chaereas 
 was slain, and after his death she was sold by the other 
 pirates to Sosthenes. By him she had been purchased for 
 Thersander, in whose service she remained till discovered 
 by Clitopho." 
 
 ' Sostratus then relates how Callisthenes, after discover- 
 ing his mistake, became enamoured of Calligone, conducted 
 her to Byzantium, treated her with all respect, expressing 
 his determination not to marry her without her own and 
 her father's consent. The party in a few days sail to By- 
 zantium, where the nuptials of Clitopho and Leucippe take 
 place. Shortly afterwards they proceed to Tyre, and are 
 present at the wedding of Callisthenes and Calligone, who 
 had arrived in that city before them. 
 
THE 
 
 ADVENTURES 
 
 OF 
 
 THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 
 
 THE day had begun to smile cheerily, and the sun was 
 already gilding the tops of the hills, when a band of men, in 
 arms and appearance pirates,* having ascended the summit 
 of a mountain which stretches down towards the Heracleoticf 
 mouth of the Nile, paused and contemplated the sea which 
 was expanded before them. When not a sail appeared 011 
 the water to give them hopes of a booty, they cast their 
 eyes upon the neighbouring shore ; where the scene was as 
 follows : a ship was riding at anchor, abandoned by her 
 crew ; but to all appearance laden with merchandize, as she 
 drew much water. J The beach was strewn with bodies 
 newly slaughtered ; some quite dead, others dying, yet still 
 breathing, gave signs of a combat recently ended. Yet it 
 appeared not to have been a designed engagement ; but 
 
 * Piracy was not in those times considered dishonorable ; but th 
 contrary. Thucyd. B. i. 4. 
 
 t Called by Herodotus, B. ii. 17, the Bucolic mouth. " It seems 
 clear that the phrase was derived from the inhabitants of the region, a 
 horde of piratical herdsmen, apparently of different race from the 
 agricultural ./Egyptians. They haunted the most marshy part of the 
 Delta, where the papyrus reeds effectually masked their retreats." 
 Blakesley's Herodotus. 
 
 STTI TQITOV ZidffTripa to the third wale. The wales are strong 
 planks extending along a ship's side through the whole length at dif- 
 ferent heights, serving to strengthen the decks and form the curves. 
 A passage in the Cyclops of Euripides may illustrate the above 
 yaw fiag de daiTOQ rjfirjz, 
 GKatyut; oXjcrtf we,* yejUKT^tic 
 Trort akXfjia -yaffrpbg avpag. Cyclops. 503. 
 
 u\ B 
 
ADVENJUBES OF 
 
 . 
 - - 
 
 there were mingled with these dreadful spectacles the frag- 
 ments of an unlucky feast, which seemed to have concluded 
 in this fatal manner. There were tables, some yet spread 
 with eatables ; others overturned upon those who had 
 hoped to hide themselves under them ; others grasped by 
 hands which had snatched them up as weapons. Cups lay 
 in disorder, half fallen out of the hands of those who had 
 been drinking from them, or which had been flung instead of 
 missiles ; for the suddenness of the affray had converted 
 goblets into weapons. 
 
 Here lay one wounded with an axe, another bruised by a 
 shell picked up on the beach, a third had his limbs broken 
 with a billet, a fourth was burnt with a torch, but the 
 greater part were transfixed with arrows ; in short, the 
 strangest contrast was exhibited within the shortest com- 
 pass ; wine mingled by fate with blood, war with feast- 
 ing, drinking and fighting, libations and slaughters. Such 
 was the scene that presented itself to the eyes of the 
 pirates. 
 
 They gazed some time, puzzled and astonished. The van- 
 quished lay dead before them, but they nowhere saw the 
 conquerors ; the victory was plain enough, but the spoils 
 were not taken away; the ship rode quietly at anchor, 
 though with no one on board, yet unpillaged, as much as if 
 it had been defended by a numerous crew, and as if all had 
 been peace. They soon, however, gave up conjecturing, 
 and began to think of plunder ; and constituting themselves 
 victors, advanced to seize the prey. But as they came near 
 the ship, and the field of slaughter, a spectacle presented 
 itself which perplexed them more than any which they had 
 yet seen. A maiden of uncommon and almost heavenly 
 beauty sat upon a rock ; she seemed deeply afflicted at the 
 scene before her, but amidst that affliction preserved an air 
 of dignity. Her head was crowned with laurel ; she had a 
 quiver at her shoulder ; under her left arm was a bow, the 
 other hung negligently down ; she rested her left elbow on 
 her right knee, and leaning her cheek on her open hand, 
 looked earnestly down on a youth who lay upon the ground 
 at some distance. He, wounded all over, seemed to be 
 recovering a little from a deep and almost deadly trance ; 
 jet, even in this situation, he appeared of manly beauty, 
 
TIIEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 3 
 
 and the whiteness of his cheeks became more conspicuous 
 from the biood which flowed upon them.* Pain had de- 
 pressed his eye-lids, yet with difficulty he raised them 
 towards the maiden ; and collecting his spirits, in a languid 
 voice thus addressed her (while the pirates were still gazing 
 upon both) : " My love, are you indeed alive ? or, has the 
 rage of war involved you also in its miseries ? f But you 
 cannot bear even in death to be entirely separated from me, 
 for your spirit still hovers round me and my fortunes."- 
 " My fate," replied the maiden, " depends on thee : dost 
 thou see this (showing him a dagger which lay on her 
 knee) ? it has yet been idle because thou still breathedst ;" 
 and saying this, she sprang from the rock. 
 
 The pirates upon the mountain, struck with wonder and 
 admiration, as by a sudden flash of lightning, began to hide 
 themselves among the bushes; for at her rising she appeared 
 still greater and more divine. Her " shafts J rattled as she 
 moved ;" her gold-embroidered garments glittered in the 
 sun ; and her hair flowed, from under her laurel diadem, in 
 dishevelled ringlets down her neck. 
 
 The pirates, alarmed and confused, were totally at a loss 
 to account for this appearance, which puzzled them more 
 than the previous spectacle ; some said it was the goddess 
 Diana, or Isis, the tutelary deity of the country ; others, 
 that it was some priestess, who, inspired by a divine frenzy 
 from the gods, had caused the slaughter they beheld ; this 
 they said at random, still in ignorance and doubt. She, flying 
 towards the youth and embracing him, wept, kissed him, 
 wiped off the blood, fetched a deep sigh, and seemed as if 
 she could yet scarcely believe she had him in her arms. 
 
 The Egyptians, observing this, began to change their 
 opinion. These, said they, are not the actions of a deity ; 
 a goddess would not with so much affection kiss a dying 
 body. They encouraged one another therefore to go nearer, 
 and to inquire into the real state of things. Collecting 
 themselves together, then, they ran down and reached the 
 
 * Indum sanguineo veluti violaverat ostro 
 
 Si quis ebur. ^En. xii. 67. 
 
 f r\ -ykyovdQ iroXk^ov Traptpyov. The expression TroXfjuou Traptpyo* 
 means a by-work ; something done by-the-by. Thucyd. B. i. 142. 
 J Iliad, B. i. 45. 
 
 B 2 
 
4 THE ADVEKTUBES OP 
 
 maiden, as she was busied about the wounds of the youth ; 
 and placing themselves behind her, made a stand, not daring 
 to say or do any thing. But she, startled at the noise they 
 made, and the shadow they cast, raised herself up ; and just 
 looking at them, again bent down, not in the least terrified 
 at their unusual complexion and piratical appearance, but 
 earnestly applied herself to the care of the wounded youth : 
 so totally does vehement affection, and sincere love, overlook 
 or disregard whatever happens from without, be it pleasing 
 or terrifying ; and confines and employs every faculty, both 
 of soul and body, to the beloved object. But when the 
 pirates advancing, stood in front, and seemed preparing to 
 seize her, she raised herself again, and seeing their dark com- 
 plexion * and rugged looks, "If you are the shades of the 
 *lain," said she, "why do you trouble me? Most of you 
 fell by each other's hands ; if any died by mine it was in just 
 defence of my endangered chastity. But, if you are living 
 men, it appears to me that you are pirates ; you come very 
 opportunely to free me from my misfortunes, and to finish 
 my unhappy story by my death." Thus she spake in tragic 
 
 strain.t 
 
 They not understanding what she said, and from the weak 
 condition of the youth, being under no apprehension of 
 their escaping, left them as they were ; and proceeding to 
 the ship, began to unload it. It was full of various mer- 
 chandize ; but they cared for nothing but the gold, silver, 
 precious stones, and silken garments, of all which articles 
 they carried away as much as they were able. When they 
 thought they had enough, (and they found sufficient even to 
 satisfy the avidity of pirates,) placing their booty on the 
 shore, they divided it into portions not according to value but 
 to weight'; intending to make what related to the maiden 
 and the youth, matter of their next consideration. At this 
 instant another band of plunderers appeared, led by two 
 men on horseback; which as soon as the first party ob- 
 served, they fled precipitately away, leaving their booty 
 behind them, lest they should be pursued; for they were 
 but ten, whereas those who came down upon them were at 
 
 * A full description of the personal appearance of the buccaneeri 
 will he found in Achilles Tatius. B. UL c, ft, 
 *t* 'H fitv Tai'Ta 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. O 
 
 least twice as many. The maiden in this manner ran a 
 second risk of being taken captive. 
 
 The pirates hastening to their prey, yet from surprise 
 and ignorance of the facts stopt a little. They concluded 
 the slaughter they saw to have been the work of the first 
 robbers ; but seeing the maid in a foreign and magnificent 
 dress, little affected by the alarming circumstances which' 
 surrounded her, employing her whole attention about the 
 wounded youth, and seeming to feel his pains as if they 
 were her own, they were much struck with her beauty and 
 greatness of mind : they viewed with wonder too the noble 
 form and stature of the young man, who now began to 
 recover himself a little, and to assume his usual coun- 
 tenance. After some lime, the leader of the band advan- 
 cing, laid hands upon the maiden, and ordered her to arise 
 and follow him. She, not understanding his language, yet 
 guessing at his meaning, drew the youth after her (who still 
 kept hold of her) ; and pointing to a dagger at her bosom, 
 made signs that she would stab herself, unless they took 
 both away together. 
 
 The captain, comprehending what she meant, and pro- 
 mising himself a valuable addition to his troop in the youth, 
 if he should recover, dismounted from his horse, and making 
 his lieutenant dismount too, put the prisoners upon 
 their horses, and ordered the rest to follow when they had 
 collected the booty ; he himself walked by their side, ready 
 to support them, in case they should be in danger of 
 falling. There was something noble in this ; a commander 
 appearing to serve, and a victor waiting upon his captives ; 
 such is the power of native dignity and beauty, that it 
 can even impose upon the mind of a pirate, and subdue the 
 fiercest of men. 
 
 They travelled about two furlongs along the shore ; then, 
 leaving the sea on their right hand, they turned towards 
 the mountains, and with some difficulty ascending them, 
 they arrived at a kind of morass, which extended on the 
 other side. The features of the place were these : the 
 whole tract is called Tiie Pasturage by the Egyptians ; in 
 it there is a valley, which receives certain overflowings 
 of the Nile, and forms a lake, the depth of which in 
 the centre is unfathomable. On the sides it shoals lute 
 
6 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 a marsh ; for, as the shore is to the sea, such are marshes 
 to lakes. 
 
 Here the Egyptian* pirates have their quarters; one 
 builds a sort of hut upon a bit of ground which appears 
 above the water ; another spends his life on board a vessel, 
 which serves him at once for transport and habitation. 
 Here their wives work for them and bring forth their 
 children, who at first are nourished with their mother's 
 milk, and afterwards with fish dried in the sun ; when they 
 begin to crawl about they tie a string to their ancles, and 
 suffer them to go the length of the boat. Thus this 
 inhabitant of the Pasturage is born upon the lake, is raised 
 in this manner, and considers this morass as his country, 
 affording as it does shelter and protection for his piracy. 
 Men of this description therefore are continually flocking 
 thither ; the water serves them as a citadel, and the quan- 
 tity of reeds as a fortification. Having cut oblique channels 
 among these, with many windings, easy to themselves, but 
 very difficult for others, they imagined themselves secure 
 from any sudden invasion; such was the situation of the 
 lake and its inhabitants. 
 
 Here, about sunset, the pirate-chief and his followers 
 arrived ; they made their prisoners dismount, and disposed 
 of the booty in their boats. A crowd of others, who had 
 remained at home, appearing out of the morass, ran to 
 meet them, and received the chief as if he had been their 
 king ; and seeing the quantity of spoils, and almost divine 
 beauty of the maiden, imagined that their companions 
 had been pillaging some temple, and had brought away 
 the priestess, or perhaps the breathing image-\ of the deity 
 
 * For a further description of the buccaneer stronghold, see Achillea 
 Tatius, B. iv. c. 14. 
 
 Perhaps Heliodorus (afterwards a bishop) had derived the materials 
 for his graphic description of their haunts and manners from personal 
 residence among them, as was the case (so Horace Walpole informs 
 us) with Archbishop Blackburne (temp. Geo. II,) who in his younger 
 days is said to have been a buccaneer. In Herod, v. 16, is a curious 
 account of a fishing-town built in the lake Prasias, exactly corre- 
 sponding with the description of The Pasturage in Heliodorus. 
 
 f "EfJLTTVovv ayaXj/a. 
 " And there she stood, so calm and pale 
 That, but her breathing did not fail, 
 And motion slight of eye and head, 
 
THEAGEHES AND CHAEICLEA. 7 
 
 herself. They praised the valour of their captain, and con- 
 ducted him to his quarters ; these were in a little island at 
 a distance from the rest, set apart for himself and his few 
 attendants. When they arrived he dismissed the greater 
 part, ordering them to assemble there again on the morrow; 
 and then taking a short repast with the few who remained, 
 he delivered his captives to a young Greek (whom he had 
 not long before taken to serve as an interpreter), assigning 
 them a part of his own hut for their habitation ; giving 
 strict orders that the wounded youth should have all pos- 
 sible care taken of him, and the maiden be treated with the 
 utmost respect ; and then, fatigued with his expedition, and 
 the weight of cares which lay upon him, he betook himself 
 to rest. 
 
 Silence now prevailed throughout the morass, and it was 
 the first watch of night, when the maiden, being freed from 
 observers, seized this opportunity of bewailing her mis- 
 fortunes; inclined to do so the rather, perhaps, by the 
 stillness and solitude of the night, in which there was 
 neither sound nor sight to direct her attention, and call off 
 her mind from ruminating on its sorrows. She lay in a 
 separate apartment on a little couch on the ground; and 
 fetching a deep sigh, and shedding a flood of tears, " O 
 Apollo," she cried, " how much more severely dost thou 
 punish me than I have deserved! Is not what I have 
 already suffered sufficient ? Deprived of my friends, cap- 
 tured by pirates, exposed to a thousand dangers at sea, and 
 now again in the power of buccaneers, am I still to expect 
 something worse? Where are my woes to end? If in 
 death, free from dishonour, I embrace it with joy ; but if' 
 that is to be taken from me by force, which I have not yet 
 granted even to Theagenes, my own hands shall anticipate 
 my disgrace, shall preserve me pure in death, and shall 
 leave behind me at least the praise of chastity. O Apollo, 
 no judge will be more severe than thou art ! " 
 
 Theagenes, who was lodged near, overheard her com- 
 
 And of her bosom, warranted 
 
 That neither sense nor pulse she lacks, 
 
 You might have thought a form of wax, 
 
 Wrought to the very life, was there ; 
 
 So still she was, so pale, so fair." Marmiou, c. xxi 
 
THE ADVEFTUBES OF 
 
 plaints, and interrupted them, saying, " Cease, my deal 
 Chariclea ; you have reason, I own, to complain, but by so 
 doing you irritate the deity: he is made propitious by 
 prayers, more than by expostulations; you must appease 
 the power above by prayers, not by accusations." " You 
 are in the right," said she; " but how do you do yourself?" 
 "Better than I was yesterday," he replied, "owing to 
 the care of this youth, who has been applying medicine to 
 my wounds." ""You will be still better to-morrow," said 
 the youth, "for I shall then be able to procure an herb 
 which after three applications will cure them. I know this 
 by experience ; for since I was brought here a captive, if 
 any of the pirates have returned wounded, by the appli- 
 cation of this plant they have been healed in a few days. 
 "Wonder not that I pity your misfortunes ; you seem to be 
 sharing my own ill fate; and, as I am a Greek myself, I 
 naturally compassionate Grecians." 
 
 "A Greek! O gods!" cried out both the strangers in 
 transport, " a Greek indeed, both in language and appear- 
 ance! Perhaps some relief to our misfortunes is at hand." 
 "But what," said Theagenes, "shall we call you?" 
 " Cnemon." " Of what city ? " " An Athenian." " What 
 have been your fortunes?"" " Cease," he replied; "why 
 touch upon that subject; my adventures are matter 
 for a tragedy. You seem to have had sorrows enough of 
 your own ; there is no need to increase them by a recital 
 of mine ; besides, what remains of the night would not be 
 sufficient for the relation; and the fatigues you have gone 
 through to-day demand sleep and rest." They would not 
 admit his excuses, but pressed him to relate his story; 
 saying, that to hear of misfortunes something like their 
 own, would be the greatest consolation to them. 
 
 Cnemon then began in this manner : " My father's 
 name was Aristippus, an Athenian, a member of the Upper 
 Council,* and possessed of a decent fortune. After the 
 death of my mother, as he had no child but me, he began 
 to think of a second marriage, esteeming it hard that he 
 should live an unsettled life solely on my account; he 
 married therefore a woman of polished manners, but a 
 
 * BouXfjc c* JC <"'<>. The Council of the 500, who were a kind of 
 Committee of the 'EMcXqcia to prepare measures for that assembly. 
 
THEAGETCES AKD CHAKICLEA. 9 
 
 mischiefmaker, called Demseneta.* From the moment of 
 her marriage she brought him entirely under her subjection, 
 enticing him by her beauty and seeming attentions ; for 
 there never was a woman who possessed the arts of allure- 
 ment in a greater degree : she would lament at his going 
 out, run with joy to meet him at his return, blame him for 
 his stay, and mingle kisses and embraces with the tenderest 
 ; expostulations. My father, entangled in these wiles, was 
 , entirely wrapped up in her. At first she pretended to 
 I behave to me as if I had been her own son ; this likewise 
 helped to influence my father. She would sometimes kiss 
 me, and constantly wished to enjoy my society. I readily 
 complied, suspecting nothing, but was agreeably surprise'd 
 at her behaving to me with so much maternal affection. 
 When, however, she approached me with more wantonness ; 
 when her kisses became warmer than those of a relation 
 ought to be, and her glances betrayed marks of passion, I 
 began to entertain suspicions, to avoid her company, and 
 repress her caresses. I need not enumerate what artifices 
 she used, what promises she employed to gain me over, 
 how she called me darling, sweetest, breath of her life; 
 how she mingled blandishments with these soft words ; 
 how, in serious affairs, she behaved really as a mother, in 
 less grave hours but too plainly as a mistress. 
 
 "At length, one evening, after I had been assisting at 
 the solemn Panathenaean festival (when a shipf is sent to 
 Minerva by land), and had joined in the hymns and usual 
 procession, I returned home in my dress of ceremony, with 
 my robe and crown. She, as soon as she saw me, unable 
 to contain herself, no longer dissembled her love, but, her 
 eyes sparkling with desire, ran up to me, embraced me, and 
 called me her dear Theseus, her young Hippolytus : How 
 do you imagine I then felt, who now blush even at the 
 recital ? 
 
 * Cnemon and his stepmother will recall to the reader's memory 
 Phaedra and Hippolytus. 
 
 1* In the Ceramicus, without the city, was an engine, built in the 
 form of a ship, upon which the TrgTrXoe, or robe of Minerva, was hung, 
 in the manner of a sail, and which was put in motion by concealed 
 machinery. It was conveyed to the temple of Ceres Eleusinia, and 
 from thence to the citadel, where it was put upon Minerva's statue, 
 which was laid upon a bed strewed with flowers, and called 
 
10 THE ADVENTUBES OF 
 
 " My father that night was to sup in the Prytanaeum,* 
 and, as it was a grand and stated entertainment, was not 
 expected to return home till the next day. I had not long 
 retired to my apartment, when she followed me, and en- 
 deavoured to obtain the gratification of her wishes ; but 
 when she saw that I resisted with horror, regardless of her 
 allurements, her promises, or her threats, fetching a deep- 
 drawn sigh, she retired ; and the very next day, with un- 
 common wickedness, began to put her machinations in 
 force against me. 
 
 " She took to her bed; and, when my father returned 
 and inquired the reason of it, she said she was indisposed, 
 and at first would say no more. But when he insisted, 
 with great tenderness, on knowing what had so disordered 
 her, with seeming reluctance she thus addressed him: 
 ' This dainty youth, this son of yours, whom I call the gods 
 to witness I loved as much as you could do yourself, 
 suspecting me to be with child (which, till I was certain of 
 it, 1 have yet concealed from you), taking the opportunity 
 of your absence, while I was advising and exhorting him to 
 temperance, and to avoid drunkenness and loose women 
 (for I was not ignorant of his inclinations though I avoided 
 dropping the least hint of them to you, lest it should 
 appear the calumny of a step-mother) while, I say, I took 
 this opportunity of speaking to him alone, that I might 
 spare his confusion, I am ashamed to tell how he abused 
 both you and me ; nor did he confine himself to words ; but 
 assaulting me both with hands and feet, kicked me at last 
 upon the stomach, and left me in a dreadful condition, in 
 which I have continued ever since.' 
 
 " "When my father heard this, he made no reply, asked 
 no questions, framed no excuse for me ; but, believing that 
 she who had appeared so fond of me, would not, without 
 great reason, accuse me, the next time he met me in the 
 house he gave me a tremendous blow ; and calling his 
 slaves, he commanded them to scourge me, without so 
 much as telling me the cause of it. When he had wreaked 
 his resentment, ' Now, at least,' said I, c father, tell me the 
 
 * The public hall at Athens, in which the Prytanes for the time 
 being, and some other magistrates, had their meals, and entertained 
 foreign ambassadors. 
 
THEAGEKES AND CIIAEICLEA. 11 
 
 reason of this shameful treatment.' This enraged him the 
 more. l What hypocrisy !' cried he ; * he wants me to repeat 
 the story of his own wickedness/ And, turning from me, 
 he hastened to Demaeneta. But this implacable woman, 
 not yet satisfied, laid another plot against me. 
 
 " She had a young slave called Thisbe, handsome enough, 
 and skilled in music. She, by her mistress's orders, put 
 herself in my way ; and though she had before frequently 
 resisted solicitations, which, I own, I had made to her, she 
 now made advances herself, in gestures, words, and beha- 
 viour. I, like a silly fellow as I was, began to be vain of 
 my own attractions ; and, in short, made an appointment 
 with her to come to my apartment at night. We continued 
 our commerce for some time, I always exhorting her to 
 take the greatest care lest her mistress should detect her. 
 When, one day, as I was repeating these cautions, she 
 broke out, ' O Cnemon ! how great is your simplicity, if you 
 think it dangerous for a slave like me to be discovered with 
 you. What would you think this very mistress deserves, 
 who, calling herself of an honourable family, having a lawful 
 husband, and knowing death to be the punishment of her 
 crime, yet commits adultery ?' i Be silent/ I replied ; ' I 
 cannot give credit to what you say.' 4 What if I show you 
 the adulterer in the very fact ?' ' If you can, do.' c Most 
 willingly will I,' says she, ' both on your account, who have 
 been so abused by her, and on my own, who am the daily 
 victim of her jealousy. If you are a man, therefore, seize 
 her paramour.' I promised I would, and she then left me. 
 
 " The third night after this she awakened me from sleep, 
 and told me that the adulterer was in the house ; that my 
 father, on some sudden occasion, was gone into the country, 
 and that the lover had taken this opportunity of secretly 
 visiting Demseneta. JSTow was the time for me to punish 
 him as he deserved; and that I should go in, sword in 
 hand, lest he should escape. 
 
 " I did as Thisbe exhorted me ; and taking my sword, she 
 going before me with a torch, went towards my mother's 
 bedchamber. When I arrived there, and perceived there 
 was a light burning within, my passion rising, I burst open 
 the door, and, rushing in, cried out, ' Where is the villain, 
 the vile paramour of this paragon of virtue?' and thus 
 
12 THE ADVENTURES OP 
 
 exclaiming, I advanced, prepared to transfix them both, 
 when my father, O ye gods ! leaping from the bed, fell at 
 my feet, and besought me, c O my son ! stay your hand, 
 pity your father, and these grey hairs which have nourished 
 you. I have used you ill, I confess, but not so as to 
 deserve death from you. Let not passion transport you ; 
 do not imbrue your hands in a parent's blood!' 
 
 " He was going on in this supplicatory strain, while 
 I stood thunderstruck, without power either to speak or 
 stir. I looked about for Thisbe, but she had withdrawn. 
 I cast my eyes in amaze round the chamber, confounded 
 and stupified : the sword fell from my hand. 
 
 " Demaeneta, running up, immediately took it away ; and 
 my father, now seeing himself out of danger, laid hands 
 upon me, and ordered me to be bound, his wife stimulating 
 him all the time, and exclaiming, This is what I foretold ; 
 I bid you guard yourself from the attempts of this youth ; 
 I observed his looks, and feared his designs.' ' You did,' 
 he replied ; ' but I could not have imagined he would carry 
 his wickedness to such a pitch.' He then kept me bound ; 
 and though I made several attempts to explain the matter, 
 he would not suffer me to speak. 
 
 " When the morning was come, he brought me out before 
 the people, bound as I was ; and flinging dust upon his 
 head, thus addressed them : f I entertained hopes, O Athe- 
 nians, when the gods gave me this son, that he would have 
 been the staif of my declining age. I brought him up gen- 
 teelly ; I gave him a first-rate education;* I went through 
 every step needful to procure him the full privileges of a 
 citizen of Athens ; in short, my whole life was a scene of 
 solicitude on his account. But he, forgetting all this, 
 abused me first with words, and assaulted my wife with 
 blows ; and at last broke in upon me in the night, bran- 
 dishing a drawn sword, and was prevented from committing 
 a parricide only by a sudden consternation which seized him, 
 and made the weapon drop from his hand. I have recourse, 
 therefore, to this assembly for my own defence and his 
 punishment. I might, I know, lawfully have punished him 
 
 * Literally, "I had him enrolled in his proper ward ((pparpia), in 
 his proper house (ysvot;), and among those arrived at puberty (t^^/3ot)," 
 the successive steps to Athenian citizenship. 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHAEICLEA. 13 
 
 even wfth death myself; but I had rather leave the whole 
 matter to your judgment than stain my own hands with his 
 blood :' and, having said this, he began to weep. 
 
 "Demaeneta too accompanied him with her tears, lamenting 
 the untimely but just death which I must soon suffer, whom 
 my evil genius had armed against my parent; and thus 
 seeming to confirm by her lamentations the truth of her 
 husband's accusations, 
 
 " At length I desired to be heard in my turn, when the 
 clerk arising put this pointed question to me : Did I attack 
 my father with a sword ? When I replied, * I did indeed 
 attack him, but hear how I came so to do* the whole 
 assembly exclaimed that, after this confession, there was no 
 room for apology or defence. Some cried out I ought to 
 be stoned ; others, that I should be delivered to the execu- 
 tioner, and thrown headlong into the Barathrum.* During 
 this tumult, while they were disputing about my punish- 
 ment, I cried out, ' All this I suffer on account of my 
 mother-in-law ; my step-mother makes me to be condemned 
 unheard.' A few of the assembly appeared to take notice 
 of what I said, and to have some suspicions of the truth of 
 the case ; yet even then I could not obtain an audience, so 
 much were all minds possessed by the disturbance. 
 
 " At length they proceeded to ballot : one thousand seven 
 hundred condemned me to death ; some to be stoned, others 
 to be thrown into the Barathrum. The remainder, to the 
 number of about a thousand, having some suspicions of the 
 machinations of my mother-in-law, adjudged me to per- 
 petual banishment ; and this sentence prevailed : for though 
 a greater number had doomed me to death, yet there being 
 a difference in their opinions as to the kind of death, they 
 were so divided, that the numbers of neither party amounted 
 to a thousand. 
 
 " Thus, therefore, was I driven from my father's house 
 and my country : the wicked Demaeneta, however, did not 
 remain unpunished ; in what manner you shall hear by-and- 
 by. But you ought now to take a little sleep ; the night is 
 far advanced, and some rest is necessary for you." 
 
 " It will be very annoying to us," replied Theagenes, "if 
 
 * The Barathrum was a yawning cleft behind the Acropolis, into 
 which criminals were cast. 
 
14 THE ADVENTUEES OP 
 
 you leave this wicked woman unpunished." " Hear, then," 
 said Cnemon, " since you will have it so." 
 
 " I went immediately from the assembly to the Piraeus, 
 and finding a ship ready to set sail for ^Egina, I embarked 
 in her, hearing there were some relations of my mother's 
 there. I was fortunate enough to find them on my arrival, 
 and passed the first days of my exile agreeably enough 
 among them. After I had been there about three weeks, 
 taking my accustomed solitary walk, I came down to the 
 port; a vessel was standing in; I stopped to see from 
 whence she came, and who were on board. The ladder was 
 no sooner let down, when a person leapt on shore, ran up 
 to me, and embraced me. He proved to be Charias, one of 
 ray former companions. ' O Cnemon ! ' he cried out, ' I 
 bring you good news. You are revenged on your enemy : 
 Demaeneta is dead.' ' I am heartily glad to see you, 
 Charias/ I replied ; ' but why do you hurry over your good 
 tidings as if they were bad ones ? Tell me how all this has 
 happened ; I fear she has died a natural death, and escaped 
 that which she deserved.' ' Justice,' said he, ' has not 
 entirely deserted us (as Hesiod* says) ; and though she 
 sometimes seems to wink at crime for a time, protecting 
 her vengeance, such wretches rarely escape at last : neither 
 has Demaeneta. From my connexion with Thisbe, I have 
 been made acquainted with the whole affair. 
 
 "' After your unjust exile, your father, repenting of what 
 he had done, retired from the sight of the world, into a 
 lonely villa, and there lived ; " gnawing his own heart," 
 according to the poet.f But the furies took possession of 
 his wife, and her passion rose to a higher pitch in your ab- 
 sence than it had ever done before. She lamented your mis- 
 fortunes and her own, calling day and night in a frantic 
 
 * Hesiod, " Works and Days," 221. 
 
 " Justice 
 
 When mortals violate her sacred laws, 
 When judges hear the bribe and not the cause, 
 Close by her parent god behold her stand, 
 And urge the punishment their sins demand." Lee. 
 Ammianus Marcellinus says, B. xxix., " Inconnivens justitiae oculus^ 
 arbiter et vindex perpetuus rerum." 
 
 Raro antecedentem scelestum 
 Deseruit pede Poena claudo. Hor. Od. in. 11. 31. 
 f "Ov Ovfibv Kartduv. II. vl 202. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 15 
 
 manner upon Cnemon, her dear boy, her soul ; insomuch 
 that the women of her acquaintance, who visited her, won- 
 dered at and praised her ; that, though a step-dame, she felt 
 a mother's affection. They endeavoured to console and 
 strengthen her ; but she replied that her sorrows were past 
 consolation, and that they were ignorant of the wound 
 which rankled at her heart. 
 
 " ' When she was alone she abused Thisbe for the share 
 she had in the business. " How slow were you in assisting 
 my love ! How ready in administering to my revenge ! 
 You deprived me of him I loved above all the world, with- 
 out giving me an instant to repent and be appeased." And 
 she gave plain hints that she intended some mischief 
 against her. 
 
 " ' Thisbe seeing her disappointed, enraged, almost o'ut of 
 her senses with love and grief, and capable of undertaking 
 anything, determined to be beforehand with her ; and. by 
 laying a snare for her mistress, to provide for her own 
 security. One day, therefore, she thus accosted her : 
 " Why, O my mistress, do you wrongfully accuse your 
 slave ? It has always been my study to obey your will in 
 the best manner I could ; if anything unlucky has hap- 
 pened, fortune is to blame ; I am ready now, if you com- 
 mand me, to endeavour to find a remedy for your distress." 
 " What remedy can you find ?" cried she. " He who alone 
 could ease my torments is far distant ; the unexpected lenity 
 of his judges has been my ruin : had he been stoned or 
 otherwise put to death, my hopes and cares would have been 
 buried with him. Impossibility of gratification extinguishes 
 desire, and despair makes the heart callous. But now I 
 seem to have him before my eyes : I hear, and blush at 
 hearing him upbraid me with his injuries. Sometimes I 
 flatter my fond heart that he will return again, and that I 
 shall obtain my wishes ; at other times I form schemes of 
 seeking him myself, on whatever shore he wanders. These 
 thoughts agitate, inflame, and drive me beside myself. Ye 
 gods! I am justly served. Why, instead of laying schemes 
 gainst his life, did I not persist in endeavouring to subdue 
 hi.rx by kindness ? He refused me at first, and it was but 
 fitting he should do so ; I was a stranger, and he reverenced 
 his father's bed. Time and persuasion might have overcome 
 his coldness ; but I, unjust, and inhuman as I was, more 
 
16 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 like a tyrant than his mistress, cruelly punished his first dis- 
 obedience. Yet with how much justice might he slight 
 Dem sen eta, whom he so infinitely surpassed in beauty ! But, 
 my dear Thisbe, what remedy is it you hint at ?" The art- 
 ful slave replied : " O Mistress, Cnernou, as most people 
 think, in obedience to the sentence, has departed both from 
 the city and from Attica ; but I, who inquire anxiously 
 into everything that you can have any concern in, have dis- 
 covered that he is lurking somewhere about the town. You 
 have heard perhaps of Arsinoe the singer : he has long been 
 connected with her. After his misfortune, she promised to 
 go into exile with him, and keeps him concealed at her house 
 till she can prepare herself for setting out." " Happy 
 Arsinoe!" cried Demseneta ; "happy at first in possessing 
 the love of Cnemon, and now in being permitted to accom- 
 pany him into banishment. But what is all this to me ? " 
 " Attend, and you shall hear," said Thisbe. " I will pre- 
 tend that I am in love with Cnemon. I will beg Arsinoe, 
 with whom I am acquainted, to introduce me some night to 
 him in her room ; you may, if you please, represent Arsinoe, 
 and receive his visit instead of me. I will take care that he 
 shall have drunk a little freely when he goes to bed. If you 
 obtain your wishes, perhaps you may be cured of your 
 passion. The first gratification sometimes extinguishes the 
 flame of desire. Love soon finds its end in satiety : but 
 if yours (which I hope will not be the case) should still 
 continue, we may perhaps find some other scheme to satisfy 
 it ; at present let us attend to this which I have pro- 
 posed." 
 
 " ' Dem&neta eagerly embraced the proposal, and desired 
 her to put it into immediate execution. Thisbe demanded 
 a day only for preparation ; and going directly to Arsinoe, 
 asked her if she knew Teledemus. Arsinoe replying that 
 she did, " Receive us then," says she, "this evening into 
 your house ; I have promised to sleep with him to-night : 
 he will come first ; I shall follow, when I have put my mis- 
 tress to bed." Then hastening into the country to Aristip- 
 pus, she thus addressed him : " I come, master, to accuse 
 myself; punish me as you think fit. I have been the cause 
 of your losing your son ; not indeed willingly, but yet 1 was 
 instrumental in his destruction : for when I perceived that 
 tarai 7rXoi>, we will go on a fresh tack. 
 
THEAGENES AtfD CHAEICLEA. 17 
 
 my mistress led a dissolute life, and injured your bed, I began 
 to fear for myself, lest I should suifer if she should be 
 detected by anybody else. I pitied you too, who received 
 such ill returns for all your affection ; I was afraid, however, 
 of mentioning the matter to you, but I discovered it to my 
 young master ; and coming to him by night, to avoid obser- 
 vation, I told him that an adulterer was sleeping with my 
 mistress. He, hurried on by resentment, mistook my mean- 
 ing, and thought I said that an adulterer was then with her. 
 His passion rose ; he snatched a sword, and ran madly on 
 towards your bedchamber. It was in vain I endeavoured 
 to detain him, and to assure him that no adulterer was then 
 with my mistress ; he regarded not what I said, either made 
 deaf by rage, or imagining that I changed my purpose. The 
 rest you know. You have it in your power at least to clear 
 up the character of your banished son, and to punish her 
 who has injured both of you ; for I will shew you to-day 
 Demaeneta with an adulterer, in a strange house without 
 the city, and in bed." 
 
 " ' If you can do that," said Aristippus, "your freedom 
 shall be your reward. I shall, perhaps, take some com- 
 fort in life, when I have got rid of this wicked woman. I 
 have for some time been uneasy within myself: I have 
 suspected her ; but, having no proofs, I was silent. But 
 what must we do now?" " You know," said she, "the 
 garden where is the monument of the Epicureans : come 
 there in the evening, and wait for me," And having so 
 said, away she goes ; and coming to Demseneta, " Press 
 yourself," she cries, " immediately ; neglect nothing that can 
 set off your person ; everything that I have promised you is 
 ready." - Demseneta did as she was desired, and adorned her- 
 self with all her skill ; and in the evening Thisbe attended her to 
 the place of assignation, "When they came near she desired her 
 to stop a little ; and going forwards she begged Arsinoe to 
 step into the next house, and leave her at liberty in her own ; 
 for she wished to spare the young man's blushes, wha was but 
 lately initiated into love affairs ; and, having persuaded her, 
 she returned, introduced Dema&neta,put her to bed,took away 
 the light (lest, forsooth, you, who were then safe at ^Egina, 
 should discover her), and entreated her to enjoy the good 
 fortune which awaited her in silence. " I will now go," said 
 
 c 
 
IB THE ADYENTUBES OP 
 
 she, " and bring the youth to you ; he is drinking at a house 
 in the neighbo rhood." Away she flies where Aristippus 
 was waiting, and exhorts him to go immediately and bind 
 the adulterer fast. He follows her, rushes into the house, 
 and, by help of a little moonlight which shone, with difficulty 
 finding the bed, exclaims, " I have caught you now, you 
 abandoned creature ! " Thisbe immediately upon this 
 exclamation bangs to the door on the other side, and cries 
 out, " "What untoward fortune ! the adulterer has escaped ; 
 but take care at least that you secure the adulteress." 
 "Make yourself easy," he replied; "I have secured this 
 wicked woman, whom I was the most desirous of taking :" 
 and seizing her, he began to drag her towards the city. But 
 she feeling deeply the situation she was in, the disappoint- 
 ment of her hopes, the ignominy which must attend her 
 offences, and the punishment which awaited them, vexed and 
 enraged at being deceived and detected, when she came near 
 the pit which is in the Academy (you know the place where 
 our generals sacrifice to the Manes of our heroes), suddenly 
 disengaging herself from the hands of the old man, flung 
 herself headlong in : and thus she died* a wretched death, 
 suited for a wretch like herself. 
 
 " ' Upon this Aristippus cried out, " You have yourself anti- 
 cipated the justice of the laws," and the next day he laid the 
 whole matter before the people ; and having with difficulty ob- 
 tained his pardon, consulted his friends and acquaintance 
 how best he could obtain your recall. What success he has 
 met with I cannot inform you of; for I have been obliged, 
 as you see, to sail here on my own private business. But I 
 think you have the greatest reason to expect that the" people 
 will consent to your return, and that your father will him- 
 self come to seek you, and conduct you home.' Here 
 Charias ended his recital. How I came to this place, and 
 what have been my fortunes since, would take up more time 
 and words than there is at present opportunity for." 
 
 Having said this, he wept ; the strangers wept with him, 
 seemingly for his calamities, really, perhaps, in remembrance 
 of their own : nor would they have ceased from lamentation, 
 had not sleep coming over them through the luxury of grief, 
 
 * Kcucrj 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 19 
 
 at length dried their tears. They then lay in repose ; but 
 Thy amis (for that was the name of the pirate captain) 
 having slept quietly the first part of the night, was after- 
 wards disturbed by wandering dreams ; and starting from 
 his sleep, and pondering what they should mean, was kept 
 awake by his perplexities the remainder of the night. For 
 about the time when the cocks crow (whether a natural 
 instinct induces them to salute the returning sun, or a feel- 
 ing of warmth and a desire of food and motion excites them 
 to rouse those who are about them with their song) the 
 following vision appeared to him. 
 
 He seemed to be in Memphis, his native city ; and enter- 
 ing into the temple of Isis, he saw it shining with the splen- 
 dour of a thousand lighted lamps ; the altars were filled with 
 bleeding victims of all sorts ; all the avenues of the temple 
 were crowded with people, and resounded with the noise of 
 the passing throngs. When he had penetrated to the inmost 
 sanctuary of the edifice, the goddess seemed to meet him, 
 to give Chariclea into his hands, and to say, " O Thyamis, I 
 deliver this maiden to you ; but though having you shall not 
 have her, but shall be unjust, and kill your guest ; yet she 
 shall not be killed." This dream troubled him, and he 
 turned it every way in his mind ; at length, wearied with 
 conjectures, he wrested its signification to his own wishes. 
 You shall have her, and not have her ; that is, you shall have 
 her as a wife, not as a virgin : and as for the killing, he un- 
 derstood it to mean, thou shalt wound her virginity, but the 
 wound shall not be mortal. And thus, led by his desires, 
 he interpreted his vision. When the morning dawned, he 
 called his principal followers about him, and ordered their 
 booty, which he called by the specious name of spoils, to be 
 brought out into the 'midst; and sending for Cnemon, 
 directed him to bring with him the captives whom he had 
 the care of. When they were being brought, " What 
 fortune," they exclaimed, " awaits us now ?" and besought 
 the protection and assistance of Cnemon. He promised to 
 do all that was in his power for them, and comforted and 
 encouraged them. He told them that the pirate captain 
 had nothing barbarous in his disposition ; that his manners 
 were rather gentle; that he belonged to an illustrious 
 family, and from necessity alone had embraced this kind of 
 
 c 2 
 
20 THE ADVENTUBE3 OF 
 
 life. When all were met together, and they too made their 
 appearance, Thy amis, seating himself on an eminence, and 
 ordering Cnemon, who understood the Egyptian tongue, 
 (whereas he himself could not speak Greek) to inter- 
 pret what he said to the captives, thus addressed the 
 assembly : 
 
 " You know, comrades, what my sentiments have always 
 been towards you. You are not ignorant, how being the 
 son of the high-priest of Memphis, and being frustrated of 
 succeeding to the office * after the departure of my father, 
 my younger brother against all law depriving me of it, I 
 fled to you, that I might revenge the injury, and recover my 
 dignity. I have been thought worthy to command you, 
 and yet I have never arrogated any particular privileges to 
 myself: if money was to be distributed, I desired only an 
 equal share of it; if captives were to be sold, I brought 
 their price into the common stock ; for I have always 
 deemed it to be the part of a valiant leader, to take the 
 larger share of toil, and only an equal share of spoils. As 
 to the captives, those men whose strength of body promised 
 to be serviceable to us, I kept for ourselves ; the weaker I 
 sold. I never abused the women. Those of any rank I 
 suffered to redeem themselves with money ; and sometimes, 
 out of compassion, dismissed them without ransom : those 
 of inferior condition, who, if they had not been taken, would 
 . have passed their lives in servile offices, I employed in such 
 services as they had been accustomed to. But now I do ask 
 one part of these spoils for myself, this foreign maiden. I 
 might take her by my own authority, but I would rather 
 receive her by your common consent ; for it were foolish 
 in me to do anything with a prisoner against the will of my 
 friendb. Neither do I ask this favour of you gratis ; I am 
 willing, in recompense for it, to resign my share in all the 
 other booty. For since the priestly caste despises common 
 amours, I am determined to take this maiden to myself, not 
 out of mere lust, but for the sake of offspring. And I will 
 explain to you the reasons which induce me to do so. 
 
 " In the first place she appears to me to be well born : I 
 form this conjecture both from the riches* which were found 
 
 * The succession to the Egyptian priesthood was hereditary. 
 Vide Herod il 37. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 21 
 
 about her, and from her not being depressed by her cala- 
 mities, but, seeming to rise superior to them ; I am con- 
 vinced that her disposition is good and virtuous ; for, if in 
 beauty she surpasses all, and by her looks awes all beholders 
 into respect, can we do otherwise than think highly of her ? 
 But what recommends her above every thing to me is, that 
 she appears to be a priestess of some god ; for, in all her 
 misfortunes, she has with a pious regard refused to lay aside 
 her sacred robe and chaplet. Where then can I a priest 
 find a partner more fitting for me, than one who is herself 
 a priestess ? " 
 
 The applause of the whole company testified their appro- 
 bation. They exhorted him to marry, and wished him all 
 possible happiness. He then pursued his discourse : " I 
 thank you, comrades ; but it will now be proper to inquire 
 how far my proposal is agreeable to this maiden. Were I 
 disposed to use the power which fate has put into my hands, 
 my will would be sufficient ; they who can compel have no 
 need to entreat. But in lawful marriage, the inclination of 
 both parties ought to coincide." And turning to Chariclea, 
 he said, " How, maiden, do you like my offer ? What is 
 your country, and who were your parents ? " She, keeping 
 her eye a considerable time on the ground, and moving 
 slowly her head, seemed to meditate what she should answer. 
 At length, raising herself gently towards Thyamis, and 
 dazzling him with more than her usual charms (for her eyes 
 shone with uncommon lustre, and the circumstances she was 
 in gave an additional glow to her cheeks), Cnemon serving 
 as interpreter, she thus addressed him : 
 
 " It might perhaps have been more proper for my brother 
 Thea genes to speak on this occasion ; for silence, I think, 
 best becomes women, especially in a company of men. Since, 
 however, you address yourself to me, and* shew this first 
 mark of humanity, in that you seek to obtain what you 
 desire, by persuasion rather than force ; since the main sub- 
 ject of your discourse relates to me alone ; I am compelled 
 to lay aside the common reserve of my sex, and to explain 
 myself in regard to the proposal of marriage which you have 
 made, even before such an audience. Hear then what is 
 our state and condition. 
 
 " Our country is Ionia ; our family one of the most illus- 
 trious in Ephesus. In early youth, as the laws appointed, 
 
22 THE ADVENTURES OP 
 
 we entered into the priesthood. I was consecrated to 
 Diana, my brother to Apollo. But as the office is an annual 
 one, and the time was elapsed, we were going to Delos 
 to exhibit games* according to the custom of our coun- 
 try, and to lay down the priesthood. We loaded a ship 
 therefore with gold, silver, costly garments, and other things 
 necessary for the show and the entertainment which we 
 were to give to the people. We set sail ; our parents being 
 advanced in years, and afraid of the sea, remained at home : 
 but a great number of our fellow citizens attended us, some 
 on board our ships, others in vessels of their own. When 
 we had completed the greatest part of our voyage, a tem- 
 pest suddenly arose ; winds and hurricanes, raising the 
 waves, drove the ship out of its course. The pilot yielded 
 at length to the fury of the storm; and deserting the govern- 
 ment of the ship, let her drive at the mercy of the winds. 
 We scudded before them for seven days and nights ; and at 
 length were cast upon the shore where you found us, and 
 where you saw the slaughter which had happened there. 
 Eejoicing at our preservation, we gave an entertainment to 
 the ship's company. In the midst of it, a party of the 
 sailors, who had conspired to make themselves masters of 
 our riches, by taking away our lives, attacked us ; our 
 friends defended us ; a dreadful combat ensued, which was 
 continued with such rage and animosity, on both sides, that 
 of the whole number engaged we alone survived (would to 
 God we had not I), miserable remains of that unhappy day ; 
 in one thing alone fortunate, in that some pitying deity has 
 brought us into your hands ; and, instead of death which we 
 feared, we are now to deliberate upon a marriage. I do not 
 by any means decline the offer. Prisoner as I am, I ought 
 to esteem it an honour and a happiness to be permitted 
 to aspire to the bed of my conqueror. It seems too, 
 to be by a particular providence of the gods, that I, a 
 priestess, should be united to the son of a high priest. 
 One thing alone I beg of you, O Thyamis. Permit me, at 
 the first city I arrive at in which there is a temple or altar 
 of Apollo, to resign my priesthood, and lay aside these 
 
 * Qtwpiav fjyofjitv. The Athenians made a solemn voyage to Delos 
 every year ; the deputation was called Otwpia ; the persons employed 
 in it, fawpoi ; the ship, GnapiQ. See Robinson's Antiquities of Greece. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 23 
 
 badges of my office: this perhaps would with most pro- 
 priety be done in Memphis, when you shall have recovered 
 the dignity you are entitled to. Thus would our wedlock 
 be celebrated with better auspices, joined with victory and 
 prosperous success : but, if you would have it sooner, be it 
 as you please ; let me only first perform those rites which 
 the custom of my country demands. This I know you will 
 not refuse me, as you have yourself been, as you say, dedi- 
 cated to holy things from childhood, and have just and 
 reverend notions of what relates to the gods." 
 
 Here she ceased, and her tears began to flow. Her 
 speech was followed by the approbation and applause of the 
 company, who bid her do thus, and promised her their aid. 
 Thyamis could not help joining with them, though he was 
 not entirely satisfied, for his eager desire to possess Chari- 
 clea made him think even the present hour an unreason- 
 able delay. Her words, however, like the syren's song, 
 soothed him, and compelled his assent ; he thought, too, he 
 saw in this some relation to his dream, and brought himself 
 to agree that the wedding should be celebrated at Memphis. 
 He then dismissed the company, having first divided the 
 spoils, a great part of the choicest of which were forced 
 upon him by his people. 
 
 He gave orders that, in ten days, they should all be 
 ready to march to Memphis ; and sent the Greeks to the 
 habitation in which he had before placed them. Cnemon, 
 too, by his command, attended them no longer now as a 
 guard, but as a companion: their entertainment was the 
 best which Thyamis could afford ; and Theagenes, for his 
 sister's sake, partook of the same handsome treament. He 
 determined within himself to see Chariclea as seldom as 
 possible, lest the sight of her should inflame the desire 
 which tormented him, and urge him on to do anything 
 inconsistent with what he had agreed to and promised. He 
 deprived himself, therefore, of that company in which he 
 most delighted, fearing that to converse with her, and to 
 restrain himself within proper bounds, would be more than 
 he could answer for. When the crew had dispersed, each 
 to his habitation in the lake, Cnemon went to some dis- 
 tance from it, in search of the herb which he had promised 
 to procure for Theagenes ; and Theagenes, taking the 
 opportunity of his absence, began to weep and lament, not 
 
24 THE ADYENTTJBES OF 
 
 addressing himself to Chariclea, but calling earnestly upon 
 the gods : and she with tender solicitude inquiring whether 
 he was only lamenting their common misfortunes, or suf- 
 fering any new addition to them ? " "What can be newer or 
 more unworthy," he replied, " than the breaking of vows 
 and promises ? than that Chariclea, entirely forgetting me, 
 should give her consent to another marriage ?" " God 
 forbid!" replied the maiden; "let not your reproaches 
 increase the load of my calamities ; nor, after so long an 
 experience of my fidelity, lightly suspect a measure which 
 the immediate necessity of the moment compelled me to 
 adopt: sooner will you change than find me changed in 
 regard to you. I can bear ill fortune ; nor shall any force 
 compel me to do anything unworthy of the modesty and 
 virtue of my sex. In one thing alone, I own, I am immo- 
 derate, my love for you ; but then it is a lawful one ; and, 
 however great, it did not throw me inconsiderately into your 
 power; I resigned myself to you on the most honourable 
 conditions ; I have hitherto lived with you in the most 
 inviolate purity, resisting all your solicitations, and looking 
 forward to a lawful opportunity of completing that marriage 
 to which we are solemnly pledged. Can you then be so 
 unreasonable as to think it possible that I should prefer a 
 barbarian to a Greek ? a pirate, to one to whom I am 
 bound by so many ties?" " What, then," said Theagenes, 
 " was the meaning of that fine speech of yours ? To call 
 me your brother, indeed, was prudent enough, to keep 
 Thyamis from suspecting the real nature of our love, and to 
 induce him to let us continue together. I understood, too, 
 the meaning of your veiling the true circumstances of our 
 voyage under the fictions of Ionia and Delos. But so 
 readily to accept his proposals, to promise to marry him, 
 nay, to fix a time for the ceremony this, I own, disturbs 
 me, and passes my comprehension ; but I had rather sink 
 into the earth than see such an end of all my hopes and 
 labours on your account." 
 
 Chariclea flung her arms round Theagenes, gave him 
 a thousand kisses, and bedewing him with tears, cried 
 out, " How delightful to me are these apprehensions of 
 yours ! They prove that all the troubles you have under- 
 gone have in no degree weakened your love ; but know, 
 my dear Theagenes, that unless I had promised as I did, 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 25 
 
 we should not now be talking together. You must be sen- 
 sible that contradiction only adds force to violent passion ; 
 seeming compliance allays the impulse in its birth, and the 
 allurement of promises lulls the violence of desire. Your 
 rough lovers think they have got something when they have 
 obtained a promise; and, relying upon the faith of it, 
 become quieter, feeding themselves with hope. I, being 
 aware of this, in words resigned myself up to him, com- 
 mitting what shall follow to the gods, and to that genius 
 who presides over our loves. 
 
 " A short interval of time has frequently afforded means 
 of safety, which the wisest counsels of men could not have 
 foreseen. I saw nothing better to be done than to endea- 
 vour to ward off a certain and imminent danger, by a 
 present, though uncertain, remedy. We must, therefore, 
 my dearest Theagenes, use this fiction as our best ally, 
 and carefully conceal the truth even from Cnemon ; for 
 though he seems friendly to us, and is a Greek, yet he is a 
 captive, and likely, perhaps, to do anything which may ingra- 
 tiate him with his master. Our friendship with him is as 
 yet too new, neither is there any relation between us suffi- 
 ciently strong to give us a certain assurance of his fidelity. 
 If he suspects, therefore, and inquires into our real situa- 
 tion, we must deny it : for even a falsehood is commendable 
 when it is of service to those who use it, and does no injury 
 to the hearers of it." 
 
 While Chariclea was thus suggesting this course, Cnemon 
 comes running in, with an altered countenance, and seem- 
 ingly in much agitation. " Theagenes," he cried, " I have 
 brought you the herb I mentioned; apply it, and it will 
 heal your wounds ; but you must now, I fear, prepare your- 
 self for others, and a slaughter equal to that which you 
 have lately been an actor in." Theagenes desiring him to 
 explain himself, "There is no time at present ;" he replied, 
 " for explanation ; action will probably anticipate words ; 
 but do you and Chariclea follow me as fast as you can ;" 
 and taking them with him, he brought them to Thyamis. 
 They found him employed in burnishing his helmet and 
 sharpening his spear. " Very seasonably," he exclaimed, 
 " are you employed about your arms ; put them on as fast 
 as you can, and command all your men to do the same, for 
 
26 THE ADVENTUEES O* 
 
 a hostile force is approaching greater than ever threatened 
 us before, and they must now be very near. I saw them 
 advancing over the top of the neighbouring hill, and have 
 made all possible haste to bring you information, giving 
 the alarm to every one I met with in my passage." 
 
 Thyamis, at these tidings, started up and cried out, 
 "Where is Chariclea?" as if he were more apprehensive 
 for her than for himself. When Cnemon showed her 
 standing near the door. " Lead this maiden privately," 
 says he, " into the cave where I keep my treasures, and 
 forget not to replace as usual the covering of it; having 
 done this, return to me as fast as you can : meanwhile, I 
 will prepare for the storm of battle which awaits us." 
 Having said this, he ordered his lieutenant to bring forth 
 a victim, that he might begin the engagement after a due 
 sacrifice to his country's gods. Cnemon proceeded to 
 execute his commission, and leading off Chariclea, who 
 turned earnestly towards Theagenes, and lamented her 
 hard fate, he let her down into the cave. This was not, as 
 many are, the work of nature, an accidental excavation, but 
 the contrivance of the pirates, who, imitating her opera- 
 tions, had hollowed out an artificial cavern for the reception 
 of their treasures. It was formed in this manner: its 
 entrance,* narrow and dark, was under the doors of a 
 hidden chamber, the threshold became, in case of need, 
 a second door, for farther descent ; it fitted exactly, and 
 could be lifted up with great facility; the rest of the 
 
 * This description is very obscure in the original; the meaning 
 seems to be, that the descent to the cavern was effected by lifting up 
 an oblong stone, bearing the appearance of a threshold, but serving as 
 a door. The following is the version of the Italian translator : " L'en- 
 trata era stretta e oscura ; sottoposta all' entrata d'uno occulto edificio, 
 in guisa che la soglia della prima entrata faceva un altra porta ad uso 
 di scendere," &c. The poet, Walter Lisle, gives the passage thus : 
 " A cave there was, it opened well and shut 
 
 With narrow door of stone, that threshold was 
 T' an upper room. Within, a maze it has 
 Of sundrie wayes, entangled (like the roots 
 Of thicke-set trees, amids and all abouts), 
 That meet in plaine." 
 And wishing to embellish the picture, he adds 
 
 " With scales of crocodile 
 The roofe is pav'd, brought hither from the Nile." 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAKICLEA. 27 
 
 cave was cut into various winding passages, which, now 
 diverging, now returning, with a multitude of ramifi- 
 cations, converged at last into an open space at the bottom, 
 which received an uncertain light from an aperture at the 
 extremity of the lake. Here Cnemon introduced Chariclea, 
 and led her to the farthest recess, encouraging and pro- 
 mising her that he and Theagenes would come to her in the 
 evening ; and that he would not suffer him to engage in the 
 battle which impended. Chariclea was unable to answer him ; 
 and he went out of the cave, leaving her half dead, silent, 
 and stupified, as if her soul had been separated from her 
 with Theagenes. He shut down the door, dropping a tear 
 for her as he did it, and for the necessity he was under of 
 burying her in a manner alive, and consigning the brightest 
 of human forms to darkness and obscurity. He made what 
 haste he could to Thy amis. He found him burning with 
 ardour for the fight, and Theagenes by his side splendidly 
 armed ; he was even to frenzy rousing the spirits of his fol- 
 lowers who surrounded him, and thus began to address them : 
 
 " There is no need, comrades, to address you in a long 
 exhortation ; you want no encouragement, to whom war is 
 the breath of life ; and the sudden approach of the enemy 
 cuts off all space for words ; it becomes us to prepare to 
 resist force by force ; not to do so would betray an absence 
 of all energy. I do not put you in mind of your wives and 
 children as is usual on these occasions, though nothing but 
 victory can preserve them from destruction and violation. 
 This contest is for our very being and existence; no quarter, 
 no truce, ever takes place in piratic warfare; we must 
 either conquer or die. Let us exert, then, our force to the 
 utmost, and with determined minds fall upon the enemy." 
 
 Having said this, he looked round for his lieutenant, 
 Thermuthis, and called him several times by his name. 
 "When he nowhere appeared, throwing out hasty threats 
 against him, he rushed on towards the ferry. The battle 
 was already begun, and he could see at a distance those 
 who inhabited the extremities and approaches of the lake 
 in the fact of being routed by the enemy, who set on fire 
 the boats and huts of those who fell or fled. The flames 
 spread to the neighbouring morass, caught hold of the 
 reeds which grew there in great abundance, dazzled every 
 
28 THE ADVENTUBES OP 
 
 eye with an almost intolerable blaze, and, crackling and 
 roaring, stunned their ears. 
 
 War* now appeared in all its horrid forms : the inhabitants 
 for some time, with readiness and energy, supported and 
 repelled the attack ; but being astonished by the sudden 
 incursion, and pressed by the superior numbers of the 
 enemy, those on the land gave way, and many of those on 
 the lake, together with their boats and habitations, were 
 overwhelmed in the waters ! every dreadful sound now struck 
 the air, as the conflict raged both by land and water; 
 groans and shouts were mingled, the lake was discoloured 
 with blood, all were involved in fire or water. Thyamis, at 
 this sight, called to mind his dream, and the temple of Isis 
 shining with lamps, and flowing with the blood of victims ; 
 he saw a resemblance in it to the scene before him, and 
 began to fear that he must give up his former favourable 
 interpretation ; that Chariclea was destined to fall in this 
 tumult, and that so having had her in his possession, he 
 should now have her no longer ; that she would be slain, 
 not merely be wounded in her virginity ; exclaiming, there- 
 fore against the goddess, for having deceived him, and 
 unable to bear the thought that any one else should possess 
 Chariclea, he ordered the men who were about him to halt, 
 and if they were obliged to engage, to defend themselves as 
 well as they could, by retiring behind, and making sallies 
 from, the numerous little islands : as by so doing they might, 
 for some time, be able to resist the attack of the enemy. He 
 then, under pretence of going to seek Therm uthis, and sacri- 
 ficing to his household gods, returned in great agitation to 
 his tent, suffering no one to follow him. 
 
 The disposition of the barbarians is obstinate and deter- 
 mined ; t when they despair of their own safety, they are 
 accustomed to destroy those who are most dear to them ; 
 either wildly imagining that they shall enjoy their company 
 after death ; or thinking that by so doing they shall deliver 
 
 * See a passage, already referred to, in Achilles Tatius (B. iv. c. 14), 
 containing a spirited picture of pirate warfare. 
 
 f There is a curious example of this disposition of the barbarians in 
 the conduct of Mithridates, after his defeat by Lucullus. See Fer- 
 guson's Rom. Hist, vol, ii. p. 24. He ordered his wives and sisters to 
 destroy themselves, fearful of their falling into the enemy's hands. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 29 
 
 them from the injuries and insults of the enemy. Stimulated 
 by some of these motives, Thyamis, forgetting the urgent 
 danger which pressed upon him, and the enemies by whom he 
 was surrounded as by a net ; burning with anger, love, and 
 jealousy, rushed headlong to the cave : he poured out his 
 Egyptian exclamations with a loud voice, and soon after his 
 entrance, being addressed by some one in the Greek tongue, 
 the voice guided him to the person ; he seized her hair with 
 his left hand, and with his right plunged his sword into her 
 bosom : the unfortunate creature sank down, uttering a last 
 and piteous groan. Issuing forth and closing the trap-door, 
 he threw a little dust over her, and dropping a tear he 
 exclaimed, " Are these then the nuptial presents you were 
 to expect from me ! " When he arrived at the boats, he 
 saw his people ready to fly as the enemy approached near, 
 and Thermuthis having now made his appearance, preparing 
 to begin the sacrifice : having abused him for his unseason- 
 able absence, and told him that he had already offered 
 up the most beauteous of victims, he, Thermuthis and the 
 rower got into a boat : their small vessels would not hold 
 more, being made out of the trunk of a tree rudely hollowed. 
 Theagenes and Cnemon got into another, and in the same 
 manner all the rest embarked. 
 
 When they had proceeded a little from the shore, 
 rowing round the side rather than launching out into 
 the deep, they lay upon their oars, and drew up in a line, 
 to receive the enemy ; but at their approach, a sudden 
 panic seized the pirates, and not sustaining the first 
 hostile shout of their opponents, they fled in disorder: 
 Cnemon and Theagenes gradually retired, but not from fear : 
 Thyamis alone disdained to fly ; and perhaps not wishing to 
 survive Chariclea, rushed into the midst of his foes. A cry 
 was instantly heard among them, " This is Thyamis, let ail 
 have an eye to him :" immediately they turned their boats 
 and surrounded him ; he, vigorously fighting, wounded some 
 and killed others, and yet strange was that which ensued : 
 out of so great a multitude no one lifted up a sword, or cast 
 a dart at him, but every one did their utmost to capture 
 him alive. He continued manfully to resist, till at length his 
 spear was wrested from him, and he had lost his lieutenant, 
 who had nobly seconded him ; and who, haying received, as 
 
30 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 he thought, a mortal wound, leaped into the lake, and with 
 great difficulty reached the shore, no one offering to pursue 
 him ; for now they had laid hold on Thyamis, and esteemed 
 the capture of one man a victory; and though he had 
 destroyed so many of their men, their joy at having taken 
 him alive far exceeded their grief for the loss of their com- 
 rades ; for gain is dearer to robbers than their lives ; and 
 friendship and relationship are only so far considered among 
 them as they conduce to this main end. 
 
 The leaders of this attack were the men who had fled from 
 Thyamis and his followers at the Heracleotic mouth of the 
 Nile : they, enraged at the loss of a booty, which though 
 plunder, they considered as their own, gathered their friends 
 together, and many others from the neighbouring towns, 
 by proposing to them an equal division of the spoils ; and 
 became their guides in the expedition. 
 
 The reason why they were so desirous of taking Thyamia 
 alive was this : Petosiris, who resided at Memphis, was his 
 younger brother ; by his artifices he had unlawfully de- 
 prived Thyamis of the priesthood, and hearing that he was 
 now at the head of the pirates, he feared that he might take 
 some opportunity to attack him, or that in time his treachery 
 might be discovered ; he was besides suspected of having 
 made away with his brother, who nowhere appeared. For 
 these reasons he proclaimed great rewards among all the 
 nests of pirates in his neighbourhood, to any one who 
 should capture him alive : they, stimulated by these offers, 
 and in the heat of battle, not losing sight of gain, took him 
 prisoner at the price of many of their lives. They sent him, 
 under a strong guard, to the main land, he reproaching 
 them all the while for their seeming lenity, and bearing 
 bonds much more indignantly than he would have borne 
 death. The rest proceeded towards the island in quest of 
 treasures and spoil ; but when, after a long and strict search, 
 they found nothing of any consequence, some few things 
 excepted, which out of hurry or forgetfulness were left out 
 of the cavern, they set fire to the tents ; and the evening 
 coming on, fearing to remain there any longer, lest they 
 should be surprised by the enemy whom they had driven 
 thence, they returned to their companions upon the con- 
 tinent. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAKICLEA. 31 
 
 EOOK II. 
 
 IN this manner, as we have related, were the flames 
 spread over the lake ; the conflagration escaped the 
 notice of Theagenes and Cnemon while the sun was above 
 the horizon, the superior lustre of that planet overcoming 
 the blaze ; but when it set, when night came on, and the 
 fire had no longer any rival to contend with, it appeared at 
 a distance to their great consternation, as they began to 
 raise themselves out of the morass. Theagenes tearing his 
 hair, thus broke out into passionate exclamations ; " May 
 this day be the last of iny life ; may my fears, cares, and 
 dangers now have an end, and my hopes and love conclude 
 together. Chariclea is no more, and I am undone ; in vain, 
 wretch, that I am, have I become a coward, and submitted 
 to an unmanly flight, that I might preserve myself for you, 
 the delight of my life. For you, alas ! I live no longer ; 
 you have fallen by an untimely death, nor was he on whom 
 you doated present to receive your latest breath ; but you 
 are become the prey of flames, and these are the nuptial 
 torches which cruel fate has lighted up for you. All is con- 
 sumed, and there now remains no trace of the most perfect 
 of human forms : O ! most cruel and envious deities ! a last 
 embrace is denied me:" and thus lamenting, he felt about 
 for his sword Cnemon arrested his hand, and cried out, 
 " Why, Theagenes, do you lament her who is safe ? Chari- 
 clea is alive; be comforted." "Away ! " he replied, " this 
 is a tale for chidren; why do you keep me from the death I 
 long for ? " Cnemon swore to the truth of what he had 
 said, told him the orders of Thy amis, described the cave 
 where he had placed Chariclea ; and assured him there was 
 not the smallest danger of the flames (cut off as they would 
 be) penetrating through the deep and winding avenues by 
 which she was protected. 
 
 Theagenes at these assurances began to recover his 
 spirits, and hastened towards the island, having Chariclea, 
 and a joyful meeting in the cave before his eyes, ignorant, 
 alas! of the woes which awaited him there. They pro- 
 ceeded forwards with great ardour, plying the oars them- 
 selves, for their rower had fallen overboard in the confusion 
 
32 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 of the first flight ; they went on with an unsteady course 
 from inexperience in rowing, not able to keep stroke, and 
 the wind being against them ; but their ardour overcame 
 their unskilfulness, and with great difficulty ab last, and 
 bathed in sweat, they reached the shore, and ran eagerly 
 towards the tents. Of these they saw only the ashes, 
 they having been totally consumed ; the stone, however, 
 which formed the threshold and entrance of the cavern, 
 was conspicuous enough ; for the huts being built of reeds 
 and such slender materials, were soon consumed and turned 
 into a light ash, which the wind scattering away, left the 
 earth bare in many places for a passage, cooling it at the 
 same time with the blast. 
 
 Finding some torches half burnt, and lighting some reeds 
 which remained, they opened the cave's mouth, and under 
 the guidance of Cnemon, descended into it. When they 
 had gone a little way, Cnemon suddenly exclaimed, " O 
 God! what is this? we are undone, Chariclea is slain;" 
 and flinging his torch on the ground, extinguished it, and 
 falling on his knees, and covering his face with his hands, 
 began to weep. Theagenes threw himself upon the body, 
 and held it a long time in his arms, closely embraced ; 
 Cnemon seeing him overwhelmed with this stroke, and 
 fearing when he recovered his senses he would make some 
 attempt upon himself, took away unobserved the sword 
 which hung by his side, and leaving him for a moment, ran 
 out to light his torch. While he was gone, the unhappy 
 lover broke out into mournful and tragic exclamations, 
 " O intolerable calamity, and never-to-be-appeased wrath 
 of the gods ! what insatiable demon thus rages to my 
 destruction ? who, after having driven me from my country 
 through a thousand dangers of seas and pirates, having 
 delivered me up to marauders, and stript me of all I had, 
 when one only comfort was left me, has now deprived me 
 of that! Chariclea is no more, she lies slain by a violent 
 death ; doubtless, she has fallen in defence of her chastity, 
 determined to preserve herself unspotted for my sake. In 
 vain has her beauty bloomed both for herself and me ; but, 
 O my love ! have not you one last word left to speak to 
 me ? Are life and breath for ever gone ? Alas ! you are 
 silent ; that mouth, formerly the interpreter of the will of 
 
THE A GENES AND CIIARICLEA. 33 
 
 heaven, is dumb, and darkness and destruction have over- 
 whelmed the priestess of the gods. Those eyes glance no 
 more whose lustre dazzled all beholders, whose brightness, 
 if your murderer had met, he could not have executed his 
 purpose ; what shall I call you, my wife ? but we were not 
 married; my contracted spouse? but the contract has been 
 a fruitless one; let me call you by the sweetest of all 
 appellations, Chariclea. O Chariclea ! if, where you are, 
 you are capable of receiving comfort, be comforted; you 
 have a faithful lover; we shall soon meet again; behold, I 
 sacrifice myself to your Manes, to you I pour out my own 
 blood in libations ;* this cavern, a rude sepulchre, shall retain 
 both our bodies ; we shall be united in our deaths, though 
 fate forbade it in our lives." Saying this, he felt for his 
 sword, and not finding it, " O Cnemon," he exclaimed, 
 " you have undone me, and Chariclea too, for the second 
 time depriving her shade of the company it desires." While 
 he was thus speaking, a voice from the windings of the 
 cave was heard, calling Theagenes ; he, not in the least 
 alarmed, replied, " I come, my dearest life ; your soul, I 
 see, still hovers above the earth, partly, perhaps, because 
 unwilling to leave that body, from which it has by violence 
 been expelled ; and partly, becausef wanting the rites ot 
 sepulture, you may be refused admittance in the shades 
 below." Cnemon now approached with the torch; again 
 the voice was heard, calling Theagenes ; Cnemon instantly 
 exclaimed, "Ye gods! is not this the voice of Chariclea? 
 Theagenes, I think she is safe, for the sound seems to me 
 to proceed from that very part of the cavern where I know 
 I left her." " Will you never cease attempting to deceive 
 me," replied Theagenes? "lam much deceived myself," 
 replied the other, " if we find this corpse which lies before us 
 to be that of Chariclea:" and stooping down to examine 
 the countenance, " O heavens!" he cried out, "what do I 
 see? the face of Thisbe!" and starting back, he stood 
 petrified with astonishment. Theagenes, on the contrary, 
 
 * Te 
 
 cohibent 
 
 Pulveris exigui .... 
 
 Munera " Hor. I. Od. i. 28. 
 
 ^ " May one kind grave unite each hapless name, 
 
 And graft my love immortal on thy fame." Pope, 
 
 D 
 
34 THE ADVENT CRES OP 
 
 now began to recover his spirits, and in his turn supported 
 and encouraged Cnemon, who was ready to faint; and 
 besought him that he would lead him instantly to Chariclea ; 
 Cnemon, by degrees coming to himself, again examined the 
 body, which really was that of Thisbe ; he knew, too, by its 
 hilt, the sword which Thyamis from rage and haste had 
 left sticking in the wound. - He perceived also a tablet 
 appearing out of her bosom ; he took it, and was beginning 
 to read what was written upon it ; but Theagenes would 
 not suffer him, and earnestly entreated him, if all he saw 
 was not the illusion of some demon, that he would take 
 him to Chariclea ; you may afterwards, said he, read this 
 tablet. Cnemon obeyed ; and, taking up the tablet and the 
 sword, hastened towards Chariclea. She, creeping on hands 
 and knees towards the sound of their voices as well as she 
 could, at length saw the light, flew to Theagenes, and hung 
 upon his neck. And mutually exclaiming, " And are you 
 restored to me, my dear Theagenes ? " " Do you live,* 
 sweetest Chariclea ? " they fell in each others' arms upon 
 the ground; their voices murmuring and themselves dying 
 away. So much does a sudden rush of joy overpower the 
 human faculties, and excess of pleasure passes into pain. 
 Thus these lovers, unexpectedly preserved, seemed again in 
 danger, till Cnemon, observing a little water in a cleft of 
 the rock, took it up in the hollow of his hand, and sprinkling 
 it over their faces and nostrils, they came by degrees to 
 themselves. But when they discovered their situation, 
 lying on the ground in each other's arms, they rose imme- 
 diately, and blushing a little, especially Chariclea, began to 
 make excuses to Cnemon. He, smiling, turned the matter 
 into pleasantry. 
 
 " You will not find a severe censor in me," said he; 
 " whoever is but moderately acquainted with the passion of 
 love, will easily forgive its excesses. But there is one part 
 of your conduct, Theagenes, which I cannot approve of 
 indeed I was ashamed to see it when you fell down, and 
 bewailed in so lamentable a manner a foreign woman, and 
 * "0 my soul's joy ! 
 
 If I were DOW to die, 
 
 'Twere now to be most happy ; for I fear 
 
 My soul hath her content so absolute, 
 
 That not another comfort like to this 
 
 Succeeds in unknown fate." Othello. 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHAEICLEA. 35 
 
 one of no good character, while I was all the time assuring 
 you, that she, whom you professed to love best, was alive 
 and near you." "Have done, Cnemon," he replied; "do 
 not traduce me to Chariclea. You know I lamented her, 
 under the person of another; but since the kind gods have 
 shewn me that I was in an error, pray call to mind a little 
 your own fortitude. You joined your tears, at first, with 
 mine; but when you recognized the body which lay before 
 you, you started as from a demon on the stage, you in 
 armour, and with a sword, from a woman ; you, a Grecian 
 warrior, from a corpse! " 
 
 This raillery drew a short and forced smile from them, 
 mingled with tears ; for such was their calamitous situation, 
 that grief and thought soon overpowered this gleam of 
 cheerfulness. A short silence ensued; when Chariclea* 
 gently moving her finger upon her cheek under the ear, 
 exclaimed, " I shall always esteem her blest, whoever she 
 be, for whom Theagenes is concerned ; but, if you do not 
 think that love makes me too inquisitive, I should be glad 
 to know who is this happy damsel who has been thought 
 worthy of his tears ; and by what error he could take a 
 stranger for me." "You will wonder when you hear," 
 replied Theagenes. " Cnemon affirms, that these are the 
 remains of Thisbe, the Athenian singer, the plotter against 
 him and Demaeneta." " How," said the astonished Cha- 
 riclea, " could she be brought here, from the middle of 
 Greece to the extremity of Egypt, like a deity in a tra- 
 gedy ? f and how could she be concealed from us at our 
 entrance ? " " As to that, I am as much, at a loss about it 
 as you can be," said Cnemon ; " all I know of her adven- 
 tures is this: After the tragical end of Demaeneta, my 
 father laid before the people what had happened. They 
 pitied and pardoned him ; and he was earnestly employed 
 in soliciting my recal. Thisbe made use of the leisure she 
 had upon her hands ; and at different entertainments set 
 her musical skill and her person to sale. 
 
 " She J now received more favour from the public than 
 
 * This motion is supposed to be a sign of jealousy and anger. 
 Thus Apuleius, lib. vi., Quam ubi primura inductam oblatamque 
 sibi conspexit Venus, latissi-enum cachinnum extollit ; et qualem solent 
 furenter irati, caputque quatiens, t adscalpens aurem dextram. 
 
 *{* Ka^aTTfp K iJT)xavfJ. 
 
 On the auA^rpi'g and 6p / \ J ?' Tr P | G wno exhibited their talents at 
 
 D 2 
 
36 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 Arsinoe, who grew careless in practising her talents ; while 
 Thisbe shewed greater perfection, both in voice and execu- 
 tion. But she was not aware that by this she had excited 
 the inextinguishable envy of a courtezan. This was in- 
 creased by her having seduced JS^ausicles, a rich merchant 
 of Naucratium, formerly a lover of Arsinoe; but who had 
 left her on pretence of being disgusted with the distortions 
 of her eyes and countenance, while she was playing on the 
 flute. Anger and jealousy raging in her bosom, she went 
 to the relations of Demseneta, and discovered to them the 
 snare which Thisbe had laid for their kinswoman ; partly 
 from her own conjectures, and partly from what Thisbe 
 had told her. Their anger, however, fell first upon my 
 father ; and they engaged the most skilful counsel to accuse 
 him to the people, as if he had put Demseneta to death 
 without trial or conviction; and had made use of the 
 adultery only as a pretext for her murder; and loudly 
 called upon him to produce the adulterer, or at least to 
 name him ; they concluded by insisting that Thisbe should 
 be put to the torture. My father readily agreed to this, 
 but she was not to be found ; for, upon the first stirring of 
 the matter, she had taken flight with her merchant. The 
 people, angry at her escape, were in an ill humour to hear 
 the defence of the accused. They did not indeed convict 
 him of the murder, but found him guilty of being concerned 
 in the contrivance against Demaeneta, and of my unjust 
 banishment. They exiled him from the city, and fined him 
 to the amount of the greatest part of his fortune. Such 
 were the fruits of his second marriage. 
 
 " The wretched Thisbe, whose punishment I now see before 
 me, sailed safe from Athens : this is all I know about her, 
 and this I had from Anticles at JEgina. I sailed with him 
 to Egypt ia hopes of finding Thisbe at Naucratium, that I 
 might bring her back to Athens, and clear my father from 
 the suspicions and accusations he laboured under, and pro- 
 cure her to be justly punished for her crimes against us. 
 What I have since undergone you shall hear at a more con- 
 venient season ; let us now examine into the cause of the 
 tragedy which is here presented to us. But how Thisbe 
 
 private parties among the Greeks, see a Note at p. 114 of Mitchell's 
 Translation of Aristophanes; arid another on line 481 of his edition 
 of The Frogs. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAKICLEA. 37 
 
 came into this cavern, and how she has been murdered in it, 
 must be explained to us, I believe, by some deity, for it 
 passes human comprehension ; let us examine, however, the 
 tablet that was found in her bosom ; perhaps that will give 
 us some information. With this he took it, and began to 
 read as follows : 
 
 " ' Thisbe, formerly his enemy, but now his avenger, to 
 her master, Cnemon : 
 
 " ' In the first place I inform you of the death of Demae- 
 neta, brought about on your account by my means ; how it 
 happened, if you will admit me to your presence, I will 
 relate to you in person. I have been ten days on this 
 island, having been made captive by one of the robbers, who 
 boasts that he is lieutenant to the chief, and keeps me 
 closely confined as he says, out of love ; as I suppose, lest 
 I should be taken from him. By the kindness of the gods, 
 I have seen and recognized you, and send this tablet to you 
 privately by an old woman who waits upon me, commanding 
 her to deliver it to a handsome Greek, a favourite of the 
 chief. Deliver me from the power of these pirates, and 
 receive to yourself your handmaid ; and, if you can prevail 
 upon yourself, preserve her ; knowing that in what I acted 
 against you I was compelled, but the revenging you of your 
 enemy was my own voluntary act. But, if you still feel an 
 inextinguishable resentment against me, satiate it as you 
 please ; only let me be in your hands, even if I am to die by 
 them ; I prefer death from you, and to have the rites of my 
 country performed over my remains, to a life that is more 
 dreadful than death ; and to the love of a barbarian, more 
 odious to me than the hatred of a Greek.' This was the 
 contents of the tablet. 
 
 " O Thisbe," said Cnemon, "the gods have wisely or- 
 dained your death ; and that you should become, even after 
 your slaughter, the relater of your calamities ; the Fury* who 
 has driven you through the world, has not ceased her aveng- 
 ing pursuit, till she has made me, whom you have injured, 
 even in Egypt, a spectator of your punishment. But what 
 accident is it which has stopped your career, while perhaps 
 
 Krzj Trou^ap, a otivolg 
 
 K (WKToiAkva Xo^oic, 
 
 Xa\K07rovQ 'Epivvt;. Soph. El. 490. 
 
38 THE ADYENTURES OF 
 
 this letter of yours was only the forerunner of some new 
 practice against me ? for I cannot help suspecting you even 
 now that you are dead. I fear lest the account of Demse- 
 neta's death should be a fiction ; lest those who have 
 informed me of it should have deceived me ; lest you should 
 have crossed the seas with a design to renew in Egypt the 
 tragedies you have acted against me in Attica." " O you 
 courageous fellow!" cries out Theagenes, "will you never 
 cease to terrify yourself with shades and fancies ? You cannot 
 pretend that she has bewitched me, at any rate, for I have 
 had no part in the drama ; assure yourself that no harm can 
 arise to you from this dead corpse, and pluck up your spirits : 
 but who has been so far your benefactor as to slay your 
 enemy, and how and when she descended here, I am utterly 
 at a loss to imagine." " As to the matter in general I am 
 so too," replied Cnemon ; "but he who slew her was cer- 
 tainly Thyamis, as I conjecture from the sword which was 
 found near the body ; I know it to be his, by the ivory hilt 
 carved into the form of an eagle." " But can you con- 
 jecture," said the other, "how, and when, and for what 
 cause, he committed this murder?" "How should I 
 know that ? " he answered. " This cavern has not had 
 the virtue of inspiring me, like that of Delphi or Tro- 
 phonius." 
 
 The mention of Delphi seemed to agitate Theagenes, 
 and drew tears from Chariclea ; they repeated the name 
 with great emotion. Cnemon was surprised, and could not 
 conceive why they were so affected by it. In this manner 
 they were engaged in the cave. Meanwhile Thermuthis, 
 the lieutenant of Thyamis, after he had been wounded and 
 had got to laud in the manner we have related, when night 
 came on, hastened towards the cavern in search of Thisbe; 
 for he it was who had placed her there. He had some days 
 before taken her by force from the merchant Nausicles in a 
 narrow mountain pass. On the tumult and attack which 
 soon after ensued, when he was sent by Thyamis in search 
 of a victim, he let her down into this cavern, that she might 
 be out of the reach of danger, and in his hurry and con- 
 fusion left her near the entrance of it. Here she remained 
 out of fear, and ignorance of the winding passages which led 
 to the bottom ; and here Thyamis found and killed her by 
 mistake for Chariclea. Thermuthis proceeded on his way 
 
THEAGESES AND CHABICLEA. 39 
 
 to Thisbe. Upon reaching the island he hastened to the 
 tents; these he found in ashes: and having with some diffi- 
 culty discovered the entrance of the cavern, by means of 
 the stone covering, he lighted a handful of reeds which yet 
 remained there, and hastened to descend into it. 
 
 He called Thisbe by her name, in Greek ; but when he 
 saw her lying dead at his feet, he stood motionless with 
 horror and surprise. At length he heard a murmur and 
 distant sound of voices issuing from the hollow recesses of 
 the cave ; for Theagenes and Cnemon were still conversing 
 together. 
 
 These he concluded to be the murderers of Thisbe, and 
 was in doubt what he should do; for as was natural in a 
 ferocious pirate, his rage, raised to the highest pitch by this 
 disappointment of his desires, urged him to rush at once 
 upon the supposed authors of it ; but his want of arms 
 made him unwillingly more cautious. He concluded there- 
 fore that it was best at first not to present himself as 
 an enemy, but if by any means he could possess himself of 
 arms, then to attack them on a sudden. With this design 
 he advanced towards Theagenes, throwing wild and tierce 
 glances around him, and discovering in his looks the purpose 
 of his heart. 
 
 They were surprised at the sudden appearance of a 
 stranger, almost naked, wounded, and with his face bloody. 
 Chariclea, startled and ashamed, retired into the inmost 
 part of the cave. Cnemon too drew a little back, know- 
 ing Thermuthis, seeing him unexpectedly, and fearing 
 that he came there on no good account. But Theagenes 
 was more irritated than terrified, and presenting the point 
 of his sword, called out, " Stand where you are, or you 
 shall receive another wound ; thus far I spare you, because 
 I know your face, and am not sure of your designs. "- 
 Thermuthis stretched out his unarmed hands, and besought 
 his compassion; forced, notwithstanding his rugged temper, 
 from the circumstance he was in, to become a suppliant. 
 He called on Cnemon for assistance, and said he deserved 
 help from him, having never injured him ; having lived with 
 him as a comrade, and coming now as a friend. Cnemon 
 was moved by his entreaties ; raised him from the knees of 
 Theagenes which he had embraced, and eagerly inquired 
 was Thy amis. The lattei related all he knew how 
 
40 THE ADYENTTJBES OP 
 
 his leader had attacked the enemy ; how he had rushed into 
 the midst of the battle, sparing neither his foes nor himself; 
 the slaughter he made rf them ; and the protection which 
 the proclamation to take him alive afforded him. He men- 
 tioned his own wound aod escape, but knew nothing of his 
 captain's fate ; and was come here in search of Thisbe. 
 They inquired how he became so interested about Thisbe ; 
 and how she came into his possession. He told them every- 
 thing : how he had taken her from a merchant ; how he fell 
 violently in love with her, and had concealed her some time 
 in his tent, and at the approach of the attacking party had 
 placed her in the cave where he now saw her slain ; that he 
 was perfectly ignorant of the authors of her death, but 
 would most gladly find them out if he could, and ascertain 
 their motive. 
 
 Cnemon, eager to free himself from suspicion, told him 
 it was certainly Thyamis who slew her ; and shewed him 
 the sword which was found beside her; which, when Ther- 
 muthis saw, still reeking with blood, and warm from the 
 wound, and knew it to have belonged to Thyamis, he 
 uttered a deep groan, still more perplexed how to account 
 for the accident, and in dumb gloomy astonishment moved 
 towards the mouth of the cave. Here throwing himself 
 upon the bosom of the deceased, he embraced the body, and 
 repeating nothing but the name of Thisbe, fainter by de- 
 grees and fainter, oppressed with grief and fatigue, sunk at 
 last into a sleep. 
 
 The remainder of the company in the cave began now to 
 consult what steps it was proper for them to pursue. But 
 the multitude of their past calamities, the pressure of the 
 present misfortunes, and the uncertainty of what might 
 happen to them, obscured the light, and weakened the 
 force, of their reason. Each looked at the other, expecting 
 nim to say something; and being disappointed, turned his 
 ryes to the ground ; and raising them again, sighed, lighten- 
 ing a little his grief by this expression of it. At length 
 Cnemon sat down on the ground ; Theagenes threw himself 
 on a rock, and Chariclea reclined upon him. In this pos- 
 ture they a long time resisted the attacks of sleep, desirous, 
 if they could, to devise some scheme of action ; but, over- 
 come at last with grief and fatigue, they unwillingly yielded 
 to the law of nature, and fell into a sweet slumber from 
 
TIIEAGENES" AND CHARICLEA. 41 
 
 tht very excess of sorrow. Thus is the intelligent soul 
 obliged sometimes to sympathise with the affections of the 
 body. 
 
 When sleep had for a little while just weighed their eye- 
 lids down, the following vision appeared to Chariclea. A 
 man with his hair in disorder, a downcast look, and bloody 
 hands, seemed to come and thrust out her right eye with a 
 sword. She instantly cried out, and called upon Theagenes. 
 He was soon awakened, and felt for her uneasiness, though 
 it was only in a dream. She lifted her hand to her face, as 
 if in search of the part she had lost, and then exclaimed, 
 "It was a dream ; my eye is safe ! " "I am glad," replied 
 Theagenes, "that those bright sunbeams are uninjured. 
 But what has ailed you? how came you so terrified?" 
 "A savage and violent man," says she, "not fearing even 
 your valour, attacked me with a sword as I lay at your feet ; 
 and, as I thought, deprived me of my right eye ; and would 
 tha;, it had been a reality and not a vision 1" " Now Heaven 
 forefend! why do you make so shocking a wish?"' "Be- 
 cause I would much rather lose one of my eyes than be under 
 apprehensions for you ; for I greatly fear that the dream 
 regards you, whom I esteem as my eyes, my soul, my all." 
 " Cease," called out Cnemon (who had heard all that had 
 passed, having been awakened by the first exclamation of 
 Chariclea), "for I think the vision has another interpre- 
 tation. Had you any parents living when you left Greece?" 
 " I had," she replied. " Believe then now that your 
 father is dead. I form my conjecture from hence : Our 
 parents are the authors of our being ; therefore they may 
 properly enough in a dream be shadowed out under the 
 similitude of eyes, the organs of light, which convey to us 
 things visible." 
 
 " The loss of my father," replied Chariclea, "would be a 
 heavy blow ; but let even your interpretation be the true 
 one, rather mine. I consent to pass for a false prophet!" 
 " Be it so," replied Cnemon ; " but we are indeed dream- 
 ing, while we are examining fancies and visions, and forget 
 to apply ourselves to our real business, especially while the 
 absence of the Egyptian (meaning Therm uthis), who is 
 employed in lamenting his deceased love, gives us an oppor- 
 tunity." " O Cnemon," said Theagenes, " since some god 
 has joined you to us, and made you a partaker in our cala- 
 
42 THE ADVENTUBES OF 
 
 mities, do you advise us what to do, for you are acquainted 
 with the country and language ; and we, oppressed with a 
 greater weight of misfortunes, are less fit for counsel." 
 
 " "Which of us has the greater load of misfortunes to 
 struggle with, is by no means clear," said Cnemon. " I 
 have my full share of them ; but, however, as I am the elder, 
 and you command me ;fco speak, I will obey you. The 
 island where we are, you see, is desolate, and contains none 
 but ourselves. Of gold, silver, and precious garments, 
 plundered from you and others, and heaped together by the 
 pirates, there is plenty ; but of food and other necessaries, 
 it is totally destitute. If we stay here, we are in danger of 
 perishing by famine, or of being destroyed by some of the 
 invaders, or by the buccaneers, if, knowing of the treasures 
 which are left here, they return again in search of them. 
 There will then be no escape ; either we shall perish, or be 
 exposed to their violence and insults. They are always 
 a faithless race, and will now be more disorderly and dread- 
 ful, having lost their chief. We must fly, therefore, from 
 this place, as from a snare and a prison, sending Thermuthis 
 away first, if we can, under pretext of inquiring after 
 Thyamis, for we shall be more at liberty to consult and act 
 by ourselves. It is prudent, too, to remove from us a man 
 of an unconstant temper, of savage manners, and who, 
 besides, suspects us on account of the death of Thisbe, and 
 probably only waits for an opportunity to commit some 
 violence against us." 
 
 The advice of Cnemon was approved of; and they deter- 
 mined to follow it ; and moving towards the mouth of the 
 cave, the day now beginning to dawn, they roused Ther- 
 muthis, who was still sunk in sleep ; and telling him as 
 much as they thought proper of their design, easily per- 
 suaded a fickle-minded man. They then took the body of 
 Thisbe, drew it into a hollow of the rock, covered it as well 
 us they could with ashes from the tents, and performed 
 what funeral rites the time and place would admit of, sup- 
 plying what was deficient by tears and lamentations. 
 
 They next proceeded to send out Thermuthis on the 
 expedition they had projected for him. He set out, but 
 soon returned, declaring he would not go alone, nor expose 
 himself to the danger of so perilous a search, unless Cnernon 
 would bear him company. Theagenes, observing that this 
 
THEAGENES AIS'D CHAHTCLEA. 43 
 
 proposal was by no means agreeable to Cnemon, who 
 betrayed evident marks of fear and apprehension when 
 informed of it, said to him, " You are valiant in council, 
 Cnemon, but a laggard in action; you have shown this more 
 than once ; pluck up your spirits, and prove yourself a man. 
 It is necessary that this fellow should have no suspicion, at 
 present, of our design to leave him. Seem to agree, there- 
 fore, to what he proposes, and go with him at first ; for 
 there is no danger to be apprehended from an unarmed 
 man, especially by you who are armed. You may take 
 your opportunity, and leave him privately, and come to us 
 at some place which we shall fix upon ; and we will, if you 
 please, mention some neighbouring town, if you know any, 
 where the inhabitants are a little civilized." 
 
 Cnemon agreed to this, and named Chemmis, a rich and 
 populous place, situated on a rising ground on the banks of 
 the Nile, by way of defence against the incursions of the 
 pirates, about one hundred furlongs distant from the lake 
 directly south. " I fear," said Theagenes, " that Chariclea 
 will find some difficulty in getting thither, as she is unused 
 to walking ; however, we will attempt it, and pretend that 
 we are beggars who seek our living by showing juggling 
 tricks." 
 
 " Truly," said Cnemon, " your faces are sufficiently dis- 
 figured for such a business, particularly Chariclea' s, who 
 has just lost an eye ; after all, though, I fear you will rather 
 appear guests for the table than petitioners for scraps at 
 the door."* This sally was received with a forced and 
 languid smile, which played only on the lips. They then 
 prepared to depart, swearing never to desert each other, 
 and calling the gods to witness it. 
 
 Cnemon and Thermuthis set out early in the morning ; 
 and, crossing the lake, took their way through a thick and 
 difficult wood. Thermuthis went first, at the persuasion of 
 
 * Literally, persons who make request for valuable gifts, such a8 
 swords and tripods, rather than mendicants who beg for broken 
 victuals. Cnemon must mean to say th,t nature had written "gen- 
 tleman and gentlewoman " too plainly upon their faces for them to 
 pass current as genuine vagrants. The line quoted is in the Odyssey, 
 B. xvii. 1. 222. 
 
 "he seeks 
 
 Not sword nor tripod, but the scoundrel meed 
 
 Of mammocks, such as others cast away." Cowper. 
 
44 THE AD YEN TUBES OF 
 
 Cnemor., on the pretext that, as he was acquainted with tho 
 country, he was better qualified "to lead ; in reality, that the 
 other might more easily find an opportunity of deserting 
 him. They met with some flocks in their way ; and the 
 shepherds fled, at their approach, into the thickest of the 
 wood. They seized a ram, roasted him at a fire the shep- 
 herds had lighted, and hardly staying till it was sufficiently 
 dressed, devoured the flesh with eagerness. Hunger pressed 
 them; they fell upon it like wolves; swallowed whole pieces, 
 just warmed through, and still dropping with blood. When 
 they had satisfied their hunger, and allayed their thirst 
 with milk, they pursued their way. Evening now ap- 
 proached, and they were ascending a hill under which was 
 situated a town, where Thermuthis said it was very probable 
 that Thyamis was either detained a captive or had been 
 slain. Here Cnemon pretended that he felt great pain; 
 that his stomach was exceedingly disordered by his inordi- 
 nate repast of meat and drink, and that he must retire to 
 ease it. This he did two or three times, that his com- 
 panion might suspect nothing, and complained that it was 
 with great difficulty he could follow him. When he had 
 accustomed the Egyptian to his staying behind, he took an 
 opportunity at last to let him go on forwards farther than 
 usual ; and then, turning suddenly back, he ran down the 
 hill as fast as he could into the thickest part of the bushes. 
 Thermuthis, when he had arrived at the summit, sat himself 
 down on a rock, expecting the approach of night, which 
 they had agreed to wait for before they entered into the 
 town to inquire after Thyamis. He looked about for his 
 companion, having no good designs against him, for he was 
 still persuaded that he had slain Thisbe, and was consider- 
 ing how he might serve him in the same manner; proposing 
 alter wards to attack Theagenes. But when Cnemon ap- 
 peared nowhere, and night advanced, he fell asleep a 
 deadly* and last sleep it proved to him, for an asp, which 
 had lain concealed in a thicket, bit him, and put a fitting 
 end to his life. 
 
 But Cnemon, after he had left Thermuthis, stopped not in 
 
 his flight till the darkness of the night obliged him to make 
 
 a halt. He then endeavoured to conceal himself by lying 
 
 down and covering himself as well as he could with leaves. 
 
 * \d\Ktov nva Kal Trvpa TrvpctTov VTTVOV. Homer, II. xi. 241. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 45 
 
 Here he passed a restless and almost sleepless night, taking 
 every noise, every gust of wind, and motion of a leaf, for 
 Tbermuthis. If at any time he dropped into a slumber, he 
 thought he was fleeing;* and looking behind, imagined he 
 saw him pursuing, who was now unable to follow him ; till at 
 last he resisted all approaches of sleep, his dreams becoming 
 more dreadful to him than even his waking apprehensions. 
 
 He was uneasy at the duration of the night, which 
 appeared to him the longest he had ever spent. At length, 
 to his great joy, day appeared. Hef then proceeded to cut 
 his hair short, which he had suffered to grow, in imitation 
 of, and to recommend himself to, his piratical companions, 
 for the pirates, willing to render themselves as formidable 
 as they can, among other things, cherish long hair, which 
 they suffer to grow down their foreheads, and play over 
 their shoulders, well knowing that flowing locks, as they 
 make the lover more amiable, so they render the warrior 
 more terrible. When Cnemon, therefore, had shaped his 
 hair into the common form, he proceeded to Cheminis, 
 where he had appointed to meet Theagenes. As he drew 
 near the Nile, and was preparing to pass over it to Chemmis, 
 he perceived an old man wandering upon its banks, walking 
 several times up and down the stream, as if he were com- 
 municating his cares to the river. His locks were as white 
 as snow, and shaped like those of a priest ; his beard flowing 
 and venerable ; his habit Grecian. Cnemon stopped a little ; 
 but when the old man passed by many times, seemingly 
 unconscious that any one was near (so entirely was he 
 immersed in care and meditation), he placed himself before 
 him, and, in the Grecian manner of salutation, bid him be 
 of good cheer. J The other replied, his fortunes were such 
 
 * " Like one, who on a lonesome road 
 
 Doth walk in fear and dread, 
 And having once turn'd round, walks on 
 
 And turns no more his head ; 
 Because he knows a frightful fiend 
 
 Doth close behind him tread." Coleridge. 
 
 t The Italian bravoes used to encourage the growth of a lock of 
 hair, which might be thrown over the face as a disguise, and which 
 they shaved off when giviug up their evil ways. " II ciuffo era quasi 
 una parte dell' armatura, et un distintivo de' bravacci e degli scapea- 
 trati, i quai poi da ci6 vennero comunemente chiamati ciuffi." 
 Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi, vol. i., p. 62. 
 Xcuptiv kic 
 
46 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 that good cheer was out of the question. Cnemon, sur- 
 prised, asked : " Are you a stranger from Greece, or from 
 whence?" " I am neither a Grecian nor a stranger," said 
 he, " but an Egyptian of this country." " Why, then, have 
 you a Grecian dress?" "My misfortunes," says he, "have 
 put me into this splendid habit." The other, wondering 
 how misfortunes could improve a man's appearance, and 
 seeming desirous to be informed " You carry me into a 
 * tale of Troy divine,' " * replied the old man ; and a swarm 
 of evils, the recital of which would oppress you. But 
 w r hence do you come, O young man, and whither are you 
 going? and how come I to hear the Greek tongue in 
 Egypt?" "It is a little unreasonable in you," replied 
 Cnemon, " to ask these questions of me, you who will tell 
 nothing about yourself, though I made the first inquiries." 
 "I admit it," said the other; "but do not be offended. 
 You seem to be a Greek, and to have yourself undergone 
 some transformation from the hand of fortune. You are 
 desirous to hear my adventures ; I am no less so to relate 
 them. Probably I had told them to these reeds, as the 
 fable f goes, if 1 had not met with you. But let us leave 
 the Nile and its banks ; for a situation exposed to the meri- 
 dian sun is not a proper place for a long narration. If you 
 have no urgent business which hinders you, let us go to the 
 town which you see opposite to us. I will entertain you, not 
 in my own house,but in that of a good man who received me 
 when I implored his protection. There you may listen tc 
 my story, and in your turn relate your own." " "With al. 
 my heart," said Cnemon, " for I myself was going to this 
 town to wait for some friends of mine, whom I had 
 appointed to meet there." Getting, therefore, into a boat, 
 many of which were lying by the river's side, to transport 
 passengers, they crossed over into the town, and arrived at 
 
 " Infandum ..... jubes renovare dolorem." Virgil. 
 + Alluding to the barber of King Midas, who, being a bad keeper 
 of secrets, revealed to the reeds the fact of his lord and master having 
 ass's ears. 
 
 " Creber arundinibus tremulis ibi surgere lucus 
 Ccepit ; et ut primum pleiio maturuit anno, 
 Prodidit agricolam; leni nam niotus ab Austro 
 Obruta verba refert ; dominique coarguit anres." 
 
 Ovid. Met xi. 190. 
 
THEAGENES AKD CHAEICLEA. 47 
 
 the house where the stranger was lodged. The master of 
 the house was not at home; but his daughter, a marriage- 
 able maiden, received them with great cheerfulness, and 
 the servants waited upon the old man as if he had been 
 their father, most probably by their master's orders, One 
 washed his feet, and wiped off the dust from under his 
 knees ; another got ready his bed, and strewed it with soft 
 coverings ; a third brought an urn, and filled it with fire ; 
 a fourth prepared the table, and spread it with bread and 
 various kinds of fruit. 
 
 Cnemon, wondering at their alacrity, exclaimed, " We have 
 certainly got into the house of Jove the Hospitable,* such 
 is the attention and singular benevolence with w r hich we are 
 received." " You have not got into the habitation of Jove," 
 replied the other, " but into that of a man who exactly imi- 
 tates his hospitable and charitable qualities : for his lifef 
 has been a mercantile and wandering one; he has seen 
 many cities, and observed the manners of many nations ; he 
 is naturally therefore inclined to compassionate the stranger, 
 and receive the wanderer, as he did me not many days ago." 
 " And how came you to be a wanderer, father ?" " Being 
 deprived," said he, " of my children by robbers ; knowing 
 those who had injured me, but unable to contend with them ; 
 I roam about this spot, mourning and sorrowing ; not unlike 
 a bird whose nest a serpent J has made desolate, and is de- 
 vouring her young before her eyes. She is afraid to ap- 
 proach, yet cannot bear to desert them ; terror and affection 
 struggle within her ; she flies mournfully round the scene 
 of her calamities, pouring in vain her maternal complaints 
 into ears deaf to her wailings and strangers to mercy." 
 
 * Eeviov AIOQ. 
 
 f " Who far and wide 
 
 A wand'rer 
 
 Discover'd various cities, and the mind 
 
 And manners learn'd of men in lands remote." Od. i. 1. Cowper. 
 
 4." A dreadful serpent 
 
 glided to the tree. 
 
 Eight youngling sparrows with the parent bird 
 
 Sat screen'd with foliage on the topmost bough. 
 
 The screaming little ones with ease he gorg'd, 
 
 And while the mother, circling o'er his head, 
 
 With shrillest agony bewail'd her loss, 
 
 He seiz'd her by the wing, first drew her down 
 
 Within his spiry folds, and then devoured." II. ii. 308. Cowper. 
 
43 . THE ADYENTUBES OF 
 
 " Will you then relate," said Cnemon, " when and how you 
 encountered this grievous war of woe ?" " By-and-bye," he 
 replied ; " but let us now attend to our craving stomach ; 
 which, because it considers itself of more consequence than 
 any other organ, is called by Homer destructive* And first, 
 as is the custom of the Egyptian sages, let us make a liba- 
 tion to the gods. Nothing shall make me omit this ; nor 
 shall grief ever so entirely possess my mind, as to render 
 me forgetful of what I owe to heaven." With this he 
 poured pure water out of the vase, and said, " I make this 
 libation to the gods of this country, and those of Greece ; 
 to the Pythian Apollo, and also to Theagenes and Chariclea, 
 the good and beautiful, since I reckon them also among the 
 gods:" and then he wept, as if he were making another 
 libation to them with his tears. Cnemon, greatly struck at 
 what he heard, viewed the old man from head to foot, and 
 exclaimed, " What do you say ? Are Theagenes and Cha- 
 riclea really your children?" "They are my children," 
 replied the stranger, " but born to me without a mother. 
 Fortune, by the permission of the gods, gave them to me ; 
 1 brought them forth with the travail of my soul. My great 
 inclination towards them supplied the place of nature ; and 
 I have been esteemed by them, and called their father. But 
 tell me, how came you acquainted with them ?" " I am not 
 only acquainted with them," said Cnemon, " but can assure 
 you that they are alive and well." " O Apollo, and all the 
 gods ! " he exclaimed, " where are they ? Tell me, I beseech 
 you ; and you will be my preserver and equal to the gods !" 
 " But what shall be my reward ?" replied the other. " At 
 present that of obliging me ; no mean reward to a wise 
 man : I know many who have laid up this as a treasure in 
 their hearts. But if we arrive in my country, which, if I 
 may believe the tokens of the gods, will ere long be, your 
 utmost desires shall be satisfied with wealth." 
 
 " You promise me," said Cnemon, " things uncertain and 
 future, when you have it in your power to reward me im- 
 mediately." "Show me anything I can now do for you," 
 said the old man, " for I would willingly part even with a 
 limb to satisfy you." " Your limbs need be in no danger/' 
 
 *...." Hunger hath a cry which never man 
 Might silence. Many an evil he endures 
 For hunger's sake. It is a craving gulf ." Od. xvii. 287. Cowper. 
 
THEAQEKES AND CHARICLEA. 49 
 
 replied the Grecian ; " I shall be satisfied if you will relate 
 to me from whence these strangers come, who were their 
 parents, how they were brought here, and what have been 
 their adventures." " You shall have a treat," replied the 
 old man ; " so great as to be second to none other, not even 
 if you should obtain all earthly treasures. But let us now 
 take a little food ; for my narration and your listening will 
 take up a considerable time." 
 
 "When they had eaten, therefore, some nuts and figs, and 
 fresh-gathered dates, and such other things as the old man 
 was used to feed upon (for he never deprived any animal of 
 life for his own nourishment), he drank a little water, and 
 Cnemon some wine ; and, after a short pause, the latter 
 said : " You know, O father, that Bacchus delights in con- 
 vivial conversations and stories ; and as I am now under his 
 influence, I am very desirous of hearing some, and I claim 
 from you my promised reward: it is time to bring your 
 piece upon the stage, as the saying goes." " You shall be 
 satisfied," replied the stranger: "but I wish the good 
 N ausicles were here, who has often earnestly desired to hear 
 this detail from me, and as often, on some pretext or other, 
 has been put off." At the name of Nausicles, Cnemon 
 asked where he was. " He is gone a hunting," replied the 
 other. "And after what kind of game?" "Why, not 
 indeed of wild beasts, but of men as savage as they, who are 
 called buccaneers, who live by robbery, who are very diffi- 
 cult to be taken, and lurk in marshes, caverns, and lakes." 
 " What offence have they given him ?" " They have taken 
 his mistress from him, an Athenian girl, whom he called 
 Thisbe." "Ah!" said Cnemon, in a tone of surprise, and 
 immediately stopped, as if checking himself. " What ails 
 you ?" said the old man. The other, evading the question, 
 proceeded, ' I wonder with what forces he means to attack 
 them P" " Oroondates, viceroy of Egypt, under the Great 
 King, has appointed Mitranes commandant of this town ; 
 Nausicles, by means of a large sum of money, has pre- 
 vailed upon him to march with a body of horse and foot 
 against them ; for he is exceedingly annoyed at the loss of 
 this Grecian girl ; not only because he liked her himself, 
 and because she was well skilled in music ; but because he 
 was going to take her with him to the king of ^Ethiopia, by 
 
50 THE JLDYENTURES OP 
 
 -way of attendant upon the queen, as he said, and to amuse her 
 after the Grecian fashion. Being deprived, therefore, as he 
 supposes, by her loss, of a great reward which he expected 
 for her, he is using his utmost efforts to recover her. I en- 
 couraged him too to this expedition, thinking it possible he 
 might find and recover my children also." "Enough of buc- 
 caneers, and viceroys, and kings," cried out Cnemon, im- 
 patiently ; " your discourse is wandering from the point I 
 aim at. This episode* has nothing to do with the main plot; 
 come back to the performance of your promise ; you are like 
 the Pharian Proteus ;t not turning indeed into false and 
 fleeting shapes, but trying to slip away from me." " Be satis- 
 tied," said the old man, "you shall know all. I will explain to 
 you first what relates to myself, shortly, and without reserve ; 
 which will be a proper introduction to that which is to follow. 
 
 " I am a citizen of Memphis. The name of my father was 
 Calasiris, as is likewise mine. Though now a wanderer, I 
 was not long ago a high priest. I had a wife, but have now 
 lost her; after her death I lived for some time quietly, 
 delighting myself with two sons whom she had left me. But 
 in a few years, the fated revolution of the heavenly bodies 
 altered every thing ; the eye of Saturn scowled upon my 
 lamily, and portended a change in my fortunes for the 
 worse. I had skill enough to foresee the ills which threatened 
 me, but not to avoid them ; for no foresight can enable us 
 to escape the immutable decrees of fate: it is, however, an 
 advantage, to have some foreknowledge of them, as it blunts 
 the violence of the stroke. Unexpected misfortunes, my 
 son, are intolerable; those which are foreseen are more 
 easily borne : the mind is confused and disarmed by sudden 
 fear; custom and reason strengthen it. My calamities 
 began in this manner : 
 
 " A Thracian woman, in the bloom of youth and in beauty 
 second only to Chariclea, whose name was Ehodope, unfor- 
 tunately for those who became acquainted with her, travelled 
 through Egypt. In her progress J she came in * revel-rout ' 
 
 * 'l^Trfiffodiov rovro t ovdkv 7rpo rbv Aiovvaov 
 
 ' E7Ttl<TKVK\ri<Ta. 
 
 f Virg. G. iv. 387. 
 
 + 'Efcu>jua6. Did Heliodorus take his idea of Rhodope irom the 
 celebrated personage of that name mentioned by Herod, ii. 135, aud 
 equally famed for her beauty and her profligacy ? 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 51 
 
 to Memphis, with great luxury and pomp of attendance, 
 and adorned with every grace, and exercising all the arts of 
 love. It was almost 'impossible to see her, and not fall 
 into her snares ; such irresistible witchery accompanied the 
 eyes of this fair* harlot. She frequently came into the 
 temple of Isis, where I officiated as high priest. She wor- 
 shipped the goddess with sacrifices and costly offerings. I 
 am ashamed to proceed ; yet I will not conceal the truth. 
 The frequent sight of her overcame me at last, in spite of 
 the command I had long been accustomed to maintain over 
 my passions. I struggled long against my bodily eyes and 
 the eyes of my fancy, but in vain ; I yielded at last, and 
 sank under the dominion of love. I perceived that the 
 arrival of this woman was to be the beginning of those misfor- 
 tunes which the heavens foretold to me ; and that my evil 
 genius was to make her one of the principal instruments of 
 them. I determined, however, to do nothing to disgrace 
 that office of priesthood which had descended to me from 
 my ancestors, nor to profane the altars and temples of the 
 gods : and as to the transgression which my evil stars had 
 determined I should fall into, not in act, indeed (heaven 
 forbid !) but in desire ; I constituted reason my judge, and 
 made her impose the penalty of exile from my native land, 
 yielding to the necessity of fate, submitting to its decrees, 
 and flying from the ill-omened Rhodope. For I will own to 
 you, O stranger ! that I was afraid, lest, under the present 
 baleful influence of the constellations, I might be tempted 
 to do something unbecoming my character. Another, and a 
 principal reason for my absenting myself, was, on account ol 
 my children ; for my skill in divination shewed me that they 
 were in a short time to contend with each other in arms. 
 
 " Snatching myself away, therefore, from a spectacle so 
 dreadful to a father's eyes (sufficient to turn aside the 
 aspect of the sun, and make him hide his beams), I de- 
 parted from my country, from my "house, and family, making 
 no one acquainted with the course I intended to take, but 
 pretending that I was going to Egyptian Thebes, to see rqy 
 eldest son Thy amis, who was there on a visit to his grand - 
 
 * " The well-favoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth 
 nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts/' 
 Nahum, iii. 4. 
 
 2 
 
52 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 father." Cnemon started again at the name of Thyamis; 
 but restrained himself, and was silent, desirous to hear the 
 sequel. The old man, after observing 
 
 " I pass over the intermediate part of my journey, for it 
 has no relation to what you desire to know," thus pro- 
 ceeded : " But having heard that there was a famous city in 
 Greece, called Delphi, sacred to Apollo, abounding in tem- 
 ples, the resort of wise men, retired, and free from popular 
 tumults; thither I bent my steps, thinking that a city des- 
 tined for sacred rites was a proper retreat for one of my 
 profession. I sailed through the Crisscean gulf, and land- 
 ing at Cirrha, proceeded to the city : when I entered it, a 
 voice, no doubt divine, sounded in my ears ; and as in other 
 respects this place seemed a fit habitation for a superior 
 race, so particularly on account of its situation. The moun- 
 tain Parnassus hangs over it, as a kind of natural fortifi- 
 cation and citadel, stretching out its sides, and receiving the 
 city into its bosom." " Tour description is most graphic, 
 cried out Cnemon, " and seems really made under the in- 
 fluence of the Pythic inspiration ; for in this manner I 
 remember well my father described Delphi, when he returned 
 from the council of the Amphictyons, to which the city of 
 Athens had deputed him as sacred secretary."* "You are 
 an Athenian then, my son ?" "Yes." "Your name ?" 
 Cnemon." "What have been your fortunes?" --"You shall 
 hear by-and-bye. Now however continue your own narra- 
 tion." " I will," replied the old man. 
 
 " I ascended into the place, I admired the city of race- 
 courses, of market-places, and of fountains, especially the 
 famed one of Castalia, with the water of which I sprinkled 
 myself, and hastened to the temple ; for the thronging of 
 'the multitude, which pressed towards it, seemed to announce 
 the time when the priestess was about to be under the 
 sacred impulse ;t and having worshipped and uttered a peti- 
 tion for myself, I received the following oracle : 
 
 Thou from the fertile Nile, thy course dost bend,! 
 
 Pause here awhile, and sojourn as my friend : 
 
 * *lpo/xvj'//xova. The sacred secretary or recorder sent by each 
 Amphictyonic state to their Council, along with the Tri/Xayopac, the 
 actual deputy or minister. f TLtviiaOai. 
 
 $ *l%vo dupdjitvoe air' ivffrdxvos Trapd NaXov, 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 53 
 
 Stern fate thou fly'st, her strokes with courage bear ; 
 Ere long of Egypt thou shalt have a share. 
 
 ** As soon as the priestess had pronounced this, I fell upon 
 my face, and besought the deity to be propitious to me in 
 everything. The crowd who surrounded the shrine, joined 
 in praising the deity for having deigned to answer me on 
 my first entreaty ; they congratulated me, and paid me 
 great respect, saying, that I seemed to be the greatest 
 favourite with the deity w r ho had appeared there since 
 Lyeurgus,* a Spartan. They permitted me at my request 
 to inhabit the precincts of the temple, and passed a decree 
 that I should be maintained at the public expense* My 
 situation, in short, was a very agreeable one ; I either 
 assisted at the ceremonies and sacrifices which were every 
 day performed and offered by strangers as well as natives, 
 or conversed with the philosophers, for many of this de- 
 scription flocked to Delphi. The city f is in truth a 
 university, inspired by the deity who presides over inspi- 
 ration and the muses. Various subjects were discussed; 
 sometimes the manner of our religious rites in Egypt, and 
 why certain animais were counted sacred more than others ; 
 and the different histories which belonged to each. Another 
 inquired about the construction of the Pyramids and the 
 Catacombs. J In short, there was nothing relative to Egypt 
 which they did not scrutinize into; for it is wonderful how 
 the Greeks listen to, and are delighted with, accounts of 
 that country. At length one among the more accomplished 
 of them touched upon the Nile, its fountains, and inun- 
 dations, wondering why it alone, of all rivers, should in the 
 fill miner time swell and overflow. I told them what I knew 
 
 TBT\aOt, trot yap kyttt KvavavKajcog Aiyvirroio 
 AZ//a ir'tftov dtovu)' vvv d'tfiag CGGO 0/A.og. 
 * The address of the Pythia to Lyeurgus wa* a f ollowe : 
 Thou com'st, Lyeurgus, to this honour'd shrine 
 Favour'd by Jove, and ev'ry power divine, 
 Or God or mortal J how shall I decide ? 
 Doubtless to heav'n most dear and mogt allied, 
 
 Herod, i. 65. Beloe's Tr. 
 
 f MovatZov VTTO junt/T/jygr^Offp <b<ul3aoiJieTrj. 
 
 Supiyyf, Ammianua Marcellinus, B. xxii, thus describes the 
 SiWyyti or subterraneous burying places of the Egyptian kings. 
 " Sunt et syringes subterranei quidam et flexuosi seceseua, quos (ut 
 fertur) periti rituum vetustorum ad venture diluvium praescii, inetuen- 
 
54 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 on that subject, which I had gathered from the sacred books 
 which the priests alone are permitted to consult. I related 
 how it had its rise on the south-east confines of Lybia and 
 ^Ethiopia ; that ifc increased in the summer, not because 
 its waters, as some supposed, were driven back by the 
 Etesian* winds, but because these winds, about the time of 
 the summer solstice, drive the clouds before them from the 
 northern into the southern parts, which are by this means 
 collected in the torrid zone, where their farther motion is 
 stopped by the extreme vehemence of the heat. They are 
 then condensed, and pressed by degrees, till they dissolve, 
 and fall in copious showers. These swell the river till it 
 disdains its banks, and, bursting over Egypt like a sea, fer- 
 tilizes the plains it overflows. Its waters are very sweet to 
 drink, as they are furnished by the rains from heaven ; they 
 are not hot to the touch as they are higher up, but never- 
 theless are tepid ; they exhale no vapours like other rivers, 
 which they certainly would do, if (as some learned Grecians 
 suppose) their rise was owing to the melting of the snows. 
 
 " While I was discoursing in this manner, one of the 
 priests of Apollo, whose name was Charicles, with whom I 
 had contracted some intimacy, said, I am pleased with what 
 you say, and agree with you entirely, for I have heard the 
 same account of this matter from the priests at the cata- 
 racts of the Nile. And have you been as far as there, said 
 I? I have, he replied. On 'what account? On occasion 
 of some family misfortunes, which, however, at last became 
 the course of my happiness. When I expressed some sur- 
 prize at this, "You would not wonder," said he, "if you 
 were to hear the whole matter as it happened ; and you 
 may hear it whenever you please. I should be very glad 
 to hear it at once, said I. Attend then, said Charicles ; 
 for I have long, and from an interested motive, wished for 
 an opportunity of relating my story to you : and, dismiss- 
 ing the general company, he began as follows : 
 
 " I had been married a considerable time without having 
 
 tesque ne ceremoniarum obliteraretur memoria, penitus operosis 
 digestos fodinis, per loca diversa struxerunt ; et excisis parietibus, 
 volucrum ferarumque genera multa sculpserunt, et animalium species 
 iimumeras multas, quas hieroglyphicas literas appellarunt, Latinia 
 ignorabiles." 
 
 * See Herod, ii. 19 25; and a note in Blakesley's edit, on ii. 17. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAKICLEA. 
 
 55 
 
 children ;* I wearied the gods with supplications ; and 
 at last, in an advanced stage of life, I became the father of 
 a little daughter, but who was born, as the gods foretold, 
 not under auspicious destiny. She became marriageable, 
 and had many suitors. I married her to him whom I 
 thought most worthy of her; and on the very wedding night 
 she was burnt in her bed, her apartment having been set on 
 lire either by accident or lightning. The hymeneal song, 
 which was still resounding, was turned into a dirge : she was 
 carried from the marriage apartment to her grave ; and the 
 torches, which had illuminated the nuptial procession, now 
 lighted the funeral pile. 
 
 " My evil genius added yet another calamity to this tra- 
 gedy, and took from me the mother of my child, who sank 
 under her sorrows. 
 
 " Such a series of misfortunes was almost too much for 
 me. It was with difficulty I abstained from laying violent 
 hands upon myself; I had however strength of mind suffi- 
 cient to refrain from an action which the teachers of religion 
 pronounce unlawful. But being unable to bear the solitude 
 and silence of my house, I left my country, for to deaden 
 memory by turning the eyes upon new objects is a great 
 palliative to grief. I wandered into various parts, and came 
 at last into your Egypt, and to Catadupa,f in order to visit the 
 cataracts of the Nile: this, my friend, was the occasion of my 
 coming into your country, which you inquired after. I must 
 now proceed to a digression, though it more properly forms 
 the principal reason of my entering at all into this narration. 
 
 " While I was wandering at leisure through the city, and 
 buying some things of the Greeks (for time having now 
 considerably alleviated my grief, I thought of returning into 
 my country), I was accosted by a middle-aged man, with the 
 complexion of an ^Ethiopian, bub of a grave deportment, and 
 bearing marks of prudence in his aspect : he saluted me, 
 and in broken Greek said he wished to speak to me. I 
 readily consenting, he took me into a neighbouring temple, 
 
 * The reader will keep in mind that it is Charicles who speaks now 
 to Calasiris ; otherwise, between the double narration going on at the 
 same time, of Calasiris to Cnemon, and of Charicles to Calasiris, he 
 may be a little confused. 
 
 f KarddovTroi the cataracts of the Nile, also the parts in Ethipoia 
 in which they are. Herod, ii. IT. Cicero calls them Catadupa. 
 
56 THE ADVENTURES OP 
 
 and said : I saw you cheapening some Indian, ^Ethiopian, 
 and Egyptian roots and herbs; if you really have a desire to 
 buy some, I can furnish you. I shall be very glad to see 
 them, I replied. You must not beat me down too much, 
 said he. Do not then be too exorbitant on your part, was 
 my answer. With that he pulled a small pouch from a pocket 
 under his arm, and showed me some jewels of inestimable 
 value: there were pearls as big as nuts, perfectly round, and 
 of the purest white ; emeralds and amethysts the former as 
 green as the vernal corn, and shining with a kind of oily 
 lustre; the latter resembling the colour of the sea-beach, 
 when played upon by the shadows of an overhanging rock, 
 which impart to it a purple tinge.* The mingled brilliancy 
 of the whole collection astonished and delighted my eyes. 
 
 " After having contemplated them for some time, I said, 
 You must seek some other purchaser; my whole fortune 
 would scarcely be sufficient to procure one of these gems. 
 But if you cannot buy them, he replied, you may receive 
 them as a present. Certainly ! but why are you jesting 
 with me ? I am not jesting with you, I am serious in what 
 I say ; and I swear to you by the deity whose shrine we 
 are before, that I will give you everything which I have 
 shown you, if, in addition to these, you will receive from my 
 hands a present far more precious than all which you behold, 
 I could not help smiling : he asked the cause of it. 
 Because it seems to me ridiculous, said I, that when you 
 promise me gifts of such price, you should besides make me 
 expect a present still more valuable. Nevertheless, believe 
 me, he replied, and swear to me that you will use my gift 
 well, and in the manner which I shall exact from you. I 
 wondered and doubted, but at last swore to him, allured by 
 the hopes of such treasures. When I had taken such an 
 oath as he required, he conducted me to his house, and 
 showed me a girl of wonderful and more than mortal beauty : 
 He affirmed she was but seven years old ; but she appeared 
 to me to be almost of a marriageable age, so much did her 
 uncommon beauty seem to add even to her stature. I stood 
 for some time motionless, ignorant of what was to follow, 
 and ravished with the sight before me ; when my conductor 
 thus addressed me : 
 
 " The child whom you behold, O stranger, was exposed, 
 * Qlvoira TTOVTOV. II. L 350, 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA . 57 
 
 when an infant, by her mother, and left at the mercy of 
 fortune, for a reason which you shall hear by-and-bye. It 
 happened luckily that I found, and took her up; for I could 
 not allow myself to desert in its danger a soul which had 
 once entered a human body : in so doing I should have trans- 
 gressed the precepts of our Gymnosophists,* of whom I had 
 been privileged to be a disciple. Something, too, uncommon 
 and divine, seemed to beam from the eyes of the infant, 
 which were cast upon me with sparkling yet engaging lustre. 
 There was exposed with her this profusion of jewels which I 
 have shown you. There was a silken fillet, on which was 
 written some account of the child, in letters of her native 
 country ; her mother, I suppose, taking care to place these 
 explanations with her. When I had read it, and knew from 
 whence and whose the infant was, I took her to a farm at a 
 distance from the city, and placed her in the hands of shep- 
 herds to be nourished, enjoining them to keep her as private 
 as possible. I myself kept the jewels which were exposed 
 with her, lest they might tempt any one to destroy the child. 
 The whole transaction remained for a while a secret ; but, in 
 process of time, as she grew up and increased more than 
 commonly in stature and in beauty (so much so, indeed, that 
 her charms would not have been concealed even in the bowels 
 of the earth), fearing some discovery to her prejudice, and 
 that I, too, might come into some trouble about her : I pro- 
 cured myself to be sent ambassador into Egypt. I came here : 
 I brought the girl with me, being very desirous of placing her 
 in some secure situation. The viceroy of this country has 
 appointed to give me audience to-day : meanwhile I deliver 
 up to you, and to the gods, the disposers of all events, this 
 child; trusting that you will observe the conditions you 
 have sworn to ; that you will preserve her free, as you have 
 received her, and marry her to a free man. I confide in 
 your performing all you have promised ; not depending 
 alone on your oaths, but on your disposition and general 
 conduct, which 1 have observed for the many days which 
 you have spent in this city, and which I see to "be truly 
 worthy of Greece, that renowned country to which you owe 
 your birth. This is all I can say to you at present, as the 
 business of my embassy calls me; but, if you will meet 
 * See Anthem's Lempriere's Classical Diet. 
 
58 THE ADVESTUBES OF 
 
 me at the temple of Isis to-morrow, you shall have a more 
 particular and exact account of your charge. 
 
 " I did as 1 was desired. I took the girl home with me 
 to my house : I treated her with respect and tenderness, 
 giving thanks to the gods for the event; and from that time 
 calling and esteeming her as my daughter. The next morn- 
 ing I hastened to the temple of Isis, where the stranger had 
 appointed me ; and after I had walked about and waited 
 a considerable time, and saw nothing of him, I went to the 
 palace of the viceroy, and inquired if any one had seen the 
 ^Ethiopian ambassador. I was there told that he had left 
 the city, or rather had been driven out of it, the evening 
 before, the viceroy threatening him with death if he did 
 not immediately quit the province. When 1 inquired into 
 the cause of so sudden a proceeding, I learned that he had, 
 with some haughtiness, forbidden the governor to meddle 
 with the emerald mines, which he claimed as belonging ex- 
 clusively to ^Ethiopia. I returned home vexed and disap- 
 pointed, as I was by this accident prevented from knowing 
 the condition, the country, and parents of the child." 
 
 " I am vexed, too, as much as he was," said Cnemon, " for 
 my curiosity on these subjects is nearly as great ; but, per- 
 haps, it may be satisfied in the progress of your narration." 
 "Possibly it may," replied Calasiris; "but now, if you please, 
 let Charicles proceed with his own story, which he thus con- 
 tinued : 
 
 "When I arrived at my house, the child came out to 
 meet me. She could not speak to me, knowing nothing of 
 Greek ; but she saluted me with her hand, and the sight of 
 her began to console me for my disappointment. I saw, 
 with admiration, that, as a generous race of hounds fawn 
 upon those who notice them ; so she seemed to have a 
 strong sense of my kindness for her, and to consider me in 
 the light of a father. I determined to stay no longer at 
 Caladupa, lest some envious deity should deprive me of 
 my second daughter. Embarking, therefore, on the Nile, 
 I reached the sea, got on board a ship, and arrived in 
 Greece. This child is now with me : I have given her my 
 name, and all my cares are centred in her. fler improve- 
 
 * " Where, perhaps, some beauty lies, 
 
 The cynosure of neighbouring eyes." Milton. 
 
THEAGNENES AI<D CIIABICLEA. 59 
 
 ments exceed my warmest wishes. She has learned my 
 language with surprising quickness : she has grown up to 
 perfection like a flourishing plant. Her beauty is so trans- 
 cendent as to attract every eye upon her, both Grecian and 
 foreign. Wherever she appears in the temple, in the 
 course, or in the market-place she draws to her the looks 
 and thoughts of all, like the model statue of some goddess. 
 Yet, with all this, she is the cause of great uneasiness to 
 me : she* obstinately refuses to marry, determines to lead 
 a life of celibacy, consecrates herself to Diana, and spends 
 most of her leisure hours in the chase, and with her bow. 
 This is a severe disappointment to me, for I wished to give 
 her to my sister's son, an accomplished and graceful young 
 man; but my wishes are frustrated by this preposterous 
 fancy of hers. Neither entreaties, nor promises, nor reason- 
 ing, can work upon her ; and, what is most vexatious, she 
 wounds me, as they say, with a shaft drawn from my own 
 bow, and employs the eloquence which I have taught her in 
 magnifying the way of life she has chosen. She is inex- 
 haustible in the praises of virginity ; places it next the life 
 of the gods pure, unmixed, uncorrupt. She is equally 
 skilful in depreciating love, and Venus, and marriage. I 
 implore your assistance in this matter; for which reason 
 I was glad to seize the opportunity you gave me, and have 
 troubled you with a long story. Do not desert me on this 
 occasion, my good Calasiris, but employ the wisdom you are 
 master of, or even any charm you may know ; persuade her 
 by words, or work upon her by incantations, to leave this 
 unnatural course, and to feel that she is born a woman : 
 you can, I know, do this if you will. She is not averse to 
 the conversation of men ; she has been used to their com- 
 pany from her childhood. She lives, too, very near you, 
 here within the precincts of the temple. Condescend, I 
 beseech, to hear me, and grant what I desire. Suffer me 
 not to spend a melancholy and lonely old age, without hopes 
 of having my family continued ; I entreat you by Apollo, 
 and your country's gods." 
 
 " I was moved by his supplications, Cnemon. I could 
 scarcely refrain from tears : his own flowed in great abun- 
 
 * " Sola contenta Dian&, 
 JEternum telorum et virginitatis amorem 
 Intemerata colit." Virg. ^En. xi. 583. 
 
