SATAN. This should be favourable and auspicious for the world and for the impious. I, Satan, am here, arrived from the depths of Hell, freed from my heavy chains after 1000 years. Certainly I know that I have long yearned for this. My lieutenants cannot bring all my schemes to fulfillment. They do not have great enough authority, nor is the same respect usually paid to them by their subjects. The sight of an angry prince carries more weight than six hundred threats from an armed deputy. The same prince also, when he is appeased, accomplishes much. Both his servants and his subjects, whom no hidden or open consciousness of crime worries, rejoice to gaze upon a cheerful prince.
These things are true under honest princes; under dishonest princes the great men become the worst, for they also hold everywhere the first places in my kingdom. To them I shall today appear; they have long yearned for me, since they have been serving one not seen for a long time. But where shall I look for my deputies first? I wonder what they are doing, because they do not always now report the doings in their kingdoms to me daily.
TRUTH. Since it seems good to Christ, Free Speech, let us collect our baggage and come up here to these caves until better air blows up. I'm not staying. Satan will reign far and wide over his own evil kingdom. Perhaps one day we shall again be yearned for.
FREE SPEECH. Unless God wishes to destroy humanity utterly.
TRUTH. Lift up this baggage and follow me. But do I see Satan?
FREE SPEECH. Yes. How arrogantly he enters, and indeed he is alone.
TRUTH. I do not know why. Let us step back a little from his path and not be in the way of his raging movements. Let us pass by in silence.
SATAN. Truth ahead of all. But I see none of my own. Ho, Truth, are you now migrating elsewhere perhaps?
TRUTH. Do not reply.
SATAN. You think rightly in that. For what could you do here when I am ruling with my friends, where no one obeys you, even if you speak most correctly?
FREE SPEECH. It's not because of you, villain, that we are leaving, but because we are obeying Christ's order.
TRUTH. Be quiet.
FREE SPEECH. Go on. Stuff the world full with your lies.
SATAN. It shall be done, even if you shall not order it.
FREE SPEECH. You've been missed for a long time by the lost souls.
TRUTH. Be quiet, please.
SATAN. I know. I shall be received with open arms.
FREE SPEECH. Why don't they accompany you or come forth to meet you?
SATAN. They are busy and do not know that I am come.
TRUTH. Why say more? Follow this way.
FREE SPEECH. One day soon you'll pay the penalty.
SATAN. That's a long time away. In the meantime let us live according to our own free will. Go away. You're of no help here, nor will your daughters of another age ever be tolerated in my kingdom.
DROMO. By Hercules, great business is being done today by your deputies, so that they cannot come to meet the chief. And the business has not been so well done, that they should hurry. They gave me orders to carry it out, although there is no profit in it for me. But when it is well done, then they come running quickly, each one desiring to outstrip the other for his own profit. A good province never falls to me, but when all are afraid, then, poor me, I am pushed out to it. But in order not to be cudgelled I must run.
SATAN. But, Dromo. Hey, Dromo. Wait, Dromo.
DROMO. Who's calling me?
SATAN. I say, come back here to me as soon as possible.
DROMO. Hurray, it's the chief. He certainly has broken out of prison and is not tolerating such infinite captivity. That you are well and freed, Prince, I'm glad.
SATAN. I believe you. Where were you running just now?
DROMO. To you.
SATAN. Are all things well?
DROMO. Not completely.
SATAN. What are you saying? Not well? Where are my deputies? I see none of them and not one has come down to me today.
DROMO. They said that they were detained by the greatest problems and they could not leave the wide areas of their lands without danger. Therefore they chose me to go as a messenger to you.
SATAN. What then is your report?
DROMO. All parts of your kingdom are well except that ...
SATAN. Except? What is that?
DROMO. That a certain bishop has driven out Caesar from the enjoyment of his own kingdom.
SATAN. Caesar? And did my deputies pay no heed to this?
