Wolff's Synopsis of Longus's 'Daphnis and Chloe' W29-42 80712 in Large Print

Page 1 of 13 – Wolff’s Synopsis of Longus’s ‘Daphnis and Chloe’

Longus: Daphnis and Chloe

Preface (Prooemium)

Hunting on Lesbos, I saw in a beautiful grove a painting representing the incidents of a love-story love-stor y, "the fortunes of Love": women in labour, nurses swathing new-born babes; infants exposed; animals suckling them; shepherds carrying carr ying them away; young people embracing; an attack by pirates; an inroad by a hostile force. I procured an explanation of the series, and wrote out these four books an offering to the God of Love, to the Nymphs, and to Pan.

Book I

i-ii i-iii. i.

Lamo Lamon, n, a goat goathe herd rd upo upon n an est estat ate e near near Mit Mity ylene lene,, foun found d in

a thicket one of his she-goats suckling a boy-baby, who lay exposed in a very rich mantle, with with a little little ivory-hilted sword. He took the boy with the tokens home to his wife Myrtale, who agreed with him to adopt the child. They named him Daphnis. iv-vi. Two years later Dryas, a neighbouring shepherd, found in a cave sacred to the Nymphs one of his ewes suckling a girl-baby, girl-baby, who besides swaddling clothes had gilt sandals, golden anklets ank lets and a head-dress wrought with gold. He took her with with her tokens to his wife, and they adopted her, calling her Chloe.

viivii-x. x.

When When Dap Daphn hnis is was was fift fiftee een n and and Chlo Chloe e thir thirte teen en,, thei their r

adoptive fathers had on the same night a vision of a winged boy with bow and arrows, to whom the Nymphs presented Daphnis Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fict ion,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42. 12 July, July, 2008 - 5:49:38 a7/p7


and Chloe, and who, touching them with one of his shafts, bade them follow the pastoral life. So they tended their their flocks together in the springtime, and played in childlike c hildlike peace, until Love contrived a serious interruption. xi-xii. Daphnis pursuing a goat fell into a pit that had been dug to catch a wolf, and was rescued by Chloe with the help of a cowherd. He was so covered with mud and dirt that he must needs bathe. xiii-xvii. As Chloe helped to wash him, she saw the beauty of his sunburned skin and felt the softness of his flesh, and so first first experienced love. She languished, lay awake, took no food, and soliloquized with many antitheses and oxymora.

Dorco the cowherd became enamored of Chloe, gave her many rustic gifts, and at length vied with Daphnis in argument as to whether Daphnis or he were the more beautiful - the prize to be a kiss from Chloe. Daphnis was the winner; and the kiss set his heart on fire. He too languished and grew pale; he too soliloquized with (xviii) much oxymoron.

xix-xxii.

Dorco asked Drya ryas for the hand of Chloe, but was

refused, as Dryas hoped for a better match. Thus thwarted, Dorco resolved to carry off Chloe, and, in order o rder to terrify her, clothed himself in a wolf's skin and hid among the bushes near her pasture-ground. But her dogs scenting him attacked and bit him sorely, sorely, before Chloe, and Daphnis whom she had called, could come to his rescue. Both Daphnis and Chloe thought the disguise merely an innocent jest on the part of Dorco. They collected their their flocks, which had been scattered by the barking of the dogs, and,

Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fict ion,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42. 12 July, July, 2008 - 5:49:38 a7/p7


tired by the day's exertion, slept soundly that night despite their lovesickness.

xxi xxiii-x ii-xx xvii vii.

Now Daph Daphni nis s and and Chlo Chloe e aga again in tend tended ed thei heir flo flock cks s

together in the growing summer heat, which still further inflamed them. Chloe milked her ewes and she-goats, and crowned herself with a chaplet of pine. Daphnis bathed, and Chloe put on his dress. They pelted each other other with with apples. Daphnis taught Chloe to play upon his pipe, and gained kisses at second hand by touching quickly with his lips the places her lips had touched. Once when Chloe fell asleep at noonday noonda y, a grasshopper pursued purs ued by a swallow dropped into her bosom, and the swallow fluttering over her awoke her. her. She screamed; but Daphnis laughed at her alarm, and with his hand took out the happy grasshopper, which she kissed and replaced in her bosom. At the sound of a ringdove's cooing, Daphnis told Chloe the legend: how the dove was once a maiden, a tender of flocks, sweet-voiced; and how a youth contending with her in song charmed away eight of her cows. She prayed to be transformed into a bird; the gods granted her prayer; and still she calls her cows, in vain.

xxvi xxviii ii-x -xxx xx..

