22
Bless me, how dark it is! Where is handsome Megillus now? There would be no telling Simmiche from Phryne. All complexions are alike here, no question of beauty, greater or less. Why, the cloak I thought so shabby before passes muster here as well as royal purple; the darkness hides both alike. Cyniscus, whereabouts are you?
22
Use your ears; here I am. We might walk together. What do you say?
22
Very good; give me your hand.—I suppose you have been admitted to the mysteries at Eleusis? That must have been something like this, I should think?
22
Pretty much. Look, here comes a torch-bearer; a grim, forbidding dame. A Fury, perhaps?
22
She looks like it, certainly.
23
Here they are, Tisiphone. One thousand and four.
23
It is time we had them. Rhadamanthus has been waiting.
23
Bring them up, Tisiphone. Hermes, you call out their names as they are wanted.
23
Rhadamanthus, as you love your father Zeus, have me up first for examination.
23
Why?
23
There is a certain shade whose misdeeds on earth I am anxious to denounce. And if my evidence is to be worth anything, you must first be satisfied of my own character and conduct.
23
Who are you?
23
Cyniscus, your worship; a student of philosophy.
23
Come up for judgement; I will take you first. Hermes, summon the accusers.
24
If any one has an accusation to bring against Cyniscus here present, let him come forward.
24
No one stirs!
24
Ah, but that is not enough, my friend. Off with your clothes; I must have a look at your brands.
24
Brands? Where will you find them?
24
Never yet did mortal man sin, but he carried about the secret record thereof, branded on his soul.
24
Well, here I am stripped. Now for the ‘brands.’
24
Clean from head to heel, except three or four very faint marks, scarcely to be made out. Ah! what does this mean? Here is place after place that tells of the iron; all rubbed out apparently, or cut out. How do you explain this, Cyniscus? How did you get such a clean skin again?
