Book 2

1.1. So Euxinus and Corymbus stayed together, waiting to hear what reply they would get, and they hoped to win the pair over easily. But Habrocomes and Anthia came to the little room where they usually stayed, and when they had told one another what they had heard, they threw themselves down and wept and lamented.

1.2. "O father," they said, "O mother, O dearest fatherland, and household, and kinsmen!" At last Habrocomes recovered himself and said, "O ill-fated that we are, what shall we suffer in a barbarian land, given over to the outrages of pirates? The prophecies are beginning; already the god is exacting from me the penalty for my pride. Corymbus is in love with me, and Euxinus with you.

1.3. O for the beauty that is so ill-timed in the eyes of both of them! Was it for this, then, that I was kept chaste until now—to submit myself to a robber in love with a shameful desire? And what life is left to me, becoming a whore instead of a man, robbed of my own Anthia?

1.4. But no—by the chastity that has been my companion from boyhood until this very hour, I will never submit myself to Corymbus; I will die first, and be found a corpse that is chaste."

1.5. So he spoke, and wept; and Anthia said, "Alas for our troubles! Already we are being driven to break one of our oaths, already we taste slavery. Someone is in love with me, and hoped to win me over and come to my bed after Habrocomes, and lie beside me and satisfy his desire.

1.6. But may I never become so fond of life, nor endure to look upon the sun after being outraged. Let this be resolved: let us die, Habrocomes; we shall have each other after death, troubled by no one."

2.1. This is what they had resolved. Meanwhile Apsyrtus, the chief of the brigands, learning that Corymbus and his men had come and were bringing many marvellous goods, came to the estate. He saw Habrocomes and his company, was struck by their beauty, and at once, thinking it a great profit, asked for them.

2.2. The rest of the goods and possessions and all the captured maidens he distributed to Corymbus and his men; but Euxinus and Corymbus, though unwilling, gave up Habrocomes and Anthia to Apsyrtus—gave them up, in fact, under compulsion.

2.3. So they departed; and Apsyrtus, taking Habrocomes and Anthia and two servants, Leucon and Rhode, led them to Tyre.

2.4. Their procession was a spectacle for all to see, and everyone marvelled at their beauty; and the barbarians, having never before seen such loveliness, thought that those they beheld were gods, and counted Apsyrtus blessed for the kind of slaves he had acquired.

2.5. Leading them into his house, he handed them over to a trusty servant, ordering him to keep them with all care, since he expected to make a great profit if he sold them at their proper price.

3.1. Such was the state of Habrocomes and his company. A few days later Apsyrtus went off on another trading venture to Syria; and his daughter, Manto by name, fell in love with Habrocomes. She was beautiful, of an age now ripe for marriage, but far inferior to the beauty of Anthia.

3.2. This Manto, from her daily association with Habrocomes, was captured by love, and was beside herself, at a loss what to do. She did not dare speak to Habrocomes, knowing that he had a wife and never hoping to win him over, nor to any of her own people, for fear of her father.

3.3. For these reasons she was the more inflamed and in a sorry state. No longer able to bear it, she decided to confide her love to Rhode, Anthia's foster-companion, who was of the same age, a young girl; for she hoped that she alone would help her toward her desire.

3.4. So, finding a moment of leisure, she led the girl to the household shrine of her father's gods, begged her not to betray her, took oaths from her, told her of her love for Habrocomes, implored her to help, and promised much if she would.

3.5. "Know," she said, "that you are my slave, and know that you will feel the anger of a barbarian woman who has been wronged." So saying, she sent Rhode away. Rhode was in a hopeless plight: to tell Habrocomes she shrank from, out of love for Anthia, yet she was much afraid of the barbarian woman's anger.

3.6. She decided it would be best to confide first to Leucon what Manto had said. Now Rhode too had ties of love with Leucon, and they had been together even while in Ephesus.

3.7. So then, taking him aside, she said, "Leucon, we are utterly undone; now we shall no longer have our companions. The daughter of our master Apsyrtus is in love with Habrocomes, a violent love, and threatens, if she does not get her way, to do us terrible harm.

3.8. So consider what we must do; to contradict the barbarian woman is perilous, but to part Habrocomes from Anthia is impossible." Hearing this, Leucon was filled with tears, expecting great calamities from it; but at last he recovered and said, "Be silent, Rhode, for I will manage everything."

4.1. So saying, he went to Habrocomes. But he, in truth, had no other occupation than to love Anthia and be loved by her, to talk with her and listen to her talk. Coming to them, Leucon said, "What are we doing, companions? What are we planning, fellow slaves?

4.2. You seem beautiful, Habrocomes, to one of our masters. Apsyrtus' daughter is in a sorry state over you, and to contradict a barbarian maiden in love is dangerous. So take counsel as you think best, save us all, and do not overlook us as we fall under our masters' anger."

