8–9
Megapenthes.
And all that money is to be thrown away?
10
Clotho
Not thrown away. Be under no uneasiness. Your cousin Megacles will take charge of it.
Megapenthes.
Oh, monstrous! My enemy, whom from sheer good-nature I omitted to put to death?
Clotho
The same. He will survive you for rather more than forty years; in the full enjoyment of your harem, your wardrobe, and your treasure.
Megapenthes.
It is too bad of you, Clotho, to hand over my property to my worst enemy.
Clotho
My dear sir, it was Cydimachus’s property first, surely? You only succeeded to it by murdering him, and butchering his children before his eyes.
15
Megapenthes.
Yes, but it was mine after that.
Clotho
Well, and now your term of possession expires.
Megapenthes.
A word in your ear, madam; no one else must hear this.—Sirs, withdraw for a space.—Clotho, if you will let me escape, I pledge myself to give you a quarter of a million sterling this very day.
Clotho
Ha, ha! So your millions are still running in your head?
Megapenthes.
Shall I throw in the two mixing-bowls that I got by the murder of Cleocritus? They weigh a couple of tons apiece; refined gold!
Clotho
Drag him up. We shall never get him to come on board by himself.
Megapenthes.
I call you all to witness! My city-wall, my docks, remain unfinished. I only wanted five days more to complete them.
5
Clotho
Never mind. It will be another’s work now.
Megapenthes.
Stay! One request I can make with a clear conscience.
Megapenthes.
Suffer me only to complete the conquest of Persia; and to impose tribute on Lydia; ... and erect a colossal monument to myself, ... and inscribe thereon the military achievements of my life. Then let me die.
