The Downward Journey, or the Tyrant (22-25)

Heracles, how dark it is! Where now is handsome Megillus, and who can tell here that Simiche is not more beautiful than Phryne? All things are alike and of the same colour, and nothing is either beautiful or more beautiful; indeed, even my short cloak, which till now I thought ugly, is as good as the purple mantle of the king, for both are invisible and submerged in the same darkness. Cyniscus, where in the world are you?

Here I am, talking to you, Micyllus. Come, let’s walk together, if you like.

Good! Give me your hand. Tell me—for of course you have been through the Eleusinian Mysteries, Cyniscus—don’t you think this is like them?

Right you are; indeed, here comes a woman with

Probably, to judge from her appearance.

Take these people in charge, Tisiphone, a thousand and four.

Indeed, Rhadamanthus here has been awaiting you this long time.

Bring them before me, Erinys. Be crier, Hermes, and summon them by name.

Rhadamanthus, in the name of Zeus your father I beseech you to have me up first and judge me.

For what reason?

Come what may, I wish to prosecute a certain tyrant for the wicked deeds that I know him to have done in life, and I cannot expect to be believed when I speak unless I first make it plain what sort of man I am. and what sort of life I led.

Who are you?

Cyniscus, your worship, by profession a philosopher.

Come here and be tried first. Call the plaintiffs.

If any one has charges to prefer against this man Cyniscus, let him come this way.

No one comes.

But that is not enough, Cyniscus: strip yourself, so that I can judge you from the marks on your back.

Why, how did I ever come to be a marked man?[*]

For every wicked deed that each of you has done in his life he bears an invisible mark on his soul.

Here I am naked, so seek out the marks you mention.

The man is altogether free from marks, except for these three or four, very faint and uncertain. But what is this? There are many traces and indications of brandings, but somehow or other they have been erased, or rather, effaced. How is that, Cyniscus, and how is it that you looked free from them at first?

I will tell you. For a long time I was a wicked man through ignorance and earned many marks thereby; but no sooner had I begun to be a philosopher than I gradually washed away all the scars from my soul.

At any rate he made use of a cure that is sound and very efficacious. Well, go your way to the Isles of the Blest to live with the good, but first prosecute the tyrant you spoke of. Hermes, summon others.

My case also is a trifling one and needs but a short investigation. In fact, I have been stripped and waiting for you a long time, so inspect me.

Who are you?

The cobbler Micyllus.

Good, Micyllus, you are quite clean and unmarked. Be off and join Cyniscus there. Call the tyrant now.

Let Megapenthes, son of Lacydes, come this way. Where are you turning to? Come here! It is you I am calling, tyrant. Thrust him in among us, Tisiphone, with a push on the neck.

Cyniscus, open your prosecution and state your case now, for here is the man.