Book 8

1.1. How Chaereas, suspecting that Callirhoe had been handed over to Dionysius, and wishing to take vengeance on the King, deserted to the Egyptian, and being appointed admiral mastered the sea, and, victorious, took Aradus, where the King had deposited his own wife and all his retinue and Callirhoe —

1.2. all this has been set out in the previous book. But Fortune was about to do something not only strange but also grievous: that Chaereas, while he had Callirhoe, should not know it, and, taking up the women of others, should carry them off in his triremes, but leave his own alone there — not, like Ariadne, sleeping, nor for Dionysus as her bridegroom, but as spoil for his own enemies.

1.3. But this seemed dreadful to Aphrodite. For by now she was being reconciled to him, having before been bitterly angry at his untimely jealousy, because, when he had received from her the fairest gift — such as not even Alexander, that is, Paris — he had outraged her favour. But since Chaereas had made a good defence to Love, having wandered from west to east through a thousand sufferings, Aphrodite took pity on him; and the pair of the two fairest, which she had joined together from the beginning, having exercised them by land and sea, she wished now to restore.

1.4. And I think that this last book too will prove the most pleasant to those who read it; for it is a purgation of the grievous things in the earlier ones. No longer is there piracy and slavery and trial and battle and self-starvation and war and capture, but lawful loves now and legitimate marriages.

1.5. How, then, the goddess brought the truth to light and showed to each other those who did not know each other, I will tell.

It was evening, and many of the captives were still left behind. So Chaereas, weary, rose

1.6. to give orders for the voyage. As he was passing through the market-place, the Egyptian said to him: "Here is the woman, master, who refuses to come forward but is starving herself. Perhaps you will persuade her to rise; for why must you leave behind the fairest of the spoils?" Polycharmus too joined in the suggestion, wishing to throw him, if somehow he could, into a new love and a consolation for Callirhoe. "Let us go in,"

1.7. he said, "Chaereas." So crossing the threshold, and seeing her flung down and veiled, at once from her breathing and her posture his soul was troubled, and he became excited; indeed he would surely have recognized her, had he not been so firmly persuaded that Dionysius had recovered Callirhoe.

1.8. Approaching gently, he said: "Take heart, woman, whoever you are; for we will not force you, but you shall have the husband you wish." While he was still speaking, Callirhoe, recognizing the voice, unveiled herself, and both cried out together, "Chaereas!" "Callirhoe!" and, throwing their arms about each other,

1.9. they swooned and fell. Polycharmus too at first stood speechless at the marvel, but as time went on he said: "Rise, you have recovered each other; the gods have fulfilled the prayers of you both. But remember that you are not in your homeland, but in an enemy land, and you must first manage these matters well,

1.10. so that no one may part you again." Such things he shouted at them; and they, like people who have been plunged in a deep well and have barely heard a voice from above, slowly came up; then, seeing each other and kissing, they sank down again, and a second and a third time they did the same,

uttering one cry: "I have you, if you are truly Callirhoe — if you are truly Chaereas."

1.11. A rumour ran round that the admiral had found his wife. No soldier stayed in his tent, no sailor in his trireme, no doorkeeper in his house; from every side they came running, saying: "O blessed woman, she has won the most beautiful of husbands!" But when Callirhoe appeared, no one any longer praised Chaereas, but all looked upon her, as though she alone existed.

1.12. She walked in stately fashion, with Chaereas and Polycharmus escorting her in their midst. Flowers and garlands were thrown over them, and wine and perfume were poured before their feet; and there were together the sweetest things of war and of peace, a victory celebration and a wedding.

1.13. Now Chaereas was accustomed to sleep in his trireme, busy with many things both by night and by day; but then, entrusting everything to Polycharmus, he himself did not even wait for night, but went into the royal chamber; for in each city a special house is set apart for the Great King.

