The Ferry (8)

Come, let me know who he is.

Megapenthes, son of Lakydes, a despot.

Come aboard.

Not for worlds, Madam Klotho. Let me go up for a little while. Then I will come to you by my own free-will at no one's summons.

What is the reason you want to go?

Give me time to finish my house. I left my dwelling behind half built.

Nonsense! Get in.

I do not ask for a long time, Fate. Let me stay just this one day, to appear to my wife and tell her something about my moneywhere I kept my great treasure hidden.

It is fixed. You cannot do it.

Then will all that gold be lost?

Not at all; you may be at ease about that. Your cousin Megakles will get hold of it.

Oh, what an affront! My enemy, whom I was too easy-going to put to death before me?

The same. He will survive you forty years and something over, in possession of your harem and your clothes and all your wealth.

It is unjust, Klotho, to assign my property to my greatest enemies.

I suppose, my noble sir, that you did not seize it when it belonged to Kydimachos, murdering the man himself and then slaying his children on their father's warm body?

But at present it was mine.

Well, your time of possession had run out.