60 THE ADTEXTURES OF 
 
 dance. I promised, in short, to use my utmost skill in 
 attempting what he desired. We were still talking, when a 
 messenger arrived in haste, and told us that the head of the 
 -^Enianian embassy was at the door, and extremely impa- 
 tient for the priest to appear, and begin the sacred rites. 
 When I inquired who the ^Enianians were, what was 
 the nature of the embassy which they had sent, and what 
 sacrifice he was going to perform ; he told me that the 
 ^Enianians were a principal nation of Thessaly, entirely 
 Grecian, being descended from Deucalion that their 
 country extended along the Malian bay that they called 
 their metropolis Hypata ;* as they would insinuate, because 
 it was fit to rule over all the cities of the province ; as others 
 pretended, because it was situated under Mount (Eta that 
 the embassy was sent by the ^Enianians every fourth year, 
 at the time of the Pythian games and the sacrifice offered 
 to Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, who was here surprised 
 and slain,* at the very altar of Apollo, by Orestes the son 
 of Agamemnon. But the embassy of the present year will 
 be yet more magnificent than any of the former ones; for the 
 head of it prides himself in being descended from Achilles. 
 
 " I met the young man the other day, and indeed he 
 seems worthy of the family of Peleus : such is the noble- 
 ness of his stature and deportment, that you will easily 
 believe him sprung from a goddess. 
 
 " When I wondered how it came to pass, that he, being 
 an ^Euianian, should pretend that he was of the race of 
 Achilles (for Homer, our great ^Egyptian poet makes 
 Achilles a Phthiotian), " the young man," said Cha- 
 ricles, " claims him entirely as their own : for Thetis, he 
 says, certainly married Peleus out of the Malian bay ; 
 and the country which extended along that bay was anciently 
 called Phthia : but the glory of the hero has induced others 
 to claim him falsely as their countryman. He is, besides, 
 in another way, related to the ^Eacidse : Mnestheus is his 
 ancestor, the son of Sperchius and Polydora, the daughter 
 
 * 'YTraraf either from 'vjrdroc, eminent, or 'viroraffffw, to be sub- 
 jected. 
 
 f " Ast ilium, ereptae magno inflammatua amore 
 Conjugis, et scelerum Furiis agitatus?, Orestes 
 Excipit incautum, patriasque obtruncat ad aras." 
 
 Virg. ^En. iu. 330. 
 
THEAGENES A^B CHAHICLEA. 61 
 
 of Peleus, who went with Achilles to the siege of Troy ; 
 and, being so nearly connected with him, was among the 
 chief leaders of the Myrmidons. 
 
 " The ambassador abounds in arguments to support the 
 claim of his country to Achilles. He insists much upon 
 this present embassy and sacrifice to Neoptolemus; the 
 honour of performing which, all the Thessalians have, by 
 common consent, yielded up to the ^Enianians, whereby 
 they admit that they are most nearly related to him." 
 
 " "Whether this be truth or vain assumption, said I, be 
 BO good now r , if you please, as to call in the ambassador, 
 for I am extremely desirous to see him. 
 
 " Oharicles immediately sent to him, and the young man 
 entered with an air and aspect truly worthy of Achilles. 
 His neck straight and erect, his hair thrown back off Ins 
 forehead ; his nose and open nostrils giving signs of an im- 
 petuous temper ; his eyes of a deep blue, inclining to black, 
 imparting an animated but amiable look to his countenance, 
 like the sea smoothing itself from a storm into a calm. 
 
 " After he had received and returned our salutations, he 
 said it was time to proceed to the sacrifice, that there might 
 be sufficient space for the ceremonies which were to be per- 
 formed to the Manes of the hero, and for the procession 
 which was to follow them. " I am ready," replied Charicles, 
 and rising, said to me, " If you have not yet seen Chariclea, 
 you will see her to-day ; for, as a priestess of Diana, she 
 will be present at these rites and the procession. 
 
 " But I, Cnemon,. had often seen the young woman 
 before ; I had sacrificed and conversed with her upon sacred 
 subjects. However, I said nothing of it ; and, waiting for 
 \vhat might happen, we went together to the temple. The 
 Thessalians had prepared everything ready for the sacrifice. 
 We approached the altar ; the youth began the sacred rites ; 
 the priest having uttered a prayer, and from her shrine the 
 Pythoness pronounced this oracle : 
 
 * Delphians, regard with reverential care, 
 Both him the goddess-born, and her the fair; 
 " Grace" is the sound which ushers in her name, 
 The syllable wherewith it ends, is " Fame" 
 
 * 'Trjv %pii> iv Trpwrou,', avrap K\SOQ VGTCIT' 'i 
 
 3>paZ,eaG' w AfA^ot, TOV re GBQQ yevkrqv. 
 Ot vr\QV 7rpoXnr6vTt ipor, KO.I KVf 
 
62 THE ADYENTCBES OF 
 
 They both my fane shall leave, and oceans past, 
 In regions torrid shall arrive at last; 
 There shall the gods reward their pious vows, 
 And snowy chaplets bind their dusky brows.* 
 
 " When they who surrounded the shrine heard this oracle, 
 they were perplexed, and doubted what it should signify. 
 Each interpreted it differently, as his inclinations and un- 
 derstanding led him : none, however, laid hold of its true 
 meaning. Oracles indeed, and dreams, are generally to be 
 explained only by the event. And beside, the Delphians, 
 struck with the preparations which were making for the pro- 
 cession, hastened to behold it, neglecting or deferring any 
 farther scrutiny into the oracular response. 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 the ceremony was over, and the procession had 
 
 passed by," continued Calasiris " But," said Cnemon, 
 
 interrupting him, " the ceremony is not over, Father ; you 
 have not made me a spectator of the procession, whereas I 
 am very desirous both of hearing and seeing ; you treat me 
 like a guest who, as they say, is come a day after the feast : 
 why should you just open the theatre, only to close it again?'* 
 " I was unwilling," said Calasiris, " to detain you from 
 what you are most desirous to know, by a detail which has 
 little or nothing to do with the principal end of my narra- 
 tion; but since you must be a passing spectator, and by 
 your fondness for shows declare yourself to be an Athenian, 
 I will endeavour briefly to describe the exhibition to you ; 
 and I shall do so the more willingly, on account of the con- 
 sequences which followed it. 
 
 "Hovr* rffXiov irgbq \Q6va Kvavsrjv, 
 Tijirep ape<rro/3(a>v fisj' 'dtQXiov l^a-^ovTai, 
 
 AtVKOv i-rrl icpoTa<f>iuv org/z/m /utAaii/o/ucvojv. 
 
 * Why sable brows? fit\aivo^ii>a)v^ / am not obliged to explain 
 oracles. Such ia the remark of a former translator. I venture to sug- 
 gest that the youug lovers were rather sun-burnt with travelling, upon 
 their arrival in ^Ethiopia ; and Lisle is of my opinion, for he translates 
 " their tanned temples." The first line seems intended to be a play 
 upon the name of Chariclea, \itpic K\ko. I have accordingly endea- 
 voured to convey this in the translation. 
 
THEAGENES AND CIIARICLEA. 63 
 
 " The procession began with an hecatomb of victims, led 
 by some of the inferior ministers of the temple, rough- 
 looking men, in white and girt- up garments. Their right 
 hands and breasts were naked, and they bore a two-edged 
 axe. The oxen were black, with moderately arched and 
 brawny necks their horns equal, and very little bent; some 
 were gilt, others adorned with flowers their legs bent 
 inwards* and their deep dewlaps flowing down to their 
 knees their number, in accordance with the name, exactly 
 an hundred. A variety of other different victims came 
 afterwards, each species separate and in order, attended 
 with pipes and flutes, sending forth a strain prelusive of 
 the sacrifice : these were followed by a troop of fair and 
 long- waist ed Thessalian maidens, with dishevelled locks 
 they were distributed into two companies ; the first division 
 bore baskets full of fruits and flowers ; the second, vases of 
 conserves and spices, which filled the air with fragrance : 
 they carried these on their heads ; thus, their hands being 
 at liberty, they joined them together, so that they could 
 move along and lead the dance. The key-note to the 
 melody was sounded by the next division, who were to sing 
 the whole of the hymn appointed for this festival, which 
 contained the praises of Thetis, of Peleus, and their son, 
 
 and of Neoptolemus. After this, O Cnemon " " But 
 
 Cnemon me no Cnemons" said the latter; " why not recite 
 the hymn to me instead of depriving me of so much plea- 
 sure ? Make me, 1 beseech you, an auditor at this festival 
 as well as a spectator." " You shall be so if you desire it," 
 said Calasiris ; " the hymn, as nearly as 1 can recollect, ran 
 as follows : 
 
 t Thetis, the golden -haired, we sing. 
 She who from Nereus erst did spring, 
 The Venus of our fatherland. 
 To Peleus wed, at Jove's command, 
 Her of the thunderbolt of war, 
 Famed for his beamj T spear afar, 
 Achilles Greece the mother saw 
 Wedded to whom did Pyrrha bear, 
 Great Neoptolemus his heir, 
 
 a ana, 
 
 3.W J 
 
 * 2i//oi. 
 
 f Tdv Qknv ae/^w, xpvffosOf tpa QsTt, 
 Nifptcoc.' aQavdrav fivaXioto Kopav, 
 Tdv Ai.of iwtairj HfjXt'i yr]iJia^kvavi 
 
64 THE ADYEXTUEES OF 
 
 Of Grecian land the boast and joy, 
 The destined scourge of lofty Troy. 
 Thou who in Delphic land dost rest, 
 Hero, by thee may we be blest ; 
 Accept our strains, and oh, by thee, 
 May every ill averted be ! 
 Thetis the golden-haired we sing, 
 She who from Peleus erst did spring. 
 
 " The dance * which accompanied this song was so well 
 adapted to it, and the cadence of their steps agreed so ex- 
 actly with the melody of the strain, that for awhile, in spite 
 of the magnificence of the spectacle, the sense of seeing 
 was overpowered and suspended by that of hearing; and 
 all who were present, attracted by the sounds, followed 
 the advancing dancers. At length a band of youths 
 on horseback, with their splendidly dressed commander, 
 opening upon them, afforded a spectacle far preferable to 
 any sounds. Their number was exactly fifty ; they divided 
 themselves into five-and-twenty on each side guarding 
 their leader, chief of the sacred embassy, who rode in 
 the midst : their buskins, laced with a purple thong, were 
 tied above their ancles ; their white garments, bordered with 
 blue, were fastened by a golden clasp over their breasts. 
 Their horses were Thessalian, and by their spirit gave token 
 of the open plains they came from ; they seemed to champ 
 with disdain the foaming bit, yet obeyed the regulating hand 
 of their riders, who appeared to vie with each other in the 
 splendour of their frontlets and other trappings, which glit- 
 tered with gold and silver. But all these, Cnemon, splendid 
 as they were, were iitterly overlooked, and seemed to vanish, 
 like other objects before a flash of lightning, at the appearance 
 of their leader, my dear Theagenes, so gallant a show did 
 
 Tdv dXbg dyXaiav, dutrtpav Ha^irjv 
 *H TGV dovpinavfi TOV T'*Apea 7rroX?//wj>, 
 'EXXa^oi; dffTtpoTrav iZf.riKiv Xayovwv 
 Alov 'A^'XX/)a, TOV K\toQ ovpdinov 
 
 T<j) VTTO Iluppa TGKtV TTCLL^a NtOTTToXf JUOV 
 
 nfp<77roXiv Tpwwv, pvaiTToXiv Aava&v* 
 'iX/j/coif 7/pwf appi NcoTrroXfjut, 
 *QXu YlvOtddi vvv \Qovl KtvOojjtevf. 
 As\vvoo d'tvfjiivtatv rwvdt OvrjiroXirfV* 
 Hdv d' drripvict dkoQ a^trtpat; TroXiof. 
 Tdv Qknv dtiSw, xP><rog#tia 9rt. 
 
 * " To brisk notes in cadence beating, 
 
 Glance their many -twinkling feet. " Gray. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 65 
 
 he make.* He too was on horseback, and in armour, with an 
 ashen spear in his hand ; his head was uncovered ; he wore 
 a purple robe, on which was worked in gold the story of the 
 Centaurs and the Lapithse ; the clasp of it was of electrum, 
 and represented Pallas with the Gorgon's head on her 
 shield. A light breath of wind added to the grace of his 
 appearance; it played upon his hair, dispersed it on his 
 neck, and divided it from his forehead, throwing back the 
 extremities of his cloak in easy folds on the back and sides of 
 his horse. You would say, too, that the horse himself was 
 conscious both of his own beauty and of the beauty of his 
 rider ; so stately did he arch his neck and carry his head, 
 with ears erect and fiery eyes, proudly bearing a master 
 who was proud to be thus borne. He moved along under a 
 loose rein, balancing himself equally on each side, and, 
 touching the ground with the extremity of his hoofs, 
 tempered his pace into almost an insensible motion. 
 
 Every one, astonished at the appearance of this young 
 man, joined in confessing, that beauty and strength were 
 never before so gracefully mingled. The women in the 
 streets, unable to disguise their feelings, flung handfuls of 
 fruit and flowers over him, in token of their admiration and 
 affection : in short, there was but one opinion concerning 
 him that it was impossible for mortal form to excel that of 
 Theagenes. Eut now, when 
 
 Rosy-finger'd morn appeared, 
 
 as Homer says, and the beautiful and accomplished Chari- 
 clea proceeded from the temple of Diana, we then perceived 
 that even Theagenes might be outshone ; but only so far 
 as female beauty is naturally more engaging and alluring 
 than that of men. She was borne in a chariot drawn by two 
 white oxen she was dressed in a purple robe embroidered 
 with gold, which flowed down to her feet she had a girdle 
 round her waist, on which the artist had exerted all his skill : 
 it represented two serpents, whose tails were interlaced 
 
 * " Armed, he rode, all save the head ; 
 
 He ruled his eager courser's gait ; 
 Forced him with chastened fire to prance, 
 And, high curvetting, slow advance." 
 
 Lay of the Last Minstrel, iv. 18. 
 
66 THE ADYENTUBES OP 
 
 behind her shoulders; their necks knotted beneath her 
 bosom; and their heads, disentangled from the knot, hung 
 down on either side as an appendage : so well were they 
 imitated, that you would say they really glided onward. 
 Their aspect was not at all terrible ; their eyes swam in a 
 kind of languid lustre, as if being lulled to sleep by the 
 charms of the maiden's breast. They were wrought in 
 darkened gold, tinged with blue, the better to represent, 
 by this mixture of dark and yellow, the roughness and 
 glancing colour of the scales. Such was the maiden's girdle. 
 Her hair was not entirely tied up, nor quite dishevelled, but 
 the greater part of it flowed down her neck, and wantoned 
 on her shoulders a crown of laurel confined the bright and 
 ruddy locks which adorned her forehead, and prevented the 
 wind from disturbing them too roughly she bore a gilded 
 bow in her left hand ; her quiver hung at her right shoulder 
 in her other hand she had a lighted torch ; yet the lustre 
 of her eyes paled the brightness of the torch. 
 
 " Here are, indeed, Theagenes and Chariclea," cried out 
 Cnemon. " Where, where are they ? " exclaimed Calasiris: 
 who thought that Cnernon saw them. " I think I see them 
 now," he replied, " but it is in your lively description." 
 " I do not know," said Calasiris, " whether you ever saw 
 them such as all Greece and the sun beheld them on that 
 day so conspicuous, so illustrious ; she the object of wish 
 to all the men, and he to all the women ; all thought them 
 equal to the immortals in beauty. But the Delphians more 
 admired the youth, and the Thessalians the maid; each 
 most struck with that form which they then saw for the 
 first time. Such is the charm of novelty. 
 
 " But, Cnemon ! what a sweet expectation did you raise 
 in me when you promised to show me these whom I so 
 fondly loved ! and how have you deceived me ! You winged 
 me with hope to expect that they would presently be here, 
 and exacted a reward for these good tidings ; but, lo ! 
 evening and night have overtaken us, and they nowhere 
 appear." " Eaise up your spirits," said Cnemon, " and 
 have a good heart; I assure you they will soon arrive. 
 Perhaps they have met with some impediment by the way, 
 for tboy intended to arrive much earlier. But I would not 
 shew them to you, if they were here, till you had paid me 
 
TIIEAGEFES A1SD CHARICLEA. 67 
 
 the whole of my reward ; if, therefore, you are in haste to 
 see them, perform your promise, and finish your story." 
 "It is now," replied Calasiris, "become a little irksome 
 to me, as it will call up disagreeable remembrances ; and I 
 thought, besides, that you must by this time be tired with 
 listening to so tedious a tale; but, since you seem a good 
 listener, and fond of hearing stories worth the telling, I 
 will resume my narration where I left it off. But let us 
 first light a torch, and make our libations to the gods who 
 preside over the night;* so that, having performed our 
 devotions, we may spend, without interruption, as much as 
 we please of it in such discourses as we like." A maid, at 
 the old man's command, brought in a lighted taper ; and 
 he poured out a libation, calling upon all the gods, and 
 particularly upon Mercury ; beseeching them to grant him 
 pleasant dreams, and that those whom he most loved might 
 appear to him in his sleep. Calasiris then proceeded in 
 this manner : 
 
 "After, Cnemon, that the procession had thrice com- 
 passed the sepulchre of Neoptolemus, and that both men 
 and women had raised over it their appropriate shout and 
 cry ;t on a signal being given, the oxen, the sheep, the goats, 
 were slaughtered at once, as if the sacrifice had been 
 performed by a single hand. Heaps of wood were piled on 
 an immense altar; and the victims being placed thereon, 
 the priest of Apollo was desired to light the pile, and begin 
 the libation. 
 
 " * It belongs, indeed, to me,* said Charicles, c to make 
 the libation ; but let the chief of the sacred embassy receive 
 the torch from the hands of Diana's priestess, and light 
 the pile ; for such has always been our custom/ Having 
 said this, he performed his part of the ceremony, and 
 
 * The ancients were very exact in performing their devotions to 
 the gods of the night, before they went to bed, or when they broke 
 up an entertainment. Mercury was one of the principal of these 
 deities. Homer takes notice of this custom : 
 
 " The chiefs he found and senators within 
 Libation pouring to the vigilant spy 
 Mercurius, whom with wine they worshipped last 
 Of all the gods, and at the hour of rest." 
 
 Od. vii. 136. Cowper. 
 *f* 'Q\o\v,ai> jjitv al yvvauctc;, fjKaKa^av 5k ol dvdptg. 
 
 F 2 
 
68 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 Theagenes received the torch from Chariclea. From what 
 now happened, my dear Cnemon, we may infer that there 
 is something divine in the soul, and allied to a superior 
 nature ; for their first glance at each other was such, as if 
 each of their souls acknowledged its partner, and hastened 
 to mingle with one which was worthy of it.* 
 
 " They stood awhile, as if astonished ;f she slowly offering 
 and he slowly receiving the torch; and fixing their eyes 
 on one another, for some space, they seemed rather to have 
 been formerly acquainted, than to have now met for the 
 first time, and to be returning gradually into each other's 
 memory. Then softly, and almost imperceptibly smiling, 
 which the eyes, rather than the lips, betrayed, they both 
 blushed, as if ashamed of what they had done ; and again 
 turned pale, the passion reaching their hearts. In short, 
 a thousand shades of feeling wandered in a few moments 
 over their countenances ; their complexion and looks betray- 
 ing in various ways the movements of their souls. 
 
 " These emotions escaped the observation of the crowd, 
 whose attention was engaged on other things. They 
 escaped Charicles too, who was employed in reciting the 
 solemn prayers and invocations, but they did not escape 
 me, for I had particularly observed these young people, 
 from the time that the oracle was given to Theagenes in 
 the temple ; I had formed conjectures as to the future from 
 the allusion to their names, though I could not entirely 
 comprehend the latter part of the prediction. 
 
 " At length Theagenes slowly and unwillingly turning 
 from the maiden, lighted the pile, and the solemn ceremony 
 ended. The Thessalians betook themselves to an enter- 
 tainment, and the rest of the people dispersed to their own 
 habitations. Chariclea putting on a white robe, retired 
 with a few of her companions to her apartment, which was 
 within the precincts of the temple ; for she did not live 
 with her supposed father, but dwelt apart for the better 
 performance of the temple services. 
 * " It is the secret sympatny, 
 
 The silver link, the silken tie, 
 
 Which heart to heart and mind to mind 
 
 In body and in soul can bind." 
 
 Lay of the Last Minstrel, v. 14. 
 
 f This incident forms the subject of a painting by Raphael. 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHARICLEA. 69 
 
 " Bendered curious by what I had heard and seen, I 
 sought an opportunity of meeting Charicles. As soon as 
 he saw me, he cried out, * Well, have you seen Chariclea, 
 the light of my eyes, and of Delphi ? ' ' I have,' I replied, 
 * but not now for the first time ; I have frequently before 
 eeen her in the temple, and that not in a cursory manner. 
 1 have often sacrificed with her, and conversed with and 
 instructed her, on various subjects, divine and human.' 
 4 But what did you think of her to-day, my good friend ? 
 Did she not add some ornament to the procession ? ' 
 ' Some ornament, do you say ? you might as well ask me 
 whether the moon* outshines the stars.' ' But some praise 
 the Thracian youth, and give him at least the second place 
 to her.' c The second, if you will, and the third ; but all 
 allow that your daughter was the crown and sun of the 
 ceremonial.' Charicles was delighted with this, and smiling 
 said, * I am just going to see her.' I, too, was pleased, for 
 my view was to inspire him with content and confidence. 
 ' If you will,' he added, ' we will go together, and see 
 whether she is the worse for the fatigues she has under- 
 gone.' I gladly consented, but pretended I went to oblige 
 him ; and that I gave up other business of my own. 
 
 " When we arrived at her apartment, we found her 
 lying uneasily upon her couch, her eyes melting with 
 languor and passion.f Having as usual saluted her father, 
 he asked what was the matter with her ? She complained 
 that her head ached ; and said that she wished to take a 
 little rest. Charicles, alarmed, went out of the chamber, 
 ordering her maids to keep every thing quiet about her ; 
 and, turning to me, ' What languor,' said he, ' my good 
 Calasiris, can this be, which seems to oppress my daughter ?' 
 ' Wonder not,' I replied, ' if, in such an assembly of 
 people, some envious J eye has looked upon her.' ' And do 
 you, too,' he returned, smiling ironically, ' think, with the 
 
 * " micat inter omnes 
 
 ..... velut inter ignes 
 
 Luna minores." Hor. I. Od. xii. 47. 
 
 f Tovg dtfiOaXfJiovG* Epit)Ti dia (3p o^o VQ. 
 " Et dulcis pueri ebrios ocellos 
 Illo purpureo ore suaviata." Catullus, c. 42. 
 
 J " Nescio quis teneros oculus mihi fascinat agnos." Virg. EC. Hi 
 Theocritus (Id. v. 39,) alludes to the method of averting fascination : 
 
 ' 
 
70 THE ADYENTUBES OF 
 
 vulgar, that there is any thing in fascination ?' ' Indeed 
 I do,' said I ; ' and thus I account for its effects : this air 
 rhich surrounds us, which we take in with our breath, 
 receive at our eyes and nostrils, and which penetrates into 
 all our pores, brings with it those qualities with which it is 
 impregnated ; and, according to their different natures, we 
 are differently affected. When any one looks at what is 
 excellent, with an envious eye, he fills the surrounding 
 atmosphere with a pernicious quality, and transmits his 
 own envenomed exhalations into whatever is nearest to 
 him. They, as they are thin and subtle, penetrate even 
 into the bones and marrow ; and thus envy has become the 
 cause of a disorder to many, which has obtained the name 
 of fascination.' 
 
 " Consider besides, O Charicles, how many have been 
 infected with inflammation of the eyes, and with other 
 contagious distempers, without ever touching, either at bed 
 or board, those who laboured under them, but solely by 
 breathing the same air with them.* The birth of love 
 affords another proof of what I am explaining, which, by 
 the eyes alone, finds a passage to the soul; and it is nofc 
 difficult to assign the reason ; for as, of all the inlets to 
 our senses, the sight is the most quick and fiery, and most 
 various in its motions ; this animated faculty most easily 
 receives the influences which surround it, and attracts to 
 itself the emanations of love. 
 
 " If you wish for an example from natural history, here 
 is one taken out of our sacred books. The bird Charadriusf 
 cures those who are afflicted with the jaundice. If it per- 
 ceives, at a distance, any one coming towards it, who 
 labours under this distemper, it immediately runs away, 
 and shuts its eyes ; not out of an envious refusal of its 
 assistance, as some suppose, but because it knows, by 
 instinct, that, on the view of the afflicted person, the 
 disorder will pass from him to itself, and therefore it is 
 solicitous to avoid encountering his eyes. You have heard, 
 perhaps, of the basilisk, which, with its breath and aspect 
 
 * A passage illustrative of this occurs in Achilles Tatius, B. L 4 : 
 KaXXoy o^vrtpov nrpttxricti (3k\ov, KO.I ta T&V 600a\/iaiv IIQ rijv 
 &VXTJV KdTappfl b$Qa\noQ yap ^dos cpu>riic< rpav/idrt. 
 
 t 1 Supposed to be the lapwing or curlew. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 71 
 
 alone, parches up and infects everything around it. Nor 
 is it to be wondered at, if some fascinate those whom they 
 love and wish well to ; for they who are naturally envious 
 do not always act as they would wish, but as their nature 
 compels them to do. Here Charicles, after a pause, said, 
 ' You seem to have given a very reasonable account of this 
 matter; and as you appear to admit that there are various 
 kinds of fascination, I wish hers may be that of love ; I 
 should then think that she was restored to health, rather 
 than that she was disordered. You know I have often 
 besought your assistance in this matter. I should rejoice 
 rather than grieve, if this were the affection she labours 
 under, she who has so long set at nought Venus and all 
 her charms. But, I doubt, it is the more common sort of 
 fascination, that of an evil eye, which afflicts her. This 
 your wisdom will certainly enable you to cure, and your 
 friendship to us will incline you to attempt it.' I promised 
 to do all in my power to relieve her, should this be the 
 case ; and we were still talking, when a man arrives in 
 haste, and calls out ' One would imagine, my good friends, 
 that you were invited to a fray instead of a feast, you are 
 so tardy in coming up ; and yet it is the excellent Theagenes 
 who prepares it for you; and Neoptolemus, the first of 
 heroes, who presides at it. Come away, for shame, and do 
 not make us wait for you until evening. Nobody is absent 
 but yourselves.' 
 
 " ' This,' whispers Charicles, ' is but a rough inviter ; * 
 the gifts of Bacchus have not mended his manners. But 
 let us go, lest he come from words to blows.' I smiled at 
 his pleasantry, and said I was ready to attend him. "When 
 we entered, Theagenes placed Charicles next to himself; 
 and paid some attention to me, out of respect to him. But 
 why should I fatigue you with a detail of the entertain- 
 ments ; the dancing and singing girls, the youths in armour, 
 who moved in Pyrrhic measures ; the variety of dishes with 
 which Theagenes had decked his table, in order to make 
 the feast more jovial ? But what follows is necessary for 
 you to hear, and pleasant for me to relate. Our entertainer 
 endeavoured to preserve a cheerful countenance, and forced 
 himself to behave with ease and politeness to his company ; 
 
 * Tf]V 0.7TO %V\OV K\TJ(TIV IJKfl 
 
72 THE ADVENTUEES OF 
 
 but I perceived plainly what he suffered within ; his eyes 
 wandered, and he sighed involuntarily. Now he would be 
 melancholy and thoughtful ; then on a sudden, recollecting 
 himself, his looks brightened, and he put on a forced cheer- 
 fulness. In short, it is not easy to describe the changes 
 he underwent ; for the mind of a lover, like that of one 
 overcome with wine, cannot long remain in the same 
 situation, both their souls fluctuating with weak and un- 
 steady passion. For which reason a lover is disposed to 
 drink ; and he who has drunk is inclined to love. 
 
 " At length, from his yawning, his sighs, and his anxiety, 
 the rest of the company begun to perceive that he was 
 indisposed ; so that even Charicles, who had not hitherto 
 observed his uneasiness, whispered me, i I fancy an envious 
 eye has looked upon him also ; he seems to be affected 
 much in the same manner as Chariclea.' Indeed, I think 
 so, too, I replied ; and it is probable enough, for next after 
 her in the procession, as being most conspicuous, he was 
 most exposed to envy. 
 
 " But now the cups were carried round ; and Theagenes, 
 out of complaisance rather than inclination, drank to every 
 body. When it came to me, I said I was obliged to him 
 for the compliment, but must beg to be excused tasting of 
 the cup. He looked displeased and angry, as if he thought 
 himself affronted ; when Charicles explained the matter, 
 and told him I was an Egyptian, an inhabitant of Memphis, 
 and a priest of Isis, and consequently abstained from wine 
 and all animal food. Theagenes seemed filled with a sudden 
 pleasure when he heard that I was an Egyptian and a 
 priest ; and raising himself up, as if he had suddenly found 
 a treasure, he called for water, and drinking to me, said, 
 ' sage, receive from me this mark of good-will, in the 
 beverage which is most agreeable to you ; and let this table* 
 conclude a solemn treaty of friendship between us.' 
 4 With all my heart," I replied, ' most excellent Theagenes ; 
 1 have already conceived a friendship for you ;" and taking 
 the cup, I drank and with this the company broke up, and 
 dispersed to their several habitations ; Theagenes embracing 
 nie at parting with the warmth and affection of an old friend. 
 
 " When I retired to my chamber, I could not sleep the 
 * &i\iav ijdt r'mlv >} rpdniZa 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHABICLEA. 73 
 
 first part of the night. My thoughts continually ran upon 
 these young people, and upon the conclusion of the oracle, 
 and I endeavoured to penetrate into its meaning. But, 
 towards the middle of the night, methought I saw Apollo 
 and Diana advancing towards me (if it were indeed only 
 imagination, and not a reality) : one led Theagenes, the 
 other Chariclea. They seemed to deliver them into my 
 hands ; and the goddess calling me by my name, thus 
 addressed me : 
 
 " 'It is time for you now to return to your country, for 
 such is the decree of fate. Depart therefore yourself, and take 
 these under your protection; make them the companions 
 of your journey ; treat 'them as your children ; and carry 
 them from Egypt, where and howsoever it shall please 
 the gods to ordain.' Having said this, they disappeared, 
 signifying first that this was a vision, and not a common 
 dream.* 
 
 " I understood plainly the commands they gave me; 
 except that I doubted what land it was, to which I was at 
 last to conduct these persons." " If you found this out 
 afterwards, Father," said Cnemon, " you will inform me at a 
 proper season ; in the mean time tell me in what manner 
 they signified, as you said, that this was not a common 
 dream, but a real appearance." In the same manner, 
 my son, as the wise Homer intimates ; though many do not 
 perceive the hidden sense that is contained in these lines : 
 
 "\\via yap fitTOTriaQf Trod&v rit KvrjjJidtav 
 'Pa', lyvwv diTLovTog, apiyvwroi re titoi irtp. + 
 " As they departed, I their legs and feet 
 To glide did see ; the gods are known with ease." 
 
 "I must confess," said Cnemon, "that I am one of the 
 many, and perhaps you imagined so when you quoted these 
 verses. I have understood the common sense of the words, 
 ever since I first read them, but cannot penetrate any hidden 
 theological meaning that may be couched under them." 
 Calasiris considering a little, and applying his mind to the 
 explanation of this mystery, replied : 
 
 * M?j ovap a\\' VTrap. 
 
 f Iliad, xiii. 71. Heliodorus, says the Bipont editor, evidently 
 intended the line in Homer to be read 'Pf.lv tyvatv a 
 instead of 'Pel' , 
 
74 THE ADVENTURES OP 
 
 " The gods, Cnemon, when they appear to, or disappear 
 from us, generally do it under a human shape seldom 
 under that of any other animal ; perhaps, in order that 
 their appearance may have more the semblance of reality. 
 They may not be manifest to the profane, but cannot be 
 concealed from the sage. You may know them by their 
 eyes ; they look on you with a fixed gaze, never winking 
 with their eye-lids still more by their motion,* which is 
 a kind of gliding, an aerial impulse, without movement of 
 the feet, cleaving rather than traversing the air : for which 
 reason the images of the Egyptian gods have their feet 
 joined together, and in a manner united. Wherefore 
 Homer, being an Egyptian, and instructed in their sacred 
 doctrines, covertly insinuated this matter in his verses, 
 leaving it to be understood by the intelligent. He mentions 
 Pallas in this manner : 
 
 dtivw dk ol offfff QaavOev. 
 
 " Fierce glared her eyes." 
 
 and Neptune in the lines quoted before ' *Peiv e^vwv ' 
 as if gliding in his gait ; for so is the verse to be construed 
 c pew aTTtdj/Tos,' gliding away ; not, as some erroneously 
 think, ' peT e<yvi*)vj I easily knew him." 
 
 " You have initiated me into this mystery," replied 
 Cnemon ; " but how come you to call Homer an Egyptian ? 
 It is the first time I ever heard him called so. I will not 
 insist that he is not your countryman ; but I should be 
 exceedingly glad to hear your reasons for claiming him as 
 such." " This is not exactly the time," said Calasiris, " for 
 such a discussion ; however, as you desire it, I will shortly 
 mention the grounds upon which I go. 
 
 "Different authors have ascribed to Homer different 
 countries indeed the country of a wise man t is in every 
 land ; but he was, in fact, an Egyptian, of the city of 
 Thebes, as you may learn from himself. His supposed 
 father was a priest there ; his real one, Mercury. For the 
 wife of the priest whose son he was taken to be, while she 
 was celebrating some sacred mysteries, slept in the temple. 
 Mercury enjoyed her company ; and impregnated her with 
 Homer ; and he bore to his dying day a mark of his spu- 
 
 * " Vera incessu patuit Dea." Virg. ^n, i. 405. 
 
 f " Ogni stanza al valent* uomo e patria. Guarini, Pastor Fido. 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHARICLEA. 75 
 
 rious origin. From Thebes he wandered into various coun- 
 tries, and particularly into Greece ; singing his verses, and 
 obtaining the name he bore. He never told his real one, nor 
 his country, nor family ; but those who knew of this mark 
 upon his body, took occasion from it to give him the name 
 of Homer ;* for, immediately from his birth, a profusion of 
 hair appeared upon both his thighs." 
 
 " On what account, my father, did he conceal the place of 
 his birth ?" " Possibly'he was unwilling to appear a fugi- 
 tive ; for he was driven out by his father, and not admitted 
 among the sacred youths, on account of the peculiar mark 
 he bore on his body, indicating his spurious origin. Or, 
 perhaps, he had a wise design in keeping the real spot of his 
 nativity a secret, as by so doing he might claim every land 
 he passed through as his fatherland." "I cannot help," 
 said Cnemon, " being half persuaded of the truth of this 
 account you give of Homer. His poems breathe all the 
 softness and luxuriance of Egypt ; and from their excel- 
 lency, bespeak something of a divine original in their 
 author. 
 
 "But after that, by Homer's assistance, you had dis- 
 covered the true nature of these deities, what happened ? " 
 " Much the same as before : watchings, thoughts, and 
 cares, which night and darkness nourish. I was glad that I 
 had discovered something, which I had in vain attempted to 
 explain before; and rejoiced at the near prospect of my 
 return to my country. But I was grieved to think that 
 Charicles was to be deprived of his daughter. I was in 
 great doubt in what manner the young people were to be 
 taken away together ; how to prepare for their flight ; how 
 to do it privately, whither to direct it; and whether 
 by land or by sea. In short, I was overwhelmed with 
 a sea of troubles ;f and spent the remainder of the night 
 restless, and without sleep. But the day scarce began to 
 dawn, when I heard a knocking at the gate of my court, 
 and somebody calling my servant. 
 
 " The boy asked who it was that knocked, and what he 
 
 fjLrjpoQ fJirjpoQ in Greek signifies a thigh. For the various 
 accounts respecting Homer, and the origin of his name, see p. 59 of 
 Coleridge's Introd. to the Classic Poets. 
 
 t KXw^wi/ <}>povrifffj.dT(uv. " Or to take arms against a sea of 
 troubles." Shakspeare. 
 
76 THE ADVENTURES OP 
 
 wanted. The person replied, that he was Theagenes the 
 Thessalian. I was very glad to hear this, and ordered him 
 to be introduced ; thinking this an excellent opportunity to 
 lay some foundation for the design I meditated. I supposed 
 that, having discovered at the entertainment that I was 
 an Egyptian, and a priest, he came to ask my advice and 
 assistance in the attachment which now influenced him. 
 He thought, perhaps, as many wrongly do, that the science 
 of the Egyptians was only of one sort. But there is one 
 branch in the hands of the common mass, as I may say, 
 crawling on the ground ; busied in the service of idols, and 
 the care of dead bodies ; poring over herbs, and murmuring 
 incantations ; neither itself aiming, nor leading those who 
 apply to it to aim, at any good end ; and most frequently 
 failing in what it professes to effect. Sometimes succeeding 
 in matters of a gloomy and despicable nature ; showing 
 imaginary visions as though real ; encouraging wickedness ; 
 and ministering to lawless pleasures. But the other branch 
 of Egyptian science, my son, is the true wisdom ; of which 
 that which I have just mentioned is the base-born offspring. 
 This is that in which our priests and seers are from their 
 youth initiated. This is of a far more excellent nature ; 
 looks to heavenly things, and converses with the gods ; 
 inquires into the motions of the stars, and gains an insight 
 into futurity ; far removed from evil and earthly matters, 
 and turning all its views to what is honourable and beneficial 
 to mankind. It was this which prompted me to retire a 
 while from my country to avoid, if possible, the ills which 
 it enabled me to foresee, and the discord which was to arise 
 between my children. But these events must be left to the 
 gods, and the fates, who have power either to accomplish or 
 to hinder them ; and who, perhaps, ordained my flight, in 
 order that I might meet with Chariclea. I will now proceed 
 with my narration. 
 
 " Theagenes entered my apartment ; and, after I had 
 received and returned his salute, I placed him near me on 
 the bed, and asked what was the occasion of so early a visit. 
 He stroked his face, and, after a long pause, said : ' I am 
 in the greatest perplexity, and yet blush to disclose the 
 cause of it :' and here he stopped. I saw that this was the 
 time for dissimulation, and for pretending to discover what 
 I already knew. Looking therefore archly upon him, I 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHAETCLEA. 77 
 
 said, c Though you seem unwilling to speak out, yet nothing 
 escapes my knowledge, with the assistance of the gods.' 
 "With this I raised myself a little, counting over certain 
 numbers upon my fingers, (which in reality meant nothing); 
 shaking my locks, like one moreover under a sudden influ- 
 ence of the divinity, I cried out, " My son, you are in love.' 
 He started at this ; but, when I added * and with Cha- 
 riclea,' he thought I was really divinely inspired ; and was 
 ready to fall at my feet, and worship me. When I pre- 
 vented this, he * kissed my head, and gave thanks to the gods 
 that he had really found my knowledge as great as he 
 expected. He besought me to be his preserver ; for, unless 
 preserved by my assistance, and that quickly, he was undone, 
 so violent a passion had seized upon him; desire so con- 
 sumed him him, who now first knew what it was to love. 
 
 " He swore to me, with many protestations, that he never 
 had enjoyed the company of women that he had always 
 rejected them and professed himself an enemy to mar- 
 riage, and a rebel to Venus, until subdued by the charms of 
 Chariclea that this did not arise from any forced tem- 
 perance, or natural coldness of constitution ; but he had 
 never before seen a woman whom he thought worthy of his 
 love and having said this, he wept, as if indignant at being 
 subdued by a weak girl. I raised him, comforted, and bade 
 him be of good cheer ; for, since he had applied to me, he 
 should find that her coyness would yield to my art. I knew 
 that she was haughty, protesting against love, so as not to 
 bear even the name of Venus or wedlock ; but I would 
 leave no stone unturned to serve him. Art, said 1, can 
 outdo even nature : only be not cast down, but act as I 
 shall direct you. 
 
 " He promised that he would obey me in every thing ; 
 even if I should order him to go through fire and sword. 
 While he was thus eager in protestations, and profuse in his 
 promises of laying at my feet all he was worth, a messenger 
 came from Charicles, saying that his master desired me to 
 come to him that he was near, in the temple of Apollo, 
 where he was chanting a hymn to appease the deity ; having 
 been much disturbed in the night by a dream. 
 
 " I arose immediately, and dismissing Theagenes, hastened 
 to the temple ; where I found Charicles reclining sorrow- 
 
 * " 3>i\rjff(u r' t d Of pig, TO abv Kcipa." Soph. (Ed. Col. 1131. 
 
78 THE ADYENTURES OF 
 
 fully upon a seat, and sighing deeply. I approached him, 
 and inquired why he was so melancholy and cast down. 
 'How can I be otherwise, he replied, when I have been 
 terrified by dreams ? and hear too, this morning, that my 
 daughter still continues indisposed, and has passed a sleep- 
 less night. I am the more concerned at this, not only on 
 her own account, but also because to-morrow is the day 
 appointed for the display of those who * run in armour ; at 
 which ceremony the priestess of Diana is to preside, and 
 hold up a torch. Either, therefore, the festival will lose 
 much of its accustomed splendour by her absence ; or if 
 she comes against her will, she may increase her illness. 
 Wherefore let me now beseech you, by our friendship, and 
 by the god at whose altar we are, to come to her assistance, 
 and think of some remedy. I know you can easily, if you 
 please, cure this fascination, if such it be the priests of 
 Egypt can do far greater things than these.* 
 
 " I confessed that I had been negligent (the better to- 
 carry on the deception) ; and requested a day's time to 
 prepare some medicines, which I thought necessary for her 
 cure. Let us now, however, I continued, make her a visit ; 
 consider more accurately the nature of her complaint ; and, 
 if possible, administer to her some consolation. At the 
 same time, Charicles, I beg you will say a few words to her 
 concerning me ; inspire her with regard for my person, and 
 confidence in my skill, that so the cure may proceed the 
 better. He promised that he would do so ^ and we went toge- 
 ther. But why say much of the situation in which we found 
 the luckless Chariclea ? She was entirely prostrated by her 
 passion ; the bloom was flown from her cheeks ; and tears 
 flowing like water had extinguished the lustre of her eyes. 
 She endeavoured, however to compose herself, when she 
 saw us ; and to resume her usual voice and countenance. 
 Charicles embraced, kissed and soothed her. c My dear 
 daughter,' he cried, 'why will you hide your sufferings 
 from your father ? and while you labour under a fasci- 
 nation, you are silent as if you were the injurer, instead 
 of being the injured party : an evil eye has certainly looked 
 upon you. But be of good cheer : here is the wise Gala- 
 
 * Of one of whom Pindar says 
 
 'E9s\(t) %a\K6(T7rida TIvQinviKav 
 ytycurtij'. P) th. xi. 1. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 79 
 
 siris, who has promised to attempt your cure; and he, if 
 any one is able, can effect it ; for he has been bred up from 
 his youth in the study of things divine, and is himself a 
 priest ; and what is more than all, he is my dearest friend. 
 Kesign yourself up, therefore, entirely to his management ; 
 suffer him to treat you as he pleases, either by incantations 
 or any other method you have, I know, no aversion to the 
 company and conversation of the wise.' 
 
 " Chariclea motioned her consent, as though not dis- 
 pleased at the proposal and we then took our leave ; Chari- 
 cles putting me in mind of what he had first recommended to 
 my anxious care ; beseeching me, if possible, to inspire his 
 daughter with an inclination for love and marriage. I sent 
 him away in good spirits : assuring him that I would shortly 
 bring about what hs seemed to have so much at heart." 
 
 BOOK IY. 
 
 " THE ensuing day ended the Pythian games ; but not the 
 conflict of the youthful pair ; Love was the arbiter, and in 
 the persons of these his combatants, determined to exhibit 
 his mightiest contest. Towards the end of the ceremony, 
 when all Greece was looking on, and the Amphictyons sat 
 as judges ; when the races, the wrestlings, and the boxing 
 matches were over ; a herald came forward, and made pro- 
 clamation for the men in armour to appear. At that instant 
 the priestess Chariclea shone out like some fair star at the 
 end of the course ; for she had prevailed with herself, how- 
 ever unfit, to come forth, that she might comply with the 
 custom of her country : and perhaps not without a secret 
 hope of seeing Theagenes. She bore a torch in her left; 
 hand, and a branch of palm in her right. At her appear* 
 ance every eye in the assembly was turned upon her, but 
 none sooner than that of Theagenes ; for what is so quick 
 as the glance of a lover ? He, who perhaps had heard that 
 it was probable she might corne, had his whole mind intent 
 upon that expectation ; and, when she appeared, was not 
 able to contain himself; but said softly to me, who sat next 
 to him, "Tis she herself; 'tis Chariclea!' I bid him be 
 
80 THE ADYENTTTBES OF 
 
 silent, and compose himself. And now, at the summons of 
 the herald, a warrior stood forth ; splendidly armed, of noble 
 air, and distinguished appearance ; who had formerly been 
 victor in many contests, but at this meeting had not en- 
 gaged in any, probably because he could not find a compe- 
 titor ; and none now appearing to oppose him, the Amphyc- 
 tyons ordered him to retire, the law not permitting any one 
 to be crowned who had not contended. He begged the 
 herald might be suffered again to make prockmation, which 
 he did, calling upon some one to enter the lists. 
 
 " Theagenes said to me, ' This man calls upon me.' 
 ' How so T said I, ' He does indeed,' he replied ; ' for no 
 other, while I am present and behold it, shall receive a 
 crown from the hands of Chariclea.' ' But do you not con- 
 sider the disgrace, if you should fail of success ?' l Will 
 any one outrun me in speed and in desire to see and be 
 near Chariclea?* To whom will the sight of her add 
 swifter wings and more impetuous speed ? You know that 
 the painters make Love winged, signifying thereby how rapid 
 are the motions of his captives ; and, were I inclined to 
 boast, I could say that no one hitherto has been able to 
 excel me in swiftness.' And immediately he sprang up, 
 came forward, gave in his name and family, and took his 
 allotted place. 
 
 " He stood there in complete armour, expecting with 
 trembling eagerness the signal of the trumpet, and scarce 
 able to wait for it. It was a noble and all-engrossing spec- 
 tacle, as when Homerf describes Achilles contending on 
 the banks of Scamander. The whole assembly was moved 
 at his unexpected appearance, and felt as much interested 
 in his success as they would have done for their own ; such 
 power has beauty to conciliate the minds of men. But Cha- 
 riclea was affected more than all: I watched her counte- 
 nance, and saw the changes of it. And when the herald 
 proclaimed the names of the racers Ormenus the Arca- 
 dian, and Theagenes the Thessalianwhen they sprang 
 forward from the goal, and ran together with a swiftness 
 
 * It would seem that Chariclea stood with her palm and torch at 
 the end of the course the contenders were to take, 
 f Iliad, B. xxi. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 81 
 
 almost too rapid for the eye to follow then the maiden 
 was unable to contain herself; her limbs trembled, and her 
 feet quivered, as if they could assist the course of her lover, 
 on whom her whole soul was intent. The spectators were 
 on the very tiptoe of expectation, and full of solicitude for 
 the issue ; and I more than all, who had now determined to 
 regard Theagenes as my own son." 
 
 " No wonder," said Cnemon, " that those present were in 
 an agony of expectation ; when I, even now, am trembling 
 for Theagenes. Deliver me, therefore, I beseech you, as 
 soon as you can, out of my suspense." 
 
 " When they had not finished more than half their 
 course," continued Calasiris, "Theagenes turning a little, 
 arid casting a stern glance at Ormenus, lifted up his shield 
 on high, and stretching out his neck, and fixing his eyes 
 intently on Chariclea, flew like an arrow to the goal, leaving 
 the Arcadian far behind him. When he reached the maiden, 
 lie fell upon her bosom ; not, I imagine, without design, 
 but in appearance as if unable to check on a sudden the 
 rapidity of his pace. When he took the palm from her 
 hand, 1 observed he kissed it." 
 
 " You have relieved my mind," said Cnemon ; " I rejoice 
 that he has both obtained the victory, and kissed his mis- 
 tress. But what happened afterwards ?" " Tou are not 
 only insatiable of hearing, Cnemon, but invincible by sleep ; 
 a great part of the night is now spent, and you are still 
 wakeful, still attentive to my tedious story." " I am at 
 feud with Homer,* father, for saying that love, as well as 
 everything else, brings satiety in the end ; for my part I 
 am never tired either of feeling it myself, or hearing of its 
 influence on others ; and lives there the man of so iron and 
 adamantine an heart, as not to be enchanted with listen- 
 ing to the loves of Theagenes and Chariclea, though the 
 story were to last a year? Go on, therefore, I beseech 
 you." 
 
 " Theagenes," continued Calasiris, " was crowned, pro- 
 claimed victor, and conducted home with universal applause. 
 But Chariclea was utterly vanquished ; the second sight of 
 Theagenes fixed deep that love which the first had inspired ; 
 
 * II. xiii. 636. 
 
 " All pleasures breed satiety, sweet sleep, 
 Soft dalliance, music, and the grateful dance." Cowpeiv 
 
82 THE AJTVENTUEES OF 
 
 for the mutual looks of lovers revive and redouble their 
 passion ; sight inflames the imagination, -as fuel increases 
 fire. She went home, and spent a night as bad or worse 
 than the former one. I, too, was sleepless as before, rumi- 
 nating how I should conceal our flight, and into what 
 country it was the intention of the gods that I should con- 
 duct my young companions. I conjectured, from the words 
 of the oracle, that it was to be by sea : 
 
 " and oceans past, 
 
 In regions torrid shall arrive at last ;" 
 
 but I could think only of one method to obtain some infor- 
 mation whither I ought to take them ; and that was, if I 
 could gain a sight of the fillet which was exposed with Cha- 
 riclea; on which, as Charicles said, some particulars relating 
 to her were written. It was probable that I might learn 
 from thence the names of her parents, and of her country, 
 which I already guessed at ; and it was thither, most likely, 
 that the fates would direct her course. I went, therefore, 
 in the morning, to the apartment of Chariclea ; I found all 
 her servants in tears, and Charicles in the deepest distress. 
 I inquired into the cause of this agitation. 
 
 "'My daughter's malady,' he replied, 'increases visibly; 
 she has passed a wretched night, worse than the preceding 
 one.' TJpon this I desired that he, and all who were pre- 
 sent, would leave the room ; and that some one would pro- 
 cure for me a tripod, laurel, fire, and frankincense; and 
 that no one would disturb me till I should call for them. 
 Charicles ordered everything to be disposed as I desired. 
 "\V hen I was left at liberty, I began a kind of scenical repre- 
 sentation ; I burnt my incense, I muttered a few prayers, 
 and with the branch of laurel stroked Chariclea several 
 times from head to foot. At last, after having played a 
 hundred fooleries with myself and the maiden, I began 
 yawning, grew tired of the mummery, and ceased. She 
 smiled, shook her head, and signified that I was in an error, 
 and had entirely mistaken the nature of her disorder. I 
 approached nearer to her, and bid her be of good cheer, for 
 her malady was by no means uncommon or difficult of cure 
 that she was undoubtedly fascinated, perhaps when she 
 was present at the procession, but most probably when she 
 presided at the race that I suspected who had fascinated 
 
THEAGEtfES AND CHAR1CLEA. 83 
 
 her that my suspicions fell upon Theagenes, who ran the 
 armour race ; for I had observed with what an intent and 
 ardent eye he gazed upon her. 
 
 " ' Whether he looked at me or not,' she replied, ' say no 
 more of him ; yet tell me who is he, and whence does he 
 come? I saw 'many admiring him.' I told her that she 
 had already heard from the herald that he was a Thessalian 
 that he himself claimed to be of the family of Achilles ; 
 and, I thought, not without great appearance of truth : for 
 his beauty and stature bespoke him a descendant from that 
 hero. Yet he was not, like* him, insolent or arrogant, but 
 possessed an elevated mind, tempered with sweetness ; and 
 though he has an evil eye, and has fascinated you, he suffers 
 worse torments than he has inflicted. 
 
 " * Father,' said she, *I am obliged to you for the com- 
 passion you express for me ; but do not wish ill to one who 
 perhaps has not committed any wrong. My malady is not 
 fascination, but, I think, of another kind.' ' "Why do you 
 conceal it then, my daughter, and not tell it freely, that 
 you may meet with some relief ? Consider me as a father 
 to you, in age at least, and more in good-will. Am not I 
 well known to, and the intimate friend of, Charicles ? Tell 
 me the cause of your disorder : put confidence in me ; I 
 swear I will not betray it. Speak freely, and do not increase 
 your sufferings by concealing them: there is no disease, 
 which when easily known, is not easily cured ; but that 
 which is become inveterate by time is almost incurable 
 silence nourishes anguish ; what is disclosed admits of con- 
 solation and relief.' After a pause, in which her counte- 
 nance betrayed the various agitations of her mind, she said, 
 i Suffer me to continue silent to-day, I will be more explicit 
 hereafter ; if the art of divination, in which you are skilled, 
 has not already discovered to you all I have to tell you.' 
 
 " Upon this I arose and took my leave, hinting to the 
 maiden the necessity of overcoming her modesty and re- 
 serve. Charicles met me. i What have you to tell me ? ' 
 said he. * All good news,' I replied. ' To-morrow your 
 daughter shall be cured of her complaint, and something 
 
 - " Honoratum si forte reponis Achillem, 
 
 Impiger, iracundus, inexorabilis, acer, 
 Jura neget sibi nata, nihil non arroget armis." Hor. A. P. 121. 
 
 G2 
 
84 THE AJDVENTUKES OF 
 
 else shall happen which you greatly desire; in the mean- 
 time, however, it may not be amiss to send for a physician :' 
 and having said this, I retired, that he might ask me no 
 more questions. 
 
 " I had not gone far, when I saw Theagenes wandering 
 about the precincts of the temple, talking to himself, and 
 seeming satisfied if he could only see the place where 
 Chariclea dwelt. Turning aside, I passed by as if I had not 
 observed him ; but he cried out, ' Calasiris, I rejoice to see 
 you ! listen to me ; I have been long waiting for you.' 
 I turned suddenly. 'My handsome Theagenes,' said I, 
 ' I did not observe you.' ' How can he be handsome,' he 
 replied, ' who cannot please Chariclea ? ' I pretended to 
 be angry. ' Will you not cease,' I said, ' to dishonour 
 me and my art, which has already worked upon her, and 
 compelled her to love you ? and she now desires, above all 
 things, to see you.' ' to see me ! ' he exclaimed ; ' what is 
 it you tell me ? why do not you instantly lead me to her :' 
 and immediately he began advancing. I caught hold of 
 his robe : ' Hold,' I cried, c however famous you are for speed, 
 this is not a business to be ventured upon in haste ; it re- 
 quires consideration and management, and many prepara- 
 tions, in order to ensure success and safety. You must not 
 think to bear off by force so rich a prize. Do not you know 
 that her father is one of the principal men of Delphi ; and 
 that such an attempt would here incur a capital punish- 
 ment ? ' ' I regard not death,' he replied, ' if I can 
 possess Chariclea; however, if you think it better, let us 
 ask her in marriage of her father. I am not unworthy of 
 his alliance.' ' We should not obtain her,' I answered ; 
 * not that there can be any objection to you, but Charicles 
 has long ago promised her to his sister's son.' ' He 
 shall have no reason to rejoice in his good fortune,' said 
 Theagenes. 'No one, while I am alive, shall make Chariclea 
 his bride ; my hand and sword have not yet so far forgot 
 their office.' ' Moderate your passion,' I replied; 'there 
 is no occasion for your sword ; only be guided by me, and 
 do as I shall direct you. At present retire, and avoid being 
 seen often in public with me; but visit me sometimes, 
 quietly and in private.' He went away quite cast down. 
 
 i( On the morrow Charicles met me : as soon as he saw 
 
THEAGEtfES AND CHAEICLEA. 85 
 
 me he ran up to me, and repeatedly kissed my head, crying 
 out, ' How great is the force of wisdom and friendship 1 
 You have accomplished the great work. The impregnable 
 is taken. The invincible is vanquished. Chariclea is in 
 love!' 
 
 " At this I began to arch my eyebrows : I put on a con- 
 sequential air, and proudly paced the room. ' JSTo marvel,' 
 said I, ' that she has not* been able to resist even the first 
 application of my spells, and yet I have hitherto employed 
 only some of the weakest of them. But how came you 
 acquainted with what you are rejoicing at?' 'According 
 to your advice,' said he, ' I sent for some physicians of 
 whom I had a high opinion. I took them to visit my 
 daughter, promising them large fees if they could afford her 
 any relief. As soon as they entered her apartment they 
 inquired into the cause of her complaint. She turned from 
 them, made no reply to their inquiries, a-nd kept repeating a 
 verse from Homer,* the sense of which is, 
 
 ' Achilles, Peleus' son, thou flower of Greeks.' 
 
 At length the sagacious Acestinus (perhaps you know him) 
 seized her unwilling hand, hoping to discover by her pulse 
 the movements of her heart. He felt it, and, after some 
 consideration, said, * Charicles, it is in vain you call upon 
 us for assistance ; the leech's art can here be of no use.' 
 My God,' cried I, ' what is it you say ? My daughter is 
 dying, and you give me no hope.' ' Compose yourself,' 
 he replied, ' and attend to me ; ' and taking me aside he 
 thus addressed me : 
 
 " ' Our art professes to heal only the disorders of the body, 
 not those of the mind, except only when the mind suffers 
 with the afflicted body; when one is cured the other is 
 relieved. Your daughter certainly labours under a malady, 
 but it is not a corporeal one. She has no redundant 
 humours, no head-ache, no fever, no distemper which has its 
 origin in the body this I can venture to pronounce. I 
 besought him, if he knew what really ailed her, that he 
 would tell me. At last he said, 'Does she not know herself 
 that the malady is a mental one that it is, in one word, 
 love ? Do you not see how her swelled eyes, her unsettled 
 * II. xvi. 21. 
 
86 THE ADYENTUBES OP 
 
 look, her pale countenance, betray the wounded heart? 
 Her thoughts wander, her discourse is unconnected, she 
 gets no sleep, and visibly falls away ; some relief must be 
 sought for, but he alone for whom she pines can, I think, 
 afford it.' Having so said, he took his leave. I hastened 
 to you, as to a god and preserver, who alone have it in your 
 power, as both I and my daughter acknowledge, to do us 
 good. For when I was pressing her, in the most affec- 
 tionate manner, to discover to me the cause of her com- 
 plaint, she answered that she knew not what was the matter 
 with her; this only she knew, that Calasiris alone could 
 heal her, and besought me to call you to her ; from which I 
 perceive that she has the greatest opinion of, and confidence 
 in, your wisdom.' 
 
 " ' Since you have found out that she is in love,' I replied, 
 ' can you conjecture with whom ? ' ' No, by Apollo,' said 
 he ; ' how should I discover that ? I wish with all my 
 heart it may be with Alcamenes, my sister's son. I have 
 long destined him for her spouse, if my wishes can have 
 weight with her.' I told him it was easy to make the 
 experiment, by bringing the young man into her presence. 
 He seemed to approve of this and went away. 
 
 " Soon after I met him in the market-place. ' I have 
 very disagreeable news,' said he, c my daughter is certainly 
 possessed, she behaves in so strange a manner. I intro- 
 duced Alcamenes to her, as you desired ; and he had taken 
 care about his personal appearance, but she, as if she had 
 seen the Gorgon's head, or anything more frightful, gave a 
 piercing shriek, turned her face aside, and, grasping her 
 neck with both her hands, protested that she would strangle 
 herself, if we did not instantly leave the room. This, you 
 may imagine, we hastened to do upon seeing such mon- 
 strously strange conduct. And we again entreat you to 
 save her life, and to fulfil, if possible, our wishes.' 
 
 " ' O Charicles,' I replied, ' you were not mistaken in 
 saying your daughter was possessed. She is, indeed, beset 
 by those powers which I was obliged to employ against her. 
 They are very potent, and are compelling her to that from 
 which her nature and constitution is averse. But it seems 
 to me that some opposing deity counteracts my measures, 
 and is fighting against my ministers ; wherefore it is neces- 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 87 
 
 sary that I should see the fillet which you told me was ex- 
 posed with your daughter, and which you had preserved 
 with the other tokens: I fear it may contain some witcheries 
 and magic w r hich work upon her mind, the contrivance of 
 an enemy, who wishes her to continue all her life single, 
 childless, and averse to love.' Charicles assented to what 
 I said, and presently brought me the fillet. I begged and 
 obtained time to consider it. I took it eagerly with me to 
 my apartment, and began immediately to read what was 
 written on it. The characters were ^Ethiopian ;* not the 
 common ones, but such as those of royal birth make use of, 
 which are the same as the sacred writings of the Egyptians ; 
 and this was the tenor of the inscription : 
 
 " ' Persina, Queen of ^Ethiopia, inscribes this, her lament, 
 as a last gift to an unfortunate daughter, who has not yet 
 obtained a name, and is known to her only by the pangs she 
 cost.' 
 
 " I shuddered, Cnemon, when I read the name of Persina; 
 however, I read on as follows : 
 
 " ' I call the Sun to witness, the author of my race, that I 
 do not expose you, my child, and withdraw you from the 
 sight of your father Hydaspes, on account of any crime of 
 mine. Yet I would willingly excuse myself to you, if you 
 should happen to survive, and to him who shall take you up, 
 if propitious providence vouchsafes to send you a preserver, 
 and relate to the world the cause of my exposing you. 
 
 " ' Of the gods we count the Sun and Bacchus among our 
 ancestors; of the heroes, Perseus, Andromeda, and Memnon. 
 Our kings, at various times, have adorned the royal apart- 
 ments with pictures of them and their exploits ; some 
 ornamented the porticoes and men's apartments : our 
 bed-chamber was painted with the story of Perseus and 
 Andromeda. There, in the tenth year after our marriage, 
 when as yet we had no child, I retired to repose n^self 
 during the scorching heat of noon; and here your father, 
 Hydaspes, visited me, being warned to do so by a dream. 
 
 * Tpapfjiaffiv A-iQioiriKoiQ ov drj^ioriKolg 'aXXa BaatXtfcoTg. "This 
 distinction," observes a reviewer, "between the royal and popular 
 system of hieroglyphics, as well as the etiquette of inscribing the title 
 of the king within a circle or oval, is borrowed from the monuments of 
 Egypt." 
 
88 THE ADVENT CTBES OP 
 
 In consequence of this visit I became pregnant. The whole 
 time of my pregnancy was a continual feast, a course of 
 sacrifices and thanksgivings to the gods, for the near pros- 
 pect, long wished for, of a successor to the kingdom.* But 
 when at last I brought you forth, a white infant, so different 
 from the Ethiopian hue, I was at no loss to explain the 
 cause, since, in the embraces of your father, f I had kept my 
 eyes fixed on the picture of Andromeda, whom the painter had 
 represented just unchained from the rock, and my imagina- 
 tion had communicated her complexion to my unhappy off- 
 spring. But this, though satisfactory to me, might not 
 have been so to any one else. I dreaded the being accused 
 of adultery, and the punishment which awaits that crime : 
 I committed you, therefore, to the wide world and to for- 
 tune. I thought this better even for you than death, or the 
 disgrace of being called a bastard, one of which fates must 
 have awaited you, had I preserved you at home. I told my 
 husband that my child was dead, and exposed you privately, 
 placing as many valuables with you as I could collect, by 
 way of reward for whoever should find and bring you up. 
 Among other ornaments I put this fillet upon you, stained 
 with my own blood and containing this melancholy account, 
 which I have traced out in the midst of tears and sorrows, 
 when I first brought you into the world, and was over- 
 whelmed with grief and consternation. And, oh my sweet, 
 yet soon lost daughter, if you should survive, remember the 
 noble race from which you spring ; honour and cultivate 
 virtue and modesty, the chief recommendations of a woman, 
 and ornaments of a queen. But, among the jewels which 
 are exposed with you, remember to inquire after, and claim 
 for yourself a ring which your father gave me when he 
 
 * Tasso, c. xii. 21-40, as is well known, has introduced the story of 
 Chariclea under the name of Clorinda : 
 
 " D'una pietosa istoria e di devote 
 Figure la sua stanza era dipinta, 
 Vergine bianca il bel volto, e le gote 
 Vermiglia, e quivi presso un drago avvinta. 
 
 Ingravida frattanto, ed espon fuori 
 (E tu fosti colei) Candida figlia." 
 
 t The effect of Jacob's rods will suggest itself to the recollection of 
 the reader. Gen. xxx. 3741. 
 
TH^AGENES AND CHARICLEA. 89 
 
 sought me in marriage. The circle of it is inscribed with 
 royal characters, and in its bezil* the stone Pantarbe, which 
 possesses occult and powerful virtue. I have given you this 
 account in writing, since cruel fortune denies me the hap- 
 piness of doing it in person; my pains may have been 
 taken to no purpose, but they may be of use to you ; the 
 designs of fate are inscrutable by mortals. These words 
 (oh vainly beautiful, and bringing, by your beauty, an impu- 
 tation on her who bore you), if you should be preserved, 
 may serve as a token to discover your race; if otherwise 
 (which may I never hear !) they will be the funeral lament 
 of an afflicted mother.' 
 
 "When I read this, Cnemon, I acknowledged and 
 wondered at the dispensations of the deities. I felt both 
 pleasure and pain by a new kind of sensation ; I rejoiced 
 and wept at the same time. I was glad to have discovered 
 what I was before ignorant of, together with the meaning of 
 the oracle: but I was apprehensive for the event of the 
 design I was engaged in ; and lamented the instability and 
 uncertainty, the changes and the chances of human life, of 
 which the fortunes of Chariclea afforded so remarkable an 
 instance. I recollected that, with her high birth, heiress of 
 the royal family of ^Ethiopia, she was now banished to a 
 vast distance from her native country, and reputed as 
 a bastard. I continued a considerable time in these con- 
 templations, deploring her present situation, and hardly 
 daring to natter myself with better hopes for the future. 
 At length I collected my scattered spirits, and determined 
 that something must be done, and that quickly. I went, 
 therefore, to Chariclea ; I found her alone, almost overcome 
 by what she suffered : her mind willing to bear up against 
 her malady ; but her body labouring, yielding, and unable 
 to resist its attacks. When I had sent out her attendants, 
 and given orders that no one should disturb us, on pretence 
 that I had some prayers and invocations to make use of 
 over her, I thus addressed her : 
 
 " 'It is now time, my dear Chariclea, to disclose to me (as 
 you promised yesterday) the cause of your sufferings. Hide 
 nothing, I beseech you, from a man who has the greatest 
 regard for you ; and whose art is besides able to discover 
 whatever you may obstinately endeavour to Conceal.' She 
 
90 THE ADVENTUEES OP 
 
 took my hand, kissed it and wept. ' Sage Calasiris, 7 said 
 she, ' permit me, I beg of you, to suffer in silence ; and do 
 you, as you have it in your power, discover of yourself the 
 cause of my disease. Spare me the ignominy of confessing 
 that which it is shameful to feel, and still more shameful to 
 avow. Whatever I undergo from my disorder, I suffer 
 more from the thought of my own weakness, in permitting 
 myself to be overcome by it, and not resisting it at the be- 
 ginning. It was always odious to me ; the very mention of 
 it contaminates the chaste ears of a virgin.' 
 
 " ' 1 acquiesce, my daughter,' I replied, ' in your silence. 
 I do not blame your reserve, and that for two reasons. In 
 the first place, I have no need to be told that which I have 
 before discovered by my art ; and then an unwillingness to 
 speak of a matter of this nature, becomes well the modesty 
 of your sex. But since you have at last felt love, and are 
 manifestly smitten by Theagenes (for this the gods have 
 disclosed to me), know that you are not the first, or the only 
 one, who has succumbed under this passion. It is common 
 to you with many celebrated women, and many maidens in 
 other respects most irreproachable ; for love is a very power- 
 ful deity, and is said to subdue even the gods* themselves. 
 Consider then what is best to be done in your present cir- 
 cumstances. If it be the greatest happiness to be free from 
 love, the next is, when one is taken captive, to regulate it 
 properly : this you have in your power to do ; you can repel 
 the imputation of mere sensual love, and sanctify it with the 
 honourable and sacred name of wedlock.' 
 
 " When I said this, Cnemon, she showed much agitation, 
 and great drops of sweat stood on her forehead. It was 
 plain that she rejoiced at what she heard, but was anxious 
 about the success of her hopes ; and ashamed and blushing 
 at the discovery of her weakness. After a considerable 
 pause she said, 
 
 " ' You talk of wedlock, and recommend that, as if it were 
 evident that my father would agree to it, or the author of 
 my sufferings desire it.' 'As to the young man, I have not 
 
 " His hands are tiny, but afar they throw, 
 E'en down to Dis and Acheron below. 
 ******** 
 
 Small is hip bow, his arrow small to sight, 
 But to Jove's court it wings its ready flight." 
 
 Chapman's Trs. of M :>schui 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 91 
 
 lie least doubt ; he is more deeply smitten than yourself, 
 and suffers full as much on your account as you can do on 
 his. For, as it seems, your souls at their first encountering 
 knew that they were worthy of each other, and felt a mutual 
 passion ; this passion, out of regard to you, I have heigh t- 
 ^aed by my art in Theagenes. But he whom you suppose 
 your father, proposes to give you another husband, Alca- 
 menes, whom you well know.' ' He shall sooner find Alca- 
 menes a grave, than find him a wife in me,' said she ; ' either 
 Theagenes shall be my husband, or I will yield to the fate 
 which presses upon me. But why do you hint that Cha- 
 ricles is not really my father ?' 
 
 " ' It is from this that I have my information/ I replied, 
 shewing her the fillet. 'Where did you get this ?' said 
 she, ' or how ? for since I was brought, I hardly know how, 
 from Egypt, Charicles has kept it safely locked up in a chest 
 lest any accident should happen to it.' ' How I got it,' I 
 returned, 'you shall hear another time ; at present tell me 
 if you know what is written on it.' She owned that she 
 was entirely ignorant of its contents. ' It discovers,' said I, 
 ' your family, your country, and your fortunes.' She be- 
 sought me to disclose the purport of it ; and I interpreted 
 the whole writing to her, word for word. When she came 
 to know who she was, her spirit seemed to rise, in conformity 
 - to her noble race. She asked me what was to be done at this 
 conjuncture. I then became more unreserved and explicit 
 in my advice to her. 
 
 " ' I have been, my daughter,' said I, ' in ./Ethiopia ; led 
 by the desire of making myself acquainted with their wis- 
 dom. I was known to your mother Persina, for the royal 
 palace was always open to the learned. I acquired some 
 reputation there, as I increased my own stock of Egyptian 
 knowledge by joining it to that of ^Ethiopia : and when I 
 was preparing to return home, the queen unbosomed herself 
 to me, and disclosed everything she knew relative to you, 
 and your birth, exacting from me first an oath of secrecy. 
 She said she was afraid to confide in any of the ^Ethiopian 
 sages ; and she earnestly besought me to consult the gods 
 as to whether you had been fortunately preserved ; and if 
 so, into what part of the world you were : for she could 
 hear no tidings of you in -^Ethiopia, after a most diligent 
 inquiry. The goodness of the gods discovered by their 
 
92 THE ADVENTUBES OF 
 
 oracles everything to me : and when I told her you were 
 still alive, and where you were, she was very earnest with 
 me to seek you out, and induce you to return to your native 
 land ; for she had continued sorrowful and childless ever 
 since you were exposed ; and was ready, if you should ap- 
 pear, to confess to her husband everything which had hap- 
 pened. And she was inclined to hope that he would now 
 acknowledge you ; having had so long experience of her 
 virtue and good conduct, and seeing an unexpected prospect 
 arise of a successor to his family. This she said, and be- 
 sought me earnestly by the Sun, an adjuration which no sage 
 dare violate, to do what she desired of me. I am now here, 
 desirous to execute what I have been so strongly conjured 
 to do : and though another cause brought me into this 
 country, I esteem the pains of my wandering well repaid ; 
 and give thanks to the gods that I have found you here, 
 whom I have long been desirous of meeting with. You 
 know with what care I have cultivated your friendship 
 that I concealed whatever I knew concerning you, till I 
 could obtain possession of this fillet, as a pledge of the truth 
 of my relation. You may now, if you will be persuaded, 
 leave this country with me, before you are obliged, by force, 
 to do anything against your inclinations ; for I know that 
 Charicles is taking every measure to bring about your mar- 
 riage with Alcamenes. You may return to your country, 
 revisit your family, and be restored to your parents accom- 
 panied by Theagenes, your intended husband ; and you may 
 change your life of exile and uncertainty for that of a 
 princess, who shall hereafter reign with him whom she most 
 loves, if we may place confidence in the predictions of the 
 gods. I then put her in mind of the oracle of Apollo, and 
 gave her my explanation of it. She had heard of it before, 
 for it was much talked of, and its meaning inquired into. 
 She paused at this : at last she said, ' Since such, you think, 
 is the will of the gods, and I am inclined to believe your 
 interpretation, what, Father, will be best for me to do ?' 
 ' You must pretend,' said I, ' that you are willing to marry 
 Alcamenes.' 'But this is odious to me,' she replied ; 'it is 
 disgraceful to give even a feigned promise to any but Thea- 
 genes : but since I have given myself up to your direction, 
 and that of the gods, how far will this dissimulation lead 
 me, so that I be not entangled in any disagreeable circum- 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHAETCLEA. 93 
 
 stances by it ?' ' The event will show you,' said I ; ' to 
 tell you beforehand might cause some hesitation upon your 
 part* whereas suddenness in action will bring with it confi- 
 ' dence and boldness. Only follow my advice : seem, for the 
 present, to agree to the marriage which Charicles has so 
 much at heart ; he will not proceed in it without my know- 
 ledge and direction.' She wept, yet promised to be guided 
 by me, and I took my leave of her. 
 
 " I had scarcely got out of the chamber when I met 
 Charicles, with a very downcast and sorrowful air. ' You 
 are a strange man,' said I : t when you ought to rejoice, 
 sacrifice, and give thanks to the gods, for having obtained 
 what you so long have wished for ; when Chariclea at last, 
 with great difficulty, and the utmost exertions of my art 
 and wisdom, has been brought to yield to love, and to desire 
 marriage ; you go about sad and drooping, and are ready to 
 shed tears. What can be the matter with you ?' ' I have 
 but too much reason for sorrow,' he replied/ when the de- 
 light of my eyes, before she can be married, as you say she 
 is inclined to be, is threatened to be hurried away froni me, 
 if any faith is to be given to dreams, which on several nights, 
 and particularly 'on the last, have tormented me. Me- 
 thought I saw an eagle take his flight from the hand of 
 Apollo, and stooping down suddenly upon me, snatch my 
 daughter, alas ! out of my very bosom, and bear her away to 
 some extreme corner of the earth, full of dusky and shadowy 
 forms. I could not discover what became of them ; for soon 
 the vast intermediate interval hid them from my sight.' 
 I instantly conjectured what this dream portended ; but I 
 endeavoured to comfort him, and to prevent his having the 
 smallest suspicion of the real truth. ' Considering that you 
 are a priest,' I said, and are dedicated to that deity who 
 is most famous for oracles, you seem to me not to have 
 much skill in the interpretation of dreams. This darkly 
 signifies the approaching marriage of your child, and the 
 eagle represents her intended spouse : and when Apollo 
 intimates this to you, and that it is from his hands that your 
 daughter is to receive a husband, you seem displeased, and 
 wrest the dream to an ominous interpretation. Wherefore, 
 my dear Charicles, let us be cautious what we say ; let us 
 accommodate ourselves to the will of the gods, and use our 
 utmost endeavours to persuade the maiden.' 
 
94l THE ADVENTURES OP 
 
 " * But how shall we manage,' he replied, ' to render her 
 more compliant ?' ' Have you,' said I, ' any valuables 
 laid up in store, garments, or gold, or necklace ? if you 
 have, produce them, give them to her as a marriage present, 
 and propitiate her by gifts. Precious stones and orna- 
 ments have a magic * influence upon a female mind. You 
 must proceed too, as fast as you can, in all your prepa- 
 rations for the nuptials; there must be no delay in hastening 
 them forward, while that inclination, forced upon her mind 
 by art, remains yet undiminished.' ' JVothing shall be want- 
 ing which depends upon me,' replied Charicles ; and imme- 
 diately he ran out, with alacrity and joy, to put his words in 
 execution. I soon found that he lost no time in doing what 
 I had suggested; and that he had offered to Chariclea 
 dresses of great price, and the ^Ethiopian necklace which 
 had been exposed with her as tokens by Persina, as if they 
 were marriage presents from Alcamenes. Soon after I met 
 Theagenes, and asked him what was become of all those who 
 had composed his train in the procession. He said the 
 maidens had already set forward on their journey, as they 
 travelled slowly ; and that the youths, impatient of delay, 
 were becoming clamorous, and pressing him to return home. 
 When I heard this, I instructed him what to say to them, 
 and what he should do himself; and bidding him observe 
 the signals that I should give him, both of time and oppor- 
 tunity, I left him. 
 
 " I bent my course towards the temple of Apollo, intend- 
 ing to implore him to instruct me, by some oracle, in what 
 manner I was to direct my flight with my young friends. 
 But the divinity was quicker than any thought of mine he 
 assists those who act in conformity to his will, and with 
 unasked benevolence anticipates their prayers ; as he here 
 anticipated my question by a voluntary oracle, and in a very 
 evident manner manifested his superintendence over us. 
 For as I was hastening, full of anxiety, to his shrine, a 
 sudden voice stopped ine ' Make what speed you can,' it 
 
 * "ivyja. Properly the bird called the " wryneck." It was sacred to 
 Venus, and much used in love incantations, especially to recall the 
 alienated affections of a beloved object. It was employed fastened to 
 a wheel, by turning which, the effect was supposed to be produced. 
 It also means the magical wheel itself. Hickie's Theocritus, see 
 Theoc. Idyll. 11. 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHABICLEA. 95 
 
 said ; ' the strangers call upon you.' A company of people 
 were at that time celebrating, to the sound of flutes, a fes- 
 tival in honour of Hercules. I obeyed, and turned towards 
 them, as soon as I heard this warning, careful not to neglect 
 the divine call. I joined the assembly, I threw incense on 
 the altar, and made my libations of water. They ironically 
 expressed their admiration at the cost and profusion of my 
 offerings, and invited me to partake of the feast with them. 
 I accepted the invitation, and having reclined on a couch 
 adorned with myrtle and laurel, and tasted something of 
 what was set before me, I said to them, " My friends, I 
 have partaken of a very pleasant entertainment with you, 
 but I "am ignorant whom I am among ; wherefore it is time 
 now for you to tell me who you are, and from whence : for 
 it is rude and unbecoming for those who have begun a kind 
 of friendship, by being partakers of the same table and 
 sacrifice, and of the same sacred salt, to separate without 
 knowing at least something of each other.' They readily 
 replied that they were Phoenician merchants from Tyre 
 that they were sailing to Carthage with a cargo of ^Ethio- 
 pian, Indian, and Phoenician merchandize that they were 
 at that instant celebrating a sacrifice to the Tyrian Her- 
 cules, on account of a victory which that young man 
 (showing one of their company) had gained at the Pythian 
 games; esteeming it a great honour that a Phoenician 
 should be declared a conqueror in Greece. This youth, 
 said they, after we had passed the Malian promontory, and 
 were driven by contrary winds to Cephallene, affirmed to 
 us, swearing by this our country's god, that it was revealed 
 to him in a dream that he should obtain a prize at the 
 Pythian games ; and persuaded us to turn out of our course, 
 and touch here. In effect, his presages have been fulfilled ; 
 and the head of a merchant is now encircled with a victor's 
 crown. He offers therefore this sacrifice to the god who 
 foretold his success, both as a thanksgiving for the vic- 
 tory, and to implore his protection in the voyage which 
 we are about to undertake ; for we propose to set sail early 
 to-morrow morning, if the winds favour our wishes.' 
 
 " * Is that really your intention ?' I said. ' It is indeed,' 
 they answered. *' You may then,' I replied, ' have me as 
 a com panion in your voyage, if you will permit it ; for 
 
96 THE ADVENTUBES OP 
 
 I have occasion to go into Sicily, and in your course to 
 Africa you must necessarily sail by that island/ ' You 
 shall be heartily welcome,' they replied ; * for nothing but 
 good can happen to us from the society of a sage, a Grecian, 
 and, as we conjecture, a favourite of the ^ods.' i I shall 
 be very happy to accept your offer,' I said, ' if you will 
 allow me one day for preparation.' ' Well,' said they, 
 ' we will give you to-morrow ; but do not fail in the 
 evening to be by the water-side ; for the night is favour- 
 able to our navigation ; gentle breezes at that season 
 blow from the land, and propel the ship quietly on her way.' 
 " I promised them to be there without fail at the time 
 appointed, and exacted an oath from them that they would 
 not sail before. And with this I left them, still employed in 
 their pipes and dances, which they performed to the brisk 
 notes of their music, something after the Assyrian fashion ; 
 now bounding lightly on high,* and now sinking to the 
 ground on bended knees, and again whirling themselves 
 round with rapidity, as if hurried on by the influence of the 
 divinity. I found Chariclea admiring as they lay in her 
 lap the presents which Charicles had made her ; from her I 
 went to Theagenes : I gave each of them instructions what 
 they were to do, and returned to my apartment, solicitous 
 and intent upon the prosecution of my design ; which I did 
 not long delay to put in execution. When it was midnight, 
 and all the city was buried in sleep, a band of armed youths 
 surrounded the habitation of Chariclea. Theagenes led on 
 this amatory assault : his troop consisted of those who com- 
 posed his train. With shouts, and clamour, and clashing 
 their shields, to terrify any who might be within hearing, 
 they broke into the house with lighted torches ;t the door, 
 
 * Mr. Hothouse's description of the dance of the Albanians affords 
 an illustration of the above. " They danced round the blaze to their 
 own songs with astonishing energy one of them which detained 
 them more than an hour, had for the burden * Robbers all at Parga ! 
 Robbers all at Parga !' and as they roared out this stave, they 
 whirled round the fire, dropped and rebounded from their knees, and 
 again whirled round as the chorus was again repeated." Notes to 
 Childe Harold, c. xi. 71. 
 
 t Hie, hie ponite lucida 
 
 Funalia, et vectes et arcus 
 
 Oppositis foribus minaces. Hor. Od. iii. xxvi. 6. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAKICLEA. 97 
 
 which had on purpose been left slightly fastened, easily 
 giving way to them. They seized and hurried away Cha- 
 riclea, who was apprized of their design, and easily sub- 
 mitted to the seeming violence. They took with her a 
 quantity of valuable stuff, which she indicated to them ; and 
 the moment they had left the house, they raised again their 
 warlike shouts, clashed their shields, and with an awful 
 noise marched through the city, to the unspeakable terror 
 of the affrighted inhabitants ; whose alarm was the greater, 
 as they had chosen a still night for their purpose, and Par- 
 nassus resounded to the clang of their brazen bucklers. In 
 this manner they passed through Delphi, frequently re- 
 peating to each other the name of Chariclea. As soon as 
 they were out of the city, they galloped as fast as they could 
 towards Mount (Eta. Here the lovers, as had been agreed 
 upon, withdrew themselves privately from the Thessalians, 
 and fled to me. They fell at my feet, embraced my knees in 
 great agitation, and called upon me to save them ; Cha- 
 riclea blushing, with downcast eyes, at the bold step she had 
 taken. ' ' Preserve and protect,' said Theagenes, ' strangers, 
 fugitives, and suppliants, who have given up everything that 
 they may gain each other ; slaves of chaste love ; playthings 
 of fortune ; voluntary exiles, yet not despairing, but placing 
 all their hopes of safety in you.' I was confused arid 
 affected with this address : tears would have been a relief to 
 me ; but I restrained myself, that I might not increase their 
 apprehensions. I raised and comforted them ; and bidding 
 them hope everything which was fortunate, from a design 
 undertaken under the direction of the gods, I told them I 
 must go and look after what yet remained to be done for 
 the execution of our project ; and desiring them to stay 
 where they were, and to take great care that they were not 
 seen by any body, I prepared to leave them ; but Chariclea 
 caught hold of my garment, and detained me. 
 
 " ' Father,' she cried, ' it will be treacherous and unjust 
 in you to leave me already, and alone, under the care of 
 Theagenes only. You do not consider how faithless a 
 guardian a lover is, when his mistress is in his power, and 
 no one present to impose respect upon him. He will with 
 difficulty restrain himself, when he sees the object of his 
 ardent desires defenceless before him ; wherefore I insist upon 
 
98 THE ADYEtfTURES Or 
 
 your not leaving me, till I have exacted an oath from Theage- 
 nes, that he will not attempt to obtain any favours which I am 
 not disposed to grant, till I arrive in my country, and am re- 
 stored to my family ; or, at least, if the gods should envy me 
 that happiness, till I am by my own consent become his wife.' 
 
 " ' I was surprised yet pleased with what she said, and 
 agreed entirely with her in her sentiments. I raised a 
 flame upon the hearth in place of an altar, threw on a few 
 grains of frankincense, and Theagenes took the oath, indig- 
 nant at its being required of him, and that such an obli- 
 gation should deprive him of showing voluntarily that 
 respect to Chariclea, which he was already determined to 
 show without any such compulsion. He should now, he 
 said, have no merit in it ; all the restraint he put upon him- 
 self would be imputed to the fear of perjury.* He swore, 
 however, by the Pythian Apollo, by Diana, by Venus her- 
 self, and the Loves, that he would conform himself in every 
 instance to the will of Chariclea. These and other solemn 
 vows having been mutually taken under the auspices of the 
 gods, I made what haste I could to Charicles. 
 
 " I found his house full of tumult and grief, his servants 
 having already informed him of the rape of his daughter ; 
 his friends flocking round him with useless consolation, and 
 equally useless advice ; himself in tears, and totally at a 
 loss what to do. I called out with a loud voice, ' Knaves 
 that you are, how long will you stand here stupid and unde- 
 termined, as if your misfortunes had taken away your 
 senses ? Why do you not arm instantly, pursue and take 
 the ravishers, and revenge the injuries you have received : J 
 ' It will be to no purpose/ replied Charicles, in a languid 
 tone ; c I see that all this is come upon me by the wrath of 
 heaven ; the gods foretold to me that I should be deprived 
 of what I held most dear, since the time that I entered 
 unseasonably into the temple, and saw what it was not 
 
 * " I swear to thee, by Cupid's strongest bow, 
 By his best arrow with the golden head, 
 By the simplicity of Venus' doves, 
 By that which knitteth souls and prospers loves, 
 By all the vows that ever men have broke, 
 In number more than ever woman spoke." 
 
 Midsummer Night's Dream. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 99 
 
 lawful for me to behold.* Yet there is no reason why we 
 should not contend, in this instance, even against a cala- 
 mity, though sent by the deities, if we knew whom we have 
 to pursue, and who have brought this misfortune upon us.' 
 * We do know them,' said I ; ' it is Theagenes, whom you 
 made so much of and introduced to me, and his compa- 
 nions. Perhaps you may find some of them still about the 
 city, who may have loitered here this evening. Arise, 
 therefore, and call the people to council.' 
 
 " What I desired was done : the magistrates sent the 
 herald about, to convoke an assembly by the sound of 
 trumpet. The people presently came together, and a 
 night meeting was held in the theatre. Charicles drew 
 tears of compassion from all, when he appeared in the midst 
 in mourning garments, with dust upon his face and head, 
 and thus began : / 
 
 " * Delphians, you may perhaps imagine that I have called 
 together this meeting, and am now addressing it solely on 
 account of my own great calamities; but that is not entirely 
 the case. I suffer indeed what is worse than death. I am 
 left deserted, afflicted by the gods, my house desolate, and 
 deprived of that sweet conversation which I preferred to all 
 the pleasures in the world ; yet hope, and the self-conceit 
 common to us, still sustains me, and promises me that I 
 shall again recover my daughter. But I am moved with 
 indignation at the affront which has been offered to the 
 city, which I hope to see punished even before my own 
 wrongs are redressed, unless the Thessalian striplings have 
 taken away from us our free spirit, and just regard for our 
 country and its gods ; for what can be more shameful than 
 that a few youths, dancers forsooth, and followers of an 
 embassy, should trample under their feet the laws and 
 authority of the first city in Greece, and should ravish from 
 the temple of Apollo its chiefest ornament, Chariclea, alas ! 
 
 * Charicles does not farther explain the nature of his offence ; but 
 the ancients thought that even an accidental, involuntary intrusion 
 into any ceremonies or mysteries at which it was not lawful for the 
 intruder to be present, was always followed by some punishment. 
 Quartilla in Petronius says, " Neque enim quisquam impune quod noa 
 licuit aspexit." 
 
 " Inscia quod crimeu viderunt lumina, plector, 
 Peccatumque oculos est habuisse, nieuru ! " Ovid. 
 
 1L 2 
 
100 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 the delight of my eyes; How obstinate and implacable 
 towards me has been the anger of the gods ! The life of my 
 own daughter, as you know, was extinguished with the light 
 of her nuptial torches. Grief for her death brought her 
 mother soon to the grave, and drove me from my country ; 
 but, when I found Chariclea, I felt myself consoled ; she 
 became my life, the hope of succession in my family, my 
 sheet anchor, I may say, my only comfort. Of all these 
 this sudden storm has bereft me, and that at the most 
 unlucky time possible, as if I were to be the scorn and 
 sport of fate, just when preparations were making for her 
 marriage, and you were all informed of it.' 
 
 " While he was speaking, and indulging himself in lamen- 
 tations, the chief magistrate Hegesias interrupted and stop- 
 ped him. ' Let Charicles, fellow-citizens,' said he, 'lament 
 hereafter at his leisure ; but let not us be so hurried away, 
 and affected by concern for his misfortunes, as to neglect 
 opportunity, which in all things is of great moment, and 
 particularly in military affairs.* There is some hope that 
 we may overtake the ravishers if we follow them instantly, 
 for the delay which must take place on our part will 
 naturally make them less speedy in their march : but if we 
 spend our time in womanish bewailings,and by our delays give 
 them an opportunity to escape, what remains but that we 
 shall become a common laughing-stock, the laughing-stock 
 of youths, whom the moment we have taken we should nail 
 to so many crosses, and render their names, and even their 
 families, infamous ? This we may easily effect, if we en- 
 deavour to rouse the indignation of their countrymen against 
 them, and interdict their descendants, and as many of them- 
 selves as may happen to escape, from ever being present at 
 this annual ceremonial and sacrifice to the Manes of their 
 hero ; the expense of which we defray out of our public 
 treasury.' The people approved what he advised, and rati- 
 fied it by their decree. ' Enact, also,' said he, < if you 
 please, that the priestess shall never in future appear to 
 the armed runners ; for, as I conjecture, it was the sight 
 of her at that time which inflamed Theagenes, and excited 
 
 * See the fine Chorus in the (Edipns Coloneus, the subject being 
 the pursuit after the daughters of (Edipu% tarried off by Creon, 
 10451100. 
 
THEAGE^'ES ANB, CHAaiCLITAv. 101 
 
 in him the impious design of carrying her off ; it is desirable, 
 therefore, to guard against anything which may give occa- 
 sion to uch an attempt for the time to come.' 
 
 " When this also was unanimously agreed to, Hegesias 
 gave the signal to march, the trumpet sounded, the theatie 
 was abandoned for war, and there was a general rush from 
 the assembly for the fight. Not only the robust and 
 mature followed him, but children and youths likewise, 
 supplying with their zeal the place of age; women, also, 
 with a spirit superior to their strength, snatching what 
 arms they could meet with, tried in vain to keep up 
 with them, and, by the fruitless attempt, were obliged 
 to confess the weakness of their sex. You might see old 
 men struggling with their age, their mind dragging on 
 their body, an indignant at their physical weakness, 
 because of the vigour of their minds. The whole city, in 
 short, felt so deeply the loss of Chariclea, that, without 
 waiting for day, and moved by a common impulse, it 
 poured forth in pursuit of her ravishers." 
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 " How the city of Delphos succeeded in their pursuit, I 
 had no opportunity of learning ; their being thus engaged, 
 however, gave me an excellent opportunity for the flight 
 which I meditated. Taking, therefore, my young com- 
 panions, I led them down to the sea, and put them aboard 
 the Phoenician vessel, which was just ready to set sail, for 
 day now beginning to break, the merchants thought they 
 had kept the promise they had made, of waiting for me a 
 day and a night. Seeing us however appear, they received 
 us with great joy, and immediately proceeded out of the 
 harbour, at first using their oars, then a moderate breeze 
 rising from the land, and a gentle swell of the sea* caressing 
 
 * olov Trpoo-eyfXer rij Trpvfivrj. 
 " There, mildly dimpling, ocean's cheek 
 Keflects the tints of many a peak 
 Caught by the laughing tides that lave 
 These Edens of the eastern wave." Byron. 
 
 " ....... TTOVTIWV Tf. KVfJ.O.7U)V 
 
 avrjpiOfjLov ytXaff/jLa." JEsch. P.V. 90. 
 " ....... of ocean's waves 
 
 The multitudinous smile." 
 
102 T*?, AJ)YENTURES OF 
 
 as it were the stern of our ship, they hoisted sail, and com- 
 mitted the vessel to the wind. 
 
 " We passed with rapidity the Cirrhsean gulf, the pro- 
 montory of Parnassus, the ^Etolian and Calydonian rocks, 
 and the Oxian isles, sharp* both in name and figure, and 
 the sea of Zacynthus began to appear as the sun sank 
 towards the west. But why am I thus tedious? Why 
 do I forget you and myself, and, by extending my narration, 
 embark you upon a boundless ocean. Let us stop here 
 a while, and both of us take a little rest ; for though I 
 know you are a very patient hearer, and strive excellently 
 against sleep, yet I have prosecuted the account of my 
 troubles to so unseasonable an hour, that I think you at 
 last begin to give in. My age, too, and the remembrance of 
 my sufferings, weigh down my spirits, and require repose.' 
 
 " Stop then, Father," replied Cnemon, " not on my 
 account, for I could attend untired to your story many 
 days and nights ; it is to me as the syren's strains ; but I 
 have for some time heard a tumult and noise in the house ; 
 I was rather alarmed at it, but my great desire to hear the 
 remainder of your discourse prevented me from interrupting 
 you." 
 
 " I was not sensible of it," said Calasiris, " owing, I 
 suppose, partly to the dulness of my hearing, the common 
 malady of age, and partly to my being intent on what I 
 was saying. But I fancy the stir you hear is occasioned 
 by the return of Nausieles, the master of the house ; I am 
 impatient to know how he has succeeded. * In every thing 
 as I could wish, my dear Calasiris,' said Nausicles, who 
 entered at that moment. i I know how solicitous you were 
 for my success, and how your best wishes accompanied me. 
 I have many proofs of your good will towards me, and 
 among others the words which I have just heard you 
 uttering. But who is this stranger?' 'A Greek,' said 
 Calasiris ; ' what farther regards him you shall hear another 
 time ; but pray relate to us your success, that we may be 
 partakers in your joy.' ' You shall hear all in the morning,' 
 replied Nausicles : ' at present let it suffice you to know, 
 that I have obtained a fairer Thisbe than ever ; for myself, 
 wearied with cares and fatigues, I must now take a little 
 repose.' Having said this, he retired to rest. 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHAKICLEA. 103 
 
 Cnemon was struck at hearing the name of Thisbe; 
 racking his mind with anxiety, he passed a sleepless night, 
 nor could he at intervals restrain his sighs and groans, 
 which at last awakened Calasiris, who lay near, from a 
 sound sleep. The old man, raising himself upon his elbow, 
 asked him what was the matter with him, and why he 
 vented his complaints in that almost frantic manner. " Is 
 it not enough to drive me mad," replied Cnemon, " when I 
 hear that Thisbe is alive?" " And who is this Thisbe?" 
 said Calasiris, "and how came you acquainted with her? 
 and why are you disturbed at supposing her to be alive ?" 
 " You shall hear at large," returned the other, " when I 
 relate to you my story ; at present I will only tell you that 
 I saw her dead with these eyes, and buried her with my own 
 hands among the buccaneers." " Take some rest now," 
 said the old man; " this mystery will soon be cleared up." 
 "I cannot sleep," he said; "do you repose yourself if 
 you will ; I shall die if I do not find out, and that imme- 
 diately, under what mistake Nausicles is labouring; or 
 whether among the Egyptians alone the dead come to life 
 again." Calasiris smiled at his impatience, and betook 
 himself again to sleep. 
 
 But Cnemon arose, and, going out of his chamber, en- 
 countered all those difficulties which it was probable u 
 stranger would meet with, who wanders at night, and in 
 the dark, in an unknown house ; but he struggled with 
 them all, such was his horror of Thisbe, and his anxiety 
 to clear away the apprehensions which were raised in bis 
 mind by what fell from Nausicles. After passing and 
 repassing many times, without knowing it, the same pas- 
 sages, at last he heard the soft voice of a woman lamenting, 
 like a vernal nightingale pouring out her melancholy notes 
 at eventide.* Led by the sound, he advanced towards the 
 apartment ; and putting his ear to the division of the fold- 
 ing doors, he listened, and heard her thus lamenting :- 
 
 * " Quails populea moerens Philomela sub umbra 
 Amissos queritur foetus ; quos durus arator 
 Observans nido implumes detraxit ; at ilia 
 Flet noctem, ramoque sedens miserabile carmen 
 Integrat, et mcestus late loca questibus implet." 
 
 Virg. G. iv. 511. 
 
104 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 " What an unhappy fate is mine ! I thought I had 
 escaped from the hands of the robbers, and avoided a cruel 
 death. I nattered myself that I should pass the remainder 
 of my life with my beloved; wandering indeed, and in 
 foreign lands, but with him it would have been sweet ; and 
 every difficulty would have been supportable. But my 
 evil genius is not yet satisfied ; he gave me a glance of 
 hope, and has plunged me afresh in despair. I hoped I 
 had escaped servitude, and am again a slave ; a prison, and 
 am still confined. I was kept in an island, and surrounded 
 with darkness; my situation is not now very different, 
 indeed, perhaps rather worse, for he who was able and 
 willing to console me is separated from me. The Pirates' 
 cave which I yesterday inhabited, seemed indeed an avenue 
 to the shades below ; more like a charnel house than a 
 dwelling; but his presence in whom I delighted made it 
 pleasant; for he lamented my fate living, and shed tears 
 over me when he thought me dead. Now I am deprived of 
 every comfort ; he who partook of and lessened the burden 
 of my misfortunes is ravished from me ; and I, deserted 
 and a captive, am exposed alone to the assaults of cruel 
 fortune ; and endure to live only because 1 have a glim- 
 mering of hope that my beloved still survives. But where, 
 O delight of my soul,* are you ? "What fate has awaited 
 you ? Are you also forced to be a slave you, whose spirit 
 is so free, and impatient of all slavery except that of love ? 
 Oh, may your life be safe, at least ; and may you, though 
 late, see again your Thisbe ! for so, however unwilling, you 
 must call me." 
 
 When Cnemon heard this, he could no longer restrain 
 himself, or have patience to listen to what was to follow ; 
 but guessing from what he had already heard, and particu- 
 larly from what was last uttered, that the complainer could 
 be no other than Thisbe, he was ready to fall into a swoon 
 at the very doors ; he composed himself, however, as well as 
 he was able, and fearing lest he should be discovered by any 
 one (for morning now approached, and the cock had twice 
 crowed), he hurried back with a tottering pace. 
 
 Now his foot stumbled; now he fell against the wall, 
 and now against the lintels of the door ; sometimes he struck 
 his head against utensils hanging from the ceiling; at 
 
TilEAGESES AXD CHABICLEA. 105 
 
 last, with much difficulty, and after many wanderings, he 
 reached his own apartment, and threw himself upon the 
 bed. His body trembled, and his teeth chattered, and it 
 might have become a very serious matter had not Calasiris, 
 alarmed at the disorder in which he returned, come to his 
 assistance, and soothed and comforted him. When he 
 came a little to himself, he inquired into the cause of it. 
 
 " I am undone,'' exclaimed Cnemon ; " that wretch Thisbe 
 is really alive ; " and having said this, he sank down again 
 and fainted away. 
 
 Calasiris having with much ado recovered him, attempted 
 to cheer his mind. 8ome envious demon, who makes human 
 affairs his sport, was no doubt practising his illusions 
 upon Cnemon, not suffering him to enjoy his good fortune 
 unalloyed with trouble ; but making that which was after- 
 wards to be the cause of his greatest pleasure wear at first 
 the appearance of calamity : either because such is the 
 perverse disposition of those beings, or because human 
 nature cannot admit pure and unmixed joy. Cnemon, at 
 this very time, was flying from her whom he above all 
 things desired to meet, and frightened at that which would 
 havebeen to him the most pleasing of sights ; for the lady 
 who was thus lamenting was not Thisbe but Chariclea. 
 The train of accidents which brought her into the house of 
 Nausicles was as follows : 
 
 After Thyamis was taken prisoner, the island set on fire, 
 and its pirate inhabitants expelled, Thermuthis, his lieute- 
 nant, and Cnemon crossed over the lake in the morning to 
 make inquiries after Thyamis. What happened on their 
 expedition, has been before related. Theagenes and Cha- 
 riclea were left alone in the cave, a*nd esteemed what was 
 to prove only an excess of calamity, a great present blessing ; 
 since now for the first time, being left alone, and freed 
 from every intruding eye, they indulged themselves in 
 unrestrained embraces and endearments ; and forgetting all 
 the world, and clinging together as though forming but 
 one body, they enjoyed the first fruits of pure and virgin 
 love ; warm tears were mingled with their chaste kisses ; 
 chaste I say, for if at any time human nature was about to 
 prevail on Theagenes he was checked by Chariclea, and put 
 in mind of his oath ; nor was it difficult to bring him back 
 within due bounds, for though not proof against pure love, 
 
106 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 he was superior to mere sensual desire. But when at 
 length they called to mind that this was a time for con- 
 sultation they ceased their dalliance, arid Theagenes began 
 as follows: 
 
 " That we may spend our lives together, my dearest Chari- 
 clea, and obtain at last that union which we prefer to every 
 earthly blessing, and for the sake of which we have under- 
 gone so much, is my fervent grayer, and may the gods of 
 Greece grant it ! But since every thing human is fluc- 
 tuating, and subject to change, since we have suffered 
 much, and have yet much to hope, as we have appointed to 
 meet Cnemon at Chemmis, and are uncertain what fortunes 
 may await us there, and, in fine, as the country to which all 
 our wishes tend is at a great distance, let us agree upon 
 some token by which we may secretly hold communication 
 when present ; and, if at any time separated, may trace out 
 each other in absence ; for a token between friends is an 
 excellent companion in a wanderer's journey, and may often 
 be the means of again bringing them together." 
 
 Chariclea was pleased with the proposal; and they agreed, 
 if they were divided, to write upon any temple, noted 
 statue, bust of Mercury,* or boundary-stone, Theagenee the 
 word Pythicus, and Chariclea Pythias ; whether they were 
 gone to the right or the left ; to what city, town, or people ; 
 and the day and hour of their writing. If they met in any 
 circumstances, or under any disguise, they depended upon 
 their mutual affection to discover one another, which they 
 were certain no time could efface, or even lessen. Chariclea, 
 however, showed him the ring which had been exposed with 
 her, and Theagenes exhibited a scar made upon his knee by 
 a wild boar. They agreed on a watch-word: she, lampas 
 (a lamp), he, plioinix (a palm-tree). Having made these 
 arrangements, they again embraced each other, and again 
 wept, pouring out their tears as libations, and using kisses 
 as oaths. 
 
 At last they went out of the cave, touching none of the 
 treasures it contained, thinking riches obtained by plunder 
 an abomination. They selected, however, some of the 
 richest jewels which they themselves had brought from 
 Delphi, and which the pirates had taken from them, and 
 
 * 'Epfial four-cornered stone pillars ending with a bust of Mercury, 
 and set up in public places. 
 
THEAGENES AFD CHARICLEA. 107 
 
 prepared for their journey. Cbariclea changed her dress, 
 packing up in a bundle her necklace, her crown, and sacred 
 garments ; and, the better to conceal them, put over them 
 things of less value. She gave the bow and quiver (the 
 emblems of the god under whom he served) to Theagenes 
 to bear : to him a pleasant burden. 
 
 They now approached the lake, and were preparing to get 
 into a boat, when they saw a company of armed men passing 
 over toward the island. Eendered dizzy by the sight, they 
 stood for some time astounded, as if deprived of all feeling 
 by the continued assaults of unwearied evil fortune. At 
 last, however, and just as the men were landing, Chariclea 
 proposed to retire again into the cave, and endeavour to 
 conceal themselves there ; and was running towards it, when 
 Theagenes stopped her, and exclaimed, u Why should we 
 vainly endeavour to fly from that fate which pursues us 
 every where ? Let us yield to our fortune, and meet it 
 with fortitude : what besides should we gain but unending 
 troubles, a wandering life, and still renewed assaults of the 
 evil genius who mocks and persecutes us ? Have you not 
 experienced how he has added, with savage eagerness, the 
 assaults of pirates to exile, and worse perils by land to those 
 we suffered by sea ; how he terrified us first with fightings, 
 afterwards threw us into the hands of buccaneers, detained 
 us some time in captivity, then left us solitary and deserted, 
 just gave us a prospect of flight and freedom, and now 
 sends ruffians to destroy us ; plays off his warfare against 
 us and our fortunes, and gives them the appearance of a 
 continually shifting scene, and sadly varied drama? Let 
 us put an end then to the tragedy, and give ourselves up to 
 those who are prepared for our destruction, lest the con- 
 tinued pressure and increase of our misfortunes oblige us, 
 at last, to lay violent hands upon ourselves." 
 
 Chariclea did not entirely agree with all which her lover 
 in his passion said. She admitted the justice of his expos- 
 tulations with fortune, but could not see the propriety of 
 giving themselves up into the hands of the armed men. It 
 was not certain that they meant to destroy them ; the evil 
 genius who pursued them would not, perhaps, be kind enough 
 to put so quick an end to their miseries ; he probably reserved 
 them to experience the hardships of servitude ; and was it 
 
108 THE ADVENTTJKES OF 
 
 not worse than death to be exposed to the insults and 
 indignities of the barbarians? "Let us endeavour, there- 
 fore," said she, u by all means in our power to avoid this fate. 
 We may, from past experience, have some hopes of success : 
 we have frequently, already, escaped from dangers which 
 appeared inevitable." 
 
 " Let us do as you please," said Theagenes ; and followed 
 her, unwillingly, as she led the way. They could not, how- 
 ever, escape in safety to the cave; for while they were 
 looking only at the enemy in front, they were not aware of 
 another troop which had landed on a different part of the 
 island, and which was taking them from behind, as in a 
 net.* They were now utterly confounded, and stood still, 
 Chariclea keeping close by Theagenes, so that if they were 
 to die they might die together. Some of the men who 
 approached were just preparing to strike ; but when the 
 youthful pair, looking up, flashed upon them the full splen- 
 dour of their beauty, their hearts failed them, and their hands 
 grew slack ; for the arm even of a barbarian reverences the 
 beautiful, and the fiercest eye grows milder before a lovely 
 countenance. They took them prisoners, therefore, and 
 conducted them to their leader, anxious to lay before him 
 the first and fairest of the spoils. It was the only booty, 
 however, which they were likely to obtain, for they could 
 find nothing else, after the strictest search throughout the 
 island. Everything on the surface of it had been destroyed 
 by the late conflagration. They were ignorant of the cave 
 and its contents. They proceeded then towards their com- 
 mander: he was Mithranes, commandant to Oroondates, 
 viceroy of Egypt, under the Great King, whom Nausicles 
 (as has been said) had induced, by a great sum of money, 
 to make this expedition into the island in search of Thisbe. 
 Upon the approach of Theagenes and Chariclea, Nausicles, 
 with the quick-sighted craft of a merchant, started forward, 
 and running up, exclaimed, " This is indeed Thisbe, the 
 very Thisbe ravished from me by those villain pirates, 
 but restored by your kindness, Mithranes, and by the 
 gods." He then caught hold of Chariclea, and seemed in 
 
 * t\aQov ffayrjvtvQsvTtg. For an account of the Persian mode of 
 clearing a conquered country by joining hands and so sweeping the 
 whole face of it, see Herod, vi. 31. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 109 
 
 an ecstacy of joy ; at the same time he spoke to her pri- 
 vately in Greek, in a low voice, and bid her, if she valued 
 her life, pretend that her name was Thisbe. 
 
 This scheme succeeded. Chariclea, pleased at hearing 
 her native language, and flattering herself with the hopes 
 of comfort and assistance from the man who spoke it, did 
 as he bid her ; and when Mithranes asked her her name, 
 said it was Thisbe. Nausicles then ran up to Mithranes, 
 kissed his head, flattered the barbarian's vanity, extolled 
 his good fortune, and congratulated him that, besides his many 
 other exploits, this expedition had ^ad such good success. 
 He, cajoled by these praises, and really believing the truth 
 of what was said (being deceived by the name), thom^ 
 smitten with the beauty of the maiden, which shone out 
 under a sorry garb, like the moon* from beneath a cloud ; 
 yet, confounded by the quickness of Nausicles's manoeuvres, 
 and having no time given to his fickle mind for change of pur* 
 pose, said, " Take, then, this maiden, whom my arms have 
 recovered for you;" and so saying, he delivered her into his 
 hands, unwillingly and frequently looking back upon her, as 
 if he would not have parted with her had he not thought 
 himself pledged, by the reward he had received, to give her 
 up. "But as for her companion," he added, pointing to 
 Theagenes, " he shall be my prize. Let him follow me 
 under a guard ; he shall be sent to Babylon : with such a 
 figure as his, he will become the service of the great king." 
 And having thus signified his pleasure, they passed over 
 the lake, and were separated from each other. Nausicles 
 took the road to Chemmis, with Chariclea; Mithranes visited 
 some other towns which were under his command, and very 
 soon sent Theagenes to Oroondates, who was then at Mem- 
 phis, accompanied with the following letter : 
 
 " Mithranes, Commandant, to the Viceroy Oroondates. 
 
 " I have taken prisoner a Grecian youth of too noble an 
 appearance to continue in my service, and worthy to appear 
 before, and serve only, the Great King. I send him to you, 
 that you may offer him to our common master, as a great 
 and inestimable present, such a one as the royal court haa 
 never yet beheld, and probably never will again." 
 
 *".... Simul ac vaga lun a decorum 
 Protulit OB." Hor. 1 S. viii. 21. 
 
110 THE ADYENTUKES OF 
 
 Scarcely had the day dawned when eager curiosity carried 
 Calasiris and Cnemon to the apartment of Nausicles, to 
 inquire farther into his adventures. He told them all that 
 I have related : how he arrived at the island ; how he found 
 it deserted ; the deceit he had put upon Mithranes, in 
 passing off another maiden upon him for Thisbe; he was 
 better pleased, he said, with his present prize than if he had 
 really found Thisbe ; there was no more comparison between 
 their several beauties than between a mortal and a goddess ; 
 hers was unrivalled, it was impossible for him to express 
 how beautiful she was ; but, as she was under his roof, they 
 might satisfy themselves with their own eyes. When they 
 heard this, they began to suspect a little of the truth, and 
 besought him to send for her immediately, as knowing that 
 words could not do justice to her personal appearance. 
 
 When she was introduced (with downcast e,yes, and her 
 face veiled to her forehead), and Nausicles had besought her 
 to be of good cheer, she looked up a little, and saw (beyond 
 her hopes), and was seen by, her unexpected friends. 
 Immediately a sudden cry was heard from all. These 
 exclamations burst out at once, "My father!" "My 
 daughter! Chariclea herself! and not Cnemon's Thisbe." 
 Nau sides stood mute with astonishment when he saw Cala- 
 siris embracing Chariclea, and weeping for joy. He won- 
 dered what this could be which had the air of a recognition 
 on the stage, when Calasiris ran to him, and embracing 
 him, cried out, " O best of men, may the gods shower 011 
 you every blessing you desire, as you have been the pre- 
 server of my daughter, and have restored to my longing 
 eyes the delight of my life. But, my child, my Chariclea ! 
 where have you left Theagenes?" She wept at the ques- 
 tion, and, pausing a little, said, " He who delivered me to 
 this gentleman, whoever he may be, has led him away cap- 
 tive." Calasiris besought Nausicles to discover to him all 
 he knew about Theagenes ; under whose power he now was ; 
 and whither they had taken him. 
 
 The merchant gave him all the information he was able, 
 conceiving this to be the pair about whom he had frequently 
 heard the old man speak, and whom he knew he was seeking 
 in sorrow. He added, that he feared his intelligence would 
 not be of much service to persons in their humble circum- 
 stances ; he doubted, indeed, whether any sum of money 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHAEICLEA. Ill 
 
 would induce Mithrancs to part with the youth. " We are 
 rich enough," said Chariclea softly to Calasiris ; " promise 
 him as much as you please ; I have preserved the necklace 
 which you know of, and have it with me." Calasiris reco- 
 vered his spirits at hearing this ; but not choosing to ]et 
 Nausicles into the secret of their wealth, replied, " My good 
 Nausicles, the wise man is never poor ; he measures his de- 
 sires by his possessions, and receives from those who abound 
 what it is honourable for him to ask. Tell us then where 
 the person is who has Theagenes in his power ; the divine 
 goodness will not be wanting to us, but will supply us with 
 as much as is sufficient to satisfy the avarice of this Persian." 
 
 Nausicles smiled incredulously. " I shall," said he, 
 " be persuaded that you can suddenly grow rich, as by a 
 miracle, when you have first paid down to me a ransom for 
 this maiden ; you know that riches have as many charms for 
 a merchant as for a Persian." " I know it," replied the 
 old man, "and you shall have a ransom. But why do you 
 not anticipate my wishes, and, with your customary bene- 
 volence, offer, of your own accord, to restore my daughter ? 
 Must I be forced to entreat it of you ?" " You shall have 
 her on proper terms," said the merchant. " I do not grudge 
 you her ; but now (as I am going to sacrifice) let us join in 
 supplication to the gods, and pray that they would increase 
 my wealth, and bestow some on you." " Spare your ridi- 
 cule," replied Calasiris, "and be not incredulous; make 
 preparations for the sacrifice, and we will attend you when 
 everything is ready." 
 
 ^Nausicles agreed to this, and soon after sent a message 
 to his guests to desire their presence. They obeyed cheer- 
 fully, having before concerted what they were to do. The 
 men accompanied JSTausicles to the altar, with many others 
 who were invited, for it was a public sacrifice. Chariclea 
 went with the merchant's daughter and some other females, 
 whose encouragements and entreaties had prevailed upon 
 her to be present at the ceremony ; and they would hardly 
 have persuaded her had she not secretly pleased herself 
 with the thought of taking this opportunity to pour out her 
 vows and prayers for Theagenes. 
 
 They came to the temple of Mercury (for him, as the god 
 of gain and merchants, Nausicles particularly worshipped) ; 
 and when the sacred rites were performed, Calasiris inspect- 
 
112 THE ADVENTUEES OK 
 
 ing the entrails of the victim, and changing his countenance 
 according as they portended joyful or adverse events, at last 
 stretched out his hand, (murmuring certain words) and pre- 
 tending to take something from among the ashes, presented 
 a ring of great value to Nausicles, which he had brought 
 with him for that purpose : " And here," said be, " the gods, 
 by my hands, offer you this as a ransom for Chariclea." 
 
 The ring* was a perfect marvel, both for material and 
 workmanship. The circle was of electrum, within the bezilf 
 was an ^Ethiopian amethyst, of the size of a maiden's eye, 
 finer much than those of Spain or Britain ; for these latter 
 have a dullish tinge of purple, like a rose just bursting from 
 its bud, and beginning to redden under the sun's beam's ; 
 whereas the ^Ethiopian amethyst shines with a deeper and 
 more sparkling lustre ; if you turn it about it scatters 
 its rays on all sides, not dulling but lighting up the sight. 
 
 " They are besides of much greater virtue than the 
 western ones ; they do not belie their name,J but will really 
 keep those who wear them sober amid great excesses. This 
 property is common to all the Indian and Ethiopian stones: 
 but that which Calasiris now gave Nausicles far surpassed 
 them. It was carved with wonderful art, and represented a 
 shepherd tending his sheep. He sat upon a rock, gently 
 elevated from the ground, surveying his flock, and distribut- 
 ing them into different pastures by the various notes of his 
 pipe ; they seemed to obey, and to feed as the sound 
 directed them. You would say that they had golden fleeces, 
 the natural blush of the amethyst, without the aid of art, 
 casting a glow upon their backs. Here you might observe 
 the frolics of the little lambs ; some climbing up the ascent, 
 others gambolling around the shepherd, converted the rock 
 into a pastoral theatre. Some wantoning in the flame 
 
 * " A precious ring that lightens all the hole; 
 Which like a taper in some monument 
 Doth shine upon the dead man's earthy cheeks 
 And shows the ragged entrails of this pit." 
 
 Titus Andronicus. 
 
 'Aju60ur77-o is compounded of the private particle a, and piOv, 
 wine, or /i0vu>, to be drunk. 
 
 In Longus, B. iv., there is a curious description of the effect pro- 
 duced upon Daphnis's goats, by the different notes which he plays 
 upon his pipe. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 113 
 
 of the gem as in the sun, just touched in bounding the 
 rocky surface ; others, older and more bold, seemed as if 
 they would overleap the circle ; but here art had hindered 
 them, and surrounded the jewel in the rock with the golden 
 bezil. The rock was not counterfeit, but real ; the artist, 
 to represent it, had inclosed the edges of the stone, and was 
 not put to the trouble of feigning what in reality existed. 
 Such then was the ring. 
 
 Nausicles was struck at the seeming miracle, and de- 
 lighted with the beauty of the gem, which he esteemed to 
 be of more value than all he was worth. " I was but 
 jesting," said he, "my dear Calasiris, when I talked of a 
 ransom for your daughter ; my design was to restore her to 
 you freely ; and without price ; but since, as they say, the 
 gifts of the gods are not to be refused, I accept this jewel 
 which is sent from heaven ; persuaded that it is a present 
 from Mercury, the best of deities, who has furnished you 
 with it through the fire, and indeed you see how it sparkles 
 itself with flames : besides, I think that the pleasantest and 
 most lawful gain is that which, without impoverishing the 
 giver, enriches the receiver," 
 
 Having said this, he took the ring, and proceeded with 
 the rest of the company to an entertainment; the wo.nen 
 by themselves, in the interior of the temple ; the men in the 
 vestibule. When they had satisfied their appetite, and the 
 board was crowned with cups, they sang a suitable * 
 hymn to Bacchus, and poured out libations to him ; the 
 women sang an hymn of thanksgiving to Ceres. Chariclea, 
 retiring from the rest, occupied with her own thoughts, 
 prayed for the health and safe return of Theagenes. 
 
 And now, the company being warmed with wine, and rife 
 with mirth, Nausicles, holding out a goblet of pure water, 
 said, " Grood Calasiris. let us offer this to the nymphs, the 
 sober nymphs your deities, who have no sympathy with 
 Bacchus, and are nymphs in very deed; but if you will 
 entertain us with such a relation as we wish to hear, it will 
 be more pleasant to us than even our flowing bowls. You see 
 the women have already risen from the table, and are amusing 
 them selves with dancing; but neither dancing nor music will 
 be so pleasant to us as the narrative of your wanderings, if you 
 * tjUjSariypea. Literally, airs suitable for a march or an embarkation. 
 
 I 
 
114 TliE ADVENT HUES OF 
 
 will favour us with it. You have often excused yourself 
 from the task on account of the troubles with which you 
 were overwhelmed, and the lowness of your spirits; but 
 there cannot be a more proper time for it than the present, 
 when everything contributes to remove the one and to raise 
 the other. You have recovered your daughter, and have 
 hopes of recovering your son; especially if you do not 
 affront me, by deferring your story any longer. 
 
 "Now may all good attend you, Nausicles," said Cnemon, 
 putting in his word ; who, although you have provided all 
 manner of music for our recreation, are willing to forego 
 such delights (leaving them to ordinary minds), and to listen 
 to higher and mysterious matters, seasoned with a divine 
 interest. You show judgment in coupling together the 
 deities, Mercury and Bacchus, thus mingling the pleasures 
 of discourse with those of wine. Though I admire the 
 whole order of this splendid sacrifice, yet I know nothing 
 which will render the god of eloquence more propitious, 
 than if this good old man will contribute his narrative * to 
 the rest of the entertainment." 
 
 Calasiris obeyed, as well to oblige Cnemon, as to con 
 ciliate the favour of Nausicles, whose f services he fore- 
 saw he should have occasion for, and entered upon his 
 story. He began with what he had already related to 
 Cnemon : he was now, however, less minute, and entirely 
 passed over some matters which he did not choose Nausicles 
 to know ; and when he had proceeded to the point where he 
 had before left off,J he went on as follows : 
 
 " As the wind was at first very favourable to us, the fugi- 
 tives from Delphi began to flatter themselves with the hopes 
 of a prosperous voyage : but when we got into the straits 
 of Calydon, the swell and rolling of the waves alarmed them 
 not a little;" here Cnernon, interrupting, begged him to 
 explain, if he could, the cause of that agitation. " The 
 Ionian sea," continued Calasiris, "from being wide beyond, 
 is there contracted, and pours itself, by a narrow channel, 
 
 * \6yov tig ev(i)\iai> ipavi^ofjitvoc. tpavoi; a meal to which each 
 contributed his share either iii victuals or money. 
 
 t Nausicles was to assist him in the recovery of Theagene?, whom 
 he regarded in the light of a son. 
 
 $ See beginning of Book V. 
 
 South of ^Etolia, the modern Gulf of Patras. 
 
THEAGENES AIS'D CHARICLEA. 115 
 
 into the Crisssean gulf; whence, hastening to mingle its 
 waters with the ^Egean, it is stopped and thrown back again 
 by the Isthmus of Peloponnesus ; which is opposed, probably, 
 as a rampart by divine providence, lest it should overflow 
 the opposite land : and a greater reflux being occasioned in 
 the strait than in the rest of the gulf, from the encounter 
 of the advancing and retreating tides the waves, owing to 
 this repercussion, boil, swell, and break in tumult one over 
 the other." This explanation was received with the applause 
 and approbation ot all ; and the old man continued his 
 narration. 
 
 " Having passed the strait, and lost sight of the Oxian * 
 Isles, we thought we discovered the promontory of Za- 
 cynthus, which rose on our sight like an obscure cloud, and 
 tiie pilot gave orders to furl the sails. We inquired why he 
 slackened the vessel's speed, when we had a prosperous 
 wind : ' Because,' said he, 'it* we continue to sail at the rate 
 we do at present, we shall arrive off the island about the 
 first watch of the night ; and I fear lest, in the darkness, we 
 may strike upon some of the rocks which abound under the 
 sea 011 that coast : it is better therefore for us to keep out 
 at sea all night, carrying only so much sail as may suffice 
 to bring us under the island in the morning.' This was the 
 opinion of the pilot : however we made land sooner than he 
 expected, and cast anchor at Zacynthus just as the sun rose. 
 
 " The inhabitants of the port, which was not far distant 
 from the city, flocked together at our arrival, as to an 
 unusual spectacle. They admired the construction of our 
 vessel, framed with regard both to size and beauty ; and 
 from thence formed an idea of the skill and industry of 
 the Phoenicians. Still more did they wonder at our un- 
 common good fortune in having had so prosperous a pas- 
 sage, in the midst of winter, and at the setting of the 
 Pleiades. 
 
 " Almost all the ship's company, while the vessel was 
 being moored, hurried off to the city to buy what things 
 they wanted. I strolled about in search of a lodging, some- 
 where on the shore, for the pilot had told me that we should 
 probably winter at Zacynthus : to remain on board the ship 
 would have been very inconvenient, because of the noisy 
 
 * These islands, mentioned before, lie south-west of Acarnama. 
 
 i 2 
 
116 THE ADYEXTUKES OF 
 
 crew, and our fugitives could not be so well concealed in 
 the city as their situation required. 
 
 " When I had walked a little way, I saw an old fisherman 
 sitting before his door, and mending his nets. I approached 
 and addressed him ' Can you inform me, my good friend,' 
 said I, ' where I can hire a lodging ?' ' It was broken,' 
 said he, ' near yonder promontory, having caught upon a 
 rock.' ' This was not what I inquired,' said I ; * but you 
 would do me a kind office if you will either receive me into 
 your own house, or show me another where I may be taken 
 in.' ' It was not I who did it, I warrant you,' said he ; ' I 
 was not in the boat; old age has not yet so dulled the 
 faculties of Tyrrhenus. It was the fault of the lubberly 
 boys which occasioned this mishap, who, from ignorance of 
 the reefs, spread their nets in the wrong place.' 
 
 " Perceiving now that he was hard of hearing, I bawled 
 out at the top of my voice, ' Good day to you ! Can you show 
 us, who are strangers, a place where we may find lodging?' 
 f The same to you,' answered he. * You may, if you 
 please, lodge with me ; unless, perhaps, you are one of those 
 who require a great many beds and chambers, and have a 
 large number of servants with you.' Upon my saying: 
 I have only two children with myself ' A very good 
 number,' he replied, ' for you will find my family consist of 
 only one more. I have two sons who live with me ; their 
 elder brothers are married and settled by themselves ; I 
 have, besides, the nurse of my childien, for their mother 
 has been some time dead ; wherefore, good sir, do not hesi- 
 tate, nor doubt that we shall receive gladly one whose first 
 aspect is venerable and prepossessing.' I accepted his 
 offer : and when I returned afterwards with Theagenes and 
 Chariclea, the old fisherman received us with great cor- 
 diality, and assigned us the warmest and most convenient 
 part of his habitation. 
 
 " The beginning of the winter passed here not unplea- 
 santly. We lived together in the day time: at night we 
 separated. Chariclea slept in one apartment, with the 
 nurse, I in another, with Theagenes, and Tyrrhenus in a 
 third, with his children. Our table was in common, and 
 well supplied; the old man furnished it abundantly with 
 provision from the sea. We frequently amused our leisure 
 
THEAGEXES A1S T D C1IARICLEA. 117 
 
 by assisting "him in fishing, in which art he was very skilful, 
 and had tackle for it in abundance, and suited for every 
 season.* The coast was convenient for placing his nets, and 
 abounded with fish, so that most people attributed his 
 success in his occupation to his good fortune alone, which 
 was in part, however, owing to his skill. Thus, for some 
 time, we lived in peace ; but it is not permitted to the 
 unhappy to be long at ease ; nor could the charms of Chari- 
 clea, even in this solitude, be exempt from disturbance. 
 
 " The Tyrian merchant, that victor in the Pythian games, 
 with whom we sailed, was very annoying to me ; he took 
 every opportunity of pressing me with earnestness, as a 
 father, to grant him Chariclea in marriage. He vaunted 
 his family and his fortune. He said that the vessel in 
 which we sailed was entirely his property ; and the greatest 
 part of her cargo, which consisted of gold, precious stones, 
 and silk. He crowned all these, and many other recom- 
 mendations of himself, with his victory in Greece, which he 
 thought reflected no small lustre upon him. I objected my 
 present poverty, and that I could never bring myself to 
 dispose of my daughter in a foreign country, and at such 
 a distance from Egypt. c Talk not of poverty,' he would 
 reply ; ' I shall esteem the gift of Chariclea's hand more 
 than a portion of a thousand talents. Wherever she is, I 
 shall look upon that place as my country ; I am ready to 
 change my destined course to Carthage, and sail with you 
 wherever you please.' 
 
 " When, after some time, I saw the Phoenician relax 
 nothing of his importunity, but that he grew more urgent 
 every day in his solicitations, I determined to flatter him 
 with fallacious hopes, lest he should offer some violence to 
 us in the island, and promised I would do everything which 
 he wished when we arrived in Egypt. But I had no sooner 
 thus quieted him a little, than a new wave of trouble came 
 rolling in upon me.f 
 
 * In Idyll, xxi. of Theocritus, the fisherman's tackle is described 
 " The basket, rush trap, line, and reedy shaft, 
 Weed-tangled baits, a drag-net with its drops, 
 Hooks, cord" Chapman's Tr. 
 
 *( " KtJjua tTTi Kv/uia Trpofff/SaAXei/ 6 ^ai'juwv, 
 Oiog <rt %t/iwj/ Kai KCIKWV TQiKv/jLia, 
 
 a ai>Krot;." ^Esch. P. V. 1015. 
 
118 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 " Old Tyrrhenus accosted me one day as I was wandering 
 in a retired part of the coast. ' My good Calasiris,' said 
 he, ' Neptune is my witness, and all the gods, that I regard 
 you as my brother, and your children as my own. 1 am 
 come to discover to you a gathering danger which will occa- 
 sion you great unea-siness, but which I cannot, with any 
 regard to the laws of hospitality, conceal from one who 
 lodges under my roof, and which it concerns you much to 
 be acquainted with. A nest of pirates, concealed under the 
 side of yonder promontory, are lying in wait for your Phoe- 
 nician vessel. They are continually on the watch for your 
 sailing out of port. I caution you, therefore, to beware, 
 and to consider what you have to do; for it is on your 
 account, or rather, as I suspect, on account of your daugh- 
 ter, that they have conceived this audacious design, which 
 they are but too well prepared for.' 
 
 " ' May the gods reward you,' said I, ' for your kind 
 information ; but, my dear Tyrrhenus, how did you obtain 
 your intelligence?' 'My trade,' he answered, : makes me 
 acquainted with these men ; I take fish to them, for which 
 they pay me a better price than others ; and yesterday, as 
 I was taking up my nets on the shore, Trachinus, the 
 captain of the pirates, came and asked me if I knew when 
 the Phoenicians intended to set sail. I, suspecting his 
 intent, replied, that indeed I did not exactly know, but I 
 supposed that it would be early in the spring. ' Does the 
 fair maiden, who lodges at your house, sail with them ?' 
 ' I really don't know,' said I. ' But why are you so 
 curious ?' { Because I love her to distraction,' he returned. 
 6 1 did so at first sight. I never saw a form comparable to 
 hers ; and yet my eyes have been used to beauty, and I have 
 had in my power some of the most charming captives of all 
 nations.' 
 
 I wished to draw him on a little, that I might get 
 acquainted with his design. 'Why,' said I, 'should you 
 attack the Phoenicians ; cannot you take her away from my 
 house without bloodshed, and before they embark ?' ' The 
 regard I have for you,' he returned, ' prevents me from 
 doing this. There is a sense of honour even among pirates 
 towards friends and acquaintances. If I were to carry off 
 the strangers from your house, it might bring you into 
 some trouble ; they would probably be required at your 
 
THEAGESES AND CHAUTCLEA. 110 
 
 hands. Besides, by waiting for them at sea, I obtain two 
 ends : I may make myself master of a rich vessel, as well as 
 of the maid I love. One of these I must necessarily give 
 up, if I make the attempt by land; neither would it be 
 without danger so near the city: the inhabitants would 
 soon become acquainted with my enterprize, and pursuit 
 would be immediate.' I praised his prudence, and left him. 
 I now discover to you the design of these villains, and 
 beseech you to adopt means for the preservation of yourself 
 and your children.' 
 
 " Having heard this, I went away in great trouble, and 
 revolving various thoughts in my mind, when I met, by 
 accident, with rny Tyrian merchant. He talked to me on 
 the old subject, and gave me occasion to try him on a 
 scheme which just then struck me. I related to him just 
 as much of the fisherman's discovery as I thought proper. 
 I told him that one of the inhabitants of Zacynthus, who 
 was too powerful for him to resist, had a design* to carry off 
 Chariclea. ' For my part,' I added, i I had much rather 
 give her to you, as well on account of our acquaintance as 
 of your opulent condition ; and, above all, because you have 
 promised to settle in our country after your marriage ; if, 
 therefore, you have this alliance much at heart, we must 
 sail from hence in all haste, before we are prevented, and 
 violence is offered.' He was much pleased at hearing me 
 talk in this manner. * You are much in the right, my 
 father,' he said; and, approaching, kissed my head, and 
 asked me when I would have him to set sail, for though the 
 sea was at this season hardly navigable, yet we might 
 make some other port, and so, escaping from the snares 
 laid for us here, might wait with patience the approach 
 of spring.' ' If,' I replied, t my wishes have weight with 
 you, I would sail this very night.' ' Be it so,' said he, and 
 went away. 
 