1.14. A couch of beaten gold stood there, with bedding of Tyrian purple, the weaving Babylonian. Who could describe that night, how full it was of stories, how full of tears together and kisses? First Callirhoe began to relate how she had come back to life in the tomb, how she had been carried off by Theron, how she had sailed, how she had been sold.

1.15. Up to this point Chaereas wept as he listened; but when the story came to Miletus, Callirhoe fell silent in shame, and Chaereas remembered his innate jealousy, but the account of the child consoled him. Before hearing it all, he said: "Tell me how you came to Aradus, and where you left Dionysius, and what you did about the King."

1.16. And she at once swore that she had not seen Dionysius since the trial, and that the King loved her, but that she had not had intercourse with him, not even to a kiss. "Then I was unjust," said Chaereas, "and quick to anger, having done such dreadful things to the King when he was doing you no wrong; for, parted from you, I was driven to the necessity of desertion.

1.17. But I did not bring shame upon you; I have filled land and sea with trophies." And he related everything exactly, glorying in his achievements. When there had been enough of tears and tales, embracing each other, "gladly they came to the rite of their old bed."

2.1. While it was still night, a certain Egyptian, not of the obscure, sailed in, and stepping from his cutter, asked in haste where Chaereas was. Led, then, to Polycharmus, he said that he could tell the secret to no one else, and that the need on which he had come was pressing.

2.2. For a long time Polycharmus put off the entry to Chaereas, not wishing to disturb him at an unseasonable hour; but since the man pressed, opening the chamber door a little, he disclosed the urgency. And Chaereas, like a good general, said: "Call him in; for war does not wait for delay." So the Egyptian was brought in,

2.3. while it was still dark, and standing by the couch said: "Know that the King of the Persians has killed the Egyptian, and has sent part of the army to Egypt to settle affairs there, and is leading all the rest here, and will be present any moment now; for having learned that Aradus has been taken, he grieves both for all the wealth he left here, and most of all is in anguish about Statira his wife."

2.4. Hearing this, Chaereas sprang up; but Callirhoe, taking hold of him, said: "Where do you rush before deliberating about what is at hand? For if you make this public, you will stir up a great war for yourself, since all already know and despise us; and falling again into their hands we shall suffer things heavier than before."

2.5. Quickly he was persuaded by her counsel, and came out of the chamber with craft. For holding the Egyptian by the hand, and calling the multitude together, he said: "We are victorious, men, over the land army of the King too; for this man brings us the good news and letters from the Egyptian; and we must sail as quickly as possible to where he ordered. So pack up, all of you, and embark."

2.6. When he had said this, the trumpeter sounded the signal of recall to the triremes. The spoils and captives they had stowed on board the day before, and nothing was left on the island except what was heavy and useless.

2.7. Then they loosed the moorings and weighed anchor, and the harbour was filled with shouting and confusion, and each man busied himself with something. As Chaereas was passing to the triremes, he gave a secret command to the trierarchs to sail for Cyprus, on the ground that it was necessary to seize it first while it was still unguarded; and using a favouring wind, on the next day they put in at Paphos, where there is a temple of Aphrodite.

2.8. When they had anchored, Chaereas, before anyone disembarked from the triremes, first sent out heralds to proclaim peace and a truce to the inhabitants. When they had received him, he landed his whole force and honoured Aphrodite with offerings; and many victims being collected, he feasted the army.

2.9. As he was considering what was to come next, the priests — who are also seers — reported that the victims had been favourable. Then, taking courage, he called the trierarchs and the three hundred Greeks and as many of the Egyptians as he saw well-disposed toward him, and spoke thus: "Fellow soldiers and friends,

2.10. partners in great achievements, to me both the fairest peace and the safest war is with you; for by experience we have learned that, being of one mind, we mastered the sea. But a critical moment is upon us, for deliberating about future safety; for you know that the Egyptian has been killed in battle, and the King rules all the land, while we have been cut off in the midst of the enemy.

