Now by Dog and Plane-tree, it is as I say!
Heracles! What strange Gods are these?
Why, the Dog is a God, I suppose? Is not Anubis made much of in Egypt? Is there not a Dog-star in Heaven, and a Cerberus in the lower world?
Fifth D. Quite so. My mistake. Now what is your manner of life?
I live in a city of my own building; I make my own laws, and have a novel constitution of my own.
I should like to hear some of your statutes.
You shall hear the greatest of them all. No woman shall be restricted to one husband. Every man who likes is her husband.
What! Then the laws of adultery are clean swept away?
I should think they were! and a world of hair-splitting with them.
And what do you do with the handsome boys?
‘Their kisses are the reward of merit, of noble and spirited actions.
Fifth D. Unparalleled generosity!—And now, what are the main features of your philosophy?
Ideas and types of things. All things that you see, the earth and all that is upon it, the sea, the sky,—each has its counterpart in the invisible world.
And where are they?
Nowhere. Were they anywhere, they were not what they are.
I see no signs of these ‘types’ of yours.
Of course not; because you are spiritually blind. I see the counterparts of all things; an invisible you, an invisible me; everything is in duplicate.
Come, such a shrewd and lynx-eyed creed is worth a bid. Let me see. What do you want for him?
Five hundred.
Done with you. Only I must settle the bill another day.