 " I returned home. I said nothing to Tyrrhenus ; but I 
 told my children that, at the close of the day, they must 
 embark again on board the vessel. They wondered at this 
 sudden order, and asked the reason of it. I excused myself 
 from explaining it then ; but said, it was absolutely neces- 
 sary that it should be obeyed. 
 
 " After a moderate supper I retired to rest ; but I had no 
 
1-0 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 sooner fallen asleep, than an old man* seemed to appear to 
 me, in a dream : withered and lean, in other respects, but 
 showing, from the muscular appearance of his knees, the 
 marks of former strength. He had a helmet on his head ; 
 his countenance was intelligent and shrewd, and he seemed 
 to drag one thigh after him, as if it had been wounded. He 
 approached me, and said with a sarcastic smile, ' Do you 
 alone treat me with contempt ? All those who have sailed 
 by Cephalene, have been desirous to visit my habitation, 
 and to contemplate my glory ; you only seem to despise me, 
 and have not given me so much as a common salutation, 
 though you dwell in my neighbourhood. But you shall 
 soon suffer for this negligence ; and shall experience the 
 same calamities, and encounter the same enemies, both by 
 sea and land, which I have done. But address the maiden, 
 you have with you in the name of my consort ; she salutes 
 her, as she is a great patroness of chastity, and foretels her, 
 at last, a fortunate issue to all her troubles.' 
 
 " I started up, trembling, at the vision. Theagenes asked 
 what ailed me. '"We shall be too late, said I, for the ship's 
 sailing out of port ; it is this thought which has disturbed 
 and awakened me ; but do you get up and collect our bag- 
 gage, and I will go and see for Chariclea. She appeared at 
 my first summons: Tyrrhenus, too, got up, and inquired 
 what we were about. "What we are doing, said I, is by 
 your advice ; we are endeavouring to escape from those who 
 are lying in wait for us ; and may the gods preserve and 
 reward you for all your goodness to us : but do you add this 
 to all the favours you have already bestowed upon us ; pass, 
 I pray you, into Ithaca, and sacrifice for us to Ulysses, and 
 beseech him to moderate the anger which he has conceived 
 against us, and signified to me this night in a dream. He 
 promised he would do so, and accompanied us to the ship, 
 shedding tears abundantly, and wishing us a prosperous 
 voyage, and all sorts of happiness. In short, as soon as the 
 morning star appeared, we set sail, much against the will of 
 the crew, who were with difficulty persuaded by the Tyriaii 
 merchant, when they were told, that it was in order to 
 escape from a pirate, who lay in wait for them. He knew 
 not that what he thought a fiction, was the sober truth. 
 * Ulysses. 
 
THEAGEXES AND CllAllICLEA. 121 
 
 f We encountered adverse winds, a swelling sen, and 
 almost continual tempests ; we lost one* of our rudders ; had 
 our yard-arms much injured, and were in imminent danger 
 of perishing, when we reached a promontory of Crete : here 
 we determined to stay a few days, to repair our vessel and 
 refresh ourselves. We did so, and fixed for putting again 
 *;o sea the first day of the new moon, after her conjunction 
 with the sun. 
 
 u We set sail, with a gentle south-west wind, directing 
 our course towards Africa, which our pilot used all his en- 
 deavours to reach as soon as he could ; for he said he had 
 for some time observed a vessel hovering at a distance, 
 which he took for a pirate. ' Ever since we left Crete,' says 
 he, ' she has followed us ; she steers the same course, and 
 without doubt it is by design, not accident ; for I have often 
 changed my track, on purpose to see if she would do the 
 same, and she has always invariably done so.' A great part 
 of the crew were alarmed at this intelligence, and began to 
 exhort each other to prepare for defence ; others neglected 
 it, and said it was a very common thing for small ships to 
 follow in the wake of larger ones, for the sake of being 
 directed in their way. 
 
 " While they were thus disputing, eveningf approached ; 
 the wind slackened gradually, breathed gently on the sails 
 and now made them flutter a little, but hardly swelled them 
 at all. At length it subsided into a dead calm, setting with 
 the sun, or retiring, as I may say, to give advantage to our 
 pursuers ; for while there was a fresh gale our ship, spread- 
 ing more canvas, far out-sailed them; but when the wind 
 dropped, when the sea was smooth, and we were driven to 
 make use of our oars, this light and small vessel soon came 
 up with our large and heavy one. When they came near, 
 one of the crew, an inhabitant of Zacyiithus, cried out : ' We 
 
 * A ship had one, but more commonly two rudders. (See Acts xxvii. 40.) 
 In the Caspian Sea, where the old practice not long ago remained in force, 
 a modern traveller was nearly shipwrecked, because the rudders were in 
 the hands of two pilots who spoke different languages. To obviate such 
 disasters among the ancients, the same steersman held both tillers, ii 
 the boat was small. In larger ships the extremities of the helms 
 were joined by a pole, which was moved by one man and kept the 
 rudders always parallel. Smith's Greek and Kom. Antiq. 
 
 f fjv fifvffit riJQ rj/jiipctt; ors doorpov j3oi> t\fv9spol JTJTTOVOQ. Ad- 
 verbially in Homer, fiouXvrovdt, at eventide. 11. xvi. 779. 
 
322 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 are undone, this is a pirate crew : I am well acquainted with 
 the ship of Traehinus.' 
 
 " We were thunderstruck at this intelligence, and, in 
 the midst of a sea calm, our vessel shook with a tempest of 
 confusion ; it was full of tumult, lamentation, and hurrying 
 up and. down. Some ran into the hold ; others encouraged 
 one another to resist and fight ; a third party were for get- 
 ting into the boat, and so attempting an escape. While 
 they were thus in confusion, and mutually hindering each 
 other, the approach of danger put an end to their disputes, 
 and every one seized upon the weapon which was nearest 
 to him. 
 
 " Chariclea and myself, embracing Theagenes, were hardly 
 able to restrain his ardent spirit which was boiling for 
 the fight ; she assuring him that death should not separate 
 them ; but that the same sword which wounded him, should 
 put an end to her life. I, as soon as I knew that it was 
 Traehinus who pursued us, began to consider how best to 
 promote our future safety. The pirates coming close up 
 with us, crossed our course, and being very desirous of taking 
 us, did not use their arms ; but rowing round us, prevented 
 our farther progress, like besiegers wishing to make us sur- 
 render upon terms. ' Fools,' they cried out, ' why are you 
 so mad as to make a show of defence against so s'uperior a 
 force ? drawing upon yourselves certain destruction ! We 
 are as yet disposed to treat you kindly ; you may even now, 
 if you please, get into your boats, and save your lives.' 
 
 " So long as a bloodless war was waged, the Phoenicians 
 were bold enough and refused to quit the vessel. But 
 when one of the pirates, more daring than his fellows, leapt 
 into the ship, and began to cut at them right and left with 
 his sword, and they became sensible that the matter was 
 now serious, and that wounds and blood must settle it, they 
 repented of their boldness, fell at their enemies' feet, begged 
 for quarter, and promised to do whatever they were or- 
 dered. 
 
 " The pirates, although they had already begun the fight, 
 and though the sight of blood commonly whets the angry 
 passions, yet, at the command of Traehinus, unexpectedly 
 spared the suppliants. A truce ensued, but a truce more 
 dreadful, perhaps, than battle : it had the name of peace, 
 but war would have been scarcelv less grievous. The con- 
 
THEA.GENES AXD CHAEICLEA. 123 
 
 ditions of it were, that every man should quit the ship, with 
 a single garment, and death was denounced against any 
 one who should violate these terms. But life, it seems, is 
 preferred by mankind before all other things ; and the 
 Tyrians (robbed as they were of their ship and wealth), as 
 if they had gained rather than lost, contended with each 
 other who should be the first to leap into the boat and so 
 preserve their lives. 
 
 " When we came into his presence, according to com- 
 mand, Trachinus, taking Chariclea by the hand said ; ' "We 
 \vage not war against you, my charmer ; although the hos- 
 tilities are undertaken on your account. I have all along 
 been following you, ever since you left Zacynthus, despising 
 for your sake the sea and danger ; be of good cheer, then, I 
 will make you mistress, with myself, of all these riches.' 
 It is the part of prudence to seize upon the opportunity. 
 80 she, remembering some of my instructions, smoothed 
 her brow, which this sudden storm had ruffled, and com- 
 posed her countenance to winning smiles. ' 1 give the gods 
 thanks,' says she, * for inspiring you with merciful senti- 
 ments towards us ; but if you would win, and keep my con- 
 fidence, give me this first mark of your good-will preserve 
 to me my brother and my father, and do not order them to 
 quit the ship, for I cannot live without them ;' and with 
 this she fell at his feet, and embraced his knees.* 
 
 " Trachinus, thrilling with pleasure at her touch, that he 
 might enjoy it the longer, purposely delayed granting her 
 request. At last, melted by her tears, and subdued by her 
 looks, he raised her up, and said c I grant your prayer, as 
 to your brother with pleasure, he seems a youth of spirit 
 and may help us in our trade ; but as for the old man, who 
 is but useless lumber, if I preserve him, it is only out of 
 great regard to your entreaties.' 
 
 " While this, was passing the sun set, and the dusk of 
 twilight surrounded us ; the sea began to swell on a sudden, 
 whether on account of the change of season, or the will of 
 fortune, I know not ; the sound of rising wind was heard. 
 In a moment it swept down upon the sea, in stormy gusts, 
 and filled the hearts of the pirates with tumult and appre- 
 hension; for they were overtaken with it after they had 
 
 * Raphael has chosen this incident for the subject of a painting. 
 
THE ADYENTUEES OF 
 
 left their own bark, and had got on board our ship for 
 the sake of plunder; this, from its size, they were un- 
 used to, and unable to manage : their*'' seamanship was all 
 extemporised and self-taught, each for himself, boldly exer- 
 cised some department of his art. Some furled the sails, 
 others clumsily pulled the ropes ; one bungler ran to the 
 prow,f another attempted to manage the tiller at the stern ; 
 so that we were in imminent danger, not so much from the 
 fury of the storm, which was not yet very violent, as from 
 the ignorance and unskilfulness of the sailors and pilot, who 
 as long as there was any glimmering of light, made a show 
 of resisting the tempest ; but, when darkness overshadowed 
 us, totally gave the matter up. The waves now burst over us, 
 and we were in peril of goiDg to the bottom, when some of 
 the pirates made an attempt to get again on board of their 
 own bark, but were hindered and stopped by the rage of the 
 increasing tempest, and by the exhortations of Trachinus ; 
 who told them, that if they would preserve the ship on 
 board of which they were, together with its wealth, they 
 might buy a thousand such boats as their own. At length 
 he cut the cable by which it was kept in tow, maintaining, 
 that it might be the cause of a fresh storm to them, and 
 that by so doing he provided for their future security ; for 
 if they should touch at any port, bringing an empty bark 
 with them, an inquiry would naturally be made as to its 
 crew. His comrades approved of what he had done, and 
 found him to have shown his sense in two respects ; for they 
 felt the ship a good deal eased after the bark was turned 
 adrift, but the tempest was by no means appeased ; they 
 were still tossed by wavej following upon wave, the vessel 
 suffered much injury, and was in great danger. Having 
 with difficulty weathered the night, we drove all the next 
 day, and towards the end of it made land, near the Hera- 
 cleotic mouth of the JN"ile, and, against our wills, disem- 
 barked on the coast of Egypt. Our companions were full 
 of joy ; we were overcome with grief, and we felt ill-will to 
 Neptune for our preservation we should have preferred a 
 death free from insult at sea, to a more dreadful expectation 
 
 * Trav vavnXtaQ grr^fcUa^ero. 
 
 t On the duties of the irpypevQ and the amount of nautical skill 
 required in the pilot, see Potter's Antiq. ii. 144 146. 
 
 TOLKVfJLiaiQ t7Ta\\T]\OlQ t\a.VVOjJitVi*JV. 
 
THEAGEXES A.TSD CHAK1CLEA. 125 
 
 on land, and a continual exposure to the lawless wills of the 
 pirates. They began to act in accordance with their nature 
 011 landing; for, proposing to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving 
 to Neptune, they brought Tyrian wine, and other requisites 
 for the ceremony, out of the ship ; and sent some of their 
 comrades with store of money into the country, to buy up 
 cattle, bidding them pay whatever price was asked. As 
 soon as these returned with a whole herd of sheep and 
 swine, the pirates who had stayed behind immediately set 
 fire to a pile, sacrificed the victims, and prepared the feast. 
 
 " Trachinus took an opportunity of leading me aside, and 
 thus addressed me ; ' Eather, I have betrothed your 
 daughter to myself; and am preparing to celebrate the 
 marriage this very day, combining the most delightsome 
 festival with this sacrifice to the gods. That you may par- 
 take cheerfully of the approaching entertainment, and that 
 you may inform your daughter, who, I hope, will receive the 
 intimation with joy, I give you this previous notice of my 
 intentions ; not that I want your consent to put them in 
 execution ; my power is a pledge for the performance of my 
 will : but I have thought it fitting and auspicious to receive 
 a willing bride from the hands of a parent, who shall have 
 before apprised and persuaded her.' 
 
 " 1 pretended approval of w r hat he said, and gave thanks 
 to the gods who had destined my daughter to the honour of 
 being his spouse ; and then retiring, I began to consider 
 what I could do in this conjuncture. I soon returned, and 
 besought him that the nuptials might be celebrated with 
 greater pomp and circumstance than he seemed to hint at 
 that he would assign the vessel as a bridal chamber for 
 Chariclea ; that he would give orders that none might enter 
 or disturb her there^hat she might have time to get ready 
 her wedding dress, and make other needful preparations for 
 the ceremony ; for it would be most unseemly, that she, 
 whose family w r as illustrious, and wealth considerable ; and 
 above all, she who was about to be the bride of Trachinus, 
 should not have what preparation and ornament the present 
 occasion would perm it ; although the shortness of the notice, 
 and inconvenience of the place, would not allow the cele- 
 bration of the nuptials with that splendour which was befit- 
 ting their station. 
 
126 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 " Trachinus was overjoyed at bearing me talk in this man- 
 ner ; and said he would, with the greatest pleasure, order 
 everything as I desired. In consequence of this, he gave strict 
 directions that no one should approach the ship after they had 
 taken everything out of it they wanted. They conveyed out 
 tables, cups, carpets, canopies the works* of Tyrian and 
 Sidonian hands, and every requisite for ministering to and 
 adorning a feast. They carried in disorder upon their 
 shoulders, heaps of rich furniture and utensils, collected 
 with great care and parsimony, but now destined to be de- 
 filed by the licentiousness of a tumultuous entertainment. 
 I took Theagenes, and went to Chariclea; we found her 
 weeping. ' You are accustomed, my daughter,' said I, l to 
 these reverses, and yet you lament as if they were new to 
 you. Has any fresh misfortune happened ?' 
 
 " ' Everything is unfortunate,' she replied ; ' above all, the 
 fatal passion of Trachinus, which there is now but too much 
 reason to fear, both from his circumstances and opportu- 
 nities, that he will soon attempt to gratify. Unexpected 
 success inflames the desires of a licentious mind ; out he 
 shall have reason to rue his detested love. Death, certain 
 death, shall withdraw me from his pursuit : yet the thought 
 of being divided from you, and from Theagenes, if such a sepa- 
 ration should become necessary, dissolves me into tears.' 
 4 Your conjectures are but too true,' I replied : l Trachinus 
 is resolved to turn the entertainment, which usually follows 
 a sacrifice, into a nuptial ceremony, and there you are to be 
 the victim. He discovered his design to me, as to your 
 father ; but I was long ago acquainted with his violent 
 passion for you, even ever since the conversation which I 
 had with Tyrrhenus, at Zacynthus. But I concealed what 
 I knew, that I might not prematurely afflict you with the 
 dread of impending calamity, especially as I had hopes of 
 escaping it. But since, my children, fate has ordered other- 
 wise, and we are now in such hazardous circumstances ; let 
 us dare some noble and sudden deed ; let us meet this ex- 
 tremity of danger courageously, and either preserve our 
 lives with bravery and freedom, or resign them with forti- 
 
 * See II. vi. 289. 
 
 ..." Mantles of all hues, accomplish'd works 
 Of fair Sidoniaus wafted o'er the deep." 
 
THEAUENES AMD CHAHICLEA. 127 
 
 tude and honour.' "When they had promised to act as 1 
 should order, and I had directed them what they were to 
 do, I left them to prepare themselves, and sought the pirate 
 next in command to Trachinus. His name, I think, was 
 Pelorus : I accosted him and told him that I had something 
 agreeable to disclose to him. He followed me readily to 
 a retired place, and I went on : 
 
 " ' Son, said I, hear in few words, what I have to say to 
 you: the opportunity admits not of delay, or long dis- 
 course to be brief, my daughter is in love with you. No 
 wonder ; you have fascinated her with your appearance, but 
 she suspects that your captain will seize this opportunity of 
 the sacrifice to marry her himself: for he has ordered her to 
 be dressed and adorned as elegantly as her present time 
 admits of. Consider then how you may best frustrate his 
 intention, and obtain the damsel for yourself, who says she 
 will rather die than become the spouse of Trachinus.' Pe- 
 lorus listened eagerly to me : and then replied, ' Be of good 
 cheer, father ; I have long felt an equal affection for your 
 daughter, and was seeking an opportunity of getting into 
 her good graces. Trachinus therefore shall either volun- 
 tarily resign this maiden to me (to whom besides, I have a 
 just claim, as having been the first to board your vessel), or 
 he shall feel the weight of my hand, and his nuptials shall 
 bear bitter fruits.' After this conversation I retired, that 
 I might raise no suspicion. I went to my children I com- 
 forted them I told them that our scheme was in a very 
 good train. I supped afterwards with our captors. When 
 I observed them warm/with wine, and ready to be quarrel- 
 some, I said softly to Pelorus (for I had designedly placed 
 mvself near him), ' Have you seen how the maiden is 
 adorned ? ' ' No,' said he. c You may then, if you 
 please,' I returned, ' if you will go aboard the vessel ; pri- 
 vately though, for Trachinus has forbidden all access to it. 
 You may there see her sitting, like the goddess Diana ; but 
 moderate your transports ; tase no freedoms, lest you draw 
 down death both on yourself and her.' 
 
 " After this he took the first opportunity of withdrawing 
 secretly, and entered with all speed into the ship. He there 
 beheld Chariclea, with a crown of laurel on her head, and 
 refulgent in a gold-embroidered robe, (for she had dressed 
 
128 THE ADYJvNTUEKS OF 
 
 herself in her sacred Delphic garments, which might, as the 
 event should turn out, be either funereal or triumphant) ; 
 everything about her was splendid, and bore the semblance 
 of a bridal chamber. Pelorus was all on fire at the sight. 
 Desire and jealousy raged in his bosom. He returned to 
 the company, with a look which indicated some furious de- 
 sign. Scarcely had he sat down, w r hen he broke out ' Why 
 have I not received the reward which is justly due to me for 
 having first boarded our prize ? ' t Because you have not 
 demanded it/ replied Trachinus. 'Besides, there has yet 
 been no division of the booty.' 'I demand then,' said 
 Pelorus, ' the maiden whom we have taken,' ' Ask any 
 thing but her,' said the captain, ' and you shall have it.' 
 4 Then,' returned the other, i you break cutter's law, which 
 assigns to the first who boards an enemy's ship, and meets 
 the danger, the free and unrestricted choice of taking what 
 he will.' ' I do not mean to break our private law,' said 
 Trachinus ; ' but I rest upon another law, which commands 
 you all to be obedient to your captain. I have a violent 
 affection for this maiden I propose to marry her ; and 
 think I have a right, in this instance, to a preference : if you 
 oppose my will, this cup which I hold in my hand, shall 
 make you rue your opposition.' Pelorus, glancing his eyes 
 on his companions ' See,' says he, ' the guerdon of our 
 toils ; just so may each of you be deprived of your rewards ! ' 
 How, Nausicles, shall I describe the scene which followed ? 
 You might compare the company to the sea agitated by a 
 sudden squall of wind : rage and wine hurried them head- 
 long into the wildest excesses of tumult. Some took part 
 with their captain, others with his opponent ; some called 
 out to obey their captain, others to vindicate the violated 
 law. At length Trachinus raised his arm in act to hurl a 
 goblet at Pelorus; but at that instant the other plunged a 
 dagger into his side, and he fell dead on the spot. The fray 
 now became general: dreadful blows were dealt on all sides; 
 some in revenge of their captain, others in support of Pe- 
 lorus ; wounds were inflicted and received by sticks and 
 stones, by cups and tables shouts of victory and groans of 
 defeat resounded everywhere. I retired as far as I could 
 from the tumult, and gaining a rising ground, became, from 
 a secure spot, a spectator of the dreadful scene. Tbeagenea 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 129 
 
 and Chariclea did not escape a share in it ; for he, as had 
 been before agreed upon, joined himself sword in hand, to 
 one of the parties, and fought with the utmost fury ; she, 
 when she saw the fight began, shot her arrows from the 
 ship, sparing only Theagenes. She herself did not join 
 either side, but aimed at the first fair mark she saw, herself 
 being all the while concealed, but sufficiently discovering her 
 enemies by the light of their fires and torches : they, igno- 
 rant of the hand which smote them, thought it a prodigy, 
 and a stroke from heaven. 
 
 "All the crew besides being now stretched on the ground, 
 Theagenes was left closely engaged in fight with Pelorus, an 
 antagonist of tried courage, exercised in many a scene of 
 bloodshed. Chariclea could now no longer assist him with her 
 shafts, she dreaded lest in this hand-to-hand engagement, she 
 might wound her lover instead of his antagonist. The event 
 of the fight was for some time doubtful ; at length Pelorus 
 began to give way. Chariclea, deprived of all other means of 
 assisting him, encouraged him with her voice. " Be strong," 
 she cried out, " be of good cheer, take courage, my life !" 
 
 " Her words inspired her lover with fresh spirit and reso- 
 lution : they reminded him, that she, the prize of victory, 
 still lived. Eegardless of several wounds which he had re- 
 ceived, he now made a desperate effort, rushed upon Pelo- 
 rus, and aimed a fearful sword-cut at his head ; a sudden 
 swerve occasioned him to miss his blow, but his blade 
 descended on his enejny's shoulder, and lopped off his arm 
 above the elbow. The barbarian now had recourse to flight ; 
 Theagenes pursued him. What followed I am not able to 
 relate he came back without my perceiving it. I still re- 
 mained on the eminence to w r hich I had retired, not daring, 
 in the night time, to proceed any farther in a hostile country. 
 But he had not escaped the eye of Chariclea. I saw him at 
 break of day lying, in a manner, dead ; she sitting by, la- 
 menting, and ready to kill herself upon him, but restrained 
 by a glimmering of hope that he might still survive. I, 
 thunderstruck at the suddenness with which our misfortunes 
 by land had succeeded those by sea, was not able to speak. 
 I could neither inquire into the particulars of the situation 
 in which he had returned, nor attempt to comfort her, nor 
 relieve him. 
 
130 THE ADVENTURES OP 
 
 " At break of day, after I had descended from my emi- 
 nence, I saw a band of Egyptian pirates coming down from 
 a mountain which overlooked the sea.* In a twinkling they 
 had seized, and were carrying off, the youthful pair, together 
 with what plunder they could take with them from the ship. 
 I followed them at a distance, lamenting my own, and my 
 children's misfortunes, unable to succour them, and thinking 
 it best not to join them ; cherishing some faint hope of 
 future assistance. But I soon felt my own unfitness for 
 the task, being left far behind by the Egyptians, and unable 
 to follow them through steep and rugged roads. Since that 
 time, until the recovery of my daughter, by the favour of 
 the gods, and your goodness, O Nausicles, my days have 
 passed in sorrow and tears." 
 
 Having said this, he wept. All who heard him wept with 
 him ; and a lamentation, not wholly unmixed with pleasure, 
 pervaded the whole company. Tears readily fiow when the 
 head is warm with wine. At length Nausicles applied him- 
 self to comfort Calasiris. 
 
 " Father," said he, " be of good cheer, you have already 
 recovered your daughter, and this night alone divides you 
 from the presence of your son. To-morrow we will wait 
 upon Mithranes, and do all in our power to ransom and free 
 Theagenes." " No wish is nearer to my heart," replied Ca- 
 lasiris, " but it is now time to break up our entertainment : 
 let us remember the gods, and join with our libations, 
 thanksgiving for my child's deliverance." Upon this the 
 vases for libation were carried round, and the company dis- 
 persed. 
 
 Calasiris looked about for Chariclea ; and having long 
 watched the crowd as they came out, and not seeing her, at 
 length he inquired for her of one of the women, and by her 
 information went into the temple, where he found her fallen 
 into a deep sleep, embracing the feet of the image of the 
 deity, wearied by long prayer, and exhausted by grief. He 
 dropped a tear over her, breathed out a petition for her hap- 
 piness, and, gently waking her, conducted her to his lodging, 
 blushing at her imprudence, in having suffered herself to be 
 surprised by sleep in such a place. Here, in her chamber, 
 
 * See Book I. 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHARICLEA. 131 
 
 with the daughter of Nausicles, she laid herself down to 
 rest, but wakef illness compelled her to ruminate upon her 
 sorrows. 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 CALASIRIS and Cnemon betook themselves to their apart- 
 ments on the men's side of the house, and composed them- 
 selves to rest. The night was quickly past, great part of it 
 having been consumed in the preceding feast, and subse* 
 quent narration ; but it passed too slowly for their impa- 
 tience ; and almost before day they were up, and presented 
 themselves to Nausicles, urging him to inform them where 
 he thought Theagenes was, and to lead them to him as soon 
 as possible. He was not slow in complying with their re- 
 quest, and they set out under his direction. Chariclea was 
 very earnest to accompany them, but they pressed, and at 
 last obliged, her to remain where she was ; Nausicles assur- 
 ing her that they were not going far, and that they would 
 soon return, and bring Theagenes with them. Here then 
 they left her, struggling between sorrow for their departure, 
 and joy for the promised hope of seeing her lover. 
 
 They had scarcely got out of the village, and were pro- 
 ceeding along the banks of the Nile, when they saw a 
 crocodile creeping from the right side of the river to the left, 
 and making his way swiftly down the stream. The rest of 
 the party being used to the sight, regarded it with indiffer- 
 ence, although Calasiris secretly thought that it portended 
 some impediment in their expedition. But Cnemon was 
 very much frightened at its appearance, though he could 
 hardly be said to have seen the animal itself, but had rather 
 had a glimpse of the shadow: he was so terrified as almost 
 to run away. Nausicles burst into a laugh. " Cnemon," 
 said Calasiris, " I thought you were apt to be terrified only 
 in the darkness and obscurity of the night ; but I see your 
 courage shows itself even in the day-time. It is not only 
 names that affright you,* but the commonest and most 
 every-day appearance puts you quite into a trepidation." 
 
 * See Book V. 
 
132 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 " Prithee tell me what god, or what demon is it," said 
 Nausicles, " whose name this valiant Grecian cannot bear ? " 
 
 " If it were the name of a deity," replied the old man, 
 " there might be something in it ; but it is the appellation 
 of a mortal, and that not of a celebrated hero, nor even of a 
 man ; but of a weak woman, and, as he says, of a dead one 
 too, at the mention of which he is disordered and trembles. 
 That night in which you returned from the buccaneers, 
 bringing with you my dearest Chariclea, this said name was, 
 somehow or other, mentioned in his hearing: it put him 
 into such an agitation, that he had no sleep all night, nor 
 suffered me to enjoy any ; he was half dead with fear, and I 
 had the greatest difficulty in the world to bring him to him- 
 self; and were I not afraid of terrifying, or giving him pain, 
 I would now mention the name, that you might laugh the 
 more : " and immediately he uttered the word Thisbe. But 
 Nausicles did not laugh, as he expected ; he became grave 
 and pensive, doubting and pondering why and by reason of 
 what intimacy Cnemon felt so much at the mention of Thisbe. 
 
 Cnemon upon this burst out into an immoderate fit of 
 laughter in his turn. " See," said he, " my dear Calasiris, 
 the mighty magic of this name ; it is not only a bugbear 
 which disturbs, as you say, all my faculties, but it has the 
 same effect upon Nausicles ; with this difference, however, 
 that the certainty of her death inclines me to laughter, when 
 the same news seems to make him sorrowful, who was be- 
 fore so disposed to be merry at the expense of others." 
 * Spare me,' said Nausicles ; ' you have sufficiently revenged 
 yourself: but I conjure you by the gods of hospitality 
 and friendship by the kind and sincere reception which 
 you have met with at my house and table that you will tell 
 me how you became so well acquainted with the name of 
 Thisbe whether you really have known her, or only pre- 
 tend to have done so, out of sport, and to vex me ? " " It 
 is now your turn, Cnemon," said Calasiris, " to turn narra- 
 tor. You have frequently promised to make me acquainted 
 with your condition and adventures, and as often, on some 
 pretext or other, have put it off: you cannot have a better 
 opportunity of doing so than the 'present : you will oblige 
 both Xausicles and me ; and lighten, by your story, the 
 fatigues of our journey." 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 133 
 
 Cnemon suffered himself to be persuaded, and entered 
 upon his history, relating briefly, what he had before told 
 more at length to Theagenes and Chariclea That he was 
 an Athenian that his father was Aristippus, and his step- 
 mother Demseneta her execrable love, and the snares she 
 laid for him on its disappointment, by the ministry of Thisbe 
 the particulars of these his flight from his country, and 
 condemnation as a parricide his exile at ^Egina his hear- 
 ing from Charias of the death of Demseneta, betrayed by her 
 own wicked assistant Thisbe what Anticles related to him 
 of the distress his father fell into ; the family of Demseneta 
 combining against him, and persuading the people that he 
 had murdered her the flight of Thisbe from Athens, with a 
 Naucratian merchant, who was in love with her his sailing 
 with Anticles to Egypt, in search of Thisbe ; in order, if he 
 could find her, to bring her back to Athens, to clear his 
 father, and punish her the various difficulties and dangers 
 he went through, both by sea and pirates how, having es- 
 caped these, and arrived in Egypt, he was again taken by 
 the pirates his meeting and connection with Theagenes 
 and Chariclea the death of Thisbe and every thing in 
 order, till he came to his meeting with Calasiris and Nau- 
 sicles, and to those facts and events with which they were 
 acquainted. 
 
 Nausicles meanwhile revolved a thousand thoughts in his 
 mind now he was about to disclose all his transactions with 
 Thisbe, and now inclined to defer it to another opportunity ; 
 but his eagerness for speaking had almost got the better of 
 him, when some remains of reserve, and an accident which 
 happened by the way, prevented his unbosoming himself for 
 the present. They had travelled about eight miles, and 
 were near to the village where Mithranes dwelt, when Nau- 
 sicles meeting an acquaintance, inquired whither he was 
 going in so much haste. 
 
 " Do you not know," he replied, " that all my exertions 
 have now but one aim, that of executing the 'behests of 
 Isias of Chemmis ? I labour for her, I supply her with 
 every thing she wants. I wake day and night in her ser- 
 vice. I refuse no commission, small or great, which the 
 dear Isias imposes on me, though toil and loss are all I have 
 hitherto gotten for my pains. I am now making what 
 
13-1 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 haste I can with this bird which you see, a flamingo * of the 
 Isile, carrying it to my mistress, according to her com- 
 mands." "What an amiable mistress you have got," said 
 ]N"ausicles, "how light are her commands! how fortunate 
 you are that she has not ordered you to bring her a pho3nix, 
 instead of a phcenicopter ! " "She does all these things," 
 said the other, " out of wanton sport to make a jest of me 
 but may I ask where you are bending your course ? " 
 
 When he had learned that they were going to Mithranes 
 " You are on a sleeveless errand," said he, " for Mithranes 
 is not now here ; he has this evening led out his troops on 
 an expedition against the buccaneers of Bessus ; for Thyamis, 
 their leader, has made an incursion into his territories, and 
 taken from him one of his captives, a Grecian youth, whom 
 he was preparing to send to Oroondates, at Memphis ; and 
 from thence, as I suppose, as a present to the Great King. 
 But I must be gone to Isias, (who is now, perhaps, looking 
 for me with eager eyes), lest my delay offend my charmer ; 
 she is but too ready to seize a pretence, however slight, to 
 flout and quarrel with me." While these words were yet 
 in his mouth, he hurried off, leaving his hearers confused 
 and stupified at his tidings. 
 
 Nausicles was the first who broke silence. He tried to 
 encourage his companions ; and told them, that they ought 
 not to lose heart, and entirely lay aside their undertaking, 
 on account of this short and temporary disappointment. 
 That now, indeed, it was necessary to return to Chemmis, 
 as well to consult upon what they had farther to do, as to 
 make preparations for a longer expedition, which must be 
 undertaken in search of Theagenes, whether he was with the 
 buccaneers or anywhere else ; but that he had good hopes 
 
 * A bird, the brains and tongue of which were highly esteemed by 
 Roman epicures. Rich men's slaves used to take lessons in carving 
 this, and other choice dishes, practising upon wooden models. 
 " Sumine cum magno lepus, atque aper et pygargus, 
 Et Scythicae volucres, et phcenicopterus ingens, 
 Et Gsetulus oryx, hebeti lautissima f erro, 
 Caeditur, et tot& eonat ulmea ccena Suburra." 
 
 Juv. XI. 138. 
 
 Those who are curious in the matter of good eating among the 
 ancients, may read with advantage the Feast of Trimalcio, in Petronius 
 Arbiter, and the concluding chorus in the Ecclesiazusse of Aristophanes. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 135 
 
 of finding and recovering him : for he conceived that \t was 
 not without some kind interposition of Providence, that 
 they had so fortunately met with an acquaintance whose 
 intelligence put them into the right track, and plainly 
 pointed out to them the pirate- settlement, as the first place 
 where they were to seek their friend. 
 
 They assented, without difficulty, to his proposal ; what 
 they had heard giving them a glimmering hope, and Cnemon 
 privately assuring Oalasiris that he was sure that Thyamis 
 would watch over the safety of Theagenes. They deter- 
 mined therefore to return to Chemmis, where, being arrived, 
 they found Chariclea at the house door, with outstretched 
 neck and eager eyes, looking on every side for their appear- 
 ance. As soon as she saw them, and no Theagenes with 
 them, fetching a deep and melancholy sigh "Are you 
 alone ! " she cried, " Father ? Do you return even as you set 
 out ? Theagenes then is no more ! Tell me, by the gods I 
 beseech you, if you have any tidings for me ! and whatever 
 they may be, do not increase my misery by delaying them. 
 There is a degree of humanity in discovering quickly unfor- 
 tunate intelligence : the soul collects at once all its powers 
 of resistance, and the shock is sooner over." 
 
 Cnemon hastening tp repress her rising anguish " How 
 ready are you," said he, "to foretell calamities! You gene- 
 rally, however, prove a false prophetess, and so far you do 
 well Theagenes is not only living, but, I trust in the gods, 
 safe ; " and he told her, briefly, in what condition, and 
 where he was. " Ah, Cnemon ! " said Calasiris, " one would 
 think, from what you say, that you had never been in love ! 
 Do not you know that they who really love are apprehen- 
 sive of the slightest trifles, and believe only their own eyes, 
 when the situation of their lovers is concerned ? Absence 
 always fills their languishing souls with fear and torment ; 
 they imagine that nothing but the most invincible necessity 
 can ever make them separate from each other. Forgive, 
 Chariclea, therefore, who labours under the extremity of 
 this passion, and let us enter the house, and consider what 
 we have to do ;" and taking Chariclea' s hand, and sooth- 
 ing her with paternal tenderness, he led her in. 
 
 Nar.sicles, willing to solace his friends after their fatigues, 
 and having, besides, a farther private end of his own, pre- 
 
136 THE ADVENT UEES OF 
 
 pared a more than usually choice entertainment for them 
 alone and his daughter, whom he commanded to dress and 
 adorn herself with uncommon bravery and splendour. To- 
 wards the end of the feast he thus addressed them : 
 
 " I call the gods to witness, my friends, that your com- 
 pany is so agreeable to me, that I should be happy if you 
 would spend the remainder of your lives here, and enjoy, in 
 common with me, my wealth and pleasures. I wish to con- 
 sider you so much more in the light of friends than guests, 
 that I shall think nothing too much which I can bestow upon, 
 or partake with you. I am ready also to give you every 
 advice and assistance in my power, towards the recovery of 
 your lost relation, as long as I can stay with you ; but you 
 know that I am a merchant, and that it is by this profession 
 that I procure and increase my substance. And now, as 
 the west winds have set in favourably, have opened the sea 
 for navigation, and promise a prosperous season, my affairs 
 call loudly upon me to sail into Greece. I am very desirous, 
 therefore, of hearing what you propose to do, that I may 
 endeavour, as much as possible, to accommodate my schemes 
 to yours." Here he paused; and Calasiris, after a short 
 pause, answered him : " O ISTausicles ! may your voyage be 
 fortunate ! -may Hermes, the patron of gain, and Neptune 
 the preserver, protect and accompany your expedition may 
 they lead you through smooth seas, may they make every 
 haven safe every city easy of access to you, and every 
 inhabitant favourable to your undertakings these are the 
 sincere and grateful wishes of those whom you have re- 
 ceived, and now, at their own request, dismiss after observ- 
 ing the exact law of friendship and hospitality. Though it 
 is grievous and painful to us to leave you, and to depart 
 from your house, which with so much generosity you have 
 taught us in a manner to consider as our own ; yet it is 
 incumbent upon, and unavoidable for us, to apply ourselves 
 immediately to the search and recovery of our lost friend. 
 This is the fixed purpose of myself and Chariclea: let Cne- 
 mon speak for himself whether he had rather gratify us, 
 by accompanying us in our wanderings, or has any other 
 project in his mind." Cnemon seemed now desirous of 
 answering in his turn ; and, preparing to speak, fetched, on 
 a sudden, a deep sigh, and tears for some time stopped his 
 
THEAGENES A!NT) CHARICLEA. 137 
 
 utterance: at length collecting and composing himself as 
 well as he could, he said 
 
 " fortune, tickle and uncertain goddess ! how dost thou 
 shower down misfortunes upon us miserable mortals ! but 
 upon none have thy persecutions been exerted with more 
 unremitting severity than upon me. You deprived me of 
 my family and father's house ; banished me from my country 
 and friends after a long interval of calamities which I pass 
 over, shipwrecked me upon the coast of Egypt ; delivered 
 me over to pirates ; shewed me, at last, a glimmering of 
 comfort, by making me acquainted with men, unfortunate, 
 indeed, like myself, but at the same time Greeks, and such 
 as I hoped to spend the remainder of my life with ; but 
 now you deprive me of this consolation, where shall I turn 
 myself ? "What ought 1 to do ? Shall I desert Chariclea, 
 who has not yet recovered Theagenes ? That would be in- 
 famous and abominable ? Or shall I follow and attend her 
 in her search ? If there were a probable prospect of finding 
 him, the hope of success would sweeten, and authorize my 
 toils ; but if that expectation is distant and uncertain, and 
 the undertaking discouraging and difficult, who can tell 
 where my wanderings will end ? May I not, then, hope that 
 you, and the deities of friendship, will forgive me, if I ven- 
 ture to mention a return to my family and country ? espe- 
 cially since the gods offer me so unlooked-for an oppor- 
 tunity, in the voyage which Nausicles proposes making into 
 Greece. Ought I to let slip so favourable an occasion ? 
 since, should any thing have happened to my father, his 
 house will be left desolate, and his name and estate without 
 a successor : and though I may be destined to spend the 
 remainder of my days in poverty, yet it will be desirable and 
 right in me, to preserve in my own person the remnant of 
 my race. But, O Chariclea ! I am most anxious to excuse 
 myself to you, and to beg your forgiveness, which I beseech 
 you to grant me. I will follow you as far as the quar- 
 ters of the buccaners ; and will beg the favour of Nau- 
 sicles, however pressed he may be in time, to wait for me 
 so long. If perchance I should be so fortunate as to deliver 
 you there into the hands of Theagenes, I shall then appear to 
 have been a faithful guardian of the precious deposit which 
 has fallen under my care, and shall set out on my own expe- 
 
138 TIJE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 dition with lucky omens, and a quiet conscience. But if 
 (which the gods forbid !) I should be deceived in this hope, 
 I shall still, I trust, appear excusable, in that I have gone 
 so far, and have not left you alone, but in the hands of 
 the excellent Calasiris, your father, and best preserver.** 
 
 Chariclea meanwhile conjecturing, from many circum- 
 stances, that Cnemon was in love with the daughter of Nau- 
 sides (for one who is herself enamoured most easily detects 
 the like affections in another), and seeing, from the beha- 
 viour and expressions of .Nausicles, that he was very desirous 
 for the alliance, that he had long been working at it, and 
 endeavouring to allure Cnemon into it; and thinking it, 
 besides, not perfectly proper, or free from suspicion, that he 
 should any longer be the companion of her journey " My 
 friend," said she, " let us entreat you to act as is most 
 agreeable to yourself: receive our best and most grateful 
 thanks for all the favours you have bestowed upon us, and 
 the good offices you have performed. For the future we 
 have not so much need of your cares and attention, nor is 
 there now any necessity that you should endanger your own 
 fortunes, by waiting any longer upon ours. Gro, then, under 
 happy auspices, to Athens ; may you there again find your 
 family, and recover your estate. It would be blameable in 
 you to neglect the opportunity which Nausicles offers you : 
 I and Calasiris will struggle with the cross accidents which 
 pursue us, till we may perhaps, at last, find some end to our 
 wanderings. If we meet with no assistance from men, the 
 gods, we trust, will not forsake us." 
 
 " May the immortals," said Nausicles, " accompany Cha- 
 riclea, according to her prayers, and assist her in every 
 thing ! and may she soon recover her friend and parents : 
 her generous spirit and excellent understanding well deserve 
 success. Do you, Cnemon, regret no longer that you do 
 not bring Thisbe back again with you to Athens, especially 
 when you may accuse me of having carried her off clan- 
 destinely from thence; for the merchant of Naucratium, 
 the lover of Thisbe, was no other than myself; nor have you 
 any reason to apprehend distress or poverty. If your incli- 
 nations coincide with mine, you may not only recover your 
 country and family, under my guidance, but enrich yourself 
 to the extent of any reasonable desires. If you are willing 
 
THEAGENES A^D CHARICLEA. 139 
 
 to marry, I offer you my daughter, Nausiclea, with an ample 
 portion, judging that I have received enough in that I have 
 learned your family and nation." 
 
 Cnemon, seeing what had long been the object of his 
 wishes and prayers, now unexpectedly offered him beyond 
 his hopes, eagerly replied, " I take your offer with great joy, 
 and gratitude ;"' and Nausicles immediately delivered his 
 daughter into his outstretched hand, and betrothed her to 
 him ; and ordering those who were present to raise the nup- 
 tial song, he himself opened the dance, making the enter- 
 tainment furnish forth a sudden wedding. 
 
 All the company were engaged in this joyous ceremony, 
 the more pleasant, because unlocked for : the song resounded 
 through the apartments, and during the whole night, the 
 house shone with the marriage torches. But Chariclea, 
 retiring from the rest, betook herself to her solitary chamber ; 
 where, having secured the door, and risking as she thought 
 no intrusion, she surrendered herself to all the stings ot 
 frenzy. She let her dishevelled tresses fall upon her 
 shoulders, tore and discomposed her garments, and thus 
 broke out ; " Aye ! let me too, in the manner he likes best, 
 lead the dance before the overruling evil -genius ; let lamen- 
 tations be my songs, and tears my libations : let darkness 
 surround me, and obscure night preside over what I am 
 about;" and with this she extinguished her torch against 
 the ground. " What a dainty nuptial chamber has he pro- 
 vided me ! He claims me for himself, and keeps me soli- 
 tary. Cnemon marries and joins in the dance ; Theagenes 
 wanders a captive, perhaps, and in bonds ; and provided he 
 lives even that were well. Nausiclea is betrothed and sepa- 
 rated from me, who, till this night, partook of my bed ; and 
 I am left alone and destitute. Heaven knows that I grudge 
 them not their good fortune ; I wish them all felicity ; but 
 I repine that I have no share of it myself. The tragedy of 
 my misfortunes has been prolonged beyond example. But 
 what avails it to spend my time in womanish lamentations I 
 let the measure of my calamities be filled up, since such is 
 the will of heaven. But, O Theagenes, my sweet and only 
 care, if you are dead, and the dreadful tidings (which may 
 the gods forbid !) should ever wound my ear, I swear 
 instantly to join you in the shades below. Meanwhile let 
 me offer to your spirit (if it has left the lovely body) these 
 
140 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 funeral rites (and immediately she plucked off handfuls of 
 her hair and laid them on the bed) : " Let me pour a liba- 
 tion to you out of those eyes which you hold so dear ;" and 
 with this she bedewed her couch with her tears. " But, 
 if you are alive and safe, appear to me, my life, in a 
 dream ; and repose with me, but preserve, even then, the 
 respect you have sworn to, your betrothed." So saying, 
 she flung herself on the bed, embraced and kissed it ; till 
 sobs and groans, fatigue and grief, gradually overwhelmed 
 as with a cloud all her reasoning faculties ; and she sunk, 
 at last, into a deep sleep, which continued till late the 
 following morning. 
 
 Calasiris, wondering that she did not appear as usual, 
 went up to her chamber to inquire after her; where, knock- 
 ing loudly at the door, and calling her repeatedly by her 
 name, he at length awakened her. She, alarmed at this 
 sudden call, and confused at the disorder both of her person 
 and apartment ; yet, went to the door, unbolted it, and let 
 him in. He, when he saw her hair dishevelled, her gar- 
 ments torn, her eyes restless, and breathing still too much 
 of that passion with which they had been inflamed before 
 she dropped asleep, began to suspect something of the cause 
 of this agitation. Leading her, therefore, again to the bed, 
 placing her upon it, and helping her to compose her dress a 
 little " "Why, Chariclea," says he, " do you indulge these 
 transports ? Why do you grieve thus beyond measure, and 
 abjectly sink under the calamities which oppress you ? I 
 am now at a loss to discover that nobleness of mind, and 
 chastened spirit, with which you have hitherto borne your 
 ills. Have done with these unbecoming extravagancies 
 consider that you are a mortal creature ;* a thing unstable, 
 subject to the blasts of good and evil fortune. "Why 
 abandon yourself to despair, perhaps, on the eve of a change 
 of fortune ? Preserve yourself, my child ; if not for your own 
 sake, at least for Theagenes, who lives only in and for you." 
 
 Chariclea blushed at his chiding, and at the circumstances 
 in which he had surprised her. She was for some time 
 silent. At last she said " You have reason, I own, to 
 
 * " ye men, ye brittle things, mere images of clay, 
 
 Ye flitting leaves, ye shadowy shapes, ye creatures of a day, 
 Poor, wingless wretched mortals ye, like nothing but a dream." 
 
 Aristoph. Birds, 676. Gary's Tr. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 141 
 
 blame me, Father : but, perhaps, you will not think me 
 without excuse. My love for Theagenes is no new or vulgar 
 passion, but pure and chaste; it is directed towards one 
 who, though not my wedded husband, is my betrothed: 
 I am grieved and disappointed at not seeing him return with 
 you ; and am in a thousand doubts and fears about his life 
 and safety." 
 
 " Be comforted then," replied Calasiris, " trust in the 
 oracles of the gods, and believe, that under their guidance 
 and protection, he is both safe and well. You should re- 
 member what we heard yesterday that he was taken by 
 Thyamis, as he was being carried to Memphis ; and, if he is 
 in his power, you may be satisfied that he is safe ; for there 
 was a friendship between them even before. It is our 
 business now to make what haste we can to the town of 
 Bessa, in order to seek, you for your lover, and I for my son ; 
 for you have already heard that Thyamis stands in that 
 relation to me." 
 
 Chariclea appeared very pensive at this. " If indeed," 
 said she, " this is your son, and not some other Thyamis, our 
 affairs are in great jeopardy." Calasiris wondering at, and 
 inquiring the cause of, her apprehensions, " You know," 
 she continued, " that I was for some time in the power of 
 the pirates : there these unhappy features of mine inspired 
 Thyamis with love. I fear lest, if in our inquiry we should 
 meet with him, he should immediately recognize me, and 
 compel me to a marriage which, on various pretences, I 
 before with difficulty eluded." I trust," said the old man, 
 " that the sight of me will inspire him with reverence and 
 respect, and that a father's eye will repress and restrain his 
 intemperate desires : however, there is no reason why we 
 should not endeavour, by some artifice, to guard against 
 what you fear ; and you seem expert at finding out ex- 
 cuses and delays, against those who show themselves too 
 pressing." 
 
 Chariclea, recovering her spirits a little at this pleasantry 
 "I do not know whether you are in jest or earnest:" 
 said she, " but I can relate to you the contrivance of Thea- 
 genes and myself, when we attempted to make our escape 
 Irom the pirates' island ; and, if you approve of it, we may 
 make use now of the same stratagem ; and may it be more 
 
142 THE ADVENTS 1ES OF 
 
 fortunate than it was then ! We determined to change 
 our garments, to metamorphose ourselves into beggars, and 
 in this squalid garb to pass through the towns and villages. 
 Let us now then, if you please, put on the appearance of 
 wretchedness : we shall be less subject to inquiry and obser- 
 vation. The greatest security is found in the lowest estate. 
 Poverty is an object of pity, not of envy ; and we shall more 
 easily procure our daily bread : for, in a foreign land, every- 
 thing is sold dear to strangers ; but is cheaply given to the 
 wretched." 
 
 Calasiris approved of the project, and besought her to be 
 ready as soon as possible to set out. They acquainted 
 Nausicles and Cnemon with their intentions, and in three 
 days were prepared to enter on their expedition. They 
 took no beast of burden with them, though they might have 
 had one, nor suffered any one to attend them. Nausicles 
 and Cnemon, and all their family, accompanied them as far 
 as they would permit it. Nausiclea, too, having by earnest 
 entreaties obtained her father's permission, set out with her 
 friend; her love for Chariclea making her break through 
 that reserve and retirement which young women are ex- 
 pected to preserve during the first days of their nuptials. 
 They accompanied them about half a mile ; and then, salut- 
 ing each other, and mingling tears and every good wish 
 with their embraces, they took their leave. Cnemon re- 
 peatedly besought them to pardon those nuptial engage- 
 ments which prevented his going with them ; and promised 
 that, whenever he had an opportunity, he would endeavour 
 to find them out. 
 
 At length they separated. Kausicles, and his train, took 
 the road to Chemmis. Chariclea and Calasiris began the 
 transformation which they had meditated, and clothed them- 
 selves in tattered garments, which they had got ready. 
 She stained her cheeks with a compound of soot and dust,* 
 
 * " Whiles I may 'scape 
 
 I will preserve myself, and am bethought 
 
 To take the basest and the poorest shape 
 
 That ever penury, in contempt of man, 
 
 Brought near to beast. My face I'll grime with filth ; 
 
 Blanket my loins ; elfe all my hair in knots; 
 
 And with presented nakedness ; out-face 
 
 The winds, and persecutions of the sky." King Lear. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 143 
 
 and threw an old torn veil Negligently over her face. She 
 carried a bag under her arm, which had the appearance of 
 being a receptacle for scraps and broken victuals, but con- 
 tained, in reality, the sacred vestments she had brought 
 from Delphi her garlands, and the precious tokens which 
 her mother had exposed with her. 
 
 Calasiris carried her quiver, wrapt up in a piece of old 
 leather, as a burden, across his shoulders ; and, loosening 
 the string of her bow, made use of it as a walking-stick. If 
 any one approached, he leant heavily upon it, stooping more 
 than his years actually obliged him to do; and, limping 
 with one leg, suffered himself frequently to be led by 
 Chariclea. 
 
 When the metamorphosis was completed they could not 
 help smiling at each other's appearance, and, in the midst 
 of their grief, a few jokes upon it escaped them ; and 
 beseeching the deities who persecuted them to cease at 
 length from their anger, they made what haste they could 
 to the town of Bessa, where they hoped to find Theagenes 
 and Thyamis. But in this they were disappointed; for 
 arriving near Bessa at sun-setting, they saw the ground 
 strewed with a considerable number of dead bodies, newly 
 slain; most of them were Persians, whom they knew by 
 their habits, but some were the natives of the place. They 
 conjectured this to have been the work of war, but were at 
 a loss to know who had been the combatants. At length, 
 while they were searching and examining the corpses, 
 dreading lest they might find a friend among them (for 
 strong affection is unreasonably apprehensive on the slightest 
 grounds), they saw an old woman, hanging.over the body of 
 one of the natives, and loud in her lamentations. They 
 resolved therefore to endeavour to get w r hat intelligence 
 they could from her ; and, accosting her. they first tried to 
 soothe her vehement affliction ; and then, when she became 
 a little calmer, Calasiris, in the Egyptian tongue, ventured 
 to ask her what was the cause of the slaughter they saw 
 before them, and who it was whom she so lamented. She 
 answered, briefly, that she was mourning for her son ; that 
 she came on purpose to the field of battle that some one of 
 the combatants, if any should return, might deprive her of 
 
144 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 life, now become a burden to* her ; that meanwhile, amid 
 tears and lamentations, she was endeavouring, as well as 
 she could, to perform funeral rites for her child. The 
 cause of the engagement, says she, was as follows : " A 
 foreign youth, of remarkable beauty and stature, was pro- 
 ceeding under the direction of Mithranes, the Persian 
 Commandant, in his way to Memphis, where he was to 
 be presented to Oroondates, the Viceroy of the Great King. 
 Mithranes had taken him captive, and thought he could not 
 offer a more agreeable gift. The inhabitants of our towr 
 pretending, whether truly or not I cannot say, that they 
 had some knowledge of this young man, came suddenly 
 upon the soldiers of Mithranes, and rescued him . Mithranes, 
 when he heard of it, was violently enraged, and two days 
 ago led his troops against the town. My countrymen are 
 used to war; they lead a piratical life, and despise death 
 when gain or revenge are in view. Many are the widows 
 and orphans they have made, and many mothers have they 
 deprived of their children, as I, unhappy woman, am at this 
 day. As soon, therefore, as they had certain intelligence 
 of the Persians' expedition, they left the city, chose a 
 proper place for an ambuscade, and posting, in concealment, 
 a select body of troops where they knew the enemy must 
 pass, as soon as they appeared, attacked them resolutely 
 in front, while the rest of their companions rushed suddenly, 
 with a great shout, from their ambush, fell upon their flank, 
 and soon put them to the rout. Mithranes fell among the 
 first, and most of his troops with him ; for they were so 
 surrounded, that there was little opportunity for flight. A 
 few of our people were slain, and among those few my son, 
 transfixed, as you see, with a Persian dart ; and now I, 
 unhappy that I am, am bewailing his loss ; and, perhaps, 
 am still reserved to lament that of the only son I have now 
 left, who marched yesterday with the army against the city 
 of Memphis." 
 
 Calasiris inquired into the cause of this expedition. The 
 old woman told him what she had heard from her son : 
 That the inhabitants of Bessa, after they had slaughtered 
 the officer and soldiers of the Great King, saw plainly that 
 there was no room for excuse or pardon ; that Oroondates, 
 
THEAaEKES AND CHAEICLEA. 145 
 
 as soon as the intelligence reached Memphis, would im- 
 mediately set out with his army,* surround, besiege, and 
 utterly destroy their town ; that therefore they had resolved 
 to follow up one bold deed by a bolder; to anticipate the 
 preparations of the Viceroy; to march, in short, without 
 delay to Memphis, where, if they could arrive unexpectedly, 
 they might possibly surprise and seize his person, if he 
 were in the city ; or if he were gone, as was reported, upon 
 an expedition into ^Ethiopia, they might more easily make 
 themselves masters of a place which was drained of its 
 troops, and so might for some time ward off their danger ; 
 and could also reinstate their captain, Thyamis, in the 
 priesthood, of which he had been unjustly deprived by his 
 younger brother. But if they should fail in the bold 
 attempt, they would have the advantage of dying in the 
 field, like men, and escape falling into the hands of the 
 Persians, and being exposed to their insults and tortures. 
 " But, as for you," continued the old woman, "where are 
 you going?" "Into the town," said Calasiris. "It is 
 not safe for you," returned she, "at this late hour, and 
 unknown as you are, to go among strangers." " But if 
 you will receive us into your house," replied the other, 
 " we shall think ourselves safe." " I cannot receive you 
 just at this time," said she, " for I must now perform some 
 nocturnal sacrifices. But if you can endure it and indeed 
 you must do so, retire to some distance from the slain, and 
 endeavour to pass the night as well as you can in the plain; 
 in the morning I will gladly receive and entertain you as 
 my guests." When she had said this, Calasiris took Cha- 
 riclea, and shortly explained to her what had passed between 
 them ; and going to a rising ground, not very far from the 
 field of battle, he there reclined himself, putting the quiver 
 under his head. 
 
 Chariclea sat down on her wallet the moon just rising, 
 and beginning to illuminate all around with her silver light ; 
 for it was the third day from the full. Calasiris. old, and 
 fatigued with his journey, dropped asleep ; but Chariclea's 
 cares kept her waking, and made her spectatress of an 
 impious and accursed scene, but not an unusual one, among 
 
 c Tr}v KMprjv. See Book i. 
 
 L 
 
THE ADVENTUKES OF 
 
 the Egyptians. For* now the old woman, supposing herself 
 at liberty, and unobserved, dug a sort of pit, and lighted a 
 fire of sticks which she had collected together, on each side 
 of it. Between the two fires she placed the dead body of 
 her son, and taking an earthen cup from a neighbouring 
 tripod, she poured first honey into the trench, then milk, 
 and then wine. She next worked up a kind of paste of 
 dough into something of the similitude of a man, and 
 crowning it with laurel and fennel, cast that too into the 
 ditch. Then snatching up a sword, with many frantic 
 gestures and barbarous invocations to the moon, in an 
 unknown tongue, she wounded herself in the arm, and 
 dipping a branch of laurel in her blood, sprinkled it over 
 the fire. And after many other wild and mystic ceremonies, 
 she stooped down at length to the corpse of her son, 
 whispered something in its ear. and, by the power of her 
 spells, raised and forced it to stand upright. 
 
 Chariclea, who had observed the former part of this 
 ceremony, not without apprehension, was now seized with 
 affright and horror, and awakened Calasiris, that he too 
 might be a spectator of what was being done. They, being 
 themselves shrouded in darkness, observed in security 
 what passed by the light of the fires, and were near enough 
 too to hear what was said ; the old woman now questioning 
 the dead body in a loud voice, " Whether its brother, her 
 son, would return in safety?" it answered nothing; but 
 nodding its head by a doubtful signal, gave its mother room 
 to hope, and then, on a sudden, fell down again upon its 
 face. She turned the body on its back, repeated her 
 question, and whispered, as it should seem, still stronger 
 charms in its ear; and brandishing her sword now over the 
 fire, and now over the trench, raised the corpse again, and 
 putting the same interrogation to it, urged it to answer her, 
 not by nods and signs only, but in actual and distinct words. 
 
 Here Chariclea addressed Calasiris, arid besought him to 
 approach, and ask something about Theagenes; but he 
 refused altogether ; declaring, that it was much against his 
 inclination that he became a compulsory spectator of so 
 
 * See Lucan, Book vi., 667 761, where Erichthe brings the dead 
 to life in order to obtain a response as to the future success of 
 Pompey. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAKICLEA. 147 
 
 impious a scene; for it did not become a priest to be 
 present at, much less to take a part in, such a deed. " Our 
 divinations," said he, " are made by means of lawful sacri- 
 fices, and pure prayers ; not by profane ceremonies, and 
 unhallowed conjurations of dead carcases, such as our 
 wayward fate has now obliged us to be witnesses of." But 
 while he was proceeding, the body, with a deep and hollow 
 voice, began to speak, as if its words were uttered from the 
 inmost recesses of a winding cave. " I spared you at first, 
 O mother, although you were transgressing the laws of 
 nature, disregarding the decrees of the fates, and disturbing 
 by your enchantments, what ought to remain at rest. 
 There is, even among the departed, a reverence for parents ; 
 but since, as far as in you lies, you destroy that reverence, 
 and persist in pushing your wicked incantations to the 
 utmost since you are not content with raising up a dead 
 body, and forcing it to make signs, but will proceed to 
 compel it to speak ; regardless of the care you owe to your 
 son's remains, preventing his shade from mixing with those 
 who are gone before him, and mindful only of your own 
 private convenience and curiosity hear what I piously 
 avoided disclosing to you before : 
 
 " Tour son shall return no more ; and you yourself shall 
 perish by the sword, and shortly conclude your course by a 
 violent death, worthy of the execrable practices in which 
 you have spent your life ; you who are not now alone, as 
 you suppose yourself ; but are performing your horrid rites, 
 worthy of being buried in the deepest silence and darkness, 
 in the sight of others, and betraying the secrets of the 
 dead in the hearing of witnesses. One of them is a priest ; 
 and his wisdom indeed is such, that he may perhaps see 
 the propriety of concealing what he has seen. He is dear 
 to the gods ; and if he hastens his journey, he may prevent 
 his sons from engaging singly with each other in a bloody 
 and deadly fight, and compose their differences. But what 
 is infinitely worse, a maiden has heard and seen everything 
 which has taken place. She is deeply in love, and is wan- 
 dering through the world in search of her lover, whom, 
 after many toils and dangers, she shall at last obtain, and, 
 in a remote corner of the earth, pass with him a splendid 
 and royal life." 
 
 L 2 
 
148 THE ADYENTUBES OF 
 
 Having said this, the body fell again prone on the ground. 
 The old woman concluding that the strangers were the 
 spectators meant, ran furiously, in all the disorder of her 
 dress, and sword in hand, to seek for them among the 
 dead, where she imagined they had concealed themselves ; 
 determined to destroy, if she could find them, the witnesses 
 of her abominable incantations. But while searching incau- 
 tiously among the carcases, and blinded by her fury, she 
 stumbled, and fell headlong upon a fragment of a spear 
 stuck upright in the earth, which, piercing through her 
 body, soon put an end to her wicked life, and quickly 
 fulfilled the fatal prophecy of her son. 
 
 BOOK VII. 
 
 ON the other hand, Calasiris and his fair companion, 
 having been in such danger, in order to be free from their 
 present terrors, and hastening, on account of the prophecy 
 they had heard, continued, with diligence, their journey to 
 Memphis. They arrived at the city at the very time when 
 those events were being fulfilled which had been foretold 
 in the incantation scene.* The citizens of Memphis had 
 just time to shut their gates, before the arrival of Thyamis 
 and his robber band ; a soldier from the army of Mithranes, 
 who had escaped from the battle of Bessa having foreseen, 
 and foretold, the attempt. 
 
 Thyamis having ordered his men to encamp under the 
 walls, rested them after the fatigues of their march ; and 
 determined forthwith to besiege the city. They in the 
 town who, surprised at first, expected the attack of a nume- 
 rous army, when they saw from their walls the small num- 
 ber of their assailants, put themselves in motion, and 
 collecting the few troops, archers and cavalry, left for the 
 defence of the place, and arming the citizens as best they 
 could, were preparing to issue out of the gates, and 
 attack their enemy in the field. But they were restrained by 
 a man of some years and authority among them, who said, 
 that although the Viceroy Oroondates was absent in the 
 * SK TYIQ VIKVIO.Q. Nffcum the title of t! 3 llth Bk. of the Odyssey. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAKICLEA. 149 
 
 ^Ethiopian war, it would be improper for them to take any 
 step without the knowledge and direction of his wife, 
 Arsace ; and that the soldiers who were left, would engage 
 much more heartily in the cause, if fighting under her orders. 
 
 The multitude joined with him in opinion, and followed 
 him to the palace which the viceroy inhabited in the absence 
 of the sovereign. Arsace* was beautiful, and tall ; expert 
 in business ; haughty because of her birth, as being the 
 sister of the Great King ; extremely blameable, however, in 
 her conduct, and given up to dissolute pleasure. She had, 
 in a great measure, been the cause of the exile of Thyamis : 
 for when Calasiris, on account of the oracle which he had 
 received relative to his children, had withdrawn himself pri- 
 vately from Memphis, t and on his disappearing, was thought 
 to have perished ; Thyamis, as his eldest son, was called to 
 the dignity of the priesthood, and performed his initiatory 
 sacrifice in public. Arsace, as she entered the temple of 
 Isis, encountered this blooming and graceful youth, dressed 
 on the occasion with more than usual splendour. She cast 
 wanton glances at him, and by her gestures gave plain inti- 
 mation of her passion. J He, naturally modest, and virtuously 
 brought up, did not notice this, and had no suspicion of her 
 meaning, nay, intent on the duties of his office, probably 
 attributed her conduct to some quite different cause. But 
 his brother Petosiris, who had viewed with jealous eyes his 
 exaltation to the priesthood, and had observed the behaviour 
 of Arsace towards him, considered how he might make use 
 of her irregular desires, as a means of laying a snare for him 
 whom he envied. 
 
 He went privately to Oroondates, discovered to him his 
 wife's inclinations, and basely and falsely affirmed that 
 Thyamis complied with them. Oroondates was easily per- 
 suaded of the truth of this intelligence, from his previous 
 suspicions ; but took no notice of it to her, being unable 
 
 * The description of " Gulbeyaz," in Don Juan, canto v., here and 
 there illustrates amusingly the scenes between Theagenes and Arsace. 
 " Her presence was as lofty as her state ; 
 
 Her beauty of that overpowering kind, 
 "Whose force description only would abate." C. v. 97. 
 f See Book ii. 
 
 " she had recourse to nods, and signs, 
 
 And smiles, and sparkles of the speaking eye." C. ii. 162. 
 
150 THE ADVEXTUBES OF 
 
 clearly to convict her; and dreading and respecting the 
 royal race she sprang from, thought it best to conceal his real 
 opinion. He did not, however, cease uttering threats of 
 death against Thyamis, until he drove him into banishment; 
 when Petosiris was appointed to the priesthood in his room. 
 
 These events happened some years before the time of 
 which I am at present speaking. But now the multitude 
 surrounded the palace of Arsace, informed her of the ap- 
 proach of an hostile army (of which however she was aware) 
 and besought her to give orders to the soldiers to march 
 out with them to attack the enemy. 
 
 She told them that she thought she ought not to comply 
 with their request, till she had made herself a little ac- 
 quainted with the number of the enemy who they were 
 from whence they came and what was the cause of their 
 expedition. That for that purpose she thought it would 
 be proper for her first to ascend the walls, to take a survey 
 from thence ; and then having collected more troops, to 
 determine, upon consideration, what was possible and expe- 
 dient to be done. 
 
 The people acquiesced in what she said, and advanced at 
 once towards the wall ; where, by her command, they 
 erected upon the ramparts a tent, adorned with purple an'd 
 gold-embroidered tapestry ; and she, royally attired, placed 
 herself under it, on a lofty throne, having around her, her 
 guards in arms, glittering with gold; and holding up a 
 herald's wand,* the symbol of peace, invited the chiefs of 
 the enemy to a conference under the walls. 
 
 Thyamis and Theagenes advanced before the rest, and 
 presented themselves under the ramparts, in complete 
 armour, their heads only uncovered : and the herald made 
 proclamation : 
 
 " Arsace, wife of the chief viceroy, and sister of the Great 
 King, desires to know who you are what are your demands 
 and why you presume to make incursions into the terri- 
 tory of Memphis ?" They replied, that their followers were 
 men of Bessa. Thyamis, moreover, explained who he was : 
 how being unjustly deprived of the priesthood of Memphis 
 by the suspicions of Oroondates, and the arts of his brother 
 
 * Kijpviceiov, caduceus, the staff or mace carried by heralds and 
 ambassadors in time of war. 
 
TIIEAGENES AND CHAKICLEA. 151 
 
 Petosins, lie was come to claim it again at the head of these 
 bands that if they would restore him to his office, he asked 
 no more ; and his followers would withdraw in peace, with- 
 out injuring any one ; but if they refused this just demand, 
 he must endeavour to do himself justice by force and arms 
 that it became Arsace to revenge herself upon Petosiris for 
 his wicked calumnies against her ; by which he had infused 
 into the mind of her husband suspicions against her honour ; 
 and had driven him, his brother, into exile." 
 
 These words made a great impression upon the citizens : 
 they well recollected Thyamis again ; and now knowing the 
 cause of his unexpected flight, of which they were ignorant 
 before, they were very much disposed to believe that what 
 he now alleged was truth. But Arsace was more disturbed 
 than any one, and distracted by a tempest of different cares 
 and thoughts. She was inflamed with anger against Peto- 
 siris, and calling to mind the past, resolved how she might 
 best revenge herself upon him. She looked sometimes at 
 Thyamis, and then again at Theagenes : and was alternately 
 drawn by her desires towards both. Her old inclination to 
 the former revived ; towards the latter a new and stronger 
 flame hurried her away ; so that her emotion was very visible 
 to all the by-standers. After some struggle, however, re- 
 covering herself, as if from convulsive seizure, she said, "What 
 madness has engaged the inhabitants of Bessa in this expe- 
 dition? and you, beautiful and graceful youths of noble birth, 
 why should you expose yourselves to manifest destruction 
 for a band of marauders, who, if they were to come to a 
 battle, would not be able to sustain the first shock ? for the 
 troops of the Great King are not so reduced as not to have 
 left a sufficient force in the city to surround and overwhelm 
 all of you, although the viceroy be absent in a foreign war. 
 But since the pretext of this expedition is of a private 
 nature, why should the people at large be sufferers in a 
 quarrel in which they have no concern ? Rather let the 
 parties determine their dispute between themselves, and 
 commit their cause to the justice and judgment of the gods. 
 Let, then, the inhabitants both of Memphis and the men of 
 Bessa remain at peace ; nor causelessly wage war against 
 each other. Let those who contend for the priesthood en- 
 
152 THE ADYENTUEES OF 
 
 gage in single combat, and be the holy dignity the prize of 
 the conqueror." 
 
 Arsace was heard by the inhabitants of Memphis with 
 pleasure, and her proposal was received with their unani- 
 mous applause. They suspected the wickedness and trea- 
 chery of Petosiris, and were pleased with the prospect of 
 transferring to his single person the sudden danger which 
 threatened the whole community. But the bands of Bessa 
 did not so readily agree ; they were at first very averse to 
 expose their leader to peril in their behalf, until Thyamis at 
 length persuaded them to consent; representing to them 
 the weakness and unskilfulness of Petosoris, whereas he 
 should engage in the combat with every possible advantage 
 on his side. This reflection probably influenced Arsace in 
 proposing the single combat. She hoped to obtain by it 
 her real aim, revenge upon Petosiris, exposing him to fight 
 with one so much his superior in skill and courage. 
 
 The preparations for the encounter were now made with 
 all celerity ; Thyamis, with the utmost alacrity, hastening to 
 put on what still he wanted to complete his armour. Thea- 
 genes encouraging him, securely buckled on his arms, and 
 placed, lastly, a helmet on his head, flashing with gold, and 
 with a lofty "crest. 
 
 On the other hand, Petosiris protested against the combat. 
 He was obliged by violence to put on his arms ; and, by the 
 command of Arsace, was thrust out of the gates. Thyamis 
 seeing him " Do you observe, Theagenes," said he, " how 
 Petosiris shakes with fear?" "Yes," replied the other; 
 " but how (resumed he) will you use the victory which 
 seems ready to your hands ; for it is no common foe whom 
 you are going to encounter, but a brother?" "You say 
 well ;" he returned, "and have touched the very subject of 
 my thoughts. I intend to conquer him with the assistance 
 of the gods, but not to kill him. Ear be it from me to suffer 
 myself to be so far transported by anger, resentment, or 
 ambition, as to pursue revenge for past injuries, or purchase 
 future honours at the expense of a brother's blood ! " 
 
 " You speak nobly," said Theagenes ; " and as one who 
 feels the force of natural ties ; but have you any commands 
 for me?" "The combat I am going to engage in," said 
 
THEAGENES AKD CHAEICLEA. Io3 
 
 Thyamis, "is a mere trifle, fit to be despised ; but since For- 
 tune sometimes sports with mortals, and strange accidents 
 happen, I will just say, that if I prove victor, you shall 
 accompany me into the city, live with me, and partake 
 equally with myself, of everything which my fortune and 
 station can afford. But if, contrary to my expectation, I 
 should be vanquished, you shall command the bands of 
 Bessa, with whom you are in great favour, and shall lead for a 
 time the life of a freebooter, till the Deity shall place you 
 in more prosperous circumstances." Having said this, they 
 embraced each other with great affection ; and Theagenes 
 sat down to observe the issue of the fight. 
 
 In this situation he unconsciously afforded Arsace an 
 opportunity of feeding herself upon his presence, as she sur- 
 veyed his person, and gratified at least her eyes.* And 
 now Thyamis advanced towards Petosiris ; but Petosiris 
 could not sustain his approach, and on his first movement 
 turned about towards the gate, and attempted to re-enter 
 the city, but in vain ; for those who were stationed at the 
 entrance drove him back ; and those who were upon the 
 walls gave notice throughout the whole circuit of the place, 
 that he should nowhere be admitted. He fled then as fast 
 as he could around the city, and at length threw away his 
 arms. Thyamis pursued him ; and Theagenes followed, 
 solicitous for his friend, and desirous of seeing what would 
 happen. He took no arms with him, lest it might appear 
 that he came to assist Thyamis ; but, placing his spear and 
 shield where he had before sat, and leaving them for Arsace 
 to contemplate in his stead, he attended closely on the steps 
 of the brothers. 
 
 Petosiris was not yet taken, nor was he far in advance ; 
 he was every minute in danger of being reached, and had 
 only so much the advantage of the course, as it was reason- 
 able to suppose an unarmed man would have over one who 
 was in armour. In this manner they twice circled the 
 walls ; but the third time Thyamis approached near enough 
 to threaten the back of his 'brother with his spear. He 
 called on him to stop and turn, if he would avoid receiving 
 
 * " She did so course o'er my exteriors with such a greedy intention 
 that thte appetite of her eye did seein to scorch rne up like a burning 
 glass." Merry Wives of Windsor. 
 
15-1 THE ADVENTURES OP 
 
 a wound ; the multitude meanwhile upon the walls, as in a 
 theatre, being spectators and judges of the contest. 
 
 Just at this instant, either the interposition of the Deity, 
 or the caprice of Fortune, who rules the aft'airs of men, in- 
 troduced an episode upon the stage, and supplied, as if out 
 of rivalry, a beginning for another drama. Calasiris, who 
 had submitted to a voluntary exile, and had supported in- 
 numerable perils, both by sea and land, in order to avoid 
 the dreadful sight, was brought to the spot at that very 
 hour, and compelled by inevitable fate to become a witness 
 of the encounter of his sons, as the oracle had long ago fore- 
 told he should be. As soon as he arrived near enough to 
 see what was passing under the walls of Memphis when 
 he recognised his children, recollected the prophecy, and 
 saw the arms of one of them raised against the other, he 
 hastened with greater speed than his age seemed to admit 
 of, (doing violence to his weight of years), to prevent the 
 dreaded issue of the combat. 
 
 Having nearly reached them, he exclaimed with all his 
 might " My children ! what mean you ? what madness is 
 this !" They, intent on what they were themselves en- 
 gaged in, did not recognise their father, covered as he was 
 with beggar's weeds, but took him for some wandering 
 vagrant, who was probably beside himself. Those who were 
 on the walls, wondered at his so rashly exposing himself 
 between the combatants. Others laughed at what they 
 thought his mad and fruitless efforts. When the good old 
 man perceived that he was not known under these mean 
 garments, he cast aside the tatters under which he was dis- 
 guised ; let his sacred locks flow down upon his shoulders, 
 threw away his scrip and staff, and stood before them with 
 a reverend and priest-like aspect ; gently inclining his body, 
 and stretching out his hands as a suppliant : his tears flowed 
 apace, while he exclaimed " O my sons, I am Calasiris I 
 am your father stay your hands repress your fatal rage 
 receive, acknowledge, and reverence your parent." 
 
 Almost ready to swoon, the young men slackened in their 
 course, and cast themselves before his feet, hardly believing 
 what they saw ; but when they were convinced that it was 
 really Calasiris, and no phantom, they embraced his knee$ 
 and 'clung to him, their minds labouring with various and 
 
THEA GENES AND CHARICLEA. 155 
 
 conflicting feelings. They were rejoiced at seeing their 
 father unexpectedly safe they were ashamed and hurt at 
 the circumstances in which he had found them they were 
 confused and solicitous at the uncertainty of what was to 
 follow. 
 
 The spectators from the city gazed with wonder at what 
 was passing, and observed it in silence, without interfering. 
 They were, in a manner, astounded with ignorance and sur- 
 prise, and stood like figures on a painter's canvas, rivetted 
 upon the scene before them, when lo ! a new actress made 
 her appearance on the stage. Chariclea followed close after 
 Calasiris. The eye of a lover is quick as lightning in recog- 
 nising the object 'of its passion a single gesture, the fold of 
 a garment, seen behind, or at a distance, is sufficient to con- 
 firm its conjectures. When she knew Theagenes afar off, 
 transported at the long-wished-for sight, she ran frantickly 
 towards him, and, falling on his neck, embraced him closely, 
 breathing out her passion in inarticulate murmurs, 
 
 He, when he saw a squalid face, disguised, and industri- 
 ously discoloured, her tattered garments, and vile appear- 
 ance, repulsed and threw her from him with disgust, as 
 some common beggar ; and when she still persisted, and 
 hindered his seeing Calasiris and his children, he smote her 
 on the face. She softly said to him "O Pythias, have you 
 then forgotten the torch ? " He, startled as at the sudden 
 stroke of an arrow, recognized the token which had been 
 agreed upon between them ; and, looking at the countenance 
 of Chariclea, which broke on him like the sun from behind 
 a cloud, rushed into her embrace. All those upon the walls, 
 including Arsace herself, who swelled with displeasure and 
 already viewed Chariclea w r ith jealous eyes, were overcome 
 with wonder, as at some scenic exhibition. 
 
 The unnatural warfare between the brothers was now 
 ended ; the tragedy which threatened blood, had passed into 
 a comedy. The father, who had seen them armed against 
 each other, and had nearly been a spectator of the wounds 
 of one of them, became the instrument of peace.* He who 
 was unable to avoid the fated spectacle of his sons' hos- 
 
 * EtprjvriQ avroQ ty&vtTO TrpvraviQ literally, he became the pre- 
 sident or manager, &c. 
 
156 THE AD VENTURES OF 
 
 tilities, was fortunate enough to rule the issue of what fate 
 had ordered. 
 
 They recovered their father after a ten years' exile ; and 
 they hastened to crown and invest him again with the en- 
 signs of that dignity, which had nearly been the cause of a 
 bloody contest between them. But amid all these successes 
 the love scene of the drama triumphed Theagenes and 
 Chariclea, blooming in youth and beauty, and sparkling with 
 pleasure at having recovered one another, attracted the eyes 
 of every beholder. Nearly the whole city poured out through 
 the gates, and a multitude of every age and sex hurried inte 
 the plain. The young men surrounded Theagenes ; those in 
 the prime of life, and who had formerly known him, crowded 
 round Thyamis ; the maidens who already indulged in 
 dreams of wedlock followed Charicloa ; the old men and 
 priests attended upon and congratuled Calasiris: thus a 
 kind of sacred procession was formed upon the instant. 
 
 Thyamis dismissed the men of Bessa with much grati- 
 tude, and many thanks for their ready assistance. He pro- 
 mised by the next full moon to send them a hundred oxen, 
 a thousand sheep, and ten drachmas each ; and then, placing 
 his neck within the embrace of the old man, he supported 
 on one side the tottering steps of his weary father, whom 
 fatigue, surprise, and joy had well nigh exhausted. Peto- 
 siris on his side did the same : and thus they led him, with 
 lighted torches, and the applause and congratulations of the 
 surrounding multitude, to the temple of Isis ; pipes and 
 sacred flutes attending the procession, and stimulating the 
 spirits of the young to activity in the holy dance. Neither 
 was Arsace herself absent from the ceremony, for with 
 guards, attendants, and much pomp, she proceeded to the 
 temple of Isis, where she offered gold and precious stones, 
 under pretence of setting an example to the city, but having 
 eyes for Theagenes alone, and gazing upon him with 
 more eagerness than did all the others ; yet the pleasure 
 she received was not unmixed. Theagenes held Chariclea 
 by the hand, and for her he removed the surrounding crowd, 
 and the keen stings of jealousy sunk deep into the breast 
 of Arsace. 
 
 But Calasiris, when he arrived at the innermost part of 
 the temple, threw himself on his face, and continued so long 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 157 
 
 prostrate and motionless at the feet of the sacred image, 
 that he was near expiring under emotion. The bystanders 
 gently raised and set him on his feet ; and when with diffi- 
 culty, and by degrees, he came to himself, he poured out a 
 libation to the goddess, and, in the midst of vows and 
 prayers, took the sacred diadem of the priesthood from his 
 own head, and placed it on that of his son Thyamis ; saying 
 to the spectators " That he felt himself old, and saw his 
 end approaching that his eldest son was his lawful suc- 
 cessor in the office and that he possessed the needful 
 vigour, both of mind and body, for exercising the functions 
 of it." 
 
 The multitude testified, by their acclamations, their ap- 
 probation of what he said ; and he retired with his sons, and 
 Theagenes, to those apartments of the temple which are set 
 apart for the high-priest. The crowd separated to their 
 several habitations ; and Arsace at length departed, unwil- 
 lingly, and often turning back, under pretence of greater 
 respect to the goddess; at last, however she did depart, 
 casting back her eyes as long as possible upon Theagenes. 
 
 As soon as she arrived at her palace, she hurried to her 
 chamber, and, throwing herself upon the bed, in the habit 
 she had on, lay there a long time speechless. She was a 
 woman ever inclined to sensual passion ; and was now in- 
 flamed above measure by the beauties and grace of The- 
 agenes, which excelled any she had ever beheld. She con- 
 tinued restless and agitated all night, turning from one side 
 to the other, fetching deep and frequent sighs ; now rising 
 up, and again falling back on her couch ; now tearing off 
 her clothes, and then again throwing herself upon her bed ; 
 calling in her maids without cause, and dismissing them 
 without orders,* In short, her unrestrained love would 
 certainly have driven her into frenzy, had not an old cronc\ 
 
 * " Her rage was but a minute's, and 'twas well 
 
 A moment's more had slain her ; but the while 
 
 It lasted 'twas like a short glimpse of hell : 
 Nought's more sublime than energetic bile, 
 
 Though horrible to see, yet grand to tell, 
 Like ocean warring 'gainst a rocky isle ; 
 
 And the deep passions flashing through her form, 
 
 Made her a beautiful embodied storm." Byroa. 
 
158 THE ADVENTUKES OF 
 
 Cybele by name, her bedchamber woman, well acquainted 
 with, her secrets, and who had ministered to her amours, 
 hurried into the chamber. 
 
 Nothing had escaped her notice, and she now came to add 
 fuel to the flame; thus addressing her : "What ails you, 
 my dear mistress ? "What new passion tortures you ? Whose 
 countenance has raised such a flame in my nursling's soul ? 
 Is there any one foolish or insolent enough to overlook or 
 contemn advances from you ? Can any mortal see your 
 charms unmoved, and not esteem your favours as a most 
 supreme felicity ? Conceal nothing from me, my sweet child. 
 He must be made of adamant, indeed, whom my arts cannot 
 soften. Only tell me your wishes, and I will answer for the 
 success of them. You have more than once made trial of 
 my skill and fidelity." With these and such like insinua- 
 ting persuasions, and falling at the feet of Arsace, she en- 
 treated her to disclose the cause of her sufferings and agita- 
 tions. The princess at last, composing herself a little, said 
 
 " Good nurse ! I have received a deeper wound than I 
 have ever yet felt ; and though I have frequently, on similar 
 occasions, successfully experienced your abilities, I doubt 
 whether they can avail me now. The war which threatened 
 our walls yesterday,* has ended without bloodshed, and has 
 settled into peace ; but it has been the cause of raising a 
 more cruel war within my bosom, and of inflicting a deep 
 wound, not on any part of my body, but on ray very soul, 
 by offering to my view, in a luckless hour, that foreign 
 youth who ran near Thyamis during the single combat. 
 "You must know whom I mean, for his beauty shone so 
 transcendently among them all 1 , as to be conspicuous to the 
 rudest and most insensible to love, much more to one of 
 your matured experience. Wherefore my dearest nurse, 
 now that you know my wound, employ all your skill to heal 
 it ; call up every art, work with every spell and will which 
 years have taught you, if you would have your mistress sur- 
 vive ; for it is in vain for me to think of living, if I do not 
 enjoy this young man." 
 
 " I believe I know the youth of whom you speak," replied 
 
 * The original has r7/>tpov, to-day ; but that must be an oversight, 
 for a little before it is said that Arsace continued all night, iravvi>\t(jc, 
 in agitation. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 159 
 
 the old woman ; " his chest and shoulders were broad ; his 
 neck, straight and noble ; his stature, raised above his fel- 
 lows ; and he outshone, in short, every one around him : 
 his eyes sparkling with animation, yet their fire tempered 
 with sweetness ; his beautiful locks clustered on his 
 shoulders ; and the first down of youth appeared upon his 
 cheek. An outlandish wench, not without beauty, but of un- 
 common impudence, ran suddenly up to him, embraced him, 
 and hung upon his neck. Is not this the man you mean? " 
 
 "It is indeed," replied Arsace ; "I well remember the 
 last circumstance you mention; and that strolling hussy, 
 whose* home-spun made-up charms have nothing more in 
 them than common, but are, alas ! m'uch more fortunate 
 than mine, since they have obtained for her such a lover. 
 
 The old woman smiled at this, and said, " Be of good 
 cheer, my child ; the stranger just now, perhaps, thinks his 
 present mistress handsome; but if I can make him possessor 
 of your beauties he will find himself to have exchanged brass 
 for' gold,t and will look with disdain upon that conceited 
 and saucy strumpet." " Only do this, my dearest Cybele, 
 and you will cure, at once, two dreadful distempers love 
 and jealousy ; you will free me from one, and satisfy the 
 other." "Be it my care," replied the nurse, "to bring this 
 about ; do you, in the mean time, compose yourself; take a 
 little rest; do not despair before the trial, but cherish 
 soothing hope." Having said this, she took up the lamp, 
 and, shutting the door of the chamber, went away. 
 
 Soon after sunrise, taking one of the eunuchs of the 
 palace with her, and ordering a maid to follow her with 
 cakesj and other requisites for sacrifice, she hastened to the 
 temple of sis. Upon arriving at the entrance, she said 
 she came to offer a sacrifice for her mistress Arsace, who 
 1 had been disturbed by portentous dreams, and wished to 
 propitiate the goddess. One of the vergers opposed, 
 and sent her away, telling her "that the temple 
 was overwhelmed with sorrow that Calasiris, returned 
 from his long exile, had feasted with his friend the evening 
 
 * aTT* oiKr,(jLarog /cat l7riTeTr)devfjiev(t> jcaXXa. 
 
 + Like Glaucus with Diomed in the Iliad, vi. 235. 
 
 TTOTTCtVOlQ. 
 
 " tenui popano corrupt^ Osiris." Juv. vi. 541. 
 
160 THE ADYENTUEES OF 
 
 before, unbending his mind with unusual cheerfulness and 
 mirth : after the entertainment he made a libation, and 
 poured out many prayers to the goddess he told his sons 
 that they would not see him much longer and earnestly re- 
 commended to their protection the young Greeks who came 
 with him ; begging them to have the tenderest care of, and 
 assist them in everything: he then retired to rest; and 
 whether excess of joy had relaxed his nerves and exhausted 
 his spirits more than his old and worn-out frame could bear, 
 or whether he had asked, and obtained, this favour of the 
 gods, towards cock-crowing he was found to have expired, 
 by his sons, who, alarmed at his presages, had watched over 
 him all night. And now/' continued he, " we have sent into 
 the city, to assemble together the rest of the priestly caste, 
 that we may celebrate his funeral rites according to the 
 custom of our country. You must therefore retire ; for it 
 is not lawful for any one, except the priests, to enter the 
 temple, much less to sacrifice, for at least seven days." 
 
 " What then will become of the Grecian strangers during 
 this interval?" said Cybele P " Thy amis," he replied, 
 " our new high-priest, has ordered apartments to be fitted 
 up for them, beyond its precincts ; and they are even 
 now complying with our custom, by quitting the temple, 
 and during this melancholy space of time, will lodge with- 
 out." 
 
 The old woman, thinking this an admirable occasion to 
 spread her nets and prepare her snares, said, " Good verger, 
 now is the time to be of service to the strangers, and to 
 oblige Ar^ace, sister of the Great King. You know how 
 fond she is of Greeks, and how ready to show hospitality to 
 foreigners; let these young people know, that with 'the 
 knowledge, and by the consent of Thyamis, apartments are 
 prepared for them in our palace." 
 
 The verger, suspecting nothing of Cybele's designs, ima- 
 gined that he was doing a very good office for the strangers 
 if he could get them received into the Viceroy's palace ; 
 that he should also oblige those who asked this of him, and 
 hurt nobody. He sought therefore Theagenes and Cha- 
 riclea. He found them drowned in tears, and overwhelmed 
 with sorrow. "You do not act," said he, " conformably to 
 the principles of your country or religion in lamenting so 
 
THEAGINES AND CHARICLEA. 161 
 
 deeply the departure of a holy man, who, besides, foretold 
 it to you, and forbade you to grieve at it. Eeason and the 
 divine word should rather encourage you to attend him, 
 mentally, with rejoicing and congratulation as resting from 
 his labours, and having exchanged this troublesome state 
 for a better. On your own account, however, I can excuse 
 your giving way, at first, to grief, having lost your father, 
 your protector, and chief support ; but you must not de- 
 spair; Thyamis succeeds not only to his father's dignity, 
 but to his affections towards you. He has manifested the 
 greatest regard for you. His first thoughts have been for 
 your accommodation. He has been able to procure a retreat 
 for you, so splendid, as not only foreigners in low estate 
 like you, but the greatest of the inhabitants, would envy 
 Follow then this woman," pointing to Cybele " consider 
 her as your mother, and accept the hospitality to which she 
 will introduce you." 
 
 Theagenes and Chariclea did as they were directed. Grief 
 had so overwhelmed their faculties, that they hardly knew 
 what they were about; and in their present forlorn state were 
 willing to fly to any refuge. But could they have foreseen 
 the calamities which awaited them in the house they were 
 about to enter, they would have shrunk back. Fortune, 
 whose sport they were, seemed now to promise them a short 
 space for rest, and a prospect of joy, only to plunge them 
 deeper in misfortunes. They went voluntary prisoners ; 
 and young, strangers, and unsuspecting, deceived by the 
 fair show of hospitality, they delivered themselves up to 
 their enemy. Thus subject is a wandering life to the cloud 
 of error, and thus easily is the unhappy traveller deluded 
 and imposed upon. 
 
 The lovers, when they arrived at the viceregal palace, 
 and saw its magnificent vestibules (far more splendid than 
 any private house), the guards, and array of attendants 
 and courtiers, were surprised and disturbed, observing the 
 habitation to be very much beyond what was suitable to the 
 present condition of their fortunes. However, they fol- 
 lowed Cybele, who exhorted and encouraged them called 
 them her friends and children, and bid them form the most 
 pleasing expectations for their future. At length, when 
 she had brought them to her own apartment, which waa 
 
 1C 
 
162 THE ADVENTUEE8 OP 
 
 remote and private, she caused them to sit down, and thus 
 addressed them : 
 
 " My children, I am acquainted with the cause of your 
 present sorrow; and that you lament, with great reason, 
 the death of the high priest, Calasiris, who was in the place 
 of a father to you ; but it is proper for you now to tell me 
 who you are, and from whence you come. So far I know, 
 that you are Greeks ; and, as I judge from your appearance, 
 of a good family ; for a countenance so ingenuous, so graceful 
 and engaging an air, bespeak a noble race. But from what 
 country and city of Greece you come, and by what chance 
 you have wandered hither, I wish to know; and it will be for 
 your interest to acquaint me, that I may inform my mistress 
 Arsace, the sister of the Great King, and wife of the most 
 powerful of the viceroys, Oroondates. She is hospitable, 
 refined, and a lover of the Greeks. "When she has had 
 some previous information about you, you will appear before 
 her with less embarrassment, and more hoDOur. And what- 
 ever you disclose, will not be to an entire stranger, for I also 
 am a Greek by nation. I am a native ot Lesbos. I was 
 brought here a captive ; but I find my life in captivity plea- 
 santer than any I could have hoped to pass at home, for 
 I enjoy the entire confidence of my mistress ; she sees only 
 with my eyes, and hears with my ears ; but I make use of 
 the credit I have with her to introduce only worthy and 
 honourable persons to her acquaintance." 
 
 Theagenes, comparing in her mind what Cybele now said, 
 with the behaviour of Arsace the day before ; recollecting 
 how intently she had fixed her eyes upon him, and calling 
 to memory her wanton signs and glances,* foreboded no 
 
 food to himself from what was to follow: he prepared, 
 owever, to say something in answer to Cybele, when 
 Chariclea whispered in his ear "Bemember that I am 
 your sister in what you are going to say." He, taking the 
 hint, began 
 
 " You know already, Mother ! that we are Greeks this 
 
 - " Fie fie upon her ! 
 
 There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip ; 
 Kay, her foot speaks ; her wanton spirits look out 
 At every joint and motive of her body." 
 
 Troilus and Cressida. 
 
THE A GENES AND CHARICLEA. 163 
 
 young woman is my sister our parents were carried off by 
 pirates we set out in search of them, and ourselves met 
 with worse fortunes, falling into the hands of cruel men, 
 who robbed us of our all, which was considerable, and were, 
 with difficulty, persuaded to spare our lives. Some pitying 
 deity brought us acquainted with the hero Calasiris (now 
 beatified) : under his guidance we arrived here, flattering 
 ourselves that we should spend the remainder of our lives 
 under his protection ; but now we are as you see, left alone, 
 and desolate; bereft of our own parents, and of him who 
 promised to supply the place of them. This is our present 
 situation. To you we return our best thanks for your good 
 offices and hospitality ; and you would greatly enhance the 
 favour by suffering us to live retired, and by ourselves ; 
 deferring, for some time at least, the favour you hinted at, 
 that of introducing us to Arsace. Strangers, wanderers, 
 and unfortunate as we are, we are very unfit to appear in 
 her splendid court. Acquaintance and intercourse are best 
 suited for those who are of equal rank." Cybele could hardly 
 restrain herself at this intelligence. She betrayed, by her 
 countenance, evident marks of the joy she felt at hearing 
 that Chariclea was the sister of Theagenes, concluding that 
 she would now be no obstacle to the amorous designs of her 
 mistress. 
 
 " Fair youth," said she, " you will have different sen- 
 timents of Arsace when you are acquainted with her. She 
 condescends, and accommodates herself to every kind of 
 fortune. She has a particular pleasure in comforting and 
 assisting those who have met with unworthy treatment. 
 Though she is by birth a Persian, in disposition she is a 
 Greek. She delights in the company and conversation of 
 those who, like yourselves, are lately come from Greece. 
 She greatly affects both the Grecian ways and manners : 
 be of good cheer then ; you will not fail to receive every 
 attention and honour which a man can wish for, and your 
 sister will be her companion and favourite. But now tell 
 me your names ? Having heard them, she ran to Arsace, 
 ordering them to wait her return, and giving directions to her 
 portress (an old woman like herself,) not to suffer any one 
 to enter the apartment, nor to permit those who were inside 
 to leave it. 
 
164 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 " But," said the other, " what if your son Achsemenes 
 should return ; he went out just before your departure to 
 the temple, in order to get some application to his eyes, 
 which are still very troublesome to him ?" " Neither must 
 he enter," replied she; "make fast the doors, and tell 
 him that I am gone away, and have taken the key with 
 me." 
 
 The portress did as she was directed ; and Cybele was 
 no sooner departed than the unhappy lovers could no longer 
 restrain their bitter thoughts and lamentations. Almost in 
 the same instant he cried out " Chariclea !" She, " O 
 Theagenes !" They proceeded to deplore their misfortunes 
 in the same frame of mind and nearly in the same words. 
 They mingled embraces with their complaints, and kisses 
 with their tears. The remembrance of Calasiris drove them 
 at last into audible grief; into cries and sobs ; Chariclea 
 particularly, who had known him longer who had expe- 
 rienced more of his attention, benevolence, and affection. 
 " O Calasiris !" she cried out, as well as her sobs would let 
 her, "for I can no longer call you by the sweet name of 
 father ; the evil genius who persecutes me, has on all sides 
 deprived me of that endearing appellation. My real father 
 I have never known. I betrayed, alas ! and deserted 
 him who adopted me ;* and have lost him who received, 
 preserved, comforted, and instructed me ; and the cus- 
 tom of the priests does not permit me to pay the last 
 tribute of tears over his dear remains. Yet, O my pre- 
 server (and I will once more call you father), here at least, 
 while I may, I will pour out a libation to you with my tears, 
 and give you offerings from my hair." So saying, she 
 plucked handfuls from her beauteous tresses. Theagenes 
 caught her hands, and besought her to forbear. 
 
 She, however proceeded in tragic strain t " Why do I 
 continue to live, deprived of such a hope ? Calasiris is 
 gone! the support of my wanderings my leader in a 
 foreign country, and only guide to my native one he who 
 done could lead me to the knowledge of my parents our 
 comfort in adversity, our defender from misfortune, our 
 strength, and stay, is lost ; and has left us, a miserable pair, 
 ignorant and forlorn, in a foreign land. For want of 
 * Chariclea. f Hde 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 165 
 
 guidance, it is impossible for us to continue our journey. 
 That grave, bland, wise, and of a truth, hoary* soul 
 is fled, and will not see the event of its labours on our 
 Dehalf." 
 
 "While she was going on thus dolefully, and Theagenes, 
 though he felt deeply for himself, was attempting to com- 
 pose her, and to repress the violent expressions of her grief, 
 Achaemenes returned ; and finding the doors fast, inquired 
 of the old portress the reason. She told him, that it was 
 by his mother's order. "While he was wondering what 
 could be her motive, he heard Chariclea lamenting within ; 
 and stooping down, and looking through the crevices of the 
 door, he could easily see what passed in the chamber. 
 Again he asked the old woman who those were whom he 
 saw within. She told him " She knew no more of them, 
 than that they were a youth and maiden, foreigners, as she 
 guessed, whom Cybele had not long before brought with her." 
 
 Again he stooped down, and took a more careful survey 
 of them. Chariclea was entirely unknown to him. Yet he 
 admired her beauty, and figured to himself what it must be 
 when not obscured by dejection, and overwhelmed with 
 grief ; and his admiration began to lead him insensibly into 
 love. As for Theagenes, he had some distant and obscure 
 recollection of having seen him before. While he was gazing 
 on one, and then trying to recall the other to his mind, 
 Cybele returned. She had told Arsace everything she had 
 done, relative to the young pair. She congratulated her on 
 her good fortune, which had effected without trouble what 
 she could else hardly have hoped to obtain by a thousand 
 schemes and contrivances ; which had lodged her lover under 
 her own roof, and afforded her the unrestrained and unsus- 
 pected liberty of seeing, and being seen by him. 
 
 "With this discourse she stimulated her passion to such a 
 degree, that she could scarcely prevent her hastening to an 
 immediate interview with Theagenes, by suggesting that 
 it should not take place while as yet her face was pale, and 
 her eyes swelled, from the distraction in which she had 
 passed the preceding night. She advised her te coippose 
 herself for that day, and stay till she had recovered her 
 
 * TToXuit,' hoary, venerable. See uses of the word in Scott and 
 Liddell's Lexicon. 
 
166 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 former beauty. She arranged with her how she was to treat 
 and manage her guests ; and left her full of hopes and 
 nattering expectations. Then returning to her apartment, 
 and coming upon her son employed as he was about the door, 
 she asked him what he was so curiously prying into. 
 
 "I am examining the strangers within," said he ; " who 
 are they? whence do they come ?" "It is not permitted 
 you to know," she replied; "nay, I advise you to conceal 
 what you have already discovered of them ; and to avoid 
 their company as much as possible, for such is my mistress's 
 pleasure." The young man, easily persuaded by his mother, 
 retired; comprehending that Theagenes was reserved for 
 the private gratification of Arsace, and saying to himself as 
 lie went away " Is not this the man whom I received from 
 the Commandant Mithranes, to carry to Oroondates, that he 
 might be sent to the Great King ? Was he not taken 
 away from me by Thyamis, and the men of Bessa, when I 
 narrowly hazarded my life, and was almost the only one ot 
 the party who escaped ? It surely is so, if I can believe my 
 eyes, which are now better, and serve me nearly as well as 
 ever. Besides, I heard that Thyamis returned here yester- 
 day, and, after a single combat with his brother, recovered 
 the priesthood. This is undoubtedly the man I mean : for 
 the present, however, I will conceal my knowledge of him, 
 and observe in silence my mistress's intentions with regard 
 to these young people." Thus he muttered to himself. 
 
 Cybele hastened to her guests, and detected some traces 
 of the sorrows which had them employed in her absence; for 
 though, at the noise she made in opening the doors, they endea- 
 voured to compose their dress and looks and manner as well 
 as they were able, yet they could not conceal from the pene- 
 trating old woman that they had been agitated and in tears. 
 
 " My dear children, she cried out, " why do I see this ill- 
 timed grief, when you ought to rejoice, and congratulate 
 yourselves upon your good fortune ? Arsace manifests the 
 kindest disposition towards you ; she will permit you to 
 come into her presence to-morrow, and, in the mean time, 
 has ordered you to be received and treated with every atten- 
 tion and regard. Dry then these unseasonable and childish 
 tears, clear your countenances, and compose and conform 
 yourselves in everything, according to the pleasure of your 
 
THEAGENES AKD CHARICLEA. 167 
 
 great benefactress." " The remembrance of Calasiris," 
 replied Theagenes, " and the loss we have sustained in being 
 so soon deprived of his friendly attentions, called forth our 
 tears." "This is foolish," said the old woman ; " why are 
 you so affected at so common and trifling an event ? Cala- 
 siris was but an adopted father, and, by the course of nature, 
 could not last long ; whereas you are now in favour with 
 one who will shower upon you rank, riches, pleasures, every- 
 thing which your age (now that you are in the bloom of 
 youth) can enjoy, or your warmest wishes hope for. Look 
 on Arsace as your good genius as your goddess Fortune 
 and fall down before her ! Only be ruled by me in what 
 manner you are to approach her, and comport yourselves 
 when she admits you to an interview ; conform yourselves 
 to her pleasure, and obey her orders ; for she is young, a 
 princess, proud also of her beauty, and will not bear to have 
 her will disputed, or her commands disregarded."* 
 
 Theagenes made no answer, his mind misgiving him that 
 matters of an unworthy and unwelcome nature were being 
 hinted at. In the meantime some eunuchs arrived, bringing 
 with them, in golden dishes, delicacies which remained from 
 the royal table, which were in the highest degree sumptuous 
 and choice.f After saying that their mistress sends them 
 out of honour to the strangers, and having placed them 
 upon the board, they departed. The young people, at the 
 suggestion of Oybele, and that they might not seem to 
 despise the favour of the princess, just tasted what was set 
 before them : and the like honour was repeated to them in the 
 evening as well as on other days. Early the next morning the 
 same eunuchs again appeared, and thus addressed Theagenes : 
 
 " Most enviable among men ! you are sent for by my 
 
 * " To hear and to obey had been from birth 
 
 The law of all around her ; to fulfil 
 All phantasies which yielded joy or mirth 
 
 Had been her slaves' chief pleasure, as her will." 
 
 Don Juan, v. 102. 
 
 f Among the Persians it was held a great mark of honour to send 
 dishes from their tables to those whom they favoured. See Xenophon, 
 Cyro. Book VIIL 2, 3. "O<ra He. TrdpaTeOtirj, ravra iravra ir\)]v olg avroQ 
 KCLI 01 ffuvdeiTTvoi xpjfcratvro, ditdidov olg act flovXoiro rwv <j)i\wv [jLvrj- 
 \LII\V h>dt'tKvva9ai ri $i\o<j>poffvvr)v. The reader will of course remem- 
 ber an instance of the like custom in Scripture, Gen. xliii. 34. 
 
168 THE ADVENTUEES OF 
 
 mistress : she has ordered us to introduce you to her 
 presence an honour and happiness which falls to the lot of 
 very few." He paused a littl'e : at length he arose, with a 
 very unwilling air : and asked, " If he alone were sent for, 
 and not his sister also ?" " He only, at present," they 
 replied : " his sister should have a private interview another 
 time ; now several of the Persian nobles were with Arsace ; 
 and besides, it was the custom that men and women should 
 be separately received and admitted to an audience." 
 Theagenes, stooping, whispered to Chariclea : " All is not 
 right ; this is most suspicious." She softly advised him, not 
 at first to contradict Arsace, but to feign a willingness to 
 comply with everything which was desired of him. 
 
 He then followed his conductors who officiously instructed 
 him in what manner he should address and converse with 
 the princess ; and what ceremonies and obeisances were 
 usual and necessary in apearing before her : but he answered 
 nothing. At length they arrived in her presence: they 
 found her sitting on a lofty throne her dress gorgeous with 
 gold and purple her tiara and necklace sparkling with the 
 most costly gems and her whole person set off with all the 
 appliances of art her guards standing around her, and some 
 of the principal nobles and magistrates sitting on each side. 
 Theagenes was neither dazzled nor confounded by all this 
 splendour: he forgot, in a moment, the simulated com- 
 plaisance which had been recommended to him by Chariclea : 
 rather did he feel his pride rebel at sight of the Persian 
 pomp : neither bending the knee, nor prostrating himself, 
 but with an erect countenance* " Hail," he said, " O royal 
 Arsace!" They in the presence were indignant, and a 
 murmur of disapprobation ran through the circle : every one 
 blamed the daring rudeness of Theagenes, who presumed to 
 address the princess without the usual prostration. But 
 she, smiling, said 
 
 " Forgive a foreigner, unaccustomed to forms ; and, above 
 
 * " He stood like Atlas with a world of words 
 
 About his ears, and nathlees would not bend; 
 The blood of all his line's Castilian lords 
 
 Boil'd in his veins and rather than descend 
 To stain his pedigree a thousand swords 
 
 A thousand time of him had made an end." 
 
 Don Juan, v. 104. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLE.V. 169 
 
 all, a Greek, infected with the national contempt towards 
 Persians." And then she raised the tiara from her head, to 
 the astonishment, and manifest dislike, of those about her ; 
 for this is what the viceroys do when they return the salute 
 of those who pay them homage. " Be of good cheer, 
 stranger," said she, by an interpreter (for though she under- 
 stood Greek she did not speak it) ; " if you desire anything, 
 scruple not to acquaint me, nor doubt to obtain your wish :" 
 and then making a signal to her eunuchs, she dismissed him, 
 and he was ceremoniously re-conducted, with a train of 
 guards, to his apartments. 
 
 Achsemenes having now had a nearer view of him, recol- 
 lected him well wondered at, yet suspected the cause of 
 the honours which were paid him, but kept the silence 
 which was recommended to him by his mother. Arsace 
 proceeded to receive her nobles at an entertainment, appa- 
 rently out of respect to them, but really to celebrate her own 
 joy at having had an interview with Theagenes. To him she 
 sent not only portions of the viands set before her, as usual, 
 but carpets and embroidered tapestry, the work of Tyrian 
 and Lydian skill. She sent likewise two beautiful slaves to 
 wait upon them a maid to Chariclea, and a boy to Thea- 
 genes, both from Ionia, and in the bloom of youth. 
 
 She was urgent with Cybele to lose no time, but to bring 
 about, as soon as possible, what she had so much at heart : 
 for her passion was now too strong for her endurance. 
 Cybele, accordingly, was to relax none of her endeavours, 
 but was to circumvent Theagenes with all her arts. She 
 did not openly explain the wishes of her mistress, but gave 
 him to guess at them by hints and circumlocutions. She 
 magnified her good-will towards him took every occasion to 
 extol the beauties of her person, as well those which appeared 
 to every beholder as those which her attire kept concealed : 
 she commended her graceful manners and amiable disposition, 
 and assured him that a brave and handsome youth was cer- 
 tain of finding favour with her. All this while she endea- 
 voured in what she said to sound his temper, whether it 
 were amorous and easily inflamed. 
 
 Theagenes thanked her for her good inclinations towards 
 the Greeks, and professed himself obliged by the peculiar 
 kindness and benevolence with which she had treated him. 
 
170 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 But all her innuendoes, relating to other matters, he passed 
 over, and appeared as though he did not understand them. 
 This was a vast annoyance to the old beldame, and her heart 
 began almost to fail her ; for she had penetration enough to 
 see that Theagenes understood very well the end she aimed 
 at, but was averse to, and determined to repel, all her over- 
 tures. She knew that Arsace could not brook a much longer 
 delay. She had already experienced the violence of her 
 temper, which was now inflamed by the ardour of her present 
 passion. She was daily demanding the fulfilment of her 
 promise, which Cybele put off on various pretences ; some- 
 times saying, that the youth's inclinations towards her were 
 chilled by his timidity at others, feigning that some indis- 
 position had attacked him. At length, when nearly a week 
 had ineffectually elapsed, and the princess had admitted 
 'Chariclea to more than one interview ; when out of regard 
 to her pretended brother, she had treated her with the 
 greatest kindness and respect ; Cybele was at length obliged 
 to speak out more plainly to Theagenes, and make an unvar- 
 nished declaration of her mistress's love to him. 
 
 She blamed his backwardness, and promised that his com- 
 pliance should be followed by the most splendid rewards. 
 " Why," said she, "are you so averse to love? Is it not 
 strange that one of your age should overlook the advances 
 of a woman like Arsace young, and beautiful as yourself 
 and should not esteem her favours as so much treasure- 
 trove,* especially when you may indulge your inclinations 
 without the smallest apprehension of danger her husband 
 being at a distance, and her nurse the confidante of her 
 secrets, and entirely devoted to her service, being here, ready 
 to manage and conceal your interviews ? There are no 
 obstacles in your way. You have neither a wife nor a 
 betrothed ; although in such circumstances, even these 
 relations have been overlooked by many men of sense, who 
 have considered that they should not really hurt their 
 families, but should gain wealth and pleasure to themselves." 
 She began to hint, at last, that there might be danger in his 
 refusal. "Women," says she, " tender-hearted and ardent 
 in their desires, are enraged at a repulse, and seldom fail to 
 revenge themselves upon those who overlook their advances. 
 * apirayfjia ; sppaiov a windfall ; a godsend. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 171 
 
 Eeflect, moreover, that my mistress is a Persian, of the 
 royal family, and has ample means in her hands of reward- 
 ing those whom she favours, and punishing those who she 
 thinks have injured her. You are a stranger, destitute, and 
 with no one to defend you. Spare yourself danger, and spare 
 Arsacea disappointment : she is worthy of some regard from 
 you, who has shown and feels such intensity of passion for 
 you : beware of a loving woman's anger, and dread that 
 revenge which follows neglected love. 1 have known more 
 than one repent of his coldness. These grey hairs have had 
 longer experience in love affairs than you, yet have I never 
 seen any one so unimpressible and harsh as you are." 
 
 Addressing herself then to Chariclea (for, urged by ne- 
 cessity, she ventured to hold this discourse before her), 
 " Do you, my child," says she, "join your exhortations to 
 mine ; endeavour to bend this brother of yours, to whom I 
 know not what name to give. If you succeed, you shall 
 find the advantage great to yourself ; you will not lose his 
 love and you will gain more honour ; riches will shower 
 down upon you, and a splendid match will await you. These 
 are enviable circumstances to any the chiefesu of the na- 
 tives ; how much more to foreigners who are in poverty ! 
 Chariclea, with a bitter smile, replied 
 
 " It were to be wished that the breast of the most excel- 
 lent lady, Arsace, had felt no such passion ; or that, having 
 felt it, she had had fortitude sufficient to bear and to repress 
 it. But if the weakness of her nature has sunk under the 
 force of love, I would counsel my brother no longer to re- 
 fuse responding to it, if it may be done with any degree of 
 security if it may be possible to avoid the dangers which 
 I see impending from the Viceroy's wrath, should he become 
 acquainted with the dishonourable affair which is going on." 
 
 At these words Cybele sprang forwards, and, embracing 
 and kissing Chariclea, " How I love you, my dear child;" 
 she exclaimed, " for the compassion you shew for the suffer- 
 ings of one of your own sex, and your solicitude for the 
 
 * "A tigress robb'd of young, a lioness, 
 
 Or any interesting beast of prey, 
 Are similes at hand for the distress 
 
 Of ladies who cannot have their own way." 
 
 Don Juan, c. v. 132. 
 
172 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 safety of your brother ; But here you may be perfectly at 
 ease the very sun shall know nothing of what passes." 
 " Cease for the present," replied Theagenes seriously, " and 
 give me time for consideration." 
 
 Cybele upon this went out, and " O Theagenes ! " said 
 Chariclea, " the evil genius who persecutes us has given us a 
 specious appearance of good fortune, with which there is 
 really intermixed more of evil ; but since things have so 
 turned out, it is a great part of wisdom to draw some good, 
 if possible, from each untoward accident. "Whether you are 
 determined to comply with the proposal which has been 
 made to you, it is not for me to say. Perhaps, if our pre- 
 servation depended upon your compliance, I might recon- 
 cile myself to it ; but if your spirit revolts at the com- 
 plaisance which is expected from you, feign at least that you 
 consent, and feed with promises the barbaric woman's 
 passion. By these means you will prevent her from imme- 
 diately determining any thing harshly against us : lead her 
 on by hope, which will soften her mind, and hinder her anger 
 from breaking out: thus we shall gain time, and in the inter- 
 val some happy accident, or some propitious deity, may deliver 
 us from the perplexities with which we are surrounded. But 
 beware, my dear Theagenes, that by dwelling in thought 
 upon the matter you do not fall into the sin in deed." 
 
 Theagenes, smiling, replied, " No misfortunes, I see no 
 embarrassments can cure a woman of the innate disease of 
 jealousy : but be comforted, I am incapable of even feigning 
 what you advise. In my mind, it is alike unbecoming to do 
 or to say an unworthy thing ; and there will be one advan- 
 tage in driving Arsace to despair that she will give us no 
 farther trouble on this subject ; and whatever else I am des- 
 tined to suffer, my bent of mind and my bitter experience 
 have but too well prepared me to bear." Chariclea having 
 said, " I fear you are bringing ruin upon our heads," held 
 her peace. 
 
 "While this conversation employed the lovers, Cybele went 
 to Arsace, and encouraged her to hope for a favourable issue 
 to her desires, for that Theagenes had intimated as much, 
 she returned to her own apartments. She said no more 
 that evening ; but having in the night earnestly besough* 
 Chariclea, who shared her bed, to co-operate with her, in 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 173 
 
 the morning she again attacked Theagenes, and inquired 
 what he had resolved upon ; when he uttered a plain down- 
 right refusal, and absolutely forbad her expecting any com- 
 plaisance from him of the sort she wished. She returned 
 disappointed and sorrowful to her mistress ; who, as soon as 
 she was made acquainted with the stern refusal of Theage- 
 nes, ordering the old woman to be ejected headlong out of 
 the palace, entered into her chamber, and, throwing herself 
 upon the bed, began to tear her hair, and beat her breast. 
 Cybele was returning home in disgrace, when her son 
 Achsemenes met her, and, seeing her in tears, asked " if 
 any misfortune had happened to her ? Or has our mis- 
 tress," said he, " received any bad news ? Has any calamity 
 befallen the army ? Has Oroondates been defeated by the 
 Ethiopians?" 
 
 He was running on in this manner with his questions, 
 when his mother stopped him. " Have done trifling," said 
 she, " and let me alone." She was going away : he followed 
 her, and taking her by the hand, besought her earnestly to ex- 
 plain to him, her son, the cause of her sorrow. She suffered 
 herself to be led by him into a retired part of the garden, 
 and then said 
 
 " I would not to any one else disclose my own and my 
 mistress's distresses ; but since she is in the extremest agi- 
 tation, and I am in danger of my life (for I fear the worst 
 from her rage and disappointment), I will venture to speak, 
 in case you should be able to think of any thing that may 
 comfort and assist your poor mother. Arsace is in love with 
 the young man who is now at my apartments ; she burns 
 with no common affection, but with inflamed and un- 
 governable passion ; and when both of us thought it an 
 easy matter for her to satisfy her inclinations, we have been 
 miserably disappointed, To this cause you are to attribute 
 the attentions which have been paid to, and the favours 
 which have been showered upon, the strangers ; but since 
 this stupid, rash, and unbending youth has rejected all our 
 advances, she, I think, will not survive it ; and I anticipate 
 destruction for myself. This, my child, is the cause of my 
 present affliction : if you have it in your power to assist 
 me, do it quickly, or else prepare shortly to pay the last 
 rites over my tomb." 
 
174 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 " What shall be my reward ? replied Achsemenes, for it is 
 necessary to come directly to the point : it is not a time, in 
 your present confusion and distress, to delay you with long 
 discourse.'* 
 
 " Ask whatever you please," replied Cybele : "I have 
 already, by my interest, made you head-cupbearer : if you 
 are desirous of any greater dignity, tell me so : there is no 
 degree of wealth, or honour, to which you may not aspire, 
 if you can procure Arsace the means of satisfying her in- 
 clinations." 
 
 " I have long suspected this passion of the princess," re- 
 plied the young man, " but kept silence, waiting the event. 
 I am not covetous of riches, or ambitious of place ; if she 
 can procure me in marriage the maiden who is called the 
 sister of Theagenes, I think I may promise that every thing 
 else shall happen according to her wishes. I am desperately 
 in love with this young woman. Tour mistress, who knows 
 by experience the force of this passion, may very reasonably 
 be brought to assist a fellow sufferer in it, especially when, 
 by so doing, she may probably meet with success in her own 
 pursuits." 
 
 " Doubt not," said Cybele, " of her gratitude. She will do 
 anything for you, if you can be of real service to her in this 
 affair ; nay, we may perhaps, ourselves persuade the maiden ; 
 but explain, .1 beg of you, in what manner you propose to 
 assist us." 
 
 "I will not say a word," he replied, "till Arsace has 
 promised, and sworn, to grant me what I desire : and do 
 not you by any means at present enter upon the subject 
 with the young woman. She too, I can see, is of a high 
 and lofty spirit ; you may spoil all by undue rashness."- 
 " I will act just as you shall direct," replied Cybele ; and 
 running into her mistress's apartment, she fell at her feet, 
 and bid her be of good cheer, for every thing now should 
 happen as she would have it " Only," said she, "admit my 
 son Achsemenes to an audience." 
 
 " Let him come in," replied the princess ; but take care 
 that you do not again deceive me." Achaemenes was upon 
 this introduced his mother explained his wishes, and made 
 known his promises and Arsace swore to procure for him 
 the hand of Chariclea. He then said 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 175 
 
 "Let Theagenes give over all his airs ; he who is a slave, 
 yet dares to behave with insolence to his mistress." Being 
 desired to explain himself, he related all he knew How 
 Theagenes was taken captive in war by Mithranes, who was 
 about to send him to Oroondates, in order that he might 
 convey him to the Great King that he was rescued in the 
 way by Thyamis and the men of Bessa that he, Achae- 
 menes, with difficulty escaped from them that he was for- 
 tunate enough to have with him the letters of Mithranes." 
 And upon this he produced and shewed them to Arsace ; 
 and appealed to Thyamis for the truth of all he had said. 
 
 Arsace began to conceive hope from these tidings, and, 
 immediately issuing from her chamber, repaired to the hall 
 of audience, where, seating herself upon her throne, she 
 commanded Theagenes to be brought before her. 
 
 When he appeared, she asked him if he knew Achse- 
 menes, whom she pointed out to him, standing near her. 
 He replied that he did. " Was he not," said she, " bring- 
 ing you hither a captive, some short time ago ? " He ad- 
 mitted that also. " You are my slave then," said she, " and 
 as such, shall do as I direct you. and, whether you will or 
 no, be obedient to my commands. This sister of yours I 
 give in marriage to Achsemenes, who fills a principal station 
 in my court, as well for his own good deserts, as out of the 
 regard I have for his mother ; and I will defer the nuptials 
 only till a day is fixed, and preparation made for due splen- 
 dour in their celebration." 
 
 Tbcagenes was pierced as with a sword at this address, 
 but determined not to thwart her, but rather to elude her 
 attack as that of a wild beast. " princess," he replied, 
 " in the midst of my calamities I give the gods thanks, that 
 since I, whose life was originally fortunate, and family illus- 
 trious, am destined to be a slave, I have fallen into your 
 power, rather than into that of any other ; into yours, who, 
 while you considered us as strangers and foreigners, have 
 treated us with so much compassion and humanity. As for 
 my sister, although, not being a captive, she is not a slave ; 
 yet her own inclination will lead her to serve and obey you 
 in every thing : dispose of her, therefore, as shall seem good 
 in your eyes." " Let him," Arsace then said, "be placed 
 among the waiters at the royal table ; let Achsemenes in- 
 
176 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 struct "him in the art of cup-bearing, that he may, without 
 delay, become expert in the services which will be required 
 of him." 
 
 Theagenes was now permitted to retire, which he did ; 
 sorrowing, and meditating deeply on what he had farther 
 to do. 
 
 Achsemenes, elated with the success of his project, had the 
 cruelty to insult him. " You," said he, " who were just now 
 so haughty, who seemed alone a freeman among slaves ; who 
 held your head so high, and refused to bow it even before 
 the princess must now learn to bend it, or else my knuckles 
 shall teach you better manners." 
 
 Arsace was left alone with Cybele. " Now," said she, 
 " nurse, every excuse is taken from this proud Grecian ; go 
 to him and tell him, that if he will comply with what I re- 
 quire of him, he shall obtain his liberty, and spend his life 
 in affluence and pleasure ; but if he still continues sullen 
 and reluctant, assure him that he shall feel the wrath of an 
 angry mistress, and a disappointed woman ; that punish- 
 ments of every kind await him, and that he shall be con- 
 demned to the lowest and most disgraceful slavery." Cybele 
 performed her embassy without delay ; and added, from 
 herself, whatever she thought most likely to work upon his 
 hopes or fears. 
 
 Theagenes demanded a short time for consideration ; and 
 going alone to Chariclea, he exclaimed " "We are undone, 
 my dearest Chariclea ! every cable of safety is broken, every 
 anchor of hope is lost ; nor have we now the name of liberty 
 to console us in our misfortunes, but are again fallen into 
 servitude." He explained his meaning, and related what 
 had happened. u We are now," he added, " exposed to the 
 insults of barbarians ; we must obey all their commands or 
 suffer the extremest punishments ; and as if this were not 
 sufficient, what is above all the rest intolerable, know that 
 Arsace has promised to give you in wedlock to Achsemenes, 
 the son of Cybele ; but this, while I have life, an arm, arid 
 a sword, I will either prevent or never see. But what ought 
 we now to do ? "What contrivance can we imagine to avoid 
 this detestable union, of you with Achaemenes, of me with 
 ? " 
 
 " If you will condescend to the one yourself," replied 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAKICLEA. 177 
 
 Chariclea, "you will easily find means to hinder the 
 other." 
 
 " Have a care what you say !" replied Theagenes, eagerly, 
 " God forbid that any persecution of fate should drive the 
 faithful, though yet unrewarded lover of Chariclea, to stoop to 
 another, and that an unlawful union ; but a thought comes 
 into my head, for necessity* is the mother of invention;" 
 and so saying, he immediately sought Cybele, and bade 
 tell her mistress that he wished to have an interview with 
 her alone. 
 
 The old woman, concluding that he was now about to give 
 way, joyfully delivered the message, and Arsace ordered her 
 to 'bring him to the palace after supper. Cybele bade those 
 in waiting withdraw, so that her mistress might be in private 
 and undisturbed, and introduced Theagenes when the shades 
 of night began to envelope every thing in obscurity. A 
 single lamp burnt in the chamber; and as soon as they 
 were entered, she was preparing to retire, but Theagenes 
 stopped her. " Let Cybele, O princess ! " said he, " if you 
 please, remain for the present ; I know she is a very faithful 
 keeper of secrets ;" and taking Arsace's hand, he went on : 
 " O my mistress ! I did not presume at first to dispute 
 your will, or defer my submission to your commands, for 
 any other reason than that I might obey them with greater 
 security ; but now, since the will of fortune has in its 
 kindness made me your slave, I am much more ready to 
 obey your pleasure. One thing only I desire of you of 
 you who have promised me so many break off the marriage 
 of Chariclea with Achaemenes ; for, to waive other objec- 
 tions, a maiden of her noble birth is no fit wife for the son 
 of a slave. If this be not granted me, I swear by all that 
 is sacred that I will never comply with your wishes ; and if 
 the least violence is offered to Chariclea, you shall soon see 
 me dead at your feet." 
 
 " You may be sure," replied Arsace, " that I, who am 
 willing to surrender even myself, desire in everything to 
 oblige you ; but I have sworn to give your sister to Achse- 
 menes." " Let not that trouble you," said he, "you may 
 give him any sister of mine ; but my mistress,t my intended 
 
 * Evprt dpa lori \oyivp,u)V rj avdKij. 
 f My7aT}j> - vv 
 
178 THE ADVENTUBE8 Otf 
 
 my betrothed in short, you neither would wish to bestow, 
 nor shall you bestow, upon him." 
 
 "What mean you?" said she. "Nothing but the 
 truth," replied he, "for Chariclea is really not my sister, 
 but my intended wife ; you are, therefore, absolved from 
 your oath ; and if you wish for a farther confirmation of 
 my words, you may, as soon as it please you, give order for 
 the celebration of our nuptials." 
 
 Arsace was much annoyed; and heard, not without 
 jealousy, the true relation in which Chariclea stood to 
 Theagenes ; but, at present, only said, " If you will have 
 it so, this marriage shall be broken off, and I will seek out 
 another wife for Achaemenes." " When this matter is 
 settled," replied Theagenes, " dispose of me as you please, 
 I will perform all I have promised." He then approached 
 in order to kiss her hands. She, however, instead of pre- 
 senting her hand, saluted him with her lips ; and he left 
 the presence kissed, but not kissing in return. 
 
 On his return to Chariclea, he disclosed to her all that 
 had passed, (at which she, too, was not free from jealousy,) 
 setting before her the secret intention of his promise, the 
 good results which he anticipated from it. In the first place, 
 the project of Achaeinenes' marriage would be marred, a fair 
 pretext would be afforded for deferring at present the com- 
 pletion of Arsace' s wishes ; and what was worth more than 
 all, there was the certainty that Achaemenes would make 
 "confusion worse confounded," upon finding his expectations 
 blighted, and himself supplanted in the princess's good graces 
 by another favourite. I took care (he said) to have his 
 mother present at the interview, and a witness that our inter- 
 course was but in words; she will keep nothing secret from her 
 son. It may suffice perhaps (he added) to avoid all occa- 
 sion for an evil conscience, and to trust only in the protec- 
 tion of the gods ; but it is good also to avoid all occasion 
 for an evil conscience in the sight of men, so as to pass 
 through this transitory life with virtuous boldness. " There 
 is every reason to believe," added he, " that a slave like 
 Achsemenes, will conspire against his mistress; for the 
 subject commonly hates the cause of his subjection, and 
 this man has no occasion to invent a pretext for rebellion 
 (as has been the case with many), he is really wronged, has 
 
THEAGESES AND CHAEICLEA. 179 
 
 been deceived, and sees another preferred before him; he 
 is conscious to the profligacy of his mistress, and has a 
 motive ready to his hand." 
 
 He held this discourse to Chariclea, endeavouring to 
 revive in her a hope of better things. On the morrow he 
 was sent for by Acha3menes to serve at the table, for such 
 were Arsace's commands. He was arrayed in a Persian 
 robe of great value, which was sent by her at the same time, 
 and adorned partly against his will, with bracelets and 
 jewelled necklaces. 
 
 Upon arriving at the palace, Achaemenes offered to in- 
 struct him in the functions of his office ; but, hastening to 
 the sideboard, and taking up a precious goblet, he said, 
 " I need no instructor, self-taught, I will wait upon my 
 mistress, making no bustle about such trifles. Tour fortune 
 has forced you perhaps to learn, your trade ; nature and the 
 spur of the moment will teach me what I am to do." So 
 saying, he lightly, and with a grace, poured out the wine, 
 and handed the cup upon his finger ends.* 
 
 The draught inflamed the mind of Arsace more than 
 ever. Slowly sipping, she fixed her eyes intently upon 
 Theagenes, taking in at the same time large draughts of 
 love ; neither did she drain the goblet, but left a portion of 
 its contents, in which Theagenes might pledge her. A 
 wound of a very different nature rankled in the bosom of 
 Achaemenes : anger, envy, and resentment manifested them- 
 selves on his countenance, so that Arsace could not help 
 observing it, and whispered something to those who were 
 nearest her. 
 
 When the entertainment broke up " Grant me," said 
 Theagenes, " my mistress ! this first boon which I shall 
 ask permit me alone to wear this dress when serving at 
 your table." Arsace agreed to his request, and putting on 
 his ordinary raiment, he departed. Achaemenes followed 
 him, sharply upbraided him with his want of manners ; 
 
 telling him, too, that there was a forwardness and fami- 
 s 
 
 * An illustration of this nicety in waiting occurs in Xen. Cyrop., 
 book i. 3, where Cyrus amuses the company by acting as cupbearer to 
 his grandfather: 'Ot T&V (3a<nXt(*)v oiW^ooi, KO^U>Q re oiVo%ooi)(Tt, 
 Kai KaOapiwG ey^ ovcrt KCLI didoavt TOIQ rpicrt Ca/cruAoifi V\OVVT(Q n\v 
 
180 THE ADVENTTTEES OF 
 
 liarity in him, which, though they might at first be over- 
 looked, in consideration of his youth and inexperience, would 
 in the end, if not corrected, infallibly give offence. He gave 
 him these cautions, he said, out of a friendly feeling, and 
 particularly as he was shortly to become related to him by 
 marrying his sister, according to his mistress's promise. 
 
 He was proceeding with his good advice ; but Theagenes, 
 his eyes fixed in deep thought on the ground, seemed not 
 to hear, and was preparing to leave him, when Cybele 
 joined them, on her way to conduct her mistress to take 
 her usual siesta.* Seeing her son sorrowful, and apparently 
 out of humour, she inquired into the cause of it. " This 
 foreign youth," said he, " thanks to his specious person, is 
 preferred to all of us, the ancient chamberlains and cup- 
 bearers ; to-day he has already wormed himself into our 
 mistress's good graces, and has waited nearest her royal 
 person, presenting the cup to her, and thrusting us out of 
 our former dignity, which has become no more than an 
 empty name. We ought, perhaps, to bear without mur- 
 muring, if we cannot feel without envy, the honours he 
 receives, and the confidence to which he is admitted, since 
 we have had the weakness, by our negligence and silence, 
 to assist in his success ; our mistress, however, might have 
 cUme all this without affronting and disgracing her old 
 servants, who moreover are in all her secrets. But some 
 other time will serve for speaking farther on this subject : 
 at present, let me go and see my charming Chariclea, my 
 promised bride; that, by her sweet aspect, I may soothe 
 the annoyance of mv mind." 
 
