Kyniskos There is no need of words at all, for
you will very speedily know him for what he is
from his brands. However, I, too, will unveil
the man for you and exhibit him still more plainly
by what I say. The deeds this accursed wretch
committed while he was a private citizen I think
it best to omit; but when he banded himself
with the most daring spirits and collected a bodyguard, and, revolting, imposed himself on the
State as a tyrant, he slew thousands without trial,
and by taking possession of their property amassed
enormous wealth, and left no form of excess untried. No; he treated the wretched citizens with
every sort of insolence. He seduced the maidens,
debauched the young men, and bore himself in
every way offensively to his subjects. And you
could not even punish him adequately for his
suspicion, his vanity, and his overbearing manner


 


to those who happened in his way, for a man
would more easily have looked at the sun without
winking than at him. And who could describe
his inventiveness in the way of punishments to
gratify his cruelty? He did not keep his hands.
off even his next of kin. And you will know immediately that these things are not an empty
slander against him if you summon those that
were murdered by him. In fact, they are here
unbidden, as you see, crowding about him and
throttling him. All these, Rhadamanthos, died
by the wretch's hand. Some he plotted against
for the sake of their beautiful wives. Some gave
way to anger at his insolence when their sons
were led astray. Some died because they were
rich, and some because they were honest and
well-conducted, and in no way complacent of his
actions. Rhadamanthos Enough already of witnesses!
But strip him of his purple, too, so that we may
know how many brand-marks he has. Dear me,
he is perfectly livid and covered with marks, or,
rather, he is black and blue with them. Now,
how should he be punished? Shall we cast him
into the fiery stream or hand him over to Kerberos? Kyniskos Not at all, but, with your permission,
I will suggest a new and fitting punishment for
him.


 Rhadamanthos Speak; I shall be deeply grateful to you. Kyniskos It is the custom, I believe, for all,
when they die, to drink of the water of Lethe. Rhadamanthos Certainly. Kyniskos Then let him alone of all men have
no taste of it? Rhadamanthos Why? Kyniskos In this way he will undergo the
worst punishment, remembering what he was and
what power he had on earth, and pondering on
his lost splendors. Rhadamanthos You are right. Let him be
sentenced and carried off and bound along with
Tantalos, remembering the deeds he did while
he was alive.