2.11. Does anyone, then, advise us to go off to the King and, carrying ourselves, throw ourselves into his hands?" They cried out at once that anything rather than this must be done. "Where, then, shall we go? For everything is hostile to us, and we can no longer even trust the sea, since the land is mastered by the enemy; for surely we cannot fly away."

2.12. When silence fell upon this, a Lacedaemonian, a kinsman of Brasidas, who had been driven from Sparta by great necessity, was the first to dare to speak: "Why do we ask where to flee from the King? For we have the sea and triremes; and both lead us to Sicily and Syracuse, where we should fear not only the Persians

2.13. but not even the Athenians." All praised the speech; Chaereas alone pretended not to agree, alleging as his excuse the length of the voyage, but in truth testing whether it firmly seemed good to them. When they pressed hard and were already eager to sail, he said: "Men of Greece, you deliberate well, and I am grateful to you for your goodwill and faith;

but I will not let you repent of it, with the gods taking part.

2.14. But the Egyptians — for they are many — we ought not to force against their will; for most of them have wives and children, from whom they would not gladly be torn away. So scatter among the multitude and hasten to inquire of each, so that we may take along only the willing."

3.1. These things were done as he commanded; but Callirhoe, taking Chaereas by the right hand and leading him aside alone, said: "What have you resolved, Chaereas? Are you taking Statira too to Syracuse, and the beautiful Rhodogune?" Chaereas blushed and said: "It is not for my own sake that I take these women, but as maidservants for you."

3.2. Callirhoe cried out: "May the gods not bring such madness upon me, that I should have the queen of Asia as a slave, especially one who has become a guest. But if you wish to do me a favour, send her to the King; for she too kept me safe for you, having taken me as a brother's wife." "There is nothing," said Chaereas,

3.3. "which, if you wish it, I would not do; for you are mistress of Statira and of all the spoils, and before all of my own soul." Callirhoe was pleased and kissed him, and at once ordered the attendants to lead her to Statira.

3.4. Now she happened to be with the most distinguished Persian women in the hold of a ship, knowing nothing at all of what had happened, not even that Callirhoe had recovered Chaereas; for there was a strict watch, and it was permitted to no one to approach, to see, or to report anything of what was being done.

3.5. But when she came to the ship, with the trierarch escorting her, there was at once consternation among all and confusion as they ran about; then someone said quietly to another: "The admiral's wife is coming." Statira groaned aloud and deeply, and weeping said: "For this day, Fortune, you have preserved me, that I, a queen, should behold a mistress; for perhaps she has come to see

3.6. what sort of slave she has gained." She raised a lament at this, and then learned what the captivity of noble persons is. But the god made the change swift; for Callirhoe, running in, embraced Statira and said: "Hail, queen — for you are a queen and shall remain so forever.

3.7. You have not fallen into the hands of enemies, but of one most dear to you, whom you benefited. Chaereas is my admiral; and what made him admiral of the Egyptians was his anger at the King, for being slow to give me back. But he has ceased and is reconciled, and is no longer an enemy to you.

3.8. Rise, dearest, and go on your way rejoicing; recover your own husband too; for the King lives, and to him Chaereas sends you. Rise also, Rhodogune, first of the Persian women dear to me, and go to your own husband, and as many others as the queen wishes; and remember Callirhoe."

3.9. Statira was astounded on hearing these words, and could neither believe nor disbelieve; but the character of Callirhoe was such as not to seem to play the ironist in great calamities; and the moment urged that everything be done quickly.

3.10. Now there was a certain Demetrius among the Egyptians, a philosopher, known to the King, advanced in years, surpassing the other Egyptians in education and virtue. Calling him, Chaereas said: "I wished to take you with me, but I am making you the agent of a great deed; for I am sending the queen to the Great King through you.

3.11. This will both make you more honoured by him and reconcile the rest." Saying this, he appointed Demetrius commander of the triremes that were to be sent back; for all wished to follow Chaereas and preferred him to their homelands and children.