 " What bride do you talk of ?" replied Cybele, "you 
 seem to me to take fire at small and imaginary offences, 
 and to be ignorant of the real and deep ones which you have 
 received. Chariclea is no longer destined for your wife." 
 
 "What say you?" he exclaimed, "am not I a very 
 fitting match for my fellow* slave ? What can have wrought 
 this sudden change?" "Our own too great fidelity and 
 zeal in serving Arsace ;" replied Cybele, " for after that we 
 have preferred her caprices to our own safety; when, in 
 compliance with her desires, we have endangered ourselves, 
 and have put the accomplishment of her wishes into her 
 
 * KCLTlVVaGCLl Tt}v dfGTTOlVClV TQ ^LEff 
 
THEAGKENES AND CHARICLEA. 181 
 
 power, this noble youth, this dainty favourite, enters her 
 chamber, and at first sight persuades her to break through 
 all her oaths, and to promise Chariclea to himself; who 
 now, as he affirms, is no longer his sister, but his mistress." 
 
 " And is Chariclea indeed promised to Theagenes ?" said 
 Achsemenes. " It is but too true," replied Cybele, " I was 
 present myself and heard it; they even talked of the 
 nuptial feast, and of celebrating it shortly; proposing to 
 satisfy you with the hand of some one else." 
 
 At this mortifying intelligence Achsemenes, smiting his 
 hands together, and uttering a deep groan " I will make 
 this wedding a fatal one to them all," said he ; " only do 
 you assist me in endeavouring to put it off for a few days. 
 If any one inquires after me, say that I am indisposed and 
 gone into the country. This precious stranger's calling 
 her his betrothed is a mere pretext to break through the 
 engagements that have been made to me ; his kissing, his 
 embracing her, nay, his sleeping with her, would not 
 clearly convince me that she is not his sister. I will sift 
 this business, and will vindicate the violated oaths and the 
 insulted gods." So saying, raging with love, jealousy, and 
 disappointment (feelings all the more violent in a barba- 
 rian's breast), he rushed out of the room ; and without 
 giving himself time for consideration, in the first moments 
 of his passion, he secretly mounted, in the evening, an 
 Armenian horse, reserved for state occasions, and fled full 
 speed to Oroondates. 
 
 The Viceroy was then in the neighbourhood of the 
 celebrated Thebes,* marshalling all his forces, and preparing 
 to lead them on an expedition against the ^Ethiopians. 
 
 BOOK VIII. 
 
 THE king of ^Ethiopia had deceived Oroondates by a 
 stratagem, and made himself master of one of the objects 
 
 * " opulent ./Egyptian Thebes, 
 
 the city with a hundred gates, 
 
 Whence twenty thousand chariots rush to war." 
 
 Horn. 11. ix. 381. Cowper's Tr. 
 
182 THE ADYETSTTJRES OF 
 
 of the war the city of Philoe, always ready to fall a prey to 
 the first invader and, by so doing, had* reduced him to 
 great straits, and to a necessity of using sudden and hurried 
 efforts for its recovery. 
 
 Philoe is situated a little ahove the smaller cataracts of 
 the Nile, about twelve miles distant from Syene and 
 Elephantis. The city was formerly seized upon and inha- 
 bited by a band of Egyptian fugitives, which made it 
 debateable land between the governments of Egypt and 
 -/Ethiopia. The latter were for extending their dominions 
 as far as the cataracts, while the former claimed even the 
 city of Philoe, pretending that they had conquered it in 
 war, because it had been occupied by their exiles. It had 
 been taken and retaken several times by both nations ; and 
 was, just before the time I am speaking of, held by an 
 Egyptian and Persian garrison. 
 
 The king of ^Ethiopia dispatched an embassy to Oroon- 
 dates, to demand the restoration of the city and the emerald 
 mines ; and meeting, as has been before observed,* with a 
 refusal, he sent ambassadors a second time towards Egypt ; 
 (they going in advance) he following a few days later, with 
 a numerous army, set on foot beforehand, but keeping all 
 the while their destination a profound secret. 
 
 When he concluded that his envoys had passed Philoe, and 
 had lulled the inhabitants and garrison there into negligence 
 and security, by persuading them, as they were instructed, 
 that they were preparing to proceed farther on a peaceful 
 embassy; he on a sudden appeared before Philoe, in a few 
 days overwhelmed its surprised and unprepared defenders 
 (unable to resist his superior force and his artillery) ,t and 
 took posesssion of the city, which he kept, without injuring 
 any who dwelt in it. 
 
 In the midst of these troubles Achaemenes found Oroon- 
 dates, and by his sudden and unexpected appearance, helped 
 to increase them. " Has any misfortune," hastily he in- 
 quired, " happened to Arsace, or to any other of my family ?" 
 " A misfortune has happened," replied Achaemenes, " but 
 I would speak to you in private." 
 
 When every one had retired he entered upon his story. 
 He related the capture of Theagenes by Mithranes; how 
 * See Book II. and Book III. 
 t 
 
THEkGENES AND CHARICLEA. 183 
 
 he was sent to him (Oroondates), in order to be conveyed, 
 if he thought proper, as a present to the Great King, to 
 whose court and table the youth would be a worthy orna- 
 ment. He proceeded to narrate his rescue from them in 
 their journey by the men of Bessa, the death of Mithranes 
 in his defence, and his own subsequent arrival at Memphis, 
 introducing into his narrative the affairs also of Thyamis. 
 
 At length he came to the ungoverned passion of Arsace 
 the transfer of Theagenes into the palace his too kind 
 reception there his attendance and his cup-bearing 
 ' Hitherto," he added, " I believe nothing has actually taken 
 place, for the youth is coy and unwilling ; but if this temp- 
 tation be not taken away from before her eyes if Theagenes 
 be not speedily removed from Memphis there is the greatest 
 reason to apprehend that time, fear, and artifices of various 
 kinds, will at length conquer his disinclination. On these 
 accounts I have taken an opportunity to leave the city pri- 
 vately, and to come in all haste to make this discovery to 
 you, thinking it my duty no longer to conceal a matter in* 
 which your honour and interest are so intimately con- 
 cerned.'* 
 
 When he had raised the resentment of Oroondates by 
 these tidings, and filled him with indignation and a desire of 
 revenge, he inflamed his desires when he came to dwell 
 upon the charms of Chariclea. He extolled her to the skies, 
 spoke of her beauty as divine ; saying that her equal never 
 had, and never would be seen. " None of your concubines," 
 said he, " not those alone who are left at Memphis, but 
 those even who follow your person, are in any degree to be 
 compared with her." In this manner Achsemenes went on, 
 raising the curiosity and wishes of Oroondates, reckoning, 
 ^hat although the viceroy might indulge his fancy for Cha- 
 riclea for a time, yet he might afterwards easily be induced 
 to give her up to him in marriage, as a reward for his dis- 
 coveries. 
 
 Urged on by anger and desire, the viceroy instantly sum- 
 moned the eunuch Bagoas, who was in great favour and 
 authority, and commanded him to proceed directly to Mem- 
 phis with a troop of fifty horse, and without fail or delay to 
 bring Theagenes and Chariclea to his camp, wherever he 
 should find them. 
 
184 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 He wrote at the same time a letter to Arsace to thia 
 effect : 
 
 " Oroondates to Arsace. 
 
 " Send to me Theagenes and Chariclea, the captive pair, 
 who are slaves to the Great King, and under orders to be 
 transmitted to him. Send them willingly, since, even if 
 you be unwilling, they will be taken from you ; and then 
 the report of Achaemenes will be believed." 
 
 To the chief eunuch at Memphis he wrote as follows : 
 
 " You shall hereafter give an account of your negligence 
 as to my household ; at present deliver the Grecian captives 
 to Bagoas, that they may be brought to me, whether Arsace 
 consent to it or not. Deliver them, I say, or the bearer of 
 these presents has orders to bring you hither in chains, 
 when you shall be flayed alive." 
 
 Bagoas took the letters, signed with the viceroy's signet, 
 that they might obtain full credit, and set out for Memphis 
 to execute his master's orders. 
 
 Oroondates now put himself in motion against the Ethio- 
 pians, commanding Achaemenes to follow him, who was 
 watched and guarded without his knowing it, till it should 
 appear whether the information he had given were true. 
 Meanwhile at Memphis, soon after the departure of Achae- 
 menes, Thyamis had been completely invested with the office 
 of high priest, and, as such, was become one of the chiefs of 
 the city. 
 
 After he had celebrated, with proper piety, the funeral of 
 Calasiris, and observed, in mourning and retirement, the ap- 
 pointed number of days as soon as the sacred laws per- 
 mitted him to hold communication with those who were 
 without the temple, his first care was to inquire after Thea- 
 genes and Chariclea. 
 
 He learned, with some difficulty, that they had been 
 removed to the viceroy's palace ; and immediately on receiv- 
 ing this intelligence he hastened to Arsace, to make inquiries 
 after them. He was solicitous about them on various 
 accounts ; and particularly as his father had, with his last 
 breath, recommended them, in the strongest manner, to his 
 care and protection. 
 
 He returned thanks to the princess for her goodness in 
 receiving and entertaining the young Grecian strangers, 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAB1CLEJL. 185 
 
 during that space of time in which it was not lawful for 
 them to continue within the precincts of the temple ; and 
 he now begged permission to resume the pledge entrusted 
 to his care. 
 
 " I wonder," replied Arsaee, "that while you are praising 
 my kindness and humanity, you should at the same time 
 intimate a doubt of their continuance ; and conceive any 
 apprehension that I shall not still be able and willing to 
 entertain these foreigners, and assign to them such honour 
 as is due." 
 
 " You mistake me," replied Thyamis ; " I know that they 
 would live here in much more splendour and affluence than 
 they can with me, even did they wish to remain under my 
 roof: but having met with many misfortunes, born of an 
 illustrious family, and now wandering here, far from their 
 native home ; the first wish of their hearts is, to recover their 
 friends, and to return to their country : my pledge to aid 
 them was the inheritance left me by my father ; and I have, 
 too, myself many motives for friendship towards them." 
 
 "You act discreetly," replied Arsaee, "in asking as a 
 favour, rather than demanding as a right : for a favour it 
 would be in me to give up to your friendship, those over 
 whom I have a right as slaves." " Slaves !" cried Thyamis, 
 in amazement, "what mean you?" "I mean captives," 
 said she, " by the right of war." 
 
 Perceiving that she meant to insist upon their having 
 been taken by Mithranes, he thus resumed : " O Arsaee ! 
 at is not now war, but peace ; if that brings servitude, this 
 restores liberty again ; the one is the result of a tyrant's 
 will, the other is a truly royal gift. Besides, it is not the 
 mere name but the disposition of those using them, which 
 really constitute either peace or war. By attending to these 
 considerations you will define better wherein equity consists : 
 there can be no doubt as to what honour and expediency 
 demand in the present case. How can it be honourable, or 
 expedient, in you to persist obstinately in the detention of 
 these strangers, and to avow vour determination of so 
 doing?" 
 
 Arsaee could no longer contain herself; but acted, like 
 most who are in love, while they imagine their passion con- 
 
 * uv iiQ TY\V ffvXXrjTJ/iv tye icXijpovofjiov 6 irarrip Ka.Tt\k\onrtv. 
 
1S6 THE ADVENTUEES OF 
 
 cealed they feel timidity ; when discovered they lose all 
 shaine; concealment makes them timid, discovery audacious:* 
 she stood self-accused ; and she could not help perceiving, or 
 thinking she perceived, that Thyamis suspected her. Throw- 
 ing aside therefore all reserve, and all regard to the dignity 
 of the high priest, she broke out on a sudden " Be assured 
 that you too shall answer for the share you have had in the 
 attack upon Mithranes ; Oroondates will make a strict 
 inquiry after, and punish with severity, all those who were 
 concerned in the slaughter of him and of his troops. As 
 to these foreigners. I will not give them up ; they are now 
 my slaves; shortly they will be sent, according to our 
 custom, to my brother, the Great King : declaim as you 
 please on what is decent, proper, and expedient ; those in 
 power need not such things ; they find them all in the indul- 
 gence of their own sovereign will.f Eetire, then, from the 
 palace at once and willingly, lest you be restrained against 
 your will." 
 
 Thyamis retired, invoking the gods and predicting to her 
 110 good event from such behaviour, and considering whether 
 he should disclose these proceedings to the citizens, and call 
 upon them for assistance. 
 
 " I value not your priesthood or your prophecy," said 
 Arsace, " the only prophecy which love regards, is the pros- 
 pect of success." So saying, she withdrew to her chamber, 
 and sending for Cybele, consulted with her upon the mea- 
 sures which she had next to pursue. She suspected the flight 
 of Achaemenes, and the motive of it ; for Cybele, whenever 
 she was questioned on the subject, made various excuses for 
 his absence, and studiously endeavoured to persuade her 
 that he was anywhere else, rather than in the camp of Oroon- 
 dates. These excuses, never wholly credited, became each 
 day less credible. 
 
 When Cybele therefore approached her, she thus began : 
 " What shall I do, nurse ? How can I ease the torments 
 which oppress me ? My love is as intense as ever ; 
 
 *...." Nihil est audacius illis 
 Deprensis ; iram atque animos a crimine sumunt." 
 
 Juv. VI. 284. 
 f " Hoc volo, sic jubeo, stat pro ratione voluntas." 
 
 Juv. VI. 223. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 187 
 
 nay, I think it burns more violently : but this youth, 
 so far from being softened by kindness and favours, be- 
 comes more stubborn, and intractable. Some time ago 
 he could bring himself to soothe me by fallacious pro- 
 mises, but now he seems openly and manifestly averse to my 
 desires : I fear he suspects, as I do, the cause of Achse- 
 menes' absence, and that this has made him more timorous. 
 It is his disappearance, indeed, which gives me most uneasi- 
 ness : I cannot help thinking that he is gone to Oroondates, 
 and perhaps will wholly or in part succeed in persuading 
 him of the truth of what he says. Could I but see Oroon- 
 dates, he would not withstand one tear or caress of mine ; a 
 woman's well-known features exert a mighty magic over men.* 
 It will be a grievous thing, before I have enjoyed Theagenes, 
 to be informed against, nay, perhaps put to death, should his 
 mind be poisoned before I have the means of seeing and 
 conversing with him : wherefore, my dear Cybele, leave no 
 stone unturned, strain every engine ; you see how pressing 
 and critical the business now becomes ; and you may well 
 believe that, if I myself am driven to despair, I shall not 
 easily spare others. You will be the first to rue the machi- 
 nations of your son : and how you can be ignorant of them 
 I cannot conceive." 
 
 / " The event," replied Cybele, "will prove the injustice of 
 your suspicions, both with regard to my son and me : but 
 'when you are yourself so supine t in the prosecution of your 
 love, why do you lay the fault on others ? You are flatter- 
 ing this youth like a slave, when you should command him 
 as a mistress. This indulgent mildness might be proper at 
 first, for fear of alarming his tender and inexperienced mind ; 
 but when kindness is ineffectual, assume a tone of more 
 severity ; let punishments, and even stripes, force from him 
 that compliance which favours have failed in doing. It is 
 inborn in youth to despise those who court ; to yield to those 
 who curb them : try this method and you will find him give 
 to force that which he refused to mildness." 
 
 "Perhaps you may be right," replied Arsace, "but 
 how can I bear to see that delicate body, which I doat on 
 
 Achilles Tatius, B, i 
 
 "t" OVTWQ VTTTIWQ 
 
188 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 to distraction, torn with whips, and suffering under tor- 
 tures?" 
 
 " Again you are relapsing into your unseasonable tender- 
 ness," said Cybele ; " a few turns of the rack will bring 
 about all you desire, and for a little uneasiness which you 
 may feel, you will soon obtain the full accomplishment of 
 your wishes. You may spare your eyes the pain of seeing 
 his sufferings deliver him to the chief eunuch, Euphrates ; 
 order him to correct him, for some fault which you may 
 feign he has committed our ears are duller, you know, in 
 admitting pity, than are our eyes.* On the first symptoms 
 of compliance, you may free him from his restraint." 
 
 Arsace suffered herself to be persuaded ; for love, rejected 
 and despairing, pities not even its object, and disappoint- 
 ment seeks revenge. She sent for the chief eunuch, and 
 gave him directions for the purpose which had been sug- 
 gested to her. He received them with a savage joy, rank- 
 ling with the envy natural to his race,t and from what he 
 saw and suspected, particularly angry with Theagenes. He 
 put him immediately in chains, cast him into a deep dun- 
 geon, and punished him with hunger and stripes : keeping 
 all the while a sullen silence ; answering none of the miserable 
 youth's inquiries, who pretended, (though he well knew the 
 cause), to be ignorant of the reason why he was thus hardly 
 treated. He increased his sufferings every day, far beyond 
 what Arsace knew of or commanded, permitting no one but 
 Cybele to see him ; for such, indeed, were his orders. 
 
 She visited him every day, under pretence of comforting, 
 of bringing him nourishment, and of pitying him, because of 
 their former acquaintance ; in reality, to observe and report 
 what effect his punishment had upon him, and whether 
 it had mollified his stubborn heart; but his spirit was 
 still unconquered, and seemed to acquire fresh force from 
 * " Segnius irritant animos demissa per aurem 
 
 Quam quse sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus, et quse 
 
 Ipse sibi tradit spectator." Hor. A. P. 180. 
 f " Cuncta ferit dum cuncta timet ; dessevit in omnes, 
 
 Ut se posse patent ; nee bellua tetrior ulla 
 
 Quam servi rabies in libera terga furentes 
 
 Agnoscit gemitus, et pcense parcere nescit 
 
 Quam subiit, dominique memor quern verberat odit." 
 
 Claudian in Eutrop. i. 108. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 189 
 
 the duration of his trials.* His body, indeed, was torn with 
 tortures, but his soul was exalted by the consciousness of 
 having preserved its purity and honour. He gloried that 
 while fortune was thus persecuting him, she was conferring 
 a boon upon his nobler part the soul. E/ejoicing in this 
 opportunity of shewing his fidelity to Chariclea, and hoping 
 only she would one day become acquainted with his suffer- 
 ings, for her sake he was perpetually calling upon her name 
 and styling her his light ! his life ! his soul ! 
 
 Cybele (who had urged Euphrates to increase the se- 
 verity of his treatment, contrary to the intentions of Ar- 
 sace, whose object was by moderate chastisement, to bend 
 but not to kill him), saw it was all to no purpose, and 
 began to perceive the peril in which she stood. She feared 
 punishment from Oroondates, if Achsemenes should incau- 
 tiously discover too much of the share she had in the 
 business ; she feared lest her mistress should lay violent 
 hands upon herself, either stung by the disappointment, or 
 dreading the discovery of her amour. She determined, 
 therefore, to make a bold attempt, to avoid the danger 
 which awaited her, either by bringing about what Arsace 
 desired, or to remove all concerned in, and privy to the 
 patter, by involving them in one common destruction. 
 
 Groing therefore to the princess " "We are losing our 
 labour," she said: "this stubborn youth, instead of being 
 softened, grows every day more self-willed ; he has Chariclea 
 continually in his mouth, and, by calling upon her alone, 
 consoles himself in his misfortunes. Let us then, as a last 
 experiment, cut the cable,f as the proverb says, and rid our^ 
 selves of this impediment to our wishes : perhaps, when he 
 shall hear that she is no more, he may despair of obtaining 
 her, and surrender himself to your desires." 
 
 Arsace eagerly seized upon this idea : her rage and jea- 
 lousy had but too well prepared her for embracing the cruel 
 expedient.^" You advise well," she replied, " I will take 
 care to have this wretch removed out of our way." " But 
 who will you get to put your design into execution?" said 
 Cvbele, " for though your power here is great, the laws 
 
 * " Justum et tenacem propositi virum. 
 * * # * * 
 
 Non vultus instantis tyranni 
 Mente quatit solida," Hor. III. Od, iii. 1. 
 ^ prtpw/icv dyicvpav* 
 
190 THE ADYENTUKES OF 
 
 forbid you to put any one to death without the sentence of 
 the judges. Tou must undergo, therefore, some trouble 
 and delay in framing a fictitious charge against this maiden ; 
 and there will, besides, be some difficulty in proving it. To 
 save you the pain and hazard of this proceeding, I am ready 
 to dare and suffer anything. I will, if you think fit, do the 
 deed with poison, and by means of a medicated cup remove 
 our adversary." 
 
 Arsace approved, and bid her execute her purpose. She 
 lost no time, but went to the unhappy Chariclea, whom she 
 found in tears, and revolving how she could escape from life 
 of which she was now weary ; suspecting as she did the suf- 
 ferings and imprisonment of Theagenes, though Cybele had 
 endeavoured to conceal them from her, and had invented 
 various excuses for his unusual absence. 
 
 The beldame thus addressed her : " Why will you con- 
 sume yourself in continual, and now causeless, lamen- 
 tations ? Theagenes is free, and will be with you here this 
 evening. His mistress, angry at some fault which he had 
 committed in her service, ordered him into a slight confine- 
 ment, but has this day given directions for his release, in 
 honour of a feast which she is preparing to celebrate, and 
 in compliance with my entreaties. Arise, therefore, com- 
 pose yourself, and refresh your spirits with a slight refec- 
 tion." 
 
 " How shall I believe you ?" replied the afflicted maiden, 
 " you have deceived me so often, that I know not how to 
 credit what you say." 
 
 " I swear to you, by all the gods," said Cybele, " all your 
 troubles shall have an end this day; all your anxiety 
 shall be removed, only do not first kill yourself by ab- 
 staining obstinately, as you do, from food. Taste, "then, 
 the repast which I have provided." 
 
 Chariclea was, with difficulty, persuaded, though she very 
 naturally entertained suspicions ; the protestations, however, 
 of the old woman, and the pleasing hopes suggested prevailed 
 at length ; (for what the mind desires it believes),* and they 
 sat down to the repast. 
 
 Cybele motioned to Abra, the slave, who waited upon 
 them, to give the cup, after she had mixed the wine, first to 
 Chariclea ; she then took another herself and drank. She 
 
 * " Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought." Shakespeare. 
 
THEAGEKES AND CHARICLEA. 191 
 
 had not swallowed all that was presented to her, when she 
 appeared seized with dizziness ; and throwing what remained 
 in the cup upon the ground, and casting a fierce look upon 
 the attendant, her body was attacked with violent spasms 
 and convulsions. Chariclea, and all who were in the room, 
 were struck with horror, and attempted to raise and assist 
 her ; but the poison, potent enough to destroy a young and 
 vigorous person, wrought more quickly than can be ex- 
 pressed upon her old and worn-out body. It seized the 
 vitals ; she was consumed by inward fire ; her limbs, which 
 were at first convulsed, became at length stiff and motion- 
 less, and a black colour spread itself over her skin. But 
 the malice of her soul was more malignant even than the 
 poison, and Cybele, even in death did not give over her 
 wicked arts; but by signs and broken accents, gave the 
 assistants to understand that she was poisoned by the con- 
 trivance of Chariclea. No sooner did she expire than the 
 innocent maiden was bound, and carried before Arsace. 
 j When the princess asked her if she had prepared the 
 fatal draught, and threatened her, if she would not confess 
 the whole truth, that torments should force it from her, her 
 behaviour astonished all the beholders. She did not cast 
 down her eyes ; she betrayed no fear ; she even smiled, and 
 treated the affair with scorn, disregarding, in conscious 
 innocence, the incredible accusation, and rejoicing in the 
 imputation of the guilt, if through the agency of others, it 
 should bring her to a death, which Theagenes had already 
 undergone. "If Theagenes be alive," said she, "I am 
 totally guiltless of this crime ; but if he has fallen a victim 
 to your most virtuous practices, it needs no tortures to 
 extract a confession from me : then am I the poisoner of 
 your incomparable nurse, treat me as if I were guilty, and 
 by taking my life, gratify him who loathed your unhallowed 
 wishes." 
 
 Arsace was stung into fury by this : she ordered her to 
 be smitten on the face, and then said " Take this wretch, 
 bound as she is, and shew her her precious lover suffering, 
 as he has well deserved ; then load every limb with fetters 
 and deliver her to Euphrates ; bid him confine her in a 
 dungeon till to-morrow, when she will receive from the 
 Persian magistrates the sentence of death." 
 
 While they were leading her away, the girl who had poured 
 
192 THE ADTENTFEES OP 
 
 out the wine at the fatal repast, who was an Ionian by 
 nation, and the same who was sent at first by Arsace to 
 wait upon her Grecian gnests (whether out of compassion 
 for Chariclea, whom nobody could attend and not love, or 
 moved by a sudden impulse from heaven,) burst into tears, 
 and cried out " O most unhappy and guiltless maiden!" 
 The bystanders wondering at this exclamation and pressing 
 her to explain its meaning, she confessed that it was she 
 who had given the poison to Cybele, from whom she had 
 received it, in order that it might be administered to Chari- 
 clea. She declared, that either overcome by trepidation at 
 the enormity of the action, or confused at the signs made by 
 Cybele, to present the goblet first to the young stranger, 
 she had, in her hurry, changed the cups, and given that 
 containing the poison to the old woman. 
 
 She was immediately taken before Arsace, every one 
 heartily wishing that Chariclea might be found innocent ; 
 for beauty, and nobleness of demeanour, can move com- 
 passion even in the minds of barbarians. 
 
 The slave repeated before her mistress all she had said 
 before, but it was of no avail towards clearing the inno- 
 cent maiden, and served only to involve herself in the same 
 punishment ; for Arsace, saying she was an accomplice, 
 commanded her to be bound, thrown into prison, and 
 reserved with the other for trial ; and she sent directly 
 to the magistrates, who formed the Supreme Council ; and 
 to whom it belonged to try criminals and to pronounce 
 their sentence, ordering them to assemble on the morrow. 
 
 At the appointed time, w r hen the court was met, Arsace 
 stated the case, and accused Chariclea of the poisoning ; 
 lamenting, with many tears, the loss she had sustained in a 
 faithful and affectionate old servant, whom no treasures 
 could replace ; calling the judges themselves to witness the 
 ingratitude with which she had been treated, in that, after 
 she had received and entertained the strangers with the 
 greatest kindness and humanity, she had met with such 
 a base return : in short, her tone was throughout bitter and 
 malignant. 
 
 Chariclea made no defence, but confessed the crime, 
 admitting that she had administered the poison, and de- 
 claring, that had she not been prevented, she would have 
 given another potion to Arsace ; whom she attacked in good 
 
THE A GENES A^D CHABICIEA. 193 
 
 set terms ; provoking, in short, by every means in her 
 power, the sentence of the judges. 
 
 This behaviour was the consequence of a plan concerted 
 between her and Theagenes the night before, in the prison, 
 where they had agreed that she should voluntarily meet the 
 doom with which she was threatened, and quit a wandering 
 and wretched life, now become intolerable by the implacable 
 pursuits of adverse fortune. After which they took a last 
 melancholy embrace ; and she bound about her body the 
 jewels which had been exposed with her, which she always 
 carried about her, concealing them under her garments to 
 serve as attendants upon her obsequies ; and she now un- 
 dauntedly avowed every crime which was laid to her charge, 
 and added others which her accusers had not thought of; so 
 that the judges, without any hesitation, were very near 
 awarding her the most cruel punishment, usual in such 
 cases, among the Persians.* At last, however, moved 
 perhaps by her youth, her beauty, and noble air, they con- 
 demned her to be burnt alive. 
 
 She was dragged directly out of the court, and led by the 
 executioners without the walls, the crier proclaiming that a 
 prisoner was going to suffer for the crime of poisoning ; and 
 a vast multitude flocking together, and following her, poured 
 out of the city. 
 
 Among the spectators upon the walls Arsace had the 
 cruelty to present herself, that she might satiate her re- 
 venge, and obtain a savage consolation for her disappoint- 
 ment, in viewing the sufferings of her to whom she imputed 
 it. The ministers of justice now made ready and lighted an 
 immense pile ; and were preparing to place the innocent 
 victim upon it, when she begged a delay of a few moments, 
 promising that she would herself voluntarily ascend it and 
 now turning towards the rising sun, and lifting up her eyes 
 and hands to heaven, she exclaimed {w sun! Dearth! 
 O celestial and infernal deities who view and punish the 
 actions of the wicked ! I call upon you to witness how in- 
 
 * Plutarch thus describes the punishment of poisoners among the 
 Persians. " Poisoners are put to death, by the Persian laws, iu the 
 following manner. The head of the criminal is laid upon a flat stone, 
 the executioner with another stone beats and pounds his head, until 
 both head and face are entirely crushed." 
 
 O 
 
194 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 nocent I am of the crime of which I am accused. Receive 
 me propitiously, who am now preparing to undergo a volun- 
 tary death, unable to support any longer the cruel and un- 
 relenting attacks of adverse fortune ; but may your speedy 
 vengeance overtake that worker of evil, the accursed and 
 adulterous Arsace ; the disappointment of whose profligate 
 designs upon Theagenes has urged her thus to wreak her 
 fury upon me." This appeal, and these protestations, caused 
 a murmur in the assembly. Some said the matter ought to 
 undergo a further examination some wished to hinder, 
 others advanced to prevent her mounting the pile : but she 
 put them all aside, and ascended it intrepidly. 
 
 She placed herself in the midst of it, ani remained for a 
 considerable time unhurt, the flames playing harmlessly 
 around her, rather than approaching her ; not injuring her 
 in the least but receding withersoever she turned herself; 
 so that their only effect seemed to be to give light and 
 splendour to her charms ; as she lay like a bride upon a fiery 
 nuptial couch. 
 
 She shifted herself from one side of the pile to another, 
 marvelling as much as any one else, at what happened, and 
 seeking for destruction, but still without effect ; for the fire 
 ever retreated, and seemed to shun her approach. The exe- 
 cutioners on their part were not idle, but threw on more 
 fuel (Arsace by signs inciting them), dry wood, and reeds, 
 and every thing that was likely to raise and feed the flame ; 
 yet all was to no purpose ; and now a murmur growing into 
 a tumult, began to run through the assembly : they cried 
 out "This is a divine interposition! the maiden is un- 
 justly accused ! she is surely innocent ! and advancing 
 towards the pile, they drove away the ministers of justice, 
 Thyamis, whom the uproar had roused from his retirement, 
 now appearing at their head, and calling on the people for 
 assistance. They were eager to deliver Char idea, but durst 
 not approach too near. They earnestly desired her, therefore, 
 to come down herself from the pile ; for there could be no 
 danger in passing through the flames, to one who appeared 
 even to be untouched by them. Chariclea seeing and hear- 
 ing this, and believing too that some divinity was really 
 interposing to preserve her, deemed that she ought not to 
 appear ungrateful, or reject the mercy, and leapt lightly 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 195 
 
 from the pile : at which sight the whole city raised a sudden 
 shout of wonder, joy, and thanksgiving to the gods. 
 
 Arsace, too, beheld this prodigy with astonishment, but 
 with very different sensations. She could not contain her 
 rage. She left the ramparts, hurried through a postern 
 gate, attended by her guards and the Persian nobles, aad 
 herself laid violent hands on Chariclea. Casting a furious 
 glance at the people "Are ye not ashamed/' she cried, "to 
 assist in withdrawing from punishment a wretched creature 
 detected in the very fact of poisoning, and confessing it ? 
 Do ye not consider, that while shewing a blameable com- 
 passion to this wicked woman, ye are putting yourselves in 
 opposition to the laws of the Persians to the judges, the 
 peers, the viceroys, arid to the Great King himself. The 
 fact of her not burning has perhaps moved you, and ye at- 
 tribute it to the interposition of the gods, not considering 
 that this yet more fully proves her guilt. Such is her 
 knowledge of charms, and witchcraft, that she is enabled to 
 resist even /the force of fire. Come all of you to-morrow 
 to the examination which shall be held in public, and you 
 shall not only hear her confess her crimes herself, but shall 
 find her convicted also by her accomplices whom I have in 
 custody." 
 
 She then commanded Chariclea to be led away, still 
 keeping her hold upon her neck, and ordering her guards 
 to disperse the crowd, who were with difficulty prevented 
 from interfering for her rescue ; but who at length gave 
 way, partly suspecting her to be a sorceress, and partly 
 through awe of the person, and dreading the power, of 
 Arsace. 
 
 Chariclea then was again committed to the custody of 
 Euphrates ; again thrown into prison, and reserved for a 
 second trial, and a second sentence ; rejoicing however 
 amidst her troubles, that she should once more have an op- 
 portunity of seeing, and conversing with, Theagenes ; for 
 Arsace, out of a refinement of cruelty, had ordered them 
 to be confined in one dungeon, that each might be a specta- 
 tor of the other's sufferings ; for she well knew that a 
 tender heart is much more hurt by the pains of those it 
 loves than by its own. In this instance, however, her savage 
 mind was disappointed ; and what she meant as a punish- 
 
 o 2 
 
106 THE ADVENTUBES OF 
 
 ment turned out a consolation. They took a melancholy 
 pleasure in suffering for each other, and in suffering equally. 
 Had a greater share of torments been inflicted upon either, 
 the other would have been jealous, and thought his love de- 
 frauded moreover they were now together they could con- 
 verse with, comfort, and encourage one another to bear their 
 calamities with fortitude, and to resist courageously every 
 trial that might endanger their purity or fidelity. They 
 passed the greatest part of the night in speaking on such 
 topics, as might indeed be expected from a pair, whose 
 whole delight was in their mutual conversation, and who 
 despaired of ever passing another night together again. 
 
 At length they came to the miraculous event which hap- 
 pened at the pyre. Theagenes attributed it to the benevo- 
 lence of the gods, who were angry at the injustice of Arsace, 
 and who pitied Chariclea's innocence and piety. She her- 
 self was in doubt whether to thank or complain of heaven. 
 The manifest interposition of the gods at the place of ex- 
 ecution, was a mark of their kindness and protection ; but 
 to be preserved from death, only to be plunged afresh in 
 new and unceasing troubles, was rather a sign of their hav- 
 ing incurred, and still continuing under, the divine dis- 
 pleasure : unless indeed, it were some wonder-working 
 method of the deity delighting to plunge them into the 
 deepest misery, in order to shew its power of saving them 
 when their condition appeared desperate. 
 
 She was going on in a complaining style, when Theagenes 
 stopped her, bidding her speak more reverently, nor to 
 scrutinize the conduct of the Deity. Suddenly she ex- 
 claimed, "May the gods be propitious to us, for I just 
 now call to mind a dream, (or rather waking vision), which 
 I had last night, and which the unexpected sight of you 
 again, and the various matters which we have since talked 
 of, had driven from my memory. The vision was this : 
 The beatified Calasiris appeared to me (whether in reality 
 or in idea, I am not certain) and repeated these lines, for 
 the words fell into verse ; 
 
 . n*aring Pantarbe, fear not flames, fair maid, 
 /ate, to whom nought is hard, shall bring thee aid.' * 
 * HavTcipGriv tyopkovaa irvpog fjirj rapGu 
 *PqTia>c poipaic Kal r'a&k^ 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 197 
 
 Theagenes on his part appeared suddenly like one under 
 supernatural impulse, for springing forwards, as far as his 
 fetters would permit him, he exclaimed "The gods be 
 gracious to us ! recollection makes me also a poet ; I had, 
 myself, a like vision. Calasiris, or some deity in his shape, 
 appeared to me, and addressed me in these lines : 
 
 ' From Arsace, the morrow sees thee free 
 To Ethiopia with the virgin flee.' * 
 
 Now, I readily comprehend the meaning of the oracle 
 which is given to me. By ^Ethiopia, is signified the dark 
 abode of those who dwell under the earth by the virgin, 
 Proserpine by freedom, my release from this wretched 
 body : but I do not so readily understand that which relates 
 to you there appears to be a contradiction in it. The 
 name of Pantarbe means ' all fear, 5 and yet from it you are 
 promised assistance." 
 
 "My dearest Theagenes," replied Chariclea, " you have 
 been so accustomed to misfortunes that you use yourself to 
 interpret every thing in its worst sense the mind of man 
 so readily takes a colour from its circumstances. The 
 oracles appear to me to admit of much more favourable 
 meaning. The virgin, instead of Proserpine, means perhaps 
 nie, with whom you are to escape to ^Ethiopia, my country, 
 after you shall have been delivered from the prisons of 
 Arsace. How all this is to be brought about is not very 
 apparent, but it is not incredible. Every thing is possible 
 to the gods ; and they who have favoured us with this pre- 
 diction, will watch over its accomplishment. The prophecy 
 which relates to me, so far from being obscure, is, as you 
 see, fulfilled ; and I am, contrary to all expectation, alive, 
 and unhurt, at least by the flames : I was hitherto ignorant 
 that I carried the cause of my preservation about me, but 
 now 1 fancy that I understand the words. I took particular 
 care at the time of my trial, as indeed I had been wont to 
 do before, to have the jewels which were exposed with 
 me, bound closely about my body, concealing them 
 under my garments in case I should escape, they would 
 help to support my life if I were doomed to suffer, they 
 
 * AifltoTTOv elg yaiav a0eai a/zjutya Kovprj 
 'Ajora(i>i/ avoiov tK 
 
198 THE ADYifflUBES OF 
 
 would adorn my funeral. Among these, which consist of 
 costly necklaces, and Indian and ^Ethiopian jewels, there is 
 a ring, given by my father to my mother when they were 
 betrothed : within the bezil is a stone called Pantarbe ; it is 
 inscribed with sacred letters, and endowed with mystic 
 virtues, from whence, as I conjecture, it obtains the power to 
 preserve those who wear it from the force of fire. This, 
 therefore, most probably, and the good pleasure of the 
 gods, is what has preserved me. I remember too, that our 
 friend, Calasiris, (now in happiness,) told me that some- 
 thing of this virtue was hinted at in the writing inscribed 
 on the fillet which was exposed with me, and which I always 
 wear round my waist." 
 
 "What you say," replied Theagenes, "may perhaps be 
 true what has happened seems to confirm your conjecture : 
 but what Pantarbe will deliver us from the dangers which 
 threaten us to-morrow? This stone, though it preserves 
 from fire, does not confer immortality , and the wicked 
 Arsace will find out some other, and new kind of punish- 
 ment. How do I wish that she would involve us both in 
 the same sentence, that one and the same hour might end 
 our troubles ! I should not esteem such a departure death, 
 but repose and ease to our manifold miseries." 
 
 " Be not so cast down," said Chariclea, "the oracle pro- 
 mises us another Pantarbe. Let us trust in the gods, so 
 will our deliverance be more grateful ; or, if we be doomed 
 to die, piety will soften and sanctify our sufferings." 
 
 In such conversations were the unfortunate lovers em- 
 ployed ; each more solicitous for the fate which awaited the 
 other, than lor his own. They vowed to be faithful, and 
 love one another till death ; and beguiled the melancholy 
 moments in these, which they thought would be their last, 
 protestations. Meanwhile Bagoas and his troop of horse 
 arrived at Memphis, in the middle of the night, while every 
 one was buried in sleep. And when they had, without 
 tumult, roused the guards, and made known who they were, 
 they were admitted and entered into the court of the Vice- 
 roy's palace. Bagoas caused his men to surround the 
 building, that he might be prepared, in case of meeting 
 with any resistance ; and he himself gaining admission by a 
 crazy postern gate, and commanding silence to the person 
 
THEAGENES AtfD CHAEICLEA. 199 
 
 there, hastened, with ease, from his knowledge of the place, 
 to the apartments of Euphrates, the moon affording a little 
 light. Euphrates was in bed; but being roused by the 
 noise made at his door, started up, and called out " Who is 
 there ? " " It is I," said Bagoas ; " make no noise, but 
 order a light to be brought." The other ordered a boy, who 
 slept in his chamber, to bring a light, but to take care not 
 to awaken any one else. 
 
 When the light came, and the boy had retired, Euphrates 
 began " What new calamity does this sudden and unex- 
 pected appearance of yours announce?" " There is no 
 need," returned the other, "of many words ; take and read 
 this letter. Recognise the seal of Oroondates, and obey his 
 commands, this very night, with secrecy and expedition 
 Make use of the soldiers whom I have brought with me, 
 that you may give the less alarm. I leave you to judge for 
 yourself whether you will or will not first disclose the 
 business to Arsace'." 
 
 Euphrates took the letters, and perused them both. 
 "This," says he, "will be a fresh blow to my mistress, and 
 she needs no additional affliction; for she was yesterday 
 seized with a sudden disorder, as if by a stroke from 
 heaven, and she now lies in a burning fever, and is in the 
 utmost danger of her life. As for these letters, I would 
 not show them to her at present, even were she in good 
 health, for I know that she would sooner die herself, and 
 involve us in the same destruction, than part with these 
 young people. You are arrived just in time to save them. 
 Come then forthwith receive those whom you seek take 
 them away use them kindly yourself, and endeavour to 
 procure for them the same treatment from others. Their 
 situation may well excite your compassion ; for I have been 
 obliged, much against my will, but at the inexorable com- 
 mand of Arsace, to inflict upon them a variety of punish- 
 ments and tortures. They seem, besides, to be well born, 
 and, to judge from their habitual conduct, possessed of dis- 
 cretion and good sense." And so saying, he rose and 
 conducted Bagoas to the prison, who, as soon as he saw the 
 young captives, pale and exhausted as they were with their 
 sufferings, he could not help being wonderfully struck with 
 their form and beauty. They, concluding that this unsea- 
 
200 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 sonable visit announced their fate, and that Bagoas was 
 come to lead one of them, at least, to trial and execution, 
 were at first rather agitated ; but soon recovering an air of 
 cheerfulness, they appeared pleased rather than grieved. 
 
 Euphrates advanced; and as he was preparing to loose 
 their fetters from the wooden block, Theagenes exclaimed, 
 " Accursed Arsace ! She hopes to conceal her abominable 
 actions in darkness and obscurity. But let her know that 
 the eye of justice is most piercing ; that it will bring to light 
 her most secret crimes and display her wickedness in the face 
 of the sun. But do you, ministers of her cruelty, execute 
 her commands. Grant us, however, one last and only 
 favour: whether we be doomed to die by fire, by water, or 
 by the sword, let us suffer together, and end our wretched 
 being by one and the same kind of death." Chariclea 
 joined in this supplication. The eunuchs, who understood 
 what they said, shed tears, and brought them out in chains 
 as they were. 
 
 When they had left the palace, Euphrates remained 
 where he was ; and Bagoas, ordering his followers to take 
 off all their fetters, except such as were just necessary to 
 prevent an escape, placed them on horseback, surrounded 
 with his troop, and took, with all expedition, the road to 
 Thebes. 
 
 They rode all that night, and the next day till nine 
 o'clock, when, being spent with want of sleep, and exposed 
 to the summer rays of an Egyptian sun, Chariclea particu- 
 larly, unused to this kind of travelling, being nearly ex- 
 hausted with fatigue, they resolved, at last, to make a halt, 
 to breathe their horses, and to refresh themselves. They 
 chose for this purpose an elevated and projecting place on 
 the banks of the Nile, where the river, turning from its 
 direct course, and winding into a semicircle, forms a spot 
 something resembling the gulf of Epirus, which, being 
 kept continually moist, abounded in grass and herbage proper 
 for their beasts. Here, too, were peach trees, sycamores, 
 and others which love to grow in the neighbourhood of the 
 Kile, these over-arched and afforded them a pleasant shade. 
 Bagoas availed himself of their shelter instead of tents, and 
 here he took some refreshment, inviting Theagenes and 
 Chariclea to partake of his repast. They refused at first ; 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 201 
 
 he pressed them ; and when they replied that it was need- 
 less for those who were going to execution to trouble them- 
 selves about nourishment, he told them they were much 
 mistaken if they thought their lives in any Hanger; for he 
 was not leading them to death, but to the viceroy Oroondates. 
 
 The meridian heat of the sun had now passed ; it was no 
 longer vertical, but its beams struck upon them laterally. 
 Bagoas thereupon prepared to pursue his march, when a 
 courier arrived with great precipitation, himself out of 
 breath, and his horse -dropping with sweat, and ready to 
 sink under him with fatigue. As soon as he had spoken 
 a word to Bagoas in private, he remained in silence. The 
 eunuch fixing for some time his eyes on the ground, with 
 a serious and reflecting air, at last said, "B/ejoice, strangers! 
 You are revenged of your enemy. Arsace is no more. As 
 soon as she heard that you were gone away with me, she 
 strangled herself, and has prevented an inflicted, by a 
 voluntary, death ; for her crimes have been such, that she 
 had no hope of escaping the just resentment of Oroondates 
 and the sentence of the Great King, and must either have 
 lost her life, or have spent the remainder of it in infamy 
 and confinement. Be of good cheer, then ; fear nothing ; 
 I know your innocence, and your persecutor is removed." 
 
 Bagoas said this as he stood near them, with difficulty 
 expressing himself in the Greek tongue, and using many 
 uncouth words ; but he spoke with sincerity of heart, for 
 he rejoiced at the death of Arsace, whose dissolute manners 
 and tyrannical disposition he abominated; and he wished 
 to comfort and encourage the young people; he thought 
 moreover that he should recommend himself to Oroondates 
 by a very acceptable service, by preserving for him this 
 young man, who would throw into the shade all the rest of 
 his attendants; and by presenting him with a maiden 
 worthy in every respect to supply the place of Arsace. 
 
 Theagenes and Chariclea, too, rejoiced at this intelli- 
 gence. They adored the justice of the gods ; and felt that, 
 after this sudden and deserved end of their enemy, they 
 should not feel their misfortunes, however severe so wel- 
 come is death to some if only it be shared in by their foes. 
 Evening now approached. A refreshing breeze sprang up, 
 and invited them to continue their journey. They travelled 
 
202 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 all that night, and part of the next morning, making al 
 possible expedition to Thebes, in hopes of finding Oroon- 
 dates there. In this hope, however, Bagoas was disap- 
 pointed. Before he arrived at that city, a courier met him, 
 and informed him that Oroondates had set out for Syene, 
 leaving the strictest orders to his officers to collect every 
 man, even from the garrisons, and march them after him 
 to that place ; for the greatest apprehensions were enter- 
 tained that the town would be taken before the satrap 
 could arrive to its succour, the ^Ethiopian army having 
 appeared at its gates before any intelligence was received 
 that it was in motion. Bagoas, therefore, turned out of 
 the road to Thebes, and took that of Syene. 
 
 When he came near the place, he fell in with a troop of 
 -^Ethiopians, who had been sent out to scour the country, 
 and to ascertain the safety of the roads for the march of 
 their own army. Overtaken by night, and ignorant of the 
 ground, they had concealed themselves behind some bushes 
 (in obedience to the orders given them), watching for the 
 passing by of any prey which they might seize, and also 
 providing for their own security. At break of day they 
 perceived the approach of Bagoas and his company. They 
 despised the smallness of their number, but let them all 
 pass by, in order to assure themselves that there was no 
 greater force behind ; and then suddenly rushing from their 
 concealment in the marsh, they pursued and attacked them 
 with a great shout. 
 
 Bagoas and his men, astonished at the sudden noise and 
 assault, seeing from their colour that they were -/Ethiopians, 
 and from their number (which amounted to near a thou- 
 sand light-armed men), that resistance was vain, did not 
 await their approach, but took to flight. They retreated at 
 first with some degree of order, to avoid the appearance of 
 a complete rout. The enemy detached after them a band 
 of two hundred Troglodites. The Troglodites are a pastoral 
 nation, on the borders of Arabia, of great natural agility, 
 which they increase by exercise.* They are unused to heavy 
 
 * Herodotus gives the earne account of the swiftness of this race, 
 and mentions their subsisting upon snakes, lizards, and other reptiles, 
 adding, that their language resembles the shrill cry of a bat; they 
 are the modern Tibboos. See Herod, iv. 183, Blakesley's Edit. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 203 
 
 armour, but, with slings and missile weapons, endeavour to 
 make an impression upon the enemy at a distance, from 
 whom, if they find them superior, they immediately retreat. 
 The enemy do not take the trouble to pursue them, knowing 
 them to be swift as the wind, and given to hide themselves 
 in caverns, which they make their habitations. They, 
 though on foot, soon overtook Bagoas and his flying 
 squadron, and making use of their slings, wounded some 
 of them from afar, yet, on their facing about, did not await 
 their assault, but retreated headlong to their own comrades. 
 
 The Persians seeing this, and perceiving the smallness of 
 their number, ventured to attack them ; and having easily 
 repulsed them for a space, turned again, and putting spurs 
 to their horses, continued their flight with slackened rein 
 and with the utmost speed. Some, deserting the main 
 body, and hurrying to a bend in the Nile, hid themselves 
 under its .banks. The horse of Bagoas fell with him ; one 
 of his legs was fractured with the fall, and being unable to 
 move, he was taken prisoner. 
 
 Theagenes and Chariclea, too, were made captives. They 
 thought it dishonourable to desert Bagoas, who had shown 
 them much kindness, and from whom they hoped more in 
 future. They kept, therefore, by his side, dismounting from 
 their horses, and voluntarily offered themselves to the enemy; 
 Theagenes saying to Chariclea, " This explains my dream : 
 these are the ^Ethiopians into whose lands we are fated to 
 go : let us give ourselves up into their hands, and await an 
 uncertain fortune with them, rather than expose ourselves 
 to manifest danger with Oroondates." 
 
 Chariclea thought she could now perceive herself to be 
 led on by the hand of destiny: a secret hope of better 
 fortune began to insinuate itself into her bosom, and she 
 could not help considering those who attacked them as 
 friends rather than enemies ; but not venturing to disclose 
 her presages to Theagenes, she contented herself with 
 expressing her consent to his advice. 
 
 When the ^Ethiopians approached, and observed Bagoas, 
 from his features, to be a eunuch, and incapable of resist- 
 ance, and the others unarmed and in chains, but of extra- 
 ordinary grace and beauty, they inquired who they were. They 
 made use of an Egyptian interpreter, whom they carried with 
 
204 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 them, who understood besidea a little Persian, concluding 
 that the prisoners spoke one or other of these tongues ; for 
 experience had taught them that a body detached as spies 
 and scouts ought always to have some one with them who 
 naturally speaks or understands the language of the country 
 which they are sent to reconnoitre. 
 
 Theagenes, who, from his long residence in the land, had 
 acquired something of the Egyptian tongue, replied, that 
 the eunuch was one of the chief officers of the Persian 
 viceroy; that he himself and Chariclea were Grecians by 
 birth, 'taken prisoners, first by the Persians, and now volun- 
 tary captives to the ^Ethiopians, as they hoped, under better 
 auspices. 
 
 The enemy determined to spare their lives, and to deliver 
 them, as the first fruits of victory, to their sovereign, looking 
 upon them as amongst the most valuable possessions of 
 the satrap ; eunuchs are reckoned as the eyes and ears of 
 a Persian court, having neither children nor connexions 
 to turn aside their fidelity, they are wholly attached to the 
 person and service of their master ; * their young prisoners, 
 too, appeared to them to be the most beautiful persons 
 they had ever seen, and promised to be conspicuous orna- 
 ments to the royal household. They mounted them, there- 
 fore, upon horses, and carried them along with them, 
 though the accident of Bagoas, and the fetters of the 
 others, prevented their travelling very fast. 
 
 Here, then, was a kind of prologue to another drama : 
 just before they were prisoners in a foreign land, and on 
 the verge of being brought out to a public and ignominious 
 execution ; now they were being carried, or rather escorted, 
 though in captive guise, by those destined, ere long, to be 
 their subjects. Such was their present situation. 
 
 * See Xen. Cyrop. vil 5. 60, 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 205 
 
 BOOK IX. 
 
 SYEKE was now closely blockaded, and on every side, as 
 with a net, invested by the .^Ethiopian army. 
 
 Oroondates, as soon, as he was informed of the design and 
 sudden approach of the enemy (who, having passed the 
 cataracts, were pressing towards the place), using the 
 utmost diligence and expedition, had contrived to throw 
 himself into the city before their arrival; and after 
 planting his engines and artillery upon the walls, awaited 
 the attack^ and made every preparation for a vigorous 
 defence. 
 
 Hydaspes, the king of ^Ethiopia, though he was deceived 
 in the hope of surprising the town before they had any 
 notice of his approach, invested it, however, on all sides, 
 and surrounding it with a line of circumvallation, made for 
 the present no attack, but sat down quietly before it, filling 
 and exhausting the plains of Syene with myriads of men, 
 beasts, and cattle. Here the party which has been men-, 
 tioned brought their captives into his presence. 
 
 He was delighted at the sight of the young people ; his 
 soul, by a secret prescient movement, of which he knew not 
 the cause, inclining towards his children. He thought this 
 too an omen of victory, and joyfully exclaimed " See ! the 
 gods, as our first spoils, deliver up to us our enemies in 
 bonds. Let these then, as our first captives, be carefully 
 preserved for our triumphant sacrifices to be offered, as the 
 customs of ^Ethiopia require, to the gods of our country, 
 when we shall have subdued our foes." And having praised 
 and rewarded the captors, he sent them, together with their 
 prisoners, to the rear of the army, ordering the latter to 
 be kept under a guard (many of whom understood their 
 language), to be treated, attended, and provided for in 
 the most careful and splendid manner, and especially 
 to be preserved from all contamination, as destined to be 
 
203 THE ADVEXTUBES OF 
 
 sacred victims. He directed their iron chains to be taken 
 off, and fetters of gold to be put on in their room for this 
 metal is used by the Ethiopians in the way in which other 
 nations use iron. His commands were obeyed; and the 
 lovers, when they saw their first chains taken off, began to 
 entertain hopes of liberty, which were soon crushed by the 
 appearance and application of the golden ones. 
 
 Theagenes could not forbear smiling, and exclaimed 
 " Here is, indeed, a splendid mutation of fortune ; the god- 
 dess is very kind to us, and changes our iron for gold : 
 enriched by our fetters, we are become prisoners of high 
 price." 
 
 Chariclea smiled at this sally, and tried to keep up 
 his spirits, insisting that the more favourable predictions of 
 the gods were beginning to be fulfilled, and endeavouring 
 to soothe his mind with better hopes. 
 
 Hydaspes, who had flattered himself that he should 
 take Syene at his first appearance, without opposition, 
 being very nearly repulsed by the garrison, defending 
 themselves bravely, irritated besides by insulting speeches, 
 determined no longer to continue the blockade, by which, 
 the city might at last be taken, to the destruction of some 
 and the escape of others : but, by a new and unusual way 
 of assault, to involve the town, and its defenders, in one 
 common and universal ruin. 
 
 His plan of attack was this : he described a circle round 
 the walls, which he divided into portions of ten cubits each, 
 assigning ten men to every division, and ordering them to 
 dig a wide and deep ditch. They dug it accordingly, while 
 others, with the earth they threw out, raised a mound or wall 
 parallel with, and nearly equal in height, to that of the place 
 which they were besieging. The garrison made no attempt to 
 hinder these operations the besieging army was so nume- 
 rous, that they durst not venture on a sally and the works 
 were carried on at such a distance from the walls, as to be 
 out of the reach of their missile weapons. 
 
 When he had completed this part of his plan, with 
 wonderful dispatch, owing to the multitude of men em- 
 ployed in it, and the diligence with which he urged on their 
 labours, he proceeded to execute another work. He left a 
 part of the circle, to the space of about fifty feet, plain and 
 
THEAGENES AND CUARICLEA. 207 
 
 unfilled up. From each extremity of the ditch above de- 
 scribed, he extended a long mound down to the Nile, raising 
 it higher and higher as it approached the river. It had the 
 appearance of two long walls, preserving all the way the 
 breadth of fifty feet. 
 
 When he had carried on his lines so that they joined the 
 river, he cut a passage for it. and poured its waters into the 
 channel, which he had provided for them. They, rushing 
 from higher into lower ground, and from the vast width of the 
 Nile into the narrow channel, and confined by the mounds 
 on each side, thundered through the passage and channel 
 with a noise and impetuosity that might be heard at a great 
 distance. 
 
 The fearful sight and sound struck the ears and met the 
 eyes of the astonished inhabitants of Syene. They saw the 
 alarming circumstances in which they were, and that the 
 view of the besiegers was, to overwhelm them with the waters. 
 The trenches which surrounded, and the inundation which 
 was now fast approaching, prevented their escaping out 
 of the city, and it was impossible for them to remain long 
 in it, without the extremest danger ; they took measures, 
 therefore, as well as they were able, for their own pro- 
 tection. 
 
 In the first place, they filled up and secured every opening 
 and crevice in the gates with pitch and tow; then they 
 propped and strengthened the walls with earth, stones, and 
 wood, heaping up against them anything which was at hand. 
 Every one was employed ; women, children, and old men ; 
 for no age, no sex, ever refuses labour when it is for the 
 preservation of their lives. They who were best able to 
 bear fatigue were employed in digging a subterraneous and 
 narrow passage, from the city to the enemy's mound, which 
 work was thus conducted : 
 
 They first sunk a shaft near the walls, to the depth of 
 five cubits ; and when they had dug it below the founda- 
 tions, they carried their mine on forwards towards the 
 bulwarks with which they were inclosed, working by torch- 
 light; those who were behind receiving, in regular order, 
 the earth thrown out from those who were before, and de- 
 positing it at length in a vacant place in the city, formerly 
 occupied by gardens, where they raised it into a heap. 
 
208 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 Their intention in these operations, was to give some vent 
 and outlet to the waters, in case they should reach the city; 
 but the approach of the calamities which threatened them 
 was too speedy for their endeavours . to prevent it. The 
 Nile, rolling through the channel which had been prepared 
 for it, soon reached the trench, overflowed it everywhere, 
 and formed a lake of the whole space between the dyke and 
 the walls ; so that an inland town seemed like an island in 
 the midst of the sea, beaten and dashed against on all sides 
 by the waves. 
 
 At first, and for the space of a day, the strength of the 
 walls resisted ; but the continued pressure of the waters, 
 which were now raised to a great height, and penetrated 
 deeply into an earth black and slimy, which was cleft 
 in many places, from the summer's heat, sensibly under- 
 mined the walls ; the bottom yielded to the pressure of the 
 top, and wherever, owing to the fissures in the ground, a 
 settlement took place, there the walls began to totter in 
 several places, menacing a downfall, while they who should 
 have defended the towers were driven from their stations 
 by the oscillation. 
 
 Towards evening a considerable portion of the wall 
 between the towers fell down ; not so much, however, as 
 to be even with the ground, and aiford a passage to the 
 waters, for it was still about five cubits above them ; but 
 noAv the danger of an inundation was imminent and most 
 alarming. 
 
 At this sight a general cry of horror and dismay arose in 
 the city, which might be heard even in the enemy's camp 
 the wretched inhabitants stretched out their hands to the 
 gods, in whom only they had hope, and besought Oroondates 
 to send deputies with oifers of submission to Hydaspes. 
 He, reduced to be the slave of Fortune, unwillingly listened 
 to their entreaties; but he was entirely surrounded with 
 water, and it being out of his power to send an officer tc 
 the enemy, he was reduced by necessity to this contrivance 
 he wrote down the purport of their wishes, tied it to a stone, 
 and endeavoured, by means of a sling, to make it serve the pur- 
 pose of a messenger by traversing the waters ; but his design 
 was disappointed; the stone fell short, and dropped into the 
 water before it reached the other side. He repeated the 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 209 
 
 experiment several times. The archers. and slingers strained 
 every nerve to accomplish that upon which they thought 
 their safety and life depended ; but still without success. 
 At length, stretching out their hands to the enemy, who 
 stood on their works spectators of their distress, the miser- 
 able citizens implored their compassion by the most piteous 
 gestures, and endeavoured to signify what was meant by 
 their ineffectual stones and arrows now clasping their 
 hands together, and holding them forwards in a suppliant 
 manner now putting their arms behind their backs, in 
 token that they submitted to servitude. 
 
 Hydaspes understood their signs, and was ready to receive 
 their submission for great minds are easily inclined to 
 clemency by the sight of a prostrate enemy but he was 
 desirous first to make trial of their intentions. 
 
 He had already prepared some river-craft, which floating 
 down the Nije, were drawn up near the mound: he chose 
 ten of these, and filling them with archers, he ordered them 
 what to say to the Persians, and sent them towards the 
 city. They set out well prepared to defend themselves, in 
 case the enemy should attempt anything against them. 
 
 This passage of a vessel, from wall to wall, presented a 
 novel sight mariners sailing over an inland country and 
 cultivated plains : war, which is wont to produce strange 
 spectacles, seldom, perhaps, afforded a more uncommon one 
 than this a navy proceeding against a town, and sailors, in 
 boats, engaged with soldiers upon the walls. 
 
 Those in the city observed the boats making for the part 
 of the wall which had fallen down, and their spirits being 
 sunk with their misfortunes, surrounded as they were with 
 perils, they began to suspect and dread the designs of those 
 who were coming for their preservation : .for, in such ex- 
 tremity of danger, everything is a cause of suspicion and of 
 fear.* They began, therefore, to cast their darts and to 
 shoot their arrows towards those who were in the boats : for 
 men, who despair of safety, think even the shortest delay 
 of destruction as so much gained. They flung their weapons, 
 however, in such a manner as not to inflict wounds, but 
 only to hinder the approach of the enemy. 
 
 The ^Ethiopians returned the attack more in earnest, nofc 
 * ** TTCLV /not 0o/3fpoy '6 TrpofffpTrov." ^Esch. P. V. 127. 
 
210 THE ADVENTUBES OF 
 
 knowing the intentions of the Persians: they wounded 
 several of those who were upon the ramparts, some of whom 
 tumbled over into the water. The engagement was pro- 
 ceeding with greater warmth, one party endeavouring 
 merely to repulse ; the other to attack, when an old man, of 
 great authority among the Syenseans, who stood upon the 
 wall, thus addressed his fellow-citizens : 
 
 Infatuated men ! your distresses seem to have taken away 
 your senses. You have encouraged and besought the 
 ^Ethiopians to come to your assistance; and now, when 
 they are, beyond all your hopes, arrived, you do everything 
 in your power to drive them away ngain. If they come 
 with friendly intentions, and bring conditions of peace, they 
 are your preservers ; if they have hostile designs, you need 
 not *fear their landing ; we are so numerous, that we shall 
 easily overpower them. But if we were to destroy all these, 
 what would it avail us, surrounded as we are by such a 
 cloud of enemies both by land and water ? Let us then 
 receive them, and see what is their business here." 
 
 This speech was received with approbation, both by the 
 people and the Viceroy; and withdrawing from the breached 
 portion of the wall, they stood motionless with their arms. 
 
 When the space between the walls was thus cleared, the 
 inhabitants signed to the ^Ethiopians that they might freely 
 approach : they advanced, therefore, and when near enough, 
 they from their boats addressed the besieged multitude as 
 follows : 
 
 " Persians ! and inhabitants of S} r ene ! Hydaspes, King 
 of the Eastern and Western ^Ethiopia, and now your sove- 
 reign also, knows how to subdue his enemies, and to spare 
 those who supplicate his mercy the one belongs to valour, 
 the other to humanity : the merit of the former belongs 
 chiefly to his soldiers ; that of the latter is entirely his own. 
 Your safety or destruction is now in his hands ; but since 
 you throw yourselves on his compassion, he releases you 
 from the impending and unavoidable dangers which encom- 
 pass you. He does not himself name the conditions of 
 your deliverance, but leaves them to you to propose ; he has 
 no desire to tyrannize over justice he wishes to treat the 
 fortunes of men with equity." 
 
 To this address the inhabitants of Syene replied, " That 
 
THEA.GENES AND CHAEICLEA. 211 
 
 they threw themselves, their wives and children, upon the 
 mercy of the ^Ethiopian prince, and were ready to sur- 
 render their city (if they were spared), which was now 
 in such sore distress, that unless some god, or Hydaspes 
 himself, very speedily interposed, there were no hopes of its 
 preservation." 
 
 Oroondates added, " That he was ready to yield up, and 
 put into their hands, both the cause of the war, and its 
 prizes the city of Philoe, and the emerald mines : in return, 
 he required that neither he nor his soldiers should be made 
 prisoners of war, but that Hydaspes, as a crowing act of 
 generosity, would permit them to retire to Elephantine upon 
 condition of their doing injury to no one : as to himself, it 
 was indifferent to him whether he laid down his life now, or 
 perished hereafter, by the sentence of his master, for having 
 lost his army ; the latter alternative would indeed be the 
 worst, for now^he would undergo a common, and possibly, an 
 easy kind of death ; in the other case, he would have to suffer 
 the refinements of cruelty and torture. He also requested 
 them to receive two of his Persians into their boats, that they 
 might proceed to Elephantine, professing that if they found 
 the garrison of that city disposed to surrender to the ^Ethio- 
 pians, he would no longer delay to follow their example." 
 
 The delegates complied with his request ; took the Per- 
 sians on board, returned to the camp, and informed 
 Hydaspes of the result of their embassy. 
 
 Hydaspes smiled at the infatuation of Oroondates, who 
 was insisting upon terms, while his very existence hung upon 
 another's will. " It would be foolish, however," said he, " to 
 let so many suffer for the stupidity of one." Accordingly 
 he permitted those whom the Viceroy had sent to proceed 
 to Elephantine; little regarding whether the troops there 
 yielded or resisted. He ordered his men to close up the 
 breach which they had made in the banks of the Nile, and 
 to make another in those of the mound or wall ; so that the 
 river being prevented from flowing in at one opening and 
 the stagnant water retiring apace out jf the other, the 
 space between his camp and Syene might soon be dry, and 
 practicable for his soldiers to march over. 
 
 His commands were executed. His men made a begin- 
 ning of the work, but night coming on deferred its com- 
 
 p 2 
 
212 THE ADYENTCRES OF 
 
 pletion till the next day. Meantime they who were in the 
 city omitted nothing which might contribute to their pre- 
 servation, not despairing of preservation, though it ap- 
 peared almost beyond hope. 
 
 Some carried on their mine, which they now supposed 
 must approach near the enemy's mound ; having com- 
 puted, as well as they could, by means of a rope, the 
 interval between that and their own walls. Others repaired 
 the wall which had fallen down, working by torchlight, 
 readily finding materials from the stones which had fallen 
 inwards. They had, as they thought, tolerably well secured 
 themseves for the present ; but were destined to have a new 
 alarm ; in the middle of the night, a portion of the mound, 
 in that part where the enemy had been digging on the 
 preceding day, suddenly gave way. This was caused either 
 by the earth 'which formed the foundation being moist and 
 porous, or by the mining party having sapped the ground 
 above them, or by the ever-increasing body of water widen- 
 ing the narrow breach, or perhaps it might be ascribed to 
 divine interposition. So tremendous was the noise and the 
 report, that the besiegers and besieged, though ignorant ot 
 the cause, imagined a great part of the city wall to have been 
 carried away ; but the ^Ethiopians, feeling themselves safe in 
 their tents, deferred satisfying their curiosity till the morning. 
 
 The inhabitants of Syene, on the contrary, were, with 
 reason, more solicitous ; they immediately examined every 
 portion of their walls, and each finding all safe in his own 
 vicinity, concluded that the accident had happened in some 
 other part. The approach of daylight cleared up all their 
 doubts ; the breach in the mound, and the retreat of the 
 waters, being then visible. 
 
 And now the ^Ethiopians dammed up the breach in the 
 river's bank, by fixing planks, supported by strong wooden 
 piles, strengthening them still more with a quantity of 
 earth and fascines, taken partly from the banks and partly 
 brought in boats, thousands labouring at the work. In 
 this way the water was got rid of. The space, however, 
 between the camp and the town was, as yet, by no means 
 passable, being very deep in mud and dirt ; and though it 
 was in some places apparently dry ground, the surface was 
 thin, and treacherous for the feet either of horses or men. 
 
TIIEAGENES AND CIIAEICLEA. 213 
 
 Thus passed two or three days. The Syenseans opened 
 their gates, and the ^Ethiopians discontinued all hostile 
 movements ; the truce, however, was carried on without 
 any intercourse between the parties. Guards on either 
 side were discontinued ; and they in the city gave them- 
 selves up to pleasure and enjoyment. 
 
 It happened that this was the season for celebrating the 
 overflowing of the Nile ; a very solemn festival among the 
 Egyptians. It falls out about the time of the summer 
 solstice, when the river first begins to swell, and is observed 
 with great devotion throughout the country ; for the Egyp- 
 tians deify the Nile, making him one of their principal gods ; 
 and equalling him to heaven ; because they say, that without 
 clouds or rain he annually waters and fertilizes their fields ; 
 this is the opinion of the vulgar. They consider it a proof 
 of his divinity, that the union of moist and dry being the 
 principal cau#tf of animal life, he supplies the former, the 
 earth the latter quality (admitting also the existence of 
 other elements.) These opinions are promulgated among 
 the vulgar, but they who have been initiated in the mysteries, 
 call the earth Isis,* the river Osiris, substituting words for 
 things. The goddess, they say, rejoices when the god makes 
 his appearance upon the plains, and grieves proportionably 
 when he is absent, feeling indignation against his enemy, 
 Typho.f 
 
 The cause of this is, I imagine, that men skilled in divine 
 and human knowledge, have not chosen to disclose to the 
 vulgar the hidden significations contained under these 
 natural appearances, but veil them under fables ; being 
 however ready to reveal them in a proper place, and with 
 due ceremonies, to those who are desirous and worthy of 
 being initiated. J So much I may be allowed to say with 
 permission of the deity, preserving a reverential silence as 
 to what relates to more mystic matters. 
 
 I return now to the course of my story. The inhabitants 
 
 * See note to vol. i., p. 265, of Blakesley's Herodotus. 
 
 t The brother and murderer of Osiris, whose death was avenged by 
 his son Horus. 
 
 Literally--" more clearly initiating them with the fiery torch of 
 realities." Ty Trup^opy rStv UVTWV \ap,7rddi tyavoTtpov TtXovvrwv. 
 
214 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 of Syene were employed in celebrating their festival with 
 sacrifices and other ceremonies ; their bodies, indeed, worn 
 with labour and suffering, but their minds filled with devotion 
 towards their deity, whom they honoured as best their 
 present circumstances would permit. 
 
 Oroondates, taking the opportunity of the dead of night, 
 when the citizens, after their fatigues and rejoicings, were 
 plunged in sleep, and having beforehand secretly acquainted 
 his Persian soldiers with his intentions, and appointed 
 them the particular hour and gate at which they were to 
 assemble, led them out of their quarters. 
 
 An order had been issued to every corporal* to leave the 
 horses and beasts of burden behind, that they might have 
 no impediment on their march, nor give any intimation of 
 their design, by the tumult which the mustering them would 
 cause. Orders were given to take their arms alone, and, 
 together with them, a beam or plank. 
 
 As soon as they were assembled at the appointed gate, 
 they proceeded to lay their planks across the mud, (close to 
 one another) which were successively passed from hand to 
 hand, by those behind, to those in front. They passed over 
 them, as by a bridge, and the whole body reached, without 
 accident, the firm land. 
 
 They found the ^Ethiopians sleeping in security, without 
 watch or guard ; and passing by them unperceived Oroon- 
 dates led his men with all possible speed to Elephantine. He 
 was readily received into the city by means of the two Per- 
 sians whom he had sent before, and who, having watched, 
 night after night, caused the gates to be opened upon the 
 concerted watch-word being given. 
 
 When day began to dawn, the inhabitants of Syene were 
 aware of the flight of their defenders. Every one missed 
 the Persian whom he had lodged in his house, and the sight 
 of the planks laid over the mud, confirmed them in their 
 suspicions, and explained the manner of it. They were 
 thrown into great consternation at this discovery; expecting, 
 with reason, a severe punishment, as for a second offence, 
 fearing they should be thought to have abused the clemency 
 of their conqueror, and to have connived at the escape of 
 the Persians. They determined therefore, after some con- 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 215 
 
 sultation, to go out of the city in a body, to deliver themselves 
 up to Hydaspes, to attest their innocence with oaths, and 
 implore his mercy. Collecting together then all ranks and 
 ages, with the air of suppliants, they marched in procession, 
 over the bridge of planks. Some carried boughs of trees, 
 others tapers and torches, the sacred ensigns and images of 
 their gods preceding them as messengers of peace. 
 
 When they approached the camp of the ^Ethiopians, they 
 fell down on their knees, raising, as with one consent, a 
 plaintive and mournful cry ; and deprecating, by the most 
 humble gestures, the victor's wrath. 
 
 They laid their infants on the ground before them, seem- 
 ingly leaving /them to wander whither chance might lead ; 
 intending to/pacify the wrath of the ^Ethiopians by the sight 
 of their innocent and guiltless age. The poor children, 
 frightened at the behaviour and outcries of their parents, 
 crept (some of them) towards the adverse army ; and with 
 their tottering steps and wailing voices, presented an affecting 
 scene, Fortune, as it were, converting them into instruments 
 of supplication. 
 
 Hydaspes observing this uncommon spectacle, and con- 
 ceiving that they were reiterating their former entreaties 
 and imploring pardon for their crime, sent to know what 
 they meant, and why they came alone, and without the 
 Persians. 
 
 They related all which had happened the flight of the 
 Persians, their own entire ignorance of it, the festival 
 they had been celebrating, and the opportunity secretly 
 taken by the garrison to leave them, when they were buried 
 in sleep, after their feastings and fatigues ; although, had 
 they been awake, and had they seen them, it would have 
 been out of their power, unarmed as they were, to hinder 
 the retreat of men in arms. 
 
 Hydaspes from this relation suspected, as was really the 
 case, that Oroondates had some secret design and stratagem 
 against him ; summoning the Egyptian priests therefore, and 
 for the sake of greater solemnity, adoring the images of the 
 gods which they carried with them, he inquired if they could 
 give him any further information about the Persians. He 
 asked whither they were gone, and what were their hopes 
 and intentions. They replied, " That they were ignorant of 
 
216 THE ADYEXTUKES 01 
 
 their schemes ; but supposed them to be gone to Elephan- 
 tine, where the principal part of the army was assembled, 
 Oroondates placing his chief confidence in his barbed cavalry. 
 They concluded by beseeching him, if he had conceived any 
 resentment against them to lay it aside, and to enter their 
 city, as if it were his own. 
 
 Hydaspes did not choose to make his entry for the present, 
 but sent two troops of soldiers to search every place where 
 he suspected an ambush might be laid ; if they found nothing 
 of that sort, destining them as a garrison for the city. He 
 dismissed the inhabitants of it with kindness and gracious 
 promises, and drew out his army ready to receive the attack 
 of the Persians, should they advance ; or, to march against 
 them himself if they delayed. 
 
 His troops were hardly formed in order of march when 
 his scouts informed him that the Persians were advancing 
 towards him to give battle : Oroondates had assembled an 
 army at Elephantine, just at the time when as we have seen, 
 he was forced, by the sudden approach of the ^Ethiopians, 
 to throw himself into Syene with a few troops ; being then 
 reduced to imminent danger by the contrivance of Hydaspes; 
 he secured the preservation of the place, and his own safety, 
 by a method which stamped him with the deepest perfidy. 
 The two Persians sent to Elephantine, under pretence of 
 inquiring on what terms the troops there were willing to 
 submit, were really dispatched with a view of informing him 
 whether they were ready and disposed to resist and fight, if 
 by any means he could escape, and put himself at their head. 
 
 He now proceeded to put into practice his treacherous 
 intent, for upon his arrival at Elephantine, finding them in 
 such a disposition as he could wish, he led them out without 
 delay, and proceeded with all expedition against the enemy ; 
 relying chiefly for success on the hope that by the rapidity 
 of his movements he should surprise them while unpre- 
 pared. He was now in sight, attracting every eye by the 
 Persian pomp of his host ; the whole plain glistening as he 
 moved along, with gold and silver armour. The rays of the 
 rising sun falling directly upon the advancing Persians, shed 
 an indiscribable brightness to the most distant parts, their 
 own armour flashing back a rival brightness. 
 
 The right wing was composed of native Medes and 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 217 
 
 Persians the heavy armed in front behind them the 
 archers, unincumbered with defensive arms, that they might 
 with more ease and readiness perform their evolutions, 
 protected by those who were before them. The Egyptians, 
 the Africans, and all the auxiliaries were in the left wing. 
 To these likewise were assigned a band of light troops, 
 slingers and archers, who were ordered to make sallies, and 
 to discharge their weapons from the flanks. Oroondates 
 himself was in the centre, splendidly accoutred and mounted 
 on a scythed chariot.* He was surrounded on either side 
 by a body of troops, and in front were the barbed cavalry, 
 his confidence in whom had principally induced him to 
 hazard an engagement. These are the most warlike -in 
 the Persian service, and are always first opposed, like a firm 
 wall, to the enemy. The following is the description of 
 their armour A man, picked out for strength and stature, 
 puts on a helmet which fits his head and face exactly, like a 
 mask ; covered completely down to the neck with this, 
 except a small opening left for the eyes, in his right hand he 
 brandishes a long spear his left remains at liberty to 
 guide the reins a scimitar is suspended at his side ; and 
 not his breast alone, but his w r hole body also, is sheathed in 
 mail, which is composed of a number of square separate plates 
 of brass or steel, a span in length, fitting over each other at 
 each of the four sides, and hooked or sewn together beneath, 
 the upper lapping over the under ; the side of each over that 
 next to it in order. Thus the whole body is inclosed in an 
 
 * The following passage in Ammianus Marcellinus illustrates the 
 account here given of the Kara^pdjcroi iTTTrot -or barbed cavalry of 
 the Persians. 
 
 " Eraut autem omnes cat,erv89 ferratae, ita per singula membra den- 
 sis laminis tectse, ut juncturse rigentes compagibus arttmm convenirent : 
 humanorumque vultuum sumulacra ita capitibus diligenter aptata, ut 
 imbracteatis corporibus solidis,ibitantum incidentiatelapossinthaerere, 
 qua per cavernas minutas et orbibus oculorum affixas, parcius visitur, 
 vel per supremitates nariuin angusti spiritus emittuntur. Quorum pars 
 colitis dimicatura, stabat immobilis, ut retinaculis sereis fixam existi- 
 mares." Book xxv. 
 
 Thus, by an anticipation of 600 years, we have brought before us a 
 picture of the times, when, 
 
 " Their limbs all iron, and their souls all flame, 
 A countless host, the red-cross warriors came." 
 
218 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 imbricated scaly tunic, which fits it closely, yet by contrac- 
 tion and expansion allows ample play for all the limbs. It- 
 is sleeved, and reaches from neck to knee,* the only part 
 left unarmed being under the cuishes. necessity for the seat 
 on horseback so requiring. The greave extends from the feet 
 to the knee, and is connected with the coat. This defence is 
 sufficient to turn aside all darts, and to resist the stroke of 
 any weapon. The horse is as well protected as his rider ; 
 greaves cover his legs, and a frontal f confines his head. 
 From his back to his belly, on either side, hangs a sheet of 
 the mail, which I have been describing, which guards his 
 body, while its looseness does not impede his motions. 
 
 Thus accoutred and as it were fitted J into his armour, this 
 ponderous soldier sits his horse, unable to mount himself on 
 account of his weight, but lifted on by another. When the 
 time for charging arrives, giving the reins, and setting spurs 
 to his horse, he is carried with all his force against the 
 enemy, wearing the appearance of a hammer- wrought statue, 
 or of an iron man. His long and pointed spear extends 
 far before him, and is sustained by a rest at the horse's 
 neck, the butt being fixed in another at his croupe. Thus 
 the spear does not give way in the conflict, but assists the 
 hand of the horseman, who has merely to direct the weapon, 
 which pressing onwards with mightv power pierces every 
 obstacle, sometimes transfixing and be'aring off by its impulse 
 two men at once. 
 
 "With such a force of cavalry and in such order, Oroon- 
 dates marched against the enemy, keeping the river still 
 behind him, to prevent his being surrounded by the ^Ethio- 
 pians, who far exceeded him in number. Hydaspes, on 
 the other hand, advanced to meet him. He opposed to the 
 Medes and Persians in the right wing, his forces from 
 Meroe, who were well accoutred, and accustomed to close 
 fighting. The swift and light-armed Troglodites, who were 
 
 * Herod. B. vii. 61. thus speaks of these tunics: "KiOwvas x fl P 1 ' 
 i\ovg XeTridog ffidrjpsrjg tyiv ixQvotideog" 
 
 Ewrovg 7roiKi\ovg XeTridog ffidrjpsrjg ty 
 
 t ri]v K0aX)v Si ^oXov ff(pr)KovvTg literally pinching in like a 
 wasp ; the frontal fitting closely to the shape of the horse's head and 
 face. 
 
THEAGENES AND dlATUCLEA. 219 
 
 good archers, and the inhabitants of the cinnamon region,* 
 he drew up to give employment to those posted on the left. 
 In opposition to the centre, boasting as they did of their 
 barbed cavalry, he placed himself, with the tower-bearing 
 elephants, the BlemmyaB, and the Seres, giving them instruc- 
 tions what they were to do when they came to engage. 
 Both armies now approached near, and gave the signal for 
 battle ; the Persians with trumpets, the ^Ethiopians with 
 drimfs and gongs. Oroondates, cheering on his men, charged 
 wrni his body of horse. Hydaspes ordered his troops to ad- 
 vance very slowly, that they might not leave their elephants, 
 and that the enemy's cavalry, having a longer course to take, 
 might become exhausted before the conflict. When the 
 BlemmysB saw them within reach of a spear's cast, the 
 horsemen urging on their horses for the charge, they pro- 
 ceeded to execute their monarch's instructions. 
 
 Leaving the Seres to guard the elephants, they sprang 
 out of the ranks, and advanced swiftly towards the enemy. 
 The Persians thought they had lost their senses, seeing* a 
 few foot presume to oppose themselves to so numerous and 
 so formidable a body of horse. These latter galloped on all 
 the faster, glad to take advantage of their rashness, and 
 confident that they should sweep them away at the first 
 onset. But the Blemmyae, when now the phalanx had 
 almost reached them, and they were all but touched by 
 their spears, on a sudden, at a signal, threw themselves on 
 one knee, and thrust their heads and backs under the horses, 
 running no danger by this attempt, but that of being tram- 
 pled on : this manoeuvre was quite unexpected, many of the 
 horses they wounded in the belly as they passed, so that 
 they no longer obeyed the bridle, but became furious, and 
 threw their riders; whom, as they lay like logs, the Blemmyae 
 pierced in the only vulnerable part^ the Persian cuirassier 
 being incapable of moving without help. 
 
 Those whose horses were not wounded proceeded to 
 charge the Seres, who at their approach retired behind the 
 elephants, as behind a wall or bulwark. Here an almost 
 total slaughter of the cavalry took place. For the horses 
 of the Persians, as soon as the sudden retreat of the Seres 
 
 * See Herod. B. iii. 111. 
 
220 THE ADVENTUBES OF 
 
 had discovered these enormous beasts, astonished at their 
 unusual and formidable appearance, either turned short 
 round and galloped off, or fell back upon the rest, so that 
 the whole body was thrown into confusion. They who 
 were stationed in the towers upon the elephants (six in 
 number, two on either side (except towards the beast's hind 
 quarters), discharged their arrows as from a bulwark, so 
 continuously and with such true aim, that they appeared to 
 the Persians like a cloud. 
 
 Fighting upon unequal terms against mailed warriors, and 
 depending upon their skill in archery, so unfailing was their 
 aim at the sight holes* of the enemy, that you might see 
 many galloping in confusion through the throng, with arrows 
 projecting from their eyes. 
 
 Some, carried away by the unruliness of their horses to 
 the elephants, were either trampled under foot or attacked 
 by the Seres and the JBlemmyse, who rushing out as from an 
 ambush, wounded some, and pulled others from their horses, 
 in the melee. They who escaped unhurt retreated in disorder, 
 not having done the smallest injury to the elephants : for 
 these beasts are armed with mail when led out to battle, and 
 have, besides, a natural defence in a hard and rugged skin, 
 which will resist and turn the point of any spear. 
 
 Oroondates, when he saw the remainder routed, set the 
 example of a shameful flight ; and descending from his 
 chariot, and mounting a Nysaean horse,t galloped from the 
 field. The Egyptians and Africans in the left wing were 
 ignorant of this, and con tinned still bravely fighting, receiv- 
 ing, however, more injury than they inflicted, which they 
 bore with great fortitude and perseverance ; for the inha- 
 bitants of the cinnamon region, who were opposed to them, 
 pressed and confounded them by the irregularity and activity 
 of their attacks, flying as the Egyptians advanced, and dis- 
 charging;}: their arrows backward as they fled. "When the 
 Africans retreated, they attacked them, galling them on all 
 
 * See the previous description of the Persian amour. 
 f* ISee note in Blakesley's Herod, vii. 40. 
 Like the Parthians 
 
 " . . . . versis animosum equis 
 Parthum." Hor. 1 Od. xix 10. 
 
THEAGEFES A^D CIIABICLEA. 221 
 
 the flanks, either with slings or little poisoned* arrows. 
 These they fixed around their turbans, the feathers next 
 their heads, the points radiating outwards ; and drawing 
 them thence as from a quiver, they, after taking a sudden 
 spring forward, shot them against the enemy, their own bodies 
 being^ naked, and their only clothing this crown of arrows. 
 These arrows require no iron point ; they take a serpent's 
 back bone, about a foot and a half in length, and after 
 straightening it, sharpen the end into a natural point, which 
 may perhaps account for the origin of the word arrow.f 
 
 The Egyptians resisted a long time, defending themselves 
 from the darts by interlocking shields being naturally 
 patient, and bravely prodigal of their lives, not merely for 
 pay but glory ; perhaps, too, dreading the punishment of 
 runaways. But when they heard that the barbed cavalry, 
 the strength and right handj of their army, was defeated 
 that the viceroy had left the field, and that the Medes and 
 Persians, the flower of their foot, having done little against, 
 and suffered much from, those to whom they were opposed, 
 had followed his example, they likewise, at last, gave up the 
 contest, turned about, and retreated. Hydaspes, from an 
 elephant's back, as from a watch tower, was spectator of his 
 victory; which when he saw decided, he sent messengers 
 after the pursuers, to stop the slaughter, and to order them 
 to take as many prisoners as they could, and particularly, 
 were it possible, Oroondates. 
 
 Success crowned his wishes, for the ^Ethiopians extending 
 their numerous lines to a great length on each side, and 
 curving the extremities till they surrounded the Persians, 
 left them no way to escape but to the river. Thus the stra- 
 tagem which Oroondates had devised against the enemy they 
 found turned against themselves, multitudes being forced 
 into the river by the horses and scythed chariots, and the 
 
 * Arrows somewhat resembling these are used by the wild Bush- 
 meu of Africa for destroying the ostrich and other kinds of game. 
 " These insignificant looking arrows are about two feet six inches in 
 length ; they consist of a slender reed, with a sharp bone head, 
 thoroughly poisoned with a composition of which the principal ingre- 
 dients are obtained, sometimes from a succulent herb, having thick 
 leaves, yielding a poisonous milky juice, and sometimes from the 
 jaws of snakes." Wood's Nat. Hist. 
 
 f 'Off-tor, a bone ; 'OVoro., an arrow. $ 
 
222 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 confusion of the crowd. The viceroy had never reflected, that 
 by having the river in his rear he was cutting off his own 
 means of escape. He was taken prisoner with Acha3menes 
 the son of Cybele. This latter informed of what had hap- 
 pened at Memphis, and dreading the resentment of Oroon- 
 dates, for having made an accusation against Arsace which 
 he was not able to prove, (the witnesses w r ho would have 
 enabled him to do so being removed,) endeavoured to slay 
 his master in the tumult. He did not, however, give him a 
 mortal wound, and the attempt was instantly revenged, for 
 he was transfixed with an arrow by an ^Ethiopian, who 
 watched, as he had been commanded, over the safety of the 
 viceroy; and who saw, with indignation, the treacherous 
 attempt of one, who, having escaped the enemy, took the 
 opportunity presented by fortune, to wreak his revenge 
 against his commander. 
 
 Oroondates was brought before Hydaspes, faint and 
 bleeding; but his wound was soon staunched by the 
 remedies applied, the king being resolved, if possible, to 
 save him, and himself giving him encouragement. 
 
 " Friend," said he, " I grant your life. I hold it honour- 
 able to overcome my enemies by my arms while they resist ; 
 and by my good offices when they are fallen : but why have 
 you shewn such perfidy towards me? " 
 
 " Towards you, I own," replied the Persian, " I have been 
 perfidious; but to my master I have been faithful." "As 
 vanquished, then," replied Hydaspes, " what punishment, 
 think you, that you deserve?" "The same," returned the 
 other, " which my master would inflict upon one of your 
 captains who had fallen into his power, after having proved 
 his fidelity to you." " If your master," replied the ^Ethi- 
 opian, " were truly royal, and not a tyrant, he would praise 
 and reward him ; and excite the emulation of his own 
 people, by commending the good qualities of an enemy : but 
 it seems to me, good sir, that you praise your fidelity at the 
 expence of your prudence, after having adventured yourself 
 against so many myriads of my troops." " Perhaps," re- 
 plied Oroondates, " in regard to myself, I have not been so 
 imprudent as may at first appear. I knew the disposition 
 of my sovereign to punish cowards, rather than to reward 
 the brave. I determined therefore to hazard every thing, 
 
T11EAGEKES AXD CIIARICLEA. 223 
 
 and trust to Fortune, who sometimes affords unexpected and 
 improbable successes in war. If I failed and escaped with 
 life, I should at least have it to say, that nothing in my 
 power had been left untried." 
 
 Hydaspes, after listening to his words, praised him, sent 
 him to Syene, ordered his physicians to attend him, and 
 all possible care to be taken of him. He himself soon after 
 made his public entry into the city, with the flower of his 
 army. The inhabitants of all ranks and ages went out in 
 procession to meet him, strewed crowns and flowers* of the 
 Nile, in his path, greeting him with songs of victory. 
 
 He entered the city on an elephant, as on a triumphal 
 chariot, and immediately turned his thoughts to holy matters 
 and thanksgivings to the gods. He made inquiries concern- 
 ing everything worthy ot his curiosity, particularly about 
 the origin of the feasts of the Nile. They shewed him a 
 tank which served as a nilometer, like that which is at 
 Memphis, lined with polished stone, and marked with degrees 
 at the interval of every cubit. The water flows into it under 
 ground, and the height to which it rises in the tank, shews 
 the general excess, or deficiency, of the inundation, according 
 as the degrees are covered or left bare. They shewed him 
 dials, which, at a certain season of the year, cast no shade at 
 noon ; for, at the summer solstice, the sun is vertical at 
 Syene, arid darts its rays perpendicularly down, so that the 
 water,t at the bottom of the deepest wells, is light. 
 
 This, however, raised no great astonishment in Hydaspes ; 
 for the same phenomenon happens at the ^Ethiopian Meroe. 
 The people of Syene loudly praised their festival and extolled 
 the Nile, calling it Horus (the year), the fertilizer of their 
 plains the preserver of Upper Egypt the father, and, in a 
 manner, the creator of the Lower as it brings annually 
 new soil into it, and is from thence, possibly, called Nile,;j: 
 by the Greeks. 
 
 It points out, they said, the annual vicissitudes of time 
 summer by the increase, and autumn by the retiring of its 
 
 * "AvOtaiv NaXwotg. The water lily of the Nile. 
 
 t At Syene there was, in later times a well, the bottom of which, 
 the sun was believed to illuminate at one time of the year, it being 
 supposed that Syene was under the Tropic." Blackesley's Herod., vol. 
 1. p. 187. 
 
 J NaXoy, from virj iXuy, new soil. 
 
224 THE ADVENTUHES OP 
 
 waters spring by the flowers which grow on it, and by the 
 breeding of the crocodiles. The Nile then, is, they say, 
 nothing else but the year, its very appellation confirming 
 this, since the numeral letters which compose its name, 
 amount to 365 units, the number of days which make up the 
 year.* They extolled also its peculiar plants and flowers, and 
 animals, and added a thousand other encomiums. " All these 
 praises," said Hydaspes, "belong more to ^Ethiopia, than 
 to Egypt. If you esteem this river as the father of waters, 
 and exalt it to the rank of a deity, ^Ethiopia ought surely to 
 be worshipped, which is the mother of your god? " 
 
 " We do worship it," replied the priests, " both on many 
 other accounts, and because it has sent you to us, as a pre- 
 server and a god." After recommending them to be less 
 lavish in their praises, he retired to a tent which had 
 been prepared for him, and devoted the rest of the day to 
 ease and refreshment. He entertained, at his own table, 
 his principal officers, and the priests of Syene, and 
 encouraged all ranks to make merry. The inhabitants of 
 Syene furnished herds of oxen, flocks of sheep, goats and 
 swine, together with store of w r ine, partly by way of gift, 
 partly for sale. The next day he mounted a lofty seat ; and, 
 ordering the spoil to be brought out, which had been col- 
 lected in the city, and on the field of battle, distributed it 
 amrngst his army, in such proportions as he thought their 
 ineiit deserved. When the soldier appeared who took Oro- 
 ondat^s, "Ask what you please," said the king. "I have 
 no occasion to ask anything," he replied. " If you will allow 
 me to keep what I have already taken from the Viceroy, I 
 am sufficiently rewarded for having made him prisoner, and 
 preserved him alive, according to your commands." And 
 with this he shewed a sword belt, a scimitar richly jewelled of 
 g?eat value, and worth many talents ; so that many cried out, 
 it was a gift too precious for a private man, a treasure worthy 
 of a monarch's acceptance. Hydaspes smilingly replied 
 
 " What can be more kingly than that my magnanimity 
 should be superior to this man's avarice ? Besides, the 
 captor has a right to the personal spoils of his prisoner. 
 Let him then, receive as a gift from me, what he might 
 easily have taken to himself, without my knowledge." 
 
 * v = 50; = 5; = 10 ; X = 30; e - ?3; a = 200 ; total, 365. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA 225 
 
 Presently those who had taken Theagenes and Chariclea 
 appeared^*' Our spoil, O king!" said they, " is not gold 
 and jewelsT^hings of little estimation among the -^Ethiopians, 
 and which lie in heaps in the royal treasures ; but we bring 
 you a youth and a maiden, a Grecian pair, excelling all 
 mortals in grace and beauty, except yourself, and we expect 
 from yonr liberality a proportionate reward." "You recall 
 them seasonably to my memory," replied Hydaspes. "When 
 I first saw them, in the hurry and confusion in which I was 
 engaged, I took but a cursory view of them. Let some one 
 bring them now before me, together with the rest of the 
 captives." 
 
 An officer was immediately despatched for them to the 
 place of their confinement, which was among the baggage, at 
 some distance from the town. They inquired, in their way 
 to the city, of one of their guards, whither they were being 
 conducted. They were told that the king Hydaspes 
 desired to see the prisoners. On hearing the name, they 
 cried out together, with one voice " O ye gods !" fearing 
 till that hour least some other might be the reigning king ; 
 and Theagenes said softly to Chariclea "You will surely 
 now discover to the king everything which relates to us, 
 since you have frequently told me that Hydaspes was your 
 father." 
 
 "Important matters," replied Chariclea, "require great pre- 
 paration. Where the deity has caused intricate beginnings, 
 there must needs be intricate unravellings. Besides, a tale 
 like ours is not to be told in a moment ; nor do I think it 
 advisable to enter upon it in the absence of my mother 
 Persina, upon whose support, and testimony, the foundation 
 of our story, and the whole of our credit, must depend ; and 
 she, thanks to the gods I hear, is yet alive." 
 
 "What if we should be sacrificed," returned Theagenes ; 
 " or, presented to some one as a gift, how shall we ever get 
 into ^Ethiopia ?" " Nothing is less likely," said Chariclea. 
 "Our guards have told us that we are to be reserved as victims, 
 to be offered to the deities of Meroe. There is no likelihood 
 that we, who are solemnly devoted to the gods, should be des- 
 troyed, or otherwise disposed of; such a vow no religious mind 
 would break. Were we to give way to the incautious ]oy 
 with which this sudden gleam of good fortune transports us, 
 
 Q 
 
226 THE ADVENTUBES OP 
 
 and discover our condition, and relate our adventures, in the 
 absence of those who alone can acknowledge us, and confirm 
 what we say, we run the greatest risk of raising the indig- 
 nation of the king ; who would regard it as a mockery and 
 insult, that we, captives and slaves as we are, should endea- 
 vour to pass ourselves off upon him, as his children." 
 
 " But the tokens," said Theagenes, "which I know you 
 always carry about you, will give credit to our relation, and 
 shew" that we are not impostors." "These things," replied 
 Chariclea, " are real tokens to those who know them, and 
 who exposed them with me ; but to those who are ignorant 
 of this, they are nothing but bracelets, and precious stones; 
 and may possibly induce a suspicion of our having stolen 
 them. Supposing even that Hydaspes should recollect any 
 of these trinkets, who shall persuade him that they were 
 presented to me by Persina, and still more, that they were 
 the gifts of a mother to her daughter ? The most incontro- 
 vertible token, my dear Theagenes, is a mother's nature, 
 through which the parent at first sight feels affection towards 
 her offspring, an affection stirred up by secret sympathy. 
 Shall we deprive ourselves, then, by our precipitation, of this 
 most favourable opening, upon which depends the credit of 
 all we have to say?'' 
 
 Discoursing in this manner, they arrived near the tribunal 
 of the king. Bagoas was led after them. When Hydaspes 
 saw them, rising suddenly from his throne " May the gods 
 be propitious to me!" he exclaimed, and sat down again, 
 lost in thought. They who were near him inquired the 
 reason of this sudden emotion. Kecollecting himself, he 
 said " Methought that I had a daughter born to me this 
 day, who at once reached her prime, and perfectly resembled 
 this young maiden, whom I see before me. I disregarded, 
 and had almost forgotten my dream, when this remarkable 
 resemblance recalled it to my memory." 
 
 His officers replied " That it was some fancy of the mind 
 bodying forth future events;" upon which the king, laying 
 aside for the present any farther thought upon the subject, 
 proceeded to examine his prisoners. He asked them 
 "Who, and from whence, they were?" Chariclea was 
 silent. Theagenes replied, " That they were Grecians, and 
 that the maiden was his sister." 
 
THEAGEtfES AND CHAEICLEA. 227 
 
 " All honour to Greece," said Hydaspes "the mother of 
 brave and beautiful mortals, for affording us such noble 
 victims for the celebration of our triumphal sacrifices." 
 And turning to his attendants, he said " IV hy had I not 
 a son as well as a daughter born to me in my dream, since 
 this youth, being the maiden's brother, ought according to 
 your observation, to have been shadowed forth to me in my 
 
 ) 
 
 vision r 
 
 He then directed his discourse to Chariclea, speaking in 
 Greek ; a language known and studied by the Gymnoso- 
 phists, and kings of ^Ethiopia " And you, O maiden," 
 said he, " why do you make no answer to my questions ?" 
 "At the altars of the gods," replied she, "to whom we 
 are destined as victims, you shall know who I am, and who 
 are my parents." 
 
 " And what part of the world do they inhabit ?" said the 
 king. "They are present now," said she, "and will assuredly 
 be present, when w r e are sacrificed." Again Hydaspes 
 smiled. " This dream-born daughter of mine," he observed, 
 " is certainly herself dreaming, when she imagines that her 
 parents are to be brought from the middle of Greece into 
 Meroe. Let them be taken away and served with the usual 
 care and abundance, to fit them for the sacrifices. But who 
 is this standing near, and in person like an eunuch ?" * 
 " He is an eunuch," replied one of the bystanders ; " his 
 name is Bagoas ; he was in great favour with Oroondates." 
 
 " Let him too," said the king, " follow and be kept with 
 the Grecian pair ; not as a future victim, but that he may 
 attend upon, and watch over the virgin victim, whom it is 
 necessary to preserve in the utmost purity for the sacrifice ; 
 and whose beauty is such, that her virtue, unguarded, may 
 be exposed to much danger and temptation. Eunuchs are 
 a jealous race ; and fitly employed for debarring others from 
 the enjoyments of which they are themselves deprived." 
 He then proceeded to examine and decide the fate of the 
 remaining prisoners, who appeared in order ; distributing 
 among his followers those who were slaves before; dismissing 
 with liberty those who were free and noble : but he selected 
 ten young men, and as many virgins, in the bloom of youth 
 
 * " vetus, vietus, veternosus, senex 
 
 Colore mustellino." Terence. 
 
228 THE ADYEFTUEES OF 
 
 And beauty, whom he ordered to be preserved for the same 
 purpose to which he had destined Theagenes and Chariclea. 
 And having answered every complaint and application, at 
 last he sent for Oroondates, who was brought in lying on 
 a litter. 
 
 "I," said he to him, "now that I have obtained the 
 object of my going to war, feel not the common passion of 
 ambitious minds. I am not going to make my good fortune 
 the minister of covetousness ; my victory creates in me no 
 wish to extend my empire. I am content with the limits 
 which nature seems to have placed between Egypt and 
 ^Ethiopia the cataracts. Having recovered then what I 
 think my right, I revere what is just and equitable, and 
 shall return peacefully to my own dominions. Do you, if 
 
 Tf 1 T J f ,1 ' 
 
 your me be spared, remain viceroy of the same province as 
 before : and write to your master, the Persian king, to this 
 effect, l Thy brother Hydaspes has conquered by might of 
 hand ; but restores all through moderation of mind ; he 
 wishes to preserve thy friendship, esteeming it the most 
 valuable of all possessions: at the same time, if desirous of 
 renewing the contest, thou wilt not find him backward.' 
 As to the Syenseans I remit their tribute for ten years ; and 
 command thee to do the same." Loud acclamations, both 
 from the soldiers and citizens, followed his last words. 
 
 Oroondates crossing his hands, and inclining his body, 
 adored him; a compliment not usual for a Persian to pay 
 to any prince, except his own. " ye who hear me," 
 said he, " I do not think that I violate the customs of my 
 country, as to my own sovereign, in adoring the most just 
 of kings, who has restored to me my government; who 
 instead of putting me to death has granted me my life ; who, 
 able to act as a despotic lord, permits me to remain a viceroy. 
 Should I recover, I pledge myself to promote a solid peace 
 and lasting friendship between the Persians and ^Ethiopians, 
 and to procure for the Syenaeans that remission of tribute 
 which has been enjoined; but should I not survive, may 
 the gods recompense Hydaspes, his family, and remotest 
 descendants, for all the benefits which, he has conferred 
 upon me ! 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 229 
 
 BOOK X. 
 
 WE have now said sufficient about Syene, which, from 
 the brink of danger, was at once restored to security and 
 happiness, by one man's clemency. 
 
 Hydaspes, having sent the greater part of his army for- 
 ward, proceeded in person towards ^Ethiopia, followed by 
 the applauses and blessings both of Persians and Syenseans. 
 At first he marched along the Nile, or the parts bordering 
 upon that river ; but when he reached the cataracts, having 
 sacrificed to the river, and to the gods of the boundaries, he 
 turned aside, and travelled through the inland country. 
 
 When he arrived at Philoe, he rested, and refreshed his 
 army there for two days ; and then as before, sending part 
 of it forward, together with the captives, he staid some 
 little time behind them, to direct the repair of the walls, 
 and to place a garrison, and soon afterwards set out himself. 
 He dispatched an express consisting of two troopers, who 
 changing their horses at every station, and using all speed, 
 were to announce his victory at Meroe.* 
 
 He sent the following message to the wise men of his 
 country, who are called Gymnosophists, and who are the 
 assessors and privy councillors of the ./Ethiopian kings in 
 affairs of moment. 
 
 " Hydaspes to the most holy Council. 
 
 " I acquaint you with my victory over the Persians. I do 
 not boast of my success, for I know and fear the mutability 
 of fortune ; but I would greet your holy order, which I 
 have always found wise and faithful. I invite and command 
 your attendance at the usual place, in order that the thanks- 
 giving sacrifices for victory, may, by your presence, be 
 rendered more august and solemn in the sight of the 
 ^Ethiopian people." 
 
 To his consort, Persina, he wrote as follows: 
 
 " Know that I am returning a conqueror, and, what you 
 will still more rejoice at, unhurt. Make therefore prepara- 
 tions for the most sumptuous processions and sacrifices, that 
 we may give thanks to the gods, for the blessings which 
 
 * In. Bk. viii., 98, Herodotus gives an account of the Persian system 
 of estafette comparing it to the torch race: " KaTcnrtp "EXXrjvi ) 
 \a/j.7radii(popi7i, rr]v T(f 'H0ai<rry cTrirtXfovcri." See also, Xen. Cyrop. 
 viii. 6, 17. 
 
230 k THE ADVENTUBES OF 
 
 they have bestowed. In accordance with my letters, assist 
 in summoning the Gymnosophists ; and hasten to attend, 
 with them, in the consecrated field before the city, which is 
 dedicated to our country's gods the Sun, the Moon, and 
 Bacchus." 
 
 When this letter was delivered to Persina " I now see," 
 said she, " the interpretation of a dream which I had last 
 night. Methought I was pregnant, and in labour, and that 
 I brought forth a daughter in the full bloom of youth and 
 beauty. I see, that by my throes, were signified the travails 
 of war ; and by my daughter, this victory." 
 
 " Go," continued she, " and fill the city with these joyful 
 tidings." The expresses obeyed her commands; and 
 mounting their horses, having crowned their heads with the 
 lotus of the Nile, and waving branches of palm in their 
 hands, rode through the principal parts of the city, dis- 
 closing by their very appearance, the joyous news. 
 
 Meroe resounded with rejoicings; night and day the 
 inhabitants, in every family, and street, and tribe, made 
 processions, offered sacrifices; and suspended garlands in 
 the temples ; not more out of gratitude for the victory, 
 than for the safety of Hydaspes ; whose justice and cle- 
 mency, mildness and affability, had made him beloved, like 
 a father, by his subjects. The* queen, on her side, collected 
 together from all parts, quantities of sheep and oxen, of 
 horses and wild asses, of hippogriffs,* and all sorts of ani- 
 mals, and sent them into the sacred field, partly to furnish 
 an hecatomb of each, for sacrifice, partly to provide from 
 the remainder, an entertainment for all the people. 
 
 She next visited the Gymnosophists, who inhabit the 
 grove of Pan, and exhorted them to obey the summons of 
 their king, as also to gratify her by adorning and sanctify- 
 ing the solemnity with their presence. They, entreating 
 her to wait a few moments, while they consulted the gods, 
 as they are used to do on any new undertaking, entered 
 their temple, and after a short time returned, when Sisi- 
 mithres, their president, thus addressed her : " O queen ! 
 we will attend you, the gods order us to do so ; but, at the 
 
 * Solinus describes these fabulous creatures as " alites ferocissimsa 
 et ultra omnem rabiem ssevientes ;" others speak of them as resem- 
 bling an eagle in the upper part, a lion in the lower. See ^Each. P.V., 
 395 and 803. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHABICLEA. 231 
 
 same time, they signify to us, that this sacrifice will be 
 attended with much disturbance and tumult, which, how- 
 ever, will have an agreeable and happy end. A limb of 
 your body, or a member of the state, seems to have been 
 lost ; which will be restored by fate." 
 
 " Tour presence," said Persina, "will avert every threat- 
 ening presage, and change it into good ; I w r ill take care to 
 inform you when Hydaspes arrives." 
 
 " You will have no occasion to do that," replied Sisimi- 
 thres: "he will arrive to-morrow, and you will presently 
 receive letters to that effect." His prediction was fulfilled. 
 Persina, on her return to the palace, found a messenger 
 with letters from the king, announcing his intended 
 arrival for the following day. 
 
 The heralds dispersed the new^s through the city, and at 
 the same time, made proclamation, that the men alone 
 should be suffered to go out and meet him, but that the 
 women should keep within their houses ; for, as the sacrifice 
 was destined to be offered to the purest of all deities the 
 Sun and Moon the presence of females was forbidden, lest 
 the victims should acquire even an involuntary contamination. 
 
 The priestess of the Moon was the only woman suffered 
 to attend the ceremony, and she was Persina ; for by the 
 law and custom of the country, the queens of ^Ethiopia are 
 always priestesses of that divinity, as the kings are of the 
 Sun. Chariclea, also was to be present at the ceremonial, 
 not as a spectatress, but as a victim to the Moon. 
 
 The eagerness and curiosity of the citizens was incredible. 
 Before they knew the appointed day, they poured in mul- 
 titudes out of the city, crossed the river Astabora, some 
 over the bridge ; some who dwelt at a distance from it, in 
 boats made of canes, many of which lay near the banks, 
 affording an expeditious means of passage. 
 
 These little skiffs are very swift, both on account of the 
 materials of which they are composed, and the slight bur- 
 den which they carry, which never exceeds two or three 
 men : for one cane is split in two, and each section forms 
 a boat.* 
 
 * See Blakesley's edit, of Herod, iii. 98 : where mention is made of 
 boats made of bamboo, used by the Indians, of which Pliny says, that 
 the length of the boats, made of the internodal wood, often exceeded 
 five cubits, and that they would hold three persons. 
 
232 THE ADYENTUBES OF 
 
 Meroe, the metropolis of ^Ethiopia, is situated in a sort 
 of triangular island, formed by the confluence of three navi- 
 gable rivers; the Nile, the Astabora, and the Asasoba. 
 The former flows towards it from above, where it forms 
 two branches ; the others, flowing round it on either side, 
 unite their waters, and hasten to mingle their stream, and 
 lose their names, in the channel of the Nile. 
 
 This island, which is almost a continent, (being in length 
 three thousand furlongs, in -width one thousand), abounds 
 in animals of every kind, and, among the rest, with ele- 
 phants. It is especially fertile in producing trees. The 
 palm trees rise to an unusual height, bearing dates of large 
 size and delicious flavour. The stalks of wheat and barley 
 are so tall, as to cover and conceal a man when mounted 
 on a horse or camel, and they multiply their fruit three 
 hundred fold. The canes are of the size which I have 
 before mentioned. 
 
 All the night were the inhabitants employed in crossing 
 the river ; they met, received, and congratulated Hydaspes, 
 extolling him as a god. They had gone a considerable way 
 to meet him. The Gymnosophists went only a little beyond 
 the sacred field, when, taking his hand, they kissed him. 
 Next appeared Persina at the vestibule, and within the 
 precincts of the temple. 
 
 After worshipping the gods, and returning thanks for his 
 victory and safety, they left the precincts, and prepared to 
 attend the approaching sacrifice, repairing for that purpose 
 to a tent, which had been erected for them on the plain. 
 Four canes, newly cut down, were fixed in the ground, one 
 at each corner, serving as a pillar, supported the vaulted 
 roof, which was covered with the branches of palm and 
 other trees. Near this another tent was erected, raised 
 considerably from the ground, in which were placed the 
 images of the gods of the country Memnon, Perseus, and 
 Andromeda whom the kings of JEthiopia boasted to be the 
 founders of their race : under these, on a lower story, having 
 their gods above them, sat the Gymnosophists. A large por- 
 tion of the ground was surrounded by the soldiers ; who in 
 close order, and with their shields joined, kept off the mul- 
 titude, and afforded a clear space sufficient for the priests to 
 perform their sacrifice, without confusion or disturbance. 
 
 Hydaspes, after speaking briefly upon the victory which 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA 233 
 
 he had gained, and the advantages obtained by it to the 
 state, commanded the sacred ministers to begin their rites. 
 
 Three lofty altars were erected, two in close proximity to 
 the Sun and Moon ; a third, at some distance, to Bacchus : 
 to him they sacrificed animals of every kind, as being a 
 common deity, gracious and bountiful to all. To the Sun 
 they offered 'four white horses, the swiftest of animals to 
 the swiftest of the gods ;* to the Moon, a yoke of oxen, con- 
 secrating to her, as being nearest the earth, their assistants 
 in agriculture. 
 
 While these things were transacting, a loud confused 
 murmur began to rise as among a promiscuous multitude ; 
 " Let our country's rites be performed let the appointed 
 sacrifice be made let the first-fruits of war be offered to 
 onr gods." 
 
 Hydaspes understood that it was a human victim whom 
 they demanded, which it was customary to offer from among 
 the prisoners taken only in a foreign war. Making a 
 motion for silence, with his hand, he intimated to them, by 
 gestures, that they should soon have what they required, 
 and ordered those who had the charge of the captives to 
 bring them forward. They obeyed, and led them forth, 
 guarded, but freed from their chains. 
 
 The generality were, as may be imagined, dejected and 
 sorrowful. Theagenes, however, appeared much less so than 
 the others ; but the countenance of Chariclea was cheerful 
 and elate. She fixed her eyes upon Persina with a fixed and 
 steady glance, so as to cause in her considerable emotion ; 
 she could not help sighing, as she said " O husband ! what 
 a maiden have you destined for sacrifice ! I never remember 
 to have seen such beauty. How noble is her presence ! 
 with what spirit and fortitude does she seem to meet her 
 impending fate ! How worthy is she of compassion, owing 
 to the flower of her age. If my only and unfortunately lost 
 daughter were living, she would be about the same age. 
 O that it were possible to save this maiden from destruc- 
 tion ; it would be a great satisfaction to me to have her in 
 my service. She is probably Grecian, for she has not at all 
 the air of an Egyptian." 
 
 * Herod, i. 216, states the same concerning the Massagetae, and 
 assigns the same cause : <! T&v Qtwv T(f ra\lar(^ KCIVTUV TUJV QVYIT&I 
 TO rd^iarov " 
 
THE ADTENTUEES OP 
 
 "She is from Greece," replied Hydaspes : "who are her 
 parents she will presently declare ; shew them she cannot, 
 though such has been her promise. To deliver her from 
 sacrifice is impossible: were it in my power, I should be 
 very glad to do so ; for I feel, I know not why, great com- 
 passion and affection for her. But you are aware that the 
 law requires a male to be offered to the Sun, and a female 
 to the Moon ; and she being the first captive presented to 
 me, and having been allotted for the sacrifice, the disap- 
 pointment of the people's wishes w r ould admit of no excuse. 
 One only chance can favour her escape, and that is, if she 
 should be found when she ascends the pile, not to have 
 preserved her chastity inviolate; for the law demands a 
 pure victim to be offered to the goddess as well as to the 
 god the condition of those offered on the altar of Bacchus 
 is indifferent. But should she be found unchaste, reflect 
 whether it would be proper that she should be received 
 into your family." 
 
 "Let her," replied Persina, "be found unchaste, provided 
 only she be preserved. Captivity and war, absence from 
 friends, and a wandering life, furnish an excuse for guilt, 
 particularly in her, whose transcendent beauty must have 
 exposed her to more than common temptations." 
 
 While she was weeping and striving to conceal her weak- 
 ness from the people, Hydaspes ordered the fire-altar* to 
 be prepared, and brought out. A number of young children, 
 collected by the officials from among the multitude, brought 
 it from the temple (they alone being permitted to touch 
 it), and placed it in the midst. Each of the captives was 
 then ordered to ascend it. It was furnished with golden 
 bars of such mystic virtue, that whenever any unchaste or 
 perjured person placed his foot upon it, it burnt him imme- 
 diately, and he was obliged to retire : the pure, on the con- 
 trary, and the uncontaminated, could mount it uninjured. 
 
 The greatest part of the prisoners failed in the trial, and 
 were destined as victims to Bacchus, and the other gods 
 save two or three Grecian maidens whose virginity was 
 found intact. Theagenes at length ascended it, and was 
 found pure. It raised great admiration in the assembly, 
 that with his beauty, stature, and in the flower of youth, he 
 should be a stranger to the power of love acccordingly 
 
 * T)jv iffxctpa -.\ 
 
THEAGKENES AND CHARICLEA. 235 
 
 he was destined ' as an offering to the Sun. He said softly 
 to Chariclea "Is death then, and sacrifice, the reward 
 which the ^Ethiopians bestow upon purity and integrity ? 
 But why, my dearest life, do you not discover yourself? 
 How long will you delay ? Until the sacrificer's knife is 
 at your throat ? Speak, ' I beseech you, and disclose your 
 condition. Perhaps when you are known, your intercession 
 may preserve me ; but if that should not happen, you will be 
 safe, and then I shall die with comfort and satisfaction." 
 
 " Our trial," said Chariclea, " now approaches our fate 
 trembles in the balance.*" So saying, and without await- 
 ing any command, she drew from out of a scrip which 
 she had with her, and put on, her sacred Delphic robe, 
 interwoven and glittering with rays of light. She let her 
 hair fall dishevelled upon her shoulders, and as under the 
 influence of inspiration, leaped upon the altar, and remained 
 there a long time, unhurt. 
 
 Dazzling every beholder with more than ever resplendent 
 beauty ; visible to all from this elevated place, and with her 
 peculiar dress, she resembled an image of the goddess, more 
 than a mere mortal maiden. An inarticulate murmur of 
 applause ran through the multitude, expressive of their 
 surprise and admiration, that with charms so superhuman, 
 she should have preserved her honour, enhancing her beauty 
 by her chastity.f Yet they were almost sorry that she was 
 found a pure and fitting victim for the goddess. Notwith- 
 standing their religious reverence they would have been glad 
 could she by any means escape. But Persina felt more for 
 her than all the rest. She could not help saying to Hydas- 
 pes " How miserable and ill-fated is this poor maiden ! 
 To no purpose giving token of her purity ! Eeceiving for 
 her many virtues only an untimely death ? Can nothing be 
 done to save her ?" 
 
 " Nothing, I fear," replied the king : " your wishes and 
 pity are unavailable. It seems that the gods have from the 
 beginning selected by reason of her very excellence this 
 perfect victim for themselves." And then directing his dis- 
 course to the Grymnosophists : "Sages," said he, "since every 
 thing is ready, why do you not begin the sacrifice?" "Ear 
 
 * TaXavrtvti icaQ' r}/ic?c 17 /loipa. 
 
 ^ " Gratior et pulchro veniens in corpore virtus." 
 
 Virg. JEu. v. 344. 
 
236 THE ADVENTURES OP 
 
 be it from us," said Sisimithres (speaking in Greek, that 
 the multitude might not understand him) to assist at such 
 rites ; our eyes and ears have already been sufficiently 
 wounded by the preparations. We will retire into the 
 temple, abhorring ourselves the detestable offering of a 
 human victim, and believing too that the gods do not ap- 
 prove it. Would that the sacrifices even of brute animals 
 might cease ; those consisting of prayers and incense being, 
 to our mind, sufficient.* Do you, however, remain ; for the 
 presence of a ruler is sometimes necessary to stay the 
 turbulence of the multitude. G-o on with this unhallowed 
 sacrifice, since the inveterate custom of the people has 
 made it unavoiable ; remembering that when it is performed, 
 yourself will stand in need of expiation, though perhaps, 
 you will not need it, for I think this rite will never be 
 brought to consummation. I judge from various divine 
 tokens, and particularly from a kind of glory shed around 
 these strangers, signifying that they are under the peculiar 
 protection of the gods;" having said this, he arose, and 
 was about to retire with his brethren. 
 
 At this instant Chariclea leapt down from the altar ; 
 rushed towards Sisimithres, and fell at his feet. The officials 
 would have hindered her, supposing that she was deprecating 
 death, but she exclaimed! "Stay, Sages, I beseech you ! I 
 have a cause to plead before the king and queen ; you are 
 the only judges, in such a presence ; you must decide 
 in this, the trial for my life. You will find that it is neither 
 possible nor just that I should be sacrificed to the gods." 
 They listened to her readily, and addressing the king, said, 
 "Do you hear, O king, the challenge and averment of 
 this foreign maiden." 
 
 Hydaspes smiling, replied, "What controvesy can she 
 have with me ? From what pretext, or from what right, 
 can it arise?" " That, her own relation will discover" 
 said Sisimithres. "But will it not be an indignity," rather 
 than an act of justice, rejoined the monarch, " for a king to 
 enter into a judicial dispute with a slave?" "Equity regards 
 not lofty rank," said the sage. " He is king in judgment 
 
 * " Immunis aram si tetigit manus, 
 Non surnptuosa blandior hostia 
 Mollivit aversos penatcs 
 
 Farre pio et saliente mica." Hor. III. Od. xxiii. 1* 
 
THEAGEKES AKD CHARICLEA 237 
 
 who prevails by strength of arguments." " But," returned 
 Hydaspes, " your office gives you a right of deciding only 
 when a controversy arises between the king and his own 
 subjects, riot between him and foreigners." "Justice," said 
 Sisimithres, "is weighed among the wise, not by mere appear- 
 ances, but by facts/' " It is clear that she can have nothing 
 serious to advance," said the king, "but some mere idle pretext 
 to delay her fate, as is the case with those who are in fear 
 of their lives. Let her, however, speak, since Sisimithres 
 would have it so." 
 
 Chariclea, who had always been sanguine, in expecting 
 her deliverance, was now inspired with additional confidence 
 when she heard the name of Sisimithres. He was the 
 person to whose care she had been committed ten years 
 before, and who delivered her to Charicles at Catadupa, 
 when he was sent ambassador to Oroondates in the matter 
 of the emerald mines he was then one of the ordinary 
 Gymnosophists : but now, he was their president. Chari- 
 clea did not call to mind his face (having been parted from 
 him when only seven years' old), but recollected and rejoiced 
 at hearing his name, trusting that she should find in him 
 a support and an advocate. Stretching out then her hands 
 towards heaven, and speaking audibly, "O Sun!" she 
 exclaimed, " author of my family ; and you, ye gods and 
 heroes who adorn my race ! I call you to witness the truth 
 of what I say. Be you my supporters and assistants in the 
 trial which I am about to undergo my cause is just, and 
 thus I enter upon it: Does the law. O king, command 
 you to sacrifice natives or foreigners ?" 
 
 " Foreigners only," replied Hydaspes. "You must then 
 seek another victim," said she, " for you will find me a 
 native." The king seemed surprised, declaring it to be a 
 figment. "Do you wonder at this?" said she; "you will 
 hear much stranger things. I am not only a native, but 
 closely allied to the royal family." This assertion was re- 
 ceived with contempt, as so much idle speech : when she 
 added " Cease, my father, to despise and reject your 
 daughter!" 
 
 By this time the king began to appear not only contemp- 
 tuous, but indignant, taking the matter as a personal insult 
 to himself. He said, therefore, to Sisimithres, "Behold 
 the reward of my endurance ! Is not the maiden downright 
 
238 THE ADYEyTUKES OP 
 
 mad! Endeavouring with wild and incredible fictions to 
 escape the fate awaiting her ! desperately feigning herself 
 to be my daughter, as in some sudden appearance and dis- 
 covery upon the stage mine, who was never so fortunate 
 as to have any offspring. Once, indeed, I heard of a daugh- 
 ter's birth, only, however, to learn her death. Let then 
 some one lead her away, that the sacrifice may be no longer 
 deferred. 17 " No one shall lead me away," cried out Chari- 
 clea, " till the judges have given sentence. You are in this 
 affair a party, not a judge ; the law perhaps permits you to 
 sacrifice foreigners, but to sacrifice your children, neither 
 law nor nature allows ; and the gods shall this day declare 
 you to be my father, however unwilling you appear to own 
 me. Every cause, O king, which comes for judgment, leans 
 principally upon two kinds of proof, written evidence, and 
 that of living witnesses : both these will I bring forward to 
 prove myself your child. I shall appeal to no common 
 witness, but to my judge himself (the consciousness of 
 the judge is the prisoner's best ground of confidence) ; 
 as to my written evidence it shall be a history of my own 
 and your misfortunes." So saying, she loosened from her 
 waist the fillet* which had been exposed with her, unrolled, 
 and presented it to Persina. She, as soon as it met her 
 sight, appeared struck dumb with astonishment ; she con- 
 tinued a considerable time casting her eyes first on the 
 writing, then again on the maiden. A cold sweat bedewed 
 her limbs, and convulsive tremblings shook her frame. 
 
 Her first emotions were those of joy and hope; but 
 anxiety and doubt succeeded. Dread of the suspicions 
 of Hydaspes followed; of his incredulity, and perhaps of 
 his anger and vengeance. 
 
 The king observing her agitation and astonishment, said 
 to her, " Persina ! what is it which ails you ? from what 
 cause has this writing such effect upon you ?" " My king, 
 my lord, and my husband!" she replied, "I know not 
 what to answer you: take and read it yourself: let this 
 fillet explain everything." She gave it him, and remained 
 trembling, in anxious silence. 
 
 He took the fillet, and began to read it, calling to the 
 Gymnosophists to read it with him. As he proceeded, he 
 was struck with doubt and amazement ; but Sisimithres 
 * See Book iv. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 239 
 
 was still more astonished : his ever-changing colour betrayed 
 the various emotions of his mind : he fixed his eyes now 
 on the fillet, and now on Chariclea. 
 
 At length Hydaspes, when he came to the account of the 
 exposing of the infant, and the cause of it, broke silence, 
 and said, " I know that I had once a daughter born to me, 
 having been told that it died almost as soon as it was born. 
 This writing now informs me that it was exposed : but who 
 took it up, who preserved, who educated it ? who brought 
 it into Egypt ? Was that person, whoever he were, taken 
 captive at the same time with her ? How shall I be satisfied 
 that this is the real child that was exposed ? May she not 
 have perished ? May not these tokens have fallen into the 
 hands of some one, who takes advantage of this chance ? 
 May not some evil genius be paltering with my desire of 
 offspring, and clothed with the person of this maiden, be 
 endeavouring to pass off a supposititious birth as my successor, 
 overshadowing the truth with this fillet, as with a cloud ? 
 
 But now Sisimithres replied, " I can clear up some of 
 your doubts ; for I am the person who took her up, who 
 educated and carried her into Egypt, when you sent me thither 
 on an embassy. You know me too well to suspect me of 
 asserting what is untrue. I perfectly recollect the fillet, 
 which is inscribed with the royal characters of the kings of 
 -^Ethiopia, which you cannot suspect to have been counter- 
 feited elsewhere ; for you yourself must recognize the hand- 
 writing of Persina. But there were other tokens exposed 
 with her, which I delivered at the same time to him who 
 received the damsel from me, who was a Grecian, and, in 
 appearance, an honest and worthy man." 
 
 "I have preserved them likewise," said Chariclea, and 
 immediately shewed the necklace and the bracelet. Persina 
 was yet more affected when she saw these. 
 
 Hydaspes still inquiring what all this agitation could 
 mean, and whether she had anything to discover which 
 might throw light upon this matter ; she answered, " that 
 she certainly had, but it was an examination more proper 
 to be made in private than in public." 
 
 Hydaspes was more than ever perplexed, and Chariclea 
 proceeded " These are the tokens of my mother ; but this 
 ring is a present of your own ;" and produced the stone 
 Pantarbe. 
 
240 THE ADYESTUEES OF 
 
 The king instantly recollected it as a present which he 
 had made to his wife during the time of their betrothment ; 
 and he said, " Maiden, these tokens were certainly mine ; 
 but how does it appear that you possess them as my child, 
 and have not obtained them by some other means ? Besides, 
 in addition to my other doubts, your complexion is totally 
 different from that of an ^Ethiopian." 
 
 Here Sisimithres interposed, and said, " The child whom 
 I took up was perfectly white : and farther, the time when 
 I found her seems very closely to coincide with the age of 
 the maiden, for it is just seventeen years since this hap- 
 pened. The colour of her eyes too occurred to me as being 
 the same ; in short, I recognize in her the general expres- 
 sion of her features, and in her surpassing beauty a resem- 
 blance with what I recollect of the child then exposed." 
 
 " This is all very well," replied Hydaspes, "you speak with 
 the fervour of the advocate more than as the judge ; but take 
 care lest while you are clearing up one doubt, you do not 
 raise another, and that a more serious one ; throwing sus- 
 picions upon the virtue of my consort ; as we are both 
 Ethiopians, how could we for our offspring have a white 
 child?" 
 
 Sisimithres, with rather a sarcastic smile, replied. " I 
 know not why you should object to me, that I am an 
 advocate for this maiden. He is the best judge who in- 
 clines to the side of right : may I not rather be called an 
 advocate for you, while I am endeavouring, with the assist- 
 ance of the gods, to establish your right to be called a 
 father ; and neglecting no means to restore to you, in the 
 bloom of her youth, that daughter whom I preserved in 
 swathing bands ? However, deem of me as you please, I 
 do not esteem it necessary to make any apology; we do not 
 shape our lives so as to please others : we endeavour to 
 follow the dictates of truth and virtue, and think it sufficient 
 if we can approve our conduct to ourselves : yet, as to the 
 doubt which you entertain concerning her complexion, the. 
 writing clears this up, explaining how Persina, from her 
 contemplation of Andromeda, might have received an im- 
 pression upon her mind agreeing with the subject of the 
 picture. If you wish for farther proof, the original is at 
 hand ; examine the Andromeda, the likeness between the 
 
THEAGENES AtfD CIIARICLEA. 241 
 
 picture and the maiden will be found unmistakeably 
 exact." 
 
 The king complied : and had the picture brought ; 
 when being placed near Chariclea, an instant cry of sur- 
 prise, admiration, and joy, was raised throughout the 
 assembly, at the striking likeness ; those who were near 
 enough to understand what was passing, spreading the 
 intelligence among the rest. 
 
 Hydaspes could no longer doubt, and he stood for some 
 time motionless, between wonder and pleasure. But Sisi- 
 mithres added, " One thing is still necessary to complete 
 the proof; for recollect the succession to the kingdom, 
 and the truth itself is now in question. Bare your arm, 
 my child ; there was a black mark upon it, a little above the 
 elbow. There is nothing unseemly in doing this, in order to 
 establish the evidence of your birth and family." Chariclea 
 obeyed, and uncovered her left arm, when there appeared, 
 as it were, an ebon ring, staining the ivory* of her arm. 
 
 But Persina could now no longer contain herself she leapt 
 from her throne, burst into tears, rushed into her daughter's 
 embrace, and could express her transports only by an inar- 
 ticulate murmur. For excess of joy will sometimes beget 
 grief. They had nearly fainted and fallen on the ground. 
 
 Hydaspes felt for his consort, affected as she was, and a 
 kindred emotion was gaining possession of himself; yet he 
 gazed upon the spectacle with eyes as unmovedf as though 
 they were of iron, struggling against his tears, his nririd con- 
 tending between fatherly feeling and manly fortitude, and 
 tossed to and fro as by opposing tides. At last he was 
 overpowered by all conquering nature ; he not only believed 
 himself to be a father, but was sensible of a father's feelings. 
 Raising Persina, he was seen to embrace his daughter, 
 pouring over her the paternal libation of his tears. 
 
 He was not, however, driven from that propriety which 
 the circumstances demanded. Eecollecting himself a little, 
 and observing the multitude equally affected, shedding 
 
 * In the version printed in 1717 is a curious blunder in the word 
 {\ktycLVTa "a spot black as ebony, resembling an elephant." 
 { To 6ju/ia fit oiovtt Kfpr/g ) aidijpov fi't; TO. bpwfieva Ttivag. 
 
 . . . . " ille Himota tenebat 
 
 Lumina, et obnixus curam sub corde premebat." JEn. iv. 331. 
 
