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Chaireas and Kallirhoe

or, The Loves of Chaereas and Callirrhoe by Chariton of Aphrodisios

DEDICATION.

TO the Right Honorable Countess of Northumberland.Madam,I beg leave to return all imaginable thanks to your Ladyship, for permitting me to adorn,with your illustrious name, the ensuing translation, made by two young persons, whosehappiness is of infinite concern to me; and who present their most humble duty, and most profound respects to your Ladyship.I was particularly encouraged to request this great honor, from a reflection, that your noble progenitors, while they signalized themselves, both in the cabinet and in the field,indulged the most generous protection to the Muses. On this occasion, the late Duchess of Somerset, your Ladyship's mother, shines with peculiar luster. Her Grace having been notonly a most bountiful patroness to every genius, but also inspiring them to excel, by themodels she herself produced for their imitation.The Greek original was written a great many centuries ago, and found but of late years.Being an elegant performance, it is presumed that it may prove a subject of curiosity to people of taste; and give them as much pleasure, as would the discovery of a beautifulantique statue, or a group of figures? It is well known, that the Greeks are the most perfect sources, of all things great and excellent, in every species of literature, and the polite arts.The word R

OMANCE

, is apt to prejudice many against all works under that title; assupposing them to be a mere rhapsody of incredible events; treating of puerile loves, andwritten in an inflated and unnatural style. But the present offering has much theappearance of a true story; it containing a great variety of incidents, all well prepared; andvery artfully interwoven; with scarce any thing improbable or improper; and the wholedrawn up with a gravity of style becoming an historian. Chaireas and Kallirhoe are

extremely unfortunate, but then they are virtuous: Circumstances which must endear their characters to a person of the C

OUNTESS

ORTHUMBERLAND

distinguished humanity.Your Ladyship, after having added radiance to a court, and been the delight of onekingdom, will soon accompany your noble L

ORD

to another: the government whereof, our gracious S

OVEREIGN

has conferred on him; and thereby given a conspicuous proof, of hisroyal regard and attention to the happiness of Ireland. How glorious an opportunity nowoffers, for his E

XCELLENCY

to immortalize himself; by continuing the exercise of the mostexalted of all passions, (a passion so familiar to him) that of D

OING

OOD

! How vastlyextensive will be his circle on that august occasion! Methinks I hear the people of Ireland blessing his delegated sway; and praying, that he might preside over them, for ever. Butas this would be impossible, me thinks I see them attending his departure, from them,with sighs; imploring Heaven to grant him a prosperous voyage, and a speedy return.— What transports must your Ladyship feel, when sharing all these true, these permanenthonors with a comfort, who so justly merits the noblest a grateful people could bestow!The idea is exceedingly delightful to my self; as is every thing which adds felicity andsplendor to the house of N

ORTHUMBERLAND

: and that it may continue with glory, the latestages, is the unsigned wish of,Madam.Your Ladyship'smost humble,most obedient,most devoted Servant,The E

DITOR

PREFACE.

THE loves of Chaireas and Kallirhoe, by Chariton of Aphrodisios, being one of the fewGreek romances which have escaped the injuries of time; are thought to be noinconsiderable acquisition to the republic of letters.The original Greek manuscript, supposed to be transcribed in the thirteenth century, wasfound in the celebrated abbey at Florence; intermixed with twenty-two other pieces byvarious authors; among which are Achilles Tatius, Longus, Xenophon Ephesius, and

Aesop's Fables.

The subjects of the other treatises relate to the Christian religion, or to theByzantine historians. It was imagined, that another manuscript of Chariton was lodged inthe Vatican Library; but, after the most strict search, no such copy could be found. Many persons of great erudition, particularly Father Montfaucon, and Mr. Burmann, were vastlydesirous of setting this work in print; and used their utmost endeavors to promote anedition of it, but without success.But about forty years since, Salvini and Cocchi, whose literary productions reflect greathonor on their native country, transcribed very accurately, in the above-mentioned abbey,the Greek manuscript of Chariton, with an intent to publish it: a merit, however, that wasreserved for the very learned Mr. D'Orville of Amsterdam.For that gentleman, after having visited England and France, travelled into Italy; andgetting acquainted in Florence, with the above-mentioned Dr. Cocchi; this latter, with thehumanity and politeness which throw a luster round the scholar, not only stowed him thecopy he had taken of Chariton, with his own curious observations, and those of Salviniupon it; but delivered all these pieces into his hand with full liberty for him to publish thewhole.Mr. D'Orville carrying these several pieces to Holland, was obliged, through amultiplicity of affairs, to suspend in a great measure, during some years, his design of preparing Chariton for the press. But eighteen years ago, he set seriously about it, and pursued his task with vast application. Afterwards Mr. Reiskius, Arabic possessor inLeipsic, and an intimate friend of Mr. D'Orville, favored him with a Latin translation of Chariton, with many curious emendations and conjectures: all which, with the Greek original, and a surprising variety of learned notes, by Mr. D'Orville, were published byhim, in a very fair and voluminous quarto at Amsterdam, anno 1750. That work isdedicated to the late Prince of Orange, whose most amiable disposition, and great love of learning and learned men, are well-known. The munificence of that Prince, gave Mr.D'Orville leisure to pursue with ease and cheerfulness, his literary toils; for which he

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BOOK I for Clariton's Chaireas and Kallirhoe

This ancient romance tells the story of two young Greeks from Syracuse. Misfortune at the hands of the heroine's lovers leads her from marriage, burial, adultery, and war to her... (More)

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