DROMO. I do not know how it was done; I was not there. You will hear a better account from the deputies themselves.
SATAN. Then summon them here to me immediately. Why are you standing still? Fly quickly. What treachery, sloth and negligence! When I am absent they do not take care or resist or with all their strength carry on my kingdom's business.
My imprisonment has harmed my realm in no small way. I could not as a prisoner be a match for so many peoples, especially since the new faith of Christ began to grow. Already I should have been in Africa, then in Asia and Europe. These are my kingdoms, and in every kingdom are very many cities; to visit them every day is work that one individual cannot do, even if he is most vigilant. Therefore I have set up leaders and deputies for me in my absence, to whom I have entrusted all my affairs and my army. They then appointed for themselves very many tribunes and centurions, who in the same way now also possess servants, an innumerable crowd, so that the best hope possesses me that the whole world is taken care of by so many followers, as though I were always very much present.
But what they say is true. The more people responsible for anything, the more carelessly it is looked after. And if the prince sleeps, the generals soon begin to snore, and sleep seizes the captains. In the morning, unless the ruler of the house gets up first the lazy servants will put forth little effort. I should have used prudence such as this, if it had been permitted, and should not have committed my affairs to my deputies; then I should not have seen, when I returned, such a desolation in my kingdom. Let them come. I will spew all my sorrow at them.
PLANUS. Why are we making these plans, if it is not the time for him to be restored to freedom after a thousand years? Let us rather go to Satan so as not to add fire to fire and so that his roused rage may not harm us too much.
STASIADES. Good advice. He must be appeased by gentle words and not exasperated by our tardiness or arrogance.
PLANUS. Here we are, Prince, among the first to congratulate you on your successful arrival and also ready to hear what you want from us.
SATAN. Let us now omit other things. I will tell you what angers me. What is the matter, I ask you, my captains? Why do you permit the people to desert me through your negligence, or am I to call it sloth? By God, I now certainly want your military talents. We were not far from the position that the only ones who were opposed to us had turned their steps to us, driven by so many punishments, dangers, deaths; but the situation is turned upside down by you.
Is it right that I day and night zealously promoted the advantages of my kingdom by incitements, warnings, and terrors, using hands and feet and a thousand cunning tricks, as far as the supply of these could be present to one in prison, while in the meantime you were snoring deeply? Shame, leaders, who should be the first doers of deeds, hide their lazy hands in their bosoms. Can I not pay you the rewards you deserve? Or have I so far deserved such treatment from you? Or are you at last recompensing me for that favour of mine?
PLANUS. O Prince of the universe and most potent monarch, what have we your servants not taken care of?
SATAN. You ask? How did we lately lose by your laziness such a man as the emperor, who was at the same time the most fair patron and active champion of my realm? Would that ten thousand others had perished rather than this one man, alas, the anchor of my realm. Surely I did not appoint you delegates for this, that you should guard cunningly the things of no worth and lose the best things?
PLANUS. You should not torture yourself, best prince of the world. It was not in our power to hold that man.
SATAN. What do I hear? Where then are your former arts? Have you forgotten those things in which alone there is profit and in which all the advantages of my kingdom consist? To one leaving prison after so many years you have brought a first message that is not pleasant. In a thousand years nothing more intolerable has been done. I have heard many things not quite to my taste. I put up with them. But this is too serious to be tolerated.
O the destruction of my realm and the devastation of my affairs! That fine fellow used to subdue with all his strength the Christians, the enemies most hostile to us; he venerated us; he worshipped us with sacrificial victims; he called on us in adversity and in prosperity. What we did not want to carry out, he actively of his own account ran to perform, even praiseworthy for this one deed alone because he laid low the standard-bearer of Christ, that brave man Paul, an opponent not to be despised, who ravaged many provinces, bringing many soldiers to his king. Now even this man Caesar has been won over because of your negligence.
PLANUS. The bishop won him over by his irrefragable logic.