 E 
 
242 THE JLDVENTUEES OF 
 
 tears of pleasure and compassion at the wonderful events 
 which had taken place, and not heeding the voices of the 
 heralds, who were enjoining silence, he waved his hand, and 
 stilling the tumult, thus addressed them : " You see me, 
 by the favour of the gods, and beyond all my expectations, 
 entitled at length to the name of a father. This maiden is 
 shewn to be my daughter by proofs which are infallible : 
 but* my love for you, and for my country, is so great, that 
 disregarding the continuance of my race, and the succession 
 to my throne, and the new and dear appellation which I 
 have just acquired, I am ready to sacrifice her to the gods 
 for your advantage. I see you weep; I see you moved 
 by the feelings of humanity; you pity the age of this 
 maiden, immature for death ; you pity my vainly cherished 
 hope of a successor, yet even against your wills, I must obey 
 the customs of my country, and prefer the public weal to 
 any private feelings of my own. Whether it be the will of 
 the gods just to shew me a daughter, and then take her 
 away again (shewing her to me at her birth, taking her 
 away now that she is found) ,f I leave you to judge: 1 am 
 unable to determine. As little can I decide whether they 
 will permit her to be sacrificed, when, after driving her 
 from her native land to the extremest ends of the earth, 
 they have, as by a miracle, brought her back again a captive ; 
 but if it be expedient that I sacrifice her whom 1 slew not 
 as an enemy, nor injured as a prisoner, at the instant when 
 she is recognized to be my daughter I will not hesitate, nor 
 yield to affections which might be pardonable in any other 
 i'ather. I will not falter nor implore your compassion to 
 acquit me of obedience to the law, out of regard to the feel- 
 ings of nature and affection, nor even suggest that it is 
 possible the deity may be appeased and satisfied by another 
 victim ; but as I see you sympathize with me, and feel my 
 misfortunes as your own, even so much more does it become 
 me to prefer your good to every other consideration, little 
 regarding this sore grief, little regarding the distress of my 
 poor Queen, made a mother and at the same moment 
 rendered childless. Dry then your tears, repress your 
 
 * See the speech of Agamemnon, in the Iphigenia in Aulis, 1242. 
 f " Ostendent terris hunc tantum fata, neque ultra 
 Esse sinent." Virg. ^n. vi. 870. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 243 
 
 ineffectual grief for ever, and prepare for this necessary 
 sacrifice : and, thou, my daughter ! (now first and now 
 last do I address thee by this longed-for name,) beauteous 
 to no purpose, and in vain discovered to thy parents ! thou 
 who hast found thy native land more cruel than any 
 foreign region ! who hast found a strange land thy pre- 
 server, but wilt find thy native country thy destroyer ! do 
 not thou break my heart, by mournful tears ; if ever thou 
 hast shewed a high and royal spirit, shew it now. Follow 
 thy father, who is unable to adorn thee as a bride ; who 
 leads thee to no nuptial chamber ; but who decks thee for 
 a sacrifice ; who kindles, not torch of marriage, but the altar 
 torch, and now offers as a victim this thine unrivalled loveli- 
 ness. Do you too, O ye gods ! be propitious, even if any- 
 thing unbecoming or disrespectful has escaped me, overcome 
 as I am, by grief, at calling this maiden daughter, and at 
 the same time being her destroyer ! So saying, he made 
 a shew of leading Chariclea to the pyre, with palpitating 
 heart, and deprecating the success of the speech, which he 
 had made in order to steal away the people's wills. 
 
 The whole multitude was strongly excited by these words 
 they would not suffer her to be led a step towards the 
 altar; but loudly and with one voice cried out " Save the 
 maiden ! Preserve the royal blood ! Deliver her whom the 
 gods evidently protect ! We are satisfied ; the custom has 
 been sufficiently complied with. We acknowledge thee our 
 king: do thou acknowledge thyself a father; may the gods 
 pardon the seeming disobedience ; we shall be much more 
 disobedient by thwarting their will; let no one slay her 
 who has been preserved by them. Thou who art the father 
 of thy country, be also the father of thy family ! These, 
 and a thousand such like exclamations , were heard from 
 every side. At length they prepared to prevent by force the 
 sacrifice of Chariclea, and demanded steadily that the other 
 victims alone should be offered to the gods. 
 
 Gladly and readily did Hydaspes suffer himself to be 
 persuaded, and to submit to this seeming violence : he 
 heard with pleasure the cries and congratulations of the 
 issembly, and allowed them the indulgence of their wills, 
 waiting till the tumult should spontaneously subside. 
 
 Finding himself near Chariclea, he taid : " My dear 
 
 ' 
 
244 THE ADTENTITRES OP 
 
 daughter (for the tokens you have produced, the wise Sisi- 
 mithres, and the benevolence of the gods declare you to be 
 such), who is this stranger who was taken with you, and is 
 now led out to be sacrificed ? How came you to call him 
 your brother, when you were first brought into my presence 
 at Syene ? He is not likely to be found my son, for Persina 
 had only one child, yourself. " 
 
 Chariclea, casting her eyes on the ground, blushed, and 
 said: "He is not, I confess, my brother: necessity ex- 
 torted that fiction from me. "Who he is, he will better 
 explain than I can." 
 
 Hydaspes not readily comprehending what she meant, 
 replied : " Forgive me, my child, if I have asked a ques- 
 tion < jncerning this young man which it seems to hurt your 
 maiden modesty to answer. Gro into the tent to your 
 mother, cause her more rejoicing now, than you caused her 
 pain when she gave you birth ; add to her present enjoy- 
 ment, by relating every particular about yourself. Mean- 
 while, we will proceed with the sacrifice, selecting, if possible, 
 a victim worthy to be offered with this youth instead of you." 
 
 Chariclea was nearly shrieking at mention of sacrificing 
 the young man ; hardly could she for ultimate advantage, 
 check her frenzied feelings, so as to wind her way covertly 
 towards the end she had in view. "Sire," said she, "per- 
 haps there needs not to seek out another maiden, since 
 the people remitted in my person the sacrifice of any female 
 victim ? But if they insist that a pair of either sex should 
 be sacrified, see if it be not necessary for you to find out 
 another youth, as well as another maiden ; or, if that be 
 not done, whether I must not still be offered." 
 
 " The gods forbid!" replied Hydaspes ; " but why should 
 you say this ?" 
 
 " Because," said she, "the gods have decreed that he is 
 to live with me, or die with me." 
 
 " I commend your humanity," replied the king, " in that 
 having so hardly escaped yourself, you are desirous of 
 saving a foreigner, a Greek, a fellow-prisoner, and of the 
 same age, with whom, from a communion in misfortunes, 
 you must have contracted some degree of familiarity and 
 friendship : but he cannot be exempted from the sacrifice ; 
 reugiun will not permit our country's custom to be in 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 245 
 
 everything curtailed, neither would the people suffer it, who 
 have with difficulty been persuaded by the goodness of the 
 deities to spare you." 
 
 " king!" said Chariclea, "for perhaps I may not pre- 
 sume to call you father, since the mercy of the gods has 
 saved my body, let me implore their and your clemency to 
 preserve my soul :* they know with how much justice I call 
 him so, since they have so closely interwoven the web of my 
 destiny with his. But if his fate is irretrievably deter- 
 mined ; as if a foreigner he must necessarily suffer, I ask only 
 one favour Let me with my own hand perform the sacri- 
 fice ; let me grasp the sword even like a precious treasure 
 and signalize my fortitude before the ^Ethiopians." 
 
 Hydaspes was astonished and confounded at this strange 
 request. "I know not what to make," said he, "of this 
 sudden change in your disposition. : but a moment ago you 
 were anxious to save this stranger, and now you desire per- 
 mission to destroy him as an enemy with your own hands ; 
 but there is nothing either honourable or becoming your 
 sex or age in such a deed : granting that there were, it is im- 
 possible ; it is an office exclusively belonging to the priests 
 and priestesses of the Sun and Moon, the one must be a 
 husband ; the other is required to be a wife ; so that even 
 the fact of your virginity would be sufficient to preclude 
 this unaccountable request. 
 
 "There need be no obstacle here," rejoined Chariclea, 
 blushing, and whispering her mother, she said, " give but 
 your consent and I already have one who answers to the 
 name of husband." "We will consent," replied Persina, 
 smiling, " and will bestow your hand at once, if we can find 
 a match worthy of yourself and us." " Then," said Cha- 
 riclea, raising her voice, " your search need not be long, it 
 is already found." 
 
 She was proceeding (for the imminent danger of Thea- 
 genes made her bold, and caused her to break through the 
 restraints of maiden modesty), when Hydaspes, becoming 
 impatient, said " How do ye, O gods, mingle blessings and 
 misfortunes ! and mar the happiness ye have bestowed upon 
 me! ye restore, beyond all my hopes, a daughter, but ye 
 restore her frenzy-stricken! for is not her mind frenzied 
 * " Et serves animse dimidium meee." Hor. I. Od. iii. 8. 
 
246 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 when she utters such inconsistencies ? She first calls this 
 stranger her brother, who is no such thing; next, when 
 asked who the stranger is, she says she knows not ; then 
 she is very anxious to preserve him, as a friend, from suffer- 
 ing ; and, failing in this, appears desirous of sacrificing him 
 with her own hands ; and when we tell her that none but 
 one who is wedded can lawfully perform this office, then 
 she declares herself a wife but does not name her husband. 
 How can she indeed ? She whom the altar proves never to 
 have had a husband ; unless the unfailing ordeal of chastity 
 among the Ethiopians has, in her case only, proved falla- 
 cious, dismissing her unscathed, and bestowing upon her 
 the spurious reputation of virginity ; upon her, who with one 
 breath calls the same person her friend and enemy, and 
 invents a brother and a husband who have no existence ? 
 Do you, then, my Queen, retire into your tent, and endea- 
 vour to recall this maiden' to her senses : for either she 
 is frenzied by the deity, who is approaching the sacri- 
 fices, or else she is distraught through her unexpected pre- 
 servation. I will have search made for the victim, due to 
 the gods, as an offering in her stead ; meanwhile I will give 
 audience to the ambassadors of the different nations, and 
 will receive the presents brought in congratulation of my 
 victory." So saying, he seated himself in a conspicuous place 
 near the tent, and commanded the ambassadors to be intro- 
 duced, and to bring what gifts they had to offer. 
 
 Harmonias, the lord in waiting,* inquired whether they 
 should all approach without distinction, or a few selected 
 from every nation; or whether he should introduce each 
 separately. 
 
 " Let them come separately in turn, said the king, "that 
 each may be questioned according to his deserts." 
 
 " Tour nephew, then, Mercebus," said Harmonias, "must 
 first appear; he is just arrived, and is waiting outside the 
 troops for his introduction." 
 
 " You silly, stupid fellow," replied Hydaspes, " why did 
 you not announce him instantly r Do you not know" that 
 he is not a mere ambassador, but a king, the son of my own 
 brother (not long deceased), placed by me on his father's 
 throne, and adopted by me as my own son ?" 
 
 See Herod. III. 84. 
 
THEAGEtfES AND CHABICLEA. 247 
 
 " I was aware of it, my lord," replied Harmonias ; " but 
 I considered that the duty of a lord in waiting required him 
 above all things, to observe a proper time and season. Par- 
 don me, therefore, if when I saw you speaking with the 
 royal ladies, I felt averse to drawing your attention from 
 matters of such delight." 
 
 " Let him enter now, then," replied the king. The mas- 
 ter of the ceremonies hastened out, and soon returned with 
 him. 
 
 Meroebus was a handsome youth, just past the season of 
 boyhood, his age being about seventeen ; but he exceeded in 
 stature almost all those who surrounded him, and his suite 
 was splendid and numerous. The Ethiopian guards opened 
 on either side to let him pass, and regarded him with wonder 
 and respect. 
 
 Hydaspes himself rose from his throne to meet him, em- 
 braced him with fatherly affection, placed him by his side, 
 and taking him by the hand said, " Nephew, you are come 
 very seasonably both to assist at a triumphal sacrifice, and a 
 nuptial ceremony ; for the gods, the authors and protectors 
 of our family, have restored to me a daughter, and provided, 
 as it seems, for you a wife. The particulars you shall hear 
 hereafter ; at present if you have any business relating to 
 the nation which you govern, make me acquainted with it." 
 
 The youth,* at the mention of a wife, was seen to blush 
 through his dark complexion from mingled pleasure and 
 modesty (the red rushing, as it were, to the surface of the 
 black). After an interval he said, " The other ambassadors, 
 my Father, in honour of your splendid victory, bring you 
 the choicest productions of their several countries : I, as a 
 suitable compliment to a brave and first-rate warrior, make 
 you an offering after your own heart, a champion who is in- 
 vincible ; not to be matched either in wrestling, or boxing, or 
 in the race;" and so, saying, he motioned to the man 
 alluded to, to advance. 
 
 He came forward and made his adoration to Hydaspes. 
 
 * It would be unfair to deprive the reader of the very quaint render- 
 ing of this passage in the version of 1717 : " Mercebus, young and bash- 
 ful, and wonderfully tickled at the thoughts of a bride, blushed 
 through his black skin, his face looking like a ball of toot that had taken 
 fire." 
 
248 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 So vast and " old world* " was his stature, thft when kissing 
 the king's knees, his head nearly equalled those who sat on 
 raised seats above him ; and, without waiting for any orders, 
 he stripped and challenged any one to engage with him, 
 either with skill of arms, or with strength of hands. And 
 when, after many proclamations made, no antagonist ap- 
 peared to oppose him " You shall have," said Hydaspes, 
 " a reward quite in character ;" and he ordered an old and 
 very bulky elephant to be brought out and given to him. 
 
 The man was pleased with, and vain of the present ; but 
 the people burst into a shout of laughter ; delighted at the 
 humour of the king ; consoling themselves by their derision 
 of his boastfulness, for the inferiority which they had virtu- 
 ally expressed. 
 
 The ambassadors of the Seres came next. They brought 
 spun and woven garments, both white and purple ; the ma- 
 terials of which were the produce of an in sect, t which is 
 bred in their country. These gifts being accepted, they 
 begged and obtained the release of certain prisoners who had 
 been condemned. 
 
 After them, the envoys from Arabia the Happy approached. 
 They presented many talents worth of fragrant leaves, 
 lavender, cinnamon, and other productions, with which that 
 land of perfume abounds ; all which filled the air around 
 with an agreeable odour. 
 
 Then appeared the Troglodites. They brought gold dust 
 (which is turned up by the ant-eater J), also a pair of hippo- 
 griffs guided by golden reins. 
 
 The ambassadors of the Blemmyae offered bows and arrows, 
 formed of serpents' bones, and disposed into the form of a 
 crown. 
 
 * Ourwf wyvytof. See the description and bearing of Dares. 
 Virg. ^En. v. 368, 385. 
 
 t Twv Trap* avrolQ apaxnwv literally, of spiders, see Tatius, B. iii. 
 J In the original it ia " ant-gold " XP V(T V pvpfuiiciar, turned up by 
 the " myrmex," an animal between a dog and fox in size, supposed to 
 be the ant-eater. See note vol. i. j\ 378, of Blakesley's Herodotus. 
 William Lisle, the poet, thus improves upon the "ant-gold:" 
 " A yoke of gryphons chaic'd with that fine gold 
 Which emmots, nigh as big as Norfolke gheepe, 
 At sand-hill side are said to gatb'r and keepe." 
 
 The reader will of course remember Milton's allusion to the gryphont. 
 Paradise Lost, B. ii. 945. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 249 
 
 " These our presents,' 1 said they, " in value fall far behind 
 those of others ; nevertheless, they did good service against 
 the Persians, at the river, as you yourself can testify." 
 
 "They are of more value," said Hydaspes, "than other 
 costly gifts, and are the cause of my now receiving other pre- 
 sents ;" at the same time he bid them declare their wishes. 
 They requested some diminution of their tributes, and ob- 
 tained a full remission of them for ten years. When almost 
 all the ambassadors had been admitted, and had been pre- 
 sented, some with rewards equal to their gifts, others with 
 such as were far greater, at last the ambassadors of the 
 Axiomitae appeared. These were not tributaries, but allies : 
 they came to express their satisfaction at the king's success, 
 and brought with them their presents ; and among the rest 
 there was an animal of a very uncommon and wonderful 
 kind : his size approached to that of a camel ! his skin was 
 marked over with florid spots : his hind-quarters were low 
 and lionshaped : but his fore legs, his shoulders, and breast, 
 were far higher in proportion than his other parts ; his neck 
 was slender, towering up from his large body into a swanlike 
 throat, and his head, like that of a camel, was about twice 
 as large as that of a Lybian ostrich ; his eyes were very 
 bright and rolled with a fierce expression ; his manner of 
 moving was different from that of every other land or water 
 animal; he did not use his legs alternately, one on each 
 side at once, but moved both those on the right together, 
 and then, in like manner, both those on the left ; one side 
 at a time being raised before the other ; and yet so docile in 
 movement and gentle in disposition was he, that his keeper 
 led him by a thin cord fastened round his neck ; his master's 
 will having over him the influence of an irresistible chain. 
 At the appearance of this animal the multitude were asto- 
 nished ; and extemporising his name * from the principal 
 features in his figure, they called him a camelopard.f He 
 was, however, the occasion of no small confusion in the 
 assembly. There happened to stand near the altar of the 
 Moon a pair of bulls, and by that of the Sun four white 
 horses, prepared for sacrifice. At the sudden sight of this 
 
 * avroaxtdiuG /cart;yopi;0v. 
 
 t This animal was amoDg the number of those, in the destruction 
 of which the Emperor Commodus exhibited his skill in the arena. 
 See Gibbon, i. 153, (note). 
 
250 THE ADVEXTUKES OF 
 
 strange outlandish beast, seen for the first time, terrified 
 as if they had beheld some phantom, one of the bulls, and 
 two of the horses, bursting from the ropes of those who 
 held them, galloped wildly away. They were unable to 
 break through the circle of the soldiery, fortified as it was 
 with a wall of locked shields ; but running in wild disorder 
 through the middle space, they overturned vessels and vic- 
 tims everything, in short, that came in their way ; so that 
 mingled cries arose, some of fear in those towards whom the 
 animals were making ; some of mirth for the accidents which 
 happened to others whom they saw fallen and trampled 
 upon. Persina and her daughter, upon this, could not 
 remain quiet in their tent ; but gently drawing aside the 
 curtain they became spectators of what was done. 
 
 But now Theagenes, whether excited by his own cour- 
 ageous spirit, or by the inspiration of the gods, observing 
 the keepers who were placed around him dispersed in the 
 tumult, rose from his knees, in which which posture he had 
 placed himself before the altar, awaiting his approaching 
 sacrifice ; and seizing a piece of cleft wood, many of which lay 
 prepared for the ceremony, he leaped upon one of the horses 
 who had not burst his bands ; and grasping the mane with 
 one hand, and using it for a bridle, with his heel (as with a 
 spur) and the billet he urged on the courser, and pursued, 
 on full speed, one of the flying bulls. 
 
 At first, those present supposed it an attempt of Thea- 
 genes to escape in the confusion, and called out not to 
 let him pass the ring of soldiers ; but they soon had reason 
 to be convinced that it was not the effect of fear or dread of 
 being sacrificed. He quickly overtook the bull and followed 
 him for some time close behind, fatiguing him, and urging 
 on his course, pursuing him in all his doublings, and if he 
 endeavoured to turn and make at him, avoiding him with 
 wonderful dexterity. "When he had made the animal a little 
 familiar with his presence and his movements, he galloped 
 up close by his side, actually touching him, mingling the 
 breath and sweat of both animals, and so equalizing their 
 courses, that they who were at a distance might imagine 
 their heads had grown together. Every one extolled Thea- 
 genes who had found means to join together this strange 
 hippotaurine pair.* While the multitude was intent upon, 
 
 * Suetonius mentions an exploit similar to this of Theagenes, and 
 
THEAGENES AffD CHARICLEA. 251 
 
 and diverted with this spectacle, Chariclea was agitated, and 
 trembled. She knew not what was the object of Theagenes ; 
 should he fall and be wounded it would be death to her ; 
 her emotion, in short, was such that it could not escape the 
 observation of Persina. 
 
 "My child," said she, "what is the matter with you? 
 You seem very anxious about this stranger. I feel some 
 concern for him myself, and pity his youth. I hope he will 
 escape the danger to which he has exposed himself, and be 
 preserved for the sacrifice ; lest all the honours which we 
 meant to pay the gods, should be found failing and deficient." 
 
 " Tours is strange compassion," replied Chariclea, " to 
 wish that he may avoid one death, in order that he may 
 suffer a worse. But if it be possible, O my mother ! save 
 this young man for my sake." 
 
 Persina not understanding the real case, but suspecting 
 that love had some share in it, said, " This is impossible ; 
 but let me know the nature of your connection with this 
 youth, in whom you seem to take so great an interest. 
 Open your mind with freedom and confidence, and recollect 
 that you are speaking to a mother. Even if giving way to 
 any youthful weakness, you have felt more for this stranger 
 than perhaps a maiden ought to own, a parent knows how 
 to excuse the failings of a daughter; and a woman can throw 
 a cloak over the frailties of her sex." 
 
 "This too is my additional misfortune," replied Cha- 
 riclea ; " I am speaking * to those of understanding, yet I 
 am not understood. While speaking of my own misfor- 
 tunes, I am not supposed to speak of them. I must enter 
 then upon a ' plain unvarnished ' accusation of myself." 
 She was preparing to declare everything which related to her 
 situation and connections, when she was interrupted by a 
 sudden and loud shout from the multitude ; for Theagenes, 
 after urging his horse at its swiftest speed and getting even 
 with the bull's head, suddenly leaping from the animal 
 (which he allowed to run loose) threw himself on the bull's 
 neck. He placed his face between his horns, closely em- 
 performed by a Thessalian, as he was (Claud, cap. 21). " Prseterea 
 TJtessalos equites qui feros tauros per spatia circi agunt, insiliuntque 
 defessos, et ad terram cornibus detrahunt." The above exploit was 
 called ravyoKaOaipia. It is represented in one of the Arundel 
 marbles. 
 
 * Toi avvtrolq aavvtra $9syyouai. 
 
252 THE ADTENTUEES OF 
 
 braced his forehead with his arms (as with a chaplet), 
 clasped his fingers in front, and letting his body fall on the 
 beast's right shoulder, sustained his bounds, and shocks 
 with little hurt. When he perceived him to be fatigued 
 with his weight, and that his muscles began to be relaxed 
 and yield, just as he passed by the place where Hydaspes 
 sat, he shifted his body to the front, entangled his legs with 
 ^hose of the bull, continuously kicking him and hindering 
 his progress. The beast being thus impeded, and borne 
 down at the same time by the weight and force of the youth, 
 trips and tumbles upon his head, rolls upon his back, and 
 there lies supine, his horns deeply imbedded in the ground, 
 and his legs quivering in the air, testifying to his defeat. 
 Theagenes kept him down with his left hand, and waved his 
 right towards Hydaspes and the multitude, inviting them, 
 with a smiling and cheerful countenance, to take part in his 
 rejoicing, while the bellowings of the bull served instead of 
 a trumpet to celebrate his triumph. The applause of the 
 multitude was expressed not so much by articulate words, 
 as by a shout, giving open-mouthed token of their wonder- 
 ment, and with its sounds extolling him to the very skies. 
 By order of Hydaspes, Theagenes was brought before him, 
 and the bull, by a rope tied over his horns, was led back 
 weak and dispirited towards the altar, where they again 
 fastened him, together with the horse which had escaped. 
 The king was preparing to speak to Theagenes, when the 
 multitude, interested in him from the first, and now de- 
 lighted with this instance of his strength and courage, 
 but still more moved with jealousy towards the foreign 
 wrestler, called out with one voice " Let him be matched 
 with Maroebus's champion. Let him who has received the 
 elephant contend, if he dare, with him who has subdued the 
 bull." They pressed and insisted on this so long, till at 
 length they extorted the consent of Hydaspes. The fellow 
 was called out : he advanced, casting around fierce and con- 
 temptuous looks, stepping haughtily, dilating his chest, and 
 swinging his arms with insolent defiance.* When he came 
 near the royal tent, Hydaspes looking at Theagenes, said to 
 
 *..,.." caput altum in praelia tollit, 
 Ostenditque humeros latos, alternaque jactat, 
 Brachia protendens, et verberat ictibus auras." 
 
 Virg. ^En. v. 375. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHAEICLEA. 253 
 
 him in Greek " The people are desirous that you should 
 engage with this man, you must therefore do so." 
 
 " Be it as they please," replied Theagenes. " But what is 
 to be the nature of the contest ?" " Wrestling," said the 
 king. "Why not with swords, and in armour?" returned 
 the other, " that either by my fall or by my victory I may 
 satisfy Chariclea, who persists in concealing everything 
 which relates to our connection, or perhaps at last has cast 
 me off." 
 
 " Why you thus bring in the name of Chariclea," replied 
 Hydaspes, " you best know ; but you must wrestle, and not 
 fight with swords, for no blood must be shed on this day, 
 but at the altar." Theagenes perceived the king's appre- 
 hension lest he should fall before the sacrifice, and said, 
 " You do well, O king, to reserve me for the gods ; they too, 
 you may be assured, will watch over my preservation." So 
 saying, taking up a handful of dust, he sprinkled it over 
 his limbs, already dropping with sweat, from his exertions 
 in pursuit of the bull. He shook off all which did not 
 adhere ; and stretching out his arms, planting his feet firmly, 
 bending his knees a little, rounding his back and shoulders, 
 throwing back his neck, and contracting all his muscles, h ; 
 stood anxiously waiting the gripe of his antagonist. The 
 ^Ethiopian seeing him, grimly smiled, and by his contemp- 
 tuous gestures seemed to slight his adversary. 
 
 Making a rush he let fall his arm, like some mighty bar, 
 upon the neck of Theagenes at the echo which it made 
 the braggart laughed exultingly. Theagenes, trained in 
 the wrestling-school tricks from his youth, and familiar 
 with all the tricks of the Mercurial art.* determined to give 
 ground at first, and having made trial of his adversary, not 
 to stand up against such tremendous weight and savage 
 ferocity, but to elude his undisciplined strength by skill 
 and subtlety. Staggering back, then, a little from his place 
 he affected to suffer more than he really did, and exposed 
 the other side of his neck to his opponent's blow ; and when 
 the African planted another hit in that quarter, purposely 
 giving way, he pretended almost to be falling upon hia 
 
 * " Mercuri, facuncle nepos Atlantis, 
 Qui feros cnltus hominnm recentum 
 Voce formasti catua, et decorce " 
 
 More paltstrce. Hor. I. Od. X. 1 4. 
 
254 THE ADYENTURES OF 
 
 face. But when waxing stronger in contempt and con- 
 fidence, his antagonist was now a third time, unguardedly 
 rushing on, and about to let fall his upraised arm, Theagenes 
 got within his guard, eluding his blow by a sudden twist, 
 and with his right elbow struck up the other's left arm, and 
 dashed him to the earth, already impelled downwards by 
 the sway of his own missed blow ; then slipping his hand 
 under his armpits, he got upon his back, and with difficulty 
 spanning his brawny waist, incessantly kicked his feet and 
 ancles, and compelled him to rise upon his knees, strode 
 over him, pressed him in the groin with his legs, struck 
 from under him the support of his hands, and twining his 
 arms about his temples, dragged his head back upon his 
 shoulders, and so stretched him with his belly on the ground.* 4 
 
 An universal shout of applause, greater than before, now 
 burst from the multitude; nor could the king contain him- 
 self, but springing from his throne " O hateful necessity," 
 he cried, " what a hero of a man are we compelled to sacri- 
 fice !" and calling him to him he said, " Young man, it now 
 remains for you to be crowned for the altar, according to 
 our custom. You have deserved a crown too lor your 
 glorious but useless victory, and transitory triumph ; and 
 though it be out of my power, however willing I may be, to 
 preserve your life, whatever I can do for you I will. If 
 therefore there is any thing you wish to have done, either 
 before or after your death, ask it freely." 80 saying he took 
 a crown of gold, set with precious stones, and put it on his 
 head ; and, while he placed it there, was seen to shed tears. 
 
 "I have but one thing to ask," said Theagenes, "and 
 this I earnestly beseech you that I may obtain. If it 
 be impossible for me to avoid being sacrified, grant that 
 I may suffer by the hands of this your newly recovered 
 daughter." 
 
 Hydaspes was annoyed at this reply, and called to mind 
 the conformity of this request to that made just before 
 by Chariclea ; but, as the time pressed, he did not think 
 it necessary to inquire particularly into the reasons of 
 it, and only said, " Whatever is possible, Stranger! I en- 
 couraged you to ask, and promised that you should obtain ; 
 
 * A wood-cut, in some degree illustrative of this description, will be 
 found at p. 708 of Greek and Roman Antiquities, under the article 
 " Pancratium." 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 255 
 
 but she, who performs the sacrifice the law distinctly 
 declares, must be one who has a husband, not a maiden." 
 
 " Chariclea has a husband," said Theagenes. " These 
 are the words," replied Hydaspes, " of one who trifles and 
 is about to die. The altar has declared her unmarried and a 
 virgin unless indeed you call this Meroebus her husband 
 (having somehow heard the rumour) ; he however is not yet 
 her husband he is yet in accordance with my will, only her 
 intended." 
 
 " Nor will he ever be her husband," said Theagenes, " if 
 I know aught of Chariclea' s sentiments ; and, if being a 
 victim, credit is due to me as inspired by prophecy." " But, 
 fair Sir," said Meroebus, "it is not .living but slaughtered 
 victims which afford knowledge to the Seers. You are 
 right, Sire, in saying that the stranger talks folly, and 
 like one just about to die. Command, therefore, that he be 
 led to the altar ; and when you shall have finished all your 
 business, begin the rites, I pray you." 
 
 Theagenes was being led away ; and Chariclea, who had 
 breathed again when he was victorious, was once more 
 plunged into grief, when she saw it had profited him 
 nothing. Persina observed her tears, and feeling for her 
 affliction, said " It is possible I may yet have power to 
 save this Grecian, if you will explain more clearly all the 
 particulars relating to yourself." 
 
 Chariclea, who saw that there was not a moment to be 
 lost, was a second time preparing to own everything ; when 
 Hydaspes inquiring from the lord in waiting whether any 
 ambassadors remained who had not had audience, was told 
 only those from Syene, who were that instant arrived, with 
 letters from Oroondates, and presents. " Let them too 
 approach, and execute theircommission," said the mon- 
 arch. They were introduced, and delivered letters to this 
 effect : 
 
 " Oroondates, Viceroy of the Great King, to Hydaspes, 
 the king of ^Ethiopia. 
 
 " Since conqueror in fight, you are yet more conqueror in 
 magnanimity, in restoring to me a viceroyalty unasked, I 
 have little doubt that I shall obtain a slight request. A 
 young maiden who was being conducted from Memphis to 
 my camp, becanie involved in the perils of war, and as I 
 am informed, was sent by you into ^Ethiopia. This I have 
 
25(5 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 learnt from those who were with her and who escaped: 
 I beg she may be sent to rne, both on account of the 
 maiden herself, as well as for her father's sake, who, after 
 having wandered over half the globe, in search of his 
 daughter, came at last to Elephantine, and was taken pri- 
 soner by the garrison. When reviewing those of my sol- 
 diers who survived, I saw him and he earnestly desired to 
 be sent to your clemency. He is among the ambassadors, 
 his manners and bearing shew him to be of noble birth, and 
 his very countenance and looks speak strongly in his favour. 
 Dismiss him then, O king, I beseech you, happy and con- 
 tented from your presence. Send back to me one who is a 
 father not merely in name but in reality." 
 
 Hydaspes, having read the letter, inquired who it was, 
 who was come in quest of his daughter. When he was 
 pointed out to him, he said, " I am ready, stranger, to do 
 every thing which Oroondates requests of me. Out of the 
 ten captive maidens whom we have brought hither, one 
 assuredly is not your daughter ; examine the rest, and if 
 she be found among them take her." 
 
 The old man, falling down, kissed his feet. The maidens 
 were brought, and passed in review before him ; but when 
 he saw not her whom he sought, he said sorrowfully 
 " None of these, O king, is my daughter." " Tou have my 
 good will in your behalf," replied Hydaspes. " Tou must 
 blame Fortune if you have not discovered your child. It is 
 in your power to search, if you will, through the camp ; and 
 to ascertain that none else has been brought hither besides 
 these." 
 
 The old man smote his forehead, and wept; and, then 
 after raising his eyes, and looking round him, he suddenly 
 sprang forward, like one distracted; and upon coming to 
 the altar, he twisted the end of his long robe into the form 
 of a halter, threw it over the neck of Theagenes, and pulled 
 him towards him, crying out " I have found you, my 
 enemy ! I have found you, man of blood, detested wretch !" 
 The guards interposed, and endeavoured to resist and 
 pull him away, but keeping a firm hold and clinging closely 
 to him, he succeeded in bringing him before Hydaspes and 
 the council. 
 
 " This, O king," said he, " is the man who. stole away my 
 daughter. This is he who has rendered my house childless 
 
THEAGEBTES AND CHAEICLEA. 257 
 
 and desolate ; who, after ravishing away my daughter from 
 the midst of Apollo's altar, now sits as though he were 
 holy beside the altars of the gods." 
 
 The assembly was thrown into commotion at what was 
 taking place. They did not understand what he said, but 
 wondered at what they saw him do; and Hydaspes com- 
 manded him to explain himself more plainly, and say what 
 he would have ; when the old man (it was Charicles), con- 
 cealing the true circumstances of the birth and exposure 
 of Chariclea, lest, if she should have perished in her flight 
 or journey, he might come into some collision with her rea* 
 parents, explained briefly such matters as could produce n,* 
 ill results. 
 
 " I had a daughter, O king ! and had you seen her various 
 and uncommon perfections, both of mind and person, you 
 would say I have good cause for speaking as I do. She 
 lived the life of a virgin, a priestess of Diana, in the temple 
 at Delphi. This noble Thessalian, forsooth, who was sent 
 by his country to preside over a solemn embassy and sacri- 
 fice to be celebrated in our holy city, stole her away from 
 the very shrine, I say, of Apollo. 
 
 " Justly may he be considered to have insulted you by 
 profaning your national deity Apollo and his temple, Apollo 
 being identical with the Sun. His assistant in this impious 
 outrage was a pretended priest of Memphis. In my pur- 
 suit, I came to Thessaly; and the Thessalians offered to 
 give him up should he be found as one accursed and 
 deserving death. Thinking it probable that Calasiris might 
 have chosen Memphis as a place of refuge, I hastened 
 thither. Calasiris, I found, was dead; but I learnt all 
 particulars concerning my daughter from his son Thyamis, 
 who told me that she had been sent to Oroondates at 
 Syene. After being disappointed at not finding the latter 
 at Syene, and having been myself detained prisoner at Ele- 
 phantis, I now appear before you as a suppliant, to seek my 
 child. You will, then, deeply oblige me, a man of many 
 griefs, and will also gratify your own self, by not disre- 
 garding the Viceroy's intercession." He ceased, and burst 
 into tears. 
 
 The king asked Theagenes what reply he had to make 
 to all this. "The whole charge," said he, "is true. To 
 
258 THE ADVENTURES OF 
 
 this man I have been a ravisher, unjust, and violent ; but 
 to you I have been a benefactor." " Restore, then, another's 
 daughter," said Hydaspes. " You have been dedicated to 
 the gods ; let your death be a holy and glorious sacrifice 
 not the just punishment of crime." 
 
 "Not he who committed the violence," said Theagenes ; 
 " but he who reaps the fruits of it, is bound to make 
 restitution. Do you then restore Chariclea, for she is in 
 your possession. The old man, you shall see, will own your 
 'daughter to be her whom he seeks." 
 
 None could repress their emotion : all were in confusion, 
 But Sisimithres, who had hitherto kept silence, though 
 long since understanding all that was being said and done, 
 yet waiting till the circumstances should become yet clearer, 
 now ran up and embraced Charicles. " Tour adopted 
 child," said he, " she whom I formerly delivered into your 
 hands, is safe : she is, and has been acknowledged to be, 
 the daughter of those whom you know." 
 
 Upon this Chariclea rushed out of the tent, and over- 
 looking all restraints of sex or maidenly reserve, flung 
 herself at the feet of Charicles, and cried out, " O my father! 
 O not less revered than the authors of my birth, punish 
 me, your cruel and ungrateful daughter, as you think fit, 
 regardless of my only excuse, that what has been done was 
 ordained by the irresistible will and appointment of the 
 gods." Persina, on the other side, threw her arms round 
 Hydaspes, and said, " My dear husband, be assured that 
 all this is truth, and that this stranger Greek is her 
 betrothed." The people, on the other hand, leaped and 
 danced for joy; every age and condition were, without 
 exception, delighted not understanding, indeed, the greater 
 part of what was said, but conjecturing the facts from what 
 had taken place with Chariclea. Perhaps, too, they were 
 brought to a comprehension of the truth by some secret 
 influence of the deity, who had ordered all these events so 
 dramatically, producing out of the greatest discords the 
 most perfect harmony: joy out of grief; smiles from tears ; 
 out of a stern spectacle a gladsome feast; laughter from 
 weeping ; rejoicing out of mourning; the finding* of those 
 who were not sought; the losing f of those who were in 
 * By Hydaspes. f By Charicles. 
 
THEAGENES AND CHARICLEA. 259 
 
 imagination found ; in one word, a holy sacrifice out of an 
 anticipated * slaughter. 
 
 At length Hydaspes said to Sisimithres, " O sage ! what 
 are we to do ? To defraud the gods of their victims is not 
 pious; to sacrifice those who appear to be preserved and 
 restored by their providence is impious. It needs that some 
 expedient be found out." 
 
 Sisimitbres, speaking, not in the Grecian, but in the 
 Ethiopian tongue, so as to be heard by the greatest part of 
 the assembly, replied : " O king ! the wisest among men, as 
 it appears, often have the understanding clouded through 
 excess of joy, else, before this time, you would have discovered 
 that the gods regard not with favour the sacrifice which you 
 have been preparing for them. First they, from the very 
 altar, declared the all-blessed Chariclea to be your daughter; 
 next they brought her foster-father most wonderfully from 
 the midst of Greece to this spot; they struck panic and 
 terror into the horses and oxen which were being prepared 
 for sacrifice, indicating, perhaps, by that event, that those 
 whom custom considered as the more perfect and fitting 
 victims were to be rejected. Now, as the consummation of 
 all good, as the perfection of the piece,t they show this 
 Grecian youth to be the betrothed husband of the maiden. 
 Let us give credence to these proofs of the divine and 
 wonder-working will; let us be fellow workers with this 
 will ; let us have recourse to holier offerings; let us abolish, 
 for ever, these detested human sacrifices." 
 
 When Sisimithres had uttered this, in a loud voice, 
 Hydaspes, speaking also in the Ethiopian tongue, and 
 taking Theagenes and Chariclea by the hand, thus pro- 
 ceeded : 
 
 * " Time and tide had thus their sway, 
 Yielding, like an April day, 
 Smiling noon for sullen morrow, 
 Years of joy for hours of sorrow.'* Scott. 
 
 t Literally, the torch of the drama. Aafjnrddiov tSpapaToc. 
 " tyaivtre roivvv v/ici Tovrqt 
 XajjiTrdda^ upaQ \d[jLa TrpOTrsjuTTfrt 
 
 TOiaiV TOVTOV TOVTOV IJLf\fflV 
 
 Kal fJLoXTralaiv KtXadovvTeQ." Aristoph. Bat. 1493. 
 See similar allusions in the Eumenides of JEschylus, 959, 979, 
 (Miiller's Edit.) 
 
 S 2 
 
260 THEAGEtfES AND CILkBICLEA. 
 
 " Ye who are this day assembled ! since these things have 
 been thus brought to pass by the will of the deities, to 
 oppose them would be impious. Wherefore, calling to 
 witness those who have woven these events into the web of 
 destiny, and you whose minds appear to be in concert with 
 them, I sanction the joining together of this pair in wed- 
 lock and procreative union. If you approve, let a sacrifice 
 confirm this resolution, and then proceed we with the 
 sacred rites." 
 
 The assembly signified their approval by a shout, and 
 clapped their hands, in token of the nuptials being ratified. 
 Hydaspes approached the altar, and, in act to begin the 
 ceremony, said, " O lordly Sun and queenly Moon ! since by 
 your wills Theagenes and Chariclea have been declared 
 man and wife, they may now lawfully be your ministers." 
 So saying, he took off his own and Persina's mitre, the 
 symbol of the priesthood, and placed his own upon the head 
 of the youth, that of his consort upon the maiden's head. 
 
 Upon this Charicles called to mind the oracle which had 
 been given to them in the temple before their flight from 
 Delphi, and acknowledged its fulfilment. 
 
 In regions torrid shall arrive at last, 
 
 There shall the gods reward their pious vows, 
 
 And snowy chaplets bind their dusky brows.* 
 
 The youthful pair then, crowned by Hydaspes with white 
 mitres, and invested with the dignity of priesthood, sacri- 
 ficed under propitious omens ; and, accompanied by lighted 
 torches and the sounds of pipes and flutes, Theagenes and 
 Hydaspes, Charicles and Sisimithres, in chariots drawn by 
 horses, Persina and Chariclea, in one drawn by milk white 
 oxen, were escorted, into Meroe (amidst shouts, clapping 
 of hands, and dances), there to celebrate with greater mag- 
 nificence the more mystic portions of the nuptial rites. 
 
 Thus ends the Romance of the "Ethiopics," or Adven- 
 tures of Theagenes and Chariclea, written by a Phoenician 
 of Emesa, in Phoenicia, of the race of the Sun Heliodorus, 
 the son of Theodosius. 
 
 * See Book iL 
 THE END. 
 
THE LOVES 
 
 or 
 
 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE, 
 
 A PASTOEAL NOVEL, 
 
 JVT 
 
 LONGUS. 
 
MOTTO. 
 
 All ! what a life were this ! how sweet, how lovely J 
 
 Gives not the hawthorn bush a sweeter shade 
 
 To shepherds looking on their silly sheep, 
 
 Than doth a rich embroidered canopy 
 
 To kings, that fear their subjects' treachery ? 
 
 Oh yea it doth ; a thousand-fold it doth. 
 
 SKAKSPEAB.B 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 WHILE hunting in Lesbos, I saw in a grove, sacred to the 
 Nymphs, the most beautiful sight which had ever come 
 before my eyes an historical painting,* which represented 
 the incidents of a love-story. The grove itself was beautiful, 
 abounding with trees and flowers, which received their nou- 
 rishment from a single fountain. More delightful, however, 
 than these was the painting, displaying, as it did, great 
 skill, and representing the fortunes of Love. Because of 
 the fame of this picture, many strangers resorted thither to 
 pay their adorations to the Nymphs, and to view the 
 painting. The subjects of it were women in the throes of 
 child-birth ; nurses wrapping the new-born babes in swathing 
 clothes ; infants exposed ; animals of the flock giving them 
 suck ; shepherds carrying them away ; young people pledg- 
 ing their mutual troth ; an attack by pirates ; an inroad by 
 a hostile force. 
 
 As I viewed and admired these and many other things, 
 all containing love allusions, I conceived the desire of 
 writing an illustration of the piece, and having sought 
 out a person to explain the various allusions, I at length 
 completed four books, an offering to the God of Love, 
 
 * Compare the description of the picture representing the story of 
 Europa, in Achilles Tatius. B. i., and those of Andromeda and Pro- 
 metheus in B. ii. 
 
PEEFACE. 
 
 to the Nymphs, and to Pan; a work, moreover, which 
 will be acceptable to every one, for it will remedy disease, 
 it will solace grief, it will refresh the memory of him who 
 has once loved, it will instruct him who is as yet ignorant 
 of love. No one, assuredly, has ever escaped, or will 
 escape, the influence of this passion, so long as beauty 
 remains to be seen, and eyes exist to behold it. 
 
 May the Deity grant me, undisturbed myself, to describe 
 the emotions of others !* 
 
 * " Suave etiam belli certamina magna tueri 
 Per campos instructa, tud sine parte pencil" 
 
 Lucret, 11, 5. 
 
THE LOVES OF DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 IN the island of Lesbos there is an extensive city called 
 Mitylene, the appearance of whidi is beautiful ; the sea 
 intersects it by various canals, and it is adorned with bridges 
 of polished white stone. You might imagine you beheld an 
 island rather than a city. 
 
 About twenty-four miles from Mitylene, were the posses- 
 sions of a rich man, which formed a very fine estate. The 
 mountains abounded with game, the fields produced corn, the 
 hills were thick with vines, the pastures with herds, and the 
 sea- washed shore consisted of an extent of smooth sand. 
 
 As Lamon, a goatherd, was tending his herds upon the 
 estate, he found a child suckled by a she-goat. The place 
 where it was lying was an oak coppice and tangled thicket, 
 with ivy winding about it, and soft grass beneath ; thither 
 the goat continually ran and disappeared from sight, leaving 
 her own kid in order to remain near the child. Lamon 
 watched her movements, being grieved to see the kid neg- 
 lected, and one day when the sun was burning in his meri- 
 dian heat he follows her steps and sees her standing over 
 the infant with the utmost caution, lest her hoofs might 
 injure it, while the child sucked copious draughts of her 
 milk as if from its mother's breast. Struck with natural 
 astonishment, he advances close to the spot and discovers 
 a lusty and handsome male-child, with far richer swathing 
 clothes than suited its fortune in being thus exposed; for its 
 little mantle was of fine purple, and fastened by a golden 
 clasp, and it had a little sword with a hilt of ivory. 
 
 At first Lamon resolved to leave the infant to its fate, 
 and to carry off only the tokens ; but feeling afterwards 
 ashamed at the reflection, that in doing so, he should be 
 inferior in humanity, even to a goat, he waited for the 
 
266 DAPHXIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 approach of night, and then carried home the infant with 
 the tokens, and the she-goat herself to Myrtale his wife. 
 
 Myrtale was astonished, and thought it strange if goats 
 could produce children, upon which her husband recounts 
 every particular ; how he found the infant exposed ; how it 
 was suckled ; and how ashamed he felt at the idea of leaving 
 it to perish. She shared his feelings, so they agreed to con- 
 ceal the tokens, and adopt the child as their own, com- 
 mitting the rearing of it to the goat ; and that the name 
 also might be a pastoral one they determined to call it 
 Daphnis. 
 
 Two years had now elapsed, when Dry as, a neighbouring 
 shepherd, tending his flock, found an infant under similar 
 circumstances. 
 
 There was a grotto * sacred to the Nymphs ; it was a 
 spacious rock, concave within, convex without. The statues 
 of the Nymphs themselves were carved in stone. Their 
 feet were bare, their arms naked to the shoulder, their hair 
 falling dishevelled upon their shoulders, their vests girt about 
 the waist, a smile t sat upon their brow ; their whole sem- 
 blance was that of a troop of dancers. The dome J of the 
 grotto rose over the middle of the rock. Water, spring- 
 ing from a fountain, formed a running stream, and a trim 
 meadow stretched its soft and abundant herbage before 
 the entrance, fed by the perpetual moisture. "Within, 
 milk-pails, transverse-flutes, flageolets and pastoral pipes 
 
 * Compare the description of the Grotto of the Nymphs in Ithaca. 
 Odys. B. xiii. 
 
 -- "A pleasant cave 
 
 Umbrageous, to the Nymphs devoted, nam'd 
 
 The Naiads Beakers in that cave and jars 
 
 Of stone are found ; bees lodge their honey there ; 
 
 And there on slender spindles of the rock 
 
 The nymphs of rivers weave their wondrous robes. 
 
 Perennial springs rise in it." Cowper. 
 
 ayavq, %Xop6v yeXdffffat^ 6<f>pvi. Pindar. 
 
 T) am rendered by the Latin translation, "fastigium;" by the 
 Italian, "giro;" by the French, "votite" is not to be found, in 
 that sense, in Liddell and Scott's Lexicon. 
 
 Theoc. Idyll, xx. 28. enumerates these instruments : 
 'Adv ds fioi TO /^gXicrjua, Kai r\v <rvpiyyi /*tXi<rca>, 
 Kr}v ai'Xw XaXtw, K^V SWVO.KI, KTJV TrXaytavXy 
 The irXayiavXoG resembled the German flute. 
 
D.3.PHNIS AND CHLOE. 267 
 
 were suspended the offerings of many an aged shep- 
 herd. 
 
 An ewe of Dry as' s flock which had lately lambed had fre- 
 quently resorted to this grotto, and raised apprehensions of 
 her being lost. The shepherd wishing to cure her of this 
 habit, and to bring her back to her former way of grazing, 
 twisted some green osiers into the form of a slip knot, and 
 approached the rock with the view of seizing her. Upon 
 arriving there* however, he beheld a sight far contrary to 
 his expectation. He found his ewe affectionately offering 
 from her udder copious draughts of milk to an infant, which 
 without any waili'ng, eagerly turned from one teat to the 
 other its clean and glossy face, the animal licking it, as soon 
 as it had had its fill. 
 
 This child was a female: and had beside its swathing 
 garments, by way of tokens, a head-dress wrought with gold, 
 gilt sandals, and golden * anklets. 
 
 Dry as imagining that this foundling was a gift from the 
 Deity, and instructed by his sheep to pity and love the 
 infant, raised her in his arms, placed the tokens in his 
 scrip, and prayed the Nymphs that their favour might 
 attend upon him in bringing up their suppliant ; and when 
 the time was come for driving his cattle from their pasture, 
 he returns to his cottage, relates what he had seen to his 
 wife, exhibits what he had found, urges her to observe a 
 secrecy, and to regard and rear the child as her own 
 daughter. 
 
 Nape (for so his wife was called) immediately became a 
 mother to the infant, and felt affection towards it, fearing 
 perhaps to be outdone in tenderness by the ewe, and to 
 make appearances more probable, gave the child the pastoral 
 name of Chloe. 
 
 The two children grew rapidly, and their personal ap- 
 pearance exceeded that of ordinary rustics. Daphnis was 
 now fifteen and Chloe was his junior by two years, when 
 on the same night Lainon and Dry as had the following 
 
 * The TrepiffKsXig (in Latin, Periscelis see Hor. Epist. 1. xvii. 56,) 
 was an anklet or bangle, commonly worn not only by the Orientals, 
 the Egyptians, and the Greeks, but by the Roman ladies also. It is 
 frequently represented in the paintings of Greek figures on the walla 
 of Pompeii. Diet, of Greek and Rom. Antiq. 
 
268 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 dream. They thought that they beheld the Nymphs of the 
 Grotto, in which the fountain was and where Dryas found 
 the infant, presenting Daphnis and Chloe to a very saucy 
 looking and handsome boy, who had wings upon his should- 
 ers, and a little bow and arrows in his hand. He lightly 
 touched them both with one of his shafts, and commanded 
 them henceforth to follow a pastoral life. The boy was to 
 tend goats, the girl was to have the charge qf sheep. 
 
 The Shepherd and Goat-herd having had this dream, 
 were grieved to think that these, their adopted children, 
 were like themselves to have the care of flocks. Their 
 dress had given promise of a better fortune, in consequence 
 of which their fare had been more delicate, and their educa- 
 tion and accomplishments superior to those of a country 
 life. 
 
 It appeared to them, however, that in the case of children 
 whom the gods had preserved, the will of the gods must 
 be obeyed ; so each having communicated to the other his 
 dream, they offered a sacrifice to the " WINGED BOY, THE 
 COMPANION or THE NYMPHS," (for they were unacquainted 
 with his name) and sent forth the young people to their 
 pastoral employments, having first instructed them in their 
 duties ; how to pasture their herds before the noon-day 
 heat, and when it was abated ; at what time to lead them 
 to the stream, and afterwards to drive them home to the 
 fold ; which of their sheep and goats required the crook, 
 and to which only the voice was necessary. 
 
 They, on their part, received the charge as if it had been 
 some powerful sovereignty, and felt an affection for their 
 sheep and goats beyond what is usual with shepherds: 
 Chloe referring her preservation to a ewe, and Daphnis 
 remembering that a she-goat had suckled him when he was 
 exposed. 
 
 It was the beginning of spring, the flowers were in bloom 
 throughout the woods, the meadows, and the mountains ; 
 there were the buzzings of the bee, the warblings of the 
 songsters, the frolics of the lambs. The young of the flock 
 were skipping on the mountains, the bees flew humming 
 through the meadows, and the songs of the birds resounded 
 through the bushes. Seeing all things pervaded with such 
 universal joy, they, young and susceptible as they were, 
 
DAPIINIS AND CHLOE. 269 
 
 imitated whatever they saw or heard. Hearing the carol of 
 the birds, they sang ; seeing the sportive skipping of the 
 lambs, they danced ; and in imitation of the bees they 
 gathered flowers. Some they placed in their bosoms, and 
 others they wove into chaplets and carried them as offerings 
 to the Nymphs. 
 
 They tended their flocks in company, and all their occu- 
 pations were in common. Daphnis frequently collected the 
 sheep, which had strayed, and Chloe drove back from a pre- 
 cipice the goats which were too venturesome. Sometimes one 
 would take the entire management both of goats and sheep, 
 while the other was intent upon some amusement 
 
 Their sports were of a pastoral and childish kind. Chloe 
 sometimes neg-lected her flock and went in search of stalks 
 of asphodel, with which she wove traps* for locusts ; while 
 Daphnis devoted himself to playing till nightfall upon his 
 pipe, which he had formed by cutting slender reeds, per- 
 forating the intervals between the joints, and compacting 
 them together with soft wax. Sometimes they shared their 
 milk and wine, and made a common meal upon the provision 
 which they had brought from home ; and sooner might you 
 see one part of the flock divided from the other than Daph- 
 nis separate from Chloe. 
 
 While thus engaged in their amusements Love contrived 
 an interruption of a serious nature.f A she-wolf from the 
 neighbourhood had often carried off lambs from other shep- 
 herds' flocks, as she required a plentiful supply of food for 
 her whelps. Upon this the villagers assembled by night 
 and dug pits in the earth, six feet wide and twenty-four feet 
 deep. The greater part of the loose earth, dug out of these 
 pits, they carried to a distance and scattered about, spreading 
 the remainder over some long dry sticks laid over the mouth 
 of the pits, so as to resemble the natural surface of the 
 ground. The sticks were weaker than straws, so that if 
 even a hare ran over them they would break and prove that 
 instead of substance there was but a show of solid earth. 
 The villagers dug many of these pits in the mountains and 
 in the plains, but they could not succeed in capturing the 
 
 * See Theoc. Idyl. 1. 52. 
 
 " Aurap 07' ai'fcptfccffat Ka\ai> TrXk'ti dicpidoGriKa v. n 
 dv';rr\afft. 
 
270 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 wolf, which discovered the contrivance of the snare. They 
 however caused the destruction of many of their own goats 
 and sheep, and very nearly, as we shall see, that of Daphnis. 
 
 Two angry he-goats engaged in fight. The contest waxed 
 more and more violent, until one of them having his horn 
 broken ran away bellowing with pain. The victor followed 
 in hot and close pursuit. Daphnis, vexed to see that his 
 goat's horn was broken, and that the conqueror persevered 
 in his vengeance, seized his club and crook, and pursued the 
 pursuer.* In consequence of the former hurrying on in 
 wrath, and the latter flying in trepidation, neither of them 
 observed what lay in their path, and both fell into a pit, 
 the goat first, Daphnis afterwards. This was the means 
 of preserving his life, the goat serving as a support in his 
 descent. Poor Daphnis remained at the bottom lamenting 
 his sad mishap with tears, and anxiously hoping that some 
 one might pass by, and pull him out. Chloe, who had 
 observed the accident, hastened to the spot, and finding that 
 he was still alive, summoned a cowherd from an adjacent 
 field to come to his assistance. He obeyed the call, but 
 upon seeking for a rope long enough to draw Daphnis out, 
 no rope was to be found : upon which Chloe undoing her 
 head-band,t gave it to the cowherd to let down ; they then 
 placed themselves at the brink of the pit, and held one end, 
 while Daphnis grasped the other with both hands, and so 
 got out. 
 
 They then extricated the unhappy goat, who had both his 
 liorns broken by the fall, and thus suffered a just punish- 
 ment for his revenge towards his defeated fellow-combatant. 
 They gave him to the herdsman as a reward for his assist- 
 ance, and if the family at home inquired after him, were 
 prepared to say that "he had been destroyed by a wolf. 
 After this they returned to see whether their flocks were 
 safe, and finding both goats and sheep feeding quietly and 
 orderly, they sat down on the trunk of a tree and began to 
 examine whether Daphnis had received any wound. No 
 hurt or blood was to be seen, but his hair and all the rest of 
 his person were covered with mud and dirt. Daphnis 
 
 * tciwKt TOV Sl&KOVTCt. 
 
 f Tatvidv either a head-band or breast-band. 
 
A 
 
 DAPHNIS ANJ) CilLOE. 271 
 
 thought it would be best to wash himself, before Lamon and 
 Myrtale should find out what had happened to him; pro- 
 ceeding with Chloe to the Grotto of the Nymphs, he gave 
 her his tunic and scrip in charge.* 
 
 He then approached the fountain and washed his hair 
 and his whole person. His hair was long and black, and his 
 body sun-burnt ; one might have imagined that its hue was 
 derived from the overshadowing of his locks. Chloe thought 
 him beautiful, and because she had never done so before, 
 attributed his beauty to the effects of the bath. As she was 
 washing his back and shoulders his tender flesh yielded to 
 her hand, so that, unobserved, she frequently touched her 
 own skin, in order to ascertain which of the two was softer. 
 The sun was now setting, so they drove home their flocks, 
 the only wish in Chloe's mind being to see Daphnis bathe 
 again. The following day, upon returning to the accustomed 
 pasture, Daphnis sat as usual under an oak, playing upon 
 his pipe and surveying his goats lying down and apparently 
 listening to his strains. Chloe, on her part, sitting near him, 
 looked at her sheep, but more frequently turned her e} r es 
 upon Daphnis ; again he appeared to her beautiful as he was 
 playing upon his pipe, and she attributed his beauty to the 
 melody, so that taking the pipe she played upon it, in order, 
 if possible, to appear beautiful herself. She persuaded him 
 to bathe again, she looked at him when in the bath, and 
 while looking at him, touched his skin : after which, as she 
 returned home, she mentally admired him, and this admira- 
 tion was the beginning of love. She knew not the meaning 
 of her feelings, young as she was, and brought up in the 
 country, and never having heard from any one, so much as 
 the name of love. She felt an oppression at her heart, she 
 could not restrain her eyes from gazing upon him, nor her 
 mouth from often pronouncing his name. She took no food, 
 she lay awake at night, she neglected her flock, she laughed 
 and wept by turns; now she would doze, then suddenly start 
 up; at one moment her face became pale, in another moment 
 it burnt with blushes. Such irritation is not felt even by 
 
 * What now follows, as far as the soliloquy on Chloe's kiss, is a 
 translation of the fragment discovered by M. Courier, in the Laurentian 
 Library at Florence, in 1809, which supplies the hiatus deflendua 
 which till then interrupted the narrative. 
 
272 DAPHNIS ASD CHLOE. 
 
 the breeze-stung heifer.* Upon one occasion, when alone, 
 she thus reasoned with herself. "I am no doubt ill, but 
 what my malady is I know not ; I am in pain, and yet I 
 have no wound ; I feel grief, and yet I have lost none of my 
 flock ; I burn, and yet am sitting in the shade : how often 
 have brambles torn my skin, without my shedding a single 
 tear ! how often have the bees stung me, yet I could still 
 enjoy my meals ! Whatever it is which now wounds my 
 heart, must be sharper than either of these. Daphnis is 
 beautiful, so are the flowers ; his pipe breathes sweetly, so 
 does the nightingale ; yet I take no account either of birds 
 or flowers. Would that I could become a pipe, that he 
 might play upon me ! or a goat, that I might pasture under 
 his care ! O cruel fountain, thou madest Daphnis alone 
 beautiful; my bathing has been all in vain ! Dear Nymphs, 
 ye see me perishing, yet neither do ye endeavour to save 
 the maiden brought up among you! Who will crown you 
 with flowers when I am gone ? Who will take care of my 
 poor lambs ? Who will attend to my chirping locust, which 
 I caught with so much trouble, that its song might lull me 
 to rest in the grotto ; but now I am sleepless, because of 
 Daphnis, and my locust chirps in vain ! " 
 
 Such were the feelings, and such the words of Chloe, 
 while as yet ignorant of the name of love. But Dorco 
 the cowherd (the same who had drawn Daphnis and the 
 goat out of the pit), a young fellow who already boasted 
 of some beard upon his chin, and who knew not merely 
 the name but the realities of love, had become enamoured 
 of Chloe, from the first time of meeting her. Feeling 
 his passion increase day by day, and despising Daphnis, 
 whom he looked upon as a mere boy, he determined to 
 effect his purpose either by gifts or by dint of force. At 
 first he made presents to them both ; he gave Daphnis a 
 shepherd's pipe, having its nine reedst connected with metal 
 
 Otig, jfjr ?rp6 777^ eXavvofiai." 
 ^Esch. P. V. 681. See also Virg. G. iii. 145151. 
 * So, Theocritus " Zvpiyy' %w fvviatyuvov" Idyl. viii. 21. 
 The shepherd's pipe was in general composed of seven unequal reeda 
 compacted with wax, and consequently was only seven-toned. 
 " Est mihi disparibus septem compacta cicutis 
 Fistula." Virg. EC. ii. 36. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CELOE. 273 
 
 in lieu of wax. He presented Chloe with a fawn skin, spot- 
 ted all over, such as is worn by the Bacchantes. Having 
 thus insinuated himself into their friendship, he by degrees 
 neglected Daphnis, but every day brought something to 
 Chloe, either a delicate cheese, or a chaplet of flowers, or a 
 ripe apple. On one occasion he brought her a mountain 
 calf, a gilt drinking cup, and the nestlings* of a wild bird. 
 She, ignorant as she was of love's artifices, received his gifts 
 with pleasure ;f chiefly pleased, however, at having some- 
 thing to give Daphnis. One day it happened that Dorco 
 and he (for he likewise was destined to experience the pains 
 and penalties of love) had an argument on the subject of 
 their respective share of beauty. Chloe was to be umpire, 
 and the victor's reward was to be a kiss from her. Dorco, 
 thus began 
 
 " Maiden,' ' said he, " I am taller than Daphnis, I am also 
 a cowherd, he, a goatherd, I therefore excel him as far as 
 oxen are superior to goats ; I am fair as milk, and my hair 
 brown as the ripe harvest field ; moreover, I had a mother to 
 bring me up, not a goat. He, on the other hand is short, 
 beardless as a woman, and has a skin as tawny as a wolf ; 
 while ,from tending he-goats, he has contracted a goatisli 
 smell ; he is also so poor, that he cannot afford to keep even 
 a dog ; and if it be true that a nanny gave him suck, he is 
 no better J than a nanny's son." 
 
 Such was Dorco's speech ; it was next the turn of 
 Daphnis 
 
 "It is true," said he, "that a she-goat suckled me, and so 
 did a she-goat suckle Jove ; I tend he-goats and will bring 
 them into better condition than his oxen, but I smell of them 
 no more than Pan does, who has in him more of a goat than 
 any thing else. I am content with cheese, coarse bread, and 
 white wine, the food suitable for country folk. I am heard- 
 
 * " Parta mese Veneri sunt praemia ; namque notavi, 
 Ipse locum aerise quo congessere palumbes." 
 
 Yirg. EC. iii. 68, 
 
 " I have found out a gift for my fair^ 
 I have found where the wood-pigeons breed." 
 
 Shenstone. 
 
 f l\aipi %aipv. J ovdtv spityuv duupspei. 
 
 aproc o/feXiay, Bread baked or toasted on a spit. 
 
 T 
 
274 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 less, so is Bacchus ; I am dark complexioned, so is the 
 hyacinth ; yet Bacchus is preferred before the satyr and the 
 hyacinth* before the lily. Now look at him, he is as sandy 
 haired as a fox, bearded as a goat, and smock-faced as any 
 city wench. If you have to bestow a kiss, it will be given 
 to my mouth, whereas it will be thrown away upon his 
 bristles. E/emember also, maiden, that you owe your nurture 
 to a sheep, and yet this has not marred your beauty." 
 
 Chloe could restrain herself no longer, but partly from plea- 
 sure at his praising her, partly from a desire of kissing him, 
 she sprang forward and bestowed upon him the prize ; an 
 artless and unsophisticated kiss,f but one well calculated to 
 set his heart on fire. Upon this, Dorco, in great disgust, took 
 himself off, determined to seek some other way of wooing. 
 Daphnis, as though he had been stung instead of kissed, 
 became suddenly grave, felt a shivering all over, and could 
 not control the beating of his heart. He wished to gaze 
 upon Chloe, but at the first glance his face was suffused with 
 blushes. For the first time he admired her hair, because it 
 was auburn ; and her eyes, because they were largej and 
 brilliant ; her countenance, because it was fairer than even 
 the milk of his own she-goats. One might have supposed 
 that he had just received the faculty of sight, having had 
 till then, " no speculation " in his eyes. 
 
 Prom this moment, he took no food beyond the merest 
 
 * " Alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinia nigra leguntur." 
 
 Virg. EC. ii. 18. 
 
 ^ No doubt she took him by the tips of his ears. This mode of 
 salutation was called %^ r P a > ^ ne pot-kiss, (alluding to the double 
 handles of a pot.) In after times it took the name of the Florentine 
 kiss. " Warton quotes an old gentleman, who says, that when disposed 
 to kiss his wife with unusual tenderness, he always gave her the Floren- 
 tine kis. Chapman's Theocritus." 
 
 'OvK prt/i' 'A\Ki7r7TttC, on fit irpav OVK i$i\avtv 
 Twv &rn)v KaQtXola." Idyl. v. 135, 
 
 >iai;yae. Another reading is, KaOdirtp j3ooc, equivalent to the 
 /3ooj7rt of Homer. Sappho uses the same comparison. 
 
 " But love first learned in a lady's eyes, 
 Lives not alone immured in the brain. 
 ***** 
 
 It adds a precious seeing to the eye" Shaks. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 275 
 
 morsel, no drink beyond what would just moisten his lips. 
 Formerly more chattering than the locusts, he became mute ; 
 he was now dull and listless, whereas he had been more 
 nimble than the goats. His flock was neglected, his pipe 
 was thrown aside ; his face became paler than the summer- 
 parched herbage. Chloe alone could rouse his powers of 
 speech ; whenever he was absent from her, he would thus 
 fondly soliloquize : 
 
 " What will be the result of this kiss of Chloe ? her 
 lips are softer than rose-buds, and her mouth is sweeter 
 than the honeycomb, but this kiss has left a sting sharper 
 than the sting of a bee ! I have frequently kissed the kids, 
 and the young puppies, and the calf which Dorco gave 
 me, but this kiss of Chloe is something quite new and 
 wonderful ! My breath is gone, my heart pants, my spirit 
 sinks within me and dies away; and yet I wish to kiss 
 again !* My victory has been the source of sorrow and of 
 a new disease, which I know not how to name. Could 
 Chloe have tasted poison before she permitted me to kiss 
 her ? If so, how is it that she survives ? How sweetly the 
 nightingales sing, while my pipe is mute ! How gaily the 
 kids skip and play, while I sit listlessly by ! The flowers 
 are in full beauty, yet I weave no garlands ! The violets 
 and the hyacinths are blooming, while Daphnis droops and 
 fades away. Alas ! shall Dorco ever appear more beautiful 
 in Chloe' s eyes, than I do ! " 
 
 Such were the sensations of the worthy Daphnis, and 
 thus he vented his feelings. He now first felt the power, 
 and now first uttered the language of LOVE. 
 
 In the mean time Dorco, the cowherd, who entertained a 
 passion for Chloe, watched an opportunity of addressing 
 Dry as on the subject ; and finding him one day employed 
 in planting a tree near one of his vines, he approached 
 
 * " AXXo: KafJifiiv yXwoV lay', dv Si XSTTTQV 
 AvriKa xpw Trip i>7 
 ' ' 
 
 ffiv d' ctKoai fiOL ' 
 
 Kad' d' iSp&Q ^uxpo ^flrai rpdjuoe dh 
 Haaav aipa xpwportpq e Troiag 
 'E/i/u * TiQvavai d' 6\iyov Skoiaa 
 
 4>atVo/jai airvovg" Sappho, 
 
 T2 
 
276 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 carrying with him some fine cheeses.* First of all he 
 begged Dryas to accept of the cheeses as a present from an 
 old acquaintance and fellow herdsman ; and then informed 
 him of the affection which he cherished towards his daughter 
 Chloe. He promised that, if he should be so happy as 
 to obtain her for his wife, he was prepared to offer him 
 gifts, many and handsome, as a cowherd could bestow, a 
 yoke of oxen fit for the plough, four hives of bees, fifty 
 young apple trees for planting, the hide of an ox, suitable 
 for shoe leather, and a weaned calf annually. 
 
 Dryas was almost tempted by these promises to give his 
 assent to the marriage ; but on the other hand, reflecting 
 that the maiden was deserving of a better match, and fearing 
 least if ever discovered, he might get himself into great 
 trouble, he refused his assent, at the same time intreating 
 Dorco not to be affronted, and declining to accept the gifts 
 which he had enumerated. 
 
 Dorco being thus a second time disappointed of his hope, 
 and having given his cheese away to no purpose, conceived 
 a plan of attacking Chloe by force, whenever he should find 
 her alone ; and having observed that she and Daphnis, on 
 alternate days, conducted the herds to drink, he contrived 
 a scheme, worthy of a neatherd's brain. A large wolf had 
 been killed by his bull, who fought in defence of the herd ; 
 Dorco t threw this wolf's skin over him, so that it com- 
 pletely covered his back, reaching to the ground, and he 
 adjusted it in such a manner, that the skins of the fore 
 feet were fitted over his hands, while those of the hind feet 
 spread down his legs to the very heels. The head, with its 
 gaping jaws, encased him as completely as a soldier's helmet. 
 
 Having thus " be-wolfed " himself as much as possible, he 
 withdrew to the spring, where the sheep and goats usually 
 drank as they returned from pasture. The spring was in 
 
 * The reading in Courier's edition, \LITCL rvpiencwv TIV&V yevixwv, 
 has been here followed, instead of the common one, which yields no 
 very clear sense (rvpiyytuv TLVWV ya/ii/euiv. 
 
 j* "Eertraro d' tKToa9e' pivbv TroXiOTo \VKOLC 
 
 Kpari d 1 ITTI KTidsrjv KVV&TJV." Iliad, x. 334. 
 
 From the example of Dorco, this became a favourite stratagem 
 among pastoral characters. In the Pastor Fido (act iv. sc. 2) Dorinda 
 disguises herself as a wolf, and the troubadour Vidal was hunted 
 down in consequence of a similar experiment. Dunlop. 
 
DAPKNIS AND CHLOE. 277 
 
 a hollow, and around it the furze, brambles, junipers, and 
 thistles were so thick, that a real wolf might easily choose 
 it as a lair. Here Dorco concealed himself, and anxiously 
 waited for the time when the flocks should come to drink, 
 and when Chloe, as he hoped, would be so startled and 
 terrified by his appearance that he might easily seize her. 
 
 He had not remained long, when Chloe conducted the 
 flock to the spring, leaving Daphnis employed in cutting 
 green leaves as fodder for the kids in the evening. The 
 dogs (the guardians of the sheep and goats) accompanied 
 Chloe, and scenting * about with their usual sagacity, dis- 
 covered Dorco, who was in the act of moving. Taking him 
 for a wolf they burst into full cry, rushed upon him, and 
 seizing him before he could recover from his astonishment, 
 fixed their teeth in the skin. This covering for a time 
 protected him, and the shame of a discovery operated so 
 strongly that he lay quiet in the thicket ; but when Chloe, 
 in her alarm at the first onset of the dogs, had called 
 Daphnis to her aid, and when the skin was torn off by his 
 assailants, so that they at length seized his flesh, he bawled 
 out, entreating the assistance of the maiden and of Daphnis, 
 who had now arrived at the spot. The dogs were easily ap- 
 peased by the well-known voices of their master and mis- 
 tress, who took Dorco and conveyed him to the spring 
 (soundly bitten in the thighs and shoulders), where they 
 washed his wounds, and chewing some fresh elm bark spread 
 it as a salve. Innocent themselves, and totally ignorant 
 of the desperate enterprizes of lovers, they imagined that 
 Dorco' s disguise was a mere piece of rustic sport, and, so 
 far from being angry with him, they did their best to 
 comfort him, led him by the hand, part of the way home 
 and bade him farewell. 
 
 Dorco, after his narrow escape from the dog's, and not 
 (according to the old adage) from the wolfs mouth, retired 
 home to nurse his wounds. Daphnis and Chloe had great 
 trouble during the remainder of the day in collecting their 
 sheep and goats, which, terrified at the sight of the wolf, 
 and by the barking of the dogs, had fled in different 
 directions : some had climbed the rocks, others had run 
 down to the shore. They had, indeed, been instructed 
 * " odora canum vis/' Virg. -<En. iv. 132. 
 
278 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE, 
 
 to obey their master's call; in any alarm the pipe was 
 usually sufficient to soothe them, and if they were scat- 
 tered, a clapping of the hands would collect them ; but 
 the late sudden alarm had made them forget their former 
 discipline, so that Daphnis and Chloe were compelled to 
 track them, as they do hares ; and with much difficulty and 
 trouble they brought them back to their cottages. That night 
 only the young man and maiden enjoyed sound sleep, their 
 fatigue furnishing a remedy for the pains of love. But 
 with the morning their usual sensations returned. "When 
 they met, they rejoiced ; when they parted, they were 
 sad. They pined with grief. They wished for a something, 
 but they knew not what. This only they were aware of, 
 that the one had lost peace of mind by a kiss, the other by 
 a bath. 
 
 The season,* moreover, added fuel to their fire ; it was now 
 the end of spring ; the summer had begun, and all things 
 were in the height of their beauty. The trees were covered 
 with fruit ; the fields with corn. Charming was the chir{> 
 of the grasshoppers ; sweet was the smell of the fruit; and 
 the bleating of the flocks was delightful. You might fancy 
 the rivers t to be singing, as they gently flowed along, the 
 winds to be piping, as they breathed J through the pines ; 
 and the apples to be falling to the ground, sick of love ; 
 and that the sun, fond of gazing upon natural beauty, was 
 forcing every one to throw off their garments. Daphnis 
 
 * " Flush'd by the spirit of the genial year, 
 
 Now from the virgin's cheeks, a fresher bloom 
 Shoots, less and less, the live carnation round ; 
 Her lipa blush deeper sweets ; she breathes of youth ; 
 The shining moisture swells into her eyes 
 In brighter flow ; her wishing bosom heaves 
 With palpitation wild ; kind tumults seize 
 Her veins, and all her yielding soul is love. 
 From the keen gaze her lover turns away 
 Full of the dear ecstatic power, and sick 
 With sighing languishment." Thomson. 
 + " A noise like that of a hidden brook 
 In the leafy month of June, 
 
 That to the sleeping woods all night 
 Singeth a quiet tune." Coleridge. 
 J <e A.$v TL TO ^lOvpwua Kcti a TTITVQ aiVoXe, rfjva, 
 
 "A Trori Tcii^ 7rayaZ<7i /uXiaforai." Theoc. Idyll, i 1. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 279 
 
 felt all the warmth of the season, and plunged into the 
 rivers ; sometimes he only bathed himself; sometimes he 
 amused himself with pursuing the fish, which darted in 
 circles around him ; and sometimes he drank of the stream, 
 as if to extinguish the flame which he felt within. Chloe, 
 when she had milked the goats and the sheep, had great 
 difficulty in setting her cream, for the flies were very 
 troublesome, and if driven away, they would bite her ; 
 after her work was done, she washed her face, crowned 
 herself with a garland of pine-leaves, put on her girdle of 
 fawn-skin, and filled a pail with wine and milk as a beverage 
 for herself and Daphnis. As mid-day heat came on, the 
 eyes of both were fascinated; she, beholding the naked 
 and faultless figure of Daphnis, was ready to melt with 
 love ; Daphnis, on the other hand, beholding Chloe in her 
 fawn-skin girdle and with the garland of pine-leaves on 
 her head, holding out the milk-pail to him, fancied he beheld 
 one of the Nymphs of the Grot, and taking the garland 
 from her head, he placed it on his own, first covering it 
 with kisses; while she, after often kissing it, put on his 
 dress, which he had stripped off in order to bathe. Some- 
 times they began in sport to pelt * each other with apples, 
 and amused themselves with adorning each other's hair, 
 carefully dividing it. She compared the black hair of 
 Daphnis to myrtle-berries ; while he likened her cheeks to 
 apples,t because the white was suffused with red. He then 
 taught her to play on the pipe ; when she began to breathe 
 into it, he snatched it from her, ran over the reeds with his 
 own lips, and under pretence of correcting her mistakes, 
 he in fact kissed her through the medium of his pipe. 
 
 While he was thus playing in the heat of the noon-day, 
 
 * A favourite amusement with lovers :- 
 
 " Malo me Galatea petit, lasciva puella." Virg. EC. iii. 64. 
 t( BaXXet icai /mXoitri TOV aiiroKov a KXeapiora." 
 
 Theoc. Idyl, v. 36. 
 
 f " Her cheeks so rare a white was on, 
 No daisy makes comparison, 
 
 (Who sees them is undone) ; 
 For streaks of red are mingled there, 
 uch as are on a Cath'rine pear, 
 
 (The side that's next the sun)." Suckling. 
 
280 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 and their flocks around them were reposing in the shade, 
 Chloe imperceptibly fell asleep. Daphnis laid down his 
 pipe, and while gazing upon her whole person with insa- 
 tiable eyes, there being no one to inspire him with shame ; 
 he thus murmured, directing his words to her : " What 
 eyes are those, which are now closed in sleep ! what a 
 mouth is that, which breathes so sweetly! no apples, no 
 thickets, exhale so delicious a scent ! Ah ! but I fear to kiss 
 her ! a kiss consumes me, and like new honey,* maddens 
 me ! besides, a kiss would wake her ! A plague upon those 
 chirping grasshoppers, their shrill notes will disturb my 
 Chloe ! those vexatious goats, too, are clashing their horns 
 together ; surely the wolves are grown more cowardly than 
 foxes, that they do not come and seize them !" 
 
 As he was thus soliloquizing, he was interrupted by a 
 grasshopper, which in springing from a swallow which pur- 
 sued it, fell into Chloe' s bosom. The swallow was unable 
 to take its prey, but hovered over Chloe' s cheek and touched 
 it with its wings. The maiden screamed and started ; but 
 seeing the swallow still fluttering near her, and Daphnis 
 laughing at her alarm, her fear vanished, and she rubbed 
 her eyes, which were still disposed to sleep. The grass- 
 hopper chirped from her bosom, as if in gratitude for his 
 deliverance. At the sound Chloe screamed again ; at which 
 Daphnis laughed, and availing himself of the opportunity, 
 put his hand into her bosom and drew the happy chirper 
 from its place, which did not cease its note even when in his 
 hand; Chloe was pleased at seeing the innocent cause of 
 her alarm, kissed it, and replaced it, still singing, in her 
 bosom. 
 
 At this moment they were delighted with listening to a 
 ring-dove in the neighbouring wood, and upon Chloe' s 
 inquiring what the bird meant by its note, Daphnis told her 
 the legend, which was commonly current : " There was a 
 maiden, my love, who, like yourself, was beautiful; like 
 yourself, she tended large herds of cattle ; and, like yourself, 
 she was in the flower of youth. She sang sweetly; so 
 
 * Xenophon (Anab. iv. 8,20), gives an account of the Greeks in their 
 retreat eating new honey ; they were for a time, be says, frantic, were 
 seized with vomiting and purging, and were unable to stand upon 
 their feet ; some died from its effects. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 281 
 
 sweetly, that the herds were delighted with her song, and 
 needed neither the crook nor the goad to manage them ; 
 they obeyed her voice ; and remaining near listened to the 
 maid, as she sat under the shade of the pine crowned with 
 a garland of its leaves, and singing the praises of Pan,* 
 and the nymph Pitys. A youth, who pastured his herds at 
 a little distance, and who was handsome, and fond as herself 
 of melody, vied with her in singing; as he was a man, his 
 tones were deeper, but as he was young, they were very 
 sweet. He sang, and charmed away eight of her best cows 
 to his own pastures. The maiden was mortified at the loss 
 of her cattle, and at being so much surpassed in song ; and, 
 in her despair, prayed the gods to convert her into a bird 
 before she reached her home. The gods assented to her 
 prayer, and metamorphosed her into a bird; under which 
 form, as of old, she frequents the mountains, and delights in 
 warbling. Her note bespeaks her misfortune, for she is 
 calling her wandering cows." 
 
 Such were the delights of summer. Autumn was now 
 advanced, and the black grapes were ripening ; when some 
 pirates of Tyre, in a light Carian bark,t that they might 
 not appear to be foreigners, touched at that coast and came 
 on shore, armed with coats of mail and swords, and plun- 
 dered everything which fell in their way. They carried off 
 fragrant wine,J corn in great plenty, honey in the comb. 
 They also drove off some of Dorco's oxen, and seized 
 Daphnis, who was musing in a melancholy mood, and ram- 
 bling alone by the sea-shore. For Chloe being but young, 
 was afraid of the insults of some of the saucy shepherds, and 
 therefore had not led out her flock so early from the fold 
 of Dryas. "When the pirates saw this stout and handsome 
 youth, who, they knew, would be a prize of greater value 
 
 * " Pan 
 
 Pinea semiferi capitis velamina quassans." Lucret. iv. 589. 
 Pan fell in love with the nymph Pitys; his rival Boreas blew the 
 nymph from a rock and killed her. Pan, unable to save, changed her 
 'into a pine tree TT'LTVQ. 
 
 f rijjiioXia, a light vessel with one and a half banks of oars. 
 
 olvoq avQoGniag, either fine old wine, or wine scented with th 
 juices of flowers. See a note of Cookesley on Arist. Plut. 788 ; also 
 a passage in Xen. Hell. vi. 11. 6. 
 
282 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 than the plunder of the fields, they took no more trouble 
 about the goats, not did they proceed farther, but carried 
 off the unlucky Daphnis to their vessel, weeping as he was 
 hurried along, at a loss what to do, and calling loudly upon 
 Chloe. When they had put him on board, they slipped 
 their cable, and rowed from the shore. Chloe, in the mean 
 time, who was still driving her flock, and carrying in her 
 hand a new pipe as a present for Daphnis, when she saw 
 the goats running about in confusion, and heard Daphnis 
 calling out to her every moment in a louder voice, quitted 
 her sheep, threw down the pipe, and ran to Dorco beseech- 
 ing him to assist her. He had been severely wounded by 
 the pirates, and was lying upon the ground still breathing, 
 the blood flowing from him in streams. At the sight of 
 Chloe, reviving a little owing to the force of his former love, 
 he exclaimed, I shall shortly be no more, dear Chloe; I 
 fought in defence of my oxen, and some of the rascally 
 pirates have beaten me as they would have done an ox. 
 Save your beloved Daphnis, revenge me, and destroy them. 
 I have taught my cows to follow the sound of this pipe, and 
 to obey its melody, even if they be feeding at the greatest 
 distance. Take this pipe ; breathe in it those notes, in 
 which I once instructed Daphnis, and in which Daphnis 
 instructed you. Do this, and leave the issue to the pipe and 
 the cows. Moreover I make you a present of the pipe ; 
 with it I have obtained the prize from many a shepherd and 
 many a herdsman. In return give me but one kiss, while I 
 yet live ; and when I am dead, shed a tear over me : and 
 when you see another tending my flocks, remember Dorco. 
 
 Here he ceased, gave her a last kiss, and with the kiss 
 resigned his breath. Chloe put the pipe to her lips, and 
 blew with all her might. The cows began to low at hearing 
 the well-known note, and leaped all at once into the sea. 
 As they all plunged from the same side, and caused 
 a mighty chasm in the waters the vessel lurched, the 
 waves closed over it, and it sank. The crew and Daphnis 
 fell into the sea, but they had not equal chances for preser- 
 vation. The pirates were encumbered with their swords, 
 scaled breast-plates, and greaves reaching to mid-leg : 
 whereas Daphnis, who had been feeding his flocks in the 
 plains, had not even his sandals on ; and the weather being 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 283 
 
 still very warm, he was half-naked. AL swam for a little 
 time, but their armour soon sunk the foreigners to the 
 bottom. Daphnis easily threw off the garments which 
 remained to encumber him, but, accustomed to swim only 
 in rivers, buoyed himself up with great difficulty : at length, 
 taught by necessity, he struck forward between two of the 
 cows, grasped a horn of each of them, and was carried along 
 as securely and as easily, as if he had been riding in his 
 own wain. Oxen, be it observed, are better swimmers than 
 men, or indeed than any animals, except aquatic birds and 
 fish, nor are they in any danger of drowning unless their 
 hoofs become softened by the water. The fact of many 
 places being still called Ox-fords* will bear out the truth 
 of my assertion. 
 
 Thus was Daphnis delivered from two perils from the 
 pirates and from shipwreck, and in a manner beyond all 
 expectation. When he reached the shore, he found Chloe 
 smiling through her tears : he fell on her bosom, and in- 
 quired, what had led her to play that particular tune. She 
 related everything which had occurred her running to 
 Dorco the habit of his cows HIS ordering her to pipe that 
 tune, and finally his death, but through a feeling of shame 
 she said nothing of the kiss. 
 
 They now determined to pay the last honours to their 
 benefactor ; accordingly they came with the neighbours and 
 relatives of the deceased, and buried him. They then threw 
 up over his grave a large pile of earth, and planted about it 
 various trees, and suspended over itf the emblems of their 
 calling ; in addition to which they poured libations of milk 
 and of juice expressed from the grapes, and broke many 
 pastoral pipes. Mournful lowings of the cattle were heard, 
 accompanied with unwonted and disorderly movements, 
 which the shepherds believed to be lamentations and 
 
 * ID the P. V. of ^Eschylus, 1. 732, Prometheus tells lo ; 
 *EGTCII dt Qvi}ToiQ acraa 
 
 The true etymology however is to be found in the signification of /3out 
 and 'IITTTOQ which in composition means size. 
 
 t See ch. 2. 
 
284 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 tokens of sorrow on the part of the herd for their departed 
 herdsman.* 
 
 After the funeral of Dorco, Chloe led Daphnis to the 
 grotto of the Nymphs, where she washed him ; and then, for 
 the first time in his presence, bathed her own person, fair 
 and radiant with beauty, and needing no bath to set off its 
 comeliness. Then, after gathering the flowers which the 
 season afforded, they crowned the statues with garlands, 
 and suspended Dorco' s pipe as a votive offering to the 
 Nymphs. Having done this they returned to look for their 
 flocks, which they found lying on the ground neither feeding 
 nor bleating, but looking about, as if waiting in suspense 
 for their re-appearance. When they came in view of them, 
 and called to them in their usual manner, and sounded their 
 pipes, the sheep got up, and began to feed, while the goats 
 skipped about, and bleated as if exulting at the safety of 
 their herdsman.* But Daphnis could not attune his soul 
 to joy; after seeing Chloe naked, and her formerly con- 
 cealed beauties unveiled, he felt an inward pain as though 
 preyed upon by poison. His breath went and came as 
 though he were flying from some pursuer ; and then it failed, 
 as though he were exhausted with running. Chloe had come 
 from the bath with redoubled charms, and the bath was 
 thus more fatal to Daphnis than the ocean. As for him- 
 self, he attributed his feelings to being, in fancy, still 
 among the thieves,t rustic as he was, and as yet ignorant of 
 the thievish tricks of love. 
 
 * Qprjvog T&V flo&v STTI /3ovfc6X<^. 
 
 Theocritus in Idyll, i. 74, represents the herds as mourning their 
 master's death 
 
 " IIoXXcu 01 Trap Troaai /36t, TroXXoi d& re raf'/oot, 
 IloXXai d' av capaXai KCLI iropntQ atdvpavro " 
 
 f 1 TTapd TOLQ \r)GTal .... TO tpWTOQ XtyOT 
 
BOOK II. 
 
 IT was now the middle of autumn: the vintage* was 
 at hand, and every one was busy in the fields. Onef pre- 
 pared the wine-presses, another cleansed the casks, and 
 another twisted the osiers into baskets. Each had a sepa- 
 rate employ in providing short pruning hooks, to cut the 
 grapes ; or a heavy stone, to pound them ; or dry vine 
 branches, previously well bruised, to serve as torches, so 
 that the must might be carried away at night. 
 
 Daphnis and Chloe neglected for a time their flocks and 
 mutually assisted one another. He carried the clusters in 
 baskets, threw them into the wine-presses, trod them, and 
 drew off the wine into casks ; she prepared their meals for 
 the grape-gatherers, brought old wine for their drink, and 
 plucked off the lowest bunches. Indeed, all the vines in 
 Lesbos were of lowly growth, and instead of shooting up- 
 wards, or twining around trees, they spread their branches 
 
 * " Hie innocentis pocula Lesbii 
 
 Duces sub umbr ; nee Semele'ius 
 Cum Marte confuiidet Thyoneus 
 Proelia." Hor. 1. Od. xvii. 21. 
 
 "The Lesbian wine would seem to have possessed a delicious 
 flavour ; for it is said to have deserved the name of Ambrosia rather 
 than of wine, and to have been like nectar when old. In Athenaeus 
 this wine is called oivapiov, vinulum, "the little wine," to which 
 Bacchus gave ars\e iav, an innocence and immunity from drunkenness. 
 Horace terms the Lesbian an innocent or unintoxicating wine ; but it 
 was the prevailing opinion among the ancients, that all sweet wines 
 were less injurious to the head, and less apt to cause intoxication, than 
 strong dry wines. By Pliny, however, the growths of Chios and 
 Thasos are placed before the Lesbian, which he affirms had naturally a 
 saltish taste." Henderson's Hist, of Ancient and Modern Wines, p. 77. 
 
 f When the grapes were ripe, (aratyvXr]) the bunches were gathered, 
 any which remained unripe (o/*0a) were carefully removed, and the 
 rest carried from the vineyard in deep baskets (applet) to be poured 
 into a vat (\ijvoc;) in which they were trodden by men, who had the 
 lower part of their bodies naked, except that they wore drawers. 
 When sufficiently trodden, the grapes were subjected to the more 
 powerful pressure of a thick and heavy beam (for which \i0og, in 
 Longus, seems the substitute), for the purpose of obtaining all the 
 juice yet remaining in them. Vine branches were very frequently 
 employed as torches. Vide Scholiast on Aristoph. Lys. 291. 
 
286 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 downwards, which trailed along, like ivy, so close to the 
 ground, that even an infant might reach the fruit. 
 
 The women, who, according to the custom at this festival 
 of Bacchus, and birth of the vine, were called from the 
 neighbouring villages to lend their assistance, all cast their 
 eyes upon Daphnis, and exclaimed that he was equal in 
 beauty to Bacchus himself. One of the most forward of 
 these wenches gave him a kiss, which inflamed Daphnis, but 
 sadly grieved poor Chloe. 
 
 On the other hand, the men who were treading the wine- 
 press indulged in all manner of jests about Cbloe, they 
 danced round her as furiously as so many Bacchanals round 
 a Bacchante, and exclaimed that they would gladly become 
 sheep to be fed by her hand. These compliments delighted 
 Chloe, but tormented poor Daphnis. 
 
 Each of them wished the vintage over, that they might 
 return to their usual haunts, and instead of this discordant 
 din might hear the sound of their pipe, and the bleating of 
 their sheep. In a few days the vines were stript, the 
 casks were filled, there was no longer any need of more 
 hands, they therefore drove their flocks to the plain. In 
 the first place, with sincere delight they went to pay their 
 adoration to the Nymphs, and carried vine-branches with 
 clusters of grapes on them, as first-fruit offerings from the 
 vintage. Indeed, they never had hitherto passed by the 
 Grotto without some token of respect, but always saluted 
 them as they passed by with their flocks to their morning 
 pasture, and when they returned in the evening, they paid 
 their adoration, and presented, as an offering, either a 
 flower, or some fruit, or a green leaf, or a libation of milk. 
 This piety, as we shall see, had in the end its due reward. 
 At the time we speak of, like young hounds just let loose, 
 they leaped about, they piped, they sang, and wrestled and 
 played with their goats and sheep. 
 
 While thus sporting and enjoying themselves, an old man, 
 clothed in a coarse coat of skin, with shoes of undressed 
 leather on his feet, and with a wallet (which, by the by, was 
 a very old one) at his back., came up, seated himself near 
 them, and addressed them as follows : 
 
 " I who now address you, my children, am PHILETAS. 
 I have often sung the praises of the Nymphs of yonder 
 
DAPHKIS AND CHLOE. 287 
 
 Grotto I have often piped in honour of Pan, and have 
 guided my numerous herd by the music of my voice. I 
 come to acquaint you with what I have seen and beard. 
 I have a garden* which I cultivate with my own hands, 
 and in which I have always worked, since I became too 
 old to tend my herds. In it is every production of the 
 different seasons ; in spring it abounds with roses, lilies, 
 hyacinths, and either kind of violets; in summer with 
 poppies, pears, and apples of every sort ; and now in autumn, 
 with grapes, figs, pomegranates, and green myrtles. A. 
 variety of birds fly into it every morning, some in search 
 of food, and some to warble in the shade ; for the over- 
 arching boughs aiford thick shade, and three fountains 
 water the cool retreat. Were it not inclosed with a wall, 
 it might be taken for a natural wood. As I entered it to- 
 day, about noon, I espied a little boy under my pomegra- 
 nates and myrtles, some of which he had gathered ; and was 
 holding them in his hands. His complexion was white as 
 milk, his hair a bright yellow, and he shone as if he had just 
 been bathing. He was naked and alone, and amused him- 
 self with plucking the fruit with as much freedom as if it 
 had been his own garden. Apprehensive that in his 
 wantonness he would commit more mischief and break my 
 plants, I sprang forward to seize him, but the urchin lightly 
 and easily escaped from me, sometimes running under rose- 
 trees, and sometimes hiding himself like a young partridge 
 under the poppies. 
 
 " I have frequently been fatigued with catching my suck- 
 ing kids, or my new-dropt calves ; but as to this mischievous 
 creature, in perpetual motion, it was utterly impossible to 
 lay hold of him. Old as I am I was soon weary with the 
 pursuit ; so, leaning on my staff for support, and keeping 
 my eyes on him lest he should escape, I asked him to 
 what neighbour he belonged, and what he meant by gather- 
 ing what grew in another person's garden. 
 
 " He made no reply, but approaching very near me, smiled 
 sweetly in my face, and pelted me with myrtle-berries, 
 and (I know not how) so won upon me, that my anger was 
 
 * Compare the description of the garden in Achilles Tatius, 1. 15, 
 and that of Virgil's " senex Cory cms." G. iv, 125146. 
 
288 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 appeased. I intreated him to come close to me, and 
 assured him that he need not be afraid, swearing by the 
 myrtles, by the apples, and by the pomegranates of my 
 garden, that I wished only to give him one kiss, for which 
 he should ever afterwards have liberty to gather as much 
 fruit, and to pluck as many flowers as he pleased. 
 
 " TJpon hearing me thus address him, he burst into a 
 merry laugh, and with a voice sweeter than that of the 
 swallow or the nightingale, or of the swan when grown 
 aged like myself, he replied: 'I grudge you not a kiss, 
 Philetas, for I have more pleasure in being kissed, than 
 you would have in growing young again ; but consider 
 whether the gift would suit your time of life ; for, old as you 
 are, one kiss would not satisfy you, nor prevent you from 
 running after me, while if even a hawk, an eagle, or any 
 other swifter bird, were to pursue me, it would pursue in 
 vain. I am not the child which I appear to be ; but I am 
 older than SATUBN, ay, older than TIME himself. I knew 
 you well, Philetas, when you were in the flower of your 
 youth, and when you tended your widely-scattered flock in 
 yonder marsh. I was near you, when you sat beneath those 
 beech-trees, and were wooing your Amaryllis : I was close 
 to the maiden, but you could not discern me. I gave her 
 to you, and some fine boys, who are now excellent husband- 
 men and herdsmen, are the pledges of your love. At this 
 present time I am tending Daphnis and Chloe like a shep- 
 herd; and when I have brought them together in the 
 morning, I retire to your garden : here I disport myself 
 among your flowers and plants, and here I bathe in your 
 fountain. Through me it is that your flowers and shrubs 
 are so beauteous, for the waters, which have bathed me, 
 refresh them. Look now, if any of your plants be broken 
 down! see, if any of your fruit be plucked! examine 
 whether the stalk of any flower be crushed or the clearness 
 of any one of your fountains be disturbed ! and rejoice 
 that you alone, in your old age, have had the privilege of 
 beholding the boy who is now before you.' With these 
 words he sprang like the youngling of a nightingale among 
 the myrtles, and climbing from bough to bough ascended 
 through the foliage to the summit of the tree. I observed 
 wings upon his shoulders, and between them a tiny bo\v 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 289 
 
 and arrows ; but in a moment I could neither see him nor 
 them. Unless I have grown grey in vain, unless I have 
 got into my dotage in growing old, you may rely on me, 
 when. I assure you, that you are consecrate to LOYE, and 
 that you are under his peculiar care." 
 
 Daphnis and Choe were delighted, but they regarded what 
 they had heard as an amusing story rather than a sober 
 fact ; and inquired of Philetas who and what this LOVE could 
 be ? whether he were a boy or a bird ? and of what powers 
 he was possessed ? " My young friends," said Philetas, 
 " he is a god, young, beautiful, and ever on the wing. He 
 rejoices, therefore, in the company of youth, he is ever in 
 search of beauty, and adds wings to the souls of those he 
 favours.* He has power far beyond that of Jove himself. 
 He commands the elements, he rules the stars, and even 
 the gods themselves, who are otherwise his equals ; f your 
 power over your flocks is nothing compared to his. All 
 these flowers are the works of love : these plants are effects 
 produced by him. Through him these rivers flow, and these 
 zephyrs breathe. I have seen a bull smitten by his power, 
 who bellowed as though breeze-stung. J I have seen the goat 
 enamoured of the female, and following her everywhere. 
 1 myself was once young, I felt his influence, I loved Ama- 
 rillis. I thought not of my food, I cared not for my drink ; 
 I could take no rest, for sleep was banished from my eye- 
 lids. My soul was sad my heart beat quick my limbs 
 felt a deadly chill. JSTow I cried aloud, as if I had been 
 beaten ; now I was as silent as if I were dead ; and now 
 
 * Love's heralds should be thoughts, 
 
 Which ten times faster glide than the sun-beams. 
 
 ' Romeo and Juliet. 
 f 1 Olov apx" /3p0o ovpavov Kal yiJ, Kai BaXdmiQ. 
 
 Achilles Tatius. 
 
 " At his sight the sun hath turned ; 
 Neptune on the waters burned ; 
 Hell hath felt a greater heat ; 
 Jove himself forsook his seat : 
 From the centre to the sky 
 Are his trophies reared high." 
 
 Ben Jonson, Hue and Cry after Cupid. 
 See also the fine chorus in the Antigone, 781 790. 
 
 The power of love over the brute creation. Virg. G. iii. 241 257. 
 
 U 
 
290 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 I plunged into the rivers, as if to extinguish the flame 
 which consumed me. I invoked Pan to assist me, inasmuch 
 as he had known what it was to love his Pitys. I poured 
 forth praises to the Nymph Echo for repeating the- name 
 of my Amaryllis : in anger I broke my pipe because it could 
 soothe my herds, but could not prevail over Amaryllis ; for 
 there is no mighty magic against love ; no medicine, whether 
 in food or drink: nothing, in short, save kisses* and em- 
 braces, and the closest union of the naked body." 
 
 Philetas, having given them this information, bade them 
 farewell; but before permitting him to depart, they presented 
 him with a cheese, and a kid with newly budding horns. 
 
 Daphnis and Chloe, left to themselves, mused in silence 
 upon the name of Love, which they had now heard for 
 the first time. Sorrow seemed to have stupified them, till 
 at night, as they returned home, they began to compare 
 their own sensations with what they had heard from 
 Philetas. 
 
 4 According to Philetas, lovers are sad so are we ; they 
 neglect their calling so do we ; they cannot sleep no 
 more can we. A fire appears to burn within them 
 we feel this fire; they long for the sight of one another 
 we, too, are always wishing for the day to dawn. Our 
 disorder must be love, and we have loved each other with- 
 out being aware of it. If this be not love, and if we 
 be not mutually lovers, why are we thus sad? why do we 
 so eagerly seek each other ? All that Philetas has told us 
 is true. The boy, whom he saw in the garden, is the same 
 who appeared to our parents in the dream, and commanded 
 that we should follow the pastoral life. How is it possible 
 to catch the urchin ? He is little and will escape from us. 
 At the same time, who can escape from him ? He has 
 wings, and will pursue us. "We must away to the Nymphs 
 and implore their assistance. And yet Pan could not assist 
 Philetas when in love with Amaryllis. We must seek the 
 remedies which the old man suggested kisses and em- 
 braces, and lying naked upon the grass ; we shall feel it 
 very cold, but we will bear what Philetas has borne before 
 us.,' Thus were their thoughts employed during the night. 
 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 291 
 
 The next morning, after driving their flocks to pasture, 
 they for the first time kissed each other upon meeting, and 
 afterwards mutually embraced. 
 
 The third remedy they were afraid of; the lying naked 
 upon the grass appeared too bold a step for a maiden, nay, 
 even for a youthful goatherd. Again, therefore, they passed 
 a sleepless night, calling to mind what they had done, 
 regretting what they had omitted. " We kissed," said 
 .they, " and are none the better; we embraced, and have 
 found no relief. This lying side by side must needs be the 
 sole remedy for love: assuredly it will prove more effica- 
 cious than the kiss and the embrace." As might have been 
 expected, their dreams were akin to their daily thoughts. 
 In sleep they kissed and they embraced ; in sleep they did 
 that which they had omitted to do during the day. Next 
 morning they arose more than ever inflamed with passion, 
 and hissed* along their flocks, all the while in anticipation of 
 the kiss. They came in sight of one another, their faces 
 mutually beaming with delight. Again there was repeated 
 the kiss and the embrace ; the remaining remedy was still 
 untried, Daphnis being unwilling to propose it, and Chloe 
 feeling the like hesitation. Chance came to their aid. They 
 were sitting beside each other upon the trunk of a tree : 
 having once tasted the luxury of a kiss, they were insatiable 
 of its delight; they entwined one another in their arms, 
 and so drew their bodies into closer contact. Daphnis, in 
 the course of this embrace, straining Chloe more tightly 
 to his bosom, she falls upon her side, and he falls with 
 her, and thus acting* out the image of their dreams, they 
 long lay locked in each other's arms. Their innocence 
 knew nothing beyond this; they imagined that love had 
 nothing farther to bestow ; so after fruitlessly passing the 
 greater portion of the day in this manner, they separated, 
 and drove home their flocks, loathing the approach of night. 
 They might, perhaps, on a future occasion have become 
 greater adepts in the mysteries of love, had not the fol- 
 lowing circumstance spread tumult and confusion through- 
 out their neighbourhood. 
 
 Odys. ix. 315. 
 
 " Then hissing them along he drove his flocks." Cowper. 
 
 TJ 2 
 
292 DAPHNIS AND CIILOE. 
 
 Some rich young men of Methymna, who had formed 
 a pleasure party for passing the vintage-season out of town, 
 launched a small vessel, employing their servants as rowers, 
 and shaped their course towards the fields of Mitylene, 
 which lie near the sea-coast. They knew that there was 
 an excellent harbour for them, with every thing adapted 
 for their accommodation, as the shore was adorned with 
 handsome houses, with baths, with gardens, and with 
 groves, some of which were the productions of nature, and 
 some of art. 
 
 Here the party arrived, and drew their boat into a safe 
 place, after which they committed no acts of mischief, but 
 amused themselves in various ways, with rod and line 
 angling for rock-fish, which were found under the different 
 promontories, or hunting the hares, which, terrified by the 
 noise of the grape gatherers, had fled towards the shore, 
 and capturing them by means of dogs and nets. Part of 
 their amusement also was to set snares for birds : many 
 wild ducks, wild geese and bustards were caught, so that 
 their sport supplied their table in a great measure ; and 
 Avhatever addition they wanted was easily procured from 
 the labourers in the fields, who were paid more than its 
 worth for everything which they supplied. Their chief 
 inconvenience was want of bread and wine, and a good 
 lodging at night ; for as it was late in the autumn, they did 
 not think it safe to sleep on board their boat, but in appre- 
 hension of storms, usual at this season, were wont to 
 draw it up on shore. 
 
 It so happened that a countryman had broken the old 
 rope to which the stone was suspended for crushing his 
 grapes after they had been trodden in the wine-press, and 
 being in want of another to supply its place, had come 
 clandestinely down to the sea-shore, and taking the cable 
 from the boat, which was left without any one to watch it, 
 had quietly conveyed it home to supply his need. The young 
 Methymna3ans, in the morning, made inquiries after their 
 rope ; but as no one confessed the theft, after venting their 
 reproaches on this breach of hospitality, they launched 
 their boat, and left that part of the coast. After sailing 
 rather more than a league, they landed on the estate where 
 Daphnis and Chloe dwelt. It appeared to them -to be a 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 293 
 
 good country for hare-hunting. Having no rope to serve 
 as a cable, they twisted some vine-branches as a substi- 
 tute, and tied the head of their boat to the shore : then 
 let loose the dogs to scent about in the places most 
 likely for game, and fixed their nets. The cry of the 
 hounds, running hither and thither, frightened the goats, 
 which fled from the mountains down to the sea-shore, where 
 some of the boldest of the flock, finding no food upon the 
 coast, approached the boat and gnawed the branches which 
 were fastened as a cable. 
 
 At the same moment a swell set in, owing to the breezes 
 blowing from the mountains. The motion of the waves 
 began to carry off the boat, and, at length, bore it out to sea. 
 The Methymnseans saw the accident : some of them ran 
 in great haste down to the shore : others hastened to call the 
 dogs together : and all of them cried out for assistance, in 
 hopes of assembling the labourers from the neighbouring- 
 fields. It was all of 110 avail, for the wind increased, and 
 the boat was driven down the current. When the Methyin- 
 nseans found themselves thus deprived of it, and of the con- 
 siderable property which it contained, they inquired for the 
 goat-herd, and finding him to be Daphnis, they beat him 
 severely and stripped him. One of them took a dog-leash, 
 and bending Daphnis' arms behind his back, was preparing 
 to bind him. Poor Daphnis, smarting with his beating, roared 
 out for assistance : he called upon all his neighbours, but upon 
 Lamon and Dryas in particular. The old men took his part 
 stoutly: the toils of husbandry had made them hard handed; 
 they demanded that an inquiry should be made agreeably to 
 the rules of justice. The neighbours, who had now reached 
 the spot, backed them in their demand, and appointed Phile- 
 tas umpire in the business. He was the oldest man present, 
 and was celebrated among the villagers for the equity of 
 his decisions. The charge of the Methymnseans was made 
 plainly and with conciseness suitable to the rustic judge 
 before whom they pleaded. " We came here," said they, 
 "to hunt, and fastened our boat to the shore with some 
 vine-branches, while we roamed about with our dogs in 
 search of game. In the meantime, this young man's goats 
 came down to the coast and ate the fastening of our 
 boat, which has proved the loss of it. You yourself, 
 
294 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 saw it driven out to sea, and what valuables think you 
 it had on board ? Why, store of clothes and of dog-gear, 
 and of money money enough to have purchased all these 
 fields around us. In return for what we have lost, we have 
 surely a right to carry off this heedless goatherd, who, 
 sailor-fashion, chooses to pasture his goats on the sea- 
 coast." 
 
 This was what the Methymnaeans alleged. Daphnis was 
 in sore plight from the blows which he had received ; but 
 seeing Chloe among the crowd, he rose superior to his pain, 
 and spoke as follows : 
 
 " I am, and always have been very careful of my herds. 
 What neighbour can say that a goat of mine ever browsed 
 upon his garden, or devoured any of his sprouting vines ? 
 It is these sportsmen who are themselves to blame, for hav- 
 ing dogs so badly broken as to run wildly about making 
 such a barking, and like so many wolves driving my sheep 
 from hill and dale down to the sea. The poor brutes eat the 
 vine branches ; no wonder, for they could find no grass, nor 
 shrubs, nor thyme upon the sands. The sea and the winds 
 destroyed the* boat ; let the storm bear the blame and not 
 my goats. They say, that they had left their clothes and 
 money on board : who, in his senses, can believe that a 
 boat freighted with so much wealth, was intrusted to a vine 
 branch for its cable ? " 
 
 Daphnis said no more, but burst into tears, which moved 
 all his countrymen with compassion. Philetas, the judge, 
 swore by Pan and the Nymphs, that neither Daphnis nor 
 his goats were in fault ; that only the sea and the winds 
 could be accused, and that they were not under his jurisdic- 
 tion. This decision had no effect on the Methymnaeans, 
 who flew into a rage, and seizing Daphnis, were preparing 
 to bind him. The villagers irritated at such behaviour, fell 
 upon them as thick as starlings or rooks, and rescued Daph- 
 nis, who now began to fight in his own defence. In a very 
 short time the Mitylenaeans, by dint of their clubs, put the 
 strangers to flight, and did not desist from the pursuit, till 
 they had driven them into a different quarter of the island. 
 
 While they were engaged in the pursuit, Chloe led Dapa- 
 nis gently by the hand to the grotto of the Nymphs ; thei * 
 she washed the blood from his face and nostrils, and taking 
 
DAPHtfIS AND CHLOE. 295 
 
 a slice of bread and cheese from her scrip, gave it him to eat. 
 After she had thus refreshed him, she impressed a honeyed 
 kiss with her tender lips. 
 
 So near was Daphnis getting into serious trouble ; but the 
 affair did not end here. The Methymnseans reached their 
 own city with much pain and difficulty ; for instead of sail- 
 ing they had to travel on foot, and instead of every luxury, 
 and convenience, they had nothing but bruises and wounds 
 for their comfort. Immediately upon their arrival at home, 
 they called an assembly of their fellow townsmen, and in- 
 treated them to take up arms to avenge their cause, which 
 they represented in their own way, altogether concealing 
 the real truth of the matter, for fear of being laughed at for 
 having been so soundly beaten by a few shepherds. They 
 accused the people of Mitylene of having seized their boat, 
 as if it belonged to an enemy, and of plundering it of all its 
 contents. Their wounds, which they exhibited, gained 
 them belief among their countrymen, who resolved to avenge 
 the cause of the young men, and more particularly as 
 they belonged to the first families in the place. Accord- 
 ingly they resolved to begin the war without the usual forms 
 of proclamation, and ordered their naval commander to 
 launch ten vessels immediately, and ravage the coasts of the 
 enemy. As the winter was coming on they did not think it 
 safe to hazard a larger fleet. 
 
 Early the very next day he put to sea ; and employing his 
 soldiers as rowers, steered his course to the shores of Mity- 
 lene. Here he seized numbers of cattle, a great quantity of 
 corn and wine, (the vintage being lately ended,) together 
 with the labourers who were still at work there. Thus 
 plundering as they went, they landed at last on the estate 
 where Daphnis and Chloe resided, and carried off whatever 
 came to hand. Daphnis was not then tending his goats, 
 but had gone to the wood, to cut green branches for the 
 winter fodder of his kids. Looking down from the woods, 
 he saw these ravages ; and immediately hid himself in the 
 hollow of a decayed beech tree. Chloe happened to be with 
 the flocks ; she fled in affright to the grotto of the Nymphs: 
 and the invaders pursued her. Here she intreated them, if 
 they had any respect to the deities of the place, to spare her 
 and her flocks ; bufc her prayers were of no avail : for the 
 
296 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 ravagers, after offering many insults to the statues of the 
 goddesses, drove off the flocks, and hurried Chloe along with 
 them, as if she had been one of her own goats or sheep, 
 striking her ever and anon with vine twigs. 
 
 Their vessels being now filled with plunder of all kinds, 
 the Methymnseans thought it advisable not to prosecute 
 their voyage farther, but to return home, more especially as 
 they were apprehensive of the winter storms, and of an 
 attack from the inhabitants. Accordingly they put about ; 
 but, as there was no wind, they had to labour at their oars. 
 
 Daphnis, (when all was quiet) came down to the plain, 
 the usual place for pasturing their flocks, but not a goat, nor 
 a sheep was to be seen, nor was Chloe herself there : when 
 he saw the whole place deserted, and found Chloe's pipe 
 thrown upon the ground, he burst into loud and bitter 
 lamentations : he ran to the beech tree, which had been 
 their usual seat, and then to the ocean, to try if he could 
 descry her, he searched for her in the grotto, whither 
 she had fled, and whence she had been dragged away. Here, 
 at last, he threw himself on the ground in despair, and ex- 
 claimed against the Nymphs, as the deserters of his Chloe. 
 
 "Chloe has been torn away from you, ye Nymphs, and 
 yet ye could endure to see it ! she who has woven so many 
 garlands for you, who has poured so many libations of new 
 milk to you, and whose pipe is here suspended as an offering 
 to you ! Never did a wolf carry off a single goat of mine, 
 but marauders have now carried away all my flock, and their 
 mistress with them. My goats will be flayed, my sheep will 
 be sacrificed, and my Chloe will henceforth be confined 
 within a city ! how shall I venture to return to my father 
 and mother without my goats, and without my Chloe ? 
 I, who shall appear a deserter of my charge ! I have no 
 more flocks to tend, so here will I lie, till death take me, 
 or the enemy again lay hold of me. Ah ! my Chloe, do you 
 share in my sufferings ? do you still remember these 
 plains, these Nymphs and me ; or are you consoled by having 
 the sheep and goats for your companions in captivity ? " 
 
 Thus did Daphnis vent his grief, till weary with weeping 
 and lamenting he fell into a deep sleep. While slumbering, 
 the three Nymphs appeared to stand before him ; they were 
 tall and beautiful, half-naked and without sandals; their hair 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 297 
 
 flowed loose over their shoulders, and indeed in every 
 respect they resembled their statues in the grotto. At first 
 they shewed signs of commiseration for Daphnis, and, 
 presently, the eldest of them addressed him in these con- 
 solatory words : 
 
 " Do not accuse us, Daphnis ; Chloe is an object of 
 deeper anxiety to us, than she is even to yourself. We had 
 compassion on her when she was an infant ; when she was 
 exposed in this grot, we adopted her and bred her up. She 
 is not Lamon's daughter, nor do Lamon's fields or herds in 
 any part belong to her. "We have at this time been pro- 
 viding for her safety, so that she shall not be taken to 
 Methymne as a slave, nor be numbered among the spoils. 
 We have intreated Pan, (whose statue stands beneath 
 yonder pine, and whom you have never honoured even with 
 a bunch of flowers) to come forward as Chloe' s champion, 
 for he is more used to warfare than we are, and has often 
 quitted his rural groves to join in the din of battle. He is 
 on Chloe' s side, and he will be found no despicable enemy 
 by the Methymnseans. Be not uneasy then, nor perplex 
 yourself; arise, shew yourself to Lamon and Myrtale, who 
 have thrown themselves on the earth in despair, under 
 the idea that you too are carried off by the enemy. To- 
 morrow Chloe and her flocks shall return, when you shall 
 tend them together, and together shall play upon your pipe. 
 Leave your future fates to the care of LOVE." 
 
 After these words and vision in his dream, Daphnis 
 sprang up, and, while his eyes were filled with tears, 
 partly of grief and partly of joy, he paid his adorations to 
 the statues of the Nymphs, and vowed, that upon Chloe's 
 safe return he would sacrifice a she-goat (the best of his 
 herd) to the protecting goddesses. Then he hastened to 
 the pine, beneath whose shade stood the statue of Pan. 
 The legs of the rural god were those of the goat, and he 
 had a horned forehead ; in one hand he held a pipe, with 
 the other he grasped a goat, which was in the attitude of 
 bounding. Daphnis adored his statue likewise, prayed in 
 behalf of Chloe, and vowed to sacrifice a he-goat for her 
 safety. Scarcely could he cease from his tears and in- 
 treaties by sun-set, when taking up the green fodder 
 which he had been cutting, he returned to his home, where 
 
298 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 his presence dispelled Lamon's grief and filled him with joy. 
 After taking some refreshment he retired to rest ; but his 
 sleep was not even then without tears. In his slumbers he 
 poured forth prayers to the Nymphs to bless him with 
 another vision, and sighed for the return of day, when his 
 Chloe was to be restored. Of all nights this appeared to 
 him the longest. During its continuance the following 
 events took place : 
 
 When the Methymnsean commander had rowed somewhat 
 more than a mile, he wished to afford his men some rest, 
 wearied as they were with their past exertions. At length 
 he espied a promontory, which projected into the sea in a 
 semicircular form, affording a harbour more calm and secure 
 than even a regular port. Here he anchored his fleet, keep- 
 ing his vessels at a distance from the shore, that they might 
 not be exposed to any attack from the inhabitants, while his 
 men indulged themselves at their ease and in all security. 
 The crews having plenty of all manner of provision among 
 their plunder, eat and drank and gave themselves up to joy, 
 as if they had been celebrating a festival for victory. The 
 day was closing ; and their merriment was being prolonged 
 to night, when suddenly all the earth appeared in a blaze ; 
 and the dash of oars was heard, as if a mighty fleet were 
 approaching.* They called upon their commander to arm 
 himself: they shouted to each other ; some fancied that they 
 were wounded ; others that they saw the bodies of the slain 
 before their eyes. It appeared like a night engagement 
 against an invisible enemy. 
 
 A day of greater terror succeeded to the darkness. The 
 goats belonging to Daphnis, appeared with branches full of 
 ivy berries on their horns : the rams and ewes, which had 
 been taken with Chloe, instead of bleating, howled like 
 wolves. Their mistress was seen to have a garland of pine- 
 leaves round her head. The sea also had its marvels. The 
 
 * ....... " <j)6(3oQ Si Tract /3ap/3apoi Traprjv 
 
 tbBvc Ft KioTTrjQ poOiadog %v 
 
 tiraiaav ciXfjrjv j3pu%iov IK 
 
 Msch. Persse, 391. 
 
 For the good service done by Pan to the Athenians at Marathon, ho 
 was rewarded with a temple. Herod, vi. 405. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 299 
 
 anchors stuck fast in the mud, and could not be drawn up : 
 when the men dipped their oars in order to row, they were 
 shattered in pieces. The dolphins leaped from the sea, and 
 with their tails broke the planks of the vessels. From the 
 top of the rock behind the promontor} r the sound of a pipe 
 was heard : but it did not, like the pipe, delight the ear 
 with dulcet sounds, but terrified like the harsh blast of a 
 trumpet. The men of Methymna were confounded ; they 
 seized their arms, and called out to their enemies who were 
 invisible ; they prayed for the return of night, which might 
 bring a truce to their terrors. 
 
 To all those who were capable of reflection, it was evident, 
 that these phantasms and sounds proceeded from Pan, who 
 must have conceived some cause of indignation against them : 
 but what the cause could be, they were at a loss to conjec- 
 ture, for they had not plundered any thing which was sacred 
 to the god. About the middle of the day their commander 
 (not without the intervention of the god) fell into a deep 
 sleep, when Pan appeared to him and addressed him thus : 
 
 " O most abandoned, most impious of men, to w r hat 
 lengths has your madness driven you ! The fields, which are 
 dear to me, ye have filled w r ith the tumults of war : the herds 
 and the flocks, which were my peculiar care, ye have taken 
 as plunder. Ye have dragged a virgin from the altar, whom 
 Cupid had reserved in order to adorn a Tale of Love. Ye 
 regarded not the Nymphs, who beheld your deeds, nor even 
 me the mighty Pan. Never shall ye reach Methymna, 
 sailing with these spoils, nor shall yourselves escape the 
 terrors of the pipe which has thus confounded you. Unless 
 ye immediately give back Chloe to the Nymphs, and restore 
 her goats and sheep, I will submerge you and ye shall 
 become food for fishes. Bestir yourselves, therefore, land 
 both her and them, I will guide your course by sea, and her's 
 by land.'; 
 
 Bryaxis (for such was the commander's name) awoke from 
 his dream, and immediately ordered the captain of every 
 vessel to search among his prisoners for Chloe. They soon 
 found her, for she was sitting still crowned with pine-leaves, 
 and brought her before him. Bryaxis regarded the orna- 
 ment on her head as a proof and confirmation of what he 
 had seen in the vision, and without delay took her on board 
 
300 DAPH^IS AND CHLOE. 
 
 his own vessel,* and conveyed her safe to the shore. No 
 sooner had she landed than the sound of the pipe was again 
 heard from the rock : but it was no longer dreadful like the 
 blast of the war trumpet : on the contrary it was sweet and 
 pastoral in tone, as when the shepherd is leading out his 
 flock to feed. The sheep ran down the gangway ,t without 
 their horny hoofs slipping. The goats, used to steep places, 
 proceeded still more venturesomely. Upon reaching the shore 
 the flocks formed themselves in a ring around Chloe, like a 
 company of dancers, skipping and bleating and exhibiting 
 every symptom of joy; while the sheep and goats and oxen 
 belonging to the other shepherds remained quiet in the holds 
 of the vessels, as if knowing that the pipe, which sounded, 
 was not intended to summon them. While every one was 
 struck with astonishment, and celebrated the power of Pan, 
 still stranger sights appeared both by sea and land. 
 
 Before the crews had time to heave their anchors, the 
 ships of themselves began to make sail, and a dolphin, which 
 leaped and played on the waves, swam before the admiral's 
 ship as guide. On the other hand Chloe's goats and sheep 
 were led by most ravishing music of the pipe, which con- 
 tinued its notes, though the player was invisible : sheep and 
 goats continued to graze and pace gently onward listening 
 with delight to the melody. 
 
 It was the time of evening-pasture, when Daphnis from 
 the summit of a rock espied his Chloe and her flocks. O Pan ! 
 O ye Xymphs ! he shouted in rapture, and hurrying down 
 into the plain threw himself into Chloe's arms, fainted, and 
 fell to the ground. The kisses and soothing embraces of 
 the maiden with some difficulty restored him to his senses, 
 after which he proceeded to their favourite beech-tree, under 
 the shade of which he sat down, and inquired how Chloe 
 had escaped from so many enemies. She related everything 
 which had happened the appearance of the ivy around the 
 goats' horns the wolfish howling of the sheep the pine 
 garland encircling her own temples the blaze of fire on the 
 land the unwonted noise at sea the two discordant notes 
 of the pipe that of war and that of peace the terrors of 
 the night and lastly, how the melody guided her hither, 
 
 * kir aur?i TYIQ vavo^j'^oc, literally, in the admiral. 
 *t* Kara rijj; airofidOpag, 
 
DAPHNIS AXJ) CHLOE. 301 
 
 through fields and over plains to which she was a stranger. 
 Upon hearing this, Daphnis recognized the vision of the 
 Nymphs, and the influence of Pan, and in his tarn, he gave 
 Chloe an account of all which he had seen and heard. He 
 informed her how when ready to destroy himself, he had 
 been preserved through the intervention of the Nymphs. 
 
 He then sent Chloe to summon Dryas and Lamon with 
 their servants and to desire them to bring every requisite 
 for a sacrifice, while he in the mean time took the choicest 
 of his she-goats, crowned it with ivy (just as it had appeared 
 to the enemy on board of ship) poured milk between its 
 horns, and sacrificed it to the Nymphs. Then he hung it up 
 and flayed it, and suspended its skin as an offering to them. 
 
 Chloe now arrived with Lamon and the servants. A fire 
 was immediately kindled, upon which part of the goat's flesh 
 was boiled and part of it roasted. Daphnis offered the first 
 portions to the Nymphs, and poured out to them a libation 
 of new must ; he then piled some leaves into the form 
 of couches, reclined at his ease upon one of them, and gave 
 himself up to good cheer and mirth: but at the same time 
 kept a watchful eye on his sheep for fear a wolf should 
 effect what the enemy had been foiled in doing. After this 
 the party sang the praises of the Nymphs in songs, which 
 had been indited by the shepherds of by-gone days. They 
 slept in the field that night, and in the morning remembered 
 Pan. The leader of the goats was selected from the herd ; 
 a chaplet of pine-leaves was bound round his horns, and he 
 was led to the statue, which stood beneath the pine ; when 
 after pouring over him a libation of wine*, carefully avoid- 
 ing all ominous expressions, the victim was slain, suspended, 
 and flayed. The flesh, part of which was roasted and part 
 boiled, was spread out upon some dry leaves in the meadow. 
 The skin with the horns was hung up on the tree hard by 
 the statue of the god a pastoral offering to a pastoral 
 deity. A first portion also of the flesh was offered, and 
 
 * ev<j>ijfJiovvTic. Especial care was taken during a sacrifice, that no 
 inauspicious or frivolous words were uttered by any of the bystanders ; 
 hence the admonitions of the priest, ev^/jjuarf, ivfywia, aiyare, 
 <nw7rar, favete liuguis, and others ; for improper expressions were 
 thought not only to pollute the sacred act, but to be unlucky omens. 
 
 ** Male ominatis, 
 Parcite verbis." Hor. iii. Od. xiv. 11. 
 
302 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 libations poured to him from the largest goblet. Chloe 
 sang ; while Daphnis piped. 
 
 Having discharged their religious rites, they were 
 reclining on the grass and feasting, when Philetas the 
 herdsman accidentally came by, bringing with him some 
 garlands, and vine-branches, laden with their clusters, as 
 offerings to Pan. Tityrus, his youngest son, a golden- 
 haired, blue-eyed, fair and sportive boy followed him. At 
 the sight of Philetas, Daphnis and Chloe sprang from their 
 grassy couch, assisted in crowning Pan, and in suspending 
 the clusters to the tree, and then made Philetas seat himself 
 by them, and join in their carousal. Very soon, as old 
 men do when their clay is moistened,* they began to talk of 
 their youthful adventures, of the flocks which they had fed, 
 of incursions of marauders, which they had escaped in the 
 days when they were young. One prided himself on having 
 slain a wolf: another boasted, that in piping he was second 
 to Pan alone. This was the boast of Philetas. 
 
 Daphnis and Chloe used urgent entreaties that he would 
 teach them the art, and that he would play on the pipe at 
 the festival of that deity, who delights in its melody. The 
 old man complained that age had shortened his powers of 
 breath, but complied with their request, and took up the 
 pipe of Daphnis. It was a pipe too small to do justice to 
 so great an art ; being suited only for a boy. Accordingly 
 he despatched Tityrus to bring his own pipe from the cot- 
 tage, which was rather more than a mile off. The boy threw 
 aside his cloak,t and darted off like a young fawn. Lamon, 
 in the mean time, promised to amuse them with the legend 
 of the Syrinx,J (or pipe) which he had heard from a Sicilian 
 shepherd, who received a he-goat and a pipe as the price of 
 his song. 
 
 " This pipe was not formerly what it is now, an instru- 
 ment of music it was once a maiden of beautiful form, 
 and melodious voice. She fed her flocks, she sported with 
 the Nymphs, and the sound of her voice was sweet as it is 
 now. Pan beheld the maiden feeding her flocks, disporting 
 herself, and singing. He approached her, and endeavoured 
 
 + 
 J See the legend in Ovid Met. i. 689. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 303 
 
 to win her to his will, promising her as an enticement that 
 all her she-goats should bear two kids at a birth. The 
 maiden laughed at his suit, and replied that she would never 
 think of accepting as a lover, one who was neither man nor 
 goat, but a compound half of each. Pan was preparing to 
 offer violence : the maiden fled from him, and when weary 
 with running, hid herself among the reeds of a lake and 
 disappeared. Her pursuer in a rage cut the reeds, but 
 finding no damsel there, and perceiving what had taken place, 
 he in memory of her formed this instrument. Compacting 
 with wax unequal reeds in order to shew how the course of 
 their love had not run smooth.* Thus she, who was once 
 a beauteous maiden, is now a musical pipe : the instrument 
 inheriting her name." 
 
 While Philetas was commending Lam on' s legend, which, 
 he said, was more pleasing than any song, Tityrus appeared 
 with his father's pipe, a large instrument formed of the largest 
 reeds, and ornamented with brass over the junctures of the 
 wax. A person might have imagined it to be the very pipe 
 whose reeds had been first united by Pan. Philetas rose 
 up, placed himself upon a seat in an erect posture, and 
 began to try whether the reeds were in good order : he found 
 the air pass through them freely, and then with as much 
 energy as if he had been in the prime of youth, he blew a 
 note so vigorous and full, that it appeared like a band of 
 pipers playing in concert. By degrees he moderated the 
 vehemence of his tones, and turned them into a softer 
 strain. He ran through all the variations of pastoral 
 melody ; he played the tune, which the oxen obey, that 
 which attracts the goats, that in which the sheep delight. 
 The notes for the sheep were sweet, those for the oxen 
 deep, those for the goats were shrill. In short, his single pipe 
 could express the tones of every pipe which is played upon. 
 
 Those present lay listening in silent delight ; when Dryas 
 rose up, and desired Philetas to strike up the Bacchanalian 
 tune. Philetas obeyed, and Dryas began f the VINTAGE- 
 
 * aviaovc, Ka9' on rai 6 tpwc aviaog avroig. 
 
 f " La Pantomime est le premier langage de 1'homme ; elle est con- 
 nue de toutes les nations." Bernardin de St. Pierre. 
 
 On the subject of the Pantomimic dance, common to Greece and 
 Italy, see Diet, of Greek and Rom. Antiq. p. 713. 
 
304 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 DANCE, in which he represented the plucking of the grapes, 
 the carrying of the baskets, the treading of the clusters, 
 the filling of the casks, and the drinking of the new-made 
 wine. All this Dryas imitated so closely and admirably 
 in his pantomimic dance, that the spectator might fancy the 
 wines, the wine-press, and the casks to be actually before 
 him, and that Dryas was drinking in reality. 
 
 Each of the three old men had now severally distinguished 
 himself. Dryas, in his delight gave Daphnis and Chloe a 
 kiss, who immediately sprang from their seats, and began 
 to dance a ballet representative of Lamon's fable. Daphnis 
 assumed the character of Pan, and Chloe that of Syrinx. 
 AVhile he endeavoured to entice her to his embraces, she 
 smiled in scorn at his attempts. He pursued her, and 
 ran upon his tiptoes in imitation of the cloven feet of the 
 god : while she making a semblance of exhaustion, at last 
 hid herself in the wood, making it a substitute for reedy lake. 
 Upon losing sight of her, Daphnis seizing the large pipe of 
 Philetas, breathed into it a mournful strain as of one who 
 loves; then a love-sick strain as of one who pleads; lastly and 
 recalling strain, as of one who seeks her whom he has lost. 
 
