him to believe all this when Giton, nearly suffocated from holding his
breath, suddenly sneezed three times, and shook the bed. Eumolpus turned
at the commotion. "Hello, Giton," he exclaimed, "glad to see you!" Then
he turned back the mattress and discovered an Ulysses who even a ravenous
Cyclops might have spared; thereupon, he faced me, "You robber," said he,
"what does all this mean? You hadn't the nerve to tell me the truth even
when you were caught! If the god, that umpires human affairs hadn't
forced a sign from this boy as he hung there, I would be wandering from
one pot-house to another, like a fool!" (But) Giton was far more tactful
than I: first of all, he dressed the cut upon Eumolpus' forehead, with
spider's web soaked in oil; he then exchanged the poet's torn clothing
for his own cloak; this done, he embraced the old gentleman, who was
already somewhat mollified, and poulticed him with kisses. "Dearest of
fathers," he cried, "we are entirely in your hands! In yours alone! If
you love your Giton, do your best to save him. Would that some cruel
flame might devour me, alone, or that the wintry sea might swallow me,
for I am the cause for all these crimes. Two enemies would be reconciled
if I should perish!" (Moved by our troubles, but particularly stirred by
Giton's caresses, "You are fools," exclaimed Eumolpus, "you certainly
are: here you are gifted with talents enough to make your fortunes and
you still lead a life of misery, and every day you bring new torments
upon yourselves, as the fruits of your own acts!)"