In the the ear early ly autu autumn mn,, som some e Tyria yrian n pira pirate tes s desc descen ende ded d

upon that coast. After a struggle with Dorco Dorco they drove off some of his oxen; and finding Daphnis alone upon the shore, carried him away too, calling calling upon Chloe for for help. She ran to Dorco, Dorco, who, sore wounded and about to breathe his last, gave her his pipe, with the direction to play play upon it the call his oxen knew. knew. Then he died, taking one kiss from her as his reward. Chloe played the the well-known tune; whereupon the oxen thronged to one side of the Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fict ion,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42. 12 July, July, 2008 - 5:49:38 a7/p7


pirate ship and leapt overboard, capsizing it and precipitating the crew and Daphnis into the water. water. The pirates, weighed down with with their armour, soon drowned; Daphnis, lightly clad, swam ashore between two oxen, grasping a horn of each.

xxxi xxxi-x -xx xxii xii.

They hey cel celeb ebra ratted in rus rusti tic c fas fashi hion on the the fun funer eral al of

Dorco. Then Chloe bathed Daphnis, and for the first time in his presence bathed herself; so that he was nigh distracted.

Book II

i-ii i-ii..

Now Now came came the the vin vinta tage ge;; and and Daph Daphni nis s and and Chlo Chloe e lef leftt the their ir

flocks and helped. The women admired Daphnis, the men men Chloe, who both wished themselves back at the herding. At length, when when the grapes were all trodden and the new wine stored in casks, they returned, and rejoiced with with their flocks. An old man named Philetas, sitting near, accosted them, and told them this Idyll:

iii-vi iii-vi..

"I have have a beauti beautiful ful garden. garden. Today when when I entere entered d it about about

noon, I spied a little naked boy under my pomegranates and myrtles, some of which he had plucked. I sprang to catch catch him, but lightly he escaped; and when I paused exhausted, he came near and smiled so irresistibly that I offered him the freedom freedo m of my garden for a kiss. Laughing he replied: 'One 'One kiss from me me would only make you run after me for more; and in vain, for you could never catch me. Child though I seem, I am older than Saturn or old Time; Time; and I have known you, Philetas, Philetas, of old. I was by when you wooed Amaryllis: she and your sons were my gifts to you. Through me it is that your garden blooms. But just now I am Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fict ion,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42. 12 July, July, 2008 - 5:49:38 a7/p7


shepherding Daphnis and Chloe.' Like a young young nightingale he sprang up among the myrtles, and vanished, but not before I saw wings upon his shoulders, and a bow and arrows between. Depend upon it, you are consecrated to Love."

vii-xi vii-xi..

"What "What is this this Love" Love" they they asked, asked, "a "a child child or a bird bird?" ?"

Philetas answered in praise of Love, telling of his dominion over all nature and over the gods themselves; of the pains he inflicts: heat, cold, and desire, loss of appetite and of sleep; and of the remedies: to kiss, embrace, and lie lie naked together. together. Hereon they mused; and, when Philetas had gone and they had returned home, they realized, each of them, that the symptoms he had described were their own. Next morning they tried for the first time the first two remedies, and on the following day a literal version of the third, but without avail.

xii-xix. xii-xix. At this this time some some young men men of Methymne Methymne came to to spend the vintage in hunting and fishing fishing along this coast. A peasant having stolen the cable wherewith they had moored their boat, they substituted a twisted willow-withe. The chase frightened Daphnis's goats down to the shore, where finding no other food they gnawed through the osier; so that a rising swell carried away the boat and its contents. The youths found found Daphnis, gave him a beating, and were preparing to bind him, when Lamon and Dryas appeared in answer to his cries, and insisted upon a fair hearing for both sides. Philetas as the the oldest man present was chosen as judge, and, having heard the youths and Daphnis plead their cause, decided for Daphnis. Enraged, the Methymnaeans seized Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fict ion,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42. 12 July, July, 2008 - 5:49:38 a7/p7