 Philetas himself was astonished, and ran and embraced 
 the youth and kissed him : and with a prayer, that Daphnis 
 might transmit the pipe to as worthy a successor, bestowed 
 it on him as a gift. The youth suspended his own pipe as 
 an offering to Pan, kissed Chloe with as much ardour as if 
 she had really been lost and found again, and led his flocks 
 home by the sound of his new instrument. Chloe also 
 (as night was coming on) conducted her sheep homeward 
 to the music of her pipe. The goats kept close by the 
 sheep, as Daphnis kept close by Chloe. In this manner did 
 they enjoy each other's company, till night-fall, when they 
 agreed to meet earlier at the pasture the next morning, an 
 arrangement which they punctually fullilled. As soon as 
 the day dawned, they were in the fields. They paid their 
 adorations to the Nymphs first, and then to Pan, afterwards 
 retiring from their devotions to their seat under the shade 
 of the oak, where they played their accustomed melodies. 
 They interchanged kisses and embraces, and lay down side- 
 by-side, but this was all; then rising, they bethought them 
 of their meal, at which they partook of milk and wine. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 303 
 
 Becoming gradually warmed and emboldened by all this 
 they began to enter into an amorous revelry, and to swear 
 perpetual affection and fidelity. Daphnis advanced to the 
 sacred pine, and called Pan to witness, that he would never 
 live apart from his Chloe no not for the space of a single 
 day. Chloe entered the Grotto, and swore by the Nymphs, 
 that she would live and die with Daphnis : and in the sim- 
 plicity of her heart, upon coming out, she required that 
 Daphnis should bind himself by a second oath ; " for," (said 
 the maiden) "my dear Daphnis, Pan himself, by whom 
 you swore, is a lover, and yet unfaithful. He loved 
 Pitys, he loved Syrinx, and yet he never ceases from pestering 
 the Dryads with his addresses, or from causing annoyance 
 to the Epimelian Nymphs, the guardians of our herds. He 
 who breaks his own vows will hardly punish you, even if 
 you should attach yourself to more damsels than there are 
 reeds in this pipe. Come, dearest Daphnis, you must swear 
 by this herd and by the she-goat, which nursed you, that, 
 while Chloe is faithful to you, you will never desert her ; 
 on the other hand if Chloe should ever do despite to you, 
 and to the Nymphs fly from her detest her kill her, 
 as you would kill a wolf." 
 
 Daphnis, delighted even at her mistrust, which shewed 
 the warmth of her affection, placed himself in the midst 
 of his herd, and taking hold of a she-goat with one hand, 
 and a he-goat with the other, swore to be true to Chloe, 
 while she was true to him ; and that if she should ever prefer 
 another before him, he would put an end not to her but 
 to himself. 
 
 Chloe was happy : for she believed him with all the sim- 
 plicity of a girl, and of a shepherdess, and of one who 
 though c that the sheep and the goats were the fitting and 
 peculiar deities of those who tended them. 
 
 BOOK III, 
 
 WHEN the inhabitants of Mitylene heard of the descent 
 made by the ten vessels, and had been informed by some 
 coming from the spot of the plunder which had been carried 
 
 x 
 
306 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 off, they were of opinion that such an injury on the part of 
 the Methyrrmseans was insufferable, and immediately raised 
 a force of three thousand infantry and five hundred cavalry, 
 which they put under the command of Hippasus with orders, 
 that he should lead his men by land, and not embark them 
 on board of ship, as a voyage in the winter season would be 
 dangerous. 
 
 The general began his march, but he did not lay waste 
 the country of the enemy, nor did he plunder the possessions 
 of the husbandman, or of the shepherd, thinking such petty 
 warfare suitable to a captain of a banditti, rather than to 
 the leader of an army. He hastened his march in order 
 to reach the gates of the city and attack the inhabitants 
 while they were off their guard. When his troops ap- 
 proached within eleven miles of the city, a herald came 
 out to them with proposals for a truce. The Methymnseans 
 had discovered from the prisoners, that the citizens of Mity- 
 lene were ignorant of the beginning of the affray,* and that 
 the insolence of their own young men had drawn upon them 
 the vengeance inflicted by the herdsmen and shepherds. 
 They repented, accordingly, of having acted precipitately 
 rather than prudently towards a neighbouring city, and were 
 desirous to restore all their plunder, in order that friendly 
 intercourse by sea and land might be restored. Although 
 Hippasus had full powers given him of acting as he thought 
 proper, he ordered the herald to proceed to Mitylene, while 
 he pitched his camp about a mile from the enemy's city, 
 and waited for the answer of his fellow-citizens. In two 
 days a messenger arrived with orders for him to refrain from 
 any act of hostility, to receive the restored booty, and to 
 return home ; for since the declaration of peace or war rested 
 on the decision of the people, they considered peace far 
 preferable. 
 
 Thus did the war between Methymne and Mitylene begin 
 and end in an equally unexpected manner. 
 
 Winter, however, was more formidable to Daphnis and 
 Chloe, than war had been. On a sudden heavy falls of snow 
 blocked up the roads, and shut up the cottagers within 
 doors. Impetuous torrents rushed down from the moun- 
 
 * The reading here followed is that of Villoisin. vj3piZovra 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 307 
 
 tains, the ice thickened, the trees* seemed as though their 
 branches were broken down beneath the weight of snow, 
 and the whole face of the earth had disappeared except about 
 the brinks of fountains and the borders of rivers. 
 
 No one led his flocks to pasture, or even ventured to stir 
 from home ; but lighting large fires, at cock-crowing, some 
 employed themselves in twisting ropes, some in weaving 
 goats' hair, and some in making snares and nets to catch 
 birds. At the same time they took care to supply the oxen 
 in their stalls with chaff, the goats and sheep in their 
 cotes with leaves, and the hogs in their styes with holm- 
 berries and acorns. 
 
 As every one was of necessity confined withindoors,t 
 most of the labourers and shepherds were glad at having 
 an interval of release from their wonted labours, and im- 
 mediately after their morning-meal lay down, and enjoyed 
 a lengthy sleep, winter appearing to them more pleasant 
 than the summer, the autumn, or even the spring. But 
 Daphnis and Chloe cherished in their memory the pleasures, 
 of which they were now deprived, their kisses, their em- 
 braces, and their happy meals together. They passed nights 
 of sleeplessness and sorrow, and looked for the return of 
 spring as a restoration to life after an interval of death. It 
 was painful to them, if chance threw in their way a scrip, 
 from which they had eaten, or a vessel from which they had 
 drunk, or if they happened to cast their eyes on a pipe, now 
 thrown aside with neglect, which had once been bestowed 
 and received as a token of love. Frequent were their prayers 
 to the Nymphs, and to Pan, to deliver them from their 
 troubles, and once more to let the sun shine upon them and 
 
 "nee jam susteneant onus 
 Silvae laborantes, geluque 
 Flumina constiterint acuto." Hor. i. Od. ix. 2. 
 
 t Compare Virgil's description of the way of passing a northern 
 winter. 
 
 " Ipsi in defossis specubus secura sub alta 
 Otia agunt terra, congestaque robora totasque 
 Advolvere focis ulmos, ignique dedere. 
 Hie noctem ludo ducunt, et pocula Iseti 
 Fermento atque acidis imitantur vitea sorbis." 
 
 G. iii. 376. 
 
308 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 their herds, and while thus engaged they also endeavoured 
 to devise some scheme, by which they might obtain a sight 
 of one another. Chloe was quite at a loss, and could not 
 contrive any plan, successfully, for her reputed mother 
 was always sitting near her, teaching her to card wool 
 and to turn the spindle, and touching upon the subject of 
 marriage. 
 
 Daphnis, however, had greater quickness of invention, and 
 more leisure than the maiden, and hit upon the following 
 scheme for getting a sight of Chloe. Two lofty myrtle trees 
 and an ivy grew before Dryas's cottage, and indeed under the 
 very cottage itself. The ivy grew between the myrtle trees, 
 throwing oat on either side, its sprays like a vine, and 
 forming an arbour by intermingling its leaves with theirs. 
 The berries hung down in thick clusters, and were as large 
 as grapes. Numbers of winter birds flocked thither from 
 want of food elsewhere ; such as blackbirds, thrushes, wood- 
 pigeons, starlings, and a variety of others, which live on 
 berries. Daphnis filled his scrip with some honeyed cakes, 
 and quitted his home under pretence of going to catch some 
 of these birds. To remove all suspicion of his real design 
 he carried with him plenty of birdlime and snares. The dis- 
 tance was little more than a mile, but the frost and the snow, 
 which had not yet melted, rendered the road very toilsome. 
 To LOYE, however, all things are passable fire, and water, 
 and even Scythian snows. Having soon arrived at the 
 cottage, he shook the snow from his legs and feet, set the 
 snares, spread the birdlime, and seated himself in the arbour 
 watching the birds, but thinking of Chloe. So many were 
 very soon caught, that he had abundance of occupation 
 in collecting them together, killing and plucking them. 
 In the mean time, not a man, not a maiden, not even a 
 domestic fowl came out of the cottage : the whole family 
 were shut up and close around the fire. Daphnis was now 
 utterly at a loss what to do, and thought that he had come 
 at an unlucky time. He determined to knock at the door 
 if he could find any pretext, and began to consider what 
 would appear most plausible. " What, if I say that I want a 
 light to kindle our fire ? they will reply ( you have neigh- 
 bours within a stone's throw of your cottage.' What, if I 
 request something to eat ? c your scrip is full of victuals.' 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 309 
 
 "What, if I ask for some wine ? { you have but lately got in 
 the vintage.' What, if I exclaim that a wolf has been pursu- 
 ing me ? ' where are the traces of his feet ? ' What, if I teL 
 them I came to snare birds ? ' why not go home again, if 
 you have had sport enough ? ' Shall I at once say that I 
 have come to see Chloe ? Ah ! who will venture to make 
 such a bold avowal to the father and mother of the maiden ? 
 My pleas will be all exhausted and I shall be reduced to 
 silence. Since none of these excuses will pass free from 
 suspicion, it were better to hold my tongue. It seems 
 decreed by the Pates that I shall not see my Chloe during 
 the winter; I must wait with patience until the spring." 
 
 After indulging in some such thoughts as these, he took 
 up his game, and was preparing to depart, when, as if Love 
 took pity on him, the following occurrence happened. 
 
 The family within had spread their table : the meat was 
 portioned out ; a slice of bread was placed for each, and the 
 goblet was ready mixed. One of the sheep-dogs, who had 
 watched his opportunity, when no person was observing 
 him, seized a piece of meat, and made his escape. 
 Dryas (for the stolen meat happened to be his portion) 
 snatched up a club, and pursued the thief, following him up 
 like a second dog. Daphnis had thrown the birds over his 
 shoulder, and was just about hurrying away when Dryas 
 espied him. At the sight of Daphnis he immediately forgot 
 both meat and dog, called out after him, " Grood morrow, my 
 son ! " ran to him, embraced him, took him by the hand, and 
 led him into the house. When the lovers saw each other, 
 they were very near sinking to the ground ; however, they 
 continued to support themselves, while they saluted and ' 
 embraced : indeed their embrace acted as a stay, and pre- 
 vented them from falling. 
 
 Having thus contrary to his expectation obtained an 
 interview with his Chloe and a kiss, Daphnis drew nearer to 
 the fire, and sat down : then taking the woodpigeons and 
 thrushes from his shoulder threw them upon the table, 
 while he related to the family the weariness which he felt 
 from so long and tedious a confinement ai home, the eager- 
 ness with which he set out in pursuit of some sport, and the 
 manner in which he caught the birds, some with a snare, 
 some with birdlime, when they came in search of the myrtle 
 
310 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 and ivy berries. The family praised his activity, and com- 
 pared him to "Apollo the far- darting ;" and urged him to 
 partake of what the dog had fortunately left ; desiring Chloe 
 in the mean time to pour him out wherewithal to drink. 
 She cheerfully complied and handed the goblet to all the 
 others first, last of all to Daphnis, pretending to be affronted 
 with him, for having come thither and intending to go 
 away without asking to see her : nevertheless, before hold- 
 ing the beaker out to him, she sipped* a little from it, and 
 then presented it ; upon which he, although thirsty, drank 
 as leisurely as possible, in order to prolong his pleasure, by 
 protracting his draught. 
 
 The table was soon cleared of the fragments of bread and 
 meat : after which, as they were sitting by the fire, they 
 began to inquire after Myrtale and Lamon, who were pro- 
 nounced fortunate in having such an excellent provider for 
 their old age. Daphnis was delighted at having these com- 
 mendations pronounced upon him in the hearing of Chloe, 
 and when her parents proceeded to insist upon his remaining 
 with them till next day, when they intended to sacrifice 
 to Bacchus, he was very nearly adoring them in lieu of the 
 god. He immediately produced his store of honeyed cakes 
 from his scrip, together with the birds, which he had 
 caught, which they dressed for supper. A second goblet 
 was mixed; and a second fire was lighted. Night soon came 
 on, when they partook of a hearty meal ; and at its conclu- 
 sion, after telling stories, and singing songs, they retired to 
 rest. Chloe slept with her mother, and Daphnis with Dryas. 
 Chloe' s only pleasure was the thought of seeing Daphnis the 
 next morning ; Daphnis enjoyed a kind of hollow satisfaction, 
 even from sleeping with Chloe' s father, whom he hugged 
 and kissed, dreaming all the while, that the embraces were 
 being bestowed upon Chloe. 
 
 When the day broke the cold was intense, and the sharp 
 north wind was parching up every thing. Dryas and his 
 family arose, sacrificed a ram of one year old to Bacchus, and 
 lighted a large fire to boil the meat, ^ape made the bread, 
 
 ' Fac primus rapias illius tacta labellia 
 Pocula : quaque bibit parte puella, bibe." 
 
 Ovid de Art. Am. i. 575. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 311 
 
 while Dryas attended to the meat, and, while they were thus 
 engaged, Daphnis and Chloe proceeded to the ivy-covered 
 arbour, where they set snares and spread birdlime, and again 
 caught no small "quantity of birds. Kisses and delightful 
 converse were continuously interchanged between them. 
 
 "I came hither entirely on your account, Chloe." 
 
 " I know it, my dear Daphnis." 
 
 " On your account it is that these poor blackbirds now 
 perish ; what place have I in your affections ? Do think 
 of me!" 
 
 " I do think of you, my Daphnis, I swear it by the Nymphs 
 whom I once invoked in that Grotto, whither we will repair 
 again so soon as the snow shall have melted." 
 
 " The snow lies very thick ; I fear that I shall melt away, 
 before it does." 
 
 "Do not despair, Daphnis, the sun is very warm." 
 
 " Would that it were as warm as the fire which burns my 
 heart!" 
 
 " You are in jest : your are deceiving me, Daphnis." 
 
 " No ! I am not ; I swear it by the goats, whom at your 
 bidding I invoked." 
 
 Chloe' s reply was an echo to what Daphnis said. Nape 
 now calling them, they hurried into the house with a 
 much larger supply of game than Daphnis had taken the 
 day before. First pouring out a libation to Bacchus, from 
 the goblet, they sat down to their banquet with chaplefcs of 
 ivy on their heads. When it was time to part, after loudly 
 shouting in honour of the god, Daphnis took his leave, 
 Dryas and his wife having filled his bag with meat and 
 bread, and insisting upon his carrying the wood-pigeons and 
 thrushes home to Lamon and Myrtale ; for, as they said, they 
 should be able to catch as many as they pleased so long as 
 the cold lasted and the ivy berries did not fail. At length 
 Daphnis bade them farewell, and at his departure gave each 
 of them a kiss, but he saluted Chloe last of all, that her kiss 
 might remain pure and unalloyed upon his lips. 
 
 He frequently found out pretences for paying them fresh 
 visits ; so that the winter did not pass by altogether without 
 an interchange of love. 
 
 In the opening of spriog, when the snow was melted, the 
 face of the earth again uncovered and the grass beginning 
 
312 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 to groT* ; * the shepherds and herdsmen led forth their flocks 
 to the pastures, but Daphnis and Chloe were earlier than the 
 others, inasmuch as they were under the guidance of a 
 mightier shepherd (Love). The first place to which they 
 hastened, was the grotto of the Nymphs; the next was the 
 pine-tree, where stood the statue of Pan ; they then proceeded 
 to the oak, under which, sitting down, they watched their 
 feeding flocks, and kissed and embraced each other. Wishing 
 to crown the statues of the deities, they sought for flowers : 
 these were but just beginning to come out under the mild 
 influence of the zephyr, and the genial warmth of the sun ; 
 but they found the violet, the narcissus, and the pimpernel, 
 and all the other firstlings of the year : with these they 
 crowned the statues, and then poured out libations of new 
 milk drawn from the ewes and the she-goats. After this 
 ceremony they began to tune their pastoral pipes, as 
 though challenging the nightingales to resume their song : 
 these answered softly from the thickets, and gradually 
 became perfect in their plaintive strains, as if recalling 
 them slowly after so long a silence : t 
 
 The sheep were heard bleating, while the lambs were seen 
 to frisk about, or stooping under their mothers drew the 
 teat ; the rams pursued and leaped upon those which had 
 never lambed. The he-goats did the like, contending for 
 their mates, each making choice of his own, and guarding 
 her from the approach of a rival. 
 
 All these objects might have kindled love even in hoary 
 age ; they who were in the bloom of youth, full of vigour, 
 and long since warmed by desire, were inflamed by such 
 
 * " Difhigere nives, redeunt jam gramina campis 
 Arboribusque comse . . . 
 
 Mutat terra vices." Hor. iv, Od. vii. 1. 
 + " The gay troops begin, 
 
 In gallant thought to plume the painted wing 
 
 And try again the long forgotten strain, 
 
 At first faint warbled 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 Then, all at once alive, then joy o'erflows 
 In music unconfined." Thomson. 
 
 Should the reader wish to see the song of the Nightingale represented 
 by a series of words, he is referred to p. 108 of Paget's Warden of 
 Berkingholt, where he will find the imitation by the learned Doctor 
 Bechstein, of Walterhausen. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE 313 
 
 sounds, melted at such sights, and longed for something 
 beyond a kiss and an embrace. 
 
 Especially was this the case with Daphnis. He had 
 passed the whole winter in the house, and in a state of inac- 
 tivity, he therefore was more impetuous than ever in his 
 desire for kissing and embracing Chloe, and became bolder 
 and more inquisitive in all love matters. He urged her to 
 grant him all his wishes ; and proposed that they should lie 
 side by side, naked, since of the precepts given by Philetas 
 for curing love, this remained untried. She inquired what 
 there possibly could be besides kisses, embraces, and re- 
 clining side by side; why did he wish that they should 
 recline together naked ? 
 
 " I wish," said he " to follow the example of the rams and 
 ewes ; of the male goats and their females. After their 
 amorous sport, the females no longer flee, and the males no 
 longer pursue ; but both feed quietly together, as if they 
 felt a mutual pleasure. There must be some gratification 
 in what they do ; something which cures the sting of love." * 
 "But," returned Chloe, "the postures of the sheep and 
 goats are very different from ours ; the males leap upon the 
 females from behind ; this is out of the question with us ; 
 besides, you wish me to lie beside you naked, v whereas they 
 have a thick covering given them by nature." 
 
 Daphnis admitted the reasonableness of this ; so after 
 lying by her side, as usual, for a considerable time, ignorant 
 how to gratify his passions, he got up and actually shed 
 tears, at being less expert in love than a silly sheep. 
 
 They had a neighbour named Chromis, who farmed some 
 land of his own. He was growing old, but his wife, who 
 came from the city, was young, good looking, and superior 
 in manners to the common rustics ; her name was Lycse- 
 nium. Seeing Daphnis driving his goats past her house, 
 conducting them to pasture in the morning, and home again 
 
 * " Eecti illi faciunt, rectre contra istse patiuntur alteri, nempe insi- 
 lientes, alterae vero dorso impositos adinittentes. Tu a me petis, ut 
 una recumbam, idque nuda ? Atqui illae me, licet vestibus amicta, 
 quanto sunt hirsutiores ? Paret Daphnis, et concumbens cum eadem 
 jacuit; neBciusque quidqnam eorurn agere, quorum gratia tanto 
 libidinis irnpetu concitabatur, illam erigit, et a tergo hircos imitaudc 
 illi adhsesit." 
 
314 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 in the evening, she was very desirous of enticing him into 
 love by means of presents. 
 
 Upon one occasion, watching until he was alone, she gave 
 him a pipe, a honeycomb, and a scrip of deer-skin. She did 
 not say anything at the time, suspecting his affection for 
 Chloe, by seeing him always in her company. Hitherto, 
 however, her knowledge of "the fact was founded only upon 
 having seen nods and laughter exchanged between them. 
 Not long after, pretending to Chromis in the morning 
 that she was going to visit a neighbour in the pains of 
 childbirth, she followed the lovers, and concealed herself in 
 a thicket, in order to avoid discovery ; from thence she saw 
 and heard everything which passed between them, and was 
 a witness of the tears shed by Daphnis under his disappoint- 
 ment. Commiserating their trouble, and conceiving the 
 present a good opportunity to promote their wishes, and to 
 gratify her own desires, she had recourse to the following 
 expedient. 
 
 The next morning, under cover of the same excuse as 
 on the previous day, she went straight to the oak where 
 Daphnis and Chloe were sitting together ; then admirably 
 counterfeiting a state of great alarm, she exclaimed, " Corne 
 to my aid, I entreat you, Daphnis, an eagle has carried off 
 the finest among my twenty geese ; and unable to bear it to 
 yonder high rock, has fallen with it in the neighbouring low 
 wood. In the name of Pan and the JSymphs come into 
 the wood and rescue my goose, I am afraid to enter it by 
 myself. Do not let me have my number made imperfect ; 
 besides you may perhaps kill the eagle, and will then no 
 longer be in dread of having your lambs carried away. 
 Chloe will, in the meantime, mind your flocks, the goats 
 know her as well as they do you, from your being always in 
 company." 
 
 Daphnis, having no suspicions of her motives, got up and 
 followed Lycaenium, who led him as far as possible from 
 Chloe ; upon arriving in the thickest of the wood, near a 
 fountain, she bid him sit down beside her. " You are in 
 love, Daphnis," she said; "the Nymphs informed me of this, 
 last night ; they told me of the tears which you shed yester- 
 day, and have commanded me, for the sake of your relief, 
 to teach you love's mysteries. These are not limited to 
 
BAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 315 
 
 kisses and embraces, and the doing what is done by the 
 rams and goats ; * they result in much greater pleasure, and 
 are longer in duration. If, therefore, you wish to be freed 
 from your pains, and to make trial of the sweets which you 
 so long for, you must become my willing pupil, and out of 
 regard to the Nymphs I will be your instructress." Duph- 
 nis could scarcely contain himself for joy, but rustic as he 
 was, a goatherd, young and in love, he threw himself at 
 Lycsenium's feet, entreating her to teach him with all speed 
 the art of gratifying his passion for Chloe. Moreover, as if 
 about to learn something very mysterious and wonderful, 
 he promised to reward her pains with a kid, some cheeses 
 made of the first new milk, and the she-goat herself. Find- 
 ing the young shepherd so liberal in his offers, she began 
 to tutor him. She made him sit close to her, bidding him 
 kiss and embrace her, and lastly lie down beside her, as was 
 his wont with Chloe. After this, seeing his amorous ardour, 
 she received him into her arms, and, aided by nature, led 
 him to the wished-for con summation, t 
 
 When this amorous lesson was concluded, Daphnis, in his 
 simplicity, was upon the point of hurrying back to Chloe, 
 to put in practice what he had learnt, for fear least through 
 delaying he might forget it. Lycsenium however stopped 
 him, saying, " You have something more yet to learn, 
 Daphnis, I am a full grown woman, and have felt no 
 inconvenience from what has taken place ; I was instructed 
 in this art by another man, who received my maidenhead as 
 his reward; but Chloe, when she engages in this amorous 
 contest, will cry out, and shed tears, and suffer incon- 
 venience ; however, you must not mind all this ; so when 
 you find her in a compliant hftmour, bring her to this 
 wood, where you will be free from all intrusion, and 
 remember, that you have had me for your instructress 
 
 * Saltus hi longe illis dulciores; habent enim longioris temporia 
 voluptatem. 
 
 *h " Edocta eum ad patrandum non solum fortem esse, verum etiam 
 libidine turgere, ab reclinatione in latus facta, ipsum erexit, seqne turn 
 perite substernens, ilium ad viam duci qusesitam direxit ; delude non 
 ultra peregrinum ipsum circumduxit, ipsa natura, quod porro agen- 
 dum restabat, docente." 
 
316 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 previous to Chloe.* Lycsenium, after giving him this advice, 
 retired to another part of the wood as if still in search of 
 the lost goose. Daphnis, reflecting upon what she had said, 
 restrained his former impetuosity ,t fearing to be the cause 
 of any pain and inconvenience to Chloe ; and determining 
 to solace himself with her only in the accustomed man- 
 ner, he issued from the wood. Upon his return he found 
 her weaving a chaplet of violets ; so, pretending that he had 
 delivered the goose from the talons of the eagle, he threw 
 his arms around her and embraced her, since in this at least 
 there could be no danger. She placed the chaplet upon his 
 head, and kissed his hair, which, in her estimation was far 
 preferable to the violets. Then producing from her scrip a 
 cake of figs and bread, she gave him some, then snatching 
 the morsels from his mouth, eat them herself, like the 
 youngling of a bird. 
 
 While they were at their meal, which, however, consisted 
 more of kisses than of food, a fishing boat was seen pro- 
 ceeding along the coast. There was no wind stirring ; a 
 perfect calm prevailed : so having taken to their oars, the 
 crew were rowing vigorously, their object being to carry 
 some newly caught fish to a rich man in the city. They 
 dipped their oars, doing what sailors usually do to beguile 
 their toil.J The boatswain sung a sea-song, and the rest 
 
 * " Jacebit baud secus ac vulnerata, multo manens sanguine. Ve- 
 rum non est quod cruorem timeas ; sed quando illam persuaseris, ut 
 tibi morem gerat, tune tu illam in hunc adducit locum, ubi, si forte 
 clamaverit, nemo audiat, si lacrimata fuerit, nemo videat, si cruore 
 foedata fuerit, fonte se abluat." 
 
 *{ " cavens, ne vel ilia veluti hoste conspecto clamaret, vel tanquam 
 dolore affecta fleret, vel sanguine foedaretur tanquam contrucidata. 
 Non ita dudum namque periculum fecerat ipse, a Methymnoeis plagis 
 aft'ectus : ideoque a sanguine abhorrebat, sanguinemque de solo vulnere 
 eequi opinabatur." 
 
 J KeXfutrrjjc, (in Latin, Hortator or Portusculus) an officer in a ship 
 who gave the signal to the rowers, that they might keep time in row- 
 ing. The same name was also given to the pole or hammer, by the 
 striking of which he regulated the motion of the oars. 
 
 "mediae stat margine puppis, 
 Qui voce alternos nautarum temperet ictus, 
 Et remis dictat sonitum, pariterque relatis 
 Ad sonitum plaudat resonantia coerula tonsis." 
 See ^Esch. Persse. 388. Silius Italicus, VI. 360. 
 
DAPIINIS AND CHLOE. 317 
 
 joined in chorus at stated intervals. "When they flrere in 
 the open sea, the sound was lost, their voices being dis- 
 persed into the air, but when running under a headland 
 they came into any hollow and crescent-shaped bay, the 
 sound became much louder, and the song of the boatswain 
 was distinctly heard on shore. A deep valley here sloped 
 down from the plain above, which received into it the sound, 
 as into an instrument of music, and repeated with the most 
 perfect imitation every note which was uttered. There 
 could be heard the distinction between the dash of the oars, 
 and the voices of the sailors ; and a very pleasing sound it 
 was ; beginning on the sea, the duration of its echo upon 
 shore was proportioned to its greater lateness in com- 
 mencing. 
 
 Daphnis, understanding the nature of the echo, turned 
 his attention solely to the sea, and was delighted with 
 viewing the boat as it glided by the shore quicker than 
 a bird could fly. At the same time he endeavoured to store 
 up some of these strains in his memory, that he might 
 play them on his pipe. Chloe, who had never, till now, 
 heard what is called an echo, turned first to the sea, and 
 listened to the boatmen, as they sang, and then looked 
 round to the woods, in expectation of seeing those, who (as 
 she thought) were singing in responsive chorus. 
 
 At length the rowers were out of sight, and all was 
 silent, even in the valley; when Chloe inquired of Daph- 
 nis whether there was another sea behind the hill, and 
 another boat, and other sailors, who all sang the same 
 strain, and who all left off together. Daphnis sweetly 
 smiled upon her, and gave her a still sweeter kiss, and 
 putting the chaplet of violets on her head, proceeded to 
 relate to her the legendary tale of Echo, upon condition 
 of receiving ten kisses for his pains. 
 
 " There are various classes of the Nymphs, my love ; 
 the Melians, who dwell among the ash-groves, the Dryads, 
 who preside over the oaks, and the Elcean, who are guard- 
 ians of the lakes. Echo* was the daughter of one of these 
 Nymphs : as her mother was beautiful, so was she, but as 
 her father was a mortal, she also was the same. She waa 
 
 * See Ovid, Met. iii. 356, for the legend of Echo and Narcissus. 
 
318 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 brought up by the Nymphs, and was taught by the Muses 
 to play upon the pipe, the flute, the lyre, and the harp, 
 in short she was instructed in every species of music ; 
 so that when the maiden arrived at the flower of her 
 youth, she danced with the Nymphs, and sang with the 
 Muses. Attached to the state of maidenhood, she shunned 
 the sight of all males, whether men or gods. This roused 
 the indignation of Pan ; jealous of her skill in music, and 
 irritated by her refusal of his advances, the god inspired 
 the shepherds and herdsmen with such frenzy, that they 
 rushed upon her like so many hounds or wolves, tore her 
 in pieces, and threw in every direction, her limbs, yet 
 sending forth melodious sounds. Earth, in order to gratify 
 the Nymphs, covered the maiden's limbs, but preserved to 
 her the gift of song ; and, by the will of the Muses, she 
 still has the power of utterance, and, as when alive, still 
 imitates all sounds ; the voices of the gods of men of 
 instruments of animals, even of Pan himself when playing 
 on his pipe. He, when he hears the sound, springs up, 
 and rushes in pursuit over the mountains, not in order to 
 bend her to his wishes, but to find out who can be this his 
 hidden pupil." 
 
 "When Daphnis had finished his tale, Chloe, instead of 
 giving him ten kisses only,* bestowed upon him a thousand ; 
 and Echo repeated every kiss, as if in testimony that Daph- 
 nis had not added anything to her history, which was not true. 
 
 The heat of the weather daily increased, since spring 
 was departing, and summer was approaching. The new 
 delights, which this season brings, again returned to them. 
 Daphnis swam in the rivers, and Chloe bathed in the 
 fountains ; he played upon the pipe, vying with the murmur- 
 ing pine-trees ; she sang, and emulated the nightingales with 
 her melody : they chased the noisy locusts, they caught the 
 chirping grasshoppers, they gathered posies, or shook down 
 the fruit from the trees, and ate it. Sometimes, also, they 
 lay side by side, covered with a goat-skin; but fearing 
 lest passion might carry him away, Daphnis would not 
 often permit her to display all her beauties ; at which she 
 in her innocence was astonished, but said nothing. 
 
 * There is a painting, by Sir Joshua Reynolds, which represents 
 Venus as chiding Cupid for learning arithmetic. 
 
DAPHNIS A:N T D CHLOE. 319 
 
 During the summer, Chloe had many suitors, who came 
 fco Dry as, and entreated him to bestow his daughter in 
 marriage. Some brought with them a gift, and some made 
 great promises. Nape, elated with hope, advised her hus- 
 band to marry Chloe forthwith, and not to keep a maiden 
 of her age any longer at home, lest, while pasturing her 
 flocks, she should some day lose her virtue, and take to her- 
 self a partner upon the strength of a present of fruit or 
 flowers ; * the best course was to secure for her a good 
 match, and to keep all the presents of her suitors for thi* 
 infant son who had been lately born to them. 
 
 Dryas was sometimes almost persuaded by her argu- 
 ments, for the gifts promised by each wooer, were far 
 beyond what a mere shepherdess had reason to expect ; but, 
 on the other hand, he reflected t that the maiden was far too 
 good for common lovers, and that, if ever her real parents 
 should be discovered, she would be the means of making 
 them rich for life. 
 
 For these reasons he declined giving a decided answer, 
 and postponed from time to time, meanwhile, receiving 
 presents of no small value. Chloe, as soon as she knew of 
 this, was overwhelmed with grief; but for a considerable 
 time concealed its cause from Daphnis, for fear of giving 
 him pain. He, however, was earnest and persevering in 
 his inquiries as to the subject of her sorrow, and evidently 
 felt more miserable at having the truth concealed from 
 him, than he would do if he knew it ; accordingly she 
 acquainted him with every circumstance with the fact of 
 the suitors being numerous and wealthy, with Nape's 
 arguments for immediate marriage, with the hesitation of 
 Dryas in refusing, and his resolution to postpone matters 
 until the next vintage-season should begin. 
 
 Daphnis, almost beside himself at hearing her relation, 
 sat down and wept bitterly, exclaiming, that, were he de- 
 prived of Chloe as a companion in the pastures, it would 
 prove his death, and not his death only, for that his sheep 
 * See Theocritus. Idyll xxvii. 
 
 f * 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. 
 
320 DAPITN1S AND CHLOE. 
 
 would die upon losing such a master. After this burst 
 of sorrow, recovering himself, he resolved to take courage, 
 bethought him of endeavouring to persuade Chloe's father 
 to receive him as her suitor, nattering himself that he 
 should be far superior to the others, and would be pre- 
 ferred before them. There was one obstacle, which gave 
 him uneasiness Lamon was not rich : this reflection 
 alone rendered his hopes of success slender. Nevertheless 
 he determined to declare himself a suitor, and Chloe 
 approved of his design. 
 
 He did not venture to declare his intention to Lamon, 
 but taking courage, communicated his love to Myrtale, and 
 spoke also of the marriage ; she imparted everything to her 
 husband at night. Lamon treated her intercession for 
 Daphnis very harshly, and rebuked his wife for thinking of 
 marrying to a mere shepherd's daughter, a youth who by 
 the tokens found upon him, seemed to give promise of a 
 much higher fortune, and who, should he ever find his 
 relatives, would not only procure the freedom of his foster- 
 father and mother, but also make them master and mistress 
 of a much larger estate. 
 
 Myrtale, fearing lest the youth, blighted in his hopes of 
 marrying Chloe, should make an attempt upon his own life, 
 gave him a different reason for the opposition on her hus- 
 band's part. " We are poor, my son, and we require a girl 
 who will bring a portion with her ; they, on the other hand, 
 are rich, and expect rich suitors. However, go and persuade 
 Chloe, and get her to prevail upon her father, not to look 
 for too great a match, but to let you take her for a wife. 
 The girl herself, I am sure, dearly loves you, and would 
 certainly prefer sharing her bed with a handsome youth, 
 however poor, than with an ugly ape, however rich." 
 
 Myrtale had no expectation that Dryas, who had so 
 many richer suitors applying to him, would ever agree to 
 the wishes of Daphnis, and considered herself to have 
 offered very plausible arguments for disposing of the subject 
 of the ma-Triage. 
 
 Daphnis could not in justice find fault with what she 
 said ; but, as needy lovers generally do, he burst into tears ; 
 and again invoked the assistance of the Nymphs. 
 
 As he slept at night, they again appeared to him in the 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 321 
 
 same dress and form, as they had done before, and the eldest 
 of them thus addressed him. 
 
 " Chloe's marriage is under the superintendence of ano- 
 ther deity : as for yourself we will furnish you with gifts 
 which shall soften Dryas, and win his consent. The boat 
 belonging to the young men of Methymna, whose vine- 
 branch cable your goats devoured, was that same day carried 
 far out to sea by the violence of the wind : at night the 
 gale blowing from the sea, it was driven towards the land 
 and dashed upon some rocks, there it was wrecked and 
 everything in it lost. A purse of three thousand drachmas* 
 was thrown ashore, and lies covered with seaweed near a 
 dead dolphin, the putrid stench of which is so offensive that 
 no one will approach it but hastens by as fast as he can. 
 Go, take this money, and offer it to Dryas. It is enough at 
 present to make you appear not absolutely poor ; the time 
 will come, when you will be very rich." 
 
 After speaking to this effect, they disappeared, and with 
 them the darkness of the night ; day dawned, and Daphnis 
 leaping from his bed with joy, drove his goats to pasture 
 with boisterous eagerness. After kissing Chloe, and paying 
 his adorations in the grotto, he went down to the sea, 
 pretending that it was his intention to bathe, and then 
 walked along the sands close to the beach, seeking the 
 three thousand drachmas. The search required little 
 labour : the dolphin lay rotting in his path, and yielding a 
 " most ancient and fish-like smell," which served to guide 
 him on his way. He immediately approached it, and upon 
 removing the weeds found the purse full of silver, which he 
 put into his scrip ; but before quitting the spot he uttered 
 blessings upon the Nymphs and upon the ocean likewise ; 
 for although a shepherd he now thought the sea more de- 
 lightful than the land, since it contributed to promote his 
 marriage with Chloe. 
 
 Having got possession of this sum, he thought himself 
 not merely richer than his neighbours, but the richest man 
 upon the earth, and immediately hastened to Chloe, related 
 his dream to her, shewed her the purse, and desired her to 
 ,tend the herds till he came back : then, hurrying with all 
 
 * 122 IBs. id. 
 
322 DAPHNIS AKD CHLOB. 
 
 speed to Dryas, whom he found with Nape busied in beating 
 out corn upon the threshing floor, he boldly entered upon 
 the subject of the marriage. 
 
 " Give me Chloe for a wife. I can play well on the pipe ; 
 I can prune vines ; I can plant ; I can plough ; and I can 
 winnow. To my skill as a herdsman Chloe can bear wit- 
 ness : fifty she-goats were given to my charge, and their 
 number is now doubled. Formerly we used to send our 
 females to a neighbour's males ; but now I have reared 
 large and handsome he-goats of our own. I am young; 
 and, as I have been your neighbour, you know me to have a 
 blameless character. A goat, moreover, nursed me, as a 
 ewe did Chloe. Being on so many points superior to other 
 suitors, you will not find me their inferior in my gifts. 
 They ^ill offer their goats and their sheep, or a yoke of 
 mangy oxen, or corn not fit to feed even dunghill fowls ! I 
 will give you three thousand drachmas ! only let no one 
 know what I have offered not even Lamon, my father !" 
 So saying, he presented the money and threw his arms round 
 the neck of Dryas. 
 
 Dryas and Nape were surprised at the sight of so much 
 money, and not only promised to give Chloe in marriage, 
 but also undertook to procure Laraon's consent to the 
 match. Nape remained with Daphnis, and drove the oxen 
 round the floor, while by means of the threshing-machine,* 
 she separated the grains. Dryas, in the meantime, laid by 
 the money carefully, in the place where the tokens were 
 stored up, and hastened to Lamon' s house upon the novel 
 errand of askingt a husband for his daughter. He found 
 Lamon and Myrtale measuring some barley, which had 
 been just winnowed, and in very bad spirits at finding it 
 yield little more than the seed which had been put into the 
 ground, and endeavoured to console them by saying, that 
 
 * TpijSoXoe 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. Diet, of Greek and Rom. Antiq. See 
 Virg. Georg. i. 164. 
 
 f pvaaOat vv^wv the verb fivaojjiai is properly employed only 
 with reference to the woman, signifying to woo to wife. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 323 
 
 this season the complaint was general. He then asked 
 Daphnis in marriage for Chloe. " Others," said he, " would 
 willingly make me handsome presents, I however will accept 
 nothing from you, but, on the contrary, will give you of my 
 own substance. The two young people have been brought 
 up together, and from feeding their flocks in company they 
 have contracted a mutual fondness which cannot easily be 
 dissolved, and they are now of sufficient age to consummate 
 a marriage." 
 
 These and many more arguments he urged with all the 
 eloquence of one who had received three thousand drachmas 
 for his guerdon. Lamon was no longer able to plead his 
 poverty, since Dryas entertained no objections upon that 
 head ; nor could he object to the age of Daphnis, for he 
 was by this time a young man ; but even now he did not 
 explain the real cause of his unwillingness, which was, that 
 Daphnis was of too good birth for such a match. 
 
 After remaining sometime silent he replied as follows/ 
 " You act justly, Dryas, in preferring your neighbours before 
 strangers, and in not thinking wealth superior to honest 
 poverty. May Pan and the Nymphs reward you with their 
 friendship for this ! I myself am eager for the marriage : I 
 who am halfway on the road to old age, and begin to feel the 
 want of assistance on my farm, should indeed be crazy, were 
 I to refuse a connection with your family; this in itself would 
 be a great advantage, and Chloe, too, is most desirable on 
 account of her beauty, youth, and goodness. At the same 
 time you must consider that I am only a serf on this estate:* 
 I am owner of nothing here : it is necessary that my master 
 should be acquainted with the business, and that we should 
 have his consent. Suppose, then, that we defer the mar- 
 riage till the autumn : persons from the city have informed 
 me, that he intends coming hither at that time. They shall 
 then be man and wife ; for the present let them love each 
 other like brother and sister. I will only farther say, friend 
 Dryas, that you are seeking as son-in-law one who is supe- 
 rior to us all." He added no more, but embraced Dryas, 
 and handed him some drink, it being mid-day and very hot, 
 
 * Lamon appears to have been the iTri'rpoTroc, or bailiff upon hia 
 master's estate. 
 
 T2 
 
324 DAPHNIS AtfD CHLOE. 
 
 and wishing to shew him every mark of kindness, accom- 
 panied him part of his way home. 
 
 The last expression of Lam on was not lost upon Dry as, 
 but as }ie went along he thought within himself, " Who 
 can Daphnis be? He was suckled by a she-goat, as if 
 under the providential care of the deities themselves ; he is 
 very handsome, and bears no resemblance to the flat-nosed 
 Lamon, or the bald-headed Myrtale; he is master, also, 
 of three thousand drachmas, few goatherds can call so 
 many pears their own ! "Was he exposed by the same person 
 who exposed Chloe ? Did Lamon find him, as I found 
 her ? were tokens left with him like those which I found ? 
 If, O Pan, and ye Nymphs, it be so, whensoever he finds 
 his own relatives, he may throw some light upon the secret 
 history of Chloe also !" 
 
 Thus he proceeded, thinking and dreaming, until he 
 reached the threshing-floor. There he found Daphnis on 
 the tiptoe of expectation to learn his tidings. Dryas re- 
 lieved his mind by addressing him as son-in-law ; he pro- 
 mised him that the nuptials should take place in the 
 autumn, and gave him his right hand in confirmation that 
 Chloe should be the wife of no other. 
 
 Swifter than thought, without stopping to eat or drink, 
 away ran Daphnis to Chloe. He found her engaged in 
 milking and making cheese, told her the good news of their 
 approaching wedding, kissed her openly, as though she were 
 already his wife, and not by stealth as he used to do, and 
 began to assist her in her work, by milking the goats and 
 ewes into the pails, setting the cheeses upon the racks, 5 * 
 and placing the lambs and kids under their dams. When 
 
 * Tcrpffoi flat wicker baskets for making and stowing away 
 cheeses. 
 
 " Tapffoi niv rupwv /3pI0ov." Odyss. ix. 219. 
 
 " His strainers hung with cheese 
 
 Distended." Cowper. 
 
 " Tapffol 3' vTTtprxBttQ aiti." 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. 436L 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 325 
 
 their labours were concluded, they washed themselves, ate 
 and drank, and then went out in search of some ripe fruit. 
 Of this there was abundance, it being the most fruitful 
 season of the year. There were pears, both wild and cul- 
 tivated, and all sorts of apples, some of which were lying on 
 the ground, and some still hanging upon the branches. 
 Those upon the ground smelt sweeter; those upon the 
 boughs were brighter in colour ; the former were as fragrant 
 as new wine, the latter shone like gold. One tree had been 
 entirely stripped ; its branches were bare ; it had neither 
 leaves nor fruit, except a single apple, which grew upon the 
 top of the highest branch. This apple was very large and 
 beautiful, and its solitary perfume surpassed the united 
 fragrance of many others. The gatherer had either been 
 afraid of climbing to the summit of the tree, or he had 
 preserved this beautiful fruit for some love-sick shepherd. 
 Daphnis, as soon as he espied it, began to climb the tree, 
 giving no heed to Chloe, who endeavoured to prevent him, 
 and who finding herself disregarded hurried away pettishly 
 after her herds. Daphnis climbed the tree, succeeded in 
 seizing the apple, carried it as a present to Chloe, and 
 presented it to her, with these words : " Maiden, this fruit 
 was produced and cherished by the beauteous hours ; the 
 sun matured it with his beams, and fortune has preserved 
 it ; unless blind, I could not leave it either to fall on the 
 ground, where cattle, as they grazed, might tread on it, or 
 where the snake might crawl over it, and defile it with his 
 slime ; or where time might rot it as it lay ; still less could 
 I do this when it had been seen and praised by you. 
 Venus received an apple as the prize of beauty ; the same 
 prize I adjudge to you. Paris and I are equally fitted to 
 be umpires : he was a shepherd, I am a goatherd." 
 
 With these words he placed the apple in her bosom, and 
 she, upon his drawing near, bestowed on him a kiss ; so 
 that Daphnis did not repent of having ventured to climb * 
 to such a height ; for the kiss which he received was more 
 precious to him than a golden apple. 
 
 * "Is not love a Hercules, 
 
 Still climbing trees in the Hesperides ? " Shakspeare. 
 
326 DAPHffIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 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 Methym- 
 naeans 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 exten- 
 sive 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,* 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, ap- 
 peared to be the effect of art. Here were also beds of 
 
 * " Nee secus omnes in unguem, 
 
 Arboribus positis secto via limite quadret." Virg. G. ii. 278. 
 
DAPHNJS AND CHLOE. 827 
 
 various flowers, some of which were cultivated plants, and 
 some the spontaneous production of the soil. The rose 
 bushes,* 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 repre- 
 sented. The delivery of Semele, Ariadne sleeping, Lycurgus 
 fettered, Pentheus torn in pieces,t 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 regu- 
 late 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 get- 
 ting 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 foun- 
 tain 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. 
 
 * Plutarch, speaks of the practice of setting off the beauties [we 
 may also add, the fragrance] of roses and violets, by planting them 
 Bide 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." 
 
 f " Oriens tibi victus, adusque 
 
 Decolor extremo quse cingitur India Gange, 
 Penthea tu, venerande, bipenniferumque Lycurgum, 
 Sacrileges mactas ; Tyrrhenaque mittas in aequor 
 Corpora." Ovid. Met. iv. 20. 
 
328 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 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,* 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 
 goatherd, 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, pro- 
 mising to speak favourably of him to his master : with these 
 
 &v, KOI 
 
 The same distinction of milking vessels is found in the Odyssey, 
 ix. 228. 
 
 FavXoi re <TKa<f>idtG TE. 
 " His pails and bowls." Cowper. 
 
DAPHNIS AUD CHLOB. 329 
 
 friendly feelings he set out. Daphnis and Ghloe 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 pre- 
 sence 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;* 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 deter- 
 mined 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 Myrtafe threw down what 
 
 " She rose ..... and threw 
 Herself upon his breast and there she grew." Byron. 
 
330 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 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. Numbers 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 vil- 
 lain 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 respect- 
 ing the misfortune which had happened, and took Eudro- 
 mus 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, 
 
DAPHNIS AtfD CHLOE. 331 
 
 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 be* 
 ginning to be bearded, but the chin of Griiatho 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 unfor- 
 tunate 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* 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 ,t 
 had narrowly watched Daphnis as he was offering his pre- 
 
 * Compare the admirable picture of Gnatho's prototype in the 
 Eumichus of Terence, Act II. Sc. II. 
 
 " Videnme ? 
 
 Qui color, nitor vestitus, qiue habitus est corporis, 
 Omnia habeo, nee quicquam habeo ; nil quum est, nil dent tamen." 
 
 t In the Greek there is a play upon words : 'O & TvdOuv ovdti 
 d\\o <2u>, ), yvdQos Kal yatrr^p, /cat rd ifTro yaortpa. 
 
332 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 sents. He was naturally fond of male beauty, and never 
 having seen any one so handsome, even in town, he deter- 
 mined 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 oppor- 
 tunity, 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.* 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 con- 
 stantly changed the place of pasturage for his goats, avoid- 
 ing him, but keeping close to Chloe. Nor, to say the 
 truth, was Grnatho 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, arid 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 Diony- 
 sophanes and Clearista arrived ; and no small was the stir 
 caused by their train of male and female servants, and their 
 sumpter horses. Dionysophanes was of middle age,f but 
 tall and handsome ; and one who would not suffer by com- 
 
 * " Delude, ut more caprarum, hircis sui copiam facientium, sibi 
 tergum obvertat, precatur. Hsec cum serius animadvertisset Daphnia 
 dixit, capras quod ineant hirci, id quidem se recte habere, sed hircum 
 nuDquam et nusquam gentium vidisse inire hircum, neque arietem pro 
 ovibus arietem, neque gallos gallinarum loco gallos." 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 333 
 
 parison 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.* 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 
 
 * KprjrripaG oriiaaaQai. To set up bowls as a sign of feasting. See 
 Odyss. ii. 431. 
 
 Kprjrrjpae ffrrjffacrQai Oeoiy. To do the same in honour of the gods, 
 II. vi. 528. 
 
334 DAPHNIS AND CHLOB. 
 
 played the pasture-tune,* upon 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 aston- 
 ished 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 Daph- 
 nis, 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,t as you are used to 
 
 * TO vofuov. "f" TvaOwvdpiov. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 335 
 
 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 G-natho. 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. 
 
 G-natho, who was well schooled in the love-tales of my- 
 thology, 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* is like the hyacinth, and his eyes sparkle under 
 his eye brows like gems set in a golden ring, his face is 
 suflused 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 
 imitatef the gods, Anchises kept oxen and yet captivated 
 
 * Of a very dark hue. The locks of Ulysses are in two passages of 
 the Odyssey compared to "hyacinthine flowers." vi. 231. xxiii. 158. 
 
 f " That Dionyeius 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. 
 
336 JM.PHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 Venus, Branchius was a goatherd and Apollo loved him. 
 Ganymede was a shepherd and was snatched away by Jupi- 
 ter. 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 con- 
 versation, 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, " O 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 Ghiatho 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, com- 
 municated to them as good news, that Daphnis would 
 henceforth wait upon A.stylus 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, 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 337 
 
 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 Grnatho, 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 asser- 
 tions, called upon the gods to be his witnesses, and pro- 
 fessed his readiness to submit to torture, should he be 
 uttering a falsehood ; his master, in the presence of Clea- 
 rista, 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 
 
338 DAPHNIS AND CRLOE. 
 
 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, " Ye 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, Asty- 
 lus, 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 
 
AND CHLOB. 339 
 
 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 pro- 
 vidence 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 par- 
 ticular estate I reserve for Daphnis, with Lamon and Myr- 
 tale, 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, often sacrificing to 
 JOVE THE PRESERVER, sat down together to a banquet, 
 Gnatho was the only one who did not come to the enter- 
 tainment ; for being under great alarm, he remained all day 
 and night in the temple of Bacchus, as a suppliant. 
 
 z 2 
 
340 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 The report that Dionysophanes had found his Bon, 
 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 pro- 
 vided, abundance of wheaten bread, wild fowl, sucking pigs, 
 and sweets of various kinds, and many victims were sacri- 
 ficed to the country's deities. Daphnis collected all his 
 pastoral equipments, and distributed them in separate offer- 
 ings 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 play- 
 ing 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 de- 
 serted 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, Lampia 
 the herdsman with a band of rustics suddenly came up and 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE, 341 
 
 seized her. He conceived that Dapbnis 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 trans- 
 action, 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 Grnatho, 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, 
 
342 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 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 token 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 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 343 
 
 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 spec- 
 tator, even without knowing anything about the tokens, 
 would have sworn that Dry as 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 pas- 
 toral equipments her pipe, her scrip, her cloak of goatskin, 
 and her milkpails. She also mingled wine with the w r aters 
 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 mar- 
 riage would be a happy one, and wishing that the parents 
 
344 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 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 love- 
 liness. 
 
 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 cele- 
 bration of the marriage. Slackening the string of his bow, 
 and placing it by the side of his quiver, he addressed Diony- 
 sophanes, 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* 
 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 
 
 ore p,vr]vaiaTo KOITOV." 
 
 Odyss. vii. 136. 
 
DAPHN1S AND CHLOE. 345 
 
 equipping choruses and fitting out galleys.* 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,t 
 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 G-od 
 of Love." 
 
 Megacles at once assented, clasped Chloe to his bosom, 
 and sent for his wife Ehode. 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 Ehode, 
 after which the preparations were made for the festival on 
 
 * Ei'e xoprjytag ical rpujpapxiaf iZedairdvrjffa. 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. 
 
 t " Stat Fortuna improba noctu, 
 
 Arridens nudis infantibus ; hos fovet omnes 
 
 Involvitque sinu ; domibus tune porrigit altis." Juv. vi. 605. 
 
346 DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 
 
 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 Lycse- 
 nium ; 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 
 Philopcemen,* the latter Agele.f 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 con- 
 ducted 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 
 * A lover of the flock. f A lover of the herd. 
 
DAPHNIS AND CHLOE. 347 
 
 and rugged tones, which sounded more like a concert of fel- 
 lows breaking up the ground with mattocks than a chorus of 
 human beings singing the nuptial hymn.* Daphnis and 
 Chloe, on their part, went to bed in nature's own adorn- 
 ment, where they kissed and embraced each other, and 
 were as wakeful as the very owls. Daphnis carried into 
 practice the instructions of his preceptress Lycsenium, 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. 
 
 * " KaflaTTtp rptaivai yfjv avapprjyvvvTtg, ovx vpsvaiov dtiovrec*" 
 
 THE 
 
ACHILLES TATIFS. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 is situated upon the coast of the Assyrian sea; it 
 is the mother* city of the Phoenicians, 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 sum- 
 mer, while in winter they can ride at anchor safely in the 
 former. Upon arriving here after encountering a severe 
 storm, I made thank-offeringsf on account of my preserva- 
 tion, to the goddess of the Phoenicians, called by the Sido- 
 
 * Mtjrijp QoiviKuv fj TroXit;, 6ijatwj> 6 SrjfjioQ Trarr/p. The " mother- 
 city," because of the many colonies which it sent out : on the founda- 
 tion of Thebes, Pliny, B. v, c. 19, says : " Sidon, artifex vitri, Thebarum 
 Bceotiarum parens." We find in the Scriptures, that Tyre and Sidon 
 were famous for works in gold, embroidery, &c., and whatsoever 
 regarded magnificence and luxury. See Isaiah xxiii. Ezek. xxvii. 
 xxviii. The Phoenicians were, in very early times, celebrated for mer- 
 chandise of every description; and their country was justly considered 
 the emporium of the East. They were the earliest navigators, and 
 their skill in ship-building may be inferred from 1 Kings, v. 6. 
 Trollope's Homer. 
 
 f Sworpa or crwrrjpia. Sacrifices and votive offerings, made upon 
 escape from shipwreck 
 
 * Me tabula sacer 
 Votiv paries indicat uvida, 
 Suspendisse potenti 
 Vestimenta maris Deo." Hor. I. Od. v. 12. 
 
350 ACHILLES TATIFS. 
 
 nians, Astarte. * As I was wandering about the city, 
 surveying the votive offerings in the temples, I saw a paint- 
 ing containing a view both of sea and land. Europaf 
 formed the subject, and the scene was laid partly on the 
 Phoenician 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 J 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 
 
 * The Syrian Venus. " Venus quarta, Syria, Tyroque concepta ; 
 quae Astarte vocatur, quam Adonidi nupsisse proditum est." Cic. de 
 Nat. Deorum. 
 
 f Ovid. Met. ii 844, and Moschus, IdyL 2. 
 
 Compare a passage in Longus, B. iv., 'Ev /tsrtwpy c oi K\dcoi 
 wvivivTov dXXijXoif, KCLI iTrrjXXaTrov rog eopaf, tCoKti piv rot Kai 
 9 TOVTW fvfftf tivai rt^i'ijc. 
 
ACHILLES TATITTS. 351 
 
 eager to hasten after the bull, but at the same time fearful 
 of encountering the waves. The colour of the sea was two- 
 fold : towards the land it had a ruddy hue ; * farther out it 
 was dark blue ; foam also, and rocks and waves were repre- 
 sented ; 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 swim- 
 ming, 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 f as to disclose the beau- 
 ties of her person. You could discern the deep-seated 
 navel, the well proportioned J stomach, the narrow waist, 
 gradually widening until it reached the chest, the gently 
 budding breasts. These, as well as the tunic, were con- 
 fined by a cincture, and from its transparency, the tunic be- 
 came, 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 ex- 
 tremity of the veil which was expanded above her shoulders, 
 and which appeared in every part inflated by the artist's 
 " painted wind." || 
 
 Thus seated upon the bull, the maiden resembled a vessel 
 
 * " Mare purpureum." Virg. G. 4, 373. 
 
 f In Ode xxviii., on his mistress, Anacreon says, 
 " 2rdAt(rov To\onr6v avrrjv 
 
 'oXiyov, TO (To*/*' eAfy^ov." 
 u Quam castigate planus sub pectore venter." Ovid. Am. i. 5. 
 
 " Her dainty paps, which like young fruit in May, 
 Now little, 'gan to swell, and being tied 
 Through her thin weed, their places only signified." Spencer. 
 
 JJ " Tremulae sinuantur flamine vestes." Ovid. Met. ii. 875. 
 
352 ACHILLES TATITJS. 
 
 in full sail, her veil serving for the canvass.* Dolphins t 
 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 ! J 
 
 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 neigh- 
 bouring grove, thickly planted with plane trees, through 
 which flowed a stream of water, cold and transparent as that 
 which proceeds from newly melted snow. 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 
 
 * " Her robe inflated by the wanton breeze, 
 
 Seem'd like a ship's sail hovering o'er the seas." 
 
 Moschus. Chapman's Tr. 
 
 f " From their sea-hollows swift the Nereids rose, 
 Seated on seals, and did his train compose ; 
 Poseidon went before, and smooth did make 
 The path of waters for his brother's sake ; 
 Around their king, in close array, did keep 
 The loud-voiced Tritons, minstrels of the deep. 
 And with their conchs proclaimed the nuptial song." Moschus. 
 
 J Avvarcu dt rotrovrov, oaov ovdi 6 Zet>, Kparti plv oToi\Cut>v t 
 rparei t atrrpajv, KpaTtl dt r&v 6/ioiwv Qtwv. Longus. B. ii. 
 
 Ka\y virb TrXarai/iVry oOev petv dy\abv v$up. Horn. II. ii. 307. 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 353 
 
 agreeable and exactly suited for a love story." Upon this, 
 he began as follows : 
 
 I am a native of Phoenicia, 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.* 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 t ), 
 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 unex- 
 pectedness, 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, 
 methought I had coalesced with, and grown into, the person 
 of a maiden, as far as the middle, and that from thence up- 
 ward 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 
 
 * Proximity by blood or consanguinity was not, with some few 
 exceptions, a bar to marriage in any part of Greece; direct lineal 
 descent was. Thus brothers were permitted to marry with sisters 
 even, if not born from the same mother, as Cimon did with Elpenice. 
 See Nepos, Life of Cimon. Diet, of Greek and Roman Antiq. 
 
 f MoTjoav $' ovTiva $/7/u irttyvynevov imitvai avfipiov, 
 
 Ov KCIKOV ovdk fif.r iaQXov, iir^v Tairp&Ta yevrjrai Horn. II. vi. 487. 
 
 2 A 
 
354 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 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 Hippks, sends greeting, 
 
 " My daughter Leucippe, and my wife Panthea, are on 
 their way to you, for war has broken out between the Thra- 
 cians 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 * 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 ; t her mouth was like 
 the rose when it begins to bud. No sooner did I see her 
 than my fate was sealed for beauty J 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 
 
 * MeXav ofjifjia yopybv o> 
 
 KtKipavfjitvov yaXrjv??. Anacreon. xxix. 
 " Flagrabant lumina miti 
 
 Adspectu " ..... Silius Ital. v. 562. 
 
 f- " Indum sanguineo veluti violaverat ostro 
 Si quis ebur ......... 
 
 . . tails virgo dabat ore colores." Virg. xii. 67. 
 ....... icaXXof 
 
 'avr* lyxtwv 
 
 VIKCL fit Kai 
 
 cat irvp, Ka\rj rig ovffa. Anacreon, ii. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 355 
 
 ashamed at the idea of being remarked. I endeavoured to 
 withdraw my eyes from the maiden ; they however were un- 
 willing to obey, and, following the fascination of her counte- 
 nance, 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 eat- 
 ing in a dream ; all I know is, that leaning upon my elbow, 
 and bending forwards, my whole attention was given to steal- 
 ing furtive glances at her this was the sum total of my sup- 
 per. When the meal was ended, a slave came in with the lyre ; 
 he first ran over the strings with his fingers, then sounded 
 a few chords in an under tone, and afterwards taking the 
 plectrum, began to play, accompanying the sounds with his 
 voice. The subject of his strain was * Apollo in his irrita- 
 tion pursuing the flying Daphne, and upon the point of 
 seizing her, how she was transformed into a laurel, and how 
 the god crowns himself with its leaves. The song had the 
 effect of adding fuel to my flame, for amatory strains f act 
 as a powerful incentive to desire : and however inclined a 
 person may be to chastity, example serves as a stimulant to 
 imitation, more especially when the example is supplied by 
 one in superior J station ; for the feeling of shame which 
 was a check upon doing wrong becomes changed into as- 
 surance by the rank of the offender. 
 
 Accordingly, I thus reasoned with myself " See, Apollo 
 falls in love, he is not ashamed of his weakness, he pursues 
 the fair one ! and art thou a laggard and the slave 01 shame 
 
 * Ovid. Met. i. 452. 
 
 "At conjux quoniam mea aon potes esse, 
 
 Arbor eris certe mea, dixit." 557. 
 t . . " Quod enim aon excitet inguen 
 
 Vox blanda et nequam ? digitos habet." Juv. vi. 196. 
 " Sic natura jabet : velocius et citius DOS 
 
 Corrumpunt vitiorum exempla dornestica, magnis 
 Quum subeant animos auctoribus." Juv. xiv. 31. 
 
 2 A 2 
 
356 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 and ill-timed continence ? Art thou, forsooth, superior to a 
 god ? "* In the evening the ladies retired to rest first, and 
 afterwards we ourselves. The others had confined the 
 pleasures of the table to their stomachs, t I, for my part, 
 carried away the banquet in my eyes ; I had taken my fill of 
 the maiden's sweet looks, and, from the effect of merely 
 gazing upon her, I rose from table intoxicated with love. 
 IJpon entering my accustomed chamber, sleep was out of 
 the question. It is the law of nature that diseases and 
 bodily wounds always become exasperated at night ; when 
 we are taking our rest their strength increases, and ^he pain 
 becomes more acute, for the circumstance of the body being 
 in repose affords leisure for the malady to do its work. 
 By the same rule, the wounds of the soul are much more 
 painful while the body is lying motionless ; in the day, both 
 the eyes and ears are occupied by a multiplicity of objects ; 
 thus, the soul has not leisure to feel pain, and so the vio- 
 lence of the disease is for a time mitigated ; but let the 
 body be fettered by inactivity, and then the soul retains all 
 its susceptibility, and becomes tempest-tossed by trouble ; 
 the feelings which were asleep then awaken. The mourner 
 feels his grief, the anxious his solicitude, he who is in peril 
 his terrors, the lover his inward flame. 
 
 Towards morning Love took compassion upon me, and 
 granted me some short repose ; but not even then would the 
 maiden be absent from my mind ; Leucippe J was in all my 
 dreams, I conversed with her, I played with her, I supped 
 with her, I touched her fair body ; in short, I obtained more 
 favours then than in the day-time, for I kissed her, and the 
 kiss was really given. Accordingly, when the slave awoke 
 me, I cursed him for coming so unseasonably, and for dis- 
 
 * " Egone homuncio id non facerem ? " Ter. Eunuchus. 
 t " Quse ad beatam vitam pertinent ventre metiri." Cic. de Nat. 
 Deorum, i. 40, 
 
 "^'Ovapara twpwr fywri/ca, ra QiXripaTa, rag irtpi(3o\de, Kai oaa 
 Se fj,e9 ripepav OVK eirpaZav ravra ovap iirpatav" Longus, B. i. 
 
 "as one who is awoke 
 
 By a distant organ, doubting if he be 
 Not yet a dreamer, till the spell is broke 
 
 By the watchman, or some such reality, 
 Or by one's early valet's cursed knock." Byron. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 357 
 
 sipating so sweet a dream ; getting up, however, I went out 
 of my part of the house, and walked in front of the apart- 
 ment where the maiden was ; with my head hanging down 
 over a book, I pretended to be reading, but whenever I 
 came opposite her door I cast sidelong glances, and after 
 taking a few turns, and drinking in fresh draughts of love, 
 I returned desperately smitten ; three whole days did I con- 
 tinue burning with this inward fire. 
 
 I had a cousin named Clinias, who had lost both his 
 parents ; he was two years older than myself, and an adept 
 in matters of love. He had a male favourite, for whom his 
 affection was so strong, that when he had one day purchased 
 a horse, and the other admired it, he immediately presented 
 him with the animal. I was always joking him for having 
 so much leisure as to fall in love, and for being a slave to 
 tender passions ; he used to laugh and reply with a shake of 
 the head, " Depend upon it the day of slavery is in store for 
 you." Well, proceeding to his house, I saluted him, and 
 sitting down, said, " Clinias, I am paying the penalty of my 
 former gibes ;* I am at last myself the slave of love ! " Upon 
 hearing this, he clapped his hands and laughed outright ; 
 then rising and kissing my face, which bore traces of a 
 lover's wakefulness, " There is no doubt of your being in 
 love," said he, "for your eyes declare it." 
 
 While he was yet speaking, Charicles, his favourite, 
 comes in hurriedly and in great perturbation, exclaiming, 
 "My fate is sealed, Clinias !" With a tremulous voice, and 
 sighing as deeply as though his own life hung t upon that 
 of the youth, Clinias replied, " Speak out, your silence will 
 be my death ; say what grief assails you with what adver- 
 sary have you to contend ?" Charicles rejoined, " My father 
 IB negotiating a marriage for me, a marriage moreover with 
 
 " I have done penance for contemning Love ; 
 Whose high imperious thoughts have punish'd me 
 With bitter fasts, with penitential groans, 
 With nightly tears, and daily heart-sore sighs : 
 For in revenge of my contempt of Love, 
 Love hath chac'd sleep from my enthralled eyes, 
 And made them watchers of mine own heart's sorrow." 
 
 Shakspeare, 
 
 ^ " Eque tuo pendat resupini spiritus ore." Luc. i. 38 
 
358 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 an ill-favoured woman ; a double evil therefore : even were 
 she comely, a female * would be repulsive to my taste, and 
 she becomes doubly so, if ugly. My father, however, looks 
 only to money, and is therefore anxious for the match, so 
 that I, such is my ill fate, am made the victim of this 
 woman's money; I am sold to be her husband."f Clinias 
 turned pale upon hearing this announcement, and strongly 
 urged the youth to decline the match, bitterly inveighing 
 against the race of womankind. " Your father, forsooth, 
 would have you marry ! pray what crime have you commit- 
 ted, that you should be given over to such bondage ? Do 
 you not remember the words of Jove ? 
 
 ' Son of lapetus, o'er-subtle, go, 
 And glory in thy artful theft below ; 
 Now of the fire you boast by stealth retriev'd, 
 And triumph in almighty Jove deceiv'd ; 
 But thou too late shalt find the triumph vain, 
 And read thy folly in succeeding pain ; 
 Posterity the sad effect shall know, 
 When iri pursuit of joy they grasp their woe.' 
 
 Woman is a * bitter sweet ;' in her nature she is akin to 
 the Sirens, for they too, slay their victims with a dulcet 
 voice; the very "pomp and circumstance" of marriage 
 shews the magnitude of the evil ; there is the din || of pipes, 
 the knocking at the doors, the bearing about of torches. 
 With all this noise and tumult, who will not exclaim, * Un- 
 happy is the man who has to wed ! ' to me, he seems like a 
 man ordered off to war. Were you unacquainted with 
 classic lore, you might plead ignorance of women's doings, 
 whereas you are so well read, as to be capable of teaching 
 others. How many subjects for the stage have been furnished 
 
 * There was a proverb among the ancients, " BaXaaaa /cat wDp /cat 
 yvvff KCLKCL rpi'a." 
 
 f " Argentum accepi, dote imperium vendidi." Plautus. 
 J Hesiod. Works and Days, 57. 
 O.VTT] KaK&v rfdovr]. 
 
 " Ka\\o KdK&v v7rov\OQ." Soph. O.T. 1396. 
 
 " medio de fonte leporum 
 
 Surgit amari aliquid, quod in ipsis floribus angat." Luc. iv. 1126. 
 " Full from the fount of joy's delicious springs, 
 Some bitter o'er the flowers its bubbling venom flings." 
 
 Childe Harold. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 359 
 
 "by womankind ! Call to mind the necklace of Eripbyle, the 
 banquet of Philomela, the calumny of Sthenoboea, the incest 
 of Aerope, the murderous deed of Procne.* Does Agamem- 
 non sigh for the beauty of Chryseis ? he brings pestilence 
 upon the Grecian host ; does Achilles covet the charms of 
 Briseis? he prepares misery for himself; if Candaules has 
 a fair wife, that wife becomes the murderess of her hus- 
 band ! The nuptial torches of Helen t kindled the fire 
 which consumed Troy ! How many suitors were done to 
 death through the chastity of Penelope ? Phoedra, through 
 love, became the destroyer of Hippolytus ; Clytemnestra, 
 through hate, the murderess of Agamemnon ! O ! all-auda- 
 cious J race of women ! they deal death whether they love 
 or hate ! The noble Agamemnon must needs die, he whose 
 beauty is described to have been cast in a heavenly mould, 
 ' Jove o'er his eyes celestial glories spread, 
 And dawning conquest play'd around his head/ 
 
 and yet this very head was cut off by a woman ! All that 
 I have been saying relates only to the handsome among the 
 sex ; in this case, then, there is a lessening of the evil, for 
 beauty is a palliative, and under such circumstances a man 
 may be said to be fortunate in the midst of his calamity ; but 
 if, as you say, the woman boasts no charms, why then the 
 evil becomes two-fold. Who would submit in such a case, 
 especially who that is young and handsome like your- 
 self ? In the name of the gods, Charicles, do not stoop to 
 such a yoke ; do not, mar the flower of your beauty before 
 the time ; for remember, in addition to the other ills of mar 
 
 * For the legends connected with these various names, the reader 
 is referred to Anthon's Lempriere. 
 
 t " And like another Helen, fir'd another Troy." Dry den. 
 
 J " there's no motion 
 
 That tends to vice in man, but, I affirm 
 It is the woman's part ; be't lying, note it, 
 The woman's ; nattering, hers ; deceiving, hers ; 
 Lust and rank thoughts, hers, hers ; revenges, hers; 
 Ambitions, covetings, change of prides, disdain, 
 Nice longings, slanders, mutability ; 
 All faults that may be named, nay, that hell knows, 
 Why, hers, in part, or all ; but rather all." Cymbeline. 
 
 Homer. II. ii. 478. Pope's Tr. 
 
360 ACHILLES TATIU8. 
 
 riage, there is this evil, it saps the vigour: do not, Charicles, 
 I pray, expose yourself to this ; give not the beauteous rose 
 to be plucked by the ill-favoured rustic's hand." 
 
 "Leave this matter," replied Charicles, "to the care of 
 the gods and of myself; the marriage will not take place 
 for some days yet ; much may be done in a single night, 
 and we will deliberate at our leisure. Meanwhile, I will go 
 and take a ride, for since the day you gave me that fine 
 horse, I have never made use of your kind present." With 
 these words he left the house, little imagining that this his 
 first ride was to be his last. After he was gone, I related 
 every particular to Clinias, describing how my passion 
 began ; the arrival, the supper, the beauty of the maiden. 
 Feeling, at last, how absurdly I was beginning to talk, I 
 exclaimed, " Clinias, I can no longer endure this misery. 
 Love has assailed me with such violence as to drive sleep 
 from my eyes ; I see no object but Leucippe ; no one can 
 suffer like myself, for the source of my trouble dwells with 
 me under the same roof." 
 
 " What folly it is," replied Clinias, "for you who are so 
 fortunate in love to talk after this fashion ! Tou have no 
 need to go to another person's doors ; you do not require a 
 go-between ; fortune gives the loved object into your hands, 
 brings her into your very house, and there sets her down.* 
 Other lovers are well content with catching a glimpse of 
 the maiden for whom they sigh, and to gratify their eyes is 
 with them no small good fortune ; they consider themselves 
 most favoured, indeed, if they can now and then exchange a 
 word with their mistress. But what is your case ? You 
 continually see her, you continually hear her voice, you 
 sup with her, you drink with her ; and yet, fortunate that 
 you are, you are complaining! Tou are guilty of base 
 ingratitude towards love, and without the slightest cause. 
 Do you not know that seeing the object whom you love 
 gives far deeper pleasure than enjoying her ?t And why 
 so ? Because the eyes, when encountering each other, 
 
 * " Semper oonservam domi 
 Videbit, colloquetur, adr.rit una in unis sedibus 
 Cibum nonnunquam capiet cum ea." Ter. Eun. 
 f " The lovely toy so fiercely sought, 
 
 Hath lost its charm by being caught." Byron. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 361 
 
 receive bodily impressions, as in a looking-glass, and the 
 reflection of beauty glancing into the soul,* begets union 
 even in separation, and affords a pleasure not much inferior 
 to corporeal intercourse, which, after all, is hollow and 
 unsatisfying.f I augur, moreover, that you will soon obtain 
 the object of your wishes, for to be always in the society of 
 the loved one, exerts a most persuasive power ; the eye is a 
 wondrous vehicle of love,J and constant intercourse is most 
 influential in begetting kindly feelings. Habit and the 
 company of each other will tame savage beasts. How much 
 more will they act upon a woman's heart. Parity of age 
 also has great weight with a maiden, and the animal passion 
 which is felt in the flower of youth, added to the conscious- 
 ness of being loved, very frequently call forth a return of 
 tender feeling. Every maiden wishes to be thought beau- 
 tiful, and exults in being loved ; and approves the testimony 
 borne by the lover to her beauty; because, if no one love 
 her, she believes herself devoid of any personal charms. 
 This one piece of advice I give you, make her feel certain 
 that she is beloved, and she will soon follow your example in 
 returning your affection.' 
 
 "And how," asked I, "is this sage oracle of yours to be 
 accomplished ? Put me in the right way ; you are more 
 experienced than myself; you have been longer initiated in 
 the mysteries of love. What am I to do ? What am I to 
 say ? How am I to obtain her for whom I sigh ? For my 
 part I am ignorant how to set about the work.' ' 
 
 " There is small need," replied Clinias, " to learn these 
 matters from the mouths of others. Love is a self-taught 
 master of his craft. No one teaches new-born babes 
 where to find their food ; they have already learnt by in- 
 tuition, and know that a table has been spread for them by 
 nature in their mothers' breasts. In like manner, the youth 
 who for the first time is pregnant with love, needs no 
 teaching to bring it to the birth ; only let your pains have 
 
 f Nequicquam ; quoniam nihil inde abradere possunt 
 
 Nee penetrare, et abire in carpus carpore toto." Luc. iv. 1005. 
 " Conveying as the electric wire, 
 
 We know not how, the absorbing fire." Byron. 
 avroSidaKTOs, yap ivTtv 6 QIOQ aoQiarfa. 
 
362 ACHILLES TJLTIT78. 
 
 come on, and your hour have arrived, and though it be for 
 the first time, you will not miscarry, but will be safely 
 brought to bed, midwifed by the god himself. I will, how*- 
 ever, give you a few common-place hints relating; to matters 
 which require general observance. Say nothing to the 
 maiden directly bearing upon love ; prosecute the wished-for 
 consummation quietly. Youths and maidens are alike sen- 
 sible of shame, and however much they may long for sexual 
 enjoyment, they do not like to hear it talked of; they 
 consider the disgrace of the matter to be altogether in the 
 words. Matrons take pleasure even in the words. A 
 maiden will show no objection to acts of dalliance upon her 
 lover's part, but will express her willingness by signs and 
 gestures ; yet if you come directly to the point, and put the 
 question to her, your very voice will alarm her ears ; she 
 will be suffused with blushes ; she will turn away from your 
 proposals ; she will think an insult has been done her ; and 
 however willing to comply with your desires, she will be 
 restrained by shame ; for the pleasurable sensations excited 
 by your words will make her consider herself to be sub- 
 mitting to the act. But when by other means you have 
 brought her to a compliant mood, so that you can approach 
 her with some degree of freedom, be as wise and guarded 
 as though you were celebrating the mysteries ;* gently ap- 
 proach and kiss her : a kiss given by a lover to a willing 
 mistress is a silent way of asking for her favours ; and the 
 same given to the fair one who is coy, is a supplication to 
 relent. Even when maidens are themselves ready to com- 
 ply, they often like some appearance of force to be em- 
 ployed,t for the plea of seeming necessity will remove the 
 shame of voluntary compliance upon their part. Do not be 
 discouraged if she repulses your advances, J but mark the 
 
 * The festivals called Mysteries took place at night, or in secret, 
 within some sanctuary, which the uninitiated were not allowed to 
 enter. See Diet, of Greek and Rom. Antiq. 
 
 f " Pugnabit primo fortassis, et Improbe, dicet. 
 Pugnando vinci sed tamen ilia volet." 
 
 Ovid, de Art. Aman. 1. 665. 
 : "Who listens once will listen twice; 
 Her heart, be sure, is not of ice, 
 And one refusal no rebuff." Byron. 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 363 
 
 manner of her repulse : all these matters require tact. If 
 she persists in being uncompliant, use no force ; for she is 
 not yet in the right humour; but if she show signs of 
 yielding, act still with proper caution, least after all you 
 should lose your labour."* 
 
 " You have given me storef of good advice," said I, " and 
 may everything turn out successfully ; nevertheless I sadly 
 fear that success will prove the beginning of even greater 
 calamity, by making me more desperately in love. What 
 am I to do if my malady increase ? I cannot marry, for I 
 am already engaged to another maiden ; my father, too, is 
 very urgent with me to conclude the match, and he asks 
 nothing but what is fair and reasonable. He does not 
 barter me away like Charicles for gold ; he does not wish 
 me to marry either a foreigner or an ugly girl ; he gives me 
 his own daughter, a maiden of rare beauty, had I not seen 
 Leucippe ; but now I am blind to all other charms except- 
 ing hers, in short, I have eyes for her alone. I am placed 
 midway between two contending parties ; Love on one side, 
 my father on the other; the latter wields his paternal 
 authority, the former shakes his burning torch ; how am I 
 to decide the cause ? Stern necessity and natural affection 
 are opposed. Father, I wish to give a verdict for you, but 
 I have an adversary too strong for me; he tortures and 
 overawes the judge, J he stands beside me with his shafts; 
 his arguments are flame. Unless I decide for him, his fires 
 will scorch me up." 
 
 While we were thus discussing the subject of the god of 
 Love, a slave of Charicles suddenly rushed in bearing his 
 evil tidings on his face so plainly, that Clinias immediately 
 
 * xoprjyriffov ri\v vTTOKpiaiv ft)) cnroXeffai ffov TO pa/ua. The lan- 
 guage is figurative and borrowed from customs relating to the drama. 
 If a poet wished to bring out a piece, he applied to the afcnon to grant 
 him a chorus (xopoi/ diSovai) ; hence the phrases %opbv airtlv, 
 Xa/jiflavtiv, to apply for and to succeed in the application. This will 
 explain the above expression airoXkaai TO dpa/ia, to fail in obtaining 
 through want of merit. 
 
 f tyodia. 
 
 Viz., his own mind distracted between the solicitations of his 
 father and the arguments of love. 
 
 " Tot me impediunt curee, quw meum animum diverse trahunt." 
 
 Ter. Andr, 
 
364 ACHILLES TATITJS. 
 
 cried out, " Some accident has befallen Charicles." " Cha- 
 ricles," nastily exclaimed the slave, "is dead." Utterance 
 failed Clinias, upon hearing this, he remained without the 
 power of motion, as if struck by lightning. The slave pro- 
 ceeded to relate the sad particulars. " Charicles," he said, 
 " after mounting, went off at a moderate pace, then after 
 having had two or three gallops, pulled up, and still sitting 
 on the animal, wiped off from its back the sweat, leaving 
 the reins upon its neck. There was a sudden noise from 
 behind, and the startled horse rearing bounded forward and 
 dashed wildly on.* Taking the bit between his teeth, with 
 neck thrown up and tossing mane, maddened with fright, 
 he flew through the air.f Such was his speed, that his 
 hind feet seemed endeavouring to overtake and pass the 
 fore feet in the race ; and owing to this rivalry of speed 
 between the legs, the animal's back rose and fell as does a 
 ship when tossing upon the billows. Oscillating from the 
 effect of these wave-like movements,;]: the wretched Chari- 
 cles was tossed up and down like a ball upon the horse's 
 back, now thrown back upon his croup, now pitched forward 
 upon his neck. At length overmastered by the storm, and 
 unable to recover possession of the reins, he gave himself 
 up to this whirlwind of speed, and was at Fortune's mercy. 
 The horse still in full career, turned from the public road, 
 
 * " And, starting to each accent, sprang 
 
 As from a sudden trumpet's clang." Byron, 
 f " Away, away, my steed and I, 
 
 Upon the pinions of the wind, 
 
 All human dwellings left behind ; 
 
 We sped like meteors through the sky." Byron. 
 
 " I felt as on a plank at sea, 
 
 When all the waves that dash o'er thee, 
 At the same time upheave and whelm, 
 And hurl thee towards a desert realm. 
 My undulating life was as 
 The fancied lights that flitting pass 
 Our shut eyes in deep midnight, when 
 Fever begins upon the brain." Byron. 
 
 It must be remembered that throughout this description the 
 expressions are borrowed from a storm at sea. An illustration occurs 
 in Soph. vi. Electra 729 and 733. " vavayiuv 'nnriK&v." t( jcXucwv', 
 
 t^tTTTTOV." 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 365 
 
 made for a wood, and dashed his unhappy rider against a 
 tree. Charicles was shot from off his back as from an 
 engine, and his face encountering the boughs, was lacerated 
 with a wound from every jagged point. Entangled by the 
 reins, he was unable to release his body, but was dragged 
 along upon the road to death ; for the horse, yet more 
 affrighted by the rider's fall, and impeded by his body, 
 kicked and trampled the miserable youth who was the 
 obstacle to his farther flight ;* and such is his disfigurement 
 that you can no longer recognize his features." 
 
 After listening to this account, Clinias was for some 
 moments speechless through bewilderment, then awakening 
 from his trance of grief, he uttered a piercing cry, and was 
 rushing out to meet the corpse, I following and doing my 
 best to comfort him. At this instant the body of Charicles 
 was borne into the house, a wretched and pitiable sight, for 
 he was one mass of wounds,t so that none of the bystanders 
 could restrain their tears. His father led the strains of 
 lamentation, and cried out, " My son, in how different a 
 state hast thou returned from that in which thou didst leave 
 me ! Ill betide all horsemanship ! Neither hast thou died 
 by any common death, nor art thou brought back a corpse 
 comely in thy death ; others who die preserve their well- 
 known lineaments, and though the living beauty of the 
 countenance be gone, the image is preserved, which by its 
 mimickry of sleep consoles the mourner.J In their case, 
 
 * " Each motion which I made to free 
 My swoln limbs from their agony 
 Increased his fury and affright." Byron. 
 
 f "Totum est pro corpore vulnus." Lucan ix. 814. 
 
 " He who hath bent him o'er the dead 
 Ere the first day of death is fled, 
 (Before decay's effacing fingers 
 Have swept the lines where beauty lingers), 
 And marked the mild angelic air ; 
 The rapture of repose that's there, 
 The fix'd yet tender traits that streak 
 The languor of the placid cheek. 
 ***** 
 
 He still might doubt the tyrant's power ; 
 
 So fair, so calm, so softly seal'd, 
 
 The first, last look by death reveal'd." Byron* 
 
366 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 death has taken away the soul, but leaves in the body the 
 semblance of the individual : in thy case, fate has destroyed 
 both, and, to me, thou hast died a double death, in soul and 
 body, so utterly has even the shadow of thy likeness 
 perished ! Thy soul has fled, and I find thee no more, even 
 in body ! Oh, my son, when shall be now thy bridal day ? 
 "When, ill-starred horseman and unwedded bridegroom, 
 when shall be the joyous nuptial festivities? The tomb 
 will be thy bridal bed, death thy partner, a dirge thy 
 nuptial song, wailing thy strains of joy !* I thought, my 
 son, to have kindled for thee a very different flame, but 
 cruel fate has extinguished both it and thee, and in its 
 stead lights up the funeral torch. Oh, luckless torch 
 bearing, whore death presides and takes the place of mar- 
 riage!" 
 
 Thus bitterly did the father bewail the loss of his son, 
 and Clinias vied with him in the expression of his grief, 
 breaking forth into soliloquy. " I have been the death of 
 him who was master of my affection ! Why was I so ill- 
 advised as to present him with such a gift ! Could I not have 
 given him a golden beaker, out of which, when pouring a 
 libation, he might have drunk, and so have derived pleasure 
 from the gift ? Instead of doing this, wretch that I was, I 
 bestowed upon this beauteous youth a savage brute, and 
 moreover decked out the beast with a pectoral and frontlet 
 and silver trappings.f Yes, Charicles, I decked out your 
 murderer with gold ! Thou beast, of all others most evil, 
 ruthless, ungrateful, and insensible to beauty, thou hast 
 actually been the death of him who fondled thee, who wiped 
 away thy sweat, promised thee many a feed, and praised the 
 swiftness of thy pace! Instead of glorying in being the 
 bearer of so fair a youth, thou hast ungratefully dashed his 
 beauty to the earth ! Woe is me, for having bought this 
 homicide, who has turned out to be thy murderer!" 
 
 JN\) sooner were the funeral obsequies over, than I hastened 
 to the maiden, who was in the pleasance belonging to the 
 
 * In Heliodonis, B. i. Theagenes and Charicles express their grief 
 in similar language. 
 
 f Mention of these different ornaments occurs in Xen. Cyrop. B. vi. 
 c. 4, sec. 1. 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 367 
 
 house. It consisted of a grove, which afforded a delightful 
 object to the eyes ; around it ran a wall, each of the four 
 sides of which had a colonnade supported upon pillars, the 
 central space being planted with trees, whose branches were 
 so closely interwoven, that the fruits and foliage inter- 
 mingled in friendly union.* Close to some of the larger 
 trees grew the ivy and the convolvulus ; the latter hanging 
 from the plane-trees, clustered round it, with its delicate 
 foliage; the former twining round the pine, lovingly em- 
 braced its trunk, so that the tree became the prop of the 
 ivy, and the ivy mrnished a crown for the tree. On 
 either side were seen luxuriant vines, supported upon 
 reeds ; these were now in blossom, and hanging down from 
 the intervening spaces were the ringlets of the plant ;f 
 while the upper leaves, agitated by the breeze and inter- 
 penetrated by the rays of the sun, caused a quivering 
 gleam to fall upon the ground, which partially lighted 
 up its shade. Flowers also displayed the beauty of 
 their various hues. The narcissus, the rose, and violet, 
 mingling together, imparted a purple colour to the earth ; 
 the calyx of both these flowers was alike in its general 
 shape, and served them for a cup ; the expanded rose-leaves 
 were red and violet above, milky white below, and the nar- 
 cissus was altogether of the latter hue ; the violet had no 
 calyx, and its colour resembled that of the sea when under 
 the influence of a calm. In the midst of the flowers bubbled 
 a fountain, whose waters received into a square basin, 
 the work of art, served the flowers for their mirror, and gave 
 a double appearance to the grove, by adding the reflection 
 to the reality. Neither were there wanting birds : some of 
 a domestic kind, reared by the care of man, were feeding in 
 the grove ; while others, enjoying their liberty of wing, flew 
 and disported themselves among the branches. The song- 
 sters were grasshoppers J and swallows, of which the one 
 
 * See the description of the garden in the 3rd Book of Longus. 
 + fjv /36(rrpwxo TOV tyvrov 
 
 J " The shrill cicalas, people of the pine, 
 
 Making their summer lives one ceaseless song." Byron. 
 
 The swallow was generally considered the representative of what 
 yas barbaric, chattering, and troublesome. See Aristoph. Frogs, 649, 
 
368 ACHILLES TATITJS. 
 
 celebrated the rising of Aurora, the other the banquet of 
 Tereus. Those of a domestic kind were the peacock, the 
 swan, and the parrot ; the swan was feeding near the foun- 
 tain ; a cage suspended from a tree contained the parrot ; 
 the peacock drew after him his splendid train ; nor was it 
 easy to decide which surpassed the other in beauty, the 
 tints of the flowers themselves, or the hues of his flower- 
 like feathers. 
 
 Leucippe happened at this time to be walking with Clio, 
 and stopped opposite the peacock who was just then spread- 
 ing his train, and displaying the gorgeous semicircle of his 
 feathers.* Wishing to produce amorous sensations in her 
 mind, I addressed myself to the slave Satyrus,t making 
 the peacock the subject of our discourse. " The bird," I 
 said, " does not do this without design ; he is of an amorous 
 nature, and always bedecks himself in this manner when he 
 wishes to attract his favourite mate. Do you see," I added, 
 (pointing in the direction) " the female, near the plane-tree 
 yonder ? It is to her that he is now displaying the 
 ' enamelled meadow ' of his plumes, and this meadow of his 
 is assuredly more beautiful than any mead in nature, each 
 plume has in it a spot of gold, and the gold is encircled by 
 a purple ring, and so in every plume there is seen an eye." 
 Satyrus readily comprehended the drift of my discourse, and 
 in order to give me scope for continuing the subject, he 
 asked "whether Love could possibly possess such power as to 
 transmit his warmth even unto the winged tribes ?" " Yes," 
 I replied, "not only unto them for there is no marvel in this, 
 since he himself is winged but also into reptiles and wild 
 
 and ^Esch. Ag. 1017, nevertheless is introduced by Moschus, in his 
 lament for Bion : 
 
 " Nor on their mountain thrones, 
 
 The swallows utter such lugubrious tones." 
 
 Chapman's Tr. 
 The reader will call to mind the line in Gray. 
 
 " The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed." 
 The chirping noise of the cicada (rrri) is constantly used by the 
 poets as a simile for sweet sounds. 
 
 *".... pecta pandat spectacula cauda." Hor. S. ii. 2. 25. 
 " Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks ?" 
 
 Job xxxix. 13, 
 f- Clio and Satyrus, slaves not mentioned before. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 369 
 
 beasts and plants ; nay, in my opinion even unto stones. 
 The magnet, for instance loves the iron, and upon the first 
 sight and touch draws that metal towards it, as if containing 
 within itself the fire of love. Is there not in this, a mani- 
 fest embrace between the amorous stone and the iron the 
 object of its affection ? Philosophers, moreover, tell, con- 
 cerning plants, what I should deem an idle tale were it not 
 confirmed by the experience of husbandmen. They main- 
 tain that one plant becomes enamoured of another, and that 
 the palm is most sensible of the tender passion ; there are, 
 you must know, male* and female palms; supposing the 
 female is planted at a distance from it, the male droops and 
 withers; the husbandman upon seeing this, easily under- 
 stands the nature of the malady, and ascending an eminence 
 he observes in what direction the tree inclines which is 
 always towards the beloved object ; having ascertained this 
 point, he employs the following remedy : taking a shoot 
 from the female he inserts it into the very heart of the 
 male ; this immediately revives it, and bestows new life 
 upon its sinking frame, so that it recovers its pristine 
 vigour ; and this arises from delight in embracing its 
 beloved ; such are the loves of the plants.f 
 
 " The same holds true concerning streams and rivers also ; 
 for we hear of the loves of the river Alpheus and the Sici- 
 lian fountain Arethusa. J This river takes its course through 
 the sea as through a plain, and the sea instead of impreg- 
 nating it with its saltness, divides and so affords a passage 
 for the river, performing the part of bridesman, by con- 
 ducting it to Arethusa; when, therefore, at the Olympic 
 Festival, persons cast various gifts into the channel of thia 
 
 * See Herod, i. ch. 194. 
 
 } " Vivunt in Venerem frondes omnisque vicissim 
 Felix arbor amat ; mutant ad mutua palmaa 
 Foedera, populeo suspirat populus ictu, 
 Et platani platanis, alnoque assibilat alnus." Claudian. 
 See also Darwin's poem, the " Botanic Garden." 
 
 $".... Alpheum fama est hue Elidis amnem 
 Occultas egisse vias subter mare ; qui nunc 
 Ore, Arethusa, tuo Siculis confunditur undis." 
 
 Virg. Mn. iii. 694. 
 
 VVfJUpCHTToXtl, 
 
 2B 
 
370 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 river, it immediately bears them to its beloved, these being 
 its nuptial gifts.* A yet stranger mystery of Love is seen 
 in reptiles, not merely in those of like race, but of different 
 kind^ The viper t conceives a violent passion for the lam- 
 prey, which though in form a serpent, is to all intents and 
 purposes a fish. When these reptiles wish to copulate, the 
 viper goes down to the shore and hisses in the direction of 
 the sea, which is a signal to the lamprey ; she understands 
 the sound, and issues from the water, but does not imme- 
 diately hasten to her lover, knowing that he carries deadly 
 poison in his teeth, but gliding up a rock, there waits until 
 he has cleansed his mouth. After looking at one another 
 for a space, the loving viper vomits forth the poison so 
 dreaded by his mistress, and she upon perceiving this, 
 descends and entwines him in her embrace, no longer 
 dreading his amorous bite." 
 
 During my discourse, I kept observing Leucippe to see 
 how she took these amatory topics, and she gave indi- 
 cations that they were not displeasing to her. The dazzling 
 beauty of the peacock which I just now mentioned seemed 
 to me far inferior to her attractions ; indeed the beauty of 
 her countenance might vie with the flowers of the meadow ; 
 the narcissus was resplendent in her general complexion, 
 the rose blushed upon her cheek, the dark hue of the violet 
 sparkled in her eyes, her ringlets curled more closely than 
 do the clusters of the ivy ; -her face, therefore, was a reflex 
 of the meadows. J Shortly after this, she left the pleasance, 
 it being time for her to practise upon the harp. Though 
 absent she appeared to me still present, for her form and 
 features remained impressed upon my eyes. 
 
 Satyrus and I congratulated each other upon our mutual 
 performances. I for the subjects I had chosen, he for having 
 given me the opportunity of discussing them. Supper time 
 soon arrived and we reclined at table as before. 
 
 t An account of the loves of the viper and the lamprey will be 
 found in JElian, B. i. 50 ; and the polite consideration of the former 
 in getting rid of his disagreeable qualities is related by the same 
 writer, B. ix. 66, with the addition of his " hissing an amorous air." 
 
 The same comparison occurs in Aristsenetus, B ii. Ep. 1 : " 
 Xaftwa>i, cat oTrep tfccii/y rd dv9rj, rouro ye ravry TO Ka\\0f." 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 371 
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 PBEVIOFS to this, however, Satyrus and I, praising our 
 mutual tact, proceeded to the maiden's chamber, under the 
 pretext of hearing her performance on the harp, but in 
 reality because I could not bear her to be out of my 
 sight, for however short a space. The first subject of her 
 song was, the engagement between the lion and the boar, 
 described by Homer;* afterwards she chose a tenderer 
 theme, the praises of the rose. 
 
 Divested of its poetic ornaments,t the purport of the 
 strain was this : Had Jove wished to impose a monarch 
 upon the flowers, this honor would have been given to the 
 rose,J as being the ornament of the earth, the boast of 
 shrubs, the eye of flowers, imparting a blush to the mea- 
 dows and dazzling with its beauty. The rose breathes of 
 love, conciliates Venus, glories in its fragrant leaves, exults 
 in its tender stalks, which are gladdened by the Zephyr. 
 Such was the matter of the song. For my part, I seemed 
 to behold a rose upon her lips, as though the calyx of the 
 flower had been converted into the form of the human 
 mouth. She had scarcely ended when the supper hour 
 arrived. It was then the time of celebrating the Festival of 
 Bacchus, " patron of the vintage," whom the Tyrians 
 
 * II. xvi. 823. 
 
 " As when the lion and the sturdy boar, 
 Contend in battle on the mountain tops 
 For some scant rivulet which both desire, 
 Ere long the lion quells the panting boar." Cowper's Tr. 
 
 f KdfjLTrai, signify properly, the changes and inflections in a piece of 
 music. 
 
 J " The rose, of flow'rs th* enchanting pride ; 
 The rose is Spring's enchanting bride ; 
 The rose of every god 's the joy ; 
 With roses Cytherea's boy, 
 When, dancing, he'd some Grace ensnare, 
 Adorns the love-nets of his hair." 
 
 Anacreon. v. Addiaou's Tr. 
 &iovi>aov. 
 
 2 B 2 
 
372 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 esteem to be their god, quoting a legend of Cadmus which 
 attributes to the feast the following origin : Once upon a 
 time, mortals had no such thing as wine, neither the black 
 and fragrant kind, nor the Biblian, nor the Maronaean,* 
 nor the Chian, nor the Icarian; all these they maintain 
 came originally from Tyre, their inventor being a Tyrian. 
 A certain hospitable neatherd (resembling the Athenian 
 Icarius, who is the subject of a very similar story) gave 
 occasion to the legend which I am about to relate. Bacchus 
 happened to come to the cottage of this countryman, who 
 set before him whatsoever the earth and the labours of his 
 oxen had produced. Wine, as I observed, was then unknown, 
 like the oxen, therefore, their beverage was water. 
 
 Bacchus thanked him for his friendly treatment and pre- 
 sented to him a "loving cup," t which was filled with wine. 
 Having taken a hearty draught, and becoming very jovial 
 from its effects, he said : " Whence, stranger, did you pro- 
 cure this purple water, this delicious blood ? It is quite 
 different from that which flows along the ground ; for that 
 descends into the vitals, and affords cold comfort at the 
 best ; whereas this, even before entering the mouth, rejoices 
 the nostrils, and though cold to the touch, leaps down into 
 the stomach and begets a pleasurable warmth." J To this 
 Bacchus replied, " This is the water of an autumnal fruit, 
 this is the blood of the grape," and so saying, he conducted 
 the neatherd to a vine, and squeezing a bunch of grapes 
 said, " here is the water, and this is the fountain from 
 whence it flows." Such is the account which the Tyrians 
 give as to the origin of wine. 
 
 * The wine of most early celebrity was that which the minister of 
 Apollo, Maron, who dwelt upon the skirts of Thracian Ismarus gave 
 to Ulysses. It was red and honey-sweet ; so precious, that it was 
 unknown to all in the mansion save the wife of the priest and one 
 trusty housekeeper; so strong, that a single cup was mixed with 
 twenty of water ; so fragrant, that even when thus diluted it diffused 
 a divine and most tempting perfume. 
 
 See Odyss. ix. 203. ; Diet, of Greek and Roman Antiq. 
 
 f KvXiKo. <j>t\oTriaiav. 
 
 J . . . . " this is from above a stream 
 
 Of nectar and ambrosia, all divine !" Od. B. ix. 355, Cowper. 
 
 " He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the Hood of 
 grapes" * Gen. xlix. 11. 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 373 
 
 It was, as I before said, the festival of this deity which 
 was being celebrated. My father anxious to do everything 
 handsomely, had made grand preparations for the supper, 
 and there was set in honor of the god, a magnificent goblet 
 of crystal,* in the beauty of its workmanship second only 
 to that of the Chian Grlaucus.f Vines seemingly growing 
 from within encircled it, and their clusters hung down all 
 around ; as long as the goblet remained empty each grape 
 appeared unripe and green; but no sooner was the wine 
 poured in than each grape began to redden, and assumed 
 the hue of ripeness; and among them was represented Bac- 
 chus himself as dresser of the vineyard. As the feast went 
 on, and the good wine did its office, I began to cast bold 
 lawless glances at Leucippe ; for Love and Bacchus are two 
 very potent deities, they take possession of the soul J and 
 so inflame it that it forgets every restraint of modesty ; the 
 one kindles in it a flame, and the other supplies fuel for the 
 tire, for wine may truly be called the meat and drink of 
 love. The maiden also became gradually emboldened so as 
 to gaze at me more fixedly. In this manner, ten days 
 passed on without anything beyond glances being inter- 
 changed between us. 
 
 At length I imparted the whole affair to Satyrus, request- 
 ing his assistance ; he replied, " I knew it all before you 
 told me, but was unwilling that you should be aware of the 
 fact, supposing it your wish to remain unobserved ; for very 
 often he who loves by stealth hates the party who has dis- 
 
 * vaXov opwpvy/tlvjje. Herodotus, iii. 24, uses the word t/aXof, to 
 describe the clear transparent stone, supposed to be Oriental alabaster, 
 used by the Egyptians to enclose their mummies. 
 
 f The translation of this passage follows Villoisin's reading. For 
 a mention of the cup of Glaucus, see Herod, i. 25. Mr. Blakesley, 
 in his Edition remarks, that 77 rXavicov Tt%vT), was in the time of 
 Plato (Phsedon, 132) a proverbial one, applied to everything requiring 
 an extraordinary amount of skill. 
 
 + " While Venus fills the heart . . . 
 
 Ceres presents a plate of of vermicelli, 
 
 For love must be sustain'd like flesh and blood, 
 While Bacchus pours out wine or hands a jelly. Byron. 
 
374 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 covered his passion, and considers himself to Lave received 
 an insult from him. However," continued he, " fortune has 
 provided for our contingences,* for Clio, Leucippe's chamber- 
 maid, has an understanding with me, and admits me as her 
 lover. I will gradually buy her over to give us her assist- 
 ance in this affair ; but you, on your part, must not be con- 
 tent with making trial of the maiden merely by glances ; 
 you must speak to her and say something to the point, 
 then take a farther step by touching her hand, squeezing 
 her fingers, and fetching a deep sigh ; if she permits this 
 willingly, then salute her as the mistress of your affections, 
 and imprint a kiss upon her neck.' J " By Pallas, you coimsel 
 wisely," was my reply, " but I fear me, I shall prove but a 
 craven wrestler in the school of love." 
 
 " The god of love," said he, " has no notion of craven- 
 heartedness ; do you not see in what warlike guise he is 
 equipped ? He bears a bow, a quiver, arrows, and a lighted 
 torch, emblems all of them, of manhood and of daring. 
 Filled, then, as you are with the influence of such a god, 
 are you a coward and do you tremble ? Beware of shewing 
 yourself merely a counterfeit in love. I will make an open- 
 ing by calling away Clio, as soon as an opportunity occurs 
 for your having a private conversation with Leucippe." 
 With these words he left the room; excited by what he 
 had said, I was no sooner alone, then I used every endea- 
 vour to collect my courage for the approaching interview. 
 " Coward," said I, " how long wilt thou continue silent? 
 Thou, the soldier of such a warlike ' god, and yet a craven.' 
 Dost thou intend to wait until the maiden comes to thee 
 of her own accord?" Afterwards I proceeded, " and yet 
 fool that thou art, why not come to thy senses ? "Why not 
 bestow thy love upon a lawful object ? Thou hast another 
 maiden in this house; one possessed of beauty. Be con- 
 tent with loving her, and gazing upon her ; her it is per- 
 mitted thee to take to wife." My purpose was almost fixed ; 
 when from the bottom of my heart Love spoke in reply and 
 said ; " Hash man, darest thou to set thyself in array and to 
 war with me me, who have wings to fly, arrows to wound, 
 and a torch to burn ? How, pry thee, wilt thou escape ? If 
 thou wardest off my shafts, how wilt thou avert my fire ? 
 
 * TO avToparov 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 375 
 
 and even supposing thy chastity should quench the fl&me, 
 still I can overtake thee with my wings." * 
 
 While engaged in this soliloquy, the maiden unexpectedly 
 made her appearance ; I turned pale, and the next moment 
 became crimson ; she was quite alone, not even Clio accom- 
 panied her ; in a very confused manner, and not knowing 
 what else to say, I addressed her with the words, " Good 
 morrow, fair mistress ;" sweetly smiling, she shewed by her 
 countenance that she comprehended the drift of my salu- 
 tation, and said, " Do you call me your mistress ?" " Indeed I 
 do, for one of the gods has told me to be your slave, as Her- 
 cules was sold to Omphale." " Sold, if I remember, by 
 Mercury," rejoined she, " and Jove employed him in the 
 business ;" this she said with an arch smile ? " What non- 
 sense," rejoined I, "to trifle so, and talk of Mercury when 
 all the while you understood my meaning." f While one 
 pleasantry led on to another and so prolonged our conver- 
 sation, fortune came to my assistance. 
 
 About noon on the preceding day, Leucippe had been 
 playing on the harp and Clio was sitting beside her. I 
 was walking up and down, when suddenly a bee flying in, 
 stung Clio's hand; she immediately shrieked out, upon 
 which the maiden, hastily rising from her seat and laying 
 aside the harp, examined the wound, bidding her to be 
 under no anxiety, for that she could relieve the pain by 
 simply uttering two magic words, having been instructed 
 by an Egyptian how to cure the stings inflicted by bees 
 and wasps ; she then proceeded to utter the words of incan- 
 
 * "7rw dv Tig CLVTO 0vyoi ; irrspa t\et Kai KaraX^^/crat." Longusi 
 B.i. 
 
 "All his body is a fire, 
 And his breath a flame eutire. 
 
 He doth bear a golden bow, 
 And a quiver hanging low. 
 
 Wings he hath which though ye clip 
 He will leap from lip to lip, 
 
 And if chance his arrow misses 
 
 He will shoot himself in kisses." Ben Jonson. 
 
 t The translation follows the reading in the edition by Jacobs, 
 
376 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 tation, and Clio, in a few moments declared the pain to 
 be relieved. This, as I intimated, took place on the day 
 before. On the present occasion it chanced, that a bee 
 or wasp flew buzzing round my face, when all at once the 
 idea seized me of feigning myself to have been stung ;* I 
 did so, putting my hand to my face, and pretending to be in 
 pain. The maiden came up to me, removed my hand and 
 enquired where I had been stung ; upon my lips, dearest, 
 was my reply, why do you not charm away the pain ? Ap- 
 proaching my face, she placed her mouth almost close to 
 mine, in order to work the charm, at the same time mur- 
 muring certain words, and ever and anon touching my 
 lips. All this time I kept stealing silent kisses, so that 
 from the maiden alternately opening and closing her lips 
 while uttering the charm, the incantation became changed 
 into one continuous kiss. At last putting my arms around 
 her, I saluted her lips more ardently ; upon which drawing 
 back she exclaimed, " What are you about ? Are you, too, 
 turned enchanter ?" "I am only kissing the charm which 
 has removed my pain." She took my meaning and smiled, 
 which gave me a fresh supply of courage. 
 
 " Ah ! dear Leucippe," I exclaimed, " I now feel another 
 and severer sting, f one which has penetrated to my very 
 heart, and calls for your ' mighty magic ;' surely you must 
 carry about a bee upon your lips, they are full of honey, 
 your kisses wound ; repeat the charm, I pray, but do not 
 hurry over the operation, for fear of exasperating the 
 
 * Tasso has introduced this stratagem of a lover into his Aminta, 
 Act ii sc. 2, where Sylvia cures Phyllis stung by a bee, by kissing her, 
 upon which Aminta, pretends to have been stung in order to be cured 
 by the same agreeable remedy. 
 
 " Che, fingendo ch' un' ape avesse morso 
 II mio labbre di sotto, incominciai 
 A lamentarmi di cotal maniera, 
 Che quella medicina che la lingua 
 Non richiedeva, il volto richiedeva." 
 
 t " fece 
 
 Piu cupa, e piu mortale 
 
 La mia piaga verace, 
 
 Quando le labbre sua 
 
 Giunse a le labbre mie. 
 
 N'a 1'api d'alcun fiore 
 
 Colgon si dolce il mel, ch'allora io colsi 
 
 Da quelle fresche rose." Tasso. 
 
ACHILLES TA.TICTS. 377 
 
 wound ;" at the same time I embraced her more closely aad 
 kissed her with still greater freedom ; nor, though making 
 a show of resistance, did she seem displeased.* At this 
 juncture Clio was seen approaching from a distance, upon 
 which we separated, I much annoyed and sorely against 
 my will ; what were her feelings I cannot exactly say. After 
 what had passed, however, I felt easier in mind and began to 
 indulge in brighter hopes. 
 
 I still felt the kiss upon my lips as though it had really 
 been something of a corporeal nature ; I zealously guarded 
 it as a treasure of sweets, for a kiss is to the lover his chief 
 delight ; it takes its birth from the fairest portion of the 
 human body from the mouth, which is the instrument of 
 the voice, and the voice is the adumbration of the soul; 
 when lips mingle they dart pleasure through the veins, and 
 make even the lovers' souls join in the embrace. Never 
 before did I feel delight comparable to this ; and then for 
 the first time I learnt that no pleasurable sensation can vie 
 with a lover's kiss.f 
 
 At supper time we met as on former occasions, when 
 Satyrus, who acted as cupbearer, hit upon the following 
 amorous device. After our cups were filled, he effected an 
 exchange, presenting mine to tbe maiden, handing hers to 
 me. Having noticed what part of the brim had been touched 
 by her in drinking, I applied my lips to the same place ;t 
 thus intimating that I was sending her a kiss. She remarked 
 what I had done, and readily understood that I had been 
 kissing the shadow of her lips. Satyrus again stealthily 
 made a like exchange of cups, when I could observe her 
 
 * " She blushed and frown'd not, but she strove to speak, 
 
 And held her tongue, her voice was grown so weak." Byron. 
 
 f " How delicious is the winning 
 
 Of a kiss at love's beginning. Campbell. 
 J " Fac primus rapias illius tacta labellis 
 Pocula ; quoque bibit parte puella bibe." 
 
 Ovid, de Art. Am. i. 595. 
 " Drink to me only with thine eyes, 
 And I will pledge thee with mine ; 
 Or leave a kiss but in the cup 
 And I'll not look for wine." 
 
 Ben Jonson (imitation of a passage in Philostratua, 
 
378 ACHILLES TATITJ8. 
 
 imitating me, and drinking as I had done, which, as you may 
 imagine, vastly increased my happiness. This was repeated 
 a third and fourth time ; in short, we passed the rest of the 
 time in drinking kisses to one another. 
 
 When supper was ended, Satyrus approaching me said, 
 " Now is the time to show your mettle ; the maiden's 
 mother, as you are aware, is unwell, and has retired to rest 
 alone. She herself before going to bed will take a few 
 turns as usual in the garden, attended by no one but Clio, 
 whom I will undertake to get out of the way. We then 
 separated, and remained on the watch, he for Clio, I for 
 Leucippe. Everything turned out as we had wished ; Clio 
 was got rid of, and Leucippe remained walking by herself. 
 I waited till the daylight had faded away,* and then 
 approached her, emboldened by my former success, like a 
 soldier already victorious, who therefore scorns the perils of 
 war. The arms in which I trusted were wine, love, hope, 
 and solitude ; so, without saying a word, and as if every- 
 thing had been preconcerted, I took her in my arms, and 
 covered her with kisses. When about to proceed to other 
 familiarities, a noise was heard behind us, at which we started 
 asunder in alarm. She betook herself to her chamber, and 
 I remained there in great dudgeon at having lost so capital 
 an opportunity, and execrating the noise which had been 
 the cause. 
 
 Meanwhile Satyrus came up with a laughing countenance. 
 He had witnessed everything, having concealed himself 
 under a tree to guard against our surprise ; and it was he, 
 who seeing some one approach, had made the noise. 
 
 In the course of a few days, my father made preparations 
 for concluding my marriage sooner than had been originally 
 intended. He had been much alarmed by various dreams ; 
 he thought he was celebrating the nuptial rites, and after 
 the torches had been kindled the light was suddenly extin- 
 guished. This made him more anxious to conclude the 
 matter, and we were now within a day of the one formally 
 appointed for the ceremony. The wedding clothes and 
 jewels were already purchased ; there was a necklace eom- 
 
 * The original is highly poetical : sTrirjjpijcrac ovv ore rov 
 TO TroXv TTIQ avyiJ e/iapati/tro. 
 
ACHILLES TATIU3. 379 
 
 posed of various gems, and a splendid purple robe edged 
 with a gold border. The gems vied with each other in 
 beauty ; among them was a hyacinth,* which resembled a 
 rose, only that it was a stone, and an amethyst almost as 
 lustrous as gold itself. In the middle of this necklace were 
 three precious stones, arranged together and curiously 
 blended in their hues ; the lowest one was black, the middle 
 white, but with a darkish tinge, the upper one shading 
 off into a ruddy colour. They were set in a rim of gold, 
 and might be said to bear resemblance to an eyef. The 
 purple of the dress was of no ordinary dye, but of the kind 
 which the Tyrians fable to have been discovered by the 
 shepherd's dog, and with which they are wont to represent 
 the robe of VenusJ to be tinged. There was a time when 
 this purple dye was as yet unknown, but remained concealed 
 in the hollow of a little shell fish. A shepherd meeting 
 with one of these hoped to obtain the fish which was inside ; 
 foiled by the hardness of the shell, after bestowing a hearty 
 curse upon his booty, he threw it into the sea as so much 
 worthless rubbish. His dog lighted upon this windfall, 
 and broke open the shell with his teeth, in doing which his 
 mouth and lips became stained with the brilliant dye, or 
 as we may call it, blood. The shepherd upon seeing this 
 supposed it the effect of a wound ; so taking the dog down 
 to the sea he washed his mouth, upon which the imaginary 
 blood assumed a still more brilliant hue, and upon proceed- 
 ing to touch it, his hand became of a purple colour. The 
 shepherd now guessed what was the nature of the shell fish, 
 and that it was impregnated with a dye of surpassing beauty ; 
 so taking some wool he placed it in the aperture, determined 
 to dive into the mysteries of the shell ; and it became of a 
 colour similar to that upon the dog's mouth. By this 
 
 * In B. v. of the Ethiopics, Heliodorus says of the Spanish and 
 British amethyst, that it is of a dull ruddy colour, resembling a newly 
 budding rose ; and of the amethyst of Ethiopia, that it emits a lustre 
 like that of gold. 
 
 t . . . . " blending every colour into, one, 
 
 Just like a black eye in a recent scuffle." Byron. 
 The 7T7r\o was an ample shawl serving for a robe ; those of the 
 most splendid hues and curious workmanship were imported from 
 Tyre and Sidon. See Iliad, vi 289. 
 
380 ACHILLES TATITJ8. 
 
 means he obtained a knowledge of what we call purple ; and 
 after breaking open its fortified receptacle with the help of 
 a stone, he arrived at the treasure-house of dye. To return, 
 however, to my story. My father was performing the 
 preliminary rites,* the marriage being fixed, as I have said, 
 ibr the following day. I was in despair, and was devising 
 some pretext for deferring it. While in this state of per- 
 plexity, a great tumult was heard to proceed from the men's 
 quarter of the house. It appeared that as my father was 
 offering up a sacrifice; an eaglef swooping from on high 
 seized the victim, and in spite of every endeavour to scare 
 him away, bore off his prey. As this was declared to fore- 
 bode no good, the marriage was postponed for another day. 
 My father proceeded to consult the seers and soothsayers 
 upon the meaning of the portent ; they were of opinion that 
 he should offer a sacrifice to hospitable Jove at midnight 
 upon the sea-shore, since the bird had flown in that 
 direction. Sure enough he had winged his flight thither, 
 and appeared no more. For my part, I extolled the eagle 
 to the skies, and declared that he was justly styled the 
 kingj of birds. No long time elapsed before the meaning of 
 the prodigy became revealed. There was a certain young 
 man, a native of Byzantium, by name Callisthenes ; he was 
 an orphan and possessed of wealth, profligate in his life and 
 extravagant in his expenditure. Having heard that Sostra- 
 tus had a handsome daughter, he was anxious to obtain her 
 hand and became enamoured upon hearsay, for he had never 
 seen her. The force of passion upon the licentious is often 
 so strong that their ears lead them into love, and report has 
 the same effect upon their minds which sight has upon others. 
 Before the breaking out of the war against the Byzantians, 
 the young man introduced himself to Sostratus, and asked 
 the hand of his daughter in marriage. Sostratus, however, 
 
 * TrporfXfta ya/Liwv. These consisted of sacrifices and offerings 
 made to the Gtot yap.r)\ioi, or divinities who presided over marriage; 
 the sacrificer was the father of the bride elect, 
 j- oitDVutv (3aoi\ev. JEiBch. Ag. 113. 
 
 J ....," ministrum fulminis alitem 
 Cui rex Deorum regnum in aves vagas 
 Permisit." Hor. iv. Od. iv. i. 
 " nunquam visse flagrabat amore puellae." Juv. iv. 14. 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 381 
 
 strongly objecting to his irregular way of life, rejected his 
 application. Callisthenes was very indignant at this repulse ; 
 he" considered himself slighted; besides, he was in love, 
 and fancy pictured to his mind those charms which he had 
 never seen. Dissembling his displeasure, he meditated how 
 he might Tevenge himself on Sostratus, and at the same 
 time gratify his own desires ; nor was he without hope of 
 success, there being a law of the Byzantians which enacted, 
 that if any one should carry off a maiden he should be 
 exempt from punishment upon making her his wife ;* of 
 this law he determined to avail himself, and waited only 
 till a seasonable opportunity should offer. Although the 
 war had now broken out, and the maiden had come to us 
 for security, he did not abandon his design, in the execution 
 of which the following circumstance assisted, as the Byzan- 
 tians had received an oracle to this effect : 
 
 " With plant-born name there lives an island race, 
 Whose land an isthmus to the shore doth brace; 
 Vulcan consorts there with the blue-eyed maid, 
 And there to Hercules be offerings paid." f* 
 
 While all were in doubt what place was intended by these 
 enigmatic words, Sostratus (who was one of the commanders) 
 thus delivered his opinion : " We must send to Tyre, and 
 offer up a sacrifice to Hercules ;J the expressions of the 
 oracle clearly point to that city. The 4 plant-derived name,' 
 shews that the island of the Phoenicians is intended, the 
 phoenix (or palm), being a plant ; both sea and land lay claim 
 to it: the latter joins it to the continent, the former washes 
 it on either side ; thus it is seated in the one element, but 
 without abandoning the other, to which it is united by its 
 narrow isthmus or neck of land ; moreover, it is not founded 
 
 * Jacobs observes that this law of Byzantium is purely the invention 
 of Tatius ; one resembling it existed at Athens. 
 
 f 1 Nf)ffO TIQ iroXiQ sari 0i>rwvv/jov alfjLa \a\ovffa 
 
 OfJlOV Kdi -TrOpGfJLOV tit' rfTTHpOlO <f)EpOVffa, 
 
 ' 
 
 K.H0J 9vr)7roXir)v ae 0spav /cgXojuai 'HpaicXiJi. 
 
 Tyre is called by Euripides, (fxnviacra vfjaog, (Phcen. 211,) was built 
 upon a small island, 200 furlongs from the shore. Alexander took it, 
 after having joined the island to the continent by a mole. 
 
 Herod. B. ii. c. 44, gives an account of his visit to the temple of 
 the Tyrian Hercules, and of the rich offerings which he saw in it. 
 
382 ACHILLES TATItfS. 
 
 in the sea, but both under it and under the isthmus, the 
 waters have free course ; thus there is seen the singular 
 spectacle of a city in the sea, and of an island upon shore. 
 The mention made of * Vulcan consorting with the blue- 
 eyed maid/ alludes to the olive and the fire, which are 
 found there in close proximity : for, in a sacred precinct 
 surrounded by a wall, olive trees are seen to flourish, while 
 fire issuing from their roots burns among the branches, and 
 with its ashes benefits the tree ; hence there exists a mutual 
 friendship, and Minerva shuns not Vulcan." Upon this 
 Chaerophon, who shared the command with Sostratus in the 
 war, his senior in age and a native of Tyre, extolled him 
 highly for his excellent interpretation of the oracle. " It is 
 not only fire, however," said he, " which claims our wonder ; 
 the water also deserves its share. I myself have seen the 
 following marvels : there is a fountain in Sicily whose waters 
 are mingled with fire ; the flame is seen to leap up from 
 underneath, yet if you touch the water it will be found as 
 cold as snow, so that neither is the fire extinguished by the 
 water, nor the water ignited by the flame, but a mutual 
 truce subsists between the elements*. There is also a river 
 in Spain, not differing from others in appearance, but if you 
 wish to hear it become vocal, you have but to wait and 
 listen ; for when a gentle breeze sweeps over its surface 
 there is heard a sound as if from strings, the wind being the 
 plectrum, the river itself the lyre.f I may likewise men- 
 tion a lake in Lybia, resembling in its nature the Indian 
 soil.J The Lybian maidens are well acquainted with its 
 secrets and with the riches which, stored below its waters, 
 are mingled with the mud, for it is, in fact, a fount of gold. 
 Plunging a long pole smeared with pitch into the lake, they 
 lay open its recesses ; this pole is to the gold what the hook 
 is to the fish, serving as a bait. The grains of gold alone 
 
 * " The fire had power in the water, forgetting his own virtue ; and 
 the water forgat his own quenching nature." Wisdom, xix. 20. 
 
 t See p. 234 of firewater's Natural Magic, for a solution of the 
 acoustic wonder of the vocal sounds emitted by the statue of Memnon. 
 
 J Herod, iii. 102, says of the Indian soil 
 
 'H dk t^a/i/iof 77 avafytoontvr] effri \pvalrig. 
 
 Herod. B. iv. 195, gives an account of a lake in the isle Cyraunis, 
 on the east of Africa, from which the young women obtain gold-dust 
 by means of feathers smeared with pitch. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 383 
 
 attach themselves to the pitch, and are drawn on shore. 
 Such is the gold-fishing in the Lybian waters. 
 
 After relating these marvels, Chaerephon, with the consent 
 of the state, proceeded to dispatch the victims and other 
 offerings to Tyre. Callisthenes contrived to be among the 
 number of the sacred functionaries.* and soon arriving at 
 that city, he found out my father's residence, and matured 
 his schemes against the females, who, as will presently 
 be shown, went out to view the sacrificial show, which was 
 in the highest degree sumptuous ; there was a vast quantity 
 of different kinds of incense used, such as cassia, frankin- 
 cense, and crocus ; there was also a great display of flowers, 
 the narcissus, the rose, and the myrtle ; the fragrance of the 
 flowers vied with the perfumes of the incense ; the breeze 
 wafted them aloft, mingled their odours in the air, producing 
 a gale of sweets. The victims were many in number and 
 of various kinds ; the most remarkable among them, how- 
 ever, were the oxen from the Nile, animals which excel 
 not only in stature but in colours. They are altogether of 
 very large size, with brawny necks, broad backs, and ample 
 bellies ;t their horns are not depressed, like those of the 
 Sicilian ox, nor ill-shaped like the Cyprian, but project 
 upward from the forehead of this animal with a gentle 
 curve ; the interval between them at their tips and at the 
 roots being equal, so that they bear a resemblance to the 
 moon when at the full ; their colour is that which Homer 
 so much praises in the Thracian horses. J The bull stalks 
 along with lofty crest, as if to show that he is the monarch 
 of the herd. If there is any truth in the legend of Europa, 
 it was into an Egyptian bull that Jove metamorphosed 
 himself. 
 
 At the time of which I am speaking my mother-in-law 
 was unwell; Leucippe also feigned indisposition, accord- 
 
 f ........ " plurima cervix, 
 
 Tarn longo nullus later! modus : omnia magna.' 
 
 Virg, G. iii. 52. 
 " His steeds I saw, the fairest by these eyes 
 
 Ever beheld and loftiest ; snow itself 
 
 They pass iu whiteness." Iliad, x. 43. 7. Cowper's Tr. 
 
384r ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 ing to a preconcerted arrangement, that we might have an 
 opportunity of meeting during the absence of the rest 
 My sister, therefore, and Leucippe's mother were the only 
 ones who went out to see the show. Callisthenes, who 
 knew by sight the wife of Sostratus, seeing my sister in her 
 company mistook her for Leucippe, of whom he had no 
 personal knowledge. Smitten by her appearance, and with- 
 out making any inquiries, he points her out to a trusty 
 attendant of his, commanding him to engage some pirates 
 to effect her seizure, and arranging the manner of proceed- 
 ing, for a high festival* was at hand when, as he under- 
 stood, all the maidens would go down to the shore for the 
 purpose of performing their ablutions. After giving these 
 directions, and having discharged the duties of his functionf, 
 he withdrew. He had previously, I may remark, provided 
 a vessel of his own, in case an opportunity should offer for 
 carrying his schemes into effect. 
 
 Meanwhile the rest of the sacred functionaries had em- 
 barked and sailed away ; he, however, went on board his 
 vessel, and continued to lie a little off" shore, both in order 
 that he might appear to be taking his departure like the 
 others, and also lest, being so near Tyre, any danger should 
 happen to himself in consequence of carrying off the maid en. 
 Upon arriving at Sarepta, a Tynan village on the sea-coast, 
 he purchased another craft, which he intrusted to his fol- 
 lower Zeno, who was to execute his plan. This man was 
 able-bodied, and accustomed to a buccaneering life; he 
 soon, therefore, succeeded in gathering together some pirates 
 from the above-named village,, and then sailed for Tyre. 
 Near this city there is an islet with a harbour, (the Tyrians 
 call it the tomb of E/hodope) ; here the craft was stationed 
 watching for the prey. Before the arrival of the high 
 festival, however, which Callisthenes awaited, the omen of 
 the eagle and the interpretation of the soothsayers were 
 fulfilled. On the day preceding, we made preparations for 
 the sacrifice to Jove, and late in the evening went down to 
 the shore; none of our motions escaped Zeno, who cau- 
 tiously followed us. "When in the act of performing our 
 ablutions, he made the preconcerted signal, upon which the 
 
 * travrjyvpif. 1* T^v Qiumav a$oatit>psvo. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 385 
 
 boat made rapidly for the land, manned by ten young fel- 
 lows ; eight others were secretly in readiness on shore, 
 dressed in women's clothes and with shaven chins; each 
 had a sword concealed under his dress, and the better to 
 avoid any suspicion, they had brought some victims with 
 them as for sacrifice, so that we took them to be women. 
 No sooner had we reached the pile than, raising a sudden 
 shout, they rushed upon us, and put out our torches; we fled 
 disorderly and in alarm, upon which they drew their swords, 
 and seizing my sister, put her into the boat, and then 
 embarking rowed off with the speed of an eagle. Some 
 who had fled at the first onset saw nothing of what after- 
 wards occurred ; others who had witnessed everything cried 
 out, " The pirates have carried off Calligone." 
 
 Meanwhile the boat was far out at sea, and upon nearing 
 Sarepta made a signal which when Callisthenes recognised, 
 he put out to meet it, and taking the maiden on board his 
 own vessel, at once sailed away. I breathed again upon 
 finding my marriage thus unexpectedly broken off, nev.er- 
 theless I was sorry for the calamity which had befallen my 
 sister. A few days after this occurrence, I said to Leu- 
 cippe, "How long, my dearest, are we to confine ourselves 
 to kisses ? they are pleasant enough as preludes, let us now 
 add to them something more substantial; suppose we 
 exchange mutual pledges of fidelity, for only let Venus 
 initiate 2 * us in her mysteries and then we need fear the 
 power of no other deity." 
 
 By constantly repeating my solicitations, I at length per- 
 suaded the maiden to receive me into her own chamber, 
 Clio lending us her assistance. I will describe the situation 
 of her room : a large space in one part of the mansion con- 
 tained two chambers on the right hand and as many on the 
 left ; a narrow passage, closed at the entrance by a door, 
 gave access to them.t Those at the farther end were occu- 
 pied by the maiden and her mother, and were opposite 
 each other ; of the two remaining ones, that next to Leu- 
 cippe belonged to Clio, the other was a store-room. Leu- 
 
 * fiver ay uyrjffy. 
 
 f See the plan of a Greek house taken from Bekker's Chariklee. 
 Diet, of Greek and Roman Antiq. p. 494. 
 
 2 c 
 
386 ACHILLES TATITTS. 
 
 cippe's mother was always in the habit of attending her to 
 bed; upon which occasions she not only locked the door 
 inside, but had it secured by a slave on the outside, the 
 keys being handed to her through an opening ; these she 
 kept until the morning, when calling the man she passed 
 them back to him that he might unlock the door. 
 
 Satyrus contrived to have a set of keys made like them, 
 and finding upon trial that they would answer, he with the 
 consent of the maiden gained over Clio, who was to offer no 
 impediment. Such was the plan which we devised. There 
 was a slave belonging to the household, called Conops, a 
 prying, talkative, lecherous fellow, in short everything that 
 was bad. The man watched our proceedings very narrowly, 
 and suspecting our intentions, used to keep open the door 
 of his dormitory until late at night, so that it was no easy 
 matter to escape his observation. Satyrus wishing to make 
 a friend of him, often talked and joked with him, and 
 laughing in allusion to his name (Kwvwfi) would call him 
 G;iat. The fellow seeing through the artifice of Satyrus 
 pretended to return the joke, but, in doing so, exhibited his 
 own ill-natured disposition. " As you are so fond," said 
 he, " of punning upon my name, 1 will tell you a story 
 about the gnat. The lion often complained to Prometheus 
 that although he had formed him a large and handsome 
 beast, had armed his jaws with teeth, and his feet \vith 
 claws, and had made him more powerful than the other 
 animals, still, notwithstanding all these advantages, he 
 stood in fear of the dunghill cock.* "Why dost thou 
 without cause accuse me P" replied Prometheus ; " I have 
 given thee every gift which it was in my power to bestow, 
 it is thine own faint heartedness which is in fault." The 
 lion wept and bemoaned his condition, cursing his own 
 want of courage, and in the end made up his mind to die. 
 While in this frame of mind he happened to meet the ele- 
 phant, with whom, after wishing him good morning, he 
 entered into conversation. Seeing him continually flap his 
 ears, " What ails you," he asked " why are your ears never 
 for a moment still?" The elephant, about whose head a 
 gnat was at that moment flying, replied, " If the buzzing 
 
 * This fact is asserted by ^Elian, B. vi. 22, and B. xiv. 9. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 387 
 
 insect which I see, was to get into my ear, the result would 
 be my death." Upon this the lion made the following 
 reflection. " Why should I (such as I am, and so much 
 more fortunate than the elephant,) think of dying ? It is 
 better to stand in awe of a cock than to dread a scurvy 
 gnat." 
 
 "You see," said Conops, "what power the gnat pos- 
 sesses, since he can terrify the elephant." Satyrus who 
 saw into the malicious meaning of his words, replied with 
 a smile, " I will now relate to you the story of the gnat and 
 the lion, which I heard from a certain sage ; as for your 
 tale about the elephant, you are welcome to make what you 
 can out of it. The braggart gnat said one day to the lion, 
 1 So you think to lord it over me as you do over other 
 creatures. I should like to know why ? You .are not 
 handsomer than I am, nor yet bolder, nor yet more powerful ; 
 in what respect are you superior to me ? In valour ? You 
 tear with your claws and bite with your teeth, it is true ; 
 so does every woman when she quarrels ;* and as to your 
 size and beauty, you have indeed an ample chest and broad 
 shoulders, and a whole forest of hair about your neck, but 
 you little think how unsightly are your hinder parts. On 
 the other hand, my greatness is commensurate with the air 
 and with the power of my wings ; the flowers of the meadow 
 constitute my comeliness, they serve me in lieu of garments, 
 with which, when weary with flying, I invest myself; neither 
 is my valour any laughing matter; I am the very imper- 
 sonation of a warlike instrument ; I blow a blast f when I go 
 to battle, and it is my mouth which serves for trumpet and 
 for weapon, so that I am at once, a musician and an archer ; 
 
 * " Oh !" sobb'd Antonia, " I could tear their eyes out." Byron, 
 f In case the reader wishes to understand the philosophy of the 
 gnat's trumpet, we insert the following passage from Cumberland's 
 Trans, of the " Clouds " of Aristophanes. 
 