4.3. Hearing this, Habrocomes was at once filled with anger, and looking steadily at Leucon he said, "Wretch, and more barbarous than the Phoenicians here, did you dare to speak such words to Habrocomes, and, with Anthia present, tell me of another maiden? A slave I am, but I know how to keep my pledges.

4.4. They have power over my body, but I keep my soul free. Now let Manto, if she wishes, threaten swords and nooses and fire and everything that the body of a slave can endure; for I would never willingly be persuaded to wrong Anthia."

4.5. So he spoke; and Anthia lay speechless from the blow, unable even to utter a word. At last and with difficulty she roused herself and said, "I have your goodwill, Habrocomes, and I am sure that I am loved by you beyond all others; but I beg you, master of my soul, do not betray yourself, nor cast yourself into a barbarian's anger, but yield to your mistress's desire;

4.6. and I will take myself out of your way, killing myself. This much only I will ask of you: bury me yourself, kiss me when I have fallen, and remember Anthia." All this drove Habrocomes into still greater distress, and he was at a loss what to do.

5.1. Such was their state. But Manto, as Rhode delayed, could endure no longer and wrote a little letter to Habrocomes. Its contents were these: "To beautiful Habrocomes, his mistress sends greeting. Manto loves you, no longer able to bear it; unseemly perhaps in a maiden, but unavoidable in one who loves. I beg you, do not overlook me nor humiliate the one who has chosen you.

5.2. For if you consent, I will persuade my father Apsyrtus to give me to you in marriage, and we shall rid ourselves of the woman who is now your wife, and you will be rich and blessed. But if you refuse, consider what you will suffer when the outraged woman avenges herself, and what those with you will suffer, who have shared and counselled your pride."

5.3. Taking this letter and sealing it, she gave it to one of her own barbarian maidservants, telling her to carry it to Habrocomes. He took it and read it, and was vexed at all that was written, but most of all the part about Anthia grieved him.

5.4. He kept the tablet, and wrote another and gave it to the maidservant. Its contents were these: "Mistress, do what you wish, and use my body as a slave's; if you wish to kill me, I am ready; if to torture, torture as you please; but to your bed I will never come, nor would I be persuaded to such a thing at your command."

5.5. Receiving this letter, Manto fell into an ungovernable rage, and mixing everything together—envy, jealousy, grief, fear—she pondered how to take vengeance on the man who scorned her.

5.6. And just then Apsyrtus came back from Syria, bringing his daughter a bridegroom from there, Moeris by name. As soon as he arrived, Manto at once arranged her plot against Habrocomes: tearing her hair and rending her clothes, she met her father, fell at his knees, and said, "Take pity, father, on your daughter, outraged by a slave.

5.7. For chaste Habrocomes tried to destroy my virginity, and plotted against you too, saying that he was in love with me. So for such outrages exact from him the punishment he deserves; or, if you give up your daughter as a prize to your slaves, I will kill myself first."

6.1. Hearing this, and thinking she spoke the truth, Apsyrtus did not investigate the matter further, but sent for Habrocomes and said, "You bold and abominable creature, did you dare to outrage your masters, and wish to corrupt a maiden, slave that you are? But you shall not enjoy it; I will punish you, and make your torment an example to the other slaves."

6.2. So saying, and no longer bearing even to hear a word, he ordered his servants to rend his clothes, and to bring fire and whips and beat the youth.

6.3. It was a pitiable spectacle: the . . . marred his whole body, unused as it was to a slave's torments, the blood ran down, and his beauty withered.

6.4. He brought against him also dread bonds and fire, and used the tortures upon him especially to show his daughter's bridegroom that he would marry a chaste maiden.

6.5. At this Anthia fell at the knees of Apsyrtus and begged on Habrocomes' behalf; but he said, "On your account he shall be punished all the more, since he wronged you too, having a wife and loving another." And then he ordered them to bind him and shut him up in a dark room.

7.1. So he was bound and held in prison, and a terrible despondency took hold of him, especially because he did not see Anthia. He sought many means of death, but found none, since the guards were many. Apsyrtus was holding his daughter's wedding, and they feasted for many days.

7.2. Anthia was all grief, and whenever she could persuade the prison guards, she went in secretly to Habrocomes and bewailed their misfortune.

7.3. When at last they were preparing to depart for Syria, Apsyrtus sent off his daughter with many gifts: he gave Babylonian garments and gold and silver in abundance, and made over to his daughter Manto, as a gift, Anthia and Rhode and Leucon.

7.4. So when Anthia learned this, and that she would be taken off to Syria with Manto, she managed to get into the prison, embraced Habrocomes, and said, "Master, I am being taken to Syria, given as a gift to Manto, and into the hands of a jealous woman.