3.12. He picked out only twenty triremes, the best and largest, as being about to cross the Ionian Sea, and into these he embarked all the Greeks who were present, and as many of the Egyptians and Phoenicians as he found nimble; many of the Cyprians too embarked as volunteers. All the rest he sent home, dividing among them portions of the spoils, so that they might return rejoicing to their own people, having become more honoured; and no one failed in any request he made of Chaereas. And Callirhoe brought all the royal adornment to Statira.

3.13. But she would not take it, saying: "Adorn yourself with this; for royal adornment befits such a body as yours. You must have it, so that you may give gifts to your mother and offerings to your ancestral gods. As for me, I have left more than these in Babylon.

3.14. May the gods grant you a fair voyage and safety, and that you never be parted from Chaereas. In everything you have acted justly toward me; you have shown a good character, worthy of your beauty. A fair charge the King gave me to keep."

4.1. Who could describe that day, how many doings it had, how many varied emotions — of people praying, taking leave, rejoicing, grieving, giving one another instructions, writing to those at home? Chaereas too wrote a letter to the King, of this kind: "You were about to judge the case,

4.2. but I have already won before the most just judge; for war is the best decider of the better and the worse. He has given me back not only my own wife, but yours too.

4.3. I have not imitated your slowness, but quickly, without your even asking, I give Statira back to you, unsullied and remaining a queen even in captivity. Know that it is not I who send you the gift, but Callirhoe. And in return we ask of you the favour of being reconciled to the Egyptians; for it most of all befits a king to bear with wrong. You will have good soldiers who love you; for rather than follow me as friends, they preferred to remain with you."

4.4. This Chaereas wrote, and it seemed to Callirhoe too just and grateful to write to Dionysius. This alone she did apart from Chaereas; for, knowing his innate jealousy, she was eager to escape his notice. Taking a little tablet, she wrote thus: CALLIRHOE TO DIONYSIUS HER BENEFACTOR, GREETING. "For you it was

4.5. who freed me from both piracy and slavery. I beg you, be not at all angry; for I am with you in spirit because of our common son, whom I entrust to you to rear and educate worthily of us. Let him have no experience of a stepmother; you have not only a son but also a daughter — two children are enough for you.

4.6. Join him in marriage when he becomes a man, and send him to Syracuse, so that he may see his grandfather too. I greet you, Plangon. This I have written to you with my own hand. Farewell, good Dionysius, and remember your Callirhoe."

4.7. Sealing the letter, she hid it in her bosom; and when at last it was time to put to sea and for all to embark on the triremes, she herself gave her hand to Statira and led her into the ship. Demetrius had set up a royal pavilion in the ship, hanging round it purple and gold-woven Babylonian cloths.

4.8. Settling her very tenderly, Callirhoe said: "Farewell to me, Statira, and remember me, and write to me often at Syracuse; for everything is easy for a king. And I too will feel gratitude to you before my parents and before the Greek gods. I commend to you my child, whom you too saw gladly; consider

4.9. that you hold him as a charge in place of me." Saying this, she filled with tears and raised a wailing among the women; and as she went out of the ship, Callirhoe, bending gently over Statira and blushing, gave her the letter and said: "Give this to the unfortunate Dionysius, whom I commend to you and to the King. Console him. I am afraid that, parted from me, he may

4.10. destroy himself." Still the women would have talked and wept and kissed one another, had not the pilots ordered the putting to sea. As she was about to embark on her trireme, Callirhoe did homage to Aphrodite. "Thanks to you, mistress," she said, "for what is present. Already you are reconciled to me; grant me also to see Syracuse. Much sea lies between, and fearful waters await me, yet I am not afraid while you sail with me."

4.11. But not one of the Egyptians embarked on Demetrius's ships before first taking leave of Chaereas and kissing his head and his hands; so great a longing had he set in all. And he let that fleet put to sea first, so that praises mingled with prayers might be heard far out across the sea.

