1–2
Apollo Father, is this true, about a man’s publicly throwing himself upon a pyre, at the Olympian Games? He was quite an old man, it seems, and rather a good hand at anything in the sensational line. Selene told us about it: she says she actually saw him burning.
Zeus Quite true, my boy; only too true!
Apollo Oh? the old gentleman deserved a better fate?
Zeus Why, as to that, I dare say he did. But I was alluding to the smell, which incommoded me extremely; the odour of roast man, I need hardly tell you, is far from pleasant. I made the best of my way to Arabia at once, or, upon my word, those awful fumes would have been the death of me. Even in that fragrant land of frankincense and spices I could scarcely get the villanous stench out of my nostrils; the mere recollection of it makes me feel queer.
Apollo But what was his object, father? Was there anything to be got by jumping on to a pyre, and being converted to cinders?
Zeus Ah, if you come to that, you must call Empedocles to account first: be jumped into a crater, in Sicily.
Apollo Poor fellow! he must have been in a sad way. But what was the inducement in the present case?
Zeus I'll quote you his own words. He made a speech, explaining his motives to the public.
