The Downward Journey, or the Tyrant (5)

CLOTHO

And we, Charon, were condemning Hermes for neglecting his duty, indeed!

CHARON

Well, why do we keep dilly-dallying as though we had not had delay enough already.

CLOTHO

Right; let them get aboard. I will hold the book and sit by the gangway as usual, and as each of them

comes aboard I will see who he is, where he comes from, and how he met his death; you receive them, and as you do so, pack and stow them. LTlermes, heave these babies aboard first, for what in the world can they have to say to me?

HERMES

Here you are, ferryman, three hundred of them, including those that were abandoned.

CHARON

I say, what a rich haul! It’s green-grape dead you have brought us.

HERMES

Clotho, do you want us to get the unmourned aboard next?

CLOTHO

You mean the old people? Yes, for why should I bother now to investigate what happened before the food?[*] All of you who are over sixty go in now. What’s this? They don’t heed me, for their ears are stopped with years. You will probably have to pick them up and carry them in, too.

HERMES

Here you are again, three hundred and _ninetyeight, all tender and ripe and harvested in season.

CHARON

Good Lord, yes! They’re all raisins now!