 Disciple. " 'Twas put to Socrates, if he could say, when a gnat 
 liumm'd, whether the sound did issue from mouth or tail. 
 Streps. Aye; marry, what said he ? 
 
 Disciple. He said your gnat doth blow his trumpet backwards 
 From a sonorous cavity within him, 
 Which being filled with breath, and forced along 
 The narrow pipe or rectum of his body, 
 Doth vent itself in a loud hum behind." 
 
 2 c2 
 
388 ACHILLES TATITJS. 
 
 moreover I am my own bow and arrow ; my wings poised 
 in air shoot me forward, and lighting down, I inflict a 
 wound as with a shaft ; whosoever feels it cries out and 
 forthwith tries to find his enemy : I, however, though pre- 
 sent, am at the same time ahsent ; I fly and I stand my 
 ground, and with my wings circle round the adversary, and 
 laugh to see him dance with pain. But why should I 
 waste more words r let us at once join battle.' Saying 
 this, he falls upon the lion, attacking his eyes and every 
 other part which was unprotected by hair ; at the same 
 time wheeling round him and blowing his trumpet. The 
 lion was in a fury, turning himself in every direction and 
 vainly snapping at the air; his wrath afforded additional 
 sport to the gnat, who made an onslaught on his very 
 mouth. Immediately he turned to the side where he was 
 aggrieved, when his antagonist, like a skilful wrestler, twist- 
 ing and twirling his body escaped clean through the lion's 
 teeth, which were heard to rattle against each other in the 
 vain attempt to seize him. By this time the lion was 
 thoroughly tired by thus fighting with the air, and stood 
 still, exhausted by his own efforts ; upon which the gnat, 
 sailing round his mane sounded a triumphant strain of 
 victory ; but stimulated by his excess of vanity he took 
 a wider range, and all at once fell into a spider's web. 
 When no hope of escape appeared, he sorrowfully said, ' Fool 
 that I am, I entered the lists against a lion, and behold I 
 am caught in the meshes of a spider !' " Having finished 
 his story, Satyrus said, with a sarcastic laugh, " Be on your 
 guard, and beware of spiders." Not many days had passed 
 when Satyrus knowing what a belly-slave Conops was, pur- 
 chased a powerful soporific draught and then invited him 
 to supper.* Suspicious of some trick, he at first declined, ^ 
 but afterwards, over persuaded by his most excellent adviser 
 appetite,t he complied. After supper, when he was on 
 the point of going away, Satyrus poured the potion into 
 
 * " Fallitur et multo eustodis cura Lyaso ; 
 Ilia vel Hispano lecta sit una jugo. 
 Sunt quoque, quae faciant altos medicamina somnosj 
 Victaque Letheea lumina nocte premant." 
 
 Ovid. Art. Am. iii. 645. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 389 
 
 his last draught, he drank it off, and had just time to 
 reach his dormitory, when he fell on his bed in a deep sleep. 
 Upon this, Satyrus hurried to me and said, " Conops is fast 
 asleep, now is the time to prove yourself as valorous as 
 Ulysses :" * we instantly proceeded to the door which con- 
 ducted to Leucippe's chamber ; there he left me, and Clio 
 stealthily admitted me, trembling with joy and fear ; the 
 dread of danger disturbed my hopes, but the hope of suc- 
 cess qualified the dread, and so hope became the source of 
 fear, and pain the cause of pleasure. 
 
 Just as I had entered the maiden's room, her mother's 
 sleep had been disturbed by a fearful dream ; a robber 
 armed with a naked sword, seized and carried off her 
 daughter, after which, laying her upon the ground, he pro- 
 ceeded to rip her up, beginning at her private parts. Terri- 
 fied by the vision, her mother started up and hurried to her 
 daughter's apartment, which as I before said was close at 
 hand. I had but just got into bed and hearing the doors 
 open, had scarcely time to leap out before she was at her 
 daughter's side. Aware of my danger I made a bolt through 
 the opened door, and ran with all my might, till trembling 
 from head to foot I met Satyrus, when we both made our 
 way in the dark and retreated each to his own room. Leu- 
 cippe's mother fainted, but upon recovering the first thing 
 she did was to box Clio's ears, then tearing her own hair, 
 she broke forth into lamentation. " Oh Leucippe," she 
 said, " you have blighted all my hopes. And you Sos- 
 tratus, who are fighting at Byzantium to protect the honour 
 of other people's wives and daughters, you little think how 
 some enemy has been warring against your house, and has 
 defiled your own daughter's honour. Oh, Leucippe, I 
 never thought to see you wedded after such a fashion as 
 this ! "Would that you had remained at Byzantium ! Would 
 that you had suffered violence from the chances of war, and 
 that some Thracian had been your ravisher ! In such a 
 case the violence would have excused the shame, whereas 
 
 * The allusion is to Ulysses preparing to put out the eye of the 
 Cyclops. 
 
 " the gods infused 
 
 Heroic fortitude into our hearts." Odyss. ix. 381. 
 
390 ACHILLES 
 
 now, you are at the same time wretched and disgraced. 
 The vision of the night did but mock my mind, the reali- 
 ties of the dream were hidden from me, for of a truth, 
 yours has been a more fearful ripping up, and your wound 
 more fatal than any inflicted by the sword ; and the worst 
 is, that I am ignorant who is your ravisher. I do not even 
 know what is his condition ! for aught I can tell, he may 
 be some wretched slave.* " When the maiden felt assured 
 of iny escape, she took courage and said : " Mother, there 
 is no occasion for you to attack my chastity, nothing has 
 been done to me deserving of your reproaches ; nor do I 
 know whether the intruder was a god, a demigod, or a mortal 
 ravisher ;t all I know is that I was heartily frightened and 
 lay still, quite unable to cry out through fear ; for fear, as 
 you know, acts as a padlock upon the tongue : this, however, 
 you may be assured of, no one has robbed me of my vir- 
 ginity." Notwithstanding these assurances of her daughter, 
 Panthea gave way to a fresh paroxysm of grief. Mean- 
 while Satyrus and I were deliberating on the best course 
 to be pursued; and we determined to make our escape 
 out of the house before morning should arrive, when Clio 
 would be put to the torture and be compelled to reveal 
 everything. 
 
 This plan we at once carried into execution, and telling 
 the porter that we were going out to visit our mistresses, we 
 went straight to Clinias : it was midnight, and we had 
 some trouble in gaining admission : Clinias who slept in an 
 upper room heard our voices in discussion with his porter, 
 and hurried down in alarm, while we could see at a short 
 distance Clio running towards us, for she too it appeared 
 had determined to make her escape. Almost in the same 
 moment therefore Clinias heard our story, and we the nar- 
 rative of Clio, while she was made acquainted with our future 
 plans ; we all went in doors, when we gave Clinias a more 
 
 * " 'Sdeath ! with a page perchance a king 
 Had reconciled him to the thing ; 
 But with a stripling of a page 
 I felt but cannot paint his rage." Byron. 
 
 f* tlTt daifJUi)!', tlTE }pu>, tlTt \T](TTrjQ. 
 
 For an instance of intercourse between demigods ?/po>cg and 
 mortals, see Herod, vi. 69. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 391 
 
 detailed account and stated our determination of leaving the 
 city. " I will accompany you," said Clio, "for if I remain 
 behind till morning, death (the sweetest of torments, since it 
 ends them) will be my lot." Clinias took my hand and leading 
 me aside, he said, " It appears to me most advisable to get 
 this wench out of the way at once, and after waiting a few 
 days we can depart ourselves, if still of the same mind. 
 According to your account the maiden's mother does not 
 know who it was whom she surprised, nor will there be 
 any one to furnish evidence since Clio is removed. Nay, 
 we may perhaps persuade the maiden herself to share our 
 flight ; I will accompany you at all events." 
 
 "We agreed to his proposal, so Clio was delivered to the 
 care of one of his slaves to be put on board a boat, while 
 we continued to deliberate upon the course best to be pur- 
 sued. At last we resolved to make trial of Leucippe' s incli- 
 nation, and, should she be willing, to carry her off : in case 
 of her rejecting our proposal, we determined to remain for 
 the present and to await the course of events. The short 
 remainder of the night was passed in sleep, and at daylight 
 we returned home. Panthea had no sooner risen in the 
 morning, than she had preparations made for putting Clio 
 to the torture ;* but when summoned she could no where 
 be found. Upon this, returning to her daughter, " Will 
 you still persist," said she, " in concealing the particulars 
 of this pretty plot ? Now, I find that Clio also has run 
 off." Still more reassured by the intelligence, Leucippe 
 replied, " What more would you have me tell you ? What 
 stronger testimony of the truth would you have me pro- 
 duce ? If there is any way of proving a maid's virginity, you 
 are welcome to prove mine." " Aye," said Panthea, " and 
 by so doing to add to the troubles of our family by bring- 
 ing in witnesses to its disgrace ;" upon saying which, she 
 hastily quitted the apartment. Leucippe left to herself, 
 and with her mother's words still ringing in her ears, waa 
 
 * The evidence of slaves was always taken with torture, and their 
 testimony was not otherwise received. For an animated picture of the 
 severity sometimes practised towards slaves, male and female, by a 
 capricious mistress, see Juv. vi. 475, 495. 
 
392 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 distracted by conflicting and various emotions ;* she was 
 deeply pained at having been discovered. Her mother's 
 reproaches filled her with shame ; she felt angry at having 
 her word doubted. Now these feelings are like three bil- 
 lows which disturb the soul's tranquillity : shame making 
 an entrance through the eyes unfits them for their natural 
 office ; pain preys upon the mind and extinguishes its 
 ardour ; while the voice of anger baying round the heart 
 overpowers reason with its wrathful foam.f The tongue is 
 the parent of these different feelings ; bending its bow and 
 aiming its arrow at the mark, it inflicts its several wounds 
 upon the soul : J with the wordy shaft of railing it produces 
 anger, with that of well founded accusation, begets pain, 
 with that of reproof, causes shame ; the peculiarity of all 
 these arrows is, that they inflict deep but bloodless wounds, 
 and there is available against their, effects one remedy 
 alone, which is, to turn against the assailant his own wea- 
 pons. Speech, the weapon of the tongue, must be repelled 
 by a weapon of like nature, for then the feeling of anger 
 will become calmed and the sensations of shame and an- 
 noyance will be appeased ; but if dread of a superior hinder 
 the employment of such succours, the very fact of silence 
 makes these wounds to rankle the more deeply, and unless 
 these mental waves, raised by the power of speech, can cast 
 up their foam, they will but swell and toss the more. 
 
 What I have been saying will picture the condition of 
 Leucippe's mind, who felt ready to sink under her troubles ; 
 it was while she was in this frame of mind that I dispatched 
 
 * TravTodairrj rig ijv. 
 
 This passage may be illustrated by a parallel one in the beginning of 
 B. vti. 
 
 t Pliny, B. iv. 5. " Tot sinus Poloponnensem oram lancinant, tot 
 maria allatrant." 
 
 They bend their tongues like their bow for lies." 
 
 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out." Jer. ix. 3, 8. See also 
 S. James iii. 5 9. 
 
 " Strangulat inclusus dolor atque cor sestuat intus 
 Cogitur et vires multiplicare suas." Ovid. Trist. I. 63. 
 
 " Give sorrow words ; the grief that doth not speak, 
 Whispers the o'er-fraught heart, and bids it break." Macbeth. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 393 
 
 Satyrus to her, in order to make overtures of flight. Antici- 
 pating him in her words, she exclaimed: "In the name of the 
 gods, foreign and hospitable, deliver me out of my mother's 
 power, and take me whither you will ; for if you go away 
 and leave me here, the noose suspended by my own hands 
 shall be my death." When I was informed of her expres- 
 sions, it freed me from a world of anxiety ; and in the course 
 of two or three days, when my father was absent from home, 
 we made preparations for our flight. Satyrus had still re- 
 maining some of the potion which he had used so success- 
 fully upon Conops. While waiting at supper he poured 
 out a little into the last cup, which he presented to Panthea ; 
 almost immediate!}^ after drinking it, she retired to her own 
 room, and fell fast asleep. Leucippe had now another 
 chambermaid, with whom Satyrus was on familiar terms; 
 having given her likewise a portion of the draught, he pro- 
 ceeded to a third party, the porter, who was soon lying 
 under the influence of the same soporific potion. 
 
 Meanwhile Clinias was awaiting us at the door with a 
 carriage which he had in readiness, and while all were yet 
 asleep, between nine and ten at night, we cautiously left 
 the house, Satyrus leading Leucippe by the hand : Conops, 
 as I may remark, who used to watch our movements, being 
 fortunately absent, having been dispatched on an errand by 
 his mistress. On getting out, we immediately entered the 
 carriage, six in number, Leucippe, I and Satyrus, together 
 with Clinias and two servants. We drove off in the direc- 
 tion of Sidon, where we arrived about midnight, and with- 
 out delay continued our journey to Berytus, in hopes of 
 finding some vessel in the harbour; nor were we disap- 
 pointed, for on going to the port we found a ship on the 
 point of sailing: without even inquiring whither she was 
 bound, we got our baggage on board, and embarked a little 
 before dawn. It was then we learnt that the vessel was 
 bound for the celebrated city of Alexandria, situated on the 
 Nile. 
 
 The sight of the sea delighted me while as yet we were 
 in the smooth water of the harbour ; soon, however, upon 
 the wind becoming favourable, loud tumult prevailed 
 throughout the vessel ; the sailors hurried to and fro, the 
 master issued his commands, ropes were bent, the sail-yard 
 
394 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 was brought round before the wind, the sail was unfurled, 
 we weighed anchor,* the ship began to move, the port was 
 left behind, and the coast, as if itself in motion, seemed 
 gradually to be retiring from us ;t the Paean was chanted, 
 and many prayers were addressed to the guardian deities 
 for a prosperous voyage. Meanwhile the wind freshened 
 and filled the sail, and the vessel speeded on her course. 
 
 There was a young man on board, in the same cabinj 
 with ourselves, when dinner time was come he politely 
 invited us to partake of his meal. Satyrus was just then 
 bringing out our provisions ; so putting all into a common 
 stock, we shared our dinner and our conversation. I began 
 by saying, " Pray where do you come from, and by what 
 name are we to address you?" " My name," he replied, 
 " is Menelaus, and I am a native of ^Egypt ; and now may 
 I inquire who you are?" "I am called Clitopho, and my 
 companion Clinias; our country is Phoenicia." "And 
 what," he rejoined, "is the motive of your voyage?" "If 
 you will relate your own story first, you shall then hear 
 ours." Menelaus assented, and began as follows : 
 
 " The cause of my leaving my home may be summed up in 
 very few words : envious love and ill-fated hunting. I was 
 strongly attached to a handsome youth, who was very fond 
 
 * The various operations when a vessel quitted or entered the har- 
 bour are described in two passages of Homer. 
 
 " The crew 
 Cast loose the hawsers, and embarking, filled 
 
 The benches 
 
 He, loud exhorting them, his people bade 
 
 Hand brisk the tackle ; they obedient rear'd 
 
 The pine-tree mast, which in its socket deep 
 
 They lodg'd, then strained the cordage, and with thongs 
 
 Well twisted, drew the shining sail aloft." Odyss. ii. 419. 
 
 " Around within the haven deep, their sails 
 Furling, they stow'd them in the bark below. 
 Then by its tackle lowering the mast 
 Into its crutch, they briskly push'd to land, 
 Heav d anchors out, and moor'd the vessel fast." II. i 4331* 
 
 i" " Provehimur portu ; terrseque urbeaque recedunt." 
 
 Vir. J5n. ill 72. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 395 
 
 of the chase. I did everything in my power to restrain him 
 from this pursuit, but without success. Finding I could 
 not prevail with him, I myself accompanied him. 
 
 " One day we were out hunting, and for a time every- 
 thing went on successfully so long as harmless animals 
 were alone the objects of our sport. At length a wild boar 
 was roused ; the youth pursued the brute, who faced about, 
 and ran furiously to attack him ; still the youth kept his 
 ground, notwithstanding that I repeatedly called out : 
 ' Wheel round your horse ; the beast is too powerful for 
 you.' The boar continuing its career, and coming up, they 
 closed in combat. Terrified lest the beast should wound 
 the horse, and so bring down his rider, I launched my javelin 
 without taking sufficient aim, and the youth crossing its 
 course, received the stroke.* 
 
 " Picture to yourself the feelings of my mind. If I 
 retained life at that moment, it was like a living death ; and 
 what was most lamentable of all, the wretched youth, who 
 still breathed, extending his arms, embraced me, and so far 
 from hating his destroyer, he expired still grasping my 
 homicidal hand. On account of this lamentable occur- 
 rence his parents took legal proceedings against me ; nor 
 was I unwilling to stand my trial; indeed I offered no 
 defence, considering myself fully deserving to suffer death. 
 The judge, out of compassion, condemned me. to three years' 
 banishment, and that period having now expired, I am on 
 my return home." 
 
 This narrative reminded Clinias of the unhappy death of 
 Charicles, and he shed tears, which though in appearance 
 they flowed for another's grief, were, in reality, drawn forth 
 by his own sorrows.f "Are you weeping on my account," 
 
 * Tatius appears to have had in his mind the story of the death 
 of Atys, son of Croesus. See Herod. B. i. 37. 
 
 Compare the spirited account of the Boar-hunt and the death of 
 Tlepolemus in the viiith book of Apuleius. 
 
 t TldrpoicXov irpotyaoiv, a proverb derived from a passage in the 
 Iliad, xix. 302 : 
 
 " All her fellow-captives heav'd 
 Responsive sighs, deploring each, in show 
 The dead Patroclus, but, in truth, herself." 
 
396 ACHILLES TATITJS. 
 
 asked Menelaus, " or has any similar disaster befallen you ?" 
 Upon this Clinias, with many sighs, detailed the circum- 
 stances of Charicles and the horse ; and I likewise related 
 my adventures. Seeing Menelaus very low spirited on 
 account of his own thoughts, and Clinias still shedding 
 tears at the recollection of Charicles, I endeavoured to dis- 
 sipate their grief, by introducing a love topic for conver- 
 sation ; for Leucippe, I may observe, was not then present, 
 but was asleep in the ship's hold. I began, therefore, 
 with a smiling air : " How much better off is Clinias than 
 I am ; he was no doubt longing to inveigh against women, 
 according to his wont, and he can do so all the better now, 
 having found one who sympathises with his tastes; but why 
 so many should be addicted to the love of youths, for my 
 part I cannot tell." 
 
 " There can be no doubt," said Menelaus, " which is pre- 
 ferable. Youths are much more open and free from affec- 
 tation than women, and their beauty stimulates the senses 
 much more powerfully." 
 
 "How so?" I asked; "it no sooner appears than it is 
 gone. It affords no enjoyment to the lover, but is like the 
 cup of Tantalus, while one is drinking the liquid disappears ; 
 and even the little which has been swallowed is unsatisfying. 
 No one can leave such favourites without feeling his plea- 
 sure alloyed with pain, the draught of love still leaves him 
 thirsty." 
 
 " You do not understand," rejoined Menelaus, " that the 
 perfection of pleasure consists in its bringing with it no 
 satiety; the very fact of its being of a permanent and satis- 
 fying kind takes away from its delight. What we snatch 
 but now and then is always new, and always in full beauty. 
 Of such things the pleasure is not liable to decay and age, 
 and it gains in intensity what it loses by briefness of 
 duration ; for this reason, the rose is considered the most 
 lovely among flowers, because its beauty so quickly fades. 
 There are two species of beauty among mortals, each 
 bestowed by its presiding goddess ;* the one is of heaven, 
 
 * Tatius alludes to Venus Urania and Venus Popularis, the one the 
 patroness of pure, the other of impure, love. 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 397 
 
 the other of earth ; the former chafes at being linked to 
 what is mortal, and quickly wings its flight to heaven ; the 
 latter clings to earth, and cleaves to mortal bodies. Would 
 you have a poet's testimony of the ascent of heavenly 
 beauty ? hear what Homer sings : 
 ' Ganymede, 
 
 Fairest of human kind, whom for that cause 
 The gods caught up to heav'n that he might dwell 
 For ever there, the cup-bearer of Jove.'* 
 
 But no woman, I trow, ever ascended to heaven for her 
 beauty's sake, though Jove had abundance of intrigues 
 with women : grief and exile were the portion of Alcmena ; 
 the chest and the sea were the receptacle of Danae ; and 
 Setnele became food for fire ;t but mark the difference 
 when Jove became enamoured of a Phrygian youth, he took 
 him up to heaven to dwell with him, and pour out his 
 nectar, depriving his predecessor of the office, she being, I 
 rather think, a woman." 
 
 "In my opinion," said I, interrupting him, "female 
 beauty has in it much more of the heavenly kind, because 
 it does not so quickly fade ; and the freer from decay, the 
 nearer is anything to the divine nature. On the other 
 hand, whatsoever in accordance with its mortal nature soon 
 decays, is not of heaven, but of earth. I grant that Jove, 
 enamoured of a Phrygian youth, raised him to the skies, 
 but the beauty of woman brought him down from heaven; for 
 a woman he bellowed under the form of a bull, for a woman 
 he danced as a satyr, for a woman he transformed himself 
 into a golden shower. Let Ganymede, therefore, be Jove's 
 cup-bearer, if you will, provided that Juno J also reclines at 
 the banquet, and has a youth to wait on her. Eor my part, 
 I cannot think upon his rape without feelings of pity: a 
 savage bird is sent down, he is seized and borne aloft (cruel 
 and tyrannous treatment, methinks), and the unseemly 
 spectacle is seen of a youth suspended from an eagle's 
 talons. No ravenous bird of prey, but the element of fire, 
 bore Semele aloft ; nor should there seem anything strange 
 and unnatural in this, since it was by the same means that 
 
 * Iliad xx. 2, 3, 4. 
 
 t See Anthon's Lempriere for the legends attached to their names. 
 
 Gottling proposes to read " Hebe," which suits the context better, 
 
398 ACHILLES TATITJS. 
 
 Hercules went up to heaven. You amuse yourself at the 
 expense of Danae's chest, but why do you pass over Per- 
 seus, who shared her fate ? For Alcmena it sufficed that 
 Jove for love of her robbed the world of three whole 
 days.* 
 
 " Passing, however, from the legends of mythology, I will 
 speak of the real delights of love, though my experience in 
 such matters has been small, compared with that of others, 
 and confined to females who sell their charms for lucre. 
 In the first place, how tender and yielding is a woman's body 
 to the touch, how soft are her lips when kissed ; her person 
 is in every way fitted for the amorous embrace : he who is 
 connected with her tastes genuine enjoyments ; her kisses 
 are impressed upon his lips as seals upon a letter, and she 
 kisses with such studied art as imbues the kiss with double 
 sweetness. Not content to use her lips, she brings her teeth 
 also into play, and feeding upon her lover's mouth, makes 
 her very kisses bite. What pleasure also is there in the 
 sensation of pressing a woman's breast, while in the amorous 
 crisis, so powerful is her excitement, that she is actually 
 maddened with delight. Her kisses are not confined to the 
 lips, but lovers' tongues even do their endeavour to kiss 
 each other. At the conclusion of the amorous combat, she 
 pants, overcome with the fiery delight, and her love-sick breath 
 finding its way to her lips, encounter the lover's kiss still 
 wandering there, and mingling with it both descend and 
 exert their electric influence upon her heart, which leaps 
 and beats, and were it not fast bound within, would desert 
 its seat, and be drawn forth by the strength of kisses." t 
 
 " Upon my word," said Menelaus, " you seem no raw 
 
 * According to some accounts, two; according to others, three 
 nights were required for the formation of Hercules, son of Alcmena. 
 
 " Violentus ille 
 Nocte non una poterat creari." Seneca Ag. 825. 
 
 f " A long, long kiss, a kiss of youth and love, 
 And beauty, all concentrating like rays 
 Into one focus, kindled from above ; 
 
 Such kisses as belong to early days, 
 Where heart, and soul, and sense, in concert mova, 
 
 And the blood's lava, and the pulse a blaze, 
 Each kiss a heart-quake." Byron. 
 Compare Lucret. iv. 10701079, and 10991114. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 399 
 
 recruit, but a thorough veteran in the service of the Queen of 
 Love, so minute are you in all your detail. Now hear what 
 I have to say in favour of male beauty. With women their 
 words and postures, everything, in short, is studied and 
 artificial : and their beauty, if they possess any, is the labo- 
 rious work of cosmetic appliances, of perfumes and of dyes ;* 
 divest them of these meretricious attractions, and they will 
 appear like the daw stripped of its feathers, which we read 
 of in the fable. The beauty of youths, on the other hand, 
 requires no unguents or artificial essences to recommend it ; 
 nature has made it complete and sufficient in itself, "f 
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 OH the third day of our voyage a sudden change took 
 place in the weather ; the sky, which had been clear, grew 
 so black as quite to obscure the light of day, and a violent 
 gale ploughing up the sea blew directly in our teeth. Upon 
 this, the master ordered the yard to be brought round ;J 
 
 * " Sed quae mutatis inducitur, atque fovetur 
 Tot medicaminibus, cocteeque siliginis offas, 
 Accipit et madidse, facies dicetur, an ulcus." Juv. vi. 471. 
 
 t " Omnibus autem mulierum omnium ungentis e puerorum sudoribus 
 afflatus odor antecellet. Jam vero etiam ante venereos congressus palae- 
 stra cum iis decertare, palamque, ac sine rubore amplecti licet ; neque 
 ulla est caruis teneritas quae complexuum tactioni cedat : sed corpora 
 sibi mutuo resistunt ac voluptate contendunt. Basia quoque mu- 
 liebrem illam diligentiam minime sapiunt, nee stulto errore labris 
 illito decipiunt. Puer quemadmodum quidem novit, suavia dat, non 
 ab arte aliqua, sed a natura ipsa proficiscentia ; saneque basii puerilis 
 imago ejusmodi est, ut si quis concretum, atque in labra commutatum 
 nectar oscularetur. Ex quo fieri ullo modo nequit, ut aliqua basiandi 
 tibi satietas oriatur; quimmmo quo plus haurias, hoc vehementiore 
 siti labores, neque os inde abstrahere possis, donee prse voluptate basia 
 ipso refugias." 
 
 ^ Trtptayav TTJV icepaiav. Two ropes hung from the horns of the 
 antenna or yard, the use of which was to turn it round as the wind 
 veered, so as to keep the sail opposite the wind. See a cut at p. 52 of 
 the Greek and Rom. Antiq. 
 
400 ACHILLES TATirS. 
 
 the sailors speedily obeyed, furling one-half of the sail by 
 dint of great exertions, but were compelled by the violence 
 of the wind to leave the other unfurled. In consequence of 
 this manoeuvre one side of the vessel began to heel, while the 
 contrary side became proportionally elevated, so that we 
 every moment expected to be capsized, as the gale continued 
 to blow with undiminished fury. To prevent this, and to 
 restore, if possible, the vessel's equilibrium, we all scrambled 
 to the side highest out of water, but it was of no avail. 
 We ourselves, indeed, were raised, but the position of the 
 ship was in no way altered ; after long and vain endeavours 
 to right her, the wind suddenly shifted, almost submerging 
 the side which had been elevated, and raising high out of 
 the water that previously depressed. An universal shriek 
 arose from those on board, and nothing remained but to 
 hurry back to our former station. We repeated this several 
 times, our movements keeping pace with the shifting of the 
 vessel ; indeed, we had scarcely succeeded in hurrying to 
 one side, before we were obliged to hurry back in the con- 
 trary direction. Like those who run backwards and forwards 
 in the course,* we continued these alternate movements 
 during a great part of the day, momentarily expecting death, 
 who, as it seemed, was not far off; for about noon the sun 
 entirely disappeared, and we saw each other as if by moon- 
 light ; lightnings flashed from the clouds, the thunder rolled, 
 filling the sky with its echoes, which were repeated from 
 below by the strife of waters, while in the intermediate 
 space was heard the shouts of the discordant winds,f so 
 that the air seemed one mighty trumpet ; the ropes break- 
 ing loose rattled against the sail and against each other till 
 
 " Conma velatarum obvertimus antennarum." ^En. iii. 549. 
 
 " At sunset they began to take in sail, 
 For the sky showed it would come on to blow, 
 And carry away, perhaps, a mast or so." Byron. 
 
 * In the original the movements of the passengers are described by 
 the words diavXoQ and Spofiog doXi^c^, expressions referring to the 
 stadium, where the runners turned round the goal and came back to 
 the starting-place. 
 
 f " The high wind made the treble, and as bass 
 The hoarse harsh waves kept time." Byron. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 401 
 
 at last they were rent in pieces. "We now began to be in 
 no small fear that the vessel, from the shattered condition of 
 her sides, would open and go to pieces ; the bulwarks* too 
 were flooded, being continually washed over by the waves. 
 We however crawled under them for protection, and abandon- 
 ing all hope resigned ourselves to Fortune. Tremendous 
 billows following in quick succession tumbled one over the 
 other, some in front, some at the sides of the ship, which as 
 they approached was lifted high up as if upon a mountain, 
 and when they retired was plunged down as into an abyss.f 
 The most formidable were those which broke against the 
 sides and made their way over the bulwarks, flooding all the 
 vessel ; even while approaching from a distance these were 
 formidable enough, almost touching, as they did, the clouds; 
 but when they neared and broke, you would have supposed 
 that the ship must inevitably be swallowed up. "We could 
 scarcely keep our feet, so violent was the rolling of the 
 vessel, and a confused din of sounds was heard ; the sea 
 roared, the wind blustered, the women shrieked, the men 
 shouted, the sailors called to one another : all was wailing 
 and lamentation. J 
 
 At length the master ordered the cargo to be thrown 
 overboard ; no distinction was made between gold and silver, 
 and the commonest articles, all were pitched over the sides ; 
 many of the merchants with their own hands tumbling into 
 the sea the goods on which all their hopes were centred. 
 By these means the ship was lightened, but the storm did 
 not in any degree abate. At length the master, wearied 
 out and in despair, let go the tiller, abandoned the ship to the 
 waves, and standing at the gangway ordered the boats to be 
 
 * ykppa ; these appear to mean the Trapappu/uara, made of skins and 
 wicker-work, raised above the edge of the vessel, and intended as a 
 protection against high waves, &c. See Diet. Grk. and Rom. Antiq. 
 
 f " Tollimur in coelum curvato gurgite ; et iidem 
 Subducta ad manes imos descendimus unda." 
 
 Virg. Mn. iii. 564. 
 
 J " Strange sounds of wailing, blasphemy, devotion, 
 Clamour'd in chorus to the roaring ocean." Byron. 
 
402 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 got ready and the sailors to embark. Upon this a fearful 
 scene of strife arose ; the sailors in the boat were beginning 
 to cut the rope which attached it to the ship. Seeing this, 
 the passengers endeavoured to leap in, which the crew would 
 not allow, threatening with their swords and axes any who 
 should venture on the attempt. The others upon this arm- 
 ing themselves as best they could with shattered oars and 
 broken benches, showed a determination to retaliate, for in 
 a storm might, not right, must settle matters. A novel 
 kind of sea-fight now commenced ; they in the boat, fearful 
 of being swamped by the numbers who were descending 
 from the vessel, laid about them in good earnest with their 
 swords and axes ; which the passengers as they leaped in 
 were not backward in returning with their poles and oars, 
 and some scarcely touched the boat before they fell into the 
 water ; others, who had succeeded in getting in, were strug- 
 gling with the sailors to maintain their ground. The laws 
 of friendship or neighbourly regard were no longer heeded ; 
 each looked to his own preservation, careless of the safety 
 of any other ; for the effect of pressing danger is, that it 
 dissolves even the tenderest ties. One of the passengers, a 
 robust young fellow, succeeded at last in getting hold of the 
 rope and dragging the boat towards the vessel ; every 
 one on board holding himself ready to leap in. A few 
 succeeded in the endeavour, though not without receiving 
 injuries ; many in their attempt were plunged into the sea. 
 The crew without further delay, cutting the rope with their 
 axes, put off, and committed themselves to the mercy of the 
 winds ; those on board in the meantime having used every 
 exertion to sink the boat. The vessel, after continuing for 
 some time to pitch and roll upon the waves, was carried 
 upon a sunken rock, when she struck and soon went to 
 pieces, the mast falling over on one side and hastening her 
 destruction. They who were at once swallowed up in the 
 briny waves experienced a happier lot than their companions, 
 in not having to remain with death before their eyes ; for at 
 sea the anticipation of drowning kills even before death 
 actually arrives; the eye, bewildered by the expanse of 
 waters, can set no limits to its fears : this it is which 
 gives death so much more bitterness^ and makes it re- 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 403 
 
 garded with dread proportioned to the vasty nature of the 
 sea itself.* 
 
 Upon the present occasion some were dashed against 
 rocks and perished, others were pierced by pieces of broken 
 spars, and some were seen swimming in a half-exhausted 
 state. When the vessel was wrecked, some good genius 
 preserved a portion of the prow, upon which I and Leucippe 
 being seated, were carried along by the current ; Menelaus, 
 Satyrus, and some other passengers, had thrown themselves 
 across the mast ; Clinias at no great distance was swimming 
 supported by the yard, and we could hear him calling out, 
 " Hold on, Clitopho !" In a moment a wave washed over 
 him ; at which sad spectacle we shrieked aloud. Boiling 
 onward in our direction, it happily passed us, and we again 
 caught sight of the yard, and Clinias riding upon its crest. 
 " O, mighty Neptune," exclaimed I, with a deep groan, 
 " take pity on us, and spare the remnants of this shipwreck ; 
 our terror has caused us already to die many deaths ; if it 
 be thy will to destroy us, do not divide us in our deaths ; let 
 one wave overwhelm us ; or if we are fated to become food 
 for the monsters of the deep let one devour us ; let us have 
 one common death, one common tomb." I had not long 
 uttered this prayer before the violence of the wind abated 
 and the roughness of the waves subsided, and the surface of 
 the sea was seen covered with floating bodies. Menelaus 
 and his companions were thrown by the waves upon a part 
 of the coast of Egypt which was at that time the general 
 haunt of buccaneers. Late in the evening, Leucippe and I 
 contrived to reach Pelusium, and upon getting to land 
 thanked the gods for our escape ; nor did we omit bewailing 
 Clinias and Satyrus, believing them to have been drowned. 
 
 * " Lord ! methought what pain it was to drown ! 
 What dreadful noise of water in mine ears ! 
 What sights of ugly death within mine eyes ! 
 
 often did I strive 
 
 To yield the ghost, but still the envious flood 
 Kept in my soul, and would not let it forth 
 To seek the empty, vast, and wand'ring ah?, 
 But smother' d it within my panting bulk, 
 Which almost burst to belch it in the sea." 
 
 Shaksp. Richard III. 
 2 D 2 
 
404 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 In the temple of Casian* Jupiter, at Pelusmm, there is 
 the statue of a youth very like Apollo ; his hand is stretched 
 out and holds a pomegranate, which has a mystic meaning.t 
 After praying to this deity, and asking tidings of Clinias 
 and Satyrus (for the god is believed to be prophetic) we 
 walked about the temple ; in the treasury J at the rear ot 
 this edifice we saw two pictures by the artist Evanthes. 
 The subject of one was Andromeda, of the other, Prome- 
 theus. Both were represented as bound, for which reason 
 probably the painter had associated them together. They 
 furnished other points of resemblance also ; both had a 
 rock for their prison house, and savage beasts for their 
 executioners, the one being a bird of prey, the other a sea 
 monster. The champions also who came to their rescue 
 were both Grecians, Hercules and Perseus. The former is 
 represented standing on the ground and aiming his arrow 
 at the bird of Jove; the latter poised in air directs his 
 attack against the fish. The rock is hollowed out, so as to 
 suit the size of the maiden's body, and the rugged surface 
 given it by the painter, plainly showed that it is intended 
 to represent a production of nature, not the work of art ; 
 the maiden is fixed in the hollow of this rock, her lovely 
 form giving her the appearance of a wondrously-carved 
 statue, but the chains and the sea-monster betokening a 
 hastily-planned tomb.|| Beauty and fear are mingled in 
 her countenance, yet the pallor of her cheeks is not wholly 
 untinged with colour, while the brightness of her eyes is 
 tempered by a languor such as is seen in violets when they 
 begin to fade; thus had the painter imparted to her the 
 expression of comely fear.^lf Her arms, extended on either 
 side, are chained against the rock, the wrists and fingers 
 hanging down like the clusters from the vine ; her arms are 
 of spotless white, but approaching to a livid hue, and her 
 
 * So named from Mount Casius near Pelusium, where he had a temple. 
 t " It seems likely that the productivity of nature was symbolized 
 by the fruit, remarkable as it was for the number of seeds it contained." 
 Note in Blakesley's Herod., vii. 41. 
 J Kara rbv oTriffOodofiov. 
 
 Q T'tdti%t, aTtpva, 9' d> 
 a. Eurip. Hec. 560. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 405 
 
 fingers appear bloodless. Bound in this fashion she is 
 awaiting death. Her attire is bridal, of white, and reaching 
 to the feet, of a texture so fine as to resemble a spider's 
 web, the production not of the wool of sheep, but of the 
 down of winged insects whose webs Indian women gather 
 from the trees and weave.* The monster is emerging from 
 the sea opposite the maiden ; his head alone appears above 
 the waves, but the outline of his body is distinguishable 
 beneath the water : the junctures of his scales, the curvature 
 of his back, the ridge of his spines, the twisting of his tail ; 
 his immense jaws are expanded as far as his shoulders, and 
 to the very entrance of his maw. In the intermediate space 
 is seen Perseus descending from the sky, his body naked, 
 with the exception of a mantle about his shoulders, winged 
 sandals upon his feet, and a cap resembling Pluto's helmetf 
 upon his head ; in his left hand he grasps the Gorgon's 
 head, holding it forth in the manner of a shield ; the face is 
 fearful to behold, and even on the painter's canvas seems to 
 glare with its eyes, to bristle up its locks, to shake its ser- 
 pents. His right hand is armed with a weapon between a 
 straight sword and a scimitar ; from the hilt to the middle 
 it is a sword, it then partakes of both, remaining sharp so as 
 to inflict a wound, and becoming curved in order to follow 
 up and improve the stroke. Such was the " Andromeda." 
 JSText to it, as I before remarked, was a painting of Pro- 
 metheus bound to the rock. Hercules stands near him, 
 armed with his bow and arrows. The vulture is feasting 
 upon his side, in which it has inflicted a lacerating wound, 
 and with its beak inserted in the opening, seems to be 
 
 * Tatius is supposed to mean the silkworm, which he calls irrr)v6g t 
 from its changing into a butterfly. 
 
 " Quid nemora ^Ethiopura molli canentia lana 
 
 Velleraque ut foliis depectant Seres." Virg. G. ii. 120. 
 
 In the 10th Book of the Ethiopics, the productions of the silkworm 
 are called " apaxviuv vr^iara icai v^aa^ara" 
 
 t To put on Pluto's helmet was a proverb for becoming invisible. 
 See Horn. II. v. 844. In Crabbe's " Parish Register " the coat is made 
 to serve the same purpose :- - 
 
 " His shoes of swiftness on his feet he placed, 
 His coat of darkness on his loins he brac'd, 
 His sword of sharpness in his hand he took." 
 
406 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 digging after the liver, of which the painter allows a portion 
 to be visible.* The talons of the bird are firmly planted 
 upon the thigh of Prometheus, who shrinks with agony, 
 contracts his side, and draws back his leg to his own hurt, 
 for the movement brings the eagle nearer to his liver. The 
 other leg is stretched out straight before him, and the 
 tension of the muscles is visible to the extreme point of the 
 toes ;f his whole appearance is that of acute suffering, his 
 eyebrows are contracted, his lips drawn in, and his teeth 
 appear; you could almost compassionate the painting, as 
 though itself felt pain. In his misery, Hercules is come to 
 his aid, and is preparing to transfix his tormentor ; already 
 the arrow is on the bow, which he extends with his left hand, 
 while with his right hand he draws the string to his breast ; 
 in doing which the elbow is seen shortened from behind. 
 The stretching of the bow, the drawing back the string, the 
 hand touching the breast, all seemed the work of a single 
 moment. J Prometheus appears divided between hope and 
 fear ; he looks partly at his wounded side, partly at Her- 
 cules ; fain would he fix his eyes upon him alone ; but his 
 agony turns them back, in part, upon himself. 
 
 After remaining two days at Pelusium to recruit our- 
 selves after our fatigues, having fortunately some money 
 left we engaged an Egyptian vessel, and proceeded by way 
 of the Nile to Alexandria, with the intention of making 
 some stay there, thinking likewise that we might find in 
 that city some of our shipwrecked friends. Upon nearing a 
 certain town, not far from the river, we suddenly heard a 
 loud shout ; upon which the master exclaiming, " The buc- 
 caneers are upon us!" endeavoured to put about his vessel, 
 and to sail back, when in a moment the bark was thronged 
 with men of formidable and savage mien. They were all 
 
 * " ..... rostroque immanis vultur obunco 
 Immortale jecur tandens, fcecundaque poems 
 Viscera, rimaturque epulis, habitaque sub alto 
 Pectore." JSn. vi. 597. 
 
 / TOVQ daKTvXovQ 
 
 " Then seizing fast the reed, he drew the barb 
 Home to his bow, the bowstring to his breast, 
 And when the horn was rounded to an arch 
 He twang'd it." Homer, II. iv. 1213. 
 
ACHILLES TATIIJS. 407 
 
 tall and stout; their complexion was black, not the jet 
 black of the Indians, but that of a mongrel Ethiopian ; they 
 had shaven heads and very small feet, and spoke a barbarous 
 dialect.* As this was the narrowest part of the river, 
 escape was impossible ; so the master exclaiming, " We are 
 all lost !" brought the vessel to. Tour of the buccaneers 
 came on board and carried off everything which they could 
 lay hands on, not forgetting our stock of money ; we were 
 then taken on shore, bound and shut up in a hut, when the 
 greater part of them rode away, leaving guards, who were 
 to conduct us next day to the king, as their chief is styled, 
 who, as we learnt from our fellow captives, was about two 
 days' journey distant. 
 
 When night came on, and we were lying there bound 
 and our guards were asleep, I found leisure to bewail 
 Leucippe, reflecting how many calamities I had brought 
 upon her. Deeply groaning in soul, and carefully suppress- 
 ing any outward sound of grief, " Oh, ye gods and genii !" 
 I said within myself, " if ye really exist and hear me, what 
 heinous crimes have we committed, that in a few short 
 days we should be plunged into such a depth of misery ? 
 And now, to crown all, ye have delivered us into the hands 
 of Egyptian buccaneers, cutting us off from any chance of 
 pity. Our voice and our entreaties might mollify the 
 heart of a Grecian pirate ; for words oftentimes beget com- 
 passion, and the tongue ministering to the necessities of 
 the soul, subdues the angry feeling of the hearer; but in 
 our present case, what language can we employ, what oaths 
 jf submission can we take ? Had I tones more persuasive 
 than the Syrens', these barbarian homicides would neither 
 understand nor listen to me ; I must then be content to 
 supplicate with signs and gestures, and pantomimic t show ; 
 it is not so much for my own misfortunes, severe as they 
 are, which I lament ; but how shall I sufficiently bewail, 
 
 * By comparing the description of the piratical haunt called the 
 Pasturage (in the 1st Bk. of the Ethiopics) with that here given us of 
 the personal appearance of the pirates, together with the account of 
 their stronghold at the end of the 4th Book, we are enabled to form a 
 good idea of the Egyptian /3ov<co\oi or buccaneers, and of their way 
 of life. 
 
 t TOV 0pi}vov 
 
408 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 how sufficiently weep for thine, Leucippe, thou who hast 
 shown thyself so faithful in all the straits of love, so tender 
 towards thy unhappy lover! Behold, the splendid pre- 
 paration for thy marriage ; a prison for thy bridal chamber, 
 earth for thy couch, the noose and the rope for thy neck- 
 laces and bracelets, a pirate for thy bridesman,* a dirge for 
 thy nuptial hymn. " O Sea! I have thanked thee without 
 reason ; rather should I upbraid thee for thy mercy ; greater 
 in reality has been thy kindness to those whom thou hast 
 drowned; our preservation deserves rather to be called destruc- 
 tion, for thou hast grudged us death except by the hands of 
 buccaneers." In this manner did I inwardly lament, but 
 no tears came to my relief; this is indeed peculiar to the 
 eyes in all great misfortunes ; in the season of any ordinary 
 grief, they flow readily enough.f and then they not only 
 serve as intercessors between the sufferer and the cause of 
 his sufferings, but they also diminish the inward swelling of 
 the heart ; but in the time of excessive sorrow, tears take 
 to flight and are traitors to the eyes ; sorrow encounters 
 them as they are springing from their fountain, arrests 
 their progress and compels them to retrace their way ; 
 accordingly, turned from the direction of the eyes they flow 
 back upon the soul and exasperate its inward wounds. 
 
 Turning to Leucippe, who had not spoken a word, I 
 said, " Why are you silent, dearest ? Why do you not speak 
 to me ?" " Because," she replied, " though my soul still lives, 
 my voice is already dead." The dawn imperceptibly over- 
 took us while we were engaged in conversation, when 
 a horseman suddenly rode up with a profusion of long 
 matted hair ; J his horse was as shaggy as himself and bare- 
 backed, without housings of any kind, as is customary with 
 the horses of these buccaneers. He came it appeared from 
 
 * vu/z0aywyo. Tatius probably used the term with reference to 
 Leucippe being taken to the pirate-chief. The strict sense of the word 
 will be found at p. 599 of Greek and Roman Antiquities. 
 
 f* " Curse leves loquuntur ; ingentes stupent." Sen. Hipp. A. 2. 
 S. iil 
 
 J In the Second Book of the " Ethiopics," the author remarks on 
 this peculiarity of the Buccaneers : " @OVKO\OI yap aXXa rt irpoQ rb 
 <t>o(3tpt*)Ttpov QaiveoOai, *cai dr] icai TTJV KOfJirjv tig otypvv \KOVCTI KCH 
 oopoitai r&v MfJUtiv l7rij3atVovaav." 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 409 
 
 their captain, with orders to bring away any maiden whom 
 he might find to be an expiatory offering on behalf of the 
 pirates, to their god. The guards immediately seized Leu- 
 cippe, who clung to me with shrieks, but while some of 
 them struck me, others tore her away, placed her on horse- 
 back and rode away, leaving us who were still bound to 
 follow at greater leisure. We had scarcely proceeded two 
 furlongs from the village when we heard a loud shouting 
 mingled with the sounds of a trumpet, and presently a body 
 of heavy armed soldiers appeared in view, upon which the 
 piratos, placing us in the centre, stood their ground and 
 prepared for resistance. The soldiers were about fifty in 
 number, some bearing long shields reaching to the feet, 
 others having only bucklers. The buccaneers, who were far 
 superior in numbers, began to pelt the military with clods 
 of earth :* now, an Egyptian clod can do more execution 
 than any other, for being of stony earth, it is at the same 
 time heavy, rough, and jagged, can raise a swelling and 
 inflict a wound. The soldiers relying upon the protection 
 of their shields cared little for these missiles, and waiting 
 till the buccaneers were tired with their exertions, they 
 suddenly opened their ranks, when the light-armed darted 
 out, each armed with a javelin and a sword, and so skilful 
 was the aim that no one missed his mark ; the heavy-armed 
 proceeded to support them and a stubborn fight took place, 
 in which abundance of blows and wounds were exchanged 
 on either side. Military discipline made up for deficiency 
 of numbers, the pirates began to give ground, which, when 
 we observed, I and the other prisoners bursting through 
 their ranks went over to the enemy ; ignorant of our real 
 condition the soldiers were about to kill us, when per- 
 ceiving us to be naked and bound with cords, they received 
 us into their ranks and sent us for safety to the rear ; 
 meanwhile a body of cavalry came up and extending their 
 flanks they surrounded the buccaneers, got them into a nar- 
 row space and cut them down ; the greater part were soon 
 dispatched, some though severely wounded still resisted, the 
 rest were taken prisoners. It was now about evening ; the 
 
 * In Xen. Cyrop. ii. 3. 17, there is an account of a sham fight, 
 where half the soldiers pelt with clods, the other half armed with 
 
410 ACHILLES TA.TIUS. 
 
 commander of the forces, Charmides by name, interrogated 
 us severally, asking who we were, and how we had been 
 captured. The others told their stories and I related my 
 own adventures ; after hearing every particular he desired us 
 to follow him, promising to supply us with arms ; it being 
 his intention, as soon as the rest of his troops came up, to 
 attack the chief haunt of the pirates, where it was said there 
 were ten thousand men. Eeing a good rider I requested 
 the favour of a horse, and no sooner was my wish complied 
 with, than mounting I went through the different evolu- 
 tions of a cavalry soldier, to the great delight of the com- 
 mander. He insisted on having me as a guest at his own 
 table, and after hearing my history at supper time, expressed 
 his commiseration of my misfortunes. 
 
 The listening to others' grief oftentimes begets sympathy 
 in the hearers, and this sympathy leads to friendship, the 
 soul affected by the relation of woe, passing from feelings 
 of pity to sensations of a tenderer kind.* Charmides, at any 
 rate, was so much moved, that he could not refrain from 
 tears ; more than this he could not do, as Leucippe was in 
 the power of the pirates. I may also mention that he 
 kindly gave me an ^Egyptian as my servant. The next day 
 he prepared to advance against the buccaneers, who were 
 seen in great force on the other side of a trench which it 
 was his object to fill up. They had constructed a rude 
 altar of earth, and near it lay a coffin ; two men were seen 
 conducting the maiden, whose hands were bound behind her 
 back. 
 
 I could not distinguish who they were, because their 
 armour concealed them, but I easily recognized Leucippe. 
 After pouring a libation upon her head, they led her round 
 the altar, an ^Egyptian priest all the while chanting a 
 hymn as was evident from the motion of his lips and the 
 
 * "I did consent, 
 
 And often did beguile her of her tears, 
 When I did speak of some distressful stroke 
 That my youth suffer'd. My story being done, 
 She gave me for my pains a world of sighs. 
 
 She lov'd me for the dangers I had pass'd 
 
 And I lov'd her that she did pity them." Shaksp. Othello. 
 
ACHILLES TATIFS. 411 
 
 muscles of his face ;* when this was ended, all at a signal 
 being given retired to a considerable distance, when one of 
 the young men who had conducted the maiden placed her 
 upon the ground, bound her to four wooden pegs just as 
 image makers represent Marsyas bound to the tree and 
 then drawing a sword plunged it into her heart, and drawing 
 the weapon downwards laid open all her belly so that the 
 intestines immediately protruded ; then they removed and 
 laid them upon the altar, and when roasted they were cut 
 into portions and partaken of by the pirates. The sol- 
 diers and their commander upon witnessing these proceed- 
 ings cried out and averted their faces in disgust ; strange 
 to say, I continued to gaze in stupid astonishment, as if 
 thunderstruck by the surpassing horror of the spectacle. 
 There may really have been some truth in the legend of 
 Niobe, and from" being affected by the loss of her children, 
 in the same way in which I was now, her motionless ap- 
 pearance may have given her the appearance of being turned 
 to stone. When the horrible business was, as I supposed 
 ended, the voung men placed the body in the coffin, covering 
 it with a lid, and after throwing down the altar, hurried 
 back to their companions, not once looking behind them, 
 for such had been the injunction of the priest. 
 
 By evening the trench was tilled up and the soldiers 
 after crossing it, encamped for the night and prepared their 
 supper. Charmides seeing my distress, did all in his power 
 to console me, but to no purpose ; for about the first watch 
 of the night, when all were asleep, I took my sword, pro- 
 ceeded to the spot and prepared to stab myself upon the 
 coffin. "Wretched Leucippe," I exclaimed, " thou most 
 ill-fated of human kind, I lament not so much thy death, 
 nor thy dying in a foreign land, nor that it has been a death 
 of violence ; but that such insults have been heaped upon thy 
 misfortunes that thou hast been made a victim to purify 
 the most polluted of their kind that thou hast been ripped 
 
 * " Post terga juvenum nobiles revocat manus, 
 Et mcesta vitta capita purpurea ligat ; 
 Non thura desunt, non sacer Bacchi liquor. 
 
 Ipse sacerdos ipse funesta prece 
 Letale carineo ore molento canit." 
 
 Sen. Thyestes. iv. 686. 
 
412 ACHILLES TATITJ8. 
 
 up while yet alive, and able to gaze upon the horrid process 
 that thou hast had an accursed altar and coffin for thy 
 joint grave, the former for thy bowels, the latter for thy 
 body. Had the fire consumed thy entrails, there would 
 be less cause to grieve ; but now, most horrible, they have 
 been made to furnish forth food to a pirate band! O 
 accursed altar-torch, O unheard of baoquet ! and yet the 
 gods looked quietly down upon such proceedings,* and 
 yet the fire was not extinguished, but polluted as it was 
 sent up its odour with acceptance to the deities ! Leucippe, 
 thou shalt now receive from me the offering which befits 
 thee." After uttering these words, I raised the sword and 
 was on the point of stabbing myself, when by the light of 
 the moon I perceived two men hastily running towards me ; 
 supposing them to be buccaneers," I paused in the ex- 
 pectation of being put to death by them ; they soon reached 
 the spot where I was standing and both called aloud to me, 
 and who should they prove to be, but Satyrus and Mene- 
 laus. So profound was my grief at what had taken place, 
 that though I saw before me two of my friends unex- 
 pectedly alive and well, I neither embraced them nor felt 
 any emotion of joy. 
 
 Seizing my hand they endeavoured to wrest the sword 
 from me. "In the name of the gods," said I, "grudge me 
 not a welcome death, or rather, I should say, a medicine for 
 all my ills. Do what you please ; I will no longer remain in 
 life, now that Leucippe is gone. You may indeed deprive 
 me of this weapon, but there will remain a sword of grief 
 within which slowly kills and drinks my blood ; do you 
 wish that I should die by this slow and lingering death ? 
 Upon this, interrupting me, Menelaus said, "If this be 
 your only reason for dying, you may put up your sword ; 
 Leucippe shall soon come to life again." I looked stead- 
 fastly at him, and exclaimed, " Can you insult me in the 
 midst of such calamities ? have some regard for hospitable 
 Jove." "Without farther delay he tapped upon the coffin 
 
 * " Magne reguator Deum. 
 
 Tarn lentus audis scelera ? tarn lentus vides 
 Ecquando sseva fulmen emittes manu, 
 Si nunc serenum est ?" Sen. Hipp. 671. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 413 
 
 several times, calling out, "Leucippe, since Clitopho is incre- 
 dulous, do you bear witness to the truth of what I say ;" and 
 almost immediately a faint voice was heard proceeding from 
 the interior. A sudden trembling seized me, and I gazed 
 upon Menelaus, half believing him to be a sorcerer; he 
 proceeded to remove the lid, when Leucippe slowly rose 
 and came forth, presenting the most fearful spectacle 
 which can be imagined ; the lower part of her person was 
 entirely laid open and all her bowels had been removed ; we 
 rushed into each other's embrace and both fell to the ground. 
 When I had recovered myself a little, I said to Menelaus, 
 " Will you not explain the meaning of all this ? Is not 
 this Leucippe whose face I behold, whose form I press, and 
 whose voice I hear ? What was it which I witnessed yester- 
 day ? Either it was an idle dream, or what I now see is 
 an unreality ; and yet this kiss is warm, loving, and sweet, 
 as Leucippe's was wont to be." " Her bowels shall soon 
 be restored," was his reply; "the wound on her breast shall 
 be healed, and you shall behold her sound as ever, but be so 
 good as to cover your eyes, for I must call Hecate to lend 
 us her assistance." 
 
 Believing him in earnest I followed his directions, and 
 he began to practise his juggling tricks and to mutter 
 certain sounds, at the same time removing the contri- 
 vances from Leucippe's body and restoring her to her 
 usual appearance. * Uncover your face," he at length 
 exclaimed. Slowly and with great trepidation for I really 
 believed that Hecate was there. I removed my hands from 
 my eyes, and beheld Leucippe's own sweet self, unharmed 
 in any way : more astonished than ever, " My dear Mene- 
 laus," said I, "if you are the minister of any god, tell me 
 where we are, and what all these things mean." "Do not 
 frighten him any more," interrupted Leucippe, " but at once 
 teU him how you contrived to outwit the buccaneers." 
 " You may remember my telling you on board ship," said 
 Menelaus, " that I am by birth an Egyptian ; my property 
 lies chiefly about this village, and I am consequently well 
 acquainted with the principal persons in it ; when I and 
 Satyrus after being shipwrecked were thrown on shore we 
 were conducted into the presence of the pirate chief; some 
 f his people soon recognized me, upon which my chains 
 
414 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 were taken off, and after assuring me of safety I was 
 strongly urged to join their company as being in some degree 
 already known to them. Upon this I required that Sa- 
 tyrus should be delivered up to me, declaring him to be a 
 slave of mine : ' Your wish shall be complied with,' they 
 replied, ' provided you first give some proof of courage in 
 our cause.' Fortunately they had just then been com- 
 manded by an oracle to offer up a virgin as an expiation for 
 their robber band, and after tasting the victim's entrails 
 they were to place the body in a coffin and to retire from 
 the scene of sacrifice. The object of this was to strike 
 terror into the minds of the hostile force; but," continued 
 he, addressing Satyrus, " the rest of the story belongs more 
 properly to you." 
 
 " Upon learning that Leucippe was taken captive," said 
 Satyrus, taking up the narrative, " I felt sincere regret on 
 her behalf, and urged Menelaus by all means to save her ; 
 some good genius came to our assistance ; the day before 
 the sacrifice we w r ere sitting by the sea- shore, overcome 
 with grief and considering what steps were to be taken. 
 Some of the buccaneers espying a vessel which had got out 
 of her course from ignorance of the coast, hurried down to 
 attack her ; the crew endeavoured to put out to sea, but 
 being too late they prepared for resistance. 
 
 " There happened to be among them a stage-player or 
 reciter of Homeric poetry.* Arming himself and the rest 
 after the manner of the heroes of the Iliad, they offered a 
 brave resistance, but being at last overpowered by a number 
 of the pirate boats, their vessel was sunk and themselves 
 were slaughtered. It chanced that after this a chest floated 
 on shore unperceived by the buccaneers ; Menelaus getting 
 it into a retired spot opened it, supposing it might contain 
 something valuable ; among the contents were a cloak and 
 a sword with a hilt five palms in length, the blade of which 
 was not so long : while Menelaus w r as carelessly handling 
 it, the blade flew out and became equal to the hilt in length, 
 and a different movement reduced it, to its former dimen- 
 
 * pa'*l/<aSoG one of a class of persons who got their living by 
 reciting the poems of Homer, and who is here represented as ac- 
 coutreing himself and the others in character. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 415 
 
 sions ; the ill fated owner had no doubt been accustomed to 
 use it upon the stage for the infliction of mimic wounds. 
 I immediately said to Menelaus, if only you will now give 
 proof of your courage, the deity will second us, and we shall 
 be able to preserve the maiden without being discovered by 
 the buccan-eers. We will get a sheepskin, one of the 
 softest and most flexible which can be procured, this we 
 will sew into the shape of a bag, corresponding in size with 
 the human stomach, and after filling it with entrails and 
 blood, we will secure the opening; having done this, we 
 will fasten ifc upon the maiden's body, and by throwing 
 over her a robe bound by a girdle and other fastenings we 
 can easily conceal the artifice. The nature of the oracle 
 given to the pirates and the construction of the sword, are 
 both strongly in our favour : the oracle commands that the 
 maiden when adorned for sacrifice is to be ripped open 
 through her dress ; and as for the sword, you see how art- 
 fully it is contrived ; if you press it against the human body, 
 the blade flies into the hilt as into a scabbard, while all the 
 time it will appear to the beholders to have been run into 
 the body ; on the present occasion just enough of the blade 
 will remain out to cut open the i'alse stomach as soon as 
 the hilt reaches the sheepskin, and when withdrawn from 
 the wound, the portion of the sword contained within the 
 hilt will immediately fly out, so that it will appear to the 
 spectator that the whole of the weapon was really plunged 
 into the maiden. The pirates will not discover the deceit, 
 for as I before said, the skin will be concealed by the dress 
 put over it, and the entrails will immediately protrude 
 from the gash which it has made; these we shall place 
 upon the altar, and as no one is to approach the body, we 
 shall be able to place it in the coffin. You remember the 
 pirate-captain telling you that you were expected to display 
 some proof of courage ; now is the time to go to him and to 
 make the offer. 
 
 " I followed up my words by many entreaties, invoking 
 Jove the hospitable, and reminding Menelaus of our having 
 eaten at the same board * and suffered the same perils of 
 
 * To bfioTpcureZov to have eaten at the same table, was considered 
 an inviolable obligation to friendship ; and <i\a fcai 
 
416 ACHILLES TATIITS. 
 
 shipwreck. The worthy and true hearted man replied, ' The 
 undertaking is arduous, but one ought to be prepared to 
 die in the sake of a friend,* and death in such a cause is 
 sweet.' I then expressed my belief that Clitopho was still 
 alive, for the maiden had mentioned to me his being left 
 behind, among the other prisoners, in addition to which the 
 buccaneers who had fled, brought word to their captain, 
 that all the captives had contrived to escape in to the enemy's 
 ranks during the engagement. 'You will therefore,' I 
 added, l be doing him a very great kindness and will also 
 be the means of delivering this unhappy maiden out of her 
 misfortunes.' I succeeded in persuading him, and Fortune 
 favoured us in our undertaking. While I was busied in 
 preparing what was needed for our contrivance, Menelaus 
 proceeded to the buccaneers to make the proposal already 
 mentioned. The chief, by a lucky chance, anticipated him, 
 and said, ' We have a law, that new comers t amongst us, 
 should first begin the sacrifice, especially when a human 
 victim is to be offered ; be ready therefore against to-morrow ; 
 your slave also must take part in the solemnity.' 'We 
 will endeavour,' replied Menelaus, 'to show ourselves not 
 inferior to any among yourselves.' ' Eemember,' added the 
 pirate-chief, 'that it will be for you to dress and arrange the 
 maiden in the best manner for consummating the sacrifice.' J 
 Afterwards, when alone, we took the opportunity of fitting 
 out Leucippe in the manner before related, bidding her 
 have no fear, and carefully instructing her what to do, en- 
 joining her to remain quiet in the coffin, if necessary, the 
 whole day, but when an opportunity offered to seek safety 
 by flying to the encampment ; having given her these direc- 
 tions we led her to the altar : what afterwards occurred you 
 already know." 
 
 jSaivav, to transgress the salt and the table ; or in other words to 
 break the laws of hospitality and to injure those by whom they had 
 been entertained, was considered one of the greatest crimes. Robin- 
 son's Antiq. of Greece. 
 
 * " Thy friend put in thy bosome ; . . . . 
 
 If cause require, thou art his sacrifice." 
 
 George Herbert 
 f rovf 7Tpu>ro/i(7r a, TTQOQ rr\v a.va.ro\nr\v 
 
ACHILLES TATIFS. 417 
 
 "While listening to this narrative, I was overwhelmed by 
 a variety of feelings, and did not know how sufficiently to 
 express my deep gratitude to Menelaus ; I however adopted 
 the most common method, and throwing myself at his feet, 
 I embraced his knees and worshipped him as a god, my 
 heart thrilling with delight. Being now easy concerning 
 Leucippe, "What," I inquired, "has become of Clinias?" 
 " The last time I saw him," replied Menelaus, "was when 
 he was clinging to the yard after the shipwreck ; what 
 afterwards became of him I cannot tell." 
 
 Upon hearing this, I could not repress a cry of grief in 
 the midst of my joy ; no doubt some malignant genius 
 envied me the possession of pure and unalloyed happiness ; 
 for this cause doubtless, he whom next to Leucippe I most 
 valued, was especially selected as a victim by the sea, that 
 not only his soul might perish,* but that he might lose the 
 rights of sepulture. Oh, ruthless ocean, thus to curtail the 
 full measure of thy mercy towards us ! 
 
 There being nothing to detain us longer, we all repaired 
 to the encampment, and passed the rest of the night in my 
 tent ; nor was it long before the adventure became known. 
 At daybreak, conducting Menelaus to the commander, I re- 
 lated every particular ; Charmides was highly pleased, and 
 expressed himself in the most friendly terms towards him. 
 He next inquired what the strength of the enemy amounted 
 to. Menelaus replied, " That the whole place was full of 
 desperate men, and that the buccaneers numbered perhaps 
 ten thousand men." 
 
 "Our five thousand," said Charmides, " will be a match 
 for twenty thousand such as they are : besides which two 
 thousand men will shortly arrive from the troops who gar- 
 rison the Delta and Heliopolis. "While he was still speak- 
 ing, a boy came in and said that an express had come from 
 the camp in the Delta, to announce that the expected rein- 
 
 * This passage may be illustrated by one which occurs in B. v. " It 
 is said that the souls of those who have found a watery grave do not 
 descend to Hades, but wander about the surface of the waves." Death 
 by shipwreck, where the body was swallowed up by the deep, was 
 especially dreaded by the ancients, since without burial of the body, 
 the soul could not be admitted into the Elysian Fields. See Ovid, 
 Trist. i. 2, 51. Virg. &u. vi. 325, 330. 
 
418 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 forcement would not arrive for five days ; the incursions of 
 the buccaneers in that quarter had been repressed indeed, 
 but when the troops were on the point of marching, the 
 sacred* bird, bearing the sepulchre of his father, had ap- 
 peared among them, and on this account the march must be 
 delayed during the period mentioned. 
 
 "And pray," inquired I, "what bird is this which is 
 treated with such respect ? What sepulchre is it which he 
 carries with him?" "He is called the Phoenix," was the 
 reply; " and is a native of ./Ethiopia; he is about the size of 
 the peacock, but superior to him in beauty ; his plumage is 
 bedropt with gold and purple,t and he boasts of being 
 .descended from the sun, a claim which is borne out by the 
 appearance of his head, which is crowned by a splendid 
 circle, the very image of that orb.J The hues are mingled 
 rose and azure, and the disposition of the feathers represent 
 the rays. He belongs to the ^Ethiopians during his life, 
 but the Egyptians possess him after he is dead. He is very 
 long lived, and upon his decease ; his son bears him to the 
 Nile, having first prepared his sepulchre in the following 
 manner. Taking a mass of the most fragrant myrrh, suffi- 
 cient for the purpose, he excavates the centre with his 
 beak, and the hollow becomes a receptacle for the dead ; 
 then closing up the aperture with earth, he soars aloft and 
 carries this fruit of his pious labour to the Nile. A flight 
 of other birds attends him,|| as a guard of honour, and he 
 resembles a monarch making a progress. He never deviates 
 from the place of his destination, the city of the sun, which 
 is the resting-place of the departed bird ; upon arriving there 
 he stations 'himself upon an elevated spot, and awaits the 
 
 * Compare the description of the Phoenix with those in Tacitus, Annal. 
 vi. 28, and in Herod, ii. 73, where see a note in Blakesley's edit. The 
 object of which is to show that by the Phoenix is meant a secular period. 
 t Pliny says, " Auri fulgore circa colla, cetera purpureus, cseruleam 
 roseis caudam pennis distinguentibus." H. N. x. 2. 
 : *' JEquatur toto capiti radiata corona 
 Phoabei referens, verticis alta decus." 
 
 Auctor Carm. incert. 
 
 g Five hundred years according to Herodotus, according to other 
 writers 1560 years. 
 
 H "Multo caeterarum volucrum comitatu novam faciem miran- 
 tium." Tac. Ann. vi. 28. 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 419 
 
 arrival of the minister of religion. Presently an Egyptian 
 priest comes forth from the sanctuary, bearing a book con- 
 taining a picture of the bird, in order that he may judge 
 whether it be genuine. The phoenix, aware of this, opens 
 the receptacle, and exhibiting the body, makes intercession 
 for its interment ;* after which it is received by the sons of 
 the priest and buried ; thus, as I have already observed, this 
 bird is an ^Ethiopian during his lifetime, but makes his 
 grave with the Egyptians." 
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 UPON hearing of the preparations made by the buccaneers, 
 and of the march of the reinforcements being postponed, 
 Charmides resolved upon returning to his former quarters, 
 and there to await their arrival. A lodging was assigned 
 by him to Leucippe and me at a little distance. No 
 sooner had I entered it, than taking her in my arms, I 
 endeavoured to accomplish my wishes ; she would not con- 
 sent however, upon which I said to her: "Do you not 
 observe how many strange and unforeseen accidents befall 
 us ; first we are shipwrecked, then we come into the hands 
 of pirates, and next you are exposed to be sacrificed, and to 
 undergo a cruel death. Fortune has just now lulled the 
 storm, let us, therefore, take advantage of the opportunity, 
 before any yet severer calamity overtakes us." 
 
 " It is not lawful for me to 'consent now," was her reply; 
 " for while I was bewailing myself at the prospect of being 
 sacrificed, the goddess Diana appeared to me in a dream 
 and said : ' Weep not, maiden, thou shalt not die ; I will 
 protect thee, and thou must remain a virgin until I conduct 
 thee to thine husband, who shall be Clitopho, and no one 
 else.' " 
 
 Upon hearing this circumstance, I was very much annoyed 
 at the delay, but yet rejoiced at the prospect of future 
 happiness opened to me ; and her mention of the dream 
 
 * cat cart 7rira040f <ro0i0Ti/ff. 
 
 2E2 
 
420 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 reminded me of something similar which had happened to 
 myself. I thought that during the preceding night I saw 
 the temple of Venus, and could discern the statue of the 
 goddess within; upon approaching it with the design of 
 offering up my prayers, the doors were suddenly closed, 
 and while standing there in a state of disappointment, a 
 female strongly resembling the statue of the goddess ap- 
 peared to me and said : " It is not permitted thee to enter 
 the temple now ; but if thou wilt wait for a short period, I 
 will not only open to thee its doors, but will constitute thee 
 my priest." I related this dream toLeucippe, and although 
 my attempts upon her chastity were not repeated, I could 
 net get over my feelings of vexation. 
 
 An occurrence which just then took place gave Charmides 
 an opportunity of seeing Leucippe and conceiving a passion 
 for her. Some person had captured a very curious river 
 animal, called by the Egyptians the Nile-horse, and in 
 truth he resembles that animal in his belly and legs, except 
 that he has cloven hoofs ;* his size is equal to that of the 
 largest ox : he has a short tail, which as well as his body, is 
 devoid of hair; his head is large and round, with cheeks 
 like those of a horse ; his nostrils are widely expanded and 
 breathe out sparks, as it were, of fiery vapours ;f he has an 
 immense under-jaw, which opens to nearly the length of his 
 head, and it is garnished with canine teeth like those of a 
 horse in shape and position, but three times as large. We 
 were invited to see this creature, and looked at it with 
 great interest ; but the eyes of the commander were 
 rivetted upon Leucippe, of whom he immediately became 
 enamoured. 
 
 In or-der to detain us there the longer, and by this means 
 to feast his own eyes, he entered upon a lengthy description 
 of the animal, its nature and habits, and the manner in 
 
 * Herod, ii. 71, commits the same error, using the expression 
 Si xi^ov, whereas the foot of the animal is divided into toes like that 
 of the elephant. In a note Mr. Blakesley remarks, that in some of the 
 temples of Epypt, the animal is found depicted with cloven hoofs and 
 huge projecting tusks, as described by Herodotus and Tatius. 
 
 t Compare Job's description of Leviathan. " Out of his mouth 
 go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils 
 goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindletu 
 coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth." xli. 19 21. 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 421 
 
 which it is captured; that it is so voracious as to eat 
 up a whole field of corn, and is taken by employing the 
 following stratagem. Having found out his usual haunt, 
 the hunters dig a deep pit, which they cover with reeds and 
 earth, underneath is placed a wooden chest with open doors 
 which reach to the top of the pit. The animal in passing 
 over the spot at once falls into the chest as into a cave, 
 when the hunters, who have been on the watch, immediately 
 close the doors, and in this manner secure their prey. It 
 would be in vain to attempt capturing him by force ; for not 
 only is he very powerful, but has a hide so hard and thick* 
 as to render him proof against any wounds ; he may be 
 called the Egyptian elephant, and in strength comes next 
 to the elephant of India. 
 
 " Have you ever seen an elephant ?" inquired Menelaus. 
 "I have,"' replied Charmides, "and have conversed with 
 persons well acquainted with the peculiarity attending its 
 birth." 
 
 I here remarked that the animal was known to me only 
 having seen a picture of it. " Well, then," continued he, 
 " I will give you an account of it ; for we have abundance 
 of leisure, the time of gestation with the female is ten 
 years,t so that when she brings forth her calf he is already 
 old. To this cause we may, in my opinion, attribute his 
 great bulk, his unrivalled strength, and his longevity; for 
 he is said to live longer than Hesiod's crow. J His jaw may 
 be said to resemble the head of an ox, for it appears to have 
 
 * " The hide is upwards of an inch and a half in thickness ; it is 
 chiefly used for whips ; the well-known * cow hides' are made of this 
 material." Wood's Nat. Hist. 
 
 f Pliny says : " Decem annis gestare in utero vulgus existimat." 
 H. N. viii. 10. 
 
 The same strange notion is referred to by Plautus, Stich. A. 1, s. iil 
 " Audivi ssepe hoc vulgo dicier, 
 Solere elephantum gravidam perpetuos decem 
 Esse annos." 
 
 $ Hesiod extends the crow's life to 270 years. The passage referred 
 to has been preserved by Plutarch : 
 ' 
 
 " Servatura diu parem 
 Cornicis vetulae temporibus Lycem." Hor. iv. Od. xiii. 24. 
 
422 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 two horns ; these, however, are the curved tusks of the 
 animal, between them projects his trunk, resembling a 
 trumpet in appearance and size, which is very convenient 
 for taking up his accustomed food or any other edible ; any- 
 thing of this description he seizes with it, and bending it 
 inwards, conveys it to his mouth ; but if unsuited for his 
 palate, he turns round his trunk, and extending it upwards 
 delivers the article to the Ethiopian master, who sits upon 
 him as a rider does on a horse, and whom he caresses and 
 also fears, obeying his voice, and submitting to be beaten 
 with an iron axe. I remember once seeing a strange sight, 
 a Greek inserted his head into the mouth of the animal, 
 which with expanded jaws continued to breathe upon him. 
 As you may imagine, I was not a little struck with the 
 boldness of the man and the good-nature of the elephant. 
 The man told me that he had given the beast a fee for 
 breathing upon him, that his breath was almost equal to 
 Indian spices, and was a sovereign specific against the head- 
 ache. It appears that the elephant is aware of his medical 
 skill, and will not open his mouth for nothing, but like a 
 self-conceited physician, asks for his fee beforehand ; upon 
 receiving it he becomes all complaisance, expands his jaws, 
 and keeps his mouth open as long as the patient pleases, 
 knowing that he has received a consideration for his breath." 
 " How comes so ill-favoured an animal to have so fragrant 
 a breath?" I asked. " From the nature of the food upon 
 which he feeds," said Charmides. " The country of the 
 Indians is near the sun ; they first behold the rising of that 
 deity, they feel his hottest rays, and from his influence their 
 skin acquires its hue.* Now there is in Greece a dark- 
 coloured flower, which among the Indians is not a flower 
 but a leaf, like those which are seen on any tree ; in that 
 land it conceals its fragrance, and is therefore in little esti- 
 mation; either it does not care for celebrity among its 
 countrymen, or else it grudges them its sweetness ; but if 
 only it leave that country and be transplanted, it opens its 
 secret treasure-house, instead of a leaf becomes a flower, 
 and clothes itself with perfume. The Indians call this the 
 
 * " Indi autem, quod calore vicini ignis, sanguis in atrum colorem 
 versus est, iiigri sunt facti." Hyginus. 
 See also Ovid, Met. ii 235. 
 
 i 
 
ACHILLES TATItTS. 423 
 
 black rose, and it is as common a food for the elephant as 
 among us grass is for oxen ; and from feeding upon it, 
 almost from its birth, the animal exhales the fragrance ot 
 his food, and his breath becomes a fount of sweets."* 
 
 When Charmides had ended his dissertation and we were 
 departed, he not long after for whoever burns with the fire 
 of love cannot endure delay sent for Menelaus, and taking 
 his hand, thus addressed him: " Your conduct to Clitopho 
 shows you to be a sincere friend, nor shall you have to com- 
 plain of want of friendship upon my part. I have a favour 
 to request which it is easy for you to grant, and by granting 
 it you will preserve my life. Know that I am desperately 
 smitten with Leucippe ; you must heal the wound ; she is 
 in your debt for having saved her.f Now I will give you 
 fifty gold pieces for the good service which I require, and 
 she herself shall receive as many as she pleases." 
 
 " Keep your gold," replied Menelaus, " for those who make 
 a traffic of their favours ; you have already received me into 
 your friendship, and it shall be my endeavour to promote 
 your wishes." 
 
 Immediately afterwards he came to me and related 
 the whole matter. After deliberating what course to adopt, 
 dissimulation appeared most feasible, since it would have 
 been dangerous to give him an absolute refusal, for fear of 
 his employing violence, and it was wholly out of our power 
 to escape, surrounded as we were by the buccaneers in one 
 direction, and by his troops on the other. 
 
 Eeturning to Charmides after a short interval, Menelaus 
 said : " Your object is accomplished. At first the maiden 
 gave a downright refusal, but at length, upon my redoubling 
 my entreaties and reminding her of her debt of gratitude 
 towards me, she consented ; stipulating, however, for a few 
 days' delay until we can reach Alexandria ; for this place 
 
 * According to the Commentators, it is the KapvoQvXXov, or clove- 
 tree, which produces this wonderful effect upon the elephant, making 
 his breath 
 
 " Like the sweet south, 
 That breathes upon a bank of violets, 
 Stealing and giving odour." Twelfth Night 
 
 t 6<J>ti\trai (rot Trap' avrifc a>aypta. 
 
424 ACHILLES TATITJR 
 
 being a mere village, everything becomes known, and there 
 are many eyes upon us." 
 
 " You fix a long postponement to your favour," said 
 Charmides. " Who can think of deferring his wishes in time 
 of war? "With an engagement before him, and so many 
 ways of death, how can the soldier tell whether his life will 
 be spared ? If you will prevail on Fortune to guarantee 
 my safety, I will wait. Consider that I am about to fight 
 these buccaneers, and all the while a war of a different kind 
 is raging in my soul ; a warrior armed with bow and arrow, 
 is committing havoc there; I feel myself vanquished ; I am 
 full of wounds ; prithee send for the leech with speed, for 
 the danger presses. I shall have to carry fire and sword 
 among the enemy, but love has already kindled his torch to 
 my destruction ; extinguish this fiame, I beseech, good 
 Menelaus; it will be a fair omen to join in love before 
 we join in battle ; let Venus, therefore, herald me on my 
 way to Mars." 
 
 " But you do not consider," rejoined Menelaus, " how 
 difficult it is to avoid discovery from her intended husband, 
 who is so enamoured of her." "Oh! as for Clitopho, we 
 can easily get him out of the way," said Charmides. 
 
 Seeing him so firmly bent upon his purpose, Menelaus 
 began to have fears for my safety, and suddenly bethought 
 himself of a fresh excuse. "If you must know her real 
 motive for this delay, it is that her monthly sickness is 
 upon her, consequently she must abstain from sexual inter- 
 course." "In that case," said the other, "I will wait three 
 or four days, which will be quite sufficient; but in the 
 meanwhile she can, at any rate, come and talk to me. I 
 can hear her voice, press her hand, and touch her person, 
 and kiss her lips. Her indisposition need be no impedi- 
 ment to this." 
 
 When Menelaus told this to me, I exclaimed, that I 
 would sooner die than have Leucippe bestow her lips upon 
 another. " A kiss," I said, " is the best part of love ; the 
 moment of actual enjoyment is soon over, and brings with 
 it satiety,* and is indeed worth nothing if we take away the 
 
 * " Who riseth from a feast, 
 With that keen appetite that he sits down ?" 
 
 Merchant of Venice. 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 425 
 
 kissing. A kiss need have no limit to its duration ; it never 
 cloys, it is always new.* Three things, excellent in their 
 nature, proceed from the mouth, the breath, the voice, and 
 last of all, the kiss, of which the lips are the instruments, 
 but the seat of pleasure is in the soul. Believe me, Mene- 
 laus, for my troubles compel me to reveal the secret,t 
 these are the only favours which I have received from 
 Leucippe ; she is a woman only as having been kissed by 
 me ; in all other respects she is still a virgin. I will not 
 put up with the loss of them ; I will not have my kisses 
 adulterously dallied with."J 
 
 " If such be the case," said Menelaus, " we must speedily 
 resolve upon some plan ; one who is in love (like Charmides) 
 as long as he has a hope of success will wait and feed on 
 expectation, but if driven to despair, his love changes into 
 hate and urges him to take vengeance upon the obstacle to 
 his desires ; and supposing he has the power to do this with 
 impunity, the very fact of being free from fear deepens his 
 resentment and urges him on to his revenge." In the midst 
 of our deliberation some one hastily entered, and informed 
 us that Leucippe while walking about had suddenly fallen 
 down, and lay there wildly rolling her eyes. "We hurried 
 to her, and finding her still lying on the ground, we asked 
 what ailed her ? No sooner di<J she see me, than starting 
 up and glaring fiercely from her blood-shot eyes, she struck 
 me with violence upon the face, and when Menelaus endea- 
 voured to support her, she proceeded to kick his shins. 
 Perceiving that she was labouring under frenzy, we seized 
 her by main force and endeavoured to overpower her, she 
 on her part resisted, and in her struggles was at no pains to 
 hide what women generally wish to keep concealed. So 
 great was the disturbance that at length the commander 
 himself came in, and witnessed what was going on. At first 
 he was suspicious of some fraud contrived against himself, 
 
 * QiXrjfia dt Kai aoptorov toriv, icai attoptarov, /cat KO.IVOV del. 
 
 f eZopyjaofiat rd /axTrr/pta, an allusion to the revealing of religious 
 mysteries. Liddell's Lex. 
 
 ov noixtvtrai fiov ra QiXrjfjLara. 
 
 t d& iiTTfv on iravvtt avTov nolx^vra rr]v QaXarrav." 
 
 Xen. Hell. I. vi. 15. 
 
426 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 and looked sternly upon Menelaus ; but seeing the truth, 
 he became moved by feelings of compassion. 
 
 Meanwhile cords were brought and the unhappy maiden 
 was bound ; upon seeing her hands confined in this manner, 
 I besought Menelaus (all but a few having left the tent) 
 to set her arms at liberty ; her tender arms, I said, can- 
 not endure this harsh treatment ; leave me with her alone ; 
 my arms shall be her fetters, and she may exhaust her 
 frenzy upon me ; why, indeed, should I wish to live, since 
 Leucippe no longer knows me ? How can I behold her 
 lying thus bound, and though having the power, shew no 
 desire to release her ? Has Fortune delivered us from the 
 hands of buccaneers only that she may fall a prey to mad- 
 ness ? Unhappy that we are, when will our condition 
 change ? We escape dangers at home only to be overtaken 
 by the shipwreck ; saved from the fury of the sea and freed 
 from pirates, we were reserved for the present visitation 
 madness ! Even shouldst thou recover thy senses, dearest, 
 I fear lest the evil genius may have something worse in 
 store ! Who can be pronounced more unhappy than our- 
 selves, who have cause to dread even what bears the appear- 
 ance of good fortune ! Let Fortune, however, again make 
 us her sport, provided only I can see thee restored to health 
 and sense ! Menelaus and those present did all they could 
 to comfort me, saying that such maladies were not lasting, 
 and were very common in the hot season of youth ; at such 
 a time the young blood, heated by the vigour of the body, 
 runs boiling through the veins, and overflowing the brain 
 drowns the powers of reason ; the proper course, therefore, 
 would be to have medical advice. 
 
 Menelaus went to the commander without delay, and 
 requested that the physician belonging to the troops 
 might be called in. Charmides readily complied, for a 
 lover delights in granting favours. After visiting her, 
 he said, we must make her sleep in order to subdue the 
 paroxysm of her disease ; for sleep is the medicine of 
 every sickness,* and afterwards we will have recourse to 
 
 * at $i\ov virvov OkXyrjrpov, iiriicovpov voaov, 
 
 " to TTOTVia \TfQr) TWV KdKUll', d> l <T00?} 
 
 icai rolai SvffTvxovatv tuicrdia 9to." Eur. Or.} 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 427 
 
 other means. Before leaving her, he gave us a portion of 
 some drug, about the size of a pea, which was to be dissolved 
 in oil and rubbed upon the top of her head, saying that he 
 would shortly bring a pill to act upon her bowels. We 
 followed his directions, and after her head had been rubbed 
 for a short time, she fell asleep, and slept till morning. 
 I sat by her bed side all night in tears, and when I saw the 
 cords which still confined her hands, 1 could not help 
 exclaiming, "Dearest Leucippe, bondage is still thy por- 
 tion; not even in sleep is liberty allowed thee! \Vhat 
 images, I wonder, are now passing before thy mind ? Does 
 sense attend upon thy sleep ? or do thy dreams also partake 
 of frenzy?" Upon waking she uttered some incoherent 
 words. Soon after the physician came and administered 
 the other medicine. 
 
 Just at this time pressing orders arrived from the Vice- 
 roy of Egypt urging the commander to lead his men 
 against the enemy. The troops were immediately mustered 
 with their officers, and appeared on the ground in marching 
 order, when, after giving them the watchword, he dismissed 
 them to their quarters for the night, and next morning led 
 them out to battle. 
 
 I will now describe the nature of the district against 
 which they marched. The Nile flows in an unbroken stream 
 from Egyptian Thebes as far as Memphis, when it throws 
 out a small branch. Where the wide part of the river ter- 
 minates, stands the village Cercasorum* ; there the country 
 becomes intersected by three streams ; two flowing respec- 
 tively to the right and left ; the other continuing its onward 
 course traverses the district called the Delta; none of these 
 streams flow uninterruptedly to the sea, but upon reaching 
 different cities separate into various branches, all of them 
 larger than any Grecian rivers ; its waters nevertheless are 
 
 " Sleep, that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care, 
 The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, 
 Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, 
 Chief nourisher in life's feast." 
 
 * This reading is taken from the edit, by Jacobs, and is supported 
 by a passage in Herod, ii. 17, 
 
428 ACHILLES TATITJ8. 
 
 not enfeebled and rendered useless by the many divisions in 
 their course ; they bear vessels upon their surface ; they 
 are used for drinking, and contribute to fertilize the land. 
 The mighty Nile is all in all to the Egyptians, both land 
 and river, and sea and lake, and a singular spectacle it is to 
 see in juxtaposition the ship and the mattock, the oar and 
 the plough, the rudder and the hook,* sailors' cabins and 
 labourers' huts, a resort for fishes and a resting-place for 
 oxen ; where but lately a ship sailed, is seen a cultivated 
 plain, and anon the cultivated plain becomes a watery space ; 
 for the Nile periodically comes and goes, and the Egyptians 
 count the days and anxiously await the inundation, while 
 the river on his part keeps to his appointed time, regulates 
 the rising of his waters, and never exposes himself to the 
 imputation of unpunctuality. Then comes the rivalry 
 between the land and water ; each exerts its power against 
 the other; the water strives to flood the land, and the land 
 does its endeavour to absorb the fertilizing water ; in the 
 end, conquest can be assigned to neither, but both may 
 claim the victory, for each is co-extensive with the other. 
 In the pasturage which is the resort of the buccaneers, a 
 quantity of water is at all times found, for even when the 
 Nile retires, the lakes formed by its inundation continue 
 filled with watery mud; over these the inhabitants can 
 either wade on foot or pass in boats, each of which will 
 contain one person ; any other kind would be imbedded in 
 the mud, but those which they employ are so lightf as to 
 require very little water, and should none be found they 
 take them on their backs, and proceed on foot until they 
 arrive at more. These lakes, which I have mentioned, are 
 dotted over with islets, some of them uninhabited, but 
 abounding in papyrus reeds, between the intervals of which 
 there is only room for a man to stand, while the space 
 above is overarched by the summits of the leaves ; it is in 
 
 * Instead of the common reading, rpoTratov, which yields no sense 
 Salmasius proposes /cpwTnov, a reaping hook. 
 
 f Lucan mentions boats made of the papyrus : 
 
 "sic cum tenet omnia Nilus 
 
 Conseritur bibulfc Memphitis cymba papyro." 
 
 Lucan. B. IT. 
 
ACHILLES TATIU8. 429 
 
 these places that the buccaneers assemble, and secretly 
 concert their plans, masked by these reeds as by a fort. 
 Some of the islets have huts upon them, presenting the 
 appearance of a rudely constructed town, which serve as 
 the dwellings of the pirates. One of them, more remarkable 
 than the other for its extent and for the number of its huts, 
 was called Nicochis, and here it was that the main body of 
 the freebooters was collected ; confiding in their numbers, 
 and in the strength- of their position, the place being entirely 
 insulated by lagoons, except for a narrow causeway the 
 eighth of a mile long and seventy feet wide. As soon as 
 they were aware of the commander's approach, they had 
 recourse to the following stratagem: mustering all the 
 old men, they equipped them as suppliants, with palm 
 branches, commanding the most able-bodied among the 
 youth to follow, armed with swords and shields, The old 
 men were to hold aloft their suppliant branches, the foliage 
 of which would serve to conceal those in the rear,* who, by 
 way of farther precaution, were directed to stoop and trail 
 their spears along the ground. 
 
 In case the commander yielded to the old men's suppli- 
 cations, the others were to make no hostile movements; if, 
 on the contrary, he should reject their entreaties, they were 
 to invite him to their city, with the offer of there surrender- 
 ing themselves up to death ; if he agreed to follow them, 
 upon arriving at the middle of the narrow causeway, the 
 old men, at a preconcerted signal, were to throw away their 
 branches and make their escape, while the others were to 
 make an assault with might and main. They proceeded to 
 execute these directions, and upon approaching the com- 
 mander, entreated him to reverence their old age and 
 suppliant branches, and to take pity upon their town ; they 
 offered him a present of a hundred talents of silver for him- 
 self, together with an hundred hostages, to be forwarded 
 by him to the seat of governient.f 
 
 * " Let every soldier hew him down a bough, 
 
 And bear't before him ; thereby shall we shadow 
 The numbers of our host, and make discovery 
 Err in report of us." Macbeth. 
 
 f" irpO TTJV aarpairtiav. 
 
430 ACHILLES TAT1US. 
 
 They were quite sincere in making these proposals, and 
 would have fulfilled them faithfully had he consented ; upon 
 his refusal, " We must then," said they, " submit to our 
 destiny ; at least grant us this one favour : do not put us 
 to death at a distance from our town, conduct us to our 
 'fatherland,' to our hearths and homes, and there let us 
 find our grave. We ourselves are ready to lead the way ! 
 Upon hearing these words, Charmides laid aside his dis- 
 positions for battle, and ordered his forces to follow leisurely. 
 The buccaneers had meanwhile posted some scouts at a 
 distance, who were to watch the movements of the enemy, 
 and who, when they had reached the causeway, were to let 
 out the waters upon them. The canals which issue from 
 the branches of the Nile have high banks, to hinder the 
 river from flooding the land before the time, and when the 
 fields require watering, a portion of the bank is cut through. 
 JN"ow there was a long and wide canal behind the town 
 which we are speaking of ; those who were stationed for the 
 purpose cut through the banks as soon as they saw the 
 enemy approaching, and in a moment the old men fled, the 
 others charged with their spears, on rolled the waters 
 rising higher and higher, the causeway was flooded, and all 
 around became a sea. 
 
 The buccaneers at the first onset speared the foremost 
 of the enemy, together with their commander, who were 
 taken by surprise, and therefore quite unprepared, and 
 it is difficult to describe the various ways in which the 
 others perished. Some fell before they could even handle 
 their weapons ; some before they could offer any resist- 
 ance ; for to see their assailants and to receive their 
 own death-wound was simultaneous ; others were slain 
 before they could see the hand which slew them ; some 
 overcome by terror, remained motionless awaiting death ; 
 others upon attempting to move were taken off" their legs 
 by the force of the stream, while others again, who had 
 betaken themselves to flight, were carried along and drowned 
 in the deep part of the lagoons, where the water was above 
 their heads ; those even who were upon land had water 
 up to their middles, which, by turning aside their shields, 
 exposed their bodies to the enemy. The difficulty of know- 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 431 
 
 ing what was land and what was not, retarded many, and 
 was the cause of their being taken prisoners ; while others 
 supposing themselves still on land came into deep water 
 and were drowned ; here were to be seen mishaps and 
 wrecks of an unwonted kind, a land engagement on the 
 water, and a wreck upon the land.* 
 
 The buccaneers were greatly elated by their success, and 
 attributed their victory not to fraud but to their own 
 valour; for among the Egyptians their fear degenerates 
 into abject cowardice, and their courage mounts to rash- 
 ness ; in this respect they are always in extremes, and are 
 wholly subject either to the excess or the defect. Ten 
 days had now passed and Leucippe was no better ; upon 
 one occasion while asleep she cried out in a frenzied manner, 
 " Gorgias, it is thou who hast driven me mad !"t I told 
 Menelaus of this in the morning, and began to consider 
 whether there was any one in the village of that name. 
 We were just going out, when a young man met and 
 accosted me, saying, "I am come to save you and your 
 wife." Perfectly astounded, and thinking that his coming 
 was providential, " Are you Gorgias ?" I inquired. " No," 
 replied he, "my name is Chaereas; Gorgias is the cause 
 of all the mischief." I felt a thrill run through me, as I 
 asked, "What mischief do you mean? Who is Gorgias? 
 Some deity betrayed his name to me last night ; be you an 
 interpreter of the announcement." 
 
 " Grorgias," he resumed, " was an Egyptian soldier ; he 
 is now no more, having been slain by the buccaneers. He 
 conceived a passion for your wife, and being well acquainted 
 with the nature of drugs, he compounded a love philtre 
 which he persuaded your Egyptian servant to mix with 
 Leucippe' s drink ; he neglected to dilute the potion, so that 
 instead of producing love it brought on madness. I was 
 
 * The same manner of expression is used by Apuleius, B. iv., of the 
 carcases of animals destroyed by pestilence. : " Passim per plateas 
 plurima cerneres semivivorum corporum ferina naufragia," The 
 reader will remember the figurative language employed to describe the 
 death of Charicles, thrown from his unruly horse. 
 
 f " The drug he gave me, which he said was precious 
 And cordial to me, have I not found it 
 Murd'rous to the senses ?" Cymbeline. 
 
432 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 informed of all this yesterday by Gorgias* servant, who 
 accompanied his master against the buccaneers, and who 
 seems to have b$pn specially preserved by Fortune for your 
 sake. He asks four pieces of gold for effecting your \\\i\ >** 
 recovery, having, aa ne savs, a drug which will counteract 
 the effects of that which has been administered," " Ail 
 blessings attend you for this good service!** I exclaimed; 
 " pray bring the man here of whom you speak." 
 
 No sooner was he departed on this errand, than goinc 
 in to the Egyptian, I struck him repeatedly about the head 
 with my clenched fist, saying at every blow, " What was it 
 which you gave Leucippe P What is it which has caused 
 her madness f " The fellow in his fright confessed every- 
 thing, confirming what Chreas had already said; upon 
 which we thrust him into prison, and there kept him. By 
 this time Chweas had returned, bringing the man with 
 Wm, " Here are your four gold pieces as the reward for 
 your seasonable information ; but before you proceed to do 
 anything, hear my opinion. As this lady's illness has been 
 caused by swallowing a drug, I cannot but think it danger- 
 ous to administer more physic while the stomach is already 
 under the influence of medicine; tell me, therefore, what 
 are the ingredients in your proposed remedy, and compound 
 it in my presence; upon these conditions I will give YOU 
 four more gold pieces.*' " Your apprehensions are reason- 
 able," he replied; "but the ingredients in my medicine 
 are all common and fit for human food, and I will mvself 
 swallow the same quantity which I give the lady." After 
 specifying the various ingredients, he sent some one out 
 to procure them ; and as soon as they were brought, he 
 pounded them together in our presence, made two draughts 
 of them, saying, " one of them I will drink off, the other is 
 for the lady ; it will make her sleep all night, and in the 
 morning she will awake quite recovered." He then swal- 
 lowed the draught, and ordered the other to be taken at 
 night. "I must now go and lie down," he said, "under 
 the influence of the medicine." With these words he left 
 us, having received the stipulated sum, and with the 
 assurance of the additional reward being paid him, if Leu- 
 cippe should recover. When the hour arrived tor adminis- 
 tering the draught, I poured it out, and thus addressed its 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 433 
 
 " Offspring of the Earth, gift of ^Esculapius, may the pro- 
 mises made of thee be verified ; shew thyself propitious and 
 preserve my beloved ; subdue the power of that ruthless 
 potion." Thus having entered into a kind of compact 
 \\ith the medicine, I kissed the cup and give it to Leucippe. 
 She soon fell into a profound sleep, and while sitting beside 
 her I said to her, as if she could still hear me, " Wilt thou 
 really recover thy senses ? Wilt thou know me again ? 
 Shall I hear that dear voice of thine ? Give some token in 
 thy sleep, as yesternight thou didst concerning Gorgias ; 
 happier are thy sleeping than thy waking hours ; frenzy is 
 thy portion when awake, but thou art inspired by Wisdom 
 when asleep. 
 
 At length my words and thoughts were interrupted by 
 the anxiously-expected break of day, and I heard Leucippe's 
 voice calling me by name. Instantly I hurried to her side, 
 and inquired how she felt; she appeared to have no know- 
 ledge of what had passed, and seeing that her hands were 
 bound, expressed surprise, and inquired who had tied them. 
 Finding her restored to her right mind. I undid the knots in 
 >reat agitation, through excess of joy, and then related to 
 _ier all particulars. She blushed upon learning what had 
 passed, and almost believed herself to be still committing 
 the same extravagance ; but my assurances gradually soothed 
 and restored her to herself. Gladly did I pay the man the 
 sum which had been promised him, and fortunately our 
 finances * were in safety, for Satyrus had our money abont 
 his personf at the time when we were shipwrecked, and 
 neither he nor Menelaus had been plundered by the buc- 
 caneers. While what I have been relating took place, a 
 much more powerful force arrived from the seat of govern- 
 ment, which succeeded in completely destroying the pirate 
 settlement. 
 
 As the river was now freed from any dangers on the part 
 of these marauders, we prepared to sail for Alexandria, 
 accompanied by Ch&reas, for whom we had conceived a 
 friendship on account of the discovery which he had made 
 to us about the potion. He was a native of the Isle of 
 
 t irv\tv iw<r/i j * i^, ..'u/i//,, the girdle used as a purse. 
 
 2r 
 
434 ACHILLES TATltfS. 
 
 Pharos, and his calling that of a fisherman ; he had served 
 in a naval expedition against the buccaneers, 'and at its 
 termination had been discharged. The river which, owing 
 to the depredations of the pirates, had for a long time been 
 deserted, was now crowded with vessels; and a pleasant 
 thing it was to hear the songs of the sailors and the mirth 
 of the passengers, and to see so many craft passing up and 
 down. Our voyage was like a continuous festival, and the 
 river itself seemed to be keeping holiday.* I for the first 
 time drank some of the Nile water, without any admixture 
 of wine, being desirous to test its sweetness, and wine, 
 I may remark, always spoils the flavour of water. Having 
 filled a transparent crystal glass, the liquid vied with, nay, 
 surpassed it in brightness. It was sweet to the taste, and 
 bad an agreeable coldness, whereas some of the Grecian 
 rivers are so very cold as to be injurious to the health. 
 On this account the Egyptians have no fear in drinking its 
 water, and stand in no need of wine.f Their way of 
 drinking struck me as being curious. They do not draw 
 up the water in a bucket, neither do they use any other 
 cup than that which Nature has supplied, their hand ; 
 when any one is thirsty he stoops over the side of the 
 vessel, and, receiving the water in the hollow of his hand, 
 jerks it upwards with such dexterity, that it is received 
 into the open mouth, and not a drop is lost. 
 
 The Nile produces another monster, more noted for 
 strength than even the river-horse. I mean the crocodile. J 
 His shape is between that of a fish and a large animal. 
 His length from head to tail is great, and out of proportion 
 to his breadth ; his skin is rough with scales ; the^ surface 
 of his back hard and of a black colour, while the belly is 
 white. He has four legs, which bend in an oblique direction, 
 
 * See the description of the procession to Babastis, in Herod. ;i. 60 ( 
 which illustrates the above passage. 
 
 t When the soldiers of Pescennius Niger murmured for want of 
 wine, he replied to them, *' Nilum habetis et yinum quaeritis ?" and 
 tho historian adds, " siquidem tanta illius fluminis dulcedo, ut accolae 
 vina non quaerant." Spartianus. 
 
 See in Herod, ii. 68, 70, a description of the crocodile and of the 
 mode of taking it 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 435 
 
 like those of the land tortoise ; his tail is long and thick, 
 forming a solid mass, and differing from that of other 
 animals in being the continuation of the spine, and there- 
 fore a constituent part of the body, and on the top it is set 
 with sharp spines, like the teeth of a saw. , It serves the 
 crocodile for an implement with which to capture his prey ; 
 he strikes with it against his antagonist, and a single stroke 
 will inflict several wounds. His head grows directly out of 
 his shoulders in one line, for Nature has concealed his neck.* 
 The most formidable part about him are his jaws, which 
 open to an immense extent ; so long as they remain closed 
 they form a head, but when expanded to take in its prey, 
 they become all mouth ; (the animal, I may observe, moves 
 oaly the upper jaw) for so great is their expansion that 
 it reaches to the shoulders and to the orifice of the stomach. 
 He has many teeth, which are disposed in long rows : they 
 are said to equal the days of the year in number. Were 
 you to see the animal on land, you would not suppose 
 him to be possessed of so much strength, judging from 
 his size. 
 
 BOOK Y. 
 
 WE arrived at Alexandria after a three days' passage. 
 I entered by the gate of the Sun, and was at once amazed 
 and delighted by the splendour of the city. A row of 
 columns, on either side, led in a straight line to the gate of 
 the Moon these two divinities being the guardian gods of 
 the city gates. In the midst of these columns was the open 
 part of the city, which branched out into so many streets, 
 that in traversing them, one seemed journeying abroad 
 though all the time at home.f Proceeding a little farther I 
 came to a part named after the great Alexander; here 
 began a second city and its beauty was of a twofold kind, 
 two rows of columns equal in extent, intersecting each 
 other at right angles. It was impossible to satisfy the eye 
 
 TI}V ctyjuv. f Mijuog dirodrjuia. 
 
 2 F 2 
 
436 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 with gazing upon the various streets, or to take in every 
 object deserving of admiration ; some of these one actually 
 saw, others one was on the point of seeing ; others one 
 longed to see ; others, again, one would not willingly have 
 missed seeing ; those which were actually present rivetted 
 one's gaze ; those which were anticipated tempted it to 
 wander : after turning my eyes therefore, on every side, so 
 distracted were my feelings of admiration, that I owned my 
 sight to be thoroughly bewildered and unequal to its task. 
 What most struck me was the extent of the city and its 
 vast population, each of which in turn bore away the palm 
 when compared with the other; the former seemed actually 
 a country, the latter, a nation. When I looked at the vast 
 size of the city, I doubted whether any number of inha- 
 bitants could fill it ; and when I considered the multitude 
 of the inhabitants, I asked myself whether any city could 
 contain them ; so evenly balanced was the calculation.* and 
 so difficult was it to come to a decision. 
 
 It chanced at that time to be the festival of the great 
 deity called Jove by the Greeks, Serapisf by the Egyptians ; 
 torches were lighted up throughout the city, and the effect 
 of so much light was marvellous, for although evening had 
 come on and the sun had set, there was no such thing as 
 night, another sun might be said to have arisen, only that 
 his rays were scattered,J so that the city vied with heaven 
 in brightness. I also visited the magnificent temple and 
 saw the statue of the Milichian Jove, and after paying our 
 devotions to his great divinity, and praying him to end at 
 last, our troubles, we returned to the lodgings which Mene- 
 
 * ToiavTt) nc laorrjTos rpuTavri. " The beautiful and regular 
 form of that great city, second only to Rome itself, comprehended a 
 circumference of fifteen miles ; it was peopled by three hundred thou- 
 sand free inhabitants, besides at least an equal number of slaves." 
 Gibbon, vol. i. 452. 
 
 *T See the description of his temple and statue. Gibbon, vol. v. 
 108114. 
 
 : The expression in the Greek is remarkable d\\og di/lrt\\i> 
 f;\io *caraicepfiar(w>. 
 
 " Take him and cut him out in little stars, 
 And he will make the face of heaven so fine, 
 That all the world shall be in love with night, 
 And pay no worship to the garish sun." Romeo and Juliet. 
 
ACHILLES TATIU8. 4<J7 
 
 aus had engaged for us. The deity, as will be seen, did 
 not hearken to our prayers, and another trial of fortune 
 yet awaited us. Chaereashadfor some time been enamoured 
 of Leucippe, which was his motive for communicating to 
 me the circumstance of the philtre, by doing which he 
 hoped to become on intimate terms with us and to preserve 
 her life for his own ends. Knowing how difficult success 
 would be, he had recourse to stratagem. Being a seafaring 
 man, he had no difficulty in getting together some fellows, 
 half-fishermen half-pirates, with whom he arranged what 
 was to be done, and then under pretence of keeping his 
 birth-day, he invited us to an entertainment at Pharos. 
 As we were leaving the house a sinister omen befell us ; 
 a hawk pursuing a sparrow struck Leucippe on the cheek 
 with its wing ; alarmed at the occurrence I looked up 
 towards heaven and said " Jove, what means this omen ? 
 If this bird be indeed sent by thee, show us, I pray, some 
 clearer augury." Upon turning round, I found myself 
 standing by a painter's shop where was a picture, the sub- 
 ject of which was in keeping with what had just taken 
 place ; it represented the rape of Philomela, the cruelty of 
 Tereus in cutting out her tongue, every particular of the 
 sad drama was seen depicted on the tapestry,* which was 
 being held up by a female slave. Philomela stood pointing 
 to the different figures which were worked upon it, and 
 Procue was intimating that she understood her, at frhe 
 same time casting stern and angry looks upon the picture. 
 There, the Thracian Tereus was seen struggling with Philo- 
 mela, whose hair was dishevelled, her girdle loose, her dress 
 torn, her bosom half naked ; her right hand was planted 
 against the face of Tereus, with her left she was endeavour- 
 ing to pull her torn dress over her breast; Tereus was 
 holding her in his arms, drawing her person towards him, 
 aiid embracing her as closely as he could. Such was the 
 subject of the tapestry. In the remainder of the painting, 
 were seen the two sisters showing Tereus the relics of his 
 supper, the head and hands of his own child; fear and 
 
 * 6 TTfeTrXoc. The piece of tapestry on which Philomela, during her 
 captivity had worked the representation of her misfortunes, and which 
 ahe had conveyed to her sister Procne. See Ovid. Met. vi. 411676. 
 
438 ACHILLES TATIU8. 
 
 bitter laughter are depicted on their faces ; Tereus is leaping 
 up from his couch arid drawing his sword against them, and 
 he has struck out his foot against the table * which neither 
 stands nor falls, but seem-s in the very act of falling. " In my 
 opinion," said Menelaus, " we should give up the excursion 
 to Pharos, for we have encountered two unfavourable omens, 
 the hawk's wing and the threatening picture ; now those who 
 profess to interpret such matters, bid us pay regard to the 
 subjects of any pictures which we may happen to meet with, 
 when setting out on any business, and to conjecture the 
 result of our undertaking from the nature of what we see. 
 Did you not observe how full of evil augury this picture 
 is ? There is depicted in it lawless love, shameless adul- 
 tery and female misery ; we ought therefore to defer our 
 expedition." I concurred in opinion with him, and we 
 excused ourselves from accompanying Chsereas on that 
 occasion ; he left us, very much vexed at our determination, 
 saying he should come to us the next day. 
 
 Women are naturally fond of hearing stories, accordingly 
 when he was gone, Leucippe turning to me said, " Pray 
 tell me what is the subject represented in this picture? 
 What birds are they ? who are the women ? and who is 
 that shameless man ?" I proceeded to gratify her wishes. 
 " The hoopoe," I said, " was once a man called Tereus, the 
 swallow and the nightingale were two sisters named Phi- 
 lomela and Procne, natives of Athens. One woman, it 
 seems, is not enough for a barbarian, especially when an 
 occasion offers for gratifying his lust ; and such an oppor- 
 tunity was offered to Tereus through the sisterly affection 
 of Procne, who sent her husband to invite Philomela ; he 
 conceived a passion for her, on his way back, made her a 
 second Procne ; then fearing lest she should reveal the 
 deed, he, as the reward for her virginity deprives her of 
 speech by cutting out her tongue, our nature's glory.f The 
 
 * ioGti fiopav dffwrov .... 
 
 Kdiriir ETriyvovt; Ipyov ov Karyiaiov 
 
 dtiirvov ZW^IKWC Tt9ii ap. JEsch. Ag. 1568. 
 <fHDvi}Q TO di/0o. This expression may be illustrated by 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 439 
 
 precaution was fruitless, Philomela, by her skill contrived 
 a silent voice ; she inwove the tragedy into a web, descrip- 
 tive of the facts, her hand supplying the place of a tongue, 
 and revealing to her sister's eyes what otherwise would 
 have been whispered into her ears. Procne, learning 
 through this, device the violence which had been perpe- 
 trated, determines to take fearful vengeance ; and two 
 angry women's minds, conspiring together, and influenced 
 by mingled feeling of jealousy and sense of wrong, contrive 
 a supper more detestable even then the rape*. They serve 
 up to the father his own child ; Procne had once been his 
 mother, now she had forgotten the maternal tie, so power- 
 fully do the pangs of jealousy prevail over those even of 
 travail ; for women, when exacting satisfaction for a violated 
 bed, however deeply they may suffer in what they do, com- 
 pensate the pain by the pleasure of inflicting vengeance. t 
 Tereus supped upon this hellish banquet, and afterwards 
 the sisters, trembling with fear yet laughing horribly, bring 
 in the remnants of his child upon a dish. He recog- 
 nizes the miserable tokens, curses the food which he had 
 swallowed, and discovers himself to be the father of what 
 he had been feasting on. Maddened with fury, he draws 
 his sword, and is in, the act of rushing upon the women, 
 when lo ! the air receives them metamorphosed into birds. 
 Tereus also becomes a bird, and ascends after them ; a*nd to 
 show that their change of form has wrought no change in 
 their hate, the hoopoe (Tereus) still pursues, and the 
 nightingale (Procne) still flies." We had for once escaped 
 the snare laid for us, but we gained by it only a single day, 
 for next morning Chsereas arrived, and feeling ashamed to 
 make any more excuses we went on board a vessel and 
 
 Psalm Ivii. 9, "Awake up my glory? and Psalm xvi. 10, "My glory 
 rejoiced." 
 
 * " quam cruentas feminas stimulat dolor 
 Cum patuit una pellici et nuptse dornus ! 
 Scylla et Charybdis Sicula contorqueus freta 
 Minus est timenda, nulla non melior fera est." 
 
 Sen. Here. (Et. 
 
 f* " And their revenge is as the tiger's spring, 
 Deadly and quick and crushing ; yet as real 
 Torture is theirs, what they inflict they feel." Byron. 
 
440 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 sailed to Pharos. Menelaus said that he felt indisposed 
 and remained at home. Chsereas took us first to the light- 
 house and directed our attention to the wonderful super- 
 structure upon which it stood a rock situated in the sea, 
 almost cloud-capped, and seeming to hang over the waters ; 
 upon the summit of this arose the tower, which with its light 
 served vessels for a second pilot.* When we had viewed 
 this, he took us to a house at the extremity of the isle and 
 situated on the shore. 
 
 In the evening, under pretence of his stomach being dis- 
 ordered, he went out; in a short time we heard a great 
 noise, and suddenly a number of powerful men burst into 
 the room, sw'ord in hand, and turned towards the maiden. 
 Seeing my dearest life about to be carried off, I rushed into 
 the midst of them armed as they were, and received a wound 
 in the thigh, from the effect of which I fell bathed in blood ; 
 they immediately put Leucippe into a boat and rowed 
 away. Aroused by the disturbance and alarm caused by this 
 occurrence, the commandant of the isle came up whom I 
 had known when with the army. I exhibited my wound, 
 and earnestly besought him to pursue the pirates. Accord- 
 ingly, throwing himself and the soldiers with him into one 
 of the many boats which were in the harbour, he gave them 
 chase ; I likewise was among the number, having caused 
 myself to be lifted in. 
 
 When the pirates saw that we were gaining upon them 
 and were prepared for an attack, they placed the maiden 
 upon the deck with her hands bound behind her ; some of 
 them, after calling out in a loud voice, " Behold the prize 
 you wish to win," severed her head from her body, and 
 threw the trunk into the sea. Upon beholding this I 
 uttered a loud cry and was on the point of casting myself 
 
 * This celebrated light-house, situated at the entrance of the port 
 of Alexandria, was built by Sostratus of Cnidos on an island which 
 bore the same name, at the expense of eight hundred talents. It was 
 square, constructed of white stone, and with admirable art, exceed- 
 ingly lofty, and in all respects of great dimensions. It contained 
 many stories, which diminished in width from below upwards. The 
 upper stories had windows looking seaward, and torches or fires were 
 kept burning in them by night, in order to guide vessels into the har- 
 bour. Diet, of Greek and Roman Antiq. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUB* 
 
 into the water, but was prevented by those standing near 
 me ; I then requested the crew to lie upon their oars, that 
 some one might jump into the sea and if possible recover 
 the body for burial ; they complied with my request and 
 two of the sailors throwing themselves over the boat's side, 
 got hold of the corpse and brought it on board. Meanwhile 
 the pirates plied their oars still more vigorously, and when 
 we were again nearing them they caught sight of another 
 vessel, and recognizing those in her, hailed them to come to 
 their assistance ; these latter were purple-fishers * and like 
 the others pirates. The commandant, seeing the odds against 
 him, became alarmed and gave orders to back water,t for 
 the pirates instead of continuing their flight, were now 
 eager to provoke an engagement. Upon reaching the shore 
 and landing, I threw myself upon the body and shed bitter 
 tears. " Thou hast indeed died a double death, my dearest 
 Leucippe," J I exclaimed, " divided as thou art between 
 land and sea ; I have a remnant of thee, but thou thy- 
 self art lost to me ; the division is unfair, for thy larger por- 
 tion which I possess (thy body) is in reality, thy lesser, 
 (considering its worth,) while the sea, in retaining the 
 lesser part (thy head ), is in fact guilty of retaining all ; 
 since cruel Fortune envies me the happiness of kissing thy 
 fair face, I will at least kiss thy neck." After giving vent 
 to these lamentations, I had the body interred, and returned 
 to Alexandria, where much against my will my wound was 
 dressed, and where I continued to live a miserable life, 
 though Menelaus did all in his power to console me. At 
 the expiration of six months, the violence of my grief began 
 to subside ; time acts as medicine upon sorrow and heals 
 the wounds which have been inflicted upon the soul, for the 
 
 * iropQvptig. Fishers of the murex or purple fish. See a note in 
 Blakesley's Herod, vol. i. p. 522. 
 
 t irpvuvav iKpovffaro. See Thucyd. vol. i. p. 50. 
 
 Once before, when apparently sacrificed by Menelaus and Satyrus. 
 - B. iii. 
 
 The head, as the noblest part, being the representative of the whole 
 person ; and often used as a periphrasis for it by the Greek and 
 Roman writers. Clitopho here exhibits his ingenuity at the expense 
 of nature, forgetting that 
 
 " An honest tale speeds best, being plainly told." Richard III. 
 
442 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 light of day, and the bright sun are full of cheerfulness, 
 and though the mind may be fevered by excess of sorrow for 
 a time, yet it is gradually cooled and overcome by the 
 persuasive influence of time. 
 
 One day, when walking in the public square, some one 
 came behind me, and without speaking a word, seized my 
 hand, turned me round, and warmly embraced me. For 
 a few moments I knew not who the party was, overcome 
 by surprise I mechanically suffered myself to be embraced ; 
 at length, upon looking "up and seeing his features, who 
 should it prove to be but Clinias, so uttering a cry of joy, I 
 returned his embrace with ardour. We then retired to 
 my lodging, where I told him the particulars of Leucippe's 
 death, and he related to me the manner of his escape. 
 " When the ship went to pieces," said he, "I laid hold of 
 one end of the sailyard, which was already crowded with 
 people, and endeavoured to hang on ; after we had been 
 tossed about for some time, a great wave overtaking us 
 raised and dashed the yard against a sunken rock, from 
 which it rebounded like an engine, and shot me off as 
 though I had been hurled from a sling. I swam during the 
 rest of the day, but with little hope of being saved ; at 
 length, when exhausted and abandoning myself to the will 
 of Fortune, I espied a vessel bearing down towards me ; 
 so alternately lifting up my hands, I supplicated help by 
 gestures. Moved by pity, or perhaps merely obeying the 
 impulse of the wind, the ship came near me, and while 
 running by, one of the sailors cast a rope over the side ; I 
 seized it, and was thus drawn out of the jaws of death. 
 The vessel was bound for Sidon, and some of those on board 
 to whom I was known showed me every kindness. We 
 arrived at the above city after two days' sail, when I 
 requested the Sidonians on board (the merchant Xeno- 
 damas, and his father-in-law Theophilus), not to mention to 
 any of the Tyrians whom they might meet, the circumstance 
 of my being preserved from shipwreck. I did not wish any 
 one to know that I had been away from home, and if those 
 two preserved silence in the matter, I had hopes that 
 nothing would be discovered ; five days only had elapsed 
 since my disappearance, whereas if you recollect, I had told 
 my servants that I was going into the country fox ten days ; 
 
ACHILLES TAtlUS. 443 
 
 and fortunately I found this to be the prevalent belief 
 among my friends. Your father did not return home until 
 two days after this, upon his arrival he found a letter from 
 his brother, Sostratus (which came the very day after our 
 departure), in which he offered you his daughter's hand. 
 Upon reading it and hearing of our flight your father 
 was in great trouble, both because you had missed the 
 prize intended for you, and because after so nearly bringing 
 matters to a favourable issue, Fortune had failed merely 
 through delay in the arrival of the letter. Not wishing his 
 brother to know what had happened, he enjoined secrecy 
 upon Leucippe's mother, thinking it probable he should be 
 able to discover you, or at any rate, that upon hearing of 
 the betrothment, you would both gladly return, having it 
 in your power to realize the object of your flight. He is 
 now using every endeavour to find you out ; and only a few 
 days ago, Diophantus of Tyre, just returned from Egypt, 
 informed him that he had seen you here ; immediately upon 
 hearing this, I took ship, sailed hither, and have for more 
 than a week been seeking you in this city. As your father 
 will soon be here, it is time for you to decide upon some 
 plan." He ceased speaking, and I could not help inveighing 
 bitterly against the cruel sport of Fortune. " How unfor- 
 tunate is my lot, my uncle Sostratus gives me the hand of 
 Leucippe, and sends me a bride from the theatre of war, 
 so exactly measuring the time as to avoid anticipating 
 our flight. My good luck and happiness comes just one 
 day too late !* Marriage and the nuptial hymn is talked of 
 when death has claimed his victim, and it is a time for 
 tears ! Whom do they now offer me for a bride ? Even 
 her whose corpse I am not permitted to possess entire!" 
 " You have no leisure for lamentations now," said Cli- 
 nias ; " what you have to settle is, whether you will return 
 to your own country or await your father's arrival here." 
 " I will do neither the one nor the other," I replied ; " how 
 can I look my father in the face, after basely flying from 
 his house, and enticing away her whom his own brother 
 had entrusted to his charge? Nothing remains but to 
 quit this city before he comes." At tjiis moment Menelaus 
 
 * & f.iaiKapiO(, tycu Trapd fiiav 7//uepav. 
 
444 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 came in, accompanied by Satyrus, and upon seeing Clinias 
 they hastened to embrace him. When informed by us of 
 the state of affairs, "You have an opportunity," said Sa- 
 tyrus, " of prosperously settling all your affairs, and of taking 
 pity upon a heart which burns with love towards you. 
 Listen," continued he, addressing Clinias, "Venus has 
 thrown a piece of good fortune in the way of Clifcopho 
 which he is unwilling to accept ; a lady, by name Melitta, a 
 native of Ephesus is doatingly in love with him ; so rare is 
 her beauty, that it fits her for a sculptor's model.* She is 
 rich and young, and has lately lost her husband who was 
 drowned at sea ; she earnestly desires to make Clitopho, I 
 will not say merely her husband but her ' lord paramount,' t 
 and freely surrenders to him herself and all she has. She 
 has passed two whole months here, endeavouring to persuade 
 him. Yet he, heaven knows why, looks coldly upon her, 
 and slights her suit, imagining, I suppose, that Leucippe 
 will come to life again." 
 
 "In my opinion," replied Clinias, " Satyrus speaks sen- 
 sibly ; it is no time for hesitation and delay, when beauty, 
 health, wealth, and love combine to woo you ; her beauty 
 will yield you delight, her wealth will supply the means of 
 luxurious enjoyment, and her love will gain consideration 
 for you ; consider, moreover, that the deity hates pride and 
 arrogance, so follow the advice of Satyrus and yield to des- 
 tiny." " Well then," said I, with a deep sigh, " do with me 
 what you will, since Clinias is of your opinion ; one stipu- 
 lation I make, however, that I am not to be pressed to con- 
 summate the marriage until we arrive at Ephesus, for I 
 have taken a solemn oath to be connected with no woman 
 in this city where I have been bereaved of my Leucippe ?" 
 Upon hearing me say this, Satyrus hastened to Melitta 
 with the joyful tidings, and shortly after returned and said, 
 that upon learning them, she had nearly fainted from ex- 
 cess of joy ; he was also the bearer of an invitation to me 
 to come to supper as a prelude to the marriage. I com- 
 
 * " Usque ab unguiculo ad capillum summus est festivissima 
 Eitne ? considera ; signum pictum pulchre videris." 
 
 Plautus. Epidic. Sc. v. 1 . 
 
 f de<rir6Tr)v 9 ou yap dvcpa t/ow. 
 
ACHILLES TATIU8. 445 
 
 plied and proceeded to her house. No sooner did she see 
 me, than falling on my neck she covered me with kisses. I 
 must do her the justice of saying that she was really beau- 
 tiful ; her complexion was fair as milk, but tinted with the 
 rose,* her bright and sunny look was worthy of Venus her- 
 self, and she had a profusion of long golden hair, so that 
 upon the whole I could not look at her without some plea- 
 surable emotions. 
 
 A costly supper was served, she now and then took some 
 of the viands for appearance sake, but in reality ate nothing, 
 feeding her eyes on me. Lovers find their chief delight 
 in gazing upon the beloved ; and when once this tender 
 passion has taken possession of the soul, there is no time or 
 desire for taking food. The pleasure conceived by the 
 eyes flows through them into the mind, bears along with 
 it the image of the beloved, and impresses its form upon 
 the mirror of the soul ; the emanation of beauty darting 
 like secret rays and leaving its outline on the love-sick 
 heart. t I said to her, " Why is it that you touch none of 
 your own delicacies ? you are like one of those who sup on 
 the painter's canvas." "The sight of you," replied she, " is 
 more to me, than the choicest viands and the richest wines," 
 accompanying the words with one of her kisses which I 
 began to receive with some degree of pleasure ; " this said 
 she," after a pause, " is meat and drink to me." 
 
 In this manner did supper pass ; at night she used every 
 endeavour to persuade me to remain and share her bed ; I 
 however excused myself urging the same reason which I 
 had previously advanced to Satyrus. Much against her 
 will she allowed me to depart, upon the understanding that 
 next day we should meet in the temple of Isis, in order 
 to arrange matters and to plight our troth in presence of 
 the goddess ; accordingly I went thither the following morn- 
 ing accompanied by Clinias and Menelaus, and we took a 
 mutual oath, I to love her in all sincerity ; she, to take me 
 
 * " 'Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white 
 Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on." 
 
 Twelfth Night. 
 
 f The reader will call to mind a similar passage, in the ccnver- 
 ation between Clinias and Clitopho, in B. i. 
 
446 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 for her husband and to give me the control of all her pro- 
 perty. I reminded her that the performance of these pro- 
 mises was to be deferred until we shojdd arrive at Ephesus, 
 for as long as we are here, I said, you must give place to 
 my Leucippe. Another magnificent banquet was pre- 
 pared, which was in name but not in reality the marriage 
 supper, for as I have said, the consummation of our nup- 
 tials was postponed. During the entertainment, when the 
 guests were wishing heath and happiness to the new mar- 
 ried pair, Melitta turning to me, said half in jest, half in 
 earnest, " How flat, stale, and unprofitable is all this, like 
 the empty honours sometimes bestowed upon the dead ; I 
 have often heard of a tomb without a body, but never till 
 now of a wedding without a consummation."* The next 
 morning, induced by a favourable wind, we sailed from 
 Alexandria ; Menelaus accompanied us to the port, and 
 after many embraces and wishes for my having a more 
 prosperous voyage than formerly, took his leave ; he was in 
 all respects a worthy and excellent young man, and we 
 mutually shed tears at parting. Clinias would not leave 
 me, but determined to accompany us as far as Ephesus, and 
 after remaining there some time, to return, as soon as my 
 affairs were comfortably settled. The wind continued in 
 our favour the whole day, and at night after supper we 
 retired to rest in a cabin which had been parted off for me 
 and Melitta in the hull of the vessel. We had no sooner 
 entered it, then throwing her arms around me she urged 
 me to consummate our marriage. " We are now," she said, 
 i beyond the boundaries sacred to Leucippe, and within 
 those where you are pledged to perform your promise. 
 What need is there to delay until we arrive at Ephesus ? 
 remember, the sea is not to be depended on, the winds are 
 faithless ! Believe me, Clitopho, I burn ; would that I should 
 actually show the intenseness of the fire! would that it 
 possessed the same nature as the ordinary fires of love ; 
 that so I might inflame you by my embraces ! but, alas ! it 
 has a nature peculiar to itself, and the flame which usually 
 extends its influence to both the lovers, in my case burns 
 only its possessor ! Strange and mystic fire, which refuses 
 
 * Ktvoratyiov piv yap ft^or, KtvoyajJiiov ci ov. 
 
ACHILLES TATIT7S'. 447 
 
 to quit its own peculiar precints ; " dearest Clitopho, let us 
 begin the rites of Venus !" T" Do not," 1 replied, " urge me 
 to forget that reverence which is due to the departed ; we 
 cannot be said to have passed the limits sacred to her me- 
 mory until we arrive in another country. Have you not 
 heard how she perished in the sea? I am therefore still 
 sailing over Leucippe's grave; nay more, her shade may 
 even now be flitting around our vessel : it is said that the 
 souls of those who have found a watery grave do not 
 descend to Hades, but wander about the surface of the 
 waves ; for aught we know, she may appear to us in the 
 midst of our embrace. Besides, can you consider the tossing 
 waves of the uncertain sea, a fitting place for consummating a 
 bridal ? Would you wish to have a fluctuating and un- 
 stable marriage bed ? " Dearest," she resumed, " lovers 
 need no feather-bed,* every place is accessible to the god 
 of love ; nay, rather is the sea a most proper and fitting 
 place for celebrating the mysteries of Venus. Is not that 
 goddess daughter of the sea: in. honouring her shall we not 
 be paying homage to her mother ? Everything around us, 
 moreover, is emblematic of the marriage rites ; above us is 
 the sailyard (resembling in form a yoke t) encircled by its 
 ropes ; what can more fitly symbolise a wedding than a 
 yoke and bands ? close to our bed is the rudder,J emblem 
 of safe arrival within the port ; Fortune herself is clearly 
 guiding our nuptials to a happy issue.. Neptune himself, 
 who wedded a sea-bride, will wait upon us with his choir of 
 Nereids ;* and the winds which sigh so softly among the 
 ropes seem to be chanting our nuptial song ; look too, at 
 the bellying canvass, how it resembles a pregnant womb ; 
 even this is not without its propitious meaning, for it tells 
 me that ere long you will be a father !" 
 
 Seeing her become so pressing and so excited, I replied, 
 " Let us, if you will, continue to discuss these subtle points 
 until we reach our destination ; I swear to you by the sea 
 itself and by the fortune of our voyage, that I am as impa- 
 
 * TTOC Toiroc tpwffi 0a\a/io. 
 
 f Alluding to the mast crossed by the sailyard. 
 
 J Melitta still pursues her favourite hobby, symbolism. The 
 reader is referred to the "Pax" of Aristophanes, line 142, with the 
 note in Bothe's edit. 
 
448 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 tient as yourself; but remember that even the sea has its 
 peculiar laws ; and I have often heard say from ancient 
 mariners that ships must not be made the scenes of amo- 
 rous delights, either as being sacred in themselves,* or 
 because wanton pleasure is unseemly amid the perils of the 
 ocean. Let us not then, my love, cast insult upon the sea, 
 or cause our nuptials to be distracted by alarms, rather let 
 us keep in store for ourselves pure and unalloyed delight." 
 These arguments mingled with kisses and endearments, 
 produced the desired effect ; and we passed the remainder 
 of the night in sleep. Five days more, brought us to 
 Ephesus ; Melitta's house was one of the finest in the city, 
 it was spacious and handsomely furnished, and she had a 
 numerous establishment. After ordering a handsome supper 
 she proposed that we should in the meanwhile visit her 
 country-house, which was not more than half a mile out of 
 town ; we rode there in her carriage, and then getting out 
 walked about in the kitchen-garden.f Suddenly a female 
 approached and threw herself at Melitta's feet; she had on 
 heavy fetters and held in her hand a hoe, her hair had been cut 
 off, her whole appearance was squalid, and her clothing con- 
 sisted of a sorry tunic. " Lady," she exclaimed, " have pity 
 upon one of your own sex, who once was free, but is now by 
 the caprice of Fortune, a slave." " Rise up," replied Melitta, 
 " and tell me who you are and from whence you came, and 
 by whom you have been thus fettered ; for though in rags 
 and misery your countenance bespeaks good birth." " I 
 received this treatment from your bailiff,! " resumed the 
 
 * The stern of the vessel was adorned with the image of the tute- 
 lary deity, whence that part of the ship was called tutela, and held 
 Bacred by the mariners. 
 
 " non robore picto 
 
 Ornatas decuit fulgens tutela carinas." Lucan, iii. 510. 
 See also, Hor. I. Od. xvi 10 ; and Persius S. vi 30. 
 
 + bp\arovQ T&V ^vrwv. 
 
 " TToXXoi Si fyvT&v laav op%arot ap$ig' " 
 
 " Well planted gardens." Cowper. Iliad, xvi. 123. 
 
 Slaves who worked in the fields, were under an overseer (|TTI- 
 rpoTrof), to whom the whole management of the estate was frequently 
 entrusted, while the master resided in the city. 
 
