have been quenched in the blood of Eumolpus. Seeing what was in the wind,
Giton slipped out of the room, pretending he was going after water, and
by this diplomatic retreat he put an end to my fury. Then, as my anger
cooled, little by little, "Eumolpus," I said, "rather than have you
entertain designs of such a nature, I would even prefer to have you
spouting poetry! I am hot-tempered and you are lecherous; see how
uncongenial two such dispositions must be! Take me for a maniac, humor
my malady: in other words, get out quick!" Taken completely aback by
this onslaught, Eumolpus crossed the threshold of the room without
stopping to ask the reason for my wrath, and immediately slammed the door
shut, penning me in, as I was not looking for any move of that kind then,
having quickly removed the key, he hurried away in search of Giton.
Finding that I was locked in, I decided to hang myself, and had already
fastened my belt to the bedstead which stood alongside of the wall, and
was engaged in fastening the noose around my neck, when the doors were
unlocked and Eumolpus came in with Giton, recalling me to light when I
was just about to turn the fatal goal-post! Giton was greatly wrought up
and his grief turned to fury: seizing me with both hands, he threw me
upon the bed. "If you think, Encolpius," he shrieked, "that you can
contrive to die before I do, you're wrong! I thought of suicide first.
I hunted for a sword in Ascyltos' house: I would have thrown myself from
a precipice if I had not found you! You know that Death is never far
from those who seek him, so take your turn and witness the spectacle you
wished to see!" So saying, he snatched a razor from Eumolpus' servant,
slashed his throat, once, twice, and fell down at our feet! I uttered a
loud cry, rushed to him as he fell, and sought the road to death by the
same steel; Giton, however, showed not the faintest trace of any wound,
nor was I conscious of feeling any pain. The razor, it turned out, was
untempered and dull and was used to imbue boy apprentices with the
confidence of the experienced barber. Hence it was in a sheath and, for