by Daisy Dunn
How Daphnis? And dost thou not see the she-Goats and the Ewes, the he-Goats and the Rams, how these do their work standing, and those suffer standing too; these leaping and those admitting them upon their backs? And yet thou askest me to lye down, and that naked. But how much rougher are they than I, although I have all my Clothes on?
Daphnis is persuaded, and laying her down, lay down with her, and lay long; but knowing how to do nothing of that he was mad to do, lifted her up, and endeavour’d to imitate the Goats. But at the first finding a mere frustration there, he sate up, and lamented to himself, that he was more unskilfull than a very Tup in the practice of the mystery and the Art of Love. But there was a certain neighbour of his, a landed man, Chromis his name, and was now by his age somewhat declining. He married out of the City a young, fair, and buxome girle, one that was too fine and delicate for the Country, and a Clown: Her name was Lycaenium; and she observing Daphnis as every day early in the morning he drove out his Goats to the fields, and home again at the first twilight, had a great mind to purchase the youth by gifts to become her sweetheart. And therefore once when she had sculkt for her opportunity, and catcht him alone, she gave him a curious fine pipe, some pretious honey-combs, and a new Scrip of Stag-skin: but durst not break her mind to him, because she could easily conjecture at that dear love he bore to Chloe. For she saw him wholly addicted to the girle: which indeed she might well perceive before, by the winking, nodding, laughing and tittering that was between them: but one morning she made Chromis believe that she was to go to a womans labour, and followed softly behind them two at some distance, and then slipt away into a thicket and hid herself, and so could hear all that they said, and see too all that they did; and the lamenting untaught Daphnis was perfectly within her reach. Wherefore she began to condole the condition of the wretched Lovers, and finding that she had light upon a double opportunity; this, to the preservation of them; that, to satisfie her own wanton desire, she projected to accomplish both by this device. The next day making as if she were to go a Gossipping again, she came up openly to the Oak where Daphnis and Chloe were sitting together; and when she had skilfully counterfeited that she was feared, Help (Daphnis) help me, (quoth she), An Eagle has carried away from me the goodliest Goose of twenty in a flock, which yet, by reason of the great weight, she was not able to carry to the top of that her wonted high crag, but is fallen down with her into yonder Cops. For the Nymph’s sake, and this Pan’s, do thou Daphnis go in to the Wood, and rescue my Goose. For I dare not go in my self alone. Let me not thus lose the Tale of my Geese. And it may be thou mayest kill the Eagle too, and then she will scarce come hither any more to prey upon the Kids and Lambs. Chloe for so long will look to the flock; the Goats know her as thy perpetuall Companion in the fields. Now Daphnis suspecting nothing of that that was intended, gets up quickly, and taking his staff followed Lycaenium, who lead him a great way off from Chloe. But when they were come to the thickest part of the wood, and she had bid him sit down by a Fountain: Daphnis (quoth she) Thou dost love Chloe, and that I learned last night of the Nymphs. Those tears which yesterday thou didst pour down, were shewn to me in a dream by them, and they commanded me, that I should save thee, and teach thee the secret practices of Love. But those are not Kisses, nor embracing, nor yet such things as thou seest the Rams, and the he-goats do. There are other leaps, there are other friskins than those, and far sweeter than them. For unto these there appertains a much longer duration of pleasure. If then thou wouldst be rid of thy misery, and make an Experiment of that pleasure, and sweetnesse which you have sought, and mist so long, come on, deliver thy self to me a sweet Schollar, and I, to gratifie the Nymphs, will be thy Mistris. At this Daphnis as being a rustick Goat-herd, a Sanguin Youth, and burning in desire, could not contain himself for meer pleasure, and that Lubency that he had to be taught; but throwes himself at the foot of Lycaenium, and begs of her, that she would teach him quickly that Art, by which he should be able, as he would, to do Chloe; and he should not only accept it as a rare and brave thing sent from the gods, but for her kindnesse he would give her too a young Kid, some of the finest new-milk Cheeses; nay, besides, he promised her the dam her self. Wherefor Lycaenium now she had found the Goat-herd so willing and forward beyond her expectations, began to instruct the Lad thus—She bid him sit down as near to her as possibly he could, and that he should kisse her as close and as often as he used to kisse Chloe; and while he kist her to clip her in his arms and hugg her to him, and lye down with her upon the