ACHILLES TATITTS. 419 
 
 woman, "becaise I refused to gratify his desires ; my name 
 is Lacaena and I am from Thessaly ; I throw myself upon 
 your mercy, beseeching you to release me from this wretched 
 condition, and to guarantee my safety till I shall have paid 
 the two thousand drachmas, for which Sosthenes purchased 
 me from the hands of pirates ; the sum shall soon be 
 raised, and until then I am willing to remain your slave. 
 See," she continued, ' how cruelly I have been used," 
 and opening her tunic she shewed her back * furrowed with 
 stripes, a pitiable sight. Her voice and appearance over- 
 whelmed me with strange feelings, for I seemed to recog- 
 nize in her a resemblance to Leucippe. Addressing her, 
 " Be comforted," said Melitta, " I will have you set at 
 liberty and will send you home without ransom," then 
 speaking to a slave, " Summon here Sosthenes ! " The un- 
 happy woman was then disincumbered of her fetters, and 
 the steward made his appearance in great trepidation. 
 "Villain," said Melitta, " did you ever see any one, even 
 among the most ill-conditioned of my slaves, used so shame- 
 fully ? tell me instantly, without any shuffling, who this 
 female is. " 
 
 "Mistress," replied the fellow, "all I know is, that a 
 merchant, called Callisthenes, sold her to me, saying that 
 he had bought her from some pirates, that she was free- 
 born, and named Lacaena." Melitta instantly degraded him 
 from his office, but her she entrusted to the charge of her 
 maid-servants, with orders to have her washed, decently 
 dressed, and conducted to the city ; then, after settling the 
 business which had brought her thither, we rode back, and 
 sat down to supper. While we were thus employed, Sa- 
 tyrus with a very serious countenance motioned to me to 
 come out of the room : I did so, making some trifling excuse, 
 when without uttering a word he put into my hand a letter, 
 which even before reading it, filled me with consternation, 
 for I recognized Leucippe's writing ; the contents were 
 these : 
 
 Quasi in libro cum scribuntur literse calamo 
 Stills me toturn usque ulmeis conscribito." 
 
 Plaut. Ps. i. 5. 130 
 2 G 
 
 \ 
 
450 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 " Leucippe, to my master Clitopho. 
 
 " I am in duty bound to address you by this title since 
 you are united in marriage to my mistress. Although you 
 are well aware of my sufferings on your account, it is neces- 
 sary for me to remind you of them. For you I left the pro- 
 tection of my mother and became a wanderer ; for you I 
 suffered shipwreck and endured captivity among pirates ; 
 for you I became an expiatory victim and underwent a 
 second death , for you I have been sold to slavery, bound in 
 fetters, made to bear a mattock and to hoe the ground ; for 
 you I have been beaten with the scourge ; and all this 
 in order that you might become wedded to another woman 
 for suppose not that I will give myself up to any other 
 man No ! I have borne, and without a murmur, all these 
 ills, and you, exempt from them, have been enabled to form 
 new marriage ties ; if therefore you are impressed with any 
 sense of the sufferings which I have undergone for love of 
 you, urge your wife to send me home in accordance with 
 her promise, and undertake to be security for the payment 
 of the two thousand drachmas, which on my return, as 1 
 shall not be far from Byzantium, I will procure and send; 
 though supposing you should have to pay them out of your 
 own purse, it will only be a trifling compensation for all 
 that 1 have suffered in your behalf. Farewell, and may hap- 
 piness attend your marriage and remember that she who 
 writes this letter has preserved her honour undefiled." 
 Upon reading these lines, I became a prey to a succession 
 of conflicting feelings ; love, fear, astonishment, doubt, joy, 
 grief, by turns took possession of my mind. 
 
 "Did you bring this letter from the Shades below," I 
 inquired of Satyrus. " What in the name of heaven does 
 all this mean ? Has Leucippe come to life again ?" " Most 
 assuredly she has," replied he; "it is no other than she 
 whom you saw in the country, but she is so changed in 
 appearance from having had her hair cut oft',* that scarcely 
 uny one would recognize her." " And are you going to stop 
 short at this good news r " I asked : " Do you mean my ears 
 alone to be gratified and my eyes to have no share in 
 
 * Slaves were not allowed to w**r th^ir hair long. 
 
 * ?7rra Sijra $oCAo &v, /co^/jy t\ti.' Aristoph. Aves, 884. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 451 
 
 the delight ?" " For heaven's sake be <autious," was his 
 reply ; " let us first contrive some course jf action, else you 
 will bring destruction on us all. Only consider; here is 
 this lady, one of the most distinguished for rank and wealth 
 in Ephesus, madly in love with you, and we are in the 
 midst of the toils without any possibility of getting free." 
 " Talk not of caution," rejoined I, " it is out of the question, 
 joy thrills too strongly through all my veins. Think, too, 
 how she upbraids me in her letter" and upon this, I again 
 eagerly ran over the contents, fancying I could see her in 
 every line, and ejaculating as I read ; " Yes, dearest Leu- 
 cippe, I plead guilty to thy charge! Thou hast indeed 
 endured all these things for love of me ! I have been the 
 cause to thee of infinite misfortune ! " And upon coming to 
 the mention of the scourgings and other sufferings inflicted 
 upon her by Sosthenes, I wept as though actually a wit- 
 ness of their infliction. Reflection turns the eyes of the 
 soul upon the purport of what we read, and brings every- 
 thing as vividly before us, as if it were actually being seen 
 and done. Such was the influence of Leucippe's words, 
 that her allusion to my marriage made me blush as 
 though 1 had been really surprised in the commission of 
 adultery. 
 
 " Satyrus," said I, " what excuses shall I offer ? Leu- 
 cippe, it is clear, knows everything ; nay, her love may have 
 become changed into hate ! But tell me by what means 
 she has been preserved? Whose corpse was that which 
 was buried ?" " She will herself relate everything in proper 
 season," he replied. "What you have to do now is to 
 write back an answer, in order to soothe her irritation. 
 I solemnly declared to her that you married your present 
 wife against your will." "What! did you really tell her I 
 was married ? You have utterly undone me then ! How 
 could you be guilty of such folly?" "Why tax me with 
 folly ? The whole city is aware of it." " But I swear by 
 Hercules and my present Fortune that no actual marriage 
 has taken place." "Nonsense! you share her bed." "I 
 well know," said I, " that I shall not be credited, but 
 nevertheless I speak the truth : up to this very day Clito- 
 pho has had no connexion with Melitta ; however, the pre- 
 sent question is, what am I to writ:l to Leucippe ? My mind 
 
 2 G 2 
 
E 
 
 452 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 is so confused by what iias taken place, that I really know 
 not how to begin." " Upon my word," said Satyrus, " it is 
 out of ray power to help you, but I have no doubt thatLove 
 will suggest materials for a letter ; but whatever you do, 
 lose no time." I at length wrote as follows: 
 
 " Health to Leucippe, mistress of my heart ! It is my 
 lot to be at once happy and unhappy ; happy in that I 
 have you mentally present to me ; unhappy in that you are 
 really absent from me. Only defer pronouncing judgment 
 upon me until the truth shall be cleared up, and you will 
 find that the example of your chastity has been followed by 
 myself (if chastity may be spoken of in men) ; but if you 
 already hate and have condemned me unheard, I swear to 
 by those gods who have preserved your life, that ere 
 ioug you shall have proof of my perfect innocence. Fare- 
 well, dearest, and still give me a place in your affec- 
 tions!" 
 
 This letter I delivered to Satyrus, desiring him to say all 
 he could in my favour to Leucippe. I then went back to 
 supper full of joy, but not free from grief, well knowing 
 that Melitta would not allow the night to pass without 
 pressing me to consummate our nuptials, and, having reco- 
 vered Leucippe, it was hateful to me even to look upon any 
 other woman. I endeavoured to conceal what was passing 
 in my mind, but it was to no purpose, so at last I feigned 
 to be seized with a shivering fit. 
 
 Melitta guessed that I was seeking some excuse for not 
 complying with her wishes, though as yet she had no actual 
 proof. "When, however, I arose from table without finish- 
 ing my supper, and retired to rest, she got up and followed 
 me into the bed-room. I then pretended that I felt much 
 worse, upon which she became very urgent with me, and 
 said, " Why will you persist in acting thus ? How long will 
 you continue to disappoint me ? We have now crossed the 
 sea, we are at Ephesus ; the time is come for realizing your 
 promise. Why should there be any more delay ? How 
 long are we to sleep together as though we were in a sanc- 
 tuary ?* Tou place before my eyes a refreshing streamf, of 
 
 * See the phrase, " Noctes puras habere," PJautus, Asinar. iv. 1. 
 t See Proverbs v. 1518. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 453 
 
 which nevertheless you prohibit me to drink ; and though 
 sleeping near the very fountain head, I am parched with 
 thirst ; my couch may compare with the feast of Tantalus." 
 While thus venting her grief, she leaned her head upon my 
 bosom and wept so piteously that I could not but sympa- 
 thize with her sorrow; and feeling her reproaches to be 
 just, I really was at a loss what to do. At last I said, 
 " Believe me, dearest, by our country's gods, I feel an ardour 
 equal to your own ! but this sadden indisposition has seized 
 me, I know not from what cause, and, as you are well 
 aware, without the blessing of health it is in vain to think 
 of love."* 
 
 While saying this, I wiped away her tears, and solemnly 
 assured her, that ere long she should obtain everything she 
 wished. Not without great difficulty, however, did I suc- 
 ceed in pacifying her. On the following day Melitta called 
 for the maid-servants, to whom she had committed Leucippe, 
 and inquired whether every requisite attention had been 
 shewn her. They replied, that nothing had been omitted. 
 Upon this Melitta sent for her, and when she came into 
 the room said, " I need scarcely remind you of the kindness 
 you have experienced from me ; all I ask as a return is 
 assistance which it is in your power to afford me. Now, I 
 understand that you Thessalian womenf can, by your magic, 
 work so powerfully upon the minds of those you love, that 
 their affections, instead of wandering to any other object, 
 will thenceforth be wholly rivetted on you, their mistresses. 
 It is a magic potion of this kind which I now want from 
 you, to procure requital for the love which is consuming 
 me You remember, doubtlessly, the young man who was 
 walking with me yesterday ?" " I suppose you mean your 
 husband," replied Leucippe, maliciously, "for I have been 
 told by some of the household that he stands to you in that 
 relation." "A. pretty kind of husband!" interrupted 
 Melitta ; "he has in him more of marble than of manhood ; 
 and my rival is a certain dead Leucippe, whose name, whe- 
 ther waking or sleeping, is always on his lips. Four whole 
 
 * . . . . " health in the human frame, 
 
 Is pleasant, besides being true love's essence." Byrjn. 
 
 t See Lucan, B. vi. 605, &c. 
 
454 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 months have I spent in Alexandria, entirely on his account, 
 praying and beseeching him, and leaving nothing undone 
 likely to gain his love, but all to no purpose, for he remained 
 as insensible to my entreaties as any stock or stone ; and 
 when at length he did give way, it was to become my hus- 
 band but in name ; for I swear to you by Venus, that after 
 sleeping with him for a week I have risen from his side as if I 
 had been sleeping with a eunuch ; in short, I have fallen in 
 love with a statue, not a man.* To use the words, there- 
 fore, which yesterday you addressed to me, ' Have compas- 
 sion upon one of your own sex ;' give me your aid against 
 the overweening and unimpressible man ; by so doing you 
 will save my life, which is now fast ebbing from me."t 
 
 Leucippe was rejoiced at finding that no intercourse had 
 taken place between Melitta and myself, and believing it to 
 be of no use to deny her magic skill, undertook to find 
 suitable herbs, if permitted to go and seek for them in the 
 country. These promises tranquillized Melitta, for the 
 mind is easily persuaded to feed upon the empty hope of 
 future good.J Meanwhile, knowing nothing of all this, I 
 was in great perplexity how to put off Melitta during the 
 approaching night, and to contrive a meeting with Leucippe. 
 In the evening, Melitta, who had taken her out of town in 
 a carriage, returned. and we had just began our supper 
 when a great disturbance was heard in the men's quarter 
 of the house, and a servant rushed into the room, out of 
 breath, and exclaiming, " Thersander is alive, and is 
 arrived! "|| 
 
 * See the anecdote of Lais and Xenocrates. Anthon's Classical Diet. 
 f diapptvaaaav. 
 
 J " Hope springs eternal in the human breast, 
 
 Man never is, but always to be blest." Pope. 
 
 The text here is very corrupt in the Greek ; the sense given is in 
 accordance with Jacobs. 
 
 j| " Old Lambro pass'd unseen a private gate, 
 And stood within his hall at eventide ; 
 Meanwhile the lady and her lover sate 
 
 At wassail in their beauty and their pride ; 
 An ivory inlaid table spread with state 
 
 Before them, and fair slaves on every side ; 
 Gems, gold, and silver, forrn'd the service mostly, 
 Mother of pearl and coral the less costly." Byron. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 455 
 
 This Thersander was no other than Meiitta's husband, 
 who was supposed to have been lost at sea, the report of 
 his death having been spread by two of his servants M ho 
 had been saved when the ship was wrecked. In a mom 3nt 
 he was in the room ; for, having learnt every particular by 
 the way, he had hastened home on purpose to surprise me. 
 Melitta, in great alarm at an event so utterly unlocked for, 
 started up and endeavoured to embrace her husband ; who, 
 however thrust her from him with great violence, and then 
 catching sight of me and exclaiming, "So, here is the 
 spark himself!" he rushed towards me, and dealt me a 
 tremendous blow in the face, after which, seizing me by the 
 hair, he dashed me to the ground and beat me most unmer- 
 cifully. All this time I remained as silent as if I had been 
 at the celebration of the mysteries, neither asking him who 
 he was, or why he used me so ; for, suspecting the truth, 
 I had not courage to retaliate, though possessing physical 
 strength enough to do so. 
 
 At length when he was weary of striking and I of form- 
 ing conjectures in my mind, I got up and said, " Pray, who 
 are you, and what do you mean by this rough usage ?" 
 More than ever irritated by the sound of my voice, he 
 recommenced his attack upon me, and called aloud for 
 fetters and handcuffs ; they were brought, and, after being 
 bound hand and foot, I was shut up in a room. During 
 this struggle, Leucippe's letter, which had been fastened 
 under my tunic to the fringes of my shirt,* fell to the 
 ground without my perceiving it, and was picked up by 
 Melitta, who feared lest it might be one of her own letters 
 written to me ; when, however, she had an opportunity of 
 reading it in private and met with Leucippe's name, it went 
 like an arrow to her heart, but having so often heard of her 
 death she did not at once identify the name with the female 
 whom she had set at liberty ; but as she read on, and felt all 
 uncertainty upon the point removed, she became at once 
 the divided prey of shame, rage, love, and jealousy ; she 
 felt ashamed at exposure before her husband ; she was 
 enraged at the contents of the letter ; this passion yielded 
 
 * flaw rov \iTU)viffxov 7rpoodtSep,Evr)v (K T&V rijg oQovrjc Qvaavwv 
 See Diet, of Grk. and Rom. Antiq., p. 422, under ;he article Fimbrice 
 
456 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 to love on my account, which in its turn was stung by 
 jealousy; but love, in the end, remained triumphant. Ther- 
 sander, after the first ebullition of his anger, had retired to 
 the house of a friend ; Melitta, therefore, in the evening, 
 after speaking to the slave who kept guard over my apart- 
 ment, came in privately, having for precaution posted two 
 of her servants before the door. 
 
 She found me lying upon the floor, and approaching me 
 shewed by her countenance, that she wished, were it pos- 
 sible, to give utterance in one breath to all her various 
 emotions. " Wretched that I am," she at length ex- 
 claimed, " fatal for me was the day when I first beheld you ; 
 I, who have loved so madly yet so fruitlessly; who still 
 doat upon him who hates me ; who pity him who is the 
 cause of all my pain, and whose love is not extinguished 
 even by injury and insult ! What a pair of juggling plot- 
 ters against me are you both ! You have all along been 
 making me your sport, and she, forsooth, is gone to procure 
 a philtre for me ! Little did I dream that I was seeking aid 
 from those who were my bitterest enemies !" Thus speak- 
 ing she threw Leucippe's letter on the ground ; which I no 
 sooner recognized than a sudden chill came over me, and I 
 cast ,my eyes upon the ground as if convicted of a crime. 
 She then continued in the same strain : " What misery is 
 mine ! My husband is lost to me through you, and hence- 
 forth I shall be deprived even of the barren pleasure which 
 I have enjoyed, that of seeing you ! Through you I have 
 incurred niy husband's hatred, who believes me guilty of an 
 intrigue against his honour an intrigue which has borne 
 me none of the fruits of love, and from which all I gain is 
 infamy ! Other women receive enjoyment for the guerdon 
 of their shame : I inherit the shame, but obtain none of the 
 enjoyment! Barbarous and faithless man, how can you 
 allow a loving woman thus to pine away, when you are 
 yourself the slave of Love ? Did you not dread his anger ? 
 Had you no reverence for his fires, no regard for his 
 mysteries ? Had these tearful eyes no influence over you, 
 more ruthless as you are than any pirate ! for even a 
 pirate's breast will be softened by tears ! Neither entreaty 
 nor opportunity, nor my close embrace, has persuaded you 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 457 
 
 to grant me so much as one amorous indulgence ; nay, 
 most insulting of all, after yourself returning my kisses 
 and my embraces, you have risen from my side like any 
 woman ! "What is this but the very ghost of matrimony ? 
 Remember also, that you have not been sharing the bed of 
 one who is grown old, or who repulses your embraces, but- 
 of one who is young and ardent, and whom some might 
 consider possessed of charms, eunuch that you are ! 
 unsexed and bane of beauty,* listen to my righteous 
 imprecation: may Love requite your fires as you have 
 requited mine !" 
 
 Tears for a time choked her voice ; but when I remained 
 still silent and with downcast eyes, a sudden change came 
 over her,t and she then resumed : " Dearest Clitopho, 
 anger and grief have hitherto dictated my words, but love 
 prompts what I am now about to say ; for believe me, how- 
 ever angry, I still burn with passion; however much wronged, 
 I still feel love ; yield to my entreaties then, and even 
 now compassionate me ! I no longer ask for joys of many 
 days' duration, nor for the lengthened wedlock which in my 
 folly I had dreamt of; I will be content with one amorous 
 embrace. I ask but a little medicine to palliate this pow- 
 erful disease, extinguish, in some degree, the flame which 
 now consumes me ! Pardon me if I have spoken with too 
 much haste and bitterness, for love when unsuccessful is 
 pushed to phrenzy ! Well aware how unseemly my con- 
 duct may appear, I am not ashamed to divulge the myste- 
 ries of Love, for I speak to one already initiated, to one 
 who knows by his own experience what my feelings are. 
 Lovers alone understand the wounds felt by those who love ; 
 to all others the arrows of the god and the havoc which he 
 
 * avdpoyvve icai KraXXovf pdfficave. The sense of fiafftcavog is thus 
 given by Jacobs : " Qui insita vi invidije, pulchritudiuis efficaciam 
 debilitat aut destruit." 
 
 f " Her anger pitch'd into a lower tune, 
 
 Perhaps the fault of her soft sex and age ; 
 
 Her wish was but to "kill, kill, kill," like Lear', 
 
 And then her thirst of blood was quench'd in tears." 
 
 Byron. 
 
458 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 makes are equally unknown. One only day remains to us. 
 1 ask the performance of your promise. B/emember the 
 temple of Isis ; show regard to the oaths which you took 
 there. Were you willing to live with me, according to the 
 troth you plighted, I would not care for a thousand Ther- 
 sanders ; but having recovered your Leucippe, you may not 
 wed another ; accordingly I surrender every claim, and ask 
 only what may easily be granted. It is vain to resist my 
 destiny ; all things evidently conspire against me, even 
 the dead rise up again. Cruel sea, thou hast borne me 
 safely only to plunge me into greater ruin, bringing back 
 to me, for my confusion, the very dead. Nor was it 
 enough for Leucippe to revive in order to assuage the grief 
 of Clitopho, but the savage Thersander also must needs 
 come back ; And he has dared to strike Clitopho before 
 my eyes without my having the power to aid him ; he has 
 dared to disfigure that face upon which I doat. He must 
 have been blind to beauty when he did so ! Once more I 
 entreat you, my Clitopho, lord, as you are, of my affections, 
 give yourself to me now, for the first time and the last ; it 
 will be to me as if many days were crowded into one short 
 space! so may you never more be deprived of your 
 Leucippe ; so may she never again die a fictitious death ! 
 Do not scorn my love ; it has produced your greatest hap- 
 piness ; it has been the means of restoring to you Leu- 
 cippe ; had I never been enamoured of you, had I never 
 brought you here, Leucippe would still be dead to you. 
 Some thanks are due to good fortune, Clitopho ; he who 
 lights upon a treasure honours the spot where he discovered 
 it ; he builds an altar, he offers a sacrifice ; he crowns the 
 place with flowers; but though you have found in me a 
 treasure full of love you despise your happy fortune ! Think 
 Love to be addressing you through my mouth, and saying, 
 1 In this matter thou art bound to oblige me, thy tutor ; 
 initiate Melitta in my mysteries ; I kindled the fire with 
 which she burns.' Hear likewise how I have provided for 
 your safety; you shall be st-tfree from these chains, whether 
 Thersander will or no, and you shall find a place of refuge 
 with my foster-brother for as long a time as you may 
 wish. In the morning you may expect to see Leucippe ; 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 459 
 
 she is to pass the night in the country for the sake of 
 gathering herbs by moonlight,* for my simplicity was so 
 imposed upon, as to believe her a Thessalian, and to ask of 
 her a philtre to be administered to you. What else could 
 I do, when disappointed in my wishes, than have recourse 
 to herbs and drugs, the refuge of those who are unfortunate 
 in love. You need be in no fear of Thersander ; he has 
 rushed out of the house in a rage, and betaken himself to 
 one of his friends. The deity, indeed, seems to have pur- 
 posely contrived his absence, that I may obtain the last 
 favour which I ask. Let me then enjoy you, Clitopho !" 
 
 After this earnest and impassioned pleading, suggested 
 by Love, who is a mighty master of eloquence, t she undid 
 the fetters ; and after kissing my hands applied them to her 
 eyes and heart : " Feel," said she, " how my poor heart 
 beats, agitated by fear and hope, would that I could say, 
 by pleasure ! and seeming to supplicate you by its pal- 
 pitations." AVhen, after setting me free, she hung about 
 my neck in tears, I was no longer proof against human 
 weakness ; indeed I was in dread of incurring the wrath of 
 LoveJ himself, especially as I had now recovered Leucippe, 
 and was about to leave Melitta, so that our present con- 
 nexion would be no consummation of a marriage, but simply 
 administering relief to a love-sick soul. Yielding to these 
 reflections I returned her kisses and embraces, and though 
 without the help of bed or other appliances of amorous 
 delight, nothing was left to be desired. Love, indeed, is 
 
 *...." has nullo perdere possum 
 Nee prohibere modo, simul ac vaga luna decorum 
 Protulit os, quin ossa legant, herbasque nocentes." 
 
 Hor. S. i. 8, 20. 
 
 f " And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods 
 Make heaven drowsy with the harmony. 
 Never durst poet touch a pen to write, 
 Until his ink were temper'd with love's sighs ; 
 ! then his lines would ravish savage ears, 
 And plant in tyrants mild humanity." Love's Labour Lost. 
 
 J Venus and Cupid were supposed to be irritated against those who 
 shewed insensibility to their influence : 
 
 " Ingratam Veneri pone superbiam." 
 
 Hor. Od. iii. 10. 9. 
 
460 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 his own teacher, and an excellent contriver,* and makes 
 every place his temple ; nor is there any doubt that im- 
 promptu amorous intercourse is far preferable to that which 
 is elaborated, and that it brings with it much more genuine 
 enjoyment. 
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 WHEN at length, I had sufficiently eased Melitta's pains, 
 I said to her, " How do you mean to provide for my escape 
 and to perform your promises as to Leucippe ?" "Be in no 
 anxiety respecting her," was the reply, " look upon her as 
 already restored to your embrace ; but put on my clothes 
 and conceal your face in my robe ; Melantho will conduct 
 you to the door, there you will find a young man who has 
 orders from me to guide you to the house where Clinias 
 and Satyrus await you, and whither Leucippe will shortly 
 come.' 7 While giving me these directions, she dressed me 
 so as to resemble her in appearance ; then kissing me, she 
 said, "You look handsomer than ever in this attire, and 
 remind me of a picture of Achilles t which I once saw. 
 Pare you well, dearest, preserve this dress as a memorial of 
 me, and leave me your own, that I may sometimes put it on 
 and fancy myself in your embrace ; she then gave me a hun- 
 dred gold pieces, and called Melantho, a trusty servant, who 
 was watching at the door, told her what to do, and ordered 
 her to return, as soon as she had let me out. Thus dis- 
 guised I slipped out of the room, the keeper, upon receiving 
 a sign from Melantho, taking me for his mistress and 
 
 * avTovpybg yap 6 tpug Kai avroaxkdioQ aoQiarfje, a passage parallel 
 to one in B. i., avrodidaKTOQ yap iariv b 00. 
 
 t The allusion is to Achilles disguised in female attire among the 
 daughters of Lycomedes. See Statius, " Achilleis." 
 
 " And now being femininely all array'd. 
 With some small aid from scissors, paint, and tweezers, 
 He looked in. almost all respects a maid." Byron. 
 
 See Herod, iv. 146, where the Minyeans escape from confinement by 
 a similar device of their wives. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 461 
 
 making way; passing through an unfrequented part of the 
 house I reached a back door, where I was received by the 
 person whom Melitta had appointed to be there ; he was a 
 ireedman who had accompanied us on our voyage from 
 Alexandria, and with whom I had already been intimate. 
 
 Upon her return, Melantho found the keeper preparing 
 to secure the room for the night, she desired him to open 
 the door, and going in, informed her mistress of my escape ; 
 Melitta called in the keeper, who seeing the right bird 
 flown and another in his place,* was struck dumb with 
 astonishment: "I did not employ this artifice," said she, 
 " from believing you unwilling to favour Clitopho's escape, 
 but because I wished to give you the means of clear- 
 ing yourself from blame in the opinion of Thersander. 
 Here are ten gold pieces ; if you choose to remain here, you 
 are to regard them as a present from Clitopho, if you prefer 
 getting out of the way they will help you on your journey." 
 " Mistress," replied the keeper, whose name was Pasio, " I 
 am ready to follow your suggestion." It was agreed, that 
 the man should go away and remain in concealment until 
 Thersander's anger had subsided, and he and his wife were 
 again upon good terms. Upon leaving the house, my usual 
 ill fortune overtook me ; and interwove a new incident in 
 the drama of my life. Whom should I encounter but 
 Thersander ! who persuaded by his friend not to sleep away 
 from his wife, was returning home. 
 
 It happened to be the festival of Diana, the streets were 
 full of drunken fellows, and all night long crowds of people 
 continued traversing the public square. I had hoped to 
 encounter no other danger but this, but I was mistaken, 
 peril of a worse kind was still in store for me. Sosthenes, 
 the purchaser of Leucippe, whom Melitta had turned out 
 of his office, no sooner heard of his master's return, than he 
 not only continued to act as bailiff, but determined to 
 revenge himself upon Melitta. He began by informing 
 
 * TIJV eXatyov avrl TrapQerov, a proverb alluding to Diana substi- 
 tuting a stag in the place of Iphigenia when on the point of being 
 sacrificed at Aulis 
 
 '* Xty' OVVIK l\a$9V avriSovGa. IJLOV Qiu 
 *Apr/u, tfftavt u, r)v t9va' /i6f TraHyp." Iph. in Taur. 783. 
 
462 ACHILLES TATIT7S. 
 
 against me, acquainting his master with all which had taken 
 place ; he then invented a very plausible story above Leu- 
 cippe, for finding he could not enjoy her himself he deter- 
 mined to play pimp to his master, and by that means to 
 alienate him from his wife. " Master," said he, " I have 
 purchased a maiden of incredible beauty ; words will not do 
 her justice, to form a just idea of her you must see her ; I 
 have been keeping her purposely for you ; for I heard that 
 you were alive and fully believed the fact, but did not choose 
 to make it public, in order that you might have clear proof 
 of my mistress's guilt, and not be made the laughing stock 
 of a foreigner and worthless libertine ; my mistress took 
 her out of my hands yesterday and thinks of giving her her 
 freedom, but Fortune has reserved for you the possession 
 of this rare beauty ; she has been sent for some reason or 
 other into the country, where she now remains, and where 
 with your leave I will secure her until your arrival." 
 
 Thersander approved of his scheme and bid him put it into 
 execution ; accordingly Sosthenes proceeded to the farm, 
 and finding out the cottage where Leucippe was to pass the 
 night, he ordered two of the labourers to entice away the 
 maids, who had accompanied her, under pretence of having 
 something to say to them in private ; he then went accom- 
 panied by tw^o others, to the cottage where Leucippe was 
 now alone, seized her and having stopped her mouth, car- 
 ried her off to a lone habitation, where setting her down, he 
 said, " Maiden, I am the bearer of great good fortune to 
 you, and I hope that you will not forget me, in your pros- 
 perity ; be under no alarm at having been carried off, no 
 injury is intended you, it will be the means of obtaining 
 my master for your admirer." Leucippe could not utter a 
 word, so much was she overcome by the sense of the un- 
 expected calamity. Sosthenes hurrying back informed Ther- 
 sander of what he had done, again extolling Leucippe' s 
 beauty to the skies ; he was on the point of returning home, 
 but inflamed by the description, and having his mind filled 
 with such a lovely vision,* he determined at once to pay a 
 visit to the maiden as the festival was still on foot, and the 
 
 * " Nam si abest quod ames, praesto simulacra tamen sunt 
 Illius." Lucret. iv. 1055. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 463 
 
 distance not more than half a mile. It was when on his 
 way thither, that disguised in Melitta's dress I came 
 directly upon him. Sosthenes was the first to recognize me ; 
 " Here comes the rake-hell himself," exclaimed he, " mas- 
 querading it, in my mistress's clothes!" 
 
 The young man, my guide, who was a little in advance 
 hearing this, took to his heels in a fright without giving me 
 any previous warning. I was immediately seized by the 
 pair, and the noise made by Thersander drew together a 
 number of the revellers, when he became louder than ever 
 in his charges, heaping upon me all manner of abuse,* call- 
 ing me a lecher, a cut-purse, and I know not what besides ; 
 in the end I was dragged to the public prison, thrust in, 
 and a charge of Grim. Con.-f entered against me. The dis- 
 grace of a prison and the abuse gave me little or no concern, 
 for as my marriage with Melitta had been public, I felt 
 confident of being able to refute the charge of adultery ; ail 
 my anxiety arose from not having actually recovered my 
 Leucippe, for the mind is naturally inclined to be a " pro- 
 phet ot ill," J our predictions of good are seldom realized. 
 In the present case I augured nothing favourable for 
 Leucippe, and was a prey to fears and suspicions of every 
 kind. 
 
 Thersander, after having had me locked up, con tinned on 
 his way, and upon his arrival found Leucippe lying upon 
 the ground and brooding over what Sosthenes had said. 
 Grief and fear were plainly depicted upon her countenance ; 
 indeed I consider it quite a mistake to say that the mind is 
 invisible, it may be seen distinctly reflected on the fac-a as 
 in a mirror ; in seasons of happiness joy sparkles in the 
 
 PTJTO. icai dpprjra /3o<5i/. 
 * cyK'Xjj/irt noi%tia 7ri0Epwj/. 
 
 " Great joy he promis'd to his thoughts, and new 
 Solace in her return, so loug delay'd ; 
 Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill, 
 Misgave him ; he the faltering measure felt." 
 
 Milton, P. L. ix. 843. 
 
 " TtTrrc H.OL Toff IfjnreSwe 
 r/piov 
 OTTov TTOTaTui." JEsch. Ag. 944. 
 
464 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 eyes ; in the time of sorrow the countenance is overcast * 
 and reveals the inward feelings. A light was burning in the 
 cottage ; upon hearing the door open, Leucippe raised her 
 eyes for a moment and then cast them down again. It is 
 in the eyes that beauty has its seat, and Thersander having 
 caught a momentary glimpse of the beauty which (rapid as 
 lightning) flashed from hers, was at once on fire with love, 
 and waited spell bound, in hopes of her raising them again ; 
 but when she continued to gaze upon the ground, he said, 
 " Fair maiden, why waste the light of thine eyes upon 
 the earth, why not look up and let them dart fresh light 
 into mine ?" 
 
 Upon hearing his voice, Leucippe burst into tears, and 
 appeared even more charming than before,t for tears give 
 permanency and increased expression to the eyes, either 
 rendering them more disagreeable, or improving them if pleas- 
 ing, for in that case the dark iris, fading into a lighter hue, 
 resembles, when moistened with tears, the head of a gently- 
 bubbling fount ; the white and black growing in brilliancy 
 from the moisture which floats over the surface, assume the 
 mingled shades of the violet and narcissus, and the eye 
 appears as smiling through the tears which are confined 
 within its lids. Such was the case with Leucippe; her 
 tears made her appear beautiful even in grief; and if after 
 trickling down they had congealed, the world would have 
 seen a species of amber hitherto unknown.J The sight of 
 her charms, heightened as they were by her grief inflamed, 
 Thersander ; his own eyes filled with moisture. Tears na- 
 turally awaken feelings of compassion, especially a woman's 
 tears, and the more so in proportion to the copiousness with 
 which they fall ; and when she who weeps is beautiful and 
 he who beholds her is enamoured, he cannot avoid following 
 her example ; the magic of her charms, which is chiefly in 
 
 * " A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance ; but by sorrow 
 of the heart, the spirit is broken." Prov. xv. 13. 
 
 f- " As pearls from diamonds dropt. In brief, sorrow 
 Would be a rarity most belov'd, if all 
 Could so become it." Shakspeare. 
 
 " Inde fluunt lacrymse, stillataque sole rigescunt 
 De ramis electra novis." Ovid. Met. ii. 364. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 465 
 
 her eyes, extends its influence to him ; her beauty pene- 
 trates into his soul, her tears draw forth his own, he might 
 dry them, but he purposely abstains from doing so, for he 
 would fain have them attract the notice of the fair one ; he 
 even checks any motion of his eyelids, lest they should fall 
 before the time, sympathetic tears being the strongest proof 
 of love. This was the case with Thersander, he shed tears 
 partly because grief has really in it something which is 
 infectious, partly that he might appear to sympathize with 
 Leucippe' s sorrow. " Pay her every attention which her 
 state of mind requires," said he in an under tone to Sos- 
 thenes ; " however unwillingly I will leave her for the pre- 
 sent for fear of annoying her ; when she is more composed 
 I will pay her another visit. Maiden," added he, addressing 
 her, " cheer up, I will soon find means to dry those tears of 
 yours ;" and whispering to Sosthenes, " remember," said 
 he, " that you promote my suit, and come to me to-morrow 
 morning," with which words he left the cottage. 
 
 While these things were taking place, Melitta had lost 
 no time in sending a young man into the country, who 
 was to bid Leucippe return without delay, as she had no 
 longer any need of ingredients for a philtre. Upon 
 his arrival, he found the female servants in great trouble 
 seeking for her everywhere, he therefore at once came 
 back and informed his mistress of what had taken place. 
 Melitta, upon learning that Leucippe had disappeared, and 
 that I had been committed to prison, was thrown into 
 violent agitation : though ignorant of the whole truth her 
 suspicions fell upon Sosthenes, and being determined to 
 ascertain by means of Thersander where Leucippe was, she 
 had recourse to subtlety, combining with it a show of truth. 
 Upon Thersander coming home and shouting out, " So you 
 have got your paramour set free and have smuggled him 
 out of the town ; why did you not accompany him ? why 
 stop here ? why not take yourself off, and see how he 
 looks now that he is in 'durance vile?'" "What para-, 
 mour?" replied Melitta with the greatest composure. 
 " What delusion are you labouring under ? If you will 
 only calm your passion and listen to me, I will very soon 
 explain the truth ; all I wish for on your part, is can- 
 dour ; forget any slanderous reports which you have heard, 
 
 2 H 
 
466 ACHILLES TATITJS 
 
 let reason take the place of anger and listen to what I have 
 to say. This young man is neither my paramour nor yet 
 my husband ; he is a native of Phoenicia, and belongs to 
 one of the first families in Tyre ; he was so unfortunate as 
 to suffer shipwreck and lost everything which he possessed. 
 Upon hearing of his misfortunes I took compassion upon 
 him (remembering what had befallen you), and received him 
 into my house. 
 
 " Thersander," said I, mentally, " may perhaps be wan- 
 dering about himself, some tender hearted female may have 
 taken pity upon him ; nay, if as report says, he has perished, 
 I will shew kindness to all who have experienced the perils 
 of the sea! Many are the shipwrecked passengers to 
 whom I have shewn hospitality, to many a corpse washed 
 up by the waves have I here given burial ; if I saw so much 
 as a plank from a vessel borne to land, I drew it up on 
 shore, for, I said, it may have belonged to the ship in 
 which Thersander sailed ! This young man was one of the 
 last who was rescued from a watery grave, and in treating 
 him with kindness, I was in fact honouring you. Like 
 you, dearest, he had encountered the perils of the deep ; in 
 him therefore, I was paying regard to the impersonation of 
 your sufferings. You have now had laid before you the 
 motives by which I have been influenced. I may add, that 
 he was in great sorrow for his wife ; he had believed her 
 dead, but she was still alive, and, as he was informed, in the 
 power of Sosthenes our bailiff. The report proved true, for 
 upon proceeding into the country we found her there. It 
 is in your power to test the truth of what I say, you can 
 bring before you both Sosthenes and the female of whom I 
 speak ; if you can convict me of falsehood, then call me an 
 adul tress." Melitta spoke, all along, as if in ignorance of 
 Leucippe's disappearance, reserving to herself the power 
 should Thersander wish to ascertain the truth of bringing 
 forward the maid-servants who had accompanied Leucippe, 
 and who could solemnly declare that the maiden was 
 nowhere to be found. Her motive was to persuade Ther- 
 sander of her own innocence, and it was for this purpose 
 that she urged him to bring forward Leucippe. To give 
 yet greater colour to her artful words, " Dearest husband," 
 she added, " during the time that we lived together, you 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 467 
 
 have never discovered any blot in my character, neither 
 shaJl you do so now.* The report, at present raised 
 against me, has arisen from people being ignorant of the 
 cause which induced me to shew kindness to this young 
 man ; rumour has been busy in your case, also ; for you, 
 recollect, were reported to have perished. Now rumour 
 and calumny are two kindred evils, and the former may be 
 called the daughter of the latter. Calumny is sharper than 
 any sword more burning than any fire, more pernicious 
 than any Siren, while rumour is more fluid than water, 
 swifter than the wind, fleeter than any wing of bird.f No 
 sooner has calumny shot forth a poisoned word than it flies 
 like an arrow and wounds, even in his absence, him against 
 whom it is directed ; while whosoever hears this word is 
 readily persuaded, feels his anger kindled, and turns all its 
 violence against the victim. On the other hand, rumour 
 the offspring of this shot, flows onward like a torrent, and 
 floods the ears of every listener ; words, like wind, speeding 
 it on its course, and, to use another similitude the wings 
 of the human tongue bearing it aloft and enabling it to 
 cleave the air.J These are the foes against whom I have 
 to contend, they have gained the mastery over your mind, 
 and have closed your ears against niy words," Here she 
 paused, and taking his hand endeavoured to kiss it ; her 
 plan was not without success, for Thersander became more 
 calm, influenced by the plausibility of her speech, and find- 
 
 " And she, although her manners shewed no rigour, 
 Was deem'd a woman of the strictest principle, 
 So much as to be thought almost invincible." Byron. 
 
 " Fama, malum, quo non aliud velocius ullum ; 
 Mobilitate viget, viresque acquirit eundo." 
 
 Virg. Mn. iv. 174. 
 
 J " Open your ears ; for which of you will stop 
 
 The vent of hearing, when loud Rumour speaks ; 
 I, from the Orient to the drooping West, 
 Making the wind my posthorse, still unfold 
 The acts commenced on this ball of earth ; 
 Upon my tongues continued slanders ride : 
 The which in every language I pronounce, 
 Stuffing the ears of men with false reports." 
 
 Introduction to 2nd part of Henry IV. 
 2 H 2 
 
468 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 ing the account given of Leucippe to harmonize with what 
 he had heard from Sosthenes. His suspicions gave way, 
 however, only in part, for jealousy when once it has gained 
 entrance into the mind, is hard to be got rid of. The intel- 
 ligence that the maiden was my wife annoyed him greatly, 
 and increased his animosity towards me ; and saying that 
 he should enquire into the truth of what he had heard, he 
 retired to rest alone. Melitta, on her part was very much 
 distressed at being unable to perform her promise. Mean- 
 while Sosthenes after the departure of Thersander (whom 
 he had encouraged with hopes of speedy success) again 
 went in to Leucippe, and assuming a joyful countenance, 
 "Everything is going on satisfactorily Lacsena," said he, 
 " Thersander is deeply enamoured of you, and very probably 
 will make you his wife ; this success is entirely owing to 
 me, for I have extolled your beauty to the skies, and his 
 mind sees and thinks of you alone. Dry your tears there- 
 fore, maiden, rise from the ground, sacrifice to Yenus on 
 account of your good fortune, and do not forget how much 
 you owe to me." " May as much happiness befall you as you 
 have just announced to me," was her reply. " Sosthenes, 
 believing that she spoke sincerely and not in irony, pro- 
 ceeded in a friendly tone and manner: " I will tell you more- 
 over who Thersander is ; he is the husband of Melitta whom 
 you lately saw, his family is one of the first in Ionia, his 
 wealth is even greater than his birth, but it is surpassed by 
 his kindness of disposition. I need not dwell upon his 
 age, for you have seen that he is still young and handsome, 
 two qualities especially acceptable to women." 
 
 Leucippe could no longer endure listening to such non- 
 sense : " Wicked wretch !" she exclaimed, " how much 
 longer do you mean to pollute my ears ? What is Ther- 
 sander to me ? Let his beauty delight his wife, his riches 
 benefit his country, and his good qualities be of service to 
 those who need them. What matters it to me, if he be 
 nobler in birth than Codrus, and surpass Croesus in his 
 wealth ? For what purpose should you enumerate another 
 man's good qualities to me ? Thersander shall receive my 
 praise, when he ceases wishing to do violenceto another's wife." 
 Upon this, changing to a serious air, " Are you jesting, 
 maiden ?" he asked. " What have I to do with jesting ?' f 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 469 
 
 was her reply. " Leave me to my own adverse fortune and 
 evil genius ; I know full well that I have fallen into the 
 power of villains." "You must be incurably crazed," said 
 Sosthenes, " to talk thus. Is it like being in the power of 
 villains, to have the offer made to you of wealth, marriage, 
 and a luxurious life ; to receive for your husband one so 
 favoured by the gods, that they have actually snatched him 
 from the jaws of death ?" And then he gave an account 
 of the shipwreck, magnifying Thersander's escape, and 
 making of it a greater wonder than of Arion and his 
 Dolphin.* 
 
 When he had finished his marvellous tale, and still Leu- 
 cippe made no reply, " You had better consult your own 
 interest," he resumed, "and not talk in this fashion to 
 Thersander, lest you should provoke one who is actually 
 amiable ; for when once kindled, his anger knows no bounds. 
 Kindness of heart, when it meets with a due return, in- 
 creases, but when slighted, it soon changes into angry feel- 
 ings ; and then the desire of taking vengeance is propor- 
 tioned to the previous willingness of doing good." Leaving 
 Leucippe for a time, we will now speak of some of the other 
 characters in this tale. When Clinias and Satyrus learned 
 from Melitta that I had been incarcerated they imme- 
 diately came to the prison, desirous of sharing my captivity; 
 the jailor, however, would not consent, but bid them at once 
 be gone, and though sorely disappointed there was no alter- 
 native. They left me, therefore, after I had enjoined them 
 to bring me tidings of Leucippe in the morning ; and I 
 remained alone, thinking of Melitta' s promise, and racked 
 by feelings of mingled fear and hope. 
 
 The next day Sosthenes proceeded according to his ap- 
 pointment to Thersander, and my friends returned to me. 
 Thersander eagerly inquired whether any favourable impres- 
 sion had been made upon Leucippe ; Sosthenes replied 
 evasively, " She raises objections against receiving you, but 
 I scarcely believe her to be sincere in what she says ; I 
 rather suspect that she fears you may desert her and expose 
 her to shame, after once enjoying her." " Let her dismiss 
 all such apprehensions," replied Thersander; " my feelings 
 
 * See Herod, i. 23, 24. 
 
470 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 of love towards her are so ardent, that they will end onty 
 with my life.* One thing alone gives me uneasiness ; I 
 am very anxious to know for certain whether, as Melitta 
 told me, she is the wife of the young man." Thus dis- 
 coursing they came to the cottage where Leucippe was con- 
 fined ; when near the door they stopped and listened and 
 could hear her speaking to herself in a mournful voice. 
 " Alas ! alas ! Clitopho, you know not where I am and in 
 what place I am detained ; neither am I acquainted with 
 your present condition; and this mutual ignorance aug- 
 ments our mutual grief. Can Thersander have surprised you 
 in his house ? Can you have suffered any cruel treatment 
 at his hands ? Often have I longed to question Sos- 
 thenes about you, but I was at a loss what reason to assign ; 
 if I spoke of you as my husband, I feared that by pro- 
 voking the resentment of Thersander, I might produce evil 
 consequences to yourself; if I inquired after you as after a 
 mere stranger, it might have been said why do women 
 meddle with what in no way concerns them ? Often has 
 my tongue been on the point of speaking but has refused its 
 office. Often have I ended by saying to myself, ' Dear 
 Clitopho, faithful husband of thy Leucippe, thou who couldst 
 share the couch of another woman, yet without enjoying 
 her, though I, in my jealousy doubted thy fidelity, could I 
 indeed behold thee again, after so long an interval, and yet 
 not snatch a single kiss !' "What if Thersander comes again 
 to question me ? Shall I throw off all disguise, and dis- 
 clqse the plain unvarnished truth ? Suppose not, Ther- 
 sander, that I am a sorry slave ; I am daughter of the 
 Byzantian Commandant, wife of one foremost in rank 
 among the Tyrians. I am no Thessalian, neither am I called 
 Lacsena. No! this is the invention of pirate violence ; my 
 very name has been stolen from me ! I am in reality 
 the wife of Clitopho, a native of Byzantium, the daughter 
 of Sostratus and Panthea. But, alas! Thersander would 
 give no credit to my words, or, if he did, my freedom of 
 speech might be the cause of injury to my best beloved! 
 
 * " Wax to receive and marble to retain. 
 He was a lover of the good old school, 
 Who still become more constant as they cooL" Byron. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 471 
 
 "What then? I will again assume the mask and again 
 my name shall be Lacuna!" Thersander, retiring a little 
 from the door, said to Sosthenes, " Did you hear those 
 words of hers, unworthy of belief, indeed, as to their tenour, 
 but full of the spirit of love, and breathing grief and self 
 reproach? This adulterous rival of mine supplants me 
 everywhere ; the villain must surely be a sorcerer ; Melitta 
 loves, Leucippe doats upon him ; would that I were 
 Clitopho!" 
 
 " You must not show a faint heart, master," replied 
 Sosthenes ; " you should go in at once and plead your suit ; 
 she loves this worthless fellow, it is true ; but only because 
 she has received addresses from no one else ; you have but 
 to insinuate yourself into her good graces, and your supe- 
 rior personal appearance will speedily gain the day and 
 banish him from her heart. A new lover soon drives out 
 the old. Women love the individual while present and 
 remember him when absent until another is found to take 
 his place ; then he is soon blotted from their recollection." 
 Thersander now felt emboldened, for one readily believes 
 words which flatter with a prospect of success ; and desire, 
 by dwelling upon its object, is sure to beget sanguine hope. 
 After waiting a short time therefore, that he might not 
 seem to have overheard her works, he put on what he hoped 
 would appear an engaging air, and entered the cottage. 
 
 The sight of Leucippe inflamed his mind ; she appeared 
 more charming then ever, and her presence acted as fuel to 
 the fire of love which had been burning in his breast all 
 night. He with difficulty restrained himself from at once 
 folding her in his arms, and sitting down beside her, began 
 to talk of various unconnected trifles, as lovers are wont to 
 do when in the company of their mistresses. At such times 
 the soul is centred upon the object of its love, reason no 
 longer guides their speech, and the tongue mechanically 
 utters words.* In the course of his address, he put his arm 
 round her neck with the view of kissing her, and she aware 
 of his intention hung down her head upon her bosom ; he 
 used all his endeavours to raise her face, and she with equal 
 perseverance continued to conceal it the more and more | 
 
 * " And on the thought my words broke forth. 
 All incoherent as they were." Byron. 
 
472 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 when this mutual struggle had continued for some time, 
 Thersander, under the influence of amorous obstinacy, 
 slipped his left hand under her chin, and seizing her hair 
 with his right, compelled her to raise her head. When at 
 length, he gave over, either from succeeding in his object, 
 or failing, or from being weary of the sport, Leucippe said to 
 him indignantly, " Tour conduct is unfitting and ungentle- 
 manly, though fit enough for the slave Sosthenes ; the 
 master and his man are worthy of each other; but spare 
 yourself any farther trouble, you will never succeed unless 
 you become a second Clitopho." 
 
 Distracted between anger and desire, Thersander was at 
 a loss what to do. These passions are like two fires in the 
 soul ; they differ in nature, but resemble each other in in- 
 tensity ; the former urges to hatred, the latter to love ; the 
 sources also of their respective flames are near to one 
 another, anger having its seat in the heart,* the liver being 
 the abode of love.f When, therefore, a person is attacked 
 by these two passions, his soul becomes the scales in which 
 the intensity of either flame is weighed. Each tries to 
 depress its respective scale, and love, when it obtains its 
 object is generally successful ; but should it be slighted, 
 then it summons its neighbour, anger, to its aid, and both 
 of them combine their flame. When once anger has gained 
 the mastery, and has driven love from its seat, being impla- 
 cable by nature, instead of assisting it to gain its end, it 
 rules like a tyrant, and will not allow it (however anxious) 
 to become reconciled with its beloved. Pressed down by 
 the weight of anger, love is no longer free, and vainly 
 endeavours to recover its dominion, and so is compelled to 
 hate what once it doated upon. But, again, when the 
 tempest of anger has reached its height, and its fury has 
 frothed away, it becomes weary from satiety, and its efforts 
 cease; then love, armed by desire, revives, comes to the 
 rescue, and attacks anger sleeping on his post ; and calling 
 
 \O\TIG" JSsch. Choe. 183. 
 " Quum tibi flagrans amor, 
 
 Saeviet circa jecur ulcerosum." 
 
 Hor. 1, Od. xxv. 13. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 473 
 
 to mind the injuries done to the beloved during its frenzy, 
 it grieves and sues for pardon, and invites to reconciliation, 
 and promises to make amends in future. If after this it 
 meets with full success, then it continues to be all smiles 
 and gentleness ; but if again repulsed and scorned, then its 
 old neighbour, anger, is once more called in, who revives 
 his slumbering fires, and regains his former power. Ther- 
 sander, so long as he was buoyed up with hopes of succeed- 
 ing in his suit, had been Leucippe's humble servant ; but 
 when he found all his expectations dashed to the ground, 
 love gave way to wrath, and he smote her upon the face. 
 " Wretched slave !" he exclaimed, " I have heard your 
 love-sick lamentations, and know all ; instead of taking it 
 as a compliment that I should speak to you, and regarding 
 a kiss from your master as an honour, you must, forsooth, 
 coquet and give yourself airs* ; for my part, I believe you 
 to be a strumpet, for an adulterer is your love ! However, 
 since you refuse to accept me as a lover, you shall feel my 
 power as a master." 
 
 Leucippe meekly replied, " Use me as harshly as you 
 please; I will submit to everything except the loss of 
 chastity/' and turning to Sosthenes, "you can bear witness 
 to my powers of endurance; for I have received at your 
 hands harder measure even than this !" Ashamed at having 
 his conduct brought to light, "This wench," said he, 
 " deserves to be flayed with the scourge and to be put upon 
 the rack, in order to teach her better manners towards her 
 master." 
 
 " By all means follow his advice !" resumed Leucippe to 
 Thersander, "he gives good counsel; do the worst which 
 your malice can suggest ; extend my hands upon the 
 wheel ;t bare my back to the scourge ; burn my body in 
 the fire ;J smite off my head with the sword ; it will be a 
 novel sight to see one weak woman contend against all your 
 
 * " a\\a ical ctKKi^y Kai ff^rjfiaTi^y irpbg cnrovoiav." 
 
 f " ITTI TOV rpoxov yap del G'SKZI <rTpe(3\ovfJitvov 
 i7Tij> a TTCTravovpyjjfcag." 
 
 Aristoph. Pint. 875. See also Virg. Mu. vi. 616. 
 J The allusion is to the fire placed under the revolving wheel, by 
 which the sufferer was slowly roasted. A reference to this species of 
 torture will be found in ch. 50 of Tertullian's Apology. 
 
474 ACHILLES TAT1US. 
 
 tortures, victorious against all ! You brand Clitopho a a 
 an adulterer, and yet you yourself would commit adultery ! 
 Have you no reverence for your tutelary goddess Diana ?"* 
 Would you ravish a virgin in the very city sacred to a 
 virgin ? O goddess, why do not thy shafts avenge the 
 insult ?" " You a virgin forsooth !" replied Thersander, 
 contemptuously; " you who passed whole days and nights 
 among the pirates ! Prythee were they eunuchs, or given 
 only to platonic love, or were they blind?" "Ask Sos- 
 thenes," said she, " whether or not I preserved my chas- 
 tity against his attempts ; none of the freebooters behaved 
 to me so brutally as you have done ; it is you who deserve 
 the name of pirate, since you feel no shame in perpetrating 
 deeds which they abstained fromf doing. You little think 
 how your unblushing cruelty will redound hereafter to my 
 praise ; you may kill me in your fury, and my encomium 
 will be this : ' Leucippe preserved her chastity despite of 
 buccaneers, despite of Chaereas, despite of Sosthenes, and 
 crown of all (for this would be but trifling commendation), 
 she remained chaste despite even of Thersander, more 
 lascivious than the most lustful pirate ; and he who could 
 not despoil her of her honour, robbed her of her life.' 
 Again, therefore, I say, bring into action all your engines 
 and implements of torture, and employ the aid of Sosthenes, 
 your right trusty counsellor. I stand before you a feeble 
 woman, naked and alone, having but one weapon of defence, 
 my free spirit,J which is proof against sword and fire and 
 scourge. Burn me, if you will ; you shall find that there 
 be things over which even the fire is powerless !" 
 
 * "Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there, that knoweth not how 
 that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess 
 Diana ?" Acts xix. 35. 
 
 { " Harpers have sung and poets told, 
 That he, in fury uncontrolled, 
 The shaggy monarch of the wood 
 Before a virgin fair and good 
 Hath pacified his savage mood ; 
 But passions in the human frame 
 Oft put the lion's rage to shame." Scott. 
 
 " Eternal spirit of the chainless mind ! 
 
 Brightest in dungeons, Liberty !" Byron. 
 
475 
 
 BOOK VII. 
 
 THE scornful reproaches of Leucippe stirred up a tumult 
 of conflicting passions in Thersander's mind; he was in- 
 censed by her taunts, vexed at his ill success, and perplexed 
 how to secure the accomplishment of his desires. Without 
 saying another word he rushed out of the house to give vent 
 to the storm and tempest of his soul.* Shortly after, having 
 conferred with Sosthenes, he went to the jailor, and endea- 
 voured to persuade him to administer a dose of poison to 
 me ; this, however, the jailor refused to do, his predecessor 
 having suffered death for taking off a prisoner in this man- 
 ner. Failing in this, he obtained his consent to introduce 
 a man (who was to pass for a criminal) into my cell, under 
 pretence of wishing to extract some secrets out of me 
 through him. The man had been previously tutored by 
 Thersander, and was casually to introduce Leucippe' s name, 
 and to say that she had been murdered by the contrivance 
 of Melitta. Thersander's object in persuading me of her 
 death was to hinder me (in case I obtained a verdict of 
 acquittal) from instituting any further search for her reco- 
 very, and the name of Melitta was introduced in order 
 that, after learning Leucippe' s death, I might not entertain 
 any thoughts of marrying her, and so by settling at Ephesus 
 might interrupt Thersander in the prosecution of his schemes, 
 but. on the contrary, might be induced to quit the city 
 without delay, from hatred to Melitta for having contrived 
 the death of my beloved. 
 
 As soon as this fellow came near me, he began to play 
 his appointed part, and with a knavish groanf exclaimed, 
 " Alackaday ! what a miserable thing is life ! There is no 
 keeping out of trouble ! It stands a man in no stead to be 
 honest! Some cross accident is sure to overtake him! 
 
 * " And thoughts on thoughts, a countless throng, 
 Rushed, chasing countless thoughts along ; 
 Until, the giddy whirl to cure, 
 He rose. Scott. 
 
 "t* dvoi/io>a irdvv Kafcovpywf. 
 
476 ACHIILES TATIUS. 
 
 Would I could have guessed the character of my fellow- 
 traveller, and what work he had been engaged in !" This, 
 and much more of the same sort, he said speaking to himself, 
 craftily endeavouring to attract my attention, and to make 
 me inquire what it was that ailed him. He did not succeed, 
 however, for I was sufficiently taken up with my own 
 troubles, and he went on with his groans and ejaculations. 
 At length for the unfortunate take pleasure in listening 
 to another's griefs, finding in it a kind of medicine for their 
 sorrows one of the prisoners asked, " What trick has the 
 jade Fortune been playing you ? I suspect that, like my- 
 self, she has laid you up in limbo without deserving it." 
 He then proceeded to tell his own story, giving an account 
 of what had brought him into prison ; and having finished, 
 requested the other to favour him with the particulars of 
 his own misfortune. He of course readily complied. 
 
 " I left the city yesterday," said he, " to go towards 
 Smyrna, and had proceeded about half a mile, when I was 
 joined by a young man out of the country. He saluted 
 me, and after walking with me for a few minutes, inquired 
 whither I was going. I told him, and he said that luckily 
 his road lay in the same direction, so that we proceeded in 
 company, and entered into conversation. Stopping at an 
 inn, we ordered dinner, and presently four men came in 
 and did the same. Instead of eating, however, they con- 
 tinued watching us, and making signs to one another. 
 I plainly enough saw that we were the objects of their 
 notice, but was wholly at a loss to understand the meaning 
 of their gestures. My companion gradually turned very 
 pale, left off eating, and at last began to tremble all over. 
 Instantly they sprang up, seized, and bound us ; one of 
 them also dealt him a violent blow upon the face ; upon 
 which, as if he had been already on the rack, and even 
 without a question being asked him he cried out, * I admit 
 having killed the girl! Melitta, Thersander's wife, hired 
 me to do the deed, and gave me a hundred gold pieces for 
 my trouble ; here they are every one take them for your- 
 selves ; and for heaven's sake let me off!'" 
 
 Upon hearing these names I started as if stung, and turning 
 to him, " Who is Melitta ?" I asked." She is a lady of the 
 first rank in this city," was his reply. " She took a fancy 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 477 
 
 to a young man, said to be a native of Tyre ; he found a 
 favourite wench of his (whom he had given up for lost), 
 among the number of Melitta's slaves, and she, moved by 
 jealousy, had the girl seized by the fellow whom ill luck 
 made my fellow-traveller, and he, in obedience to Melitta's 
 orders, has made away with her. But to return to my own 
 story. I, who had never seen the man before, nor had 
 dealings with him of any kind, was dragged along with 
 him, bound, as an accomplice in his crime ; but what is 
 harder than all, they had not gone far, before, for the sake 
 of his hundred pieces, they let him go, but kept me in 
 custody and carried me before the judge." 
 
 Upon hearing this chapter of accidents, I neither uttered 
 a sound nor shed a tear, for both voice and tears refused 
 their office, but a general trembling seized me, my heart 
 sunk within me, and I felt as at the point of death. After 
 a time, recovering in some degree from the stupor which 
 his words had caused, " How did the ruffian despatch her ?" 
 I asked, " and what has become of her body ?" But 
 having now performed the business for which he was 
 employed, by stimulating my curiosity, he became obsti- 
 nately silent, and I could extract nothing more from him. 
 In answer to my repeated questions, " Do you think," said 
 he, at length, " that I had a hand in the murder ? The 
 man told me he had killed her ; he said nothing of the 
 place and manner of her death." Tears now came to my 
 relief, and I gave full vent to my sorrow. It is with mental 
 wounds as with bodily hurts ; when one has been stricken 
 in body some time elapses before the livid bruise, the result 
 of the blow is seen ; and so also any one who has been 
 pierced by the sharp tusk of a boar, looks for the wound, 
 but without immediately discovering it, owing to its being 
 deeply seated ; but presently a white line is perceived, the 
 precursor of the blood, which speedily begins to flow ; in 
 like manner, no sooner have bitter tidings been announced, 
 than they pierce the soul, but the suddenness of the stroke 
 prevents the wound from being visible at once, and the 
 tooth of sorrow must lor some space have gnawed the heart 
 ere a vent is found for tears, which are to the mind what 
 blood is to the body. 
 
 It was thus with me ; the arrows of grief inflicted an 
 
478 ACHILLES TATITJS. 
 
 instant wound, but their result was imperceptible until the 
 soul had leisure to vent itself in tears and lamentations. 
 Then, indeed, I exclaimed, " What evil genius has deluded 
 me with this brief gleam of joy, and has shewn me my 
 Leucippe only to lay a foundation for fresh calamities ? All 
 that has been allowed me was to see her, and I have not 
 been permitted to satiate even the sense of sight! My 
 pleasure has, indeed, been like the baseless fabric of a 
 dream. O my Leucippe, how often hast thou been lost to 
 me? Am I never to cease from tears and lamentations? 
 Is one death perpetually to succeed another 1 On former 
 occasions Fortune has been merely jesting with me, but now 
 she is in earnest ! In those former imaginary deaths of 
 thine, some consolation, at least, was afforded me, for thy 
 body, wholly or in part, was left at my disposal ! But now 
 thou art snatched away both in soul and body ! Twice hast 
 thou escaped the pirates, but Melitta, more* fell than any 
 pirate, has had thee done to death. And I, impious and 
 unholy that I am, have actually kissed thy murderess, have 
 been enfolded in her accursed embrace, and she has anti- 
 cipated thee in receiving from me the offerings of Love!" 
 While thus plunged in grief, Clinias came to visit me. I 
 related every particular to him, and declared my deter- 
 mination of putting an end to my existence. He did all in 
 his power to console me. " Consider," he said, " how often 
 she has died and come to life again ; who knows but what 
 she may do the same on this occasion also ? Why be in 
 such haste to kill yourself ? You will have abundant leisure 
 when the tidings of her death have been positively con- 
 firmed." 
 
 " This is mere trifling," I replied ; " there is small need 
 of confirmation ; my resolve is fixed, and I have decided 
 upon a manner of death which will not permit even the 
 hated Melitta to escape unscathed. Listen to my plan : 
 In case of being summoned into court* it was my intention 
 to plead not guilty. I have now changed my determina- 
 tion, and shall plead guilty, confessing the intrigue between 
 Melitta and myself, and saying that we mutually planned 
 Leucippe 's death ; by this means she will suffer the punish- 
 
 * 6i K\r)p<aQfir] TO Si 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 479 
 
 ment wliicli is her due, and I shall quit this life which I so 
 much detest." " Talk not thus," replied he ; " can you 
 endure to die under the base imputation of being a mur- 
 derer, and, what is more, the murderer of Leucippe ?" 
 " Nothing is base," replied I, " by which we can wreak 
 vengeance upon our enemies."* While we were engaged in 
 argument, the fellow who had communicated the tidings of 
 the fictitious maiden was removed, upon pretence of being 
 taken before the magistrate to undergo an examination. 
 Clinias and Satyrus exerted themselves, but ineffectually, 
 in order to persuade me to alter my resolution ; and on the 
 same day they removed into lodgings, so as to be no longer 
 under the roof of Melitta's foster-brother. The following 
 day the case came on ; Thersander had a great musterf of 
 friends and partisans, and had engaged ten advocates ; and 
 Melitta had been equally on the alert in preparing for her 
 defence. When the counsel on either side had finished 
 speaking, I asked leave to address the court, and said, 
 " All those who have been exerting their eloquence, either 
 for Thersander or for Melitta, have been giving utterance to 
 sheer nonsense ; I will reveal the whole truth, and nothing 
 but the truth. I was once passionately in love with a 
 female of Byzantium named Leucippe ; she was carried oft 
 by pirates, and 1 had reason to believe that she was dead. 
 Meeting with Melitta in Egypt, we formed a connexion, 
 and after some time we travelled together to this city, 
 and Leucippe, whom I just now mentioned, was found 
 working as a slave upon Thersander 's estate, under his 
 bailiff, Sosthenes. By what means he obtained possession 
 of a free-born female, and what were his dealings with the 
 pirates I leave it to you to guess. 
 
 " Melitta, finding that I had recovered my former mis- 
 tress, became apprehensive of her regaining her influence 
 over my affections, and contrived a plan for putting her to 
 death. I entered into her schemes, for what avails it to 
 conceal the truth ? having received a promise that she 
 
 * xp/} e TTOLV tpdovra f-iavptiaai rov i^Qpov. 
 
 " Dolus, an virtus, quis in hoste requirit ? " 
 
 Mu. ii. 390. 
 
 f TrapaaKivi] ; see the opening of the oration of ^Eschines against 
 Ctesiphon. 
 
480 ACHILLES TATITJS. 
 
 would settle all her property upon me ; a man was found, 
 who, for the reward of a hundred gold pieces, undertook 
 the business. "When the deed was done, he fled, and is 
 now somewhere in concealment. As for myself, Love was 
 not long in taking vengeance upon my cruelty. No sooner 
 did I hear of the murder being perpetrated, than I bitterly 
 repented of what had taken place, and all my former fond- 
 ness revived. For this reason I have determined to turn 
 evidence against myself, in order that you may send me 
 whither she is gone to whom I am still so deeply attached. 
 Life is intolerable to one who, in addition to being a 
 murderer, loves her of whose death he has been the cause." 
 Every one in court was utterly astounded at the unex- 
 pected tenour of my speech, especially Melitta. The advo- 
 cates of Thersander already claimed a triumph,f while 
 those engaged in Melitta' s behalf anxiously questioned her 
 as to the truth of what I had said. She was in great 
 confusion; denied some points, virtually admitted others, 
 confessed to having known Leucippe, and indeed confirmed 
 most of what I had said, with the exception of the murder. 
 This general agreement on her part with the facts advanced 
 by me, created a suspicion against her, even in the minds of 
 her own counsel, and they were at a loss what line of defence 
 to adopt on her behalf. At this critical juncture, while the 
 court was being a scene of great clamour, Clinias came 
 forwa-rd and requested to be heard, for " Remember," said 
 he, " a man's life is now in jeopardy." Obtaining permis- 
 sion to speak, " Men of Ephesus !" he began, (his eyes 
 filling with tears,) "do not precipitately condemn to die 
 one who eagerly longs for death, the natural refuge of the 
 unfortunate. He has been calumniating himself, and has 
 taken upon him the guilt of others. Let me briefly ac- 
 quaint you with what has befallen him. What he has said 
 respecting his mistress, her being carried off by pirates, 
 about Sosthenes, and other circumstances which happened 
 before the pretended murder, are strictly true. The young 
 woman has undoubtedly disappeared ; but whether she is 
 still alive, or has been made away with, it is impossible to 
 say ; one thing is certain, that Sosthenes conceived a 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 481 
 
 passion for her, that he used her cruelly for not consenting 
 to his desires, and that he was leagued with pirates. My 
 friend believing her to be murdered, is disgusted with life, 
 and has, therefore invented this charge against himself; 
 he has already confessed with his own mouth that he is 
 anxious to die owing to grief at the loss which he has 
 sustained. Consider, I pray you, whether it is likely that 
 one who is really a murderer would be so desirous of dying 
 with his victim, and would feel life so insupportable. When 
 do we ever find murderers so tender-hearted, and hatred 
 so compassionate ? In the name of the gods, therefore, do 
 not believe his words ; do not condemn to death a man who 
 is much more deserving of commiseration than of punish- 
 ment. If, as he says, he really planned this murder, let 
 him bring forward the hired assassin ; let him declare what 
 has become of the body. If neither the one nor the other 
 can be produced, how can any belief be attached to such a 
 murder ? ' 1 was in love with Melitta,' he says, ' and 
 therefore I caused Leucippe to be killed !' How comes he 
 to implicate Melitta, the object of his affection, and to be 
 so desirous of dying for Leucippe, whose death he com- 
 passed ? Is it usual for persons to hate the object of their 
 love, and to love the object of their hatred ? Is it not 
 much more probable that in such circumstances he would 
 have denied the crime (even had it been brought home to 
 him) in order to save his mistress, instead of throwing 
 away his own life afterwards, owing to a vain regret for her 
 loss ? "What can possibly, therefore, be his motive for 
 charging Melitta with a crime of which she is not guilty ? 
 I will tell you, and in so doing. do not suppose that I have 
 any desire of inculpating this lady, my sole wish is to 
 make you acquainted with the real truth. 
 
 " Before this sea-faring husband of hers came to life again 
 so suddenly, Melitta took a violent fancy to this young 
 man, and proposed marriage to him ; he on his part was not 
 at all disposed to comply with her wishes, and his repug- 
 nance became yet greater when he discovered that his 
 mistress, whom he had imagined dead, was in slavery, 
 under the power of Sosthenes. Until aware who she was, 
 Melitta, taking pity upon her, had caused her to be set 
 at liberty, had received her into her own house, and treated 
 
 2i 
 
482 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 her with the consideration due to a gentlewoman in dis- 
 tress ; but after becoming acquainted with her story, she 
 was sent back into the country, and she has not been heard 
 of since. The truth of what I say can be attested by 
 Melitta herself and the two maids in whose company she 
 was sent away. This was one thing which excited sus- 
 picions in my friend's mind that Leucippe had been foully 
 dealt with through her rival's jealousy ; a circumstance 
 which took place after he was in prison confirmed these 
 suspicions, and has had the effect of exasperating him not 
 only against Melitta but against himself, One of the 
 prisoners, in the course of lamenting his own troubles, 
 mentioned that he had unwittingly fallen into the company 
 of a man who had committed murder for the sake of gold*; 
 the victim was named Leucippe, and the crime, he said, had 
 been committed at the instigation of Melitta. Of course 
 I cannot say whether this be true or not, it is for you to 
 institute inquiries. You can produce the prisoner who 
 made mention of the hired assassin ; Sosthenes, who can 
 declare from whom he purchased Leucippe, and the maids, 
 who can explain her disappearance. Before you have 
 thoroughly investigated each of these particulars, it is con- 
 trary to all law, whether human or divine, to pass sentence 
 upon this unfortunate young man, on the bare evidence of 
 his frenzied words, for there can be no doubt that the 
 violence of his grief has affected his intellect." 
 
 The arguments of Clinias appeared just and reasonable 
 to many of those present, but Thersander's counsel, toge- 
 ther with his friends, called out that sentence of death 
 ought to be pronounced without delay upon the murderer 
 who, by the providence of the gods, had been made his own 
 accuser. Melitta brought forward her maids, and required 
 Thersander to produce Sosthenes, who might probably turn 
 out to be the murderer. This was the challenge* mainly 
 insisted upon by her counsel. Thersander, in great alarm, 
 secretly despatched one of his dependants into the country, 
 
 * irpoK\7)ffiv, a formal challenge proposed by a party to his oppo- 
 nent that the decision of a disputed point should be determined by ; 
 the evidence of a third party. One of the most common was the 
 demand or offer to examine by torture a slave supposed to be cognizant 
 of the matter in dispute. See Diet, of Grk. and Roman Aiitiq. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 483 
 
 with orders to Sostratus to get out of the way at once, 
 before the arrival of those who were about to be sent after 
 him. 
 
 Mounting a horse without delay, the messenger rode full 
 speed to inform the bailiff of the danger he ran of being 
 put to the torture, if taken. Sosthenes was at that moment 
 with Leucippe, doing his best to soothe her irritated feel- 
 ings. Hearing himself summoned in a loud voice, he came 
 out of the cottage ; and, upon learning the state of matters, 
 overcome with fear, and thinking the officers were already 
 at his heels, he got upon the horse, and rode off towards 
 Smyrna ; after which the messenger returned to his master. 
 It is a true saying that fear drives away the power of recol- 
 lection, for Sosthenes in his alarm for his own safety was so 
 forgetful of everything else, that he neglected to secure the 
 door of Leucippe's cottage. Indeed slaves, generally speak- 
 ing, when frightened, run into the very excess of cowardice. 
 Melitta's advocates having given the above-mentioned 
 challenge, Thersander came forward and said, " We have 
 now surely had quite enough of this man's silly stories; 
 and I cannot but feel surprised at your want of sense, who, 
 after convicting a murderer upon the strongest possible 
 evidence, his own admission of his guilt, do not at once 
 pass sentence of death upon him ; whereas, instead of doing 
 this, you suffer yourselves to be imposed upon by his 
 plausible words and tears. For my part I believe him 
 actuated by personal fears, and to be an accomplice in the 
 murder ; nor can I see what possible need there can be for 
 having recourse to the rack in a matter so clear already. 
 Nay, more, I fully believe him to have had a hand in 
 another murder ; for three days have now elapsed since I 
 saw Sosthenes, the man whom they call upon me to bring 
 forward ; it is not at all improbable that this is owing to 
 their contrivance, since it was he who informed me of the 
 act of adultery which has taken place, and having put him 
 to death, they now craftily call upon me to produce the 
 man, knowing it to be out of my power to do so. But 
 even supposing he were alive and present, what difference 
 could it make ? What questions would he put to him ? 
 'Did he ever purchase a certain female?' 'Yes.' 'Was 
 this female iu the power of Melitta ?' * Yes.' Here would 
 
 2i 2 
 
484 ACHILLES TATITTS. 
 
 be an end of the examination, and Sosthenes would be 
 dismissed. Let me now, however, address myself to Cli- 
 topho and Melitta. 
 
 " What have you done, I ask, with my slave ? for a slave 
 of mine she assuredly was, having been purchased by 
 Sosthenes, and were she still alive, instead of having been 
 murdered by them, my slave she would still be." Ther- 
 sander said this from mingled malice and cunning, in order 
 that if Leucippe should turn out to be still alive, he might 
 detain her in a state of servitude. He then continued : 
 " Clitopho confessed that he killed her, he has therefore 
 pronounced judgment upon himself. Melitta, on the other 
 hand, denies the crime her maids may be brought forward 
 and tortured in order to refute what she says. If it should 
 appear that they received the young woman from her, but 
 have not brought her back again, the question will arise, 
 What has become of her ? ,Why was she sent away ? And 
 to whom was she sent ? Is it not self-evident that some 
 persons had been hired to commit the murder, and that the 
 maids were kept in ignorance of this, lest a number of 
 witnesses might render discovery more probable ? No doubt 
 they left her at some spot where a gang of ruffians were 
 lying in concealment, so that it was out of their power to 
 witness what took place. He has also trumped up some 
 story about a prisoner who made mention of the murder. 
 I should like to know who this prisoner is, who has not said 
 a word on the subject to the chief magistrate, but has com- 
 municated, it seems, every particular to him, except the 
 name of his informer. Again, I ask, will you not make an 
 end of listening to such foolery, and taking any interest 
 in such transparent absurdities ? Can you imagine that he 
 would have turned a self-accuser without the intervention 
 of the deity ?" Thersander, after speaking to this effect, 
 concluded by solemnly swearing that he was ignorant what 
 had become of Sosthenes. 
 
 The presiding judge, who was of royal extraction,* and 
 
 * The events of this romance are supposed to take place when 
 Asia was still subject to the Persian Empire, but Tatius borrows his 
 judicial forms from those in use among the Greeks. He describes the 
 TTposdpoc to be of royal extraction, probably because cases of blood were 
 tried before that archoii, who was styled /SatriXtv^. Jacobs. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 485 
 
 who took cognizance of cases of blood, had, in accordance 
 with the law, a certain number of assessors,* men of mature 
 age, whose province it was to assist him in judicial inves- 
 tigations. After conferring with them, he determined to 
 pronounce sentence of death upon me, agreeably to a law 
 which awarded capital punishment to any one standing 
 convicted upon his own accusation. Melitta was to have a 
 second trial, and her maids were to be examined by torture, 
 Thersander was to register his oath, declaratory of his 
 ignorance as to Sosthenes. I, as already condemned to 
 death, was to be tortured in order to make me confess 
 whether Melitta was privy to the murder. Already was I 
 bound, .stripped, and suspended aloft by ropes, while some 
 were bringing scourges, others the fire and the wheel, and 
 Clinias was lamenting loudly, and calling upon the gods, 
 when lo! the priest of Diana crowned with laurel, was 
 beheld approaching : the sign of a sacred embassy coming 
 to offer sacrifices to the goddess. In such cases there is 
 suspensionf of all judicial punishments during the days 
 occupied in the performance of the sacrifice, and in con- 
 sequence of this I was released. The chief of the sacred 
 embassy was no other than Leucippe's father. Diana had 
 appeared to the Byzantians, and had secured them victory 
 in the war against the Thracians, in consequence of which 
 they felt bound to send her a sacrifice in token of their 
 gratitude. In addition to this, the goddess had appeared 
 to Sostratus himself at night, signifying to him that he 
 would find his daughter and his nephew at Ephesus. Just 
 about this time, Leucippe perceived the door of the cottage 
 to be left open ; and as, after a careful examination, Sos- 
 thenes was nowhere to be seen, her usual presence of mind 
 and sanguine hopes returned. She remembered how often, 
 contrary to all expectation, she had been preserved, and the 
 thought of this gave her increased boldness. Fortune 
 
 * Each of the three superior archons was at liberty to have two 
 assessors (irdptdpoi) chosen by himself, to assist him by advice and 
 otherwise in the performance of his various duties. Diet, of Grk. 
 and Rom. Antiq. 
 
 f- During the absence of the sacred vessel (0ewpt) on its mission to 
 Delos, the city of Athens was purified, and no criminal was allowed 
 to be executed. 
 
486 ACHILLES TATIUS 
 
 moreover favoured her, since the temple of Diana was near 
 the spot. Accordingly, hurrying thither, she sought refuge 
 within its precincts. The temple afforded sanctuary to 
 men and virgins, any other woman incurred death by 
 entering it, unless she happened to be a slave who had some 
 cause of complaint against her master ; in which case she 
 was permitted to take refnge there, and the matter was 
 submitted to the decision of the magistrates ; supposing the 
 master was acquitted, he took back his slave, being bound 
 by oath to bear her no ill will on account of her having run 
 away ; but if, on the contrary, the slave was proved to have 
 justice on her side, she remained in the temple, and was 
 employed in the service of the goddess. Leucippe arrived 
 at the temple just at the time when Sostratus was conduct- 
 ing the priest to the scene of the trial, in order to suspend 
 the proceedings, and was very near encountering her 
 father. 
 
 When I was set free, the court broke up, and I was 
 surrounded by a concourse of people, some pitying me, 
 some calling upon the gods in my behalf, others question- 
 ing me. Sostratus, coming by at the time, no sooner saw 
 than he recognized me ; for, as I before mentioned, he had 
 formerly been at Tyre upon the occasion of a festival of 
 Hercules, and had passed a considerable time there before 
 the period of our flight. He at once knew me, and the 
 more readily because his dream had led him to expect that 
 he should find me and his daughter there. Coming up to 
 me, therefore, " Do I see Clitopho ?" said he ; " and where 
 is Leucippe ?" Instantly recognizing him, I cast my eyes 
 to the ground and remained silent, while the bystanders 
 related to him every particular relative to my self-accusa- 
 tion. He no sooner heard what they had to say than with 
 an ejaculation of bitter grief, and smiting his head he made 
 a rush at me, and was very near pulling out my eyes, for 1 
 remained altogether passive and offered no resistance to his 
 violence. At length Clinias coming forward, checked his 
 fury, and endeavoured to pacify him. " What are you 
 about ?" said he : " why are you venting your wrath against 
 him ; he loves Leucippe more dearly than you do, for he has 
 courted death from belief that she was no longer in exis- 
 tence ;" and he added a great deal more in order to calm his 
 
ACHILLES TATITJS. 487 
 
 irritation. He, on the other hand, continued to vent his 
 grief, and to call upon Diana. " Is it for this that thouhast 
 summoned me hither, O goddess ? Is this the fulfilment ot 
 my vision ? I gave credence to the dreams which thou didst 
 send, and flattered myself that I should find my daughter ! 
 In lieu of which thou offerest me, forsooth, a welcome pre- 
 sent, my daughter's murderer!" Hearing of the vision 
 sent by Diana, Clinias was overjoyed. " Take courage, 
 sir," he said; "the goddess will not belie herself! Eest 
 assured your daughter is alive ; believe me, I am prophe- 
 sying truth ; do you not remark how wonderfully she has 
 rescued your nephew from the clutches of his torturers ?" 
 
 While this was going on, one of the ministers of the 
 goddess came hurriedly to the priest, and announced that a 
 foreign maiden had taken refuge in the temple.* This 
 intelligence, given in my hearing, inspired me with new life; 
 my hopes revived, and I summoned courage to look up- 
 " My prediction is being fulfilled, sir," said Clinias, ad- 
 dressing Sostratus ; and then turning to the messenger he 
 inquired, " Is the maiden handsome ?" " She is second IP 
 beauty only to Diana herself," was the reply. 
 
 At these words I leaped for joy, and exclaimed, "It must 
 be Leucippe !" "You are right in your conjecture," said 
 he ; " this was the very name she gave ; saying likewise that 
 she was the daughter of one Sostratus, and a native of 
 Byzantium." Clinias now clapped his hands and shouted 
 with delight, while Sostratus, overcome by his emotions, was 
 ready to sink upon the ground. For my part, in spite of 
 my fetters, I made a bound into the air, and then shot away 
 towards the temple, like an arrow from a bow. The keepers 
 pursued me, supposing that I was trying to escape, and 
 bawled out to every one " Stop him! stop him !" At that 
 moment, however, I seemed to have wings upon my heels, 
 and it was with much difficulty that some persons at length 
 caught hold of me in my mad career. The keepers upon 
 coming up were disposed to use violence, to which, however, 
 I was no longer inclined to submit ; nevertheless they per- 
 sisted in dragging me towards the prison. By this time 
 
 * See a very full description of the magnificent temple of Diana in 
 Anthon's " Lempriere." 
 
488 ACHILLES TATITJS 
 
 Clinias and Sostratus had arrived at the spot; and the 
 former called out, " "Whither are you taking this man ? he 
 is not guilty of the murder for which he has been con- 
 demned !" Sostratus spoke to the same effect, and added 
 that he was father to the maiden supposed to have been 
 murdered. The bystanders, learning the circumstances 
 which had taken place, were loud in their praises of Diana, 
 and surrounding me would not permit me to be taken to 
 prison ; on the other hand, the keepers declared that they 
 had no authority to set a prisoner at liberty who had been 
 condemned to death. In the end, the priest, at the urgent 
 entreaty of Sostratus, agreed to become bail, and to produce 
 me in court whenever it should be required. Then at 
 length freed from my fetters, I hurried on towards the 
 temple, followed by Sostratus, whose feelings of joy could 
 hardly, I think, equal my own. 
 
 Humour,* who outstrips the swiftest of men, had already 
 reached Leucippe, and informed her of all particulars 
 respecting me and Sostratus. Upon catching sight of us 
 she darted out of the temple, and threw her arms around 
 . her father, but at the same time her looks were turned on 
 me ; the presence of Sostratus restrained me from embrac- 
 ing her, though I gazed intently upon her face ; and thus 
 our greetings were confined to eyes. 
 
 BOOK VIII. 
 
 JTJST as we were sitting down and beginning to converse 
 upon the various events which had taken place, Thersander, 
 accompanied by several witnesses, arrived in a great bustle, 
 and addressing himself to the priest in a loud voice said, 
 " I warn you, in the presence of these witnesses, that you 
 have acted illegally in setting at liberty a prisoner con- 
 demned to death ; besides which, what right have you to 
 detain my slave, a lewd woman, who is insatiable in her 
 
 * " Nee tamen Fama volucris, pigra pennarum tarditate cessaverat ; 
 sed p.'wtinusin patria, Dese providentis adorabilebeneficium, meamque 
 ipsius fortunam memorabilem, narraverat passim." Apul. Met. xi. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 489 
 
 appetite for men ?" Exasperated by this language, and not 
 enduring to hear her called a slave and accused of lewdness, 
 I interrupted him, " You are trebly a slave* yourself, and 
 the rankest lecher who ever existed, whereas she is free 
 born, and pure and worthy of her guardian goddess ?" 
 "Dare you vent your insolence on me, convicted felon 
 that you are ?" exclaimed he, accompanying his words with 
 a couple of blows, which, given with all his might, caused 
 the blood to flow from my nose in streams ; in his haste to 
 deal me a third, he struck me on the mouth, and my teeth 
 inflicting a severe wound upon his fingers avenged the 
 insult offered to my nostrils. Uttering a cry of pain, he 
 drew back his hand, and did not offer any further violence ; 
 while, pretending not to notice that he was hurt, I filled the 
 temple with outcries at the usage which I had received. 
 " Whither," I exclaimed, " shall we henceforth flee to 
 escape the hands of violence ? Where shall we seek 
 sanctuary, if Diana is despised ? Lo ! I have been at- 
 tacked in the very temple, and struck in front of the holy 
 curtain !f I had supposed that such acts could take place 
 only in some howling wilderness, with no human witness to 
 behold them ; but you abandoned wretch that you are ! 
 exercise your brutality in the very presence of the gods ! 
 Temples are wont to afford an asylum, even to the guilty ; 
 but I, who am wholly innocent and a suppliant of the god- 
 dess, have suffered violence before the altar, nay, before 
 the eyes of the goddess ! The blows inflicted on me have 
 virtually fallen upon Diana herself ! Nor has your drunken 
 fury been content with blows, you have even dealt wounds, 
 such as one receives in battle, and you have defiled the 
 sacred pavement with human blood ! Who ever poured out 
 such drink offerings to the Ephesian goddess ? Barbarians 
 do so, and so do the Tauri, and blood is sprinkled upon the 
 
 * Tpidov\og, a slave through three generations. 
 
 " ibv rpirrjg tyw prjrpOQ (pavoJ rpidov\o." 
 
 Soph. (Ed. Tyr. 1054. 
 
 + Iv TOLQ TTJ av\aia \d)pioiQ. In temples, curtains served more 
 especially to veil the statue of the divinity : " Dum velis candentibus 
 reductis in diversum, Dese venerabilem conspectum apprecamur." 
 Apul. Met. xi. 
 
490 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 altars of the Scythian Diana*; but you have made a savage 
 Scythia of the polished Ionia, and the gore fit only for 
 Tauris is seen to flow at Ephesus ! Why not proceed yet- 
 farther, and draw your sword against me ? Though what 
 need is there of swords, the work of a weapon has already 
 been accomplished by your naked hand ! Yes ! your blood- 
 stained and homicidal hand has done deeds fit only for a 
 scene of murder !" 
 
 Attracted by my outcries, a crowd of those who were in 
 the temple flocked together, who rated him soundly for his 
 conduct, and the priest himself said, "Are you not ashamed 
 to exhibit such behaviour openly and in the temple?" 
 Encouraged by their presence, " Men of Ephesus !" I said, 
 " you see how foully I have been treated. Yes ! I, a free 
 man and a native of no mean city, have had a plot contrived 
 against my life by this wicked man, and have been preserved 
 only by the intervention of Diana, who has brought to light 
 the falsehood of the charge against me. It behoves me 
 now to go forth in order to cleanse my face ; I may not do 
 so within the temple, least the holy water should be defiled 
 by the blood of violence." Thersander was with difficulty 
 forced out, and muttered to himself as he departed " Your 
 fate is already sealed, and ere long the law shall have its 
 due ; as for this strumpet who would fain pass for a virgin, 
 she shall undergo the ordeal of the syrinx." When at last 
 we were rid of him, I went out and cleansed my face ; it 
 was now supper-time, and the priest entertained us very 
 hospitably. 
 
 I could not summon up courage to look Sostratus in the 
 face, from a recollection of what had been my conduct 
 towards him, and he perceiving this, and guessing my feel- 
 ings, was equally unwilling to look towards me ; Leucippe 
 also sat with downcast eyes, so that the supper was alto- 
 gether a very solemn affair. When however the wine cir- 
 culated, and reserve began to disappear under the influence 
 
 * " rjKovaiv e yr/v Kvavkav \ 
 
 \dry <f>vy6vTt dnrrv^oi vtaviai 
 )v irpofftiayua KO.I OVTTJOIOV 
 
 Iph. in Tauris, 230. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 491 
 
 of Bacchus, patron of freedom and ease,* the priest, ad- 
 dressing Sostratus, said, " My worthy guest, will you not 
 favour us with your own history ? it must, I imagine, con- 
 tain some interesting passages, and the listening to such sub- 
 jects adds zest to the wine." Sostratus readily availed him- 
 self of the opportunity to speak, and replied, " My own 
 story is a very simple one ; you are already acquainted with 
 my name and country, and when I have added that I am 
 uncle to this young man and father to the maiden, you have 
 heard all." "Do you, son Clitopho, (turning to me) lay 
 aside all bashfulness and relate whatever you have to say 
 worth hearing ; the grief and vexation which I have en- 
 dured is to be attributed to Fortune not to you ; besides, 
 to tell of past troubles when one has escaped from them, is 
 a source of pleasure rather than of grief."f 
 
 Upon this, I detailed all the events which had occurred 
 since leaving Tyre the voyage, the shipwreck, our being 
 cast upon the coast of Egypt, our falling among the buc- 
 caneers, the carrying off of Leucippe, the adventures of the 
 false stomach contrived by Menelaus, the passion conceived 
 for her by the commander, the discovery of the love potion 
 by Chaereas, Leucippe' s second rape by corsairs, and the 
 wound received by me of which I exhibited the scar. When 
 I approached the subject of Melitta, I related the story 
 in such a manner as to give an exalted idea of my own 
 continence, yet without being, guilty of any falsehood. I 
 spoke of her violent passion for me, her urgent but unsuc- 
 cessful entreaties to obtain its gratification, her munificent 
 promises, her grief at being disappointed, our subsequent 
 voyage to Ephesus, the supper, my sharing her bed, and 
 (invoking at the same time Diana's name) my rising from 
 her side as pure as one female would from another, my 
 being seized and put in prison, my false accusation of my- 
 self ; this and every other matter I detailed down to the 
 appearance of the'Sacred Embassy, suppressing only the 
 disgrace of my connexion with Melitta.f 
 
 * *' Tu lene tormentum ingenio admoves 
 Plerumque duro ; tu sapientium 
 Curas et arcanam jocoso 
 
 Consilium retegis Lyseo." Hor. iii. ; Od. xxi. 1 
 f* rr^v irpOQ MeXiTrrjv at. 
 
492 ACHILLES TATITJS. 
 
 " Leucippe's adventures," said I, in continuation, " are 
 stranger even than mine. She has been sold to slavery, has 
 been compelled to labour in the field, has been despoiled of 
 the honours of her head,* of which you can see the tokens ;" 
 and then passing on to the conduct of Sosthenes and Ther- 
 sander, I entered much more into detail than I had done, 
 when speaking of myself. My object in doing this, was to 
 gratify Leucippe, in the hearing of her father. " She has 
 endured every ill in her person," said I, "excepting one, and 
 to avoid that one, she has submitted to all the others ; and 
 has continued, to this day, father (addressing Sostratus), 
 pure as when first you sent her from Byzantium. It is 
 no merit in me to have abstained from consummating the 
 object for which we fled ; the merit is entirely on her 
 side for having preserved inviolate her chastity in the midst 
 of villains, nay, against that arch villain, the shameless and 
 violent Thersander. Our flight from home was caused by 
 mutual love ; but I can assure you, father, that during the 
 voyage we were quite platonic, our intercourse was no 
 other than that of a brother and a sister ; and if there be 
 such a thing as virginity in men, I am still a virgin as 
 regards Leucippe ; she, long since bound herself by a vow to v 
 Diana.f 
 
 " Queen of love," ejaculated I, " be not wroth nor deem 
 thyself to have been slighted by us ! we were but unwilling 
 to celebrate our nuptials in the absence of the maiden's 
 father ; he has now happily arrived ; be thou present there- 
 fore, and smile propitiously upon us." The priest had 
 listened open-mouthed to my story, and Sostratus had been 
 shedding tears during the recital of his daughter's sufler- 
 
 * " If a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her ; for her hair is 
 given her for a covering." 1 Cor. xi. 15. 
 
 Apuleius, Met. B. ii. has a remarkable passage illustrative of the 
 indispensableness of a fine head of hair to constitute perfect female 
 beauty. " Si cujuslibet eximise pulcherrimaeque feminae caput capillo 
 spoliaveris et faciem nativa specie nudaveris, licet ilia ccelo dejecta, 
 meri edita, fluctibus educata, licet, inquam Venus ipsa fuerit, licet 
 omni Gratiarum choro stipata, et toto Cupidinum populo comitata 
 et baltheo suo cincta, cinnama fragrans et balsama rorans, culva proces- 
 eerit, placere non poterit nee Vulcano suo." 
 
 f 1 See the beginning of B. iv. where Diaaa enjoins upon Leucippe 
 the preservation of her chastity. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 493 
 
 ings. " Now that you have heard the account of our adven- 
 tures," said I to our host," I have a favour to ask of you. 
 What did Thersander's parting words refer to, when he 
 made mention of the syrinx?" "You have a right to 
 make the inquiry," replied he; "and I am both able and 
 willing to comply with your request. It will be some 
 return for the narrative with which you have just favoured 
 us. You see the grove in the rear of the temple ; in it is 
 a cave, entrance into which is forbidden to women in 
 general, but is permitted to maidens who have preserved 
 their purity. A little within the doors a syrinx is sus- 
 pended ; perhaps you Byzantians are already acquainted 
 with the nature of this instrument ; should it be otherwise, 
 I will give you a description of it, and will likewise relate 
 the legend of Pan, with which it is connected. 
 
 " The syrinx is composed of a certain number of reed 
 pipes, which collectively produce the same sounds as a 
 flute ; these reeds are placed in regular order and mutually 
 compacted, presenting the same appearance on either side ; 
 beginning from the shortest, they ascend in gradation to 
 the longest, and the central one holds a medium proportion 
 between the two extremities. The principle of this arrange- 
 ment arises from the laws of harmony, the two extremes of 
 sound (as well as of length) are found at either end, and 
 the intervening pipes convey downwards a gradation of 
 notes so as to combine the first and shrillest with the last 
 and deepest of all. The same variety of sounds, (as before 
 observed) are produced by Minerva's flute * as by the 
 syrinx of Pan; but in the former case, the fingers direct the 
 notes, in the latter, the mouth supplies the place ; in the 
 one case, the performer closes every opening except the 
 one through which the breath is intended to proceed ; in 
 the other case, he leaves open the aperture of every other 
 reed, and places his mouth upon that one only which he 
 wishes to emit a sound ; his lips leap (as we may say) from 
 reed to reed and dance t along the syrinx ; as the laws of 
 harmony require. J Now, this syrinx was originally neither 
 
 J Throughout this description of the syrinx, the Greek text is very 
 corrupt : " locus graviter alHictus," is the expression of Jacobs, who 
 gives four closely printed octavo pages of notes, to elucidate its diffi- 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 pipe nor reed, but a damsel * whose charms made her most 
 desirable. Smitten by love, Pan pursued her, and she fled 
 for refuge to a thicket ; the god still closely following her, 
 stretched forth his hand to seize as he supposed her hair, 
 but lo ! instead of hair, he grasped a bunch of reeds, which, 
 so the legend says, sprang from the earth as she descended 
 into it. Enraged at his disappointment, Pan cut them 
 down, imagining that they had stolen from him the object 
 of his love ; but when his search after her still proved 
 unavailing, he supposed the maiden to have been changed 
 into these reeds, and wept at his hasty act, thinking that in 
 so doing he had caused the death of his beloved. He then 
 proceeded to collect and place together what he imagined to 
 be her limbs, and holding them in his hands, continued to 
 kiss what fancy pictured to be the mangled remains of the 
 maiden's body. Deeply sighing as he imprinted kisses on the 
 reeds, his sighs found a passage through these hollow 
 pipes, forming sounds of music, and thus the syrinx came 
 to have -a voice. This instrument Pan suspended within 
 the cave, and he is said often to resort hither in order to 
 play upon it. At a period subsequent to the event of 
 which I am speaking, he conveyed the place as a gift to 
 Diana, upon the condition that none save a spotless maiden 
 should be allowed to enter it. Whenever therefore the 
 virginity of any female comes into suspicion, she is con- 
 ducted to the entrance of this cavern, and it is left to the 
 syrinx to pronounce judgment upon her. She enters in her 
 usual dress, and immediately the doors are closed. If she 
 proves to be a virgin, a sweetly clear and divinely ravishing 
 sound is heard, caused either by the air which is there stored 
 up, finding its way into the syrinx,* or by the lips of the 
 god himself. After a short space, the doors open of their 
 own accord, and the maiden makes her appearance, wearing 
 a crown of pine leaves. If, on the other hand, the female 
 has falsely asserted her claim to virginity, the syrinx is 
 silent, and instead of music, the cave sends forth a doleful 
 
 culties. The translator has endeavoured to give, what (after a com- 
 parison of the notes) appeared to him the true sense. 
 
 * See the same legend, towards the end of Longus, B. ii. 
 
 f" row TOTTOV irvevfjia t^ovrot; jjLuvaix.Qi> fit; TTJV (ruptyya ra/xiftov. 
 
ACHILLES TATITTS. 495 
 
 sound, upon which those who attended her to the entrance 
 depart and leave her to her fate. Three days after, the 
 priestess of the temple enters, and finds the syrinx fallen 
 to the ground, but the female is no where to be seen. I 
 have now told you everything, and it is for you maturely to 
 deliberate upon what course you intend pursuing. If, as I 
 sincerely hope, the maiden is a virgin, you may fearlessly 
 submit to the ordeal, for the syrinx has never falsified its 
 character. Should the case be otherwise, it is needless to 
 suggest what is the safer course ; and you well know, 
 what a female, exposed as she has been to various perils, 
 may have been compelled to submit to, quite against her 
 will." 
 
 Eagerly interrupting the priest, Leucippe said, "You 
 need be under no alarm on my account, I am quite ready 
 to enter, and be shut up within the cave." " I rejoice to 
 hear you say so," replied he, " and I congratulate you on 
 the good fortune which has preserved your virtue." As it 
 was near evening we retired to the chambers prepared for 
 us by the priest ; Clinias had not supped with us from fear 
 of being burdensome to our kind host, but had returned to 
 his former lodgings. The legend of the syrinx caused Sos- 
 tratus much uneasiness, as he evidently feared, that out of 
 regard to him, we had been advancing undue claims to 
 chastity ; perceiving this, I made a sign to Leucippe to 
 remove as best she could, the suspicions of her father. 
 His anxiety had not escaped her observation, and even 
 before receiving a hint from me, she had been devising 
 how to set his mind at rest. Upon embracing him, there- 
 fore, as he retired to rest, "Father," she sr ; d, in a low 
 voice, " you need be under no apprehension ; I solemnly 
 swear to you by Diana, that both of us have spoken nothing 
 but the truth." The following day, Sostratus and the priest 
 were occupied in performing the object of the sacred em- 
 bassy, by offering the victims; the members of the Senate 
 were present at the solemnity, and hymns of praise resounded 
 in honour of the goddess. Thersander also was there, and 
 coming to the president he desired to have his case post- 
 poned to the next day, as the condemned criminal had been 
 set at liberty by some meddling persons, and Sosthenea 
 could no where be found. His request was complied with, 
 
496 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 and we on our part, made every preparation for meeting the 
 charge which was to be brought against us. "When the 
 morning of trial arrived, Thersander spoke as follows : " I 
 am utterly at a loss how to begin, and against whom first to 
 direct my charges ; the offence which has given rise to this 
 trial involves various others equal in importance, and impli- 
 cates several parties, and each of their offences might supply 
 matter for a separate trial ; my words must almost unavoid- 
 ably fail in doing justice to each division of the subject, 
 and in my eagerness to hasten to some point hitherto 
 untouched, I must necessarily deal imperfectly with that 
 upon which I am engaged. How indeed can it be other- 
 wise in a case like this, wherein is mixed up adultery, im- 
 piety, bloodshed and lawless excesses of every kind ! Where 
 adulterers are found murdering other people's slaves, mur- 
 derers corrupting other people's wives, whoremongers and 
 harlots interrupting and disgracing with their presence 
 holy solemnities and the most sacred places ? Nevertheless 
 I will proceed. You condemned a criminal to death on 
 account of what cause, it matters not you sent him back 
 in chains to prison, there to be kept until the execution of 
 the sentence; yet this man who is virtually your prisoner, 
 now stands before you at liberty and attired in white; 
 aye, and no doubt will venture to raise his voice in order 
 to declaim against me or rather, I should say, against you 
 and against the justice of your verdict. I demand to have 
 the sentence of the Court read aloud. There, you have 
 now heard it. ' The sentence of the Court is that Cli- 
 topho be put to death.' Where then is the executioner ? 
 Let the prisoner be led away, let the hemlock * be admi- 
 nistered he is already dead in law, and has lived a day 
 too long. And now, what excuse have you to plead, holy 
 and reverend priest ? In which of the sacred laws do you 
 find it laid down that prisoners, duly condemned by a sen- 
 tence of the court, and delivered up to chains and death, are 
 to be rescued and set at liberty. On what grounds do you 
 arrogate to yourself a power superior to that of the judges 
 and the Court? President! it is time for you to quit your 
 chair and to abdicate to him your place and power ! Your 
 
 * " sorbitio dira cicutae." Persius, S. iv. 2. 
 
ACHILLES TATITTS. 497 
 
 authority is gone, your decrees are good for nought ! He 
 takes upon himself to reverse the sentence you have passed. 
 Why any longer stand among us, sir Priest, as a mere 
 private individual ? By all means go up higher, take your 
 place upon the bench ; issue henceforth your judgments, or 
 if it please you better, your arbitrary and tyrannical de- 
 crees ; spurn law and justice under your feet ; believe that 
 you are more than man ; claim for yourself worship next 
 after Diana, since you have already arrogated her peculiar 
 privilege. Hitherto she alone has afforded sanctuary to 
 suppliants, but to suppliants, be it remembered, whom 
 the law has not yet condemned not those to whom chains 
 and death have been decreed, for the altar should be a 
 refuge not to the wicked but to the unfortunate ! You, 
 forsooth, liberate a prisoner ; you acquit a condemned cri- 
 minal ! You therefore arrogate a power superior to that of 
 Diana's self! Who, until now, ever heard of a murderer 
 and adulterer inhabiting the chamber of a temple, instead 
 of the dungeon of a prison ? A foul adulterer under the 
 same roof with a virgin goddess, and having for his partner 
 a shameless woman, a slave and runaway ! You it is who 
 have entertained the worthy pair at bed and board ; nay, 
 probably have shared her bed. You have converted the 
 temple of the goddess into a common brothel. You have 
 made her sanctuary, a den of whoremongers and harlots ; 
 your doings would hardly find a parallel in the vilest stew ! 
 So far as regards these two I have now done, one will I 
 trust meet with his just deserts, let the sentence of the law 
 be put in force against the other. 
 
 " My second charge is against Melitta for adultery ; and 
 here I need not speak at any length, as it has already been 
 decided that her maids shall be submitted to the torture, in 
 order to ascertain the truth. I demand, therefore, to have 
 them produced ; and if, after undergoing the question, they 
 persist in denying their knowledge that the accused ha* 
 for a considerable time cohabited with her in my house, nob 
 only in the character of paramour but of husband, then I 
 am bound freely to acquit her of all blame. But should the 
 contrary be proved, then I claim that in accordance with 
 the laws she be" deprived of her marriage portion, and that 
 
 2 K 
 
498 ACHILLES TATITTS. 
 
 it be given up to me,* in which case the prisoner must 
 suffer death, the punishment awarded to adulterers. Whe- 
 ther, however, he shall suffer under this charge or as a 
 murderer, matters little ; he is guilty of both crimes, and 
 though suffering punishment will, in fact, be evading 
 justice,! for whereas he owes two deaths, he will have paid 
 but one. One other subject there remains for me to touch 
 upon: this slave of mine and her respectable pretended 
 father. I shall, however, reserve what I have to say on this 
 head until you have come to a decision respecting the other 
 parties." 
 
 Thersander having now ended, it was for the priest to 
 speak. He was possessed of eloquence, and had in him a 
 large share of the Aristophanic vein; accordingly he at- 
 tacked Thersander' s debauched manner of life with great 
 wit and humour. " By the goddess," said he, " it is the 
 sign of having a foul tongue, thus shamelessly to rail 
 against honest folks, but it is nothing new to this worthy 
 gentleman, for throughout his life the filthiness of his 
 tongue has been notorious. J The season of his youth was 
 passed among the lewdest of mankind, among whom he gave 
 himself up to the most a^pndoned practices, and while 
 affecting gravity, sobriety, ana a regard for learning, his 
 body was made the slave of all impurity. After a time he 
 left his father's house, and hired a miserable lodging, where 
 he took up his abode. And how do you suppose he earned 
 his living ? Why, partly by strolling about the town and 
 singing ballads, partly by receiving at home fellows like 
 himself, for purposes which I shall not now name. All this 
 
 * By the Roman law, a woman convicted of adultery was mulcted 
 in half her (dos) and the third part of her property (bona), and 
 banished to some miserable island, such as Seriphos. Diet, of Grk. 
 and Rom. Antiq. 
 
 *t* diKrjv dedwKwQ ov dfdwKt. 
 
 Here and elsewhere in the address of the worthy priest of Diana 
 occur equivoques, which, owing to the genius of the English language 
 and a regard for decency are incapable of and unfit for translation. 
 The commentators illustrate the passage referred to in this note by an 
 epigram of Martial, iii. 80. 
 
 " De nulli quereris, nulli maledicis, Apici ; 
 Rumor ait, linguae te tamen esse males." 
 
A.CHILLES TATIUS. 499 
 
 time be was supposed to be cultivating bis mind, and im- 
 proving bis education ; whereas, accomplished hypocrite ! 
 be was but tbrowing a veil over bis iniquities. Even in tbe 
 wrestling school his manner wbile anointing his body, and 
 bis attitudes, and his always choosing to engage in wrestling 
 with the stoutest and comeliest of the youths, showed his 
 detestable propensities. Such was his character during 
 his youthful days. Upon arriving at manhood, he threw 
 off the mask, and exhibited before the eyes of all the vices 
 which hitherto he had endeavoured to keep concealed. 
 
 " As he could no longer turn any other part of his body to 
 account, he determined thenceforth to exercise his tongue, 
 and admirably has he succeeded in sharpening it upon the 
 whetstone of impurity,* making bis mouth the vehicle for 
 shameless speech, pouring out its torrents of abuse on every 
 one, and having his effrontery stamped upon his very face. 
 Ho has gone the length (as you have seen) of coarsely 
 insulting in your presence an individual whom you have 
 honoured with the priesthood. Were I a stranger to you, 
 and had not my life been passed among you, I should deem 
 it necessary to dwell upon my own character, and that of 
 my usual associates ; but there is no occasion for doing 
 this. You well know how opposite has been my way of 
 living to the slanderous imputations which he has cast upon 
 me. I therefore pass on at once to his recent charges. 
 I have set at liberty, he says, a convicted criminal ; and 
 upon these grounds he proceeds to inveigh bitterly against 
 me, and applies to me the epithet of tyrant, and I know 
 not how many other hard words. Now a tyrant is one who 
 oppresses the innocent, not one who steps forward to defend 
 the victim of false accusation. What law, I demand, sanc- 
 tioned your committing this young man to prison? Before 
 what tribunal had he been condemned ? What judge had 
 pronounced his sentence ? Granting the truth of every 
 charge advanced against him, he has at all events a right to 
 a fair trial ; he has a right to be heard in his own defence ; 
 he has a right to be legally convicted! If need be, let 
 the law (which is supreme over all alike,) imprison him j 
 until it has altered its decrees not one of us can claim 
 
 ynav dicovf* 
 
 2x2 
 
500 ACHILLES TATITTS. 
 
 authority over another. Bat if proceedings such as we 
 have seen, are to be countenanced, it would be advisable at 
 once to close the courts, to abolish the tribunals, to depose 
 the magistrates. With far greater justice may I retort 
 against him the expressions which he has employed re- 
 specting me. I may say, President, make way for Ther- 
 sander, for your presidentship is but an empty name, it is 
 he who really exercises your powers ; nay, more, exercises 
 powers which you do not possess. You have assessors, 
 without whose concurrence you can pass no sentence. 
 You can exercise no authority except upon the judgment 
 seat ; you cannot sit at home and condemn a man to chains 
 and prisons. This worshipful gentleman, however, is both 
 judge and jury ;* all offices are, forsooth, concentrated in 
 his single person ; he makes his house his court of justice ; 
 there he inflicts his punishments ; thence he issues his 
 decrees and condemns a man to chains ; and to make mat- 
 ters yet better, he holds his court at night !f And what is it 
 which now finds employment for his lungs ? { You have set 
 free/ he says, * a criminal condemned to death,' I ask, What 
 death ? I ask, What criminal ? for what crime condemned ? 
 Tor murder,' he replies. A murderer! Where, then, 
 is the murdered victim ? She whom you declared to have 
 been done to death, stands before you alive and well. The 
 charge, therefore, at once falls to the ground, for you cannot 
 consider this maiden as an airy phantom, sent up by Pluto 
 from the realms below ! You are yourself a murderer, 
 aye, and a double murderer. Her you have slain by lying 
 words ; him you wished in reality to slay. I may add her 
 also ; for we know of your doings in the country. The 
 great goddess Diana has, however, happily preserved them 
 both, by delivering the maiden from the hands of Sosthenes, 
 and this young man from you. As for Sosthenes, you have 
 purposely got him out of the way, in order to escape detec- 
 tion. Are you not ashamed to have your charges against 
 
 * iravra iavrov yivfTai. tfrjj/ioe, jSovXj}, 7rpo6#po, 
 
 + Among the Greeks legal procedings terminated at sunset ; nor 
 could decrees of the senate, among the Romans, be passed after that 
 time ; hence we find as terms of reproach : " Senatusconsulta vesper- 
 tina/'iu Cicero; and " advocati nocturni" in Petronius. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 501 
 
 these strangers proved to be the vilest calumnies ? "What 
 I have said will have sufficed to clear myself; the defence 
 of the strangers I shall leave to others." 
 
 An advocate of considerable reputation as an orator, and 
 a member of the senate,* was about to address the court in 
 behalf of me and Melitta, when he was interrupted by one 
 of Thersander' s counsel, named Sopater: "Brother Nicos- 
 tralus," said he, " I must claim the right of being first 
 heard against this adulterous couple ; it will be your turn 
 to reply afterwards. 
 
 " What Thersander said related only to the priest, and 
 scarcely touched upon the case of the prisoner ; and when 
 I shall prove him to be richly deserving of a two-fold death, 
 then will be the time for you to rebut my charges." Then, 
 stroking his chin, and with a great flourish of words, he 
 proceeded : " We have listened to the buffoonery of this 
 priest, venting his scurrilous falsehoods against Thersander, 
 and endeavouring to turn against him the language so justly 
 directed against himself. Now, I maintain, that throughout 
 Thersander has adhered to truth ; the priest has taken upon 
 himself to liberate a prisoner; he has received a harlot 
 beneath his roof; he has been on friendly terms with an 
 adulterer. Not a word has he uttered against Thersander 
 but what savours of the vilest calumny, but if anything 
 especially becomes a priest, surely it is to keep a civil 
 tongue in his head, and in saying this I am but borrowing 
 his own words. However, after edifying us with his wit 
 and jests, he went on to adopt a tragic strain, and bitterly 
 inveighed against us for handcuffing an adulterer, and send- 
 ing him to prison. I wonder what it cost to kindle in him 
 this prodigious warmth of zeal ? Methinks I can give a 
 tolerably shrewd guess. He has looked with a longing 
 eye upon the features of these two shameless guests of his , 
 the wench is handsome, the youth has a goodly counte- 
 nance ; both are well suited for the private pleasures of a 
 priest ! Which of the two best served your turn ? At any 
 rate you all slept together ; you all got drunk together ; 
 and there are no witnesses to depose how your nights 
 were passed. I sadly fear me that Diana's fane has been 
 perverted into Aphro/iite's temple ! It will furnish matter 
 for future discussion t whether you are fit to be a priest. 
 
502 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 As to my client Thersander, every one knows that from 
 his earliest years he has been a pattern of sobriety and 
 virtue; no sooner was he arrived at manhood, than he 
 contracted a marriage according to the laws ; his choice 
 was indeed unfortunate, and trusting to her rank and 
 wealth, he found himself the husband of a wife very diffe- 
 rent from what he had expected. There can be little doubt 
 that she long ago went astray, unknown to this most exem- 
 plary of men ; it is plain enough that latterly she has cast 
 off all shame, and has indulged her disgraceful propensities 
 to the utmost. No sooner had her husband set out on a 
 long voyage than she thought it a favourable opportunity 
 for indulging her loose desires ; and then it was that, un- 
 fortunately for her, she lighted upon this * masculine 
 whore;'* a paramour who among women is a man, and 
 among men a woman. 
 
 " Not content to cohabit with him in impunity in a foreign 
 land, she must needs transport him with her over an extent 
 of sea, and on the voyage must needs take her lascivious 
 sport in the sight of all the passengers. O, shameless 
 adultery, in which sea and land, had both a share. O 
 shameless adultery, prolonged even from Egypt to Ionia! 
 Generally, when women are guilty of adultery they confine 
 themselves to a single act, or if they repeat their crime, it 
 is with every precaution which may ensure concealment. 
 In the present case, however, she commits the sin by sound 
 of trumpet, if I may so say. The adulterer is known to 
 every one in Ephesus, and she herself is not ashamed to 
 have brought him hither like so much merchandise ; making 
 an investment in good looks, taking in a paramour by way 
 of freight ! She will say, c I concluded my husband to be 
 dead ?' ' In that case,' I reply, ' were your husband dead, 
 you would be free from criminality, for there would then be 
 no sufferer by the adulterous act, nor is any dishonour cast 
 on marriage if the husband is no longer in existence ; but 
 if the husband be alive, the marriage bond is still in force, 
 his rights over his wife continue, and he has, by her 
 criminality, suffered a grievous wrong.' " 
 
 * iropvoQ : the word given as a translation, is found in " Troilua 
 and Cressida." 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 503 
 
 Thersander here interrupted him, " It is needless to 
 examine any one by torture, as was formerly proposed. 
 I offer two challenges : one to this wife of mine, Melitta ; 
 the other to the pretended daughter of this ambassador, 
 who is lawfully my slave." He then read aloud ; " I 
 Thersander challenge Melitta and Leucippe (such 1 un- 
 derstand is the strumpet's name) to submit to the fol- 
 lowing ordeal : If the former, as she asserts, has had no 
 intercourse with this stranger during the period of my 
 absence, let her go unto the sacred fountain of the Styx, 
 declare her innocence upon oath, and then stand acquitted 
 of any further guilt. Let the latter, if free-born and no 
 longer a maiden, remain my slave, for the temple of the 
 goddess affords sanctuary to slaves alone ; if, on the other 
 hand, she asserts herself to be a virgin, let her be shut into 
 the cave of the syrinx." We immediately accepted this 
 challenge, being already aware that it would be made. 
 
 Melitta, likewise conscious that nothing improper had 
 taken place during the actual absence of Thersander, said, 
 " I accept the challenge ; and will here add, that during the 
 period referred to I had criminal intercourse with no one, 
 whether foreigner or citizen ; and I will ask you," address- 
 ing Thersander, "to what penalty will you submit, pro- 
 vided the charge prove groundless and calumnious ?" " I 
 will submit to whatever the law decrees," was his reply. 
 The court then broke up, the following day being appointed 
 for the respective ordeals referred to in the challenge. 
 The following is the legend of the Stygian fountain : 
 
 " There was once a beauteous maiden, named Ehodopis, 
 whose supreme delight was in the chase. She was swift of 
 foot, unerring in her aim ; she wore a head-band, had her 
 robe girt up to the knee, and her hair short, after the fashion 
 of men. l)iana met her, bestowed many commendations 
 on her, and made her her companion in the chase. The 
 maiden bound herself by oath to observe perpetual vir- 
 ginity, to avoid the company of men, and never to humiliate 
 herself by submitting to amorous indulgence.* . Venus 
 
 * " . . . . she'll not be hit 
 
 With Cupid's arrow, .... 
 
 And, in strong proof of chastity well arm'd, 
 
504 ACHILLES TATITJS. 
 
 overheard the oath, and was incensed at it, and determined 
 to punish the damsel for her presumption. There happened 
 to be a youth of Ephesus, named Euthynicus, as much 
 distinguished among men for beauty as Ehodopis was 
 among those of her own sex. He was as ardently devoted 
 to the chase as the maiden, and like her was averse to the 
 delights of love. One day when Diana was absent, Yenus 
 contrived to make the game which they were following run 
 in the same direction ; then addressing her archer son, she 
 said, ' Do you see yon frigid and unloving pair, enemies to 
 us and to our mysteries ? The maiden has even gone the 
 length of registering an oath against me ! Do you see 
 them both following a hind ? Join the chase, and begin by 
 making an example of the maiden ; your arrows never 
 miss.' Both at the same moment bend their bows, she 
 against the hind, but Cupid against her, and both hit the 
 mark, but the successful huntress herself becomes a victim ; 
 her arrow pierces the shoulder of the deer, but Cupid's 
 shaft penetrates her heart, and the result of the wound was 
 love for Euthynicus. Cupid then aims a shaft at him, and 
 with the same effect. Eor a time they stand and gaze 
 upon each other; their eyes are fascinated; they cannot 
 turn away;* gradually their inward wounds become in- 
 flamed ; the fire kindles,t and love urges their steps to the 
 cavern where now the fountain flows, and there they violate 
 their oath.J Diana soon after saw Yenus laughing, and 
 readily comprehended what had taken place, and as a 
 
 From love's weak childish bow she lives unharm'd 
 She will not stay the siege of loving terms, 
 Nor bide the encounter of assailing eyes." 
 
 Romeo and Juliet. 
 
 * The reader will call to mind the " love at first sight " of Thea- 
 genes and Chariclea, so well described in the Third Book of the 
 Ethi opics. 
 
 f " For, oh, Love's bow, 
 Shoots buck and doe ; 
 The shaft confounds, 
 Not that it wounds, 
 But tickles still the sore." 
 
 Troilus and Cressida, 
 
 Compare JSneid, B. iv. 115126. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 505 
 
 punishment changed the maiden into a fountain, upon the 
 spot where her chastity was lost. For this reason, when 
 any female is suspected of impurity, she is made to step 
 into the fountain, which is shallow, reaching only to midleg, 
 and then it is that the ordeal takes plaoe. The oath decla- 
 rative of chastity is written on a tablet, and suspended from 
 her neck ; if truly sworn, the fountain remains unmoved ; 
 if falsely taken, it swells and rages, rises to her neck, and 
 flows over the tablet." 
 
 Next morning a great concourse assembled, and at the 
 head came Thersander, with a confident expression of coun- 
 tenance, and looking at us with a contemptuous smile. 
 Leucippe was attired in a sacred robe of fine white linen, 
 reaching to the feet and girded about her waist ; round 
 her head she had a purple fillet, and her feet were bare. 
 She entered the cavern with an air of becoming modesty. 
 Upon seeing her disappear within, I was overcome by 
 agitation, and said mentally, " I doubt not your chastity, 
 dearest Leucippe, but I am afraid of Pan ; he is a virgin- 
 loving god, and for aught I know, you may become a second 
 syrinx. His former mistress easily escaped him, for her 
 course lay over an open plain ; whereas you are shut up 
 within doors, and so blockaded that flight is out of the 
 question, however much you may wish to fly. O Pan ! be 
 thou propitious ; do not violate the statutes of the place, 
 which we have religiously observed ; grant that Leucippe 
 may again return to us a virgin ; remember thy compact 
 with Diana, and do no injury to the maiden." While 
 talking to myself in this manner, sounds of music proceeded 
 from the cavern, more ravishingly sweet, I was assured, 
 than had been heard on any former occasion : the doors 
 were immediately opened, and when Leucippe sprang forth, 
 the multitude shouted with delight, and vented execrations 
 upon Thersander. What my own feelings were, I cannot 
 pretend to describe. After gaining this first signal triumph, 
 we left the spot, and proceeded to the place which was to be 
 the scene of the remaining ordeal, the people following 
 again to behold the spectacle. Everything was in readiness, 
 the tablet was suspended to Melitta's neck, and she de- 
 scended into the shallow fountain with a smiling counte- 
 nance. No change was perceptible in the water, which 
 
506 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 remained perfectly still, and did not in the slightest degree 
 exceed its usual depth, and at the expiration of the allotted 
 time the president came forward, and taking Melitta by 
 the hand, conducted her out of the fountain. Thersander, 
 already twice defeated, and surely anticipating a third 
 defeat, took to his heels and fled to his own house, fearing 
 that the people would, in their fury, stone him. His 
 apprehensions were well founded, for some young men 
 were seen at a distance dragging Sosthenes along ; two of 
 them were Melitta" s kinsmen, and the others were servants, 
 whom she had despatched in quest of him. Thersander 
 had caught sight of him, and feeling sure that when put to 
 the torture he would confess everything, he secretly left 
 the city, as soon as night came on. Sosthenes was com- 
 mitted to prison by order of the magistrates, and we returned 
 triumphant upon every point, and accompanied by the shouts 
 and good wishes of the people. 
 
 Next morning they whose business it was* conducted 
 Sosthenes before the magistrates. Aware that he was 
 about to be put to the question, he made a full confes- 
 sion of everything, stating how far Thersander had been 
 the prime agent, and how far he had himself assisted in 
 carrying out his schemes ! nor did he omit to repeat the 
 conversation which had taken place between his master and 
 him before the cottage- door. He was sent back to prison 
 there to await his sentence, and a decree of banishment 
 was pronounced against Thersander. "When this business 
 was concluded, we again returned to the hospitable dwell- 
 ing of the priest, and while at supper resumed the subject 
 of our former conversation, mutually relating any incidents 
 which had previously been omitted. Leucippe, now that 
 the purity of her character was fully established, no longer 
 stood in awe of her father, but took pleasure in narrating 
 the events which had befallen her. When she came to that 
 part of her story which referred to Pharos and the pirates, 
 I requested her to give us every particular about them, 
 and especially to explain the riddle of the severed head, as 
 this alone was wanting to complete the history of her 
 adventures. "The recital will interest us all," I said, 
 " especially your father." 
 
 * 61 Tavrrjv IXOVTZQ ri\v TT'HJTIV. 
 
p 
 h 
 
 ACHILLES TATIFS. 507 
 
 " The unhappy female to whom you allude," replied 
 Leucippe, " was one of that class who sell their charms 
 for money. She was inveigled on board, under pretence of 
 becoming the wife of a sea captain, and remained there in 
 ignorance of the real cause for which she had been brought, 
 passing her time in the company of one of the pirates, who 
 pretended to have a passion for her. "When I was seized, 
 they placed me, as you saw, in a boat, and rowed off with all 
 their might ; and afterwards when they perceived that the 
 vessel despatched in pursuit was gaining upon them, they 
 stripped the wretched woman of her clothes, which they 
 ut on me, making her dress herself in mine ; then placing 
 er at the stern in sight of the pursuers, they cut off her 
 head and cast the body overboard, doing the same with the 
 head, when the pursuit was given up. Whether she had 
 been brought on board for the above purpose, or in order 
 to be sold, as they afterwards told me, I cannot say; 
 certain it is that she was put to death by way of eluding 
 the pursuers, the pirates imagining that I should fetch 
 more money as a slave than she would do. It was this 
 determination on their part which earned his just reward 
 for Chsereas, who had suggested the murder of the female 
 in place of me. The pirates refused to let him retain ex- 
 clusive possession of me, saying that on his account one 
 woman had already been lost to them, who would have been 
 a source of gain. They proposed, therefore, that 1 should 
 be sold to make up the loss, and that the money should be 
 equally divided. He replied in an angry and threatening 
 manner, asserting his prior claims, and reminding them of 
 their compact, and that I had been carried off, not in order 
 to be sold, but to be his mistress. Upon this, one of the 
 pirates came behind him, and dealt him his measure of 
 justice by striking off his head and flinging bis body into 
 the sea, a worthy requital of his perfidious conduct to- 
 wards me. 
 
 " After two days' sail, the pirates put in at some place, the 
 name of which I do not know, where they sold me to a 
 merchant who used to traffic with them, and* from his hands 
 I passed into the possession of Sosthenes." 
 
 " My children," said Sostratus, when Leucippe had 
 concluded, " I will now relate what has happened to Calli- 
 
508 ACHILLES TATITJS. 
 
 gone, for it is but fair that I should contribute my share 
 to the conversation." * Upon hearing my sister's name 
 mentioned, I became all attention, and said, " Prithee, sir, 
 proceed ; I shall rejoice to hear that she is still alive." 
 He commenced by repeating what has already been men- 
 tioned respecting Callisthenes, the oracle given to the 
 Byzantians, the sacred embassy sent to Tyre, and the 
 stratagem for carrying off Calligone. He went on to say : 
 " Callisthenes discovered during the voyage that she was 
 not my daughter ; but although matters had thus turned 
 out quite contrary to his intentions, he conceived a strong 
 passion for his fair captive, and throwing himself at her 
 knees : * Lady,' he said, f do not imagine that I am a corsair 
 or a villain ; I am of good birth, and second in rank to 
 none in Byzantium. It is Love who has compelled me to 
 turn pirate, and to employ this stratagem against you. 
 Deign, therefore, to consider me your slave from this day 
 forth. I offer you my hand in marriage. You shall have for 
 your dowry more wealth than your father would have 
 bestowed upon you, and you shall preserve your maiden 
 state so long as you may please.' 
 
 " By means of these, and other insinuating words, he 
 brought her to look favourably upon him, for he was hand- 
 some in person and possessed a flow of persuasive language. 
 Upon arriving at Byzantium he had a deed drawn up assign- 
 ing her an ample dowry ; he then proceeded to make other 
 preparations, purchased for her splendid dresses, jewellery 
 and ornaments, in short, whatsoever was required for the 
 wardrobe and toilette of a lady of rank and wealth. Having 
 done this, he abstained from soliciting her virtue, and in ful- 
 filment of his promise allowed her to remain a maiden, and 
 thus he gradually won her affections. In a short time, 
 quite a wonderful alteration took place in the young man ; 
 he became conciliatory in manner, and prudent and orderly 
 in his mode of living ; he shewed respect by rising up before 
 his elders,t and was the first courteously to salute any 
 whom he met ; his former indiscriminate profusion, which 
 
 * "iva pri aavfi(3o\rjff(jj fjLv9o\oyiag TravraTraai. 
 
 f " Credebant hoc grande nefas et morte piandum 
 Si juvenis vetulo non adsurrexerat." -Juv. xiii 54 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 509 
 
 had been mere lavish prodigality, now became wisely di- 
 rected liberality, choosing for its objects those who were 
 suffering from poverty and required assistance. 
 
 " All who remembered his former and dissolute course oi 
 life were amazed at this sudden change. He shewed me the 
 most marked attention, and I could not help loving him 
 and attributing his former conduct more to an excess of 
 open-heartedness than to any actual vicious propensities, 
 and I called to mind the case of Themistocles, who after a 
 youth spent in licentiousness, in after life excelled all his 
 countrymen in soundness of judgment and many virtues.* 
 I really felt sorry at having repulsed him, when he was a 
 suitor for my daughter's hand, he treated me with so much 
 respect, giving me the title of father, and escorting me t 
 whenever I had occasion to go through the forum. He 
 likewise took great interest in military exercises, especially 
 in what related to the cavalry department ; he had always 
 been fond of horses, but hitherto merely to indulge his love 
 of amusement and his luxurious tastes ; yet though ac- 
 tuated by no higher motives, he had been unconsciously 
 fostering the seeds of skill and courage ; and eventually his 
 chief ambition was to distinguish himself by valour and 
 ability in the field. He contributed largely from his own 
 private resources the expenses of the war, and was elected 
 my colleague in command, in which position he shewed me 
 a still greater degree of attention and deference. When at 
 length, victory declared itself on our side, through the 
 visible intervention of the deity,J we returned to Byzan- 
 tium, and it was decreed, that the public thanks of the 
 State should be conveyed to Hercules and Diana, for which 
 purpose he was to proceed to Tyre, while I was despatched 
 to this city. Before setting out Callisthenes took me by 
 the hand and related evey particular respecting Calligone. 
 * Father,' he said, ' the impetuosity of youth led me away 
 in the first instance ; but in the course which since then, I 
 
 * " Omnium postea Graii sanguinis virorum clariasimus extitit." 
 Val. Max. vi. 15. 2. 
 
 "I* #opu06p " quod honoris causa fiebat a clientibus." Jacobs. 
 The appearance of Diana is mentioned in B. vii. 
 
510 ACHILLES TATIUS. 
 
 have pursued, deliberate choice and principle have in- 
 fluenced my actions. I have scrupulously respected the 
 maiden's honour, during a time of war and confusion when 
 men are generally least inclined to deny themselves the 
 indulgence of their desires. My intention is now to con- 
 duct her to her father's house, at Tyre ; and then to claim 
 her for my bride, at her father's hand, in accordance with 
 the law.* I have made an ample settlement upon her, and 
 shall consider myself oiost fortunate, if he grants my 
 suit ; if, on the contrary, I meet with a repulse he will 
 receive back his daughter as pure as when she left his 
 home.' 
 
 " I will now read you a friendly letter, which feeling 
 anxious that the marriage should be concluded I addressed 
 to my brother, before the termination of the war, in which 
 I mentioned the rank of Callisthenes, and bore testimony 
 to his good birth, the honourable position which he had 
 attained, and his eminent services in the field. If we gain 
 our cause in the new trial t moved by Thersander, I pro- 
 pose, first of all to sail to Byzantium, and afterwards to 
 proceed to Tyre. 
 
 Clinias came to us next day, with the intelligence that 
 Thersander had secretly left the city, that his object in 
 appealing from the recent decision was but a pretext to 
 gain time, and that he had no intention of following up the 
 case. After waiting three days, the period appointed for 
 taking fresh proceedings,! we appeared before the Pre- 
 sident, and having satisfactorily proved by reference to the 
 statutes, that Thersander had no longer any legal ground 
 against us, we embarked and enjoyed a favourable voyage 
 to Byzantium, where our long-desired nuptials took place. 
 A short time after, we sailed to Tyre, which we reached 
 
 * The law referred to in B. ii. 
 
 "Efpeffig, an appeal in order to obtain a new trial, vide Diet, of Greek 
 and Rom. Antiq. p. 62. 
 
 Jacobs observes that the original is here probably imperfect, no 
 previous mention having been made of a new trial. &c. 
 
 7Tpo0(r/u'a. The term limited for bringing actions and pnee- 
 cutions at Athens. Diet, of Greek and Roman Antiq. p. 797. 
 
ACHILLES TATIUS. 511 
 
 two days after the arrival of Callisthenes, and where I 
 found my father preparing to celebrate my sister's wedding 
 on the following day. We were present on the occasion, 
 and assisted at the religious ceremonial, offering up our 
 united prayers that both our marriages might be crowned 
 with happiness ; and we arranged, after wintering at Ephe- 
 sus, to proceed to Byzantium in the spring. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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