LONGUS

Daphnis and Chloe

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Spring was just beginning, and the flowers were at their peak in the oak groves, the meadows, and the mountains. Already there was the droning of bees, the singing of dulcet birds, and capering of newly born sheep. The lambs were capering about in the mountains, the bees were droning in the meadows, and the birds were singing spells over the trees. A marvelous time of year coddled everything in its embrace, and the tender youths began to imitate those they were listening to. Hearing the singing birds, they began to sing. Watching lambs capering, they began leaping about nimbly, and, imitating the bees, they gathered flowers and put them in their bosoms and entwined others into garlands and placed them upon the Nymphs. They were grazing their flocks near one another and did everything together. Sometimes Daphnis rounded up stray sheep from her flocks, and sometimes Chloe drove the friskier goats down from the hanging cliffs. By this time, one watched over both flocks while the other was playing some game. Their games were the kind shepherds and children play. She gathered sticks and made traps for grasshoppers, getting so involved, that she neglected her flock. He cut off pliant reeds and bore out their joints and glued them together with soft wax to make a pipe, and practiced all day until nightfall. They shared their milk or wine, whatever there was to drink, and the food they brought from home, they pooled in a common store. You would sooner see the animals apart than Chloe and Daphnis.

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TRANSLATED BY WILLIAM BLAKE TYREL