THE FUNERAL OVER, GREGORY RETURNS HOME

But when we had completed all the accustomed funeral rites, and it became necessary to return home, I first threw myself on the grave and embraced the dust, and then I started on my way back, downcast and tearful, pondering over the greatness of my loss.

On my way I met a distinguished soldier who had a military command in a little city of Pontus named Sebastopolis, and dwelt [996C] there with his subordinates. He met me in friendly fashion when I reached the town, and was greatly disturbed to hear of the calamity, for he was linked to us by ties both of relationship and friendship. He told me a story of a marvellous episode in her life, which I shall incorporate into my history and then close my tale. When we had ceased our tears and had entered into conversation, he said to me----

"Learn what manner of goodness has been taken away from human life."

With this prelude he began his narrative.

Ἐπεὶ δὲ πάντα ἡμῖν τὰ ἐν τῇ κηδείᾳ νενομισμένα πεπλήρωτο καὶ ἔδει τῆς ἐπανόδου γενέσθαι, ἐπιπεσὼν τῷ τάφῳ καὶ τὴν κόνιν ἀσπασάμενος εἰχόμην πάλιν τῆς ὁδοῦ κατηφής τε καὶ δεδακρυμένος, λογιζόμενος ὅσου ἀγαθοῦ διεζεύχθη ὁ βίος. Κατὰ δὲ τὴν ὁδὸν ἀνήρ τις τῶν ἐν στρατείᾳ λαμπρῶν στρατιωτικὴν ἡγεμονίαν ἔχων ἐν πολίχνῃ τινὶ τῶν κατὰ τὸν Πόντον, ᾗ Σεβαστόπολις ὄνομα, μετὰ τῶν ὑπηκόων ἐνδιαιτώμενος ἀπήντησέ τε φιλοφρόνως κατ' αὐτὴν γενομένῳ καὶ τὴν συμφορὰν ἀκούσας καὶ χαλεπῶς ἐνεγκὼν (ἦν γὰρ δὴ τῶν ἐκ γένους ἡμῖν οἰκείων τε καὶ ἐπιτηδείων), προσέθηκέ μοί τι διήγημα τοῦ κατ' αὐτὴν θαύματος, ὃ δὴ καὶ μόνον ἐγγράψας τῇ ἱστορίᾳ, καταπαύσω τὴν συγγραφήν. Ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἐπαυσάμεθα τῶν δακρύων καὶ εἰς ὁμιλίαν κατέστημεν: «Ἄκουε, φησὶ πρός με λέγων ἐκεῖνος, οἷον καὶ ὅσον ἀγαθὸν τῆς ἀνθρωπίνης μετέστη ζωῆς.» Καὶ ταῦτα εἰπὼν οὕτως ἄρχεται τοῦ διηγήματος.