SATAN. He should have been resisted even by a thousand tricks.
PLANUS. Indeed, best prince, I know that nothing was omitted that was in our power. For we interpreted his words in the worst possible way and trampled on his kingdom and his honours. Besides, he was invited by generous rewards to keep his mind unmoved towards us, but the stronger conquered, the more powerful conquered, broke up our snares and snatched this victim from us.
SATAN. Certainly you've had too little business with our subjects and those who serve us of their own accord, so that our enemies can be terrified with all our forces and harassed by the whole army, so that they will yield to our violent assaults.
STASIADES. We will do that, Chief, as you order, and we have done it.
SATAN. Have you done it already? Alas, alas, from what great hopes to have fallen, who hoped that the name of Christ could be wiped out through such crafty and learned men as you. Nor, as you reported, was this war wrong. But now Christ's name is being born again and rises strongly. May it turn out badly. Through this sceptre of my realm and through this sacred head I will persecute Christ and all Christians as far as lies in my power and with all the force of my deepest strength and I will gorge myself with their blood until there shall be no one who would dare to resist me, not a single one, if he is annoying or displeasing to you.
PLANUS. Not one, by Hercules. Greatest prince, giver of good things, we shall energetically carry out your orders as far as in us lies.
SATAN. To this let the oath sworn by you, and let your shame and your reverence for me move you. By this right hand given to you before I beseech you, watch, cheat, rush around, search, resist and corrupt by bribes, persecute and show yourselves worthy of Satan your leader.
PLANUS. It shall be done.
SATAN. What business have you done today? You, Planus, what have you done?
PLANUS. I indeed for a long time, thinking it most beneficial to our kingdom, have sweated over this, that I should sow as great a heresy as possible among Christians. I have sweated very much over this; today I accomplished it. Now you would see all things in confusion: they hesitate; they make decrees; they persecute in turn; they put to flight; they kill; they defend their own ideas most of all; the majority rejoice in the new and desert the old traditions which they say were handed down from the Apostles. The masters of the people, those who are the most learned, embrace heresy in preference to sound doctrine. But, on the contrary, the disbelievers laugh sweetly, abominate Christ and reject the faith which is torn by such varied opinions. I did not think that I could conquer them in any better way than if they disagreed most among themselves. Thus the situation is well as far as it pertains to us.
SATAN. Good. Your plan succeeded well. I will give you the greatest reward I have. What about you then, Stasiades? You indeed usually perpetrate the most powerful crimes.
STASIADES. Today, Chief, I, by rising rather slowly and advancing rather tardily, achieved very little.
SATAN. What? This is the very evil of which I complain, that you are rather slow and somewhat inactive. But tell me what you have done.
STASIADES. I come to a large city about noon and I call the people together. "Why, my friends," I say, "are you putting up with this heavy yoke? Did not your parents bear you as free men? Why then are you slaves? Why do you not have everything in abundance? Is this not your city? Are these not your rivers and your streets? Why then do taxes, rating of property, tribute and tax levies rob you of your wealth and of your lives? Or is this a light matter, citizens, to be deprived of your liberty and at the same time of your goods? Whatever you earn by your daily work and your perpetual toil, the princes and your people-eating magistrates consume in one feast. Meantime you yourselves exist on only the most wretched victuals. O, that a supply of bread and bran might appease your hunger and cold water might satisfy your thirst.
But they always end up puking through their daily banquets bought from your small stores. The fat and lazy may snore and break wind. It would be better to be beasts and to live in such a way that a man should grow thin because of his own works than that others should look after their own skins abundantly by the work of strangers. Why then do you not rise and regain your old liberty, citizens? Where are your manly hearts and your fathers' courage? Or do you allow your God-given liberty to be destroyed by mortals? Or do you not know what a great blessing liberty is?