5.1. So these sailed on; but the Great King, having mastered the enemy, sent to Egypt the man who was to settle affairs there securely, while he himself hastened to Aradus, to his wife.

5.2. As he was near Chios and Tyre, sacrificing to Heracles the victory offerings, someone came up announcing: "Aradus has been sacked and is empty, and all that was in it the Egyptian ships are carrying off." And he proclaimed great mourning to the King, as though the queen had perished; and the most honoured of the Persians mourned for Statira in pretext, but each for his own losses — one a wife, another a sister, another a daughter, all someone, each a relation. And since the enemy had sailed off, it was unknown by which sea.

5.3. On the second day the Egyptian ships were seen sailing in. The truth was unclear, and they marvelled as they watched; and their perplexity was heightened still more by a royal signal raised from Demetrius's ship, which is wont to be raised only when the King himself is sailing; this caused confusion, as though they were enemies.

5.4. At once, running, they reported to Artaxerxes: "Perhaps now some king of the Egyptians will be found." He sprang up from his throne and hastened to the sea and gave the signal for battle; for he had no triremes, but he set all the multitude, ready for fight, upon the harbour.

5.5. And already someone was drawing his bow and about to hurl his spear, had not Demetrius understood and disclosed this to the queen. Statira, coming forward from the pavilion, showed herself. At once, then, throwing down their arms, they did homage; and the King could not contain himself, but before the ship had been properly brought to land, he was the first to leap into it, and embracing his wife, from joy let fall tears and said: "Which of the gods, then, has given you back to me, dearest wife? For both things are incredible — both that a queen should perish, and that one who has perished should be found.

5.6. How is it that, having left you on land, I recover you from the sea?" Statira answered: "You have me as a gift from Callirhoe." On hearing the name, the King received, as upon an old wound, a fresh blow; and looking at Artaxates the eunuch he said: "Lead me to Callirhoe,

5.7. that I may give her thanks." Statira said: "You will learn everything from me," and at the same time they went forward from the harbour to the palace. Then, ordering all to depart and only the eunuch to be present, she related what had happened at Aradus, what at Cyprus, and last of all she gave him Chaereas's letter.

5.8. The King, as he read, was filled with a thousand feelings; for he was angry at the capture of his dearest ones, and repented at having furnished the necessity of desertion; and again he felt gratitude to him, because he could no longer behold Callirhoe. But most of all envy laid hold of him, and he said: "Blessed Chaereas, more fortunate than I."

5.9. When there had been enough of the tales, Statira said: "Console Dionysius, King; for this is what Callirhoe asks of you." So Artaxerxes, turning to the eunuch, said: "Let Dionysius come."

5.10. And he came quickly, buoyed up by his hopes; for he knew nothing of the affairs of Chaereas, but supposed that Callirhoe was present with the other women, and that the King was summoning him to give back his wife, the reward of his valour. When he entered, the King related to him all that had happened. And in that moment Dionysius displayed prudence and an exceptional education.

5.11. For just as a man might not be troubled if a thunderbolt fell before his feet, so he too, hearing words heavier than a thunderbolt — that Chaereas was carrying Callirhoe off to Syracuse — nevertheless remained steady, and it did not seem safe to him to grieve, now that the queen was saved.

5.12. And Artaxerxes said: "If I could, Dionysius, I would give Callirhoe back to you; for you have shown every goodwill and faith toward me. But since this is impossible, I give you the rule of all Ionia, and you shall be enrolled as the first benefactor of the King's house." Dionysius did homage and, acknowledging the favour, hastened to get away and to have liberty for tears; and as he went out, Statira quietly gave him the letter.

5.13. Turning back and shutting himself in, recognizing the writing of Callirhoe, he first kissed the letter, then, opening it, pressed it to his breast as though she were present, and held it for a long time, unable to read for his tears. Having wept his fill, he barely began to read, and first of all kissed the name of Callirhoe. When he came to "TO DIONYSIUS HER BENEFACTOR," "Alas," he said, "no longer 'her husband.' For you are my benefactor.