Daphnis again, but were beaten off by the countrymen and had to make their painful way home on foot. foot. There they told as much of the story as favoured themselves, and incited their fellow citizens to make war on the Mitylenaeans.

xx-xxiv.The xx-xxiv.The invaders with a fleet ravaged the coast, seized Daphnis's herds and carried off Chloe though she had fled for asylum to the grotto of the Nymphs, where she had first been found. Daphnis, not finding her at their usual haunts, lamented her to the Nymphs, N ymphs, who reassured him in a vision, promising the aid of Pan, to whom they recommended him now to pay due honours. So he did, and returned home.

xxv-xxx.

During that night and the next day the

Methymnaean fleet was beset with Panic terrors: the earth appeared to be in a blaze, hostile vessels seemed to approach with clashing oars, the goats' horns were wreathed with ivy, the sheep howled like wolves, Chloe herself was garlanded with pinebranches; anchors stuck, oars were split, dolphins leapt from the sea and shattered the vessel's planks; and from the top of a neighboring headland were heard the terrific notes of Pan's own pipe. At length Pan Pan himself addressing the commander in a dream bade him restore Chloe and the goats and sheep, which being immediately landed, Pan's pipes guided, now playing a sweet pastoral measure, over this strange country back to Daphnis.

xxxi xxxi-x -xxx xxii iii. i.

Daph Daphni nis s and and Chlo Chloe e gra grate tefu full lly y sac sacri rifi fice ced d to to the the

Nymphs and to Pan; Lamon and Dryas, Philetas and his young son Tityrus Tityrus assisting at the feast. Each of the participants participants Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fict ion,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42. 12 July, July, 2008 - 5:49:38 a7/p7


contributed to the entertainment. xxxiv. xxxiv. Lamon related related the legend of Pan and Syrinx, and of the the invention of the pipes of Pan. xxxv. xxxv. Philetas on his own great pipe played all the varieties of pastoral melody - the tune for oxen, the tune for goats, the tune for sheep and finally the vintage-dance. xxxvi. This Dryas danced in pantomime, imitating imitating every process of the vintage. xxxvii-xxxix. Then Daphnis and Chloe in pantomimic dance enacted Pan and Syrinx - Daphnis at length playing pla ying so sweetly upon Philetas' pipe his lamentation for the Nymph transformed, that Philetas bestowed upon him the pipe. pipe. Daphnis dedicated his old boyish pipe as an offering to Pan; and with Chloe driving homeward their flocks and herds, so ended the day. day. Next morning they met earlier than usual, again tried in vain the remedies of love, and vowed mutual fidelity.

Book III

i-ii i-iii. i.

Mity Mityle lene ne now now sent sent an arm army y aga again inst st Meth Methy ymne, mne, whic which, h, by by

this time, discovering the true cause of the fray to have been the insolence of her own young men, asked for peace and offered to restore all the spoils - an offer offer which was at once accepted. "Thus did the war between Methymne and Mitylene begin and end in an equally unexpected manner." manner."

iv-x iv-xi. i.

Now Now win winte terr came came,, and and snow snow blo block cked ed the the roa roads ds and and shu shutt

the cottagers within doors to their fireside occupations. Chloe was kept at the spinning and the wool-carding, but Daphnis went abroad to snare birds in the trees near Chloe's cottage, hoping for a pretext to enter enter and see her. her. When he had snared a bagful Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fict ion,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42. 12 July, July, 2008 - 5:49:38 a7/p7


without seeing a sign of life from within, he was just about to depart when Dryas himself - in chase of a sheep-dog that had stolen his meat - came out and heartily invited Daphnis in. Daphnis and Chloe met and embraced; she served wine, herself sipping first, and he drank at the spot her lips had touched. Then they all sat by the fire, and at length Lamon and Myrtale M yrtale invited Daphnis to remain till the morrow. morrow. He gladly accepted, and gave them his bag of birds for supper. supper. So they sat round the fire again, drinking and singing singing and telling telling stories till bed-time. Next day Daphnis and Chloe snared birds together, and again exchanged vows, and told of their longing for the spring. Then Daphnis took his leave, but often thereafter contrived occasion for new visits.

