MICYLLUS 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? CYNISCUS Here I am, talking to you, Micyllus. Come, let’s walk together, if you like. MICYLLUS 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? CYNISCUS Right you are; indeed, here comes a woman with a torch, who looks very fierce and threatening. Do you suppose it is an Erinys? The Erinyes, or Furies, were Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. The torch of Tisiphone enhances the resemblance to the Mysteries, which were carried on by torch-light. MICYLLUS Probably, to judge from her appearance.