ground. As now he was sitting, and kissing, and lay down with her; She, when she saw him itching to be at her, lifted him up from the reclination on his side, and slipping under, not without art, directed him to her Fancie, the place so long desired and sought. Of that which happened after this, there was nothing done that was strange, nothing that was insolent: the Lady Nature and Lycaenium shewed him how to do the rest. This wanton Information being over, Daphnis, who had still a Childish Pastorall mind, would presently be gone, and run up to Chloe, to have an experiment with her, how much he had profited by that magistery, as if indeed he had bin afraid lest staying but a little longer, he could forget to do his trick. But Lycaenium intercepted him thus: Thou art yet Daphnis, to learn this besides. I who am a woman, have suffered nothing in this close with thee, but what I am well acquainted withall. For heretofore another Youth taught me to play at this sport, and for his pains, he had my maidenhead. But if thou strive with Chloe in this list, she will squeak, and cry out, and bleed as if she were stickt. But be not thou afraid of her bleeding; but when thou hast persuaded her to thy pleasure, bring her hither into this place, that although she should cry and roar, no body can hear; and if she bleed, here’s a clear Fountain, she may wash; and do thou, Daphnis, never forget it, that I before Chloe made thee a man. These advertisements given, Lycaenium kist him, and went away through another glade of the Wood, as if still she would look for her Goose. But Daphnis considering with himself what had been said, remitted much of that impetuous heat he had to Chloe. For he durst not venture to presse her beyond his former kissing and embracing; because he could not endure that she should make an outcry, as against an Enemy, or shed tears for any grief or anguish from him, and much lesse that she should bleed, as if she had bin slain by Daphnis. For he himself not long before had had some experience of that when he was beaten by the Methymnaeans; and therefore he abhorred blood, and thought verily that no blood could follow but onely from a wound.
Too disturbed to make love with her, Daphnis decides that Chloe should remain a virgin. His hackles are raised when other suitors try to court her. His desire to marry her is aided by the discovery that he is not a poor man’s son at all. He was exposed at birth by an aristocratic father whose family was already large enough. Chloe similarly turns out to be the daughter of a wealthy family. A rich life in the city does not appeal to the young couple, who return to a jolly wedding in the countryside. They are united, at last, by Love. Their future children will be shepherds.
Then when it was night, and Venus rising up the horizon, they all lead the Bride and Bridegroom to their Chamber, some playing upon Whistles and Hoboyes, some upon the oblique Pipes, some holding great Torches.
And when they came near to the door, they chang’d their tone, and gave a grating harsh sound, nothing like the Hymenaeus, but as if the Virgin Earth had bin torn with many Tridents.
But Daphnis and Chloe lying naked together, began to clip, and kisse, and twine, and strive with one another, sleeping no more than birds of the night; and Daphnis now did the Trick that his Mistris Lycaenium had taught him in the thicket. And Chloe then first knew, that those things that were done in the Wood, were only the sweetest Sports of Shepherds.
A SHAM SACRIFICE
Leucippe and Clitophon
Achilles Tatius
Translated by Anthony Hodges, 1638
Achilles Tatius was a Greek novelist of the second century AD from Alexandria in Egypt. His tale of Leucippe and Clitophon, of unknown date, shares many sim
ilarities with Longus’ Daphnis and Chloe. The young lovers have eloped only to run into trouble. When they are shipwrecked they attempt to make their way to Alexandria. Some Egyptian bandits – or ‘theeves’, in Anthony Hodges’s dramatic seventeenth-century translation – set upon them and kidnap Leucippe with the intention of offering her as a human sacrifice. Cue the highly theatrical series of events in this extract from the novel.
… these theeves had built an altar of clay, and digged a sepulchre, two of them led a virgin bound toward the altar, whom because they were in armour I knew not, but the virgin I discerned to bee Leucippe; they poured oyle on her head, and omitted not any ceremony; while an Aegyptian Priest sung an hymne, for so I ghest by his making of faces and wry mouthes: immediately a watch-word was given, and each man stood a pretty distance from the altar, then one of those which led her made her fast to a stake (like Marsyas whom the potters frame in clay bound to a tree) who stabbing her in the breast ript her downewards till hee came to the paunch, so that her entrailes started out, which they snatching up, speedily threw upon the altar, and when they had boiled them, cut them in peeces, and eate them up, dividing to each man a share.
