--- title: "The Downward Journey, or The Tyrant · Κατάπλους ἢ Τύραννος" author: "Lucian" translator: "Austin Morris Harmon" languages: [grc, en] shelf: "Classical Greek" section: 1 of 2 url: https://scriptura.si/works/lucian-the-downward-journey/1/ cite: "Lucian, tr. Austin Morris Harmon, The Downward Journey, or The Tyrant · Κατάπλους ἢ Τύραννος, section 1. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/lucian-the-downward-journey/1/" --- # The Downward Journey, or The Tyrant · Κατάπλους ἢ Τύραννος *Lucian, tr. Austin Morris Harmon* Charon’s ferry to Hades: a tyrant who clings to life and a poor cobbler who is glad to die. > Greek: ed. Austin Morris Harmon, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-greekLit, tlg0062.tlg016, CC BY-SA 4.0). > English: Austin Morris Harmon, from the Perseus Digital Library (tlg0062.tlg016.perseus-eng2). Notes are not included. > Rows follow the references the two texts share (chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence. ## 1. Sections 1–14 Source: https://scriptura.si/works/lucian-the-downward-journey/1/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/lucian-the-downward-journey/1/#p-N [¶0] 1. CHARON: Well, Clotho, we have had this boat all ship-shape and thoroughly ready to sail for some time. The water is baled out, the mast is set up, the sail is hoisted in stops and each of the oars has a lanyard to it, so that as far as I am concerned there is nothing to hinder our getting up anchor and sailing. But Hermes is behind hand; he should have been here long ago. There is not a passenger aboard the ferryboat, as you see, when she might have made three trips to-day by this time, and here it is almost dusk and I haven’t earned even an obol yet. Besides, Pluto will surely think I am taking it easy all this time, when really someone else is to blame. Our honourable guide of souls has had a drink of Lethewater up there if ever a man did, and so has forgotten to come back to us: he is either wrestling a fall with the boys or playing a tune on the lyre or making speeches to show off his command of piflle, or maybe the gentleman is even playing sneak-thief, for that is one of his accomplishments also. Anyhow, he takes liberties with us as if he were free, when really he is half ours. > Greek: 1. Χάρων: Εἶεν, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, τὸ μὲν σκάφος τοῦτο ἡμῖν πάλαι εὐτρεπὲς καὶ πρὸς ἀναγωγὴν εὖ μάλα παρεσκευασμένον· ὅ τε γὰρ ἄντλος ἐκκέχυται καὶ ὁ ἱστὸς ὤρθωται καὶ ἡ ὀθόνη παρακέκρουσται καὶ τῶν κωπῶν ἑκάστη τετρόπωται, κωλύει τε οὐδέν, ὅσον ἐπʼ ἐμοί, τὸ ἀγκύριον ἀνασπάσαντας ἀποπλεῖν. ὁ δὲ Ἑρμῆς βραδύνει, πάλαι παρεῖναι δέον· κενὸν γοῦν ἐπιβατῶν, ὡς ὁρᾷς, ἔστι τὸ πορθμεῖον τρὶς ἤδη τήμερον ἀναπεπλευκέναι δυνάμενον· καὶ σχεδὸν ἀμφὶ βουλυτόν ἐστιν, ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐδέπω οὐδὲ ὀβολὸν ἐμπεπολήκαμεν. εἶτα ὁ Πλούτων εὖ οἶδα ὅτι ἐμὲ ῥᾳθυμεῖν ἐν τούτοις ὑπολήψεται, καὶ ταῦτα παρʼ ἄλλῳ οὔσης τῆς αἰτίας. ὁ δὲ καλὸς ἡμῖν κἀγαθὸς νεκροπομπὸς ὥσπερ τις ἄλλος καὶ αὐτὸς ἄνω τὸ τῆς Λήθης ὕδωρ πεπωκὼς ἀναστρέψαι πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἐπιλέλησται, καὶ ἤτοι παλαίει μετὰ τῶν ἐφήβων ἢ κιθαρίζει ἢ λόγους τινὰς διεξέρχεται ἐπιδεικνύμενος τὸν λῆρον τὸν αὑτοῦ, ἢ τάχα που καὶ κλωπεύει ὁ γεννάδας παρελθών· μία γὰρ αὐτοῦ καὶ αὕτη τῶν τεχνῶν. ὁ δʼ οὖν ἐλευθεριάζει πρὸς ἡμᾶς, καὶ ταῦτα ἐξ ἡμισείας ἡμέτερος ὤν. [¶1] 2. CLOTHO: But, Charon, how do you know that he hasn’t found something to keep him busy? Zeus may have wanted to make more use of him than usual in affairs up above. He too is his master. > Greek: 2. Κλωθώ: τί δὲ οἶδας, ὦ Χάρων, εἴ τις ἀσχολία προσέπεσεν αὐτῷ, τοῦ Διὸς ἐπὶ πλέον δεηθέντος ἀποχρήσασθαι πρὸς τὰ ἄνω πράγματα; δεσπότης δὲ κἀκεῖνός ἐστιν. [¶2] CHARON: Yes, Clotho, but he has no right to go too far in playing the master over joint property, for we on our part have never kept Hermes back when he had to go. No, I know the reason: here with us there is nothing but asphodel and libations and funeral-cakes and offerings to the dead, and all else is misty, murky darkness; in heaven, however, it is all bright, and there is ambrosia in plenty and nectar without stint, so it is likely that he finds it more pleasant to tarry there. And when he leaves us he flies up as if he were escaping from jail, but when it is time to come down he comes with reluctance, at the last moment, slowly and afoot. > Greek: Χάρων: ἀλλʼ οὐχ ὥστε, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, πέρα τοῦ μέτρου δεσπόζειν κοινοῦ κτήματος, ἐπεὶ οὐδὲ ἡμεῖς ποτε αὐτόν, ἀπιέναι δέον, κατεσχήκαμεν. ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ οἶδα τὴν αἰτίαν· παρʼ ἡμῖν μὲν γὰρ ἀσφόδελος μόνον καὶ χοαὶ καὶ πόπανα καὶ ἐναγίσματα, τὰ δʼ ἄλλα ζόφος καὶ ὁμίχλη καὶ σκότος, ἐν δὲ τῷ οὐρανῷ φαιδρὰ πάντα καὶ ἥ τε ἀμβροσία πολλὴ καὶ τὸ νέκταρ ἄφθονον· ὥστε ἥδιον παρʼ ἐκείνοις βραδύνειν ἔοικε. καὶ παρʼ ἡμῶν μὲν ἀνίπταται καθάπερ ἐκ δεσμωτηρίου τινὸς ἀποδιδράσκων· ἐπειδὰν δὲ καιρὸς κατιέναι, σχολῇ καὶ βάδην μόγις ποτὲ κατέρχεται. [¶3] 3. CLOTHO: Don’t be angry any longer, Charon; here he is close by, you see, bringing us a lot of people, or I should say waving them along with his wand, all in a huddle, like a herd of goats. But what’s this? There is a man in fetters among them and another who is laughing, I see, and one fellow with a wallet over his shoulder and a club in his hand, who has a piercing eye and hurries the others along. Don’t you see, too, that Hermes himself is dripping with sweat and dusty-footed and panting? In fact, he is gasping for breath. What’s all this, Hermes? What’s the excitement? You seem to be in a stew, you know. > Greek: 3. Κλωθώ: μηκέτι χαλέπαινε, ὦ Χάρων· πλησίον γὰρ αὐτὸς οὗτος, ὡς ὁρᾷς, πολλούς τινας ἡμῖν ἄγων, μᾶλλον δὲ ὥσπερ τι αἰπόλιον ἀθρόους αὐτοὺς τῇ ῥάβδῳ σοβῶν. ἀλλὰ τί τοῦτο; δεδεμένον τινὰ ἐν αὐτοῖς καὶ ἄλλον γελῶντα ὁρῶ, ἕνα δέ τινα καὶ πήραν ἐξημμένον καὶ ξύλον ἐν τῇ χειρὶ ἔχοντα, δριμὺ ἐνορῶντα καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους ἐπισπεύδοντα. οὐχ ὁρᾷς δὲ καὶ τὸν Ἑρμῆν αὐτὸν ἱδρῶτι ῥεόμενον καὶ τὼ πόδε κεκονιμένον καὶ πνευστιῶντα; μεστὸν γοῦν ἄσθματος αὐτῷ τὸ στόμα. τί ταῦτα, ὦ Ἑρμῆ; τίς ἡ σπουδή; τεταραγμένῳ γὰρ ἡμῖν ἔοικας. [¶4] HERMES: Why, Clotho, this miserable sinner ran away and I chased him, and so almost failed to make your boat to-day, that’s all! > Greek: Ἑρμῆς: τί δʼ ἄλλο, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, ἢ τουτονὶ τὸν ἀλιτήριον ἀποδράντα μεταδιώκων ὀλίγου δεῖν λιπόνεως ὑμῖν τήμερον ἐγενόμην; [¶5] CLOTHO: Who is he, and what was his object in trying to run away? > Greek: Κλωθώ: τίς δʼ ἐστίν; ἢ τί βουλόμενος ἀπεδίδρασκε; [¶6] HERMES: That’s easy to see—he preferred to live! He isa king or a tyrant, to judge from his lamentations and the wailing that he makes, in which he makes out that he has had great happiness taken away from him. > Greek: Ἑρμῆς: τουτὶ μὲν πρόδηλον, ὅτι ζῆν μᾶλλον ἐβούλετο. ἔστι δὲ βασιλεύς τις ἢ τύραννος, ἀπὸ γοῦν τῶν ὀδυρμῶν καὶ ὧν ἀνακωκύει, πολλῆς τινος εὐδαιμονίας ἐστερῆσθαι λέγων. [¶7] CLOTHO: So the poor fool tried to run away, thinking that he could live longer, when the thread of life apportioned to him had already run short? > Greek: Κλωθώ: εἶθʼ ὁ μάταιος ἀπεδίδρασκεν, ὡς ἐπιβιῶναι δυνάμενος, ἐπιλελοιπότος ἤδη τοῦ ἐπικεκλωσμένου αὐτῷ νήματος; [¶8] 4. HERMES: Tried to run away, do you say? Why, if this splendid fellow, the one with the stick, had not helped me and we had not caught and bound him, he would have got clean away from us. You see, from the moment Atropos turned him over to me he kept straining and pulling back every inch of the way, and as he braced his feet on the ground he was by no means easy to lead; sometimes, too, he would beg and entreat, wanting to be let go for a little while and promising a heavy bribe. Of course I did not let him go, for I saw that what he was after was impossible. But when we were right by the entrance, while I was counting the dead for Aeacus as usual and he was comparing them with the tally sent him by your sister, he gave us the slip somehow or other, curse him, and made off. Consequently we were one dead man short in the reckoning, and Aeacus raised his eyebrows and said: “Don’t be too promiscuous, Hermes, in plying your thievery; be content with your pranks in Heaven. The accounts of the dead are carefully kept and cannot be falsified. The tally has a thousand and four marked on it, as you see, and you come to me with one less. You aren’t going to say that Atropos cheated you in the reckoning?” What he said made me blush, but