Now by Dog and Plane-tree, it is as I say!

Heracles! What strange Gods are these?

Why, the Dog is a God, I suppose? Is not Anubis made much of in Egypt? Is there not a Dog-star in Heaven, and a Cerberus in the lower world?

Quite so. My mistake. Now what is your manner of life?

I live in a city of my own building; I make my own laws, and have a novel constitution of my own.

I should like to hear some of your statutes.

You shall hear the greatest of them all. No woman shall be restricted to one husband. Every man who likes is her husband.

What! Then the laws of adultery are clean swept away?

I should think they were! and a world of hair-splitting with them.

And what do you do with the handsome boys?

‘Their kisses are the reward of merit, of noble and spirited actions.