don't try to
frighten
me and make me afraid, for I am quite
decided.
decided.
Aristophanes
DIONYSUS. And how is that to be crossed?
HERACLES. There is an ancient ferryman, Charon by name, who will pass you
over in his little boat for a diobolus.
DIONYSUS. Oh! what might the diobolus has everywhere! But however has it
got as far as that?
HERACLES. 'Twas Theseus who introduced its vogue. [407] After that you
will see snakes and all sorts of fearful monsters . . .
DIONYSUS. Oh!
don't try to frighten me and make me afraid, for I am quite
decided.
HERACLES. . . . then a great slough with an eternal stench, a veritable
cesspool, into which those are plunged who have wronged a guest, cheated
a young boy out of the fee for his complaisance, beaten their mother,
boxed their father's ears, taken a false oath or transcribed some tirade
of Morsimus. [408]
DIONYSUS. For mercy's sake, add likewise--or learnt the Pyrrhic dance of
Cinesias. [409]
HERACLES. Further on 'twill be a gentle concert of flutes on every side,
a brilliant light, just as there is here, myrtle groves, bands of happy
men and women and noisy plaudits.
DIONYSUS. Who are these happy folk?
HERACLES. The initiate. [410]
XANTHIAS. And I am the ass that carries the Mysteries;[411] but I've had
enough of it.