I speedily recalled what had happened on the way, and when, after glancing about me, I did not see this fellow anywhere, I perceived that he had escaped and pursued with all the speed I could muster along the road leading toward the light. My good friend here followed me of his own free will, and by running as if in a match we caught him just at Taenarus: that was all he lacked of escaping. > Greek: 4. Ἑρμῆς: ἀπεδίδρασκε, λέγεις; εἰ γὰρ μὴ ὁ γενναιότατος οὗτος, ὁ τὸ ξύλον, συνήργησέ μοι καὶ συλλαβόντες αὐτὸν ἐδήσαμεν, κἂν ᾤχετο ἡμᾶς ἀποφυγών· ἀφʼ οὗ γάρ μοι παρέδωκεν αὐτὸν ἡ Ἄτροπος, παρʼ ὅλην τὴν ὁδὸν ἀντέτεινε καὶ ἀντέσπα, καὶ τὼ πόδε ἀντερείδων πρὸς τὸ ἔδαφος οὐ παντελῶς εὐάγωγος ἦν· ἐνίοτε δὲ καὶ ἱκέτευε καὶ κατελιπάρει, ἀφεθῆναι πρὸς ὀλίγον ἀξιῶν καὶ πολλὰ δώσειν ὑπισχνούμενος. ἐγὼ δέ, ὥσπερ εἰκός, οὐκ ἀνίειν ὁρῶν ἀδυνάτων ἐφιέμενον. ἐπεὶ δὲ κατʼ αὐτὸ ἤδη τὸ στόμιον ἦμεν, ἐμοῦ τοὺς νεκρούς, ὡς ἔθος, ἀπαριθμοῦντος τῷ Αἰακῷ κἀκείνου λογιζομένου αὐτοὺς πρὸς τὸ παρὰ τῆς σῆς ἀδελφῆς πεμφθὲν αὐτῷ σύμβολον, λαθὼν οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως ὁ τρισκατάρατος ἀπιὼν ᾤχετο. ἐνέδει οὖν νεκρὸς εἷς τῷ λογισμῷ, καὶ ὁ Αἰακὸς ἀνατείνας τὰς ὀφρῦς, μὴ ἐπὶ πάντων, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, φησί, χρῶ τῇ κλεπτικῇ, ἅλις σοι αἱ ἐν οὐρανῷ παιδιαί· τὰ νεκρῶν δὲ ἀκριβῆ καὶ οὐδαμῶς λαθεῖν δυνάμενα. τέτταρας, ὡς ὁρᾷς, πρὸς τοῖς χιλίοις ἔχει τὸ σύμβολον ἐγκεχαραγμένους, σὺ δέ μοι παρʼ ἕνα ἥκεις ἄγων, εἰ μὴ τοῦτο φής, ὡς παραλελόγισταί σε ἡ Ἄτροπος. ἐγὼ δὲ ἐρυθριάσας πρὸς τὸν λόγον ταχέως ὑπεμνήσθην τῶν κατὰ τὴν ὁδόν, κἀπειδὴ περιβλέπων οὐδαμοῦ τοῦτον εἶδον, συνεὶς τὴν ἀπόδρασιν ἐδίωκον ὡς εἶχον τάχους κατὰ τὴν ἄγουσαν πρὸς τὸ φῶς· εἵπετο δὲ αὐθαίρετός μοι ὁ βέλτιστος οὗτος, καὶ ὥσπερ ἀπὸ ὕσπληγγος θέοντες καταλαμβάνομεν αὐτὸν ἤδη ἐν Ταινάρῳ· παρὰ τοσοῦτον ἦλθε διαφυγεῖν. [¶9] 5. CLOTHO: And we, Charon, were condemning Hermes for neglecting his duty, indeed! > Greek: 5. Κλωθώ: ἡμεῖς δέ, ὦ Χάρων, ὀλιγωρίαν ἤδη τοῦ Ἑρμοῦ κατεγινώσκομεν. [¶10] CHARON: Well, why do we keep dilly-dallying as though we had not had delay enough already. > Greek: Χάρων: τί οὖν ἔτι διαμέλλομεν ὡς οὐχ ἱκανῆς ἡμῖν γεγενημένης διατριβῆς; [¶11] CLOTHO: Right; let them get aboard. I will hold the book and sit by the gangway as usual, and as each of them comes aboard I will see who he is, where he comes from, and how he met his death; you receive them, and as you do so, pack and stow them. LTlermes, heave these babies aboard first, for what in the world can they have to say to me? > Greek: Κλωθώ: εὖ λέγεις· ἐμβαινέτωσαν. ἐγὼ δὲ προχειρισαμένη τὸ βιβλίον καὶ παρὰ τὴν ἀποβάθραν καθεζομένη, ὡς ἔθος, ἐπιβαίνοντα ἕκαστον αὐτῶν διαγνώσομαι, τίς καὶ πόθεν καὶ ὅντινα τεθνεὼς τὸν τρόπον· σὺ δὲ παραλαμβάνων στοίβαζε καὶ συντίθει· σὺ δέ, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, τὰ νεογνὰ ταυτὶ πρῶτα ἐμβαλοῦ· τί γὰρ ἂν καὶ ἀποκρίναιντό μοι; [¶12] HERMES: Here you are, ferryman, three hundred of them, including those that were abandoned. > Greek: Ἑρμῆς: ἰδού σοι, ὦ πορθμεῦ, τὸν ἀριθμὸν οὗτοι τριακόσιοι μετὰ τῶν ἐκτιθεμένων. [¶13] CHARON: I say, what a rich haul! It’s green-grape dead you have brought us. > Greek: Χάρων: βαβαὶ τῆς εὐαγρίας. ὀμφακίας ἡμῖν νεκροὺς ἥκεις ἄγων. [¶14] HERMES: Clotho, do you want us to get the unmourned aboard next? > Greek: Ἑρμῆς: βούλει, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, τοὺς ἀκλαύστους ἐπὶ τούτοις ἐμβιβασώμεθα; [¶15] CLOTHO: You mean the old people? Yes, for why should I bother now to investigate what happened before the food? All of you who are over sixty go in now. What’s this? They don’t heed me, for their ears are stopped with years. You will probably have to pick them up and carry them in, too. > Greek: Κλωθώ: τοὺς γέροντας λέγεις; οὕτω ποίει. τί γάρ με δεῖ πράγματα ἔχειν τὰ πρὸ Εὐκλείδου νῦν ἐξετάζουσαν; οἱ ὑπὲρ ἑξήκοντα ὑμεῖς πάριτε ἤδη. τί τοῦτο; οὐκ ἐπακούουσί μου βεβυσμένοι τὰ ὦτα ὑπὸ τῶν ἐτῶν. δεήσει τάχα καὶ τούτους ἀράμενον παραγαγεῖν. [¶16] HERMES: Here you are again, three hundred and _ninetyeight, all tender and ripe and harvested in season. > Greek: Ἑρμῆς: ἰδοὺ πάλιν οὗτοι δυεῖν δέοντες τετρακόσιοι, τακεροὶ πάντες καὶ πέπειροι καὶ καθʼ ὥραν τετρυγημένοι. [¶17] CHARON: Good Lord, yes! They’re all raisins now! > Greek: Χάρων: νὴ Δίʼ, ἐπεὶ ἀσταφίδες γε πάντες ἤδη εἰσί. [¶18] 6. CLOTHO: Bring in the wounded next, Hermes. (To the DEAD) First tell me what deaths brought you here—but no, I myself will refer to my papers and pass you. Eighty-four should have died in battle yesterday in Media, among them Gobares, the son of Oxyartas. > Greek: 6. Κλωθώ: τοὺς τραυματίας ἐπὶ τούτοις, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, παράγαγε· καὶ πρῶτόν μοι εἴπατε ὅπως ἀποθανόντες ἥκετε· μᾶλλον δὲ αὐτὴ πρὸς τὰ γεγραμμένα ὑμᾶς ἐπισκέψομαι. πολεμοῦντας ἀποθανεῖν ἔδει χθὲς ἐν Μηδίᾳ τέτταρας ἐπὶ τοῖς ὀγδοήκοντα καὶ τὸν Ὀξυάρτου υἱὸν μετʼ αὐτῶν Γωβάρην. [¶19] HERMES: Here they are! > Greek: Ἑρμῆς: πάρεισι. [¶20] CLOTHO: Seven committed suicide for love, among them the philosopher Theagenes for the courtesan from Megara. > Greek: Κλωθώ: διʼ ἔρωτα αὑτοὺς ἀπέσφαξαν ἑπτά, καὶ ὁ φιλόσοφος Θεαγένης διὰ τὴν ἑταίραν τὴν Μεγαρόθεν. [¶21] HERMES: Right here beside you. > Greek: Ἑρμῆς: οὑτοιὶ πλησίον. [¶22] CLOTHO: Where are the men who killed each other fighting for the throne? > Greek: Κλωθώ: ποῦ δʼ οἱ περὶ τῆς βασιλείας ὑπʼ ἀλλήλων ἀποθανόντες; [¶23] HERMES: Here they stand. > Greek: Ἑρμῆς: Παρεστᾶσιν. [¶24] CLOTHO: And the man who was murdered by his wife and her lover? > Greek: Κλωθώ: ὁ δʼ ὑπὸ τοῦ μοιχοῦ καὶ τῆς γυναικὸς φονευθείς; [¶25] HERMES: There beside you. > Greek: Ἑρμῆς: ἰδού σοι πλησίον. [¶26] CLOTHO: Now bring in the output of the courts, I mean those who died by the scourge and the cross. And where are the sixteen who were killed by pirates, Hermes? > Greek: Κλωθώ: τοὺς ἐκ δικαστηρίων δῆτα παράγαγε, λέγω δὲ τοὺς ἐκ τυμπάνου καὶ τοὺς ἀνεσκολοπισμένους. οἱ δʼ ὑπὸ λῃστῶν ἀποθανόντες ἑκκαίδεκα ποῦ εἰσιν, ὦ Ἑρμῆ; [¶27] HERMES: Here they are, these wounded men whom you see. Do you want me to bring in all the women together? > Greek: Ἑρμῆς: πάρεισιν οἵδε οἱ τραυματίαι οὓς ὁρᾷς. τὰς δὲ γυναῖκας ἅμα βούλει παραγάγω; [¶28] CLOTHO: By all means, and also those lost at sea, for they died in the same way. And those who died of the fever, bring them in together, too, and their doctor Agathocles along with them. > Greek: Κλωθώ: μάλιστα, καὶ τοὺς ἀπὸ ναυαγίων γε ἅμα· καὶ γὰρ τεθνᾶσι τὸν ὅμοιον τρόπον. καὶ τοὺς ἀπὸ τοῦ πυρετοῦ δέ, καὶ τούτους ἅμα, καὶ τὸν ἰατρὸν μετʼ αὐτῶν Ἀγαθοκλέα. [¶29] 7. CLOTHO: Where is the philosopher Cyniscus, who was to die from eating the dinner of Hecate and the lustral eggs and a raw squid besides? CYNISCUS: Ihave been standing at your elbow a long time, kind Clotho. What have I done that you should leave me on earth so long? Why, you nearly ran off your whole spindle for me! In spite of that, I have often tried to cut the thread and come, but somehow or other it could not be broken. > Greek: 7. Κλωθώ: ποῦ δʼ ὁ φιλόσοφος Κυνίσκος, ὃν ἔδει τῆς Ἑκάτης τὸ δεῖπνον φαγόντα καὶ τὰ ἐκ τῶν καθαρσίων ᾠὰ καὶ πρὸς τούτοις γε σηπίαν ὠμὴν ἀποθανεῖν; Κυνίσκος: πάλαι σοι παρέστηκα, ὦ βελτίστη Κλωθοῖ. τί δέ με ἀδικήσαντα τοσοῦτον εἴας ἄνω τὸν χρόνον; σχεδὸν γὰρ ὅλον μοι τὸν ἄτρακτον ἐπέκλωσας. καίτοι πολλάκις ἐπειράθην τὸ νῆμα διακόψας ἐλθεῖν, ἀλλʼ οὐκ οἶδʼ ὅπως ἄρρηκτον ἦν. [¶30] CLOTHO: I left you behind to observe and prescribe for the sins of man. But get aboard, and good luck to you.: CYNISCUS: No, by Heaven, not till we have put this man in fetters aboard. I am afraid he may come it over you with his entreaties. > Greek: Κλωθώ: ἔφορόν σε καὶ ἰατρὸν εἶναι τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων ἁμαρτημάτων ἀπελίμπανον. ἀλλὰ ἔμβαινε ἀγαθῇ τύχῃ. Κυνίσκος: μὰ Δίʼ, ἢν μὴ πρότερόν γε τουτονὶ τὸν δεδεμένον ἐμβιβασώμεθα· δέδια γὰρ μή σε παραπείσῃ δεόμενος. [¶31] 8. CLOTHO: Come, let’s see who he is. CYNISCUS: Megapenthes, son of Lacydes, a tyrant. > Greek: 8. Κλωθώ: φέρʼ ἴδω τίς ἐστι. Κυνίσκος: Μεγαπένθης ὁ Λακύδου, τύραννος. [¶32] CLOTHO: Aboard with you! > Greek: Κλωθώ: Ἐπίβαινε σύ. [¶33] MEGAPENTHES: Oh no, good lady Clotho! Do let me go back to earth for a little while. Then [ll come of my own accord, you will find, without being summoned by anyone. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: μηδαμῶς, ὦ δέσποινα Κλωθοῖ, ἀλλά με πρὸς ὀλίγον ἔασον ἀνελθεῖν. εἶτά σοι αὐτόματος ἥξω καλοῦντος μηδενός. [¶34] CLOTHO: Why is it that you want to go back? > Greek: Κλωθώ: τί δὲ ἔστιν οὗ χάριν ἀφικέσθαι θέλεις; [¶35] MEGAPENTHES: Let me finish my house first, for the building has been left half-done. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: τὴν οἰκίαν ἐκτελέσαι μοι πρότερον ἐπίτρεψον· ἡμιτελὴς γὰρ ὁ δόμος καταλέλειπται. [¶36] CLOTHO: Nonsense! Come, get aboard. > Greek: Κλωθώ: ληρεῖς· ἀλλὰ ἔμβαινε. [¶37] MEGAPENTHES: It’s not much time that I ask for, Lady of Destiny; let me stay just this one day, till I can give my wife directions about my money—the place where I kept my great treasure buried. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: οὐ πολὺν χρόνον, ὦ Μοῖρα, αἰτῶ· μίαν με ἔασον μεῖναι τήνδε ἡμέραν, ἄχρι ἄν τι ἐπισκήψω τῇ γυναικὶ περὶ τῶν χρημάτων, ἔνθα τὸν μέγαν εἶχον θησαυρὸν κατορωρυγμένον. [¶38] CLOTHO: It is settled; you can’t be permitted. > Greek: Κλωθώ: Ἄραρεν· οὐκ ἂν τύχοις. [¶39] MEGAPENTHES: Then is all that gold to be lost? > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: ἀπολεῖται οὖν χρυσὸς τοσοῦτος; [¶40] CLOTHO: No, it will not be lost. Be easy on that score your cousin Megacles will get it. > Greek: Κλωθώ: οὐκ ἀπολεῖται. θάρρει τούτου γε ἕνεκα· Μεγακλῆς γὰρ αὐτὸν ὁ σὸς ἀνεψιὸς παραλήψεται. [¶41] MEGAPENTHES: What an outrage! My enemy, whom I was too easy-going to put to death before I died? > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: ὢ τῆς ὕβρεως. ὁ ἐχθρός, ὃν ὑπὸ ῥᾳθυμίας ἔγωγε οὐ προαπέκτεινα; [¶42] CLOTHO: The very man; and he will outlive you forty years and a little more, taking over your concubines and your clothing and all your plate. > Greek: Κλωθώ: ἐκεῖνος αὐτός· καὶ ἐπιβιώσεταί σοι ἔτη τετταράκοντα καὶ μικρόν τι πρός, τὰς παλλακίδας καὶ τὴν ἐσθῆτα καὶ τὸν χρυσὸν ὅλον σου παραλαβών. [¶43] MEGAPENTHES: You are unjust, Clotho, to bestow my property on my worst enemies. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: ἀδικεῖς, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, τἀμὰ τοῖς πολεμιωτάτοις διανέμουσα. [¶44] CLOTHO: Why, did not it formerly belong to Cydimachus, and did not you take it over after killing him and slaughtering his children upon him while the breath was still in his body? > Greek: Κλωθώ: σὺ γὰρ οὐχὶ Κυδιμάχου αὐτὰ ὄντα, ὦ γενναιότατε, παρειλήφεις ἀποκτείνας τε αὐτὸν καὶ τὰ παιδία ἔτι ἐμπνέοντι ἐπισφάξας; [¶45] MEGAPENTHES: But it was mine now. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: ἀλλὰ νῦν ἐμὰ ἦν. [¶46] CLOTHO: Well, the term of your ownership has now expired. > Greek: Κλωθώ: οὐκοῦν ἐξήκει σοι ὁ χρόνος ἤδη τῆς κτήσεως. [¶47] 9. MEGAPENTHES: Listen, Clotho, to something that I have to say to you in private, with nobody else listening. (Yo the others.) You people stand aside a moment. (Yo ctoruo) If you let me run away, I promise to give you a thousand talents of coined gold to-day. > Greek: 9. Μεγαπένθης: ἄκουσον, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, ἅ σοι ἰδίᾳ μηδενὸς ἀκούοντος εἰπεῖν βούλομαι· ὑμεῖς δὲ ἀπόστητε πρὸς ὀλίγον. ἄν με ἀφῇς ἀποδρᾶναι, χίλιά σοι τάλαντα χρυσίου ἐπισήμου δώσειν ὑπισχνοῦμαι τήμερον. [¶48] CLOTHO: What, you ridiculous creature, have you gold and talents still on the brain? > Greek: Κλωθώ: ἔτι γὰρ χρυσόν, ὦ γελοῖε, καὶ τάλαντα διὰ μνήμης ἔχεις; [¶49] MEGAPENTHES: And I'll give you also, if you wish, the two winebowls that I got when I put Cleocritus to death; they are of refined gold and weigh a hundred talents each. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: καὶ τοὺς δύο δὲ κρατῆρας, εἰ βούλει, προσθήσω οὓς ἔλαβον ἀποκτείνας Κλεόκριτον, ἕλκοντας ἑκάτερον χρυσοῦ ἀπέφθου τάλαντα ἑκατόν. [¶50] CLOTHO: Hale him off: it seems that he won’t go aboard willingly. > Greek: Κλωθώ: ἕλκετε αὐτόν· ἔοικε γὰρ οὐκ ἐπεμβήσεσθαι ἡμῖν ἑκών. [¶51] MEGAPENTHES: I call you all to witness, the town wall and the docks remain unfinished. I could have finished them if I had lived only five days longer. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: μαρτύρομαι ὑμᾶς, ἀτελὲς μένει τὸ τεῖχος καὶ τὰ νεώρια· ἐξετέλεσα γὰρ ἂν αὐτὰ ἐπιβιοὺς πέντε μόνας ἡμέρας. [¶52] CLOTHO: Never mind; someone else will build the wall. > Greek: Κλωθώ: Ἀμέλησον· ἄλλος τειχιεῖ. [¶53] MEGAPENTHES: But this request at all events is reasonable. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: καὶ μὴν τοῦτό γε πάντως εὔγνωμον αἰτῶ. [¶54] CLOTHO: What request? > Greek: Κλωθώ: τὸ ποῖον; [¶55] MEGAPENTHES: To live only long enough to subdue the Pisidians and subject the Lydians to tribute, and to build myself a huge mausoleum and inscribe on it all the great military exploits of my life. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: εἰς τοσοῦτον ἐπιβιῶναι, μέχρι ἂν ὑπαγάγωμαι Πισίδας καὶ Λυδοῖς ἐπιθῶ τοὺς φόρους καὶ μνῆμα ἑαυτῷ παμμέγεθες ἀναστήσας ἐπιγράψω ὁπόσα ἔπραξα μεγάλα καὶ στρατηγικὰ παρὰ τὸν βίον. [¶56] CLOTHO: Why, man, you are no longer asking for this one day, but for a stay of nearly twenty years! > Greek: Κλωθώ: οὗτος, οὐκέτι μίαν ἡμέραν ταύτην αἰτεῖς, ἀλλὰ σχεδὸν εἴκοσιν ἐτῶν διατριβήν. [¶57] 10. MEGAPENTHES: But I tell you I am ready to give bail for my speedy return. If you wish, I’ll even surrender you my beloved as a substitute for myself. > Greek: 10. Μεγαπένθης: καὶ μὴν ἐγγυητὰς ὑμῖν ἕτοιμος παρασχέσθαι τοῦ τάχους καὶ τῆς ἐπανόδου. εἰ βούλεσθε δέ, καὶ ἄντανδρον ὑμῖν ἀντʼ ἐμαυτοῦ παραδώσω τὸν ἀγαπητόν. [¶58] CLOTHO: Vile wretch! Have not you often prayed that he night outlast you on earth? > Greek: Κλωθώ: ὦ μιαρέ, ὃν ηὔχου πολλάκις ὑπὲρ γῆς καταλιπεῖν; [¶59] MEGAPENTHES: That was long ago, but now I perceive whawi is for the best. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: πάλαι ταῦτα ηὐχόμην· νυνὶ δὲ ὁρῶ τὸ βέλτιον. [¶60] CLOTHO: He too will soon be here, you'll find, slain by the new ruler. > Greek: Κλωθώ: ἥξει κἀκεῖνός σοι μετʼ ὀλίγον ὑπὸ τοῦ νεωστὶ βασιλεύοντος ἀνῃρημένος. [¶61] 11. MEGAPENTHES: Well, at all events don't refuse me this, Lady of Destiny. > Greek: 11. Μεγαπένθης: οὐκοῦν ἀλλὰ τοῦτό γε μὴ ἀντείπῃς ὦ Μοῖρά μοι. [¶62] CLOTHO: What? > Greek: Κλωθώ: τὸ ποῖον; [¶63] MEGAPENTHES: I want to know how things will turn out after my death. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: εἰδέναι βούλομαι τὰ μετʼ ἐμὲ ὅντινα ἕξει τὸν τρόπον. [¶64] CLOTHO: Listen, for it will vex you all the more to know. Midas, your slave, will have your wife; indeed, he has been her lover a long time. > Greek: Κλωθώ: ἄκουε· μᾶλλον γὰρ ἀνιάσῃ μαθών. τὴν μὲν γυναῖκα Μίδας ὁ δοῦλος ἕξει, καὶ πάλαι δὲ αὐτὴν ἐμοίχευεν. [¶65] MEGAPENTHES: Curse him, I set him free at her request! > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: ὁ κατάρατος, ὃν ἐγὼ πειθόμενος αὐτῇ ἀφῆκα ἐλεύθερον; [¶66] CLOTHO: Your daughter will be enrolled among the concubines of the present tyrant, and the busts and statues which the city long ago set up in your honour will all be pulled down and will make everyone who looks at them laugh. > Greek: Κλωθώ: ἡ θυγάτηρ δέ σοι ταῖς παλλακίσι τοῦ νυνὶ τυραννοῦντος ἐγκαταλεγήσεται· αἱ εἰκόνες δὲ καὶ ἀνδριάντες οὓς ἡ πόλις ἀνέστησέ σοι πάλαι πάντες ἀνατετραμμένοι γέλωτα παρέξουσι τοῖς θεωμένοις. [¶67] MEGAPENTHES: Tell meé, will none of my friends get angry at these doings? > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: εἰπέ μοι, τῶν φίλων δὲ οὐδεὶς ἀγανακτήσει τοῖς δρωμένοις; [¶68] CLOTHO: Why, what friend did you have, and how did you make him? Don’t you know that all those who bowed the knee and praised your every word and deed did so either from hope or from fear, being friends of your power, not of you, and keeping their eyes on the main chance? > Greek: Κλωθώ: τίς γὰρ ἦν σοι φίλος; ἢ ἐκ τίνος αἰτίας γενόμενος; ἀγνοεῖς ὅτι πάντες οἱ καὶ προσκυνοῦντες καὶ τῶν λεγομένων καὶ πραττομένων ἕκαστα ἐπαινοῦντες ἢ φόβῳ ἢ ἐλπίσι ταῦτα ἔδρων, τῆς ἀρχῆς ὄντες φίλοι καὶ πρὸς τὸν καιρὸν ἀποβλέποντες; [¶69] MEGAPENTHES: But as they poured their libations at our drinking parties they used to pray at the top of their voices that many blessings might descend upon me, saying every one of them that he was ready to die for me if so might be; in a word, they swore by me. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: καὶ μὴν σπένδοντες ἐν τοῖς συμποσίοις μεγάλῃ τῇ φωνῇ ἐπηύχοντό μοι πολλὰ καὶ ἀγαθά, προαποθανεῖν ἕκαστος αὐτῶν ἕτοιμος, εἰ οἷόν τε εἶναι· καὶ ὅλως, ὅρκος αὐτοῖς ἦν ἐγώ. [¶70] CLOTHO: Consequently, you died after dining with one of them yesterday: it was that last drink he gave you that sent you down here. > Greek: Κλωθώ: τοιγαροῦν παρʼ ἑνὶ αὐτῶν χθὲς δειπνήσας ἀπέθανες· τὸ γὰρ τελευταῖόν σοι πιεῖν ἐνεχθὲν ἐκεῖνο δευρὶ κατέπεμψέ σε. [¶71] MEGAPENTHES: Then that is why I noticed a bitter taste. But what was his object in doing it? > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: τοῦτʼ ἄρα πικροῦ τινος ᾐσθόμην· τί βουλόμενος δὲ ταῦτα ἔπραξε; [¶72] CLOTHO: You are asking me many questions when you ought to get aboard. > Greek: Κλωθώ: πολλά με ἀνακρίνεις, ἐμβῆναι δέον. [¶73] 12. MEGAPENTHES: There is one thing that sticks in my throat above all, Clotho, and on account of it I longed to slip back again to the light of day, if only for a moment. > Greek: 12. Μεγαπένθης: ἕν με πνίγει μάλιστα, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, διʼ ὅπερ ἐπόθουν κἂν πρὸς ὀλίγον ἐς τὸ φῶς ἀνακῦψαι πάλιν. [¶74] CLOTHO: What is that? It must be something tremendous. > Greek: Κλωθώ: τί δὲ τοῦτό ἐστιν; ἔοικε γάρ τι παμμέγεθες εἶναι. [¶75] MEGAPENTHES: As soon as Cario, my valet, saw that I was dead, toward evening he came into the room where I lay, having nothing to do, for nobody was doing anything, not even guarding me, and brought in my mistress Glycerium; they had been on good terms a long time, Isuppose. Shutting the door, he began to make free with her as though nobody was in the room, and then, when he had enough of it, he gazed at me and said: “You wretched little shrimp, you often gave me beatings when I was not at fault.” With that he pulled my hair and hit me in the face, and finally, after clearing his throat raucously and spitting on me, went away saying: “Off with you to the place of the wicked!” I was aflame with rage, but could not do a thing to him, for I was already stiff and cold. And as for the wretched wench, when she heard people approaching she smeared her eyes with spittle as if she had been crying over me and went away weeping and calling my name. If I should catch them— CLOTHO: Stop threatening and get aboard; it is already time for you to make your appearance in court. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: Καρίων ὁ ἐμὸς οἰκέτης ἐπεὶ τάχιστά με ἀποθανόντα εἶδε, περὶ δείλην ὀψίαν ἀνελθὼν εἰς τὸ οἴκημα ἔνθα ἐκείμην, σχολῆς οὔσης — οὐδεὶς γὰρ οὐδὲ ἐφύλαττέ με — Γλυκέριον τὴν παλλάκιδα μου — καὶ πάλαι δέ, οἶμαι, κεκοινωνήκεσαν — παραγαγὼν ἐπισπασάμενος τὴν θύραν ἐσπόδει καθάπερ οὐδενὸς ἔνδον παρόντος· εἶτʼ ἐπειδὴ ἅλις εἶχε τῆς ἐπιθυμίας, ἀποβλέψας εἰς ἐμέ, σὺ μέντοι, φησίν, ὦ μιαρὸν ἀνθρώπιον, πληγάς μοι πολλάκις οὐδὲν ἀδικοῦντι ἐνέτεινας· καὶ ταῦθʼ ἅμα λέγων παρέτιλλέ τέ με καὶ κατὰ κόρρης ἔπαιε, τέλος δὲ πλατὺ χρεμψάμενος καταπτύσας μου καί, εἰς τὸν Ἀσεβῶν χῶρον ἄπιθι, ἐπειπὼν ᾤχετο· ἐγὼ δὲ ἐνεπιμπράμην μέν, οὐκ εἶχον δὲ ὅμως ὅ τι καὶ δράσαιμι αὐτὸν αὖος ἤδη καὶ ψυχρὸς ὤν. καὶ ἡ μιαρὰ δὲ παιδίσκη ἐπεὶ ψόφου προσιόντων τινῶν ᾔσθετο, σιέλῳ χρίσασα τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ὡς δακρύσασα ἐπʼ ἐμοί, κωκύουσα καὶ τοὔνομα ἐπικαλουμένη ἀπηλλάττετο. ὧν εἰ λαβοίμην — Κλωθώ: παῦσαι ἀπειλῶν, ἀλλὰ ἔμβηθι· [¶76] 13. MEGAPENTHES: And who will dare to pass judgement on a tyrant? > Greek: 13. καιρὸς ἤδη σε ἀπαντᾶν ἐπὶ τὸ δικαστήριον. Μεγαπένθης: καὶ τίς ἀξιώσει κατʼ ἀνδρὸς τυράννου ψῆφον λαβεῖν; [¶77] CLOTHO: On a tyrant, no one, but on a dead man, Rhadamanthus. You shall soon see him impose on every one of you the sentence that is just and fits the case. No more delay now! > Greek: Κλωθώ: κατὰ τυράννου μὲν οὐδείς, κατὰ νεκροῦ δὲ ὁ Ῥαδάμανθυς, ὃν αὐτίκα ὄψει μάλα δίκαιον καὶ κατʼ ἀξίαν ἐπιτιθέντα ἑκάστῳ τὴν δίκην· τὸ δὲ νῦν ἔχον μὴ διάτριβε. [¶78] MEGAPENTHES: Make me even a common man, Lady of Destiny, one of the poor people; make me even a slave instead of the king that once I was. Only let me come to life again! > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: κἂν ἰδιώτην με ποίησον, ὦ Μοῖρα, τῶν πενήτων ἕνα, κἂν δοῦλον ἀντὶ τοῦ πάλαι βασιλέως· ἀναβιῶναί με ἔασον μόνον. [¶79] CLOTHO: Where is the man with the club? You take hold of him too, Hermes, and pull him in by the leg, for he won’t go aboard willingly. > Greek: Κλωθώ: ποῦ ʼστιν ὁ τὸ ξύλον; καὶ σὺ δέ, ὦ Ἑρμῆ, σύρατʼ αὐτὸν εἴσω τοῦ ποδός· οὐ γὰρ ἂν ἐμβαίη ἑκών. [¶80] HERMES: Come along now, runaway. (To Charon.) Take this fellow, ferryman, and see here—mind you make sure— CHARON: No fear! he shall be lashed to the mast. > Greek: Ἑρμῆς: ἕπου νῦν, δραπέτα· δέχου τοῦτον σύ, πορθμεῦ, καὶ τὸ δεῖνα, ὅπως ἀσφαλῶς — Χάρων: ἀμέλει, πρὸς τὸν ἱστὸν δεδήσεται. [¶81] MEGAPENTHES: But I ought to sit on the quarter-deck! > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: καὶ μὴν ἐν τῇ προεδρίᾳ καθέζεσθαί με δεῖ. [¶82] CLOTHO: For what reason? > Greek: Κλωθώ: ὅτι τί; [¶83] MEGAPENTHES: Because I was a tyrant, God knows, and had a regiment of guardsmen. CYNISCUS: Then wasn’t Cario justified in pulling your hair, if you were such a lout? But you'll get small joy of your tyranny if I give you a taste of my club! > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: ὅτι, νὴ Δία, τύραννος ἦν καὶ δορυφόρους εἶχον μυρίους. Κυνίσκος: εἶτʼ οὐ δικαίως σε παρέτιλλεν ὁ Καρίων οὑτωσὶ σκαιὸν ὄντα; πικρὰν δʼ οὖν τὴν τυραννίδα ἕξεις γευσάμενος τοῦ ξύλου. [¶84] MEGAPENTHES: What, will a Cyniscus make bold to shake his staff at me? Did I not come within an ace of tricing you up to a cross the other day because you were too free-spoken and sharp-tongued and censorious? CYNISCUS: That is why you yourself will stay triced up to the mast. > Greek: Μεγαπένθης: τολμήσει γὰρ Κυνίσκος ἐπανατείνασθαί μοι τὸ βάκτρον; οὐκ ἐγώ σε πρῴην, ὅτι ἐλεύθερος ἄγαν καὶ τραχὺς ἦσθα καὶ ἐπιτιμητικός, μικροῦ δεῖν προσεπαττάλευσα; Κυνίσκος: τοιγαροῦν μενεῖς καὶ σὺ τῷ ἱστῷ προσπεπατταλευμένος. [¶85] 14. MICYLLUS: Tell me, Clotho, do you people take no account at all of me? Is it because I am poor that I have to get aboard last? > Greek: 14. Μίκυλλος: εἰπέ μοι, ὦ Κλωθοῖ, ἐμοῦ δὲ οὐδεὶς ὑμῖν λόγος; ἢ διότι πένης εἰμί, διὰ τοῦτο καὶ τελευταῖον ἐμβῆναί με δεῖ; [¶86] CLOTHO: And who are you? > Greek: Κλωθώ: σὺ δὲ τίς εἶ; [¶87] MICYLLUS: The cobbler Micyllus. > Greek: Μίκυλλος: ὁ σκυτοτόμος Μίκυλλος. [¶88] CLOTHO: So you are aggrieved at having to wait? Don’t you see how much the tyrant promises to give us if we will let him go for a little while? Indeed, it surprises me that you are not equally glad of the delay. > Greek: Κλωθώ: εἶτα ἄχθῃ βραδύνων; οὐχ ὁρᾷς ὁπόσα ὁ τύραννος ὑπισχνεῖται δώσειν ἀφεθεὶς πρὸς ὀλίγον; θαῦμα γοῦν ἔχει με, εἰ μὴ ἀγαπητὴ καὶ σοὶ ἡ διατριβή. [¶89] MICYLLUS: Listen, kind. Lady of Destiny; I have no great liking for such gifts as the famous one of the Cyclops,—to be promised “T’]l eat Noman last of all.” In truth, be it first, be it last, the same teeth are in waiting. Besides, my position is not like that of the rich; our lives are poles apart, as the saying goes. Take the tyrant, considered fortunate his whole life long, feared and admired by everybody; when he came to leave all his gold and silver and clothing and horses and dinners and handsome favourites and beautiful women, no wonder he was distressed and took it hard to be dragged away from them. Somehow or other the soul is limed, as it were, to things like these and will not come away readily because it has been cleaving to them long; indeed, the ties with which such men have the misfortune to be bound are like unbreakable fetters. Even if they are haled away by force, they lament and entreat, you may be sure, and although they are bold in everything else, they prove to be cowardly in the face of this journey to Hades. At any rate, they turn back and, like unsuccessful lovers, want to gaze, even from afar, at things in the world of light. That is what yonder poor fool did, who not only ran away on the road but heaped you with entreaties when he got here. > Greek: Μίκυλλος: ἄκουσον, ὦ βελτίστη Μοιρῶν· οὐ πάνυ με ἡ τοῦ Κύκλωπος ἐκείνη εὐφραίνει δωρεά, ὑπισχνεῖσθαι ὅτι πύματον ἐγὼ τὸν Οὖτιν κατέδομαι· ἄν τε γοῦν πρῶτον, ἄν τε πύματον, οἱ αὐτοὶ ὀδόντες περιμένουσιν. ἄλλως τε οὐδʼ ὅμοια τἀμὰ τοῖς τῶν πλουσίων· ἐκ διαμέτρου γὰρ ἡμῶν οἱ βίοι, φασίν· ὁ μέν γε τύραννος εὐδαίμων εἶναι δοκῶν παρὰ τὸν βίον, φοβερὸς ἅπασι καὶ περίβλεπτος, ἀπολιπὼν χρυσὸν τοσοῦτον καὶ ἀργύριον καὶ ἐσθῆτα καὶ ἵππους καὶ δεῖπνα καὶ παῖδας ὡραίους καὶ γυναῖκας εὐμόρφους εἰκότως ἠνιᾶτο καὶ ἀποσπώμενος αὐτῶν ἤχθετο· οὐ γὰρ οἶδʼ ὅπως καθάπερ ἰξῷ τινι προσέχεται τοῖς τοιούτοις ἡ ψυχὴ καὶ οὐκ ἐθέλει ἀπαλλάττεσθαι ῥᾳδίως ἅτε αὐτοῖς πάλαι προστετηκυῖα· μᾶλλον δὲ ὥσπερ ἄρρηκτός τις οὗτος ὁ δεσμός ἐστιν, ᾧ δεδέσθαι συμβέβηκεν αὐτούς. ἀμέλει κἂν ἀπάγῃ τις αὐτοὺς μετὰ βίας, ἀνακωκύουσι καὶ ἱκετεύουσι, καὶ τὰ ἄλλα ὄντες θρασεῖς, δειλοὶ πρὸς ταύτην εὑρίσκονται τὴν ἐπὶ τὸν Ἅιδην φέρουσαν ὁδόν· ἐπιστρέφονται γοῦν εἰς τοὐπίσω καὶ ὥσπερ οἱ δυσέρωτες κἂν πόρρωθεν ἀποβλέπειν τὰ ἐν τῷ φωτὶ βούλονται, οἷα ὁ μάταιος ἐκεῖνος ἐποίει καὶ παρὰ τὴν ὁδὸν ἀποδιδράσκων κἀνταῦθά σε καταλιπαρῶν.