7.5. And you, left behind in prison, are dying a pitiable death, with no one even to lay out your body. But I swear to you by the divinity that watches over us both that I will remain yours, whether alive, or even if I must die." So saying, she kissed him and embraced him, kissed his bonds, and rolled at his feet.

8.1. At last she went out of the prison, and he, just as he was, threw himself on the ground and groaned and wept, saying, "O dearest father, O mother Themisto! Where now is the happiness that once seemed ours in Ephesus? Where are the brilliant and admired Anthia and Habrocomes, the beautiful pair? She is gone, far off in some land, a captive; and I am robbed of my one consolation, and shall die, wretch that I am, alone in prison."

8.2. As he spoke, sleep took hold of him, and a dream appeared to him. He thought he saw his father Lycomedes in black clothing, wandering over every land and sea, and that, coming to the prison, he loosed him and let him out of the room; and that he himself became a horse and was carried over much land, pursuing another, a mare, and at last found the mare and became a man. When he thought he saw this, he started up and was a little hopeful.

9.1. So he was shut up in the prison; but Anthia was being taken off to Syria, with Leucon and Rhode. When Manto and her company reached Antioch (for it was from there that Moeris came), she bore a grudge against Rhode and hated Anthia as well.

9.2. So she at once ordered Rhode, together with Leucon, to be put aboard a ship by certain men and sold as far off as possible from the land of the Syrians; and as for Anthia, she planned to make her live with a servant—and that one of the basest, a rustic goatherd—thinking by this means to take vengeance on her.

9.3. She sent for the goatherd, Lampon by name, handed Anthia over to him, ordered him to take her as his wife, and commanded that, if she refused, he should force her.

9.4. So she was taken off to the country to live with the goatherd. When she came to the place where Lampon pastured his goats, she fell at his knees and begged him to take pity on her and protect her. She told him who she was—her former noble birth, her husband, her captivity. Hearing this, Lampon pitied the girl and swore that he would indeed keep her undefiled, and urged her to take heart.

10.1. So she was with the goatherd in the country all the while, lamenting Habrocomes. Meanwhile Apsyrtus, searching the little room where Habrocomes had stayed before his punishment, came upon Manto's letter to Habrocomes, recognized the writing, and learned that he was punishing Habrocomes unjustly. At once, then, he ordered him to be released and brought into his presence.

10.2. Having suffered grievous and pitiable things, Habrocomes fell at the knees of Apsyrtus; but Apsyrtus raised him up and said, "Take heart, young man; I condemned you unjustly, persuaded by my daughter's words. But now I will make you free instead of a slave, and I give you charge of my house, and I will get you a wife, the daughter of one of the citizens. Bear no grudge for what has happened, for I did not wrong you willingly."

10.3. So Apsyrtus spoke; and Habrocomes said, "Thank you, master, for learning the truth and rewarding me for my chastity." All those in the house rejoiced for Habrocomes and were grateful to their master on his behalf; but he himself was in great distress over Anthia. He often thought to himself, "What need have I of freedom? What need of riches and the management of Apsyrtus' goods? I ought not to be such a man. May I find her, whether alive or dead."

10.4. So he was in this state, managing Apsyrtus' affairs, but thinking how and where he might find Anthia. Meanwhile Leucon and Rhode had been taken to Lycia, to the city of Xanthus (the city lies inland from the sea), and there they were sold to an old man, who kept them with all care, regarding them as his own children, for he was childless. They lived amid plenty of everything, but it grieved them not to see Anthia and Habrocomes.

11.1. Anthia was for some time with the goatherd; but Moeris, Manto's husband, coming constantly to the place, fell in love with Anthia, a violent love. At first he tried to conceal it, but at last he told the goatherd of his love and promised much if he would comply.

11.2. He agreed with Moeris, but, fearing Manto, went to her and told her of Moeris' love. She fell into a rage and said, "Most wretched of all women am I, who carry about with me a rival on whose account I was first robbed of my beloved in Phoenicia, and now am in danger of losing my husband. But Anthia shall not appear beautiful to Moeris too and go unpunished; for I will exact from her satisfaction for what happened in Tyre as well."

11.3. For the time she kept quiet; but when Moeris had gone abroad, she sent for the goatherd and ordered him to take Anthia, lead her into the densest part of the woods, and kill her, and she promised to give him a reward for it.

11.4. He pitied the girl, but, fearing Manto, went to Anthia and told her what had been decided against her. She wailed and lamented, saying, "Alas! this beauty has everywhere plotted against us both. Because of this ill-timed loveliness Habrocomes has died in Tyre, and I shall die here.

