The Downward Journey, or the Tyrant (6-10)

Bring in the wounded next, Hermes. (To the DEAD) First tell me what deaths brought you

Here they are!

Seven committed suicide for love, among them the philosopher Theagenes for the courtesan from Megara.[*]

Right here beside you.

Where are the men who killed each other fighting for the throne?

Here they stand.

And the man who was murdered by his wife and her lover?

There beside you.

Now bring in the output of the courts, I mean those who died by the scourge and the cross. And where are the sixteen who were killed by pirates, Hermes?

Here they are, these wounded men whom you see. Do you want me to bring in all the women together?

By all means, and also those lost at sea, for they died in the same way. And those who died of the fever, bring them in together, too, and their doctor Agathocles along with them.

Where is the philosopher Cyniscus, who was to die from eating the dinner of Hecate and the lustral eggs and a raw squid besides?[*]

Ihave been standing at your elbow a long time, kind Clotho. What have I done that you should leave me on earth so long? Why, you nearly ran off your whole spindle for me! In spite of that, I have often tried to cut the thread and come, but somehow or other it could not be broken.

I left you behind to observe and prescribe for the sins of man. But get aboard, and good luck to you.:

No, by Heaven, not till we have put this man in fetters aboard. I am afraid he may come it over you with his entreaties.

Come, let’s see who he is.

Megapenthes,[*] son of Lacydes, a tyrant.

Aboard with you!

Oh no, good lady Clotho! Do let me go back to earth for a little while. Then [ll come of my own accord, you will find, without being summoned by anyone.

Why is it that you want to go back?

Let me finish my house first, for the building has been left half-done.

Nonsense! Come, get aboard.

It’s not much time that I ask for, Lady of Destiny; let me stay just this one day, till I can give my wife directions about my money—the place where I kept my great treasure buried.

It is settled; you can’t be permitted.

Then is all that gold to be lost?

No, it will not be lost. Be easy on that score your cousin Megacles will get it.

What an outrage! My enemy, whom I was too easy-going to put to death before I died?

The very man; and he will outlive you forty years and a little more, taking over your concubines and your clothing and all your plate.

You are unjust, Clotho, to bestow my property on my worst enemies.

Why, did not it formerly belong to Cydimachus, and did not you take it over after killing him and slaughtering his children upon him while the breath was still in his body?

But it was mine now.

Well, the term of your ownership has now expired.

Listen, Clotho, to something that I have to say to you in private, with nobody else listening. (Yo the others.) You people stand aside a moment. (Yo ctoruo) If you let me run away, I promise to give you a thousand talents of coined gold to-day.

What, you ridiculous creature, have you gold and talents still on the brain?

And I'll give you also, if you wish, the two winebowls that I got when I put Cleocritus to death; they are of refined gold and weigh a hundred talents each.

Hale him off: it seems that he won’t go aboard willingly.

I call you all to witness, the town wall and the docks remain unfinished. I could have finished them if I had lived only five days longer.

Never mind; someone else will build the wall.

But this request at all events is reasonable.

What request?

To live only long enough to subdue the Pisidians and subject the Lydians to tribute, and to build myself a huge mausoleum and inscribe on it all the great military exploits of my life.

Why, man, you are no longer asking for this one day, but for a stay of nearly twenty years!

But I tell you I am ready to give bail for my speedy return. If you wish, I’ll even surrender you my beloved as a substitute for myself.

Vile wretch! Have not you often prayed that he night outlast you on earth?

That was long ago, but now I perceive whawi is for the best.

He too will soon be here, you'll find, slain by the new ruler.