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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.
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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.
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