27
Hermes, please summon up his lamp and his bed, for they will appear in person and testify to the things that they know he has done.
27
Bed and Lamp of Megapenthes, appear. They have been so good as to comply.
27
Now then, tell us what you know this man Megapenthes to have done. You speak first, Bed.
27
All that Cyniscus has charged is true. But I am ashamed, Rhadamanthus, my lord, to speak of these matters, such were the deeds he did upon me.
27
Well, you give the clearest of testimony against him by your very reluctance to speak of the facts. Now, Lamp, it is your turn to testify.
27
I did not see what happened by day, for I was not there, and what went on at night I am loth to say; I witnessed many things, however, that were unspeakable and overleaped the bounds of all outrageousness. In fact, I often tried of my own accord to keep my wick from drinking the oil, for I wanted to go out; but he for his part even put me closer to the scene and polluted my light in every way.
28
Enough witnesses! Come, strip off your purple robe that we may see the number of your marks. Well, well! The fellow isall livid and crisscrossed; indeed, he is black and blue with marks. How can he be punished? Shall he be thrown into the River of Burning Fire or turned over to Cerberus?
28
No, no! If you like, I will suggest you a punishment that is new and fits his crime.
28
Speak out; I shall be most grateful to you for it.
28
It is customary, I believe, for all the dead to drink the water of Lethe?
28
Certainly.
28
Then let this man be the only one not to drink it.
29
Why, pray?
29
He will pay a bitter penalty in that way, by remembering what he was and how much power he had in the upper world, and reviewing his life of luxury.
29
Good! Let sentence stand in that form, and let the fellow be taken off and put in fetters near Tantalus, to remember what he did in life.
