4–5
HERMES
And who are you over here, with the purple robe and diadem, you who are so solemn?
LAMPICHUS
Lampichus, tyrant of Gela.
HERMES
Well why, Lampichus, do you bring all that with you?
LAMPICHUS
Well, what should I do? Ought a tyrant to come naked, Hermes?
HERMES
A tyrant shouldn’t, but a dead man most certainly should. So off with it all.
5
LAMPICHUS
There you are; there goes my wealth.
HERMES
Away too with your vanity, Lampichus, and your pride; they will weigh down the ferry, if they come in along with you.
LAMPICHUS
Then at least allow me to keep my diadem and my mantle.
HERMES
Certainly not; away with these too.
LAMPICHUS
Very well. What else? I’ve thrown away everything, as you can see.
10
HERMES
There remain your cruelty, folly, insolence, and temper; away with these too.
LAMPICHUS
There you are; I’m stripped.
HERMES
Now you may get in. You, the fat and fleshy one, who are you?
DAMASIAS
Damasias, the athlete.
HERMES
Yes, you look like him. I know you, having often seen you in the ring.
DAMASIAS
Yes, Hermes; but let me in; I’m stripped to the skin.
HERMES
No, you’re not, my good fellow, not while you have all that flesh on you. Well, take it off, for you’ll sink the boat, if you only put one foot aboard. Off too with those wreaths and proclamations of your prowess.
5
DAMASIAS
There you are; I’m really stripped now, as you see, and no heavier than the other dead.
