Dialogi mortuorum
Lucian of Samosata
The Works of Lucian of Samosata, complete, with exceptions specified in thepreface, Vol. 1. Fowler, H. W. and Fowlere, F.G., translators. Oxford at the Clarendon Press, 1905.
Nireus Here we are; Menippus shall award the palm of beauty, Menippus, am I not better-looking than he?
Menippus Well, who are you? I must know that first, mustn’t I?
Nireus Nireus and Thersites.
Menippus Which is which? I cannot tell that yet.
Thersites One to me; I am like you; you have no such superiority as Homer (blind, by the way) gave you when he called you the handsomest of men; he might peak my head and thin my hair, our judge finds me none the worse. Now, Menippus, make up your mind which is handsomer.
Nireus I, of course, I, the son of Aglaia and Charopus,