Look. Your numbers are great. By Hercules, being reduced to slavery by a few is unjust and must be regretted. You have arms and your native strength, but your softness hinders you in the fight against them, and your strength is womanish. Your hands are unused to arms. You have a good cause, they the worst; it is most sure that even the gods will fight against their cause and bring you assistance. Did they not help before your time the Athenians, the Romans, the Spartans and many others?
But if you fail yourselves now, when they suspect no such attempt, afterwards when in dire straits, afflicted, oppressed, destroyed by slavery and heavy burdens you finally shout out through your tears, do not hope that the gods will help you then. For they do not listen to those who handle their affairs negligently and badly. Now, now your wives and your children demand this of you in loud voices, and for them you will either bring forth the sweetest liberty or hand them over to perpetual slavery."
By these and other words the hearts of the citizens are moved, they seize torches and arms. With frenzy they march against the senate house; they loot and burn the homes of the rich; they knock down everyone who gets in the way. There is a violent commotion and a great noise from those calling for the hat of freedom and seeking out the leading men and magistrates for punishment. But the part which was saner stood firm by the magistrates and attacked the mutineers; the most pitiable slaughter has arisen. With these problems I have been busy the whole day.
SATAN. This day has certainly not passed without a goal of action. But, Chremius, what was your business today?
CHREMIUS. Indeed on no day is my work in vain, as you well know, Chief. All men search for money and love it. The families and the individual Christians I have today enriched, that they may care less for Christ and venerate, praise and serve us, rate me at the highest value. I think that they will be far more reliable than the other families, and now they have nothing except the name of Christ which is fit for such a great profession.
SATAN. Well done.
CHREMIUS. Besides, by my arts I have brought to completion a thousand homicides, five hundred adulteries, and a large number of thefts. I have corrupted ten thousand judges; I have also duped two hundred virgins and overcome them by my weapons of silver. Why should I mention the great impostures and frauds of businessmen! Why should I speak of the tricks of clerks and the wiles and lies of lawyers! By my pillaging and robbery of the nobles I have demonstrated my work. I have also prepared very many lazy bellies devoted to sloth and falsehoods, false prophets, the best triflers, adulterers, asses, evil beasts, a sight, by Hercules, very pleasing to all of you. My industry has brought to perfection these sins.
SATAN. Ha, ha, ha; remarkable artificer of my kingdom, you are indeed worthy to be the first under me. In this way all of you, look to your duties. Very great rewards are waiting for all of you. In the meantime take these crowns! Planus this black one; Stasiades, take the purple one; Chremius the spotted and pale one, so that such a great effort should not miss a worthy reward. Only now drive on more diligently and be strong, so that in return for a lost man a greater profit may accrue.
PLANUS. The situation is now at a turning point, I hope. I don't know what I think.
SATAN. Not thought but deeds are necessary.
CHREMIUS. I support that.
PLANUS. We will try.
SATAN. Planus, you proceed by this route, you others by that route.
PLANUS. But what is this? What prey do our enemies want?
SATAN. What enemies?
PLANUS. Do you see them?
SATAN. Whee! So near? What notable daring! Have we come to this state of affairs, that our enemies should have the desire and the means of coming so close to us? Wait. I will try to find out what business they are bringing.
PORPHYRIUS. Satan has certainly been released. For I am sure that he is sitting on his throne, savage, horned, hairy, with a tragic look, fearsome because of his flaming round eyes, his aquiline and warty nose and his unusually large mouth, and his totally black body.
PAMMACHIUS. You're right. It is Satan.
PORPHYRIUS. Phew. I'm all of a sweat, Pammachius.
PAMMACHIUS. You should disregard his appearance. He is outstanding for his gifts. He who has once put up with the sight of Satan will afterwards easily put up with him every day.
PORPHYRIUS. But, Pammachius, who are those crowned persons? Do you see them?
PAMMACHIUS. I think they are the princes of his realm.
SATAN. Yet they do not come with hostile looks; I see that they are humble suppliants, as if they were about to ask for some favour. But I will listen to them.
