Ephesian Tale

The Ephesian Tale (Ἐφεσιακά, Ephesiaka) of Anthia and Habrocomes (Τὰ κατὰ Ἀνθίαν καὶ Ἁβροκόμην, Ta kata Anthian kai Habrokomēn) is an Ancient Greek novel written before the late 2nd century AD by Xenophon of Ephesus, of whom very little is known.

Quotes

• Already it was night, and the bridal chamber was being made ready; and those whose duty it was arrived to escort Anthia. She went out in tears against her will, hiding the potion in her hand; and as she approached the bridal chamber, the household struck up the bridal song. But Anthia wept and wailed: “This is how I was once led to my bride-groom; the fire of love was our escort, and the wedding song was being sung for a happy marriage. But now what will you do, Anthia? Will you wrong Habrocomes, your husband, your loved one, who died for your sake? I am not so weak or cowardly in adversity. My mind is made up: I must drink the poison; Habrocomes must be my only husband; I want only him, even if he is dead.”
  • Book III, 6 (tr. Graham Anderson)

Translations

• Moses Hadas, Three Greek Romances (Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1953)

• Paul Turner, The Ephesian Story (London: Golden Cockerel Press, 1957)

• Graham Anderson, in B. P. Reardon, ed. Collected Ancient Greek Novels (University of California Press, 1989)

• Jeffrey Henderson, Longus · Xenephon of Ephesus, LCL 69 (Harvard University Press, 2009)