Voyage To the Lower World (26-29)

Cynic There is in fact no need of an accusation. You will very soon know the man by the marks upon him. My words however may serve to unveil him, and to show his character in a clearer light. With the conduct of this monster as a private citizen, I need not detain you. Surrounded with a bodyguard, and aided by unscrupulous accomplices, he rose against his native city, and established a lawless rule. The persons put to death by him without trial are to be counted by thousands, and it was the confiscation of their property that gave him his enormous wealth. Since then, there is no conceivable iniquity

which he has not perpetrated. His hapless fellow-citizens have been subjected to every form of cruelty and insult. Virgins have been seduced, boys corrupted, the feelings of his subjects outraged in every possible way. His overweening pride, his insolent bearing towards all who had to do with him, were such as no doom of yours can adequately requite. A man might with more security have fixed his gaze upon the blazing sun, than upon yonder tyrant. As for the refined cruelty of his punishments, it baffles description; and not even his familiars were exempt. That this accusation has not been brought without sufficient grounds, you may easily satisfy yourself, by summoning the murderer’s victims.—Nay, they need no summons; see, they are here; they press round as though they would stifle him. Every man there, Rhadamanthus, fell a prey to his iniquitous designs. Some had attracted his attention by the beauty of their wives; others by their resentment at the forcible abduction of their children; others by their wealth; others again by their understanding, their moderation, and their unvarying disapproval of his conduct.

Rhadamanthus Villain, what have you to say to this?

Megapenthes. I committed the murders referred to. As for the rest, the adulteries and corruptions and seductions, it is all a pack of lies.

Cynic I can bring witnesses to these points too, Rhadamanghus.

Rhadamanthus Witnesses, eh?

Cynic Hermes, kindly summon his Lamp and Bed. They will appear in evidence, and state what they know of his conduct.

Hermes Lamp and Bed of Megapenthes, come into court. Good, they respond to the summons,

Rhadamanthus Now, tell us all you know about Megapenthes. Bed, you speak first.

Bed All that Cyniscus said is true. But really, Mr. Rhadamanthus, I don’t quite like to speak about it; such strange things used to happen overhead.

Rhadamanthus Why, your unwillingness to speak is the most telling evidence of all!—Lamp, now let us have yours.;

Lamp What went on in the daytime I never saw, not being there. As for his doings at night, the less said the better. I saw some very queer things, though, monstrous queer. Many is the time I have stopped taking oil on purpose, and tried to goout. But then he used to bring me close up. It was enough to give any lamp a bad character.

Rhadamanthus Enough of verbal evidenee. Now, just divest yourself of that purple, and we will see what you have in the way of brands. Goodness gracious, the man’s a positive network! Black and blue with them! Now, what punishment can we givehim? A bathin Pyriphlegethon? The tender mercies of Cerberus, perhaps?

Cynic No, no. Allow me,—I have a novel idea; something that will just suit him.

Rhadamanthus Yes? I shall be obliged to you for a suggestion.

Cynic I fancy it is usual for departed spirits to take a draught of the water of Lethe?

Rhadamanthus Just so.

Cynic Let him be the sole exception.

Rhadamanthus What is the idea in that?

Cynic His earthly pomp and power for ever in his mind; his fingers ever busy on the tale of blissful items;—’tis a heavy sentence!

Rhadamanthus True. Be this the tyrant’s doom. Place him in fetters at Tantalus’s side,—never to forget the things of earth.