xii-xx. xii-xx. At last last came came spring spring once more, more, all living living creatures creatures loved, loved, and Daphnis and Chloe, themselves shepherded by Love, went forth before all the other shepherds, shepher ds, that they might be together alone. Daphnis now grown bolder in love tried tried to treat Chloe as he saw the rams treat the ewes, e wes, and the he-goats their mates, but still in vain. And now Lycaenium, Lycaenium, the young city wife wife of their old neighbor Chromis, gave Daphnis a lesson in in love. This, however, however, he would not practise with Chloe, fearing to hurt her.

xxi xxi-xxi xxiii.

As they sat toge ogether, a fishing-bo -boat passed near

them, the boatswain and the sailors singing a rowing song and chorus, which the the echo prolonged and redoubled. "Was there another sea behind the hill, and other sailors sailors singing?" Chloe asked when all was still again. Daphnis smiling told told her the legend of Echo - stipulating for a reward of ten kisses: 'Echo, the daughter of a nymph and of a mortal, learned from the Muses every kind of Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fict ion,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42. 12 July, July, 2008 - 5:49:38 a7/p7


music. She refused marriage, and fled the sight of men. men. Pan in his indignation inspired the shepherds with such frenzy that they tore her limb from limb. Her melodious body, body, though covered with earth, still preserves its gift of music, and imitates all sounds, even those of the pipes of Pan, who, when he hears her, rushes over the hills to find his hidden hidden pupil.' Chloe gave Daphnis kisses not ten but a thousand.

xxv xxv-xxix.

This sum summ mer Ch Chloe ha had ma many suitors, rs, wh who of offered

rich gifts; but Dryas still postponed a decision, in the hope of a more brilliant match, aware as he was that Chloe was something above a shepherd's daughter. daughter. Daphnis, in distress distress at the chance of losing her, desired to ask her hand, but his foster-parents also disapproved, wishing to reserve him for a less humble bride. Moreover, Daphnis himself was poor. poor. Now he prayed to the Nymphs, who in a vision told him that the boat of the Methymnaeans youths had been driven ashore and wrecked, leaving a purse of three thousand drachmas under a bunch of seaweed near a dead dolphin, the smell of which had kept others from finding the treasure. This very smell guided guided Daphnis to it, who boldly offered it to Dryas as his wooing gift.

xxxxxx-xx xxxi xiv v.

Dryas ryas acc accepte epted, d, and and wen wentt to to gai gain n the the cons consen entt of of

Lamon. This Lamon gave, subject to the consent of his master, master, who was expected from Mitylene in the autumn to visit his estate. Joyfully Dryas returned and told the news to Daphnis, joyfully Daphnis received it and ran to tell Chloe. Her he found at the milking and cheese-making, wherein he helped her openly, openly, as her affianced; and then they went together to look for fruit. One bright Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fict ion,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42. 12 July, July, 2008 - 5:49:38 a7/p7

Page 10 of 13 – Wolff’s Wolff’s Synopsis of Longus’s ‘Daphnis and Chloe’

particular apple, golden and fragrant, and solitary on the top of the tree, Daphnis climbed for, and plucked, and gave to Chloe; and she gave him a kiss more precious than a golden apple.

Book IV

i-vi. In preparation for his master's master's visit, now announced definitely by a neighbour, Lamon set in order his house and his garden. Soon another messenger, Eudromus, came with orders for them to get in the vintage: at the end of the vintage the master would come. Daphnis gave Eudromus Eudromus many gifts, gifts, who returned to Mitylene well pleased.

vii-x.

Lampis, an insolent herdsman and an envious wooer of

Chloe, desiring to destroy Lamon's interest with his master and so spoil her match with Daphnis, broke into Lamon's garden at night, and uprooted, broke, or trampled down the flowers. flowers. All were in despair until Eudromus - coming to announce the arrival of the master in three days, and that of his son the next day - counselled them to tell the whole to their young master Astylus. Astylus, who in fact came next day da y with Gnatho his parasite, heard the story, and promised to intercede for them with his father - promised indeed to lay the blame upon his own horses, which he would say had done the damage.

xi-xii xi-xii..