When the souldiers and Captaine saw this, they could not chuse but cry out at the horridnesse of the fact, but I was amazed and astonisht at it, for the unusuall greatnesse of the wickednesse had quite bereft me of sense, which made me give more credit to that tale of Niobe, who conceiving some extraordinary griefe for the death of her children, gave occasion to the fable. After this part of the tragedy was acted (as it seemed to me to be) having laid her in the sepulchre, and covered her with earth, they pull’d downe the altar, and departed, never looking backe againe on the place.
About the evening the trench betwixt them and us was filled up, so our souldiers went over and pight their tents on the other side, this being done we went to supper. Charmides perceiving mee much grieved in minde, sought by all meanes possible to comfort mee, but prevailed not, for about the first watch of the night, finding them all asleep, I tooke my sword and went to the sepulchre, intending to slay my self theron, which when I had drawne out, thus I spake: O wretched Leucippe, and the unhappiest of all women, I grieve not so much that thou diedst so farre from thine owne countrey a violent death, or that those salvage villaines made such a May-game of thy murther; but this it is augments my misery, that thou shouldst bee made an expiation for such polluted slaves that they should rippe thee up alive, that their unhallowed hands should violate thy chaste wombe, that they should erect thee an altar, and digge thee a grave, wherein ‘tis true, thy carcasse lyes, but where are thy bowels? had they beene consumed with fire, the calamity had beene the lesse, but when in stead of a sepulchre, they shall lye buried in those paunches of these lewd miscreants, what patience is equall for so great a burthen of sorrow! a strange and unheard of banquet was it, could the gods see it & not blush? But to pacifie thy ghost, O Leucippe, I will offer my self a sacrifice to the infernall gods: Having said thus, I set the sword to my breast, when suddenly I espied two poasting towards mee in all haste, (for the moone shone) wherfore thinking them to bee theeves, and therefore the more willing to bee slaine by them, I held my hand, when they came neare they shouted to me; now who doe you thinke these two men were but Satyrus and Menelaus? whom with all the rest of my friends I had given over for dead, yet though they came so unexpectedly, I was so far from imbracing them, that I tooke no comfort me thought at the sight of them, the bitternesse of my griefe had so dejected me. They went to take my sword out of my hand; but I replyed, by all the gods you shall not envy me not the glory of so rare a death, nor detaine from mee that which is the only medicine of all my sorrowes; though you should compell mee to live, I cannot, Leucippe being dead; what though you take my sword from me by violence, yet there is a sting of griefe within mee which will torment me, would you have me still wounded and never die? If this bee all the cause why you would lay violent hands on your selfe (quoth Menelaus) I sweare by Hercules you may forbeare; for Leucippe is still alive, and shall straightway appeare unto you: at that fixing mine eyes very wishfully upon him, Is it not enough said I that I am in this distresse, but must I also bee derided and mocked? this is against the laws of all Hospitality: Then Menelaus beating on the sepulchre with his foote, bad Leucippe testifie whether shee were alive or not, when hee had smote the urne two or three times, I heard a very still voice, whereat looking steadfastly on Menelaus, I supposed him to bee some Magician, but he uncovered the urne and straightway came Leucippe forth, a most gastly creature, for shee was unbowelled from top to bottome, shee casting her selfe upon mee imbrac’t me, and I her also, at which sudden meeting wee both swoun’d.