11.5. But I beg you, Lampon the goatherd, who until now have been godly: if you kill me, bury me even a little in the earth nearby, lay your hands on my eyes, and as you bury me call again and again upon Habrocomes. This would be a happy burial for me, beside Habrocomes."

11.6. So she spoke; and the goatherd came to pity, thinking what an unholy deed he would do in killing a girl so beautiful and guilty of no wrong.

11.7. So the goatherd took the girl, but could not bring himself to kill her, and said to her this: "Anthia, you know that my mistress Manto ordered me to take you and kill you; but I, both fearing the gods and pitying your beauty, would rather sell you somewhere far from this land, so that Manto, not learning that you are not dead, may not treat me ill."

11.8. With tears she clasped his feet and said, "O gods and Artemis of my fathers, reward the goatherd for these kindnesses," and she begged to be sold.

11.9. So the goatherd took Anthia and went off to the harbour; and finding there some merchants, Cilician men, he sold the girl, and taking the price for her returned to the country.

11.10. The merchants took Anthia aboard their ship, and when night came they set off on the way to Cilicia. But, held back by a contrary wind and with their ship broken up, a few of them barely came safe to a shore on a plank; and they had Anthia with them.

11.11. In that place there was a dense wood. Wandering in it that night, they were seized by the band of Hippothous the robber.

12.1. Meanwhile a servant came from Syria, sent by Manto, bringing this letter to her father Apsyrtus: "You gave me to a husband in a foreign land. As for Anthia, whom you gave me as a gift along with the other servants, she has done much mischief, and I ordered her to live in the country. Seeing her constantly there, handsome Moeris fell in love with her; and no longer able to bear it, I sent for the goatherd and ordered the girl to be sold in some city of Syria."

12.2. Learning this, Habrocomes could no longer bear to stay. So, eluding Apsyrtus and all those in the household, he set out in search of Anthia. Coming to the country where Anthia had stayed with the goatherd, he led Lampon the goatherd—to whom Manto had given Anthia for marriage—down to the shore, and begged him to tell him whether he knew anything about a girl from Tyre.

12.3. The goatherd told him both her name—that it was Anthia—and the marriage, and the reverence he had shown her, and Moeris' love, and the order given against her, and the journey to Cilicia; and he said that the girl was always speaking of one Habrocomes. But Habrocomes did not tell him who he was, and rising at dawn he set off toward Cilicia, hoping to find Anthia there.

13.1. Hippothous the robber and his band stayed that night feasting, and on the next day set about the sacrifice. Everything was made ready—images of Ares, sacred boughs, garlands;

13.2. and the sacrifice had to be performed in the customary manner. The victim that was to be sacrificed, whether man or beast, they hung from a tree and, standing apart, hurled javelins at it; and as many as hit the mark, the god seemed to accept their sacrifice; but as many as missed, they tried again to propitiate him. Anthia was to be offered in this way.

13.3. When all was ready and they wished to hang the girl up, a noise was heard in the wood and the tramp of men. It was the man set over the keeping of the peace in Cilicia, Perilaus by name, one of the foremost in power in Cilicia.

13.4. This Perilaus came upon the robbers with a great force and killed them all, taking only a few alive; only Hippothous managed to escape, snatching up his arms.

13.5. Perilaus took Anthia, and learning of the calamity that had threatened her, pitied her; but this pity for Anthia was the beginning of a great calamity. He led her, and the captured robbers, to Tarsus in Cilicia.

13.6. His daily sight of the girl led him into love, and little by little Perilaus was captured by Anthia. When they reached Tarsus, he handed the robbers over to prison, but tended Anthia. Perilaus had neither wife nor children, and no small store of wealth.

13.7. So he said to Anthia that she would be everything to Perilaus—wife and mistress and children.

13.8. At first she resisted, but having no idea what to do against a man who pressed her hard and urged her much, and fearing that he might attempt something more violent, she consented to the marriage, but begged him to wait a little while—thirty days—and to keep her untouched; and she pretended a reason. Perilaus was persuaded, and swore to keep her pure of marriage until the time had passed.

14.1. So she was in Tarsus with Perilaus, awaiting the time of the marriage; and Habrocomes was going along the road toward Cilicia. Not far from the robbers' cave (for he too had wandered from the direct road) he met Hippothous in arms.

14.2. Seeing him, Hippothous ran up, greeted him kindly, and asked him to be his companion on the road. "For I see, young man, whoever you are, that you are both beautiful to look upon and otherwise manly; and your wandering shows you to be one wholly wronged.

14.3. So let us leave Cilicia and go to Cappadocia and the Pontus there; for they say that prosperous men live there."

14.4. Habrocomes did not tell of his search for Anthia, but consented to Hippothous' urging, and they swore to work together and aid one another; for Habrocomes hoped, in his long wandering, to find Anthia.