HERMES
The Lydian cannot abide the outspokenness and the truthfulness of his words, Charon; it seems strange to him when a poor man does not cringe but says frankly whatever occurs to him. But he will remember Solon before long, when he has to be captured and put on the pyre by Cyrus. The other day I heard Clotho reading out the fate that had been spun for everyone, and among other things it had been recorded there that Croesus was to be “captured by Cyrus, and that Cyrus was to be slain by yonder woman of the Massagetae. Do you see her, the Scythian woman riding the white horse?
The Lydian cannot abide the outspokenness and the truthfulness of his words, Charon; it seems strange to him when a poor man does not cringe but says frankly whatever occurs to him. But he will remember Solon before long, when he has to be captured and put on the pyre by Cyrus. The other day I heard Clotho reading out the fate that had been spun for everyone, and among other things it had been recorded there that Croesus was to be “captured by Cyrus, and that Cyrus was to be slain by yonder woman of the Massagetae. Do you see her, the Scythian woman riding the white horse?
CHARON
Indeed I do.
Indeed I do.
HERMES
That is Tomyris; and after she has cut off Cyrus’ head she will plunge it into a wine-skin full of blood. And do you see his son, the young man? That is Cambyses; he will be king after his father, and when he has had no end of ill-luck in Libya and Ethiopia he will at last go mad and die in consequence of slaying Apis.
That is Tomyris; and after she has cut off Cyrus’ head she will plunge it into a wine-skin full of blood. And do you see his son, the young man? That is Cambyses; he will be king after his father, and when he has had no end of ill-luck in Libya and Ethiopia he will at last go mad and die in consequence of slaying Apis.
CHARON
How very funny! But now who would dare to look at them, so disdainful are they of the rest of the world? And who could believe that after a little the one will be a prisoner and the other will have his head in a sack of blood?
How very funny! But now who would dare to look at them, so disdainful are they of the rest of the world? And who could believe that after a little the one will be a prisoner and the other will have his head in a sack of blood?
Contemplantes. Lucian of Samosata. Austin Morris Harmon (Translator). United States. Perseus 5.0.
Funding provided by National Endowment for the Humanities.