I was scarce come to my selfe, but straightway I turn’d to Menelaus, and asked him why he would detaine the truth of this matter from me? is not shee which I hold by the hand, and heare speake, mine owne Leucippe? What did I then see yesterday, either this or that was a dreame, and yet me thinkes againe this is a true and lively kisse, such a one as I use to have of my Leucippe: what say you, quoth Menelaus, if I finde her bowels againe, and heale this great wound without leaving any scar behinde? cover your face, for I must invoke the aide of Proserpina to the effecting of it, (whereat beleeving that hee was able to performe what hee promised) I did so, and while he utter’d some strange bombast words, hee tooke away that device which they had put before her breast to delude the theeves, and Leucippe was as whole as ever shee was; then hee bid mee looke backe, which I would scarce doe, fearing that Proserpina was there indeed, at length I turned about and uncovered my face, and saw Leucippe sound: At which wondring more and more, I told Menelaus if hee were some god he should tell us, then Leucippe intreated him that hee should hold mee no longer in suspence, but relate unto mee the whole carriage of the matter; so hee began.
If you be remembred Clitophon at our first acquaintance in the ship, I told you I was an Aegyptian; now the greatest part of my possessions and lands lye neare to this Citie; the chief governours whereof are my friends: What time wee then suffered shipwracke, I was cast on the Aegyptain shore, where Satyrus and I were taken by the Pirats of this Citie, but some of them which knew me, led mee to their governour, by whom I was freed from my bonds, kindely intreated, and desired to bee an assistant to them in such enterprizes as they should undertake; finding so much favour at their hands I begged Satyrus freedome also, but they replyed unto me ere they granted mee that, I was to performe some noble exploite, wherein I might give sufficient testimony of my valour. At that time they had a strict command from the Oracle to offer up a Virgin, as an expiation for the Citie which they inhabited, and that they should eat part of the liver of the sacrifice, then bury the body, afterwards depart; and all this was to keepe the enemie back from assaulting them, what followed I pray will you tell Satyrus. So thus hee continued the story. When first I came to the Campe (Master) understanding what was like to befall Leucippe, I wept, and desired Menelaus to thinke on some meanes to free her; in which businesse I know not what god was propitious to us, for the very day before the sacrifice was to be don, we were both by the sea side, very pensive, thinking upon some way to deliver her: while we were in these dumps, the thieves espying a ship, which not knowing those coasts, had lost its way, set upon it; they who were in it seeing they were assaulted by Pirats, indevour’d to flie, which course failing them, they fought it out: In that ship was one who used to recite Homers Poems in the theatre, attir’d in the same manner as he used to be at recitation; he with the rest of his company gave them a shrewd onset, but the theeves having a fresh supply of gallies, and other long boats, quickly slew all the men, and brake the ship; a piece whereof did swim toward us, and in it a little cabinet, which had escaped the hands of those which ransackt the ship: this Menelaus tooke up, and going aside opened it, wherein I thought there had beene no smal treasure, but in it we found nothing but a short cloake and a knife, the handle whereof was foure handfulls long, but the blade not above three fingers; while Menelaus handled this knife,
hee pulled unawares a great part of the blade out of the handle, wherein as in a sheath it was hid, so we straightway supposing that this was the weapon which that juggling fellow made people beleeve he stabd himselfe withall; wherefore turning me to Menelaus, I said, Now beat thy braines a little, and wee doubt not by the gods assistance but wee shall free the virgin, and the theeves never discover our device: wee will sow a very thinne sheepskinne in the forme of a wallet, about the bignesse of a mans belly, and filling it with the bloud and entrailes of some beast, put it before her, so when she hath her long garment on, and is adorned with garlands and flowers, our device cannot bee discovered, in which matter wee are much furthered by the Oracle, which gave strict charge that she being cloathed in a long robe, should bee led to the altar, there to be cut up; besides, this knife is made so, that the beholders will thinke it runs into her body when it runnes into the handle; so there is but just enough to cut the counterfeit belly, which neverthelesse when it is drawne out, you would thinke had beene sheathed in her body; if we doe this, the theeves can never detect us, for the skin shall be covered, and the entrailes at the first stroke shal start forth, which we presently snatching up wil fling on the altar – nor shall the standers by bee suffered to come neare the body, which we will prevent, by burying it. The meanes how wee shall come to have the chiefe care of the sacrifice is this: The King, if you be remembred, not long since enjoyned you some exploit, ere you could obtaine my enfranchisement, wherefore goe straight to him, and tell him you are ready for this enterprise.
Having thus said, I conjured him by Iuppiter the hospitable, and by our familiarity, and the shipwracke we suffered together.
THE DREAM OF LUCIAN