5.14. What worthy thing did I do for you?" He was pleased at the apology in the letter and read the same words many times over; for it intimated that she had left him against her will. So light a thing is love, and easily persuades a man to believe his love is returned.

5.15. Embracing the child and dandling it in his arms, he said: "You too will one day go away from me, child, to your mother; for she herself has so commanded; but I shall live desolate, having become to myself the cause of all. Empty jealousy has destroyed me, and you, Babylon." Saying this, he prepared to go down as quickly as possible to Ionia, counting as a great consolation the long journey and the governance of cities and Callirhoe's dwellings in Miletus.

6.1. Such, then, was the state of affairs in Asia; but Chaereas accomplished the voyage to Sicily prosperously — for the wind stood always astern — and, having large ships, kept to the open sea, being in great fear lest the assault of a harsh spirit overtake him again.

6.2. But when Syracuse appeared, he ordered the trierarchs to deck out the triremes and to sail together in formation; for there was a calm. When those from the city saw them, someone said: "Where are these triremes sailing from? Are they Attic?

6.3. Come, then, let us report to Hermocrates." And quickly it was reported: "General, consider what you will do: shall we close the harbours or put out to sea? For we do not know whether a larger fleet follows, and these in sight are forerunners." So Hermocrates, running down from the market-place to the sea, sent out an oared vessel to meet them.

6.4. The man dispatched, coming near, inquired who they were, and Chaereas ordered one of the Egyptians to answer: "We are merchants sailing from Egypt, bringing cargo that will gladden the Syracusans." "Do not sail in all together, then," he said, "until we know whether you speak the truth; for I see not merchantmen but long ships, and triremes as if from war, so that let the greater number wait outside the harbour, off shore, and let one sail in." "We will do so."

6.5. So Chaereas's trireme sailed in first. It had on top a pavilion covered over with Babylonian hangings. When it had come to anchor, the whole harbour was filled with people; for by nature a crowd is a curious thing, and then they had even more reasons for running together.

6.6. Looking at the pavilion, they supposed that within were not people but costly cargo, and one guessed one thing, another another, but they conjectured anything rather than the truth; for it was truly incredible, now that they were persuaded that Chaereas was dead, that he should seem to sail in alive and with such great magnificence.

6.7. Now Chaereas's parents did not even come out of their house; and Hermocrates, though he took part in public affairs, did so in mourning, and then stood by, but unobserved. While all were at a loss and had strained their eyes, suddenly the hangings were drawn aside, and Callirhoe was seen reclining on a couch of beaten gold, clothed in Tyrian purple, and Chaereas seated beside her in the dress of a general.

6.8. Never did thunder so strike the ears, nor lightning the eyes, of those who saw, nor did anyone who found a treasure of so much gold cry out so loudly as then the multitude, beholding unexpectedly a sight beyond words. Hermocrates leapt up onto the pavilion and, embracing his daughter, said: "Do you live, child, or am I deceived in this too?" "I live, father, now truly, because I have beheld you alive." Tears were shed by all, with joy.

6.9. Meanwhile Polycharmus sailed in with the other triremes; for he had been entrusted with the rest of the fleet from Cyprus, because Chaereas could no longer have leisure for anyone but Callirhoe alone.

6.10. Quickly, then, the harbour was filled, and it was that same scene as after the Attic sea-battle; for these triremes too sailed in from war, garlanded, having used a Syracusan general; and there mingled the voices of those from the sea greeting those from the land, and again of those greeting those from the sea — blessings and praises and thick joint prayers from both sides to one another. There came too, meanwhile, borne along, Chaereas's father, swooning from the unexpected joy.