PORPHYRIUS. And how similar they are to their chief. These spurs come from the same furnace.
PAMMACHIUS. Let us go to them.
PORPHYRIUS. Hail, most brave prince.
SATAN. What are you, my enemies, doing at my palace?
PORPHYRIUS. What am I to say? My tongue stammers through fear. I am terrified by his sharp voice.
PAMMACHIUS. Keep your presence of mind.
PORPHYRIUS. Your servants have some business which we beseech you to hear with clemency.
SATAN. What is it?
PORPHYRIUS. Although, most noble prince, it is a serious matter to sit at the conference table with one's enemies, and it is difficult when forced by necessity to ask for a favour from those whom you have formerly harmed by words and deeds, nevertheless, relying on your adaptability and clemency, we have not lost confidence that your grace will have regard to us, your suppliants. Up to now we have experienced your unconquerable powers, and have suffered the greatest loss of labour on our part. We likewise have seen what large rewards you give to your followers, how they shine in the world and how they are honoured by all; how much riches and liberty they have and what serenity there is in their affairs. They rule, triumph and pursue their leisurely lives with the least work and the most profit, but those things are all the opposite for us.
We are despised by everyone and are certainly of no account. Miserable poverty oppresses us; we are accused, fined and killed. Our houses, fields, vineyards, parents, children and all our possessions are subject to continual dangers and no greater thanks is given to us for deeds well done. These are our prizes and that is not an injustice. For when we live in the world, what madness is it, I ask you, for us to oppose the prince of the world! Indeed it is proper for servants to obey the master of the house and by no means to oppose him. It would have been far juster for us to have thought this than to have resisted your great power. But what was done, was done in ignorance.
Wherefore we now pray for pardon as suppliants, that you may not enter this into the reckoning of your servants. We have paid enough, as persons only lately wise. But now we pray that you will not think us unworthy to join your company and realm, which we shall strive with our utmost strength to cultivate and diligently increase with our heart, our work, our word and with resolute industriousness, so that you yourself may not judge us to be among the least of your followers; but if up to now you have seen us vigorously opposed to you, now you will find us even more vigorously working for you, so that we may be able to be declared, if not superior, yet certainly equal to all your governors.
SATAN. How fortunate you are to come to your senses at last of your own accord, before I have brought my whole army against you, as I had decided to do. Once you had been overcome by my army, your business would not have been in this place nor of such importance in my eyes. I never value princes defeated in bloody war, although I allow them to stay on their thrones; but those who cross of their own accord to me and who zealously seek out my friendship with their former prince left behind their backs, these I love, to these I entrust my whole army, with these I share all the good things that are mine: my honours, riches, pleasures.
Some receive defectors badly or certainly send them back to their former prince; I suppose they do not have confidence in them. Yet with me, I know, they everywhere obtain the first places. I cannot wonder enough what stops the rest, when they see this situation, from wishing to enjoy our friendship or from desiring to live delightfully, but they prefer to be robbed of their goods, to be beaten, and to suffer persecution. Let them suffer. For in no way can it be worked out that I should put up with such rebellious subjects in my kingdom. For yourselves, have high hopes. My friendship has been denied to no one nor has he who has been willing to share my kingdom been disappointed. But give me your hands and tell me what your names are, that I may know you.
PORPHYRIUS. This is Pammachius, and I am called Porphyrius.
SATAN. What are your skills? Tell me, that you may be able to know what I want done by you. Indeed you seem to be eloquent. If you like, you yourself shall have power to promote the advantages of my kingdom prudently and magnificently. But who is this other one? He seems like a bishop.
PORPHYRIUS. You are right. He's the greatest!
SATAN. Then let him tell his story first.
PORPHYRIUS. He now does not wish to say anything for himself, although at other times he is eloquent (for he is endowed with extraordinary modesty) lest he say more than he could fