Lucian Cataplus 27

RHADAMANTHUS

What have you to say to this, you villain?

MEGAPENTHES

The murders which he speaks of I did commit, but in all the rest of it—the intrigues, the outrages against boys and the injuries to girls—in all that Cyniscus has maligned me.

CYNISCUS

Then for that too, Rhadamanthus, I shall produce you witnesses.

RHADAMANTHUS

Whom do you mean?

CYNISCUS

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.

HERMES

Bed and Lamp of Megapenthes, appear. They have been so good as to comply.

RHADAMANTHUS

Now then, tell us what you know this man Megapenthes to have done. You speak first, Bed.

BED

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.

RHADAMANTHUS

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.

LAMP

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.

Rhadamanthus

Villain, what have you to say to this?

Megapenthes.

I committed the murders referred to. As for the rest, the adulteries and corruptions and seductions, it is all a pack of lies.

Cynic

I can bring witnesses to these points too, Rhadamanghus.

Rhadamanthus

Witnesses, eh?

Cynic

Hermes, kindly summon his Lamp and Bed. They will appear in evidence, and state what they know of his conduct.

Hermes

Lamp and Bed of Megapenthes, come into court. Good, they respond to the summons,

Rhadamanthus

Now, tell us all you know about Megapenthes. Bed, you speak first.

Bed

All that Cyniscus said is true. But really, Mr. Rhadamanthus, I don’t quite like to speak about it; such strange things used to happen overhead.

Rhadamanthus

Why, your unwillingness to speak is the most telling evidence of all!—Lamp, now let us have yours.;

Lamp

What went on in the daytime I never saw, not being there. As for his doings at night, the less said the better. I saw some very queer things, though, monstrous queer. Many is the time I have stopped taking oil on purpose, and tried to goout. But then he used to bring me close up. It was enough to give any lamp a bad character.

Kyniskos

There is no need of words at all, for you will very speedily know him for what he is from his brands. However, I, too, will unveil the man for you and exhibit him still more plainly by what I say. The deeds this accursed wretch committed while he was a private citizen I think it best to omit; but when he banded himself with the most daring spirits and collected a bodyguard, and, revolting, imposed himself on the State as a tyrant, he slew thousands without trial, and by taking possession of their property amassed enormous wealth, and left no form of excess untried. No; he treated the wretched citizens with every sort of insolence. He seduced the maidens, debauched the young men, and bore himself in every way offensively to his subjects. And you could not even punish him adequately for his suspicion, his vanity, and his overbearing manner to those who happened in his way, for a man would more easily have looked at the sun without winking than at him. And who could describe his inventiveness in the way of punishments to gratify his cruelty? He did not keep his hands. off even his next of kin. And you will know immediately that these things are not an empty slander against him if you summon those that were murdered by him. In fact, they are here unbidden, as you see, crowding about him and throttling him. All these, Rhadamanthos, died by the wretch's hand. Some he plotted against for the sake of their beautiful wives. Some gave way to anger at his insolence when their sons were led astray. Some died because they were rich, and some because they were honest and well-conducted, and in no way complacent of his actions.