22
Right you are; indeed, here comes a woman with a torch, who looks very fierce and threatening. Do you suppose it is an Erinys?The Erinyes, or Furies, were Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. The torch of Tisiphone enhances the resemblance to the Mysteries, which were carried on by torch-light.
22
Probably, to judge from her appearance.
23
Take these people in charge, Tisiphone, a thousand and four.
23
Indeed, Rhadamanthus here has been awaiting you this long time.
23
Bring them before me, Erinys. Be crier, Hermes, and summon them by name.
23
Rhadamanthus, in the name of Zeus your father I beseech you to have me up first and judge me.
23
For what reason?
23
Come what may, I wish to prosecute a certain tyrant for the wicked deeds that I know him to have done in life, and I cannot expect to be believed when I speak unless I first make it plain what sort of man I am. and what sort of life I led.
23
Who are you?
23
Cyniscus, your worship, by profession a philosopher.
23
Come here and be tried first. Call the plaintiffs.
24
If any one has charges to prefer against this man Cyniscus, let him come this way.
24
No one comes.
24
But that is not enough, Cyniscus: strip yourself, so that I can judge you from the marks on your back.
24
Why, how did I ever come to be a marked man?As orvypyartas (branded man) was applied to rogues in general, there is a slight word-play in the Greek also.
24
For every wicked deed that each of you has done in his life he bears an invisible mark on his soul.
24
Here I am naked, so seek out the marks you mention.
24
The man is altogether free from marks, except for these three or four, very faint and uncertain. But what is this? There are many traces and indications of brandings, but somehow or other they have been erased, or rather, effaced. How is that, Cyniscus, and how is it that you looked free from them at first?
24
I will tell you. For a long time I was a wicked man through ignorance and earned many marks thereby; but no sooner had I begun to be a philosopher than I gradually washed away all the scars from my soul.
