There was in Ephesus a man, of the most powerful,
named Lycomedes.
To this Lycomedes and a local woman, Themisto,
a son is born, Habrocomes,
a paragon of beauty, having previously neither in Ionia,
nor in another land been born.
This Habrocomes,
grew continually and by the day handsomer
and along with his bodily beauties
blossomed the virtues of his soul.
For he followed all kinds of study
and practiced various arts,
and hunting, riding and armed fighting
were his usual exercises.
He was of interest to all Ephesians
but to the other inhabitants of Asia
and they had high hopes that
he would be a distinguished citizen.
They treated the boy like a god
and there were some who knelt at his sight
and offered prayers.
The boy had a great idea of himself
and gloried in spiritual accomplishments and
much more in bodily beauty.
Of all the others, whatever was found fine,
he despised as inferior and nothing to him,
neither sight nor sound, seemed worthy of Habrocomes.
And if anyone heard of a beautiful boy or girl
he laughed at the speakers, that they
didn't know that there was
only one handsome, he!
Eros he didn't reckon as a god
but in all ways rejected him, without consideration
saying that none will fall in love
nor submit to this god
against his will.
And wherever he saw a shrine or statue of Eros
he mocked and
declared himself handsomer of any Eros.
And it was so!
wherever Habrocomes was seen
no statue seemed beautiful,
nor any picture was praised.
Eros became enraged because of these,
as he loves strife and is merciless to arrogant people.
He sought a stratagem against the boy,
since, even to the god, he seemed hard to conquer.
So, arming himself and
putting on all love charms he had,
marched against Habrocomes.