6.11. His fellow ephebes and fellow gymnasium-mates rolled over one another, wishing to greet Chaereas, and the women to greet Callirhoe. And Callirhoe seemed to have become even more beautiful than herself, so that truly you would have said you were seeing Aphrodite herself rising up out of the sea. Approaching Hermocrates and his father, Chaereas said: "Receive the wealth of the Great King."

6.12. And at once he ordered to be carried out silver and gold beyond counting; then ivory and amber and clothing, and he displayed to the Syracusans every costliness of material and craft, and the couch and table of the Great King, so that the whole city was filled — not, as before from the Sicilian war, with Attic poverty, but, what is most novel, in peace, with Median spoils.

7.1. All at once the multitude shouted: "Let us go to the assembly!" for they longed both to see and to hear them; and faster than word the theatre was filled with men and women. When Chaereas alone entered, all, women and men, cried out: "Call in Callirhoe!" Hermocrates gratified the people in this too,

7.2. bringing in his daughter. So first the people, looking up to heaven, blessed the gods and felt gratitude for this day even more than for the day of victory; then now they were divided, the men praising Chaereas and the women Callirhoe, and now again both together; and this was sweeter to the pair.

7.3. Callirhoe, then, as one fresh from voyage and anxiety, having just greeted her homeland, they led out of the theatre; but Chaereas the multitude detained, wishing to hear all the tales of his travels abroad. And he began from the last events, not wishing to grieve the people with the first and grievous ones. But the people urged him: "We beg you, begin from the beginning, tell us everything,

7.4. leave nothing out." Chaereas hesitated, ashamed at many things that had befallen contrary to his intent; but Hermocrates said: "Be ashamed of nothing, child, even if you tell something more grievous or slighter than ourselves; for the end, having turned out brilliant, casts a shadow over all that went before, while what is not told carries from the very silence a harsher suspicion.

7.5. You speak to your homeland and your parents, whose affection toward both of you is equally balanced. The first of the tales the people already know; for it itself joined your marriage.

7.6. The plot of your rivals in courtship, that you in false jealousy struck your wife a fatal blow, we all know, and that, supposed dead, she was sumptuously buried, while you, brought to trial for murder, condemned yourself, wishing to die together with your wife.

7.7. But the people acquitted you, recognizing that what happened was involuntary. What followed these things — that Theron the tomb-robber, having broken into the tomb by night and found Callirhoe alive, put her with the grave-goods into his pirate cutter and sold her in Ionia, while you, setting out in search of your wife, did not find her, but falling in at sea with the pirate ship,

7.8. found the other pirates dead from thirst, and brought Theron alone, still alive, into the assembly, and he, after torture, was crucified, and the city sent out a trireme and envoys on Callirhoe's behalf, and your friend Polycharmus willingly sailed out with you — these things we know;

but do you relate to us what befell you from the time of your sailing out."

7.9. So Chaereas, taking up from there, related: "Having sailed the Ionian Sea safely, we put in at an estate of a man of Miletus, Dionysius by name, who surpassed all the Ionians in wealth and birth and reputation. It was he who bought Callirhoe from Theron for a talent.

7.10. Do not be afraid; he did not enslave her; for at once he showed the silver-bought woman to be his mistress, and though in love with her he did not dare to force the noble lady, nor could he bear to send back to Syracuse the woman he loved.

7.11. But when Callirhoe perceived that she was pregnant by me, wishing to save the citizen for you, she was under necessity to marry Dionysius, contriving about the child's birth so that it might seem to have been born of Dionysius, and that the boy might be reared worthily.

7.12. For there is being reared for you, men of Syracuse, a citizen in Miletus, rich, by a man of repute; for his lineage too is Greek. Let us not grudge him a great inheritance."

8.1. "These things, then, I learned later; but at that time, put in at the estate, and seeing an image of Callirhoe in a temple, I had good hopes; but by night Phrygian pirates, swooping down upon the sea, burned the trireme and slaughtered most of us, and binding me and Polycharmus sold us into Caria." The multitude burst into lamentation at this,

8.2. but Chaereas said: "Allow me to keep silent about what follows; for it is more grievous than the first." But the people cried out: "Tell everything." And he said: "The man who bought us, a slave of Mithridates the governor of Caria, ordered us to dig, fettered. And when some of the prisoners killed the keeper of the prison, Mithridates ordered us all to be crucified.

