Longus - Complete Works of Longus (Illustrated)

The Complete Works of

LONGUS

(fl. 2nd century AD)

Contents

Delphi Classics 2015

Version 1

The Complete Works of

LONGUS

By Delphi Classics, 2015

Mytilene, Lesbos capital in the north-eastern Aegean Sea almost nothing is known about the life of the ancient novelist Longus; though it is assumed that he lived on the isle of Lesbos (the setting of Daphnis and Chloe) during the 2nd century AD.

Translated by George Thornley and Revised by J. M. Edmonds

The ancient novel Daphnis and Chloe is the only surviving work by the 2nd century Greek author Longus. Set on Lesbos during the 2nd century AD, it is assumed that the island was also the authors homeland. It is a pastoral novel, featuring shepherds and shepherdesses in an idealised world.

The novel concerns the development of the relationship of the boy Daphnis and the girl Chloe, who were both exposed at birth, with identifying tokens. A goatherd named Lamon discovers Daphnis, while the shepherd Dryas finds Chloe. Each man decides to raise the child he finds as his own. As Daphnis and Chloe grow up together, herding the flocks for their foster parents, they fall in love, though due to their natural innocence, they fail to understand what is happening to them. Philetas, a wise old cowherd, explains to them what love is and instructs them that the only cure is through acts of passion. However, due to their inexperience of the ways of love, the two lovers struggle to fulfil their increasing sexual desire. In time, Lycaenion, an experienced woman from the city, educates Daphnis in love-making. Daphnis, however, is reluctant to carry out his newly acquired experience with Chloe, when he is told that Chloe will suffer when losing her virginity for the first time. Throughout the novel, Chloe is courted by suitors, attempting to seduce her with varying degrees of success. Eventually, Daphnis and Chloe are recognised by their birth parents, leading to a traditional happy ending.

Recognised as one of the most influential works of world literature, Longus novel is one of the earliest texts to explore in realistic detail the gradual growth of a sexual relationship, charting the human and timeless journey from innocence to experience.

Daphnis and Chloe by Franois Grard, c. 1824

CONTENTS

Daphnis and Chloe by Jean-Pierre Cortot

A SUMMARY OF THE FIRST BOOK

THE author sees a picture of curious interpretation in the island Lesbos. And he describes it in four books . The situation of Mytilene (the scene of the story) is drawn. Lamo a goatherd, following a goat that neglected her kid, finds an infant-boy exposed with fine accoutrements about him, takes him away, keeps him, and names him Daphnis. Two years after, Dryas a shepherd, looking for a sheep of his, found in a cave of the Nymphs a girl of the very same fortune, brings her up, and calls her Chloe. Dryas and Lamo, warned by dreams, send forth the exposed children together to keep their flocks. They are joyful, and play away their time. Daphnis, running after a he-goat, falls unawares together with him into a trap-ditch made for a wolf, but is drawn up alive and well. Chloe sees Daphnis at his washing and praises his beauty. Dorco the herdsman woos Chloe with gifts, and contends with Daphnis for her favour . Daphnis praises Chloe and she kisses him .

Dorco asks of Dryas Chloe for his wife, but all in vain . Therefore, disguised in a wolf-skin, he thinks to seize her from a thicket and carry her away by force, but the flock-dogs, fall upon him.

Daphnis and Chloe are variously affected. Daphnis tells the Tale of the Stock-Dove. The Tyrian pirates plunder the fields and carry away Daphnis. Chloe, not knowing what to do, runs up to Dorco whom she finds a dying of his wounds. He gives her a pipe of wonderful power. She plays on it, and the oxen and cows that were carried away turn over the vessel. They and Daphnis swim to the land while the armed pirates drown. Then they bury poor Dorco and return to their wonted game.

PROEM

WHEN I was hunting in Lesbos, I saw in the grove of the Nymphs a spectacle the most beauteous and pleasing of any that ever yet I cast my eyes upon. It was a painted picture, reporting a history of love. The grove indeed was very pleasant, thick set with trees and starred with flowers everywhere, and watered all from one fountain with divers meanders and rills. But that picture, as having in it not only an excellent and wonderful piece of art but also a tale of ancient love, was far more amiable. And therefore many, not only the people of the country but foreigners also, enchanted by the fame of it, came as much to see that, as in devotion to the Nymphs. There were figured in it young women, in the posture, some of teeming, others of swaddling, little children; babes exposed, and ewes giving them suck; shepherds taking up foundlings, young persons plighting their troth; an incursion of thieves, an inroad of armed men.

When I had seen with admiration these and many other things, but all belonging to the affairs of love, I had a mighty instigation to write something as to answer that picture. And therefore, when I had carefully sought and found an interpreter of the image, I drew up these four books, an oblation to Love and to Pan and to the Nymphs, and a delightful possession even for all men. For this will cure him that is sick, and rouse him that is in dumps; one that has loved, it will remember of it; one that has not, it will instruct. For there was never any yet that wholly could escape love, and never shall there be any, never so long as beauty shall be, never so long as eyes can see. But help me that God to write the passions of others; and while I write, keep me in my own right wits.

THE FIRST BOOK

MYTILENE is a city in Lesbos, and by ancient titles of honour it is the great and fair Mytilene. For it is distinguished and divided (the sea flowing in) by a various euripus, and is adorned with bridges built of white polished marble. You would not think you saw a city, but an island. From this Mytilene some two hundred furlongs there lay a manor of a certain rich lord, the most sweet and pleasant prospect under all the eyes of heaven. There were mountains stored with wild beasts for game; there were hills and banks that were spread with vines; the fields abounded with all sorts of corn; the valleys with orchards and gardens and purls from the hills; the pastures with sheep and goats and kine; the sea-billows, swelling and gushing upon a shore which lay extended along in an open horizon, made a soft magic and enchantment.