Hermes
Luxury v. Virtue, re Aristippus; Aristippus must appear in person.
Virtue
I ought to speak first. Aristippus is mine; his words and his deeds alike proclaim him mine.
Luxury
On the contrary, any one who will observe his garlands and his purple robes and his perfumes will agree that he is mine.
Justice
Peace! This suit must stand over, until Zeus has decided the appeal re Dionysius. The cases are similar. If Porch wins her appeal, Aristippus shall be adjudged to Virtue: if not, Luxury must have him. Bring the next case. By the way, those jurors must not have their fee; they have not earned it.
Hermes
So the poor old gentlemen have climbed up all this way for nothing!
Justice
Well, they must be content with a third. Now go away, all of you, and don’t be cross; you shall have another chance.
Bis accusatus sive tribunalia. Lucian. Henry Watson Fowler (Translator), Francis George Fowler (Translator). Medford, MA, USA. 2023-08-01.
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