Heliodorus Emesenus, Aethiopica 4.3.1-4.4.2: the novel's protagonist Chariclea at the Pythian Games

Heliodorus Emesenus, Aethiopica 4.3.1-4.4.2: the novel's protagonist Chariclea at the Pythian Games

ca. 3rd/4th century CE

Novel

Literary source

[...] Then he put on his armour and stood at the starting point, panting because of the great desire he had to run, and scarcely able to tarry for the sound of the trumpet. It was a goodly sight and worthy to be looked at, much like that wherein Homer bringeth in Achilles as he ran at Scamander. All Greece was moved at this deed, which fell contrary to their expectation, and wished the victory to Theagenes as heartily as if every man had run himself. For comeliness of person is of great force to get the good will of men. Chariclea also was moved beyond measure, and since I looked upon her a great while, I espied how her countenance diversely changed. For after the herald had in all men’s hearing named those that were to run, Ormenus, an Arcadian and Theagenes, a Thessalian, they left their standings and began the race, going with such speed that men could scarce behold them. Then the maid could not keep quiet any more, but her limbs were moved and her feet leapt into the air, as though her mind was with Theagenes helping him in the race. All those that looked on waited to see what the end would be and were very anxious; most of all I, who had now determined with myself to have like care for him as if he had been my son. After they had run the middle of the race,' said Calasiris, 'Theagenes turned a little about and frowning upon Ormenus lifted up his shield aloft, and stretching out his neck with his eyes fast fixed on Chariclea, he flew toward her like an arrow to its mark, so that the Arcadian was left many yards behind; which quantity of ground was after measured. Then running to Chariclea he of purpose fell into her lap, as though he could not stay himself, and when he took the garland from her I saw well enough that he kissed her hand.'

Thomas Underdowne, rev. and rewr. by F. A. Wright, Heliodorus, An Aethiopian Romance, London 1923.

[...] καὶ τὴν πανοπλίαν ἐνδὺς ἐφειστήκει τῇ βαλβῖδι τὸν δρόμον ἀσθμαίνων καὶ τὸ παρὰ τῆς σάλπιγγος ἐνδόσιμον ἄκων καὶ μόγις ἀναμένων, σεμνόν τι θέαμα καὶ περίβλεπτον καὶ οἷον Ὅμηρος τὸν Ἀχιλλέα τὴν ἐπὶ Σκαμάνδρῳ μάχην ἀθλοῦντα παρίστησιν. Ἐκεκίνητο μὲν δὴ καὶ πᾶσα πρὸς τὸ παράδοξον ἡ Ἑλλὰς καὶ Θεαγένει νίκην ηὔχετο καθάπερ αὐτός τις ἕκαστος ἀγωνιζόμενος, ἐπακτικὸν γάρ τι καὶ πρῶτον ὁρώντων εἰς εὔνοιαν τὸ κάλλος· ἐκεκίνητο δὲ ἡ Χαρίκλεια πρὸς πᾶσαν ὑπερβολὴν καὶ εἶδον ἐκ πολλοῦ παρατηρῶν παντοίας μεταβαλλομένην ἰδέας. Ὡς γὰρ εἰς ἀκοὴν πάντων ὁ κῆρυξ τοὺς δραμουμένους κατήγγειλεν ἀνεῖπέ τε »Ὄρμενος Ἀρκὰς καὶ Θεαγένης Θετταλός«, ἔσχαστο μὲν ἡ ὕσπληξ τέτατο δὲ ὁ δρόμος μικροῦ καὶ τὴν τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν κατάληψιν ὑποτέμνων· ἐνταῦθα οὔτε ἀτρεμεῖν ἔτι κατεῖχεν ἡ κόρη ἀλλ´ ἐσφάδαζεν ἡ βάσις καὶ οἱ πόδες ἔσκαιρον ὥσπερ, οἶμαι, τῆς ψυχῆς τῷ Θεαγένει συνεξαιρομένης καὶ τὸν δρόμον συμπροθυμουμένης. Οἱ μὲν δὴ θεαταὶ μετέωρος ἅπας ἐπὶ τὸ μέλλον καὶ ἀγωνίας ἀνάμεστος, ἐγὼ δὲ καὶ πλέον ἅτε μοι λοιπὸν ὡς παιδὸς ὑπερφροντίζειν προῃρημένον. «Ἐπεὶ δὴ μέσον, ὦ Κνήμων, ἠνύετο τὸ στάδιον, ὀλίγον ἐπιστρέψας καὶ ὑποβλέψας τὸν Ὄρμενον ἀνακουφίζει τὴν ἀσπίδα πρὸς ὕψος καὶ τὸν αὐχένα διεγείρας τὸ βλέμμα τε ὅλον εἰς τὴν Χαρίκλειαν τείνας καθάπερ βέλος ἐπὶ σκοπὸν ἐφέρετο καὶ τοσοῦτον παρέφθη τὸν Ἀρκάδα ὀργυιῶν πλῆθος ὃ διαλεῖπον εἰς ὕστερον ἐμετρήθη. Προσδραμὼν οὖν τῇ Χαρικλείᾳ πολύς τε ἐξεπίτηδες εἰς τὸ στέρνον ἐμπίπτει, τοῦ δρόμου δῆθεν τὴν ῥύμην οὐκ ἐνεγκών, καὶ τὸν φοίνικα κομιζόμενος οὐκ ἔλαθέ με τὴν χεῖρα τῆς κόρης φιλῶν.»

R.M. Rattenbury (ed.), Héliodore. Les Éthiopiques (Théagène et Chariclée), vol. 2, Paris 1938.