Come, pay me the ferry-charge first! -Give me yours, too. Now they have all paid. -Pay me your obol, too, Mikyllos.

You are joking, Charon, or else your accounts are writ in water, as they say, if you expect any obol from Mikyllos. I absolutely do not know whether an obol is four-sided or round.

This is a fine, profitable voyage to-day! However, take yourselves ashore. I am going after the horses and cows and dogs and other animals, for they, too, must needs cross now.

Take them and conduct them, Hermes. I myself must sail to the other shore, to bring over Indopatris and Eraminthe, the Seres. They are already dead just now from fighting with each other about the boundaries of their territories.

Let us proceed, friends, or, rather, all follow me in order.

Goodness, how dark it is. Where now is the handsome Megillos? Or how can any one tell here whether Simmiche is more beautiful than Phryne? All things are equal and of the same complexion, and there are no such things as degrees of beauty. Even my threadbare cloak, which always used to seem hideous to me, is now just as good as the king's purple, for they are both invisible and covered by the same darkness. Kyniskos, where may you happen to be?

Here I am. Let us stroll on together, if agreeable to you.

By all means. Give me your arm. Tell me, is not this much the same sort of thing as the Eleusinian mysteries-for of course you have been initiated?

You are right. See, now, this person advancing with a torch, looking fiercely and threateningly about her. I wonder whether it is an Erinnys?

Probably, from the look of her dress.

Receive these people, Tisiphone-a thousand and four.

Indeed, Rhadamanthos here has been waiting for you a long time.

Bring them forward, Erinnys. You, Hermes, officiate as herald and summon them.

Rhadamanthos, in the name of your father, produce me and examine me first.

Why?

I have a great desire to accuse some one of the evil deeds I know he committed in his lifetime, and my testimony would not be worthy of credence unless it has first been shown what my character is and how I passed my life.

And who are you?

Kyniskos, my good sir, of the philosophical persuasion.

Come here and stand your trial first. Hermes, call for the accusers.

If any one accuses Kyniskos, the defendant, let him come forward.

No one comes.

But this is not enough, Kyniskos. Take off your clothes, so that I may judge you by your brands.

My case, too, Rhadamanthos, is a trifling one, and calls for a short inquiry. I am stripped for you already, so examine me.

Who may you be?

Mikyllos, the shoemaker.

Well done, Mikyllos; you are perfectly spotless and unmarked. You, too, I dismiss along with Kyniskos here. Now summon the tyrants.

Let Megapenthes, son of Lakydes, appear. Which way are you turning? Come forward. I am summoning you, the despot. Shove him out, Tisiphone, head-foremost into the middle.

But you, Kyniskos, accuse him now and expose him utterly, for the man is at hand as defendant.