8.3. And I was being led off; but as Polycharmus was about to be tortured, he uttered my name, and Mithridates recognized it; for having been a guest-friend of Dionysius in Miletus, he had been present at the burial of Chaereas; for Callirhoe, learning the affair of the trireme and the pirates, and supposing me dead, had heaped up for me a costly tomb.

8.4. Quickly, then, Mithridates ordered me to be taken down from the cross, when I had nearly reached my end, and held me among his dearest; and he was eager to give Callirhoe back to me, and made me write to her.

8.5. But by the carelessness of the one who carried it, Dionysius himself got the letter; and he did not believe that I was alive, but believed that Mithridates was plotting against his wife, and at once, charging him with adultery, wrote to the King; and the King took up the case and summoned all to himself.

8.6. So we went up to Babylon. And Dionysius, leading Callirhoe, made her conspicuous throughout all Asia, while Mithridates took me with him; and arriving there, we pleaded a great case before the King. Mithridates, then, he at once acquitted, but to me and Dionysius he proclaimed a separate trial about the woman, placing Callirhoe in the meantime with Statira the queen.

8.7. How many times, men of Syracuse, do you think I resolved on death when parted from my wife, had not Polycharmus saved me, the one faithful friend in all? For the King too had neglected the trial, inflamed with love for Callirhoe.

8.8. But he neither persuaded her nor outraged her. And opportunely Egypt, revolting, stirred up a heavy war, but to me the cause of great blessings. For the queen took Callirhoe with her, and I, hearing a false report — someone saying that she had been handed over to Dionysius — wishing to take vengeance on the King, deserted to the Egyptian and accomplished great deeds.

8.9. For I myself reduced Tyre, hard to take, and being appointed admiral I defeated the Great King at sea and became master of Aradus, where the King had deposited both the queen and the wealth you have seen.

8.10. I could, then, have made the Egyptian master of all Asia, had he not been killed fighting apart from me. As for what remained, I have made the Great King your friend, having given him his wife as a gift, and having sent to the most honoured of the Persians their mothers and sisters and wives and daughters.

8.11. And I myself have brought here the best of the Greeks and those of the Egyptians who were willing. Another fleet will come too from Ionia, yours; and the grandson of Hermocrates will lead it."

8.12. Prayers from all followed upon these words. When Chaereas had quieted the shout, he said: "I and Callirhoe feel gratitude toward Polycharmus our friend; for he showed goodwill and most true faith toward us; and, if it seem good to you, let us give him as wife my sister; and he shall have as dowry a portion

8.13. of the spoils." The people acclaimed: "To the good man Polycharmus, the faithful friend, the people feels gratitude. You have benefited your homeland; you are worthy of Hermocrates and of Chaereas." After this Chaereas spoke again: "And these three hundred Greeks, my brave army, I beg you, make them citizens." Again the people shouted: "They are worthy to share our citizenship;

8.14. let this be voted." A decree was written, and at once those men, taking their seats, were part of the assembly. And Chaereas gave a talent to each, and Hermocrates assigned the Egyptians land, so that they might have it to farm.

8.15. While the multitude was still in the theatre, Callirhoe, before entering the house, came to the temple of Aphrodite. And clasping her feet and placing her face upon them and loosing her hair, kissing them, she said: "Thanks to you, Aphrodite; for you have shown me Chaereas again in Syracuse, where as a maiden too I saw him by your will.

8.16. I do not blame you, mistress, for what I have suffered; this was fated for me. I beg you, part me no more from Chaereas, but grant us a blessed life and a common death." So much I have composed about Callirhoe. By Chariton of Aphrodisias.