Gnatho Gnatho now now made made paede paederas rastic tic prop proposa osals ls to Daphni Daphnis, s, who who

knocked him down. Still Gnatho hoped to obtain him as a gift gift from Astylus.



xiii-xv xiii-xv. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Dionyso Dionysophanes phanes and Clearist Clearista a arrived, and, and, well pleased with what they saw - for they excused the condition of the garden - promised Lamon his freedom. Then they inspected the herd of goats, which they found to have prospered under Daphnis's charge, and they listened while Daphnis put the goats through a drill, to the sound of his pipe.

xvi-xvii.

Gnatho now with ar arguments in in fa favour of of paederasty

asked Daphnis of Astylus, who promised to beg him of Dionysophanes. xviii. This conversation, overheard by Eudromus and reported to Lamon, determined the latter to reveal the circumstances of the finding finding of Daphnis. xix-xx. Accordingly, Accordingly, upon Dionysophanes sending for Lamon and telling him that Daphnis would accompany Astylus, Lamon told his story and produced the tokens. xxi-xxiii. These tokens Dionysophanes and Clearista recognized as having been exposed with their own youngest child; and Astylus at once ran for Daphnis. Fearing that he was was to be treated with violence, Daphnis ran to a cliff, ready to throw himself into the sea; but his brother reassured him, and brought him to their father, father, who told them the story of of the exposure. xxiv. xxiv. Having married young he had had a daughter and two sons - with which issue being content, he had exposed expos ed his fourth child; but the daughter and one son soon thereafter had died on the same day, day, leaving Astylus Astylus the only survivor: so that the parents now rejoiced at finding Daphnis again.

xxv xxv-xxix.

Daphnis st still pe performe rmed hi his du duties as as he herds rdsman.

While his friends and parents feasted, and while he said farewell to each of his pastoral implements and occupations, Chloe wept, Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fict ion,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42. 12 July, July, 2008 - 5:49:38 a7/p7


fearing that he would forsake her. her. Lampis seeing his opportunity and certain that Daphnis would not marry marr y her, gathered a band of rustics and was carrying carr ying her off, when Gnatho rescued her, in the hope of thus conciliating Daphnis; who did indeed forgive him when Chloe was restored.

xxxxxx-xx xxxi xiii ii..

Daphn aphnis is now now pro propo pose sed d to to mar marry ry Chl Chloe secr secret etly ly:: but but

Dryas published the circumstances under which he had found her. With a view to the happiness of Daphnis, his parents consented to the marriage, and received Chloe, and arrayed her splendidly. splendidly. She too said farewell to her flock, and hung up her pipe, her scrip, her cloak, and her milking-pails; and with the others went to the city. city.

xxxiv xxxiv-xx -xxxv xvi. i.

There There,, on on the the eve eve of of the the marri marriag agee-fe feas ast, t, the the

Nymphs and Love appeared to Dionysophanes, bidding him exhibit Chloe's tokens to each of the the wedding-guests. So he did, and they were acknowledged by Megacles, a man of high rank in Mitylene. He told told the story of Chloe's exposure. She had been born at a time when his wealth had been exhausted; and he had exposed her in the hope that some wealthier person might adopt her. Then his riches had increased, when he had no heir; but the gods had continually sent him dreams signifying that a ewe would make him a father! father! With great joy he received Chloe for for his daughter.

xxxvii-xl. Next morning they all returned to the country; for Daphnis and Chloe were tired of the city, city, and wished a rustic r ustic wedding. And so did they celebrate it, with pastoral splendour; and at last, too, found the the remedy of Love! To Love, to Pan, and to the Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fict ion,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42. 12 July, July, 2008 - 5:49:38 a7/p7


Nymphs, indeed, they consecrated their lives; and their first child, a boy, boy, was suckled by b y a goat; their second, a girl, by b y a ewe.

[Source: Samuel Lee Wolff’s ‘The Greek Romances in Elizabethan Prose Fiction,’ New York, York, 1912, pp. 29-42 - Online in The Open Archive (archive.org).]


Wolff's Synopsis of Longus's 'Daphnis and Chloe' W29-42 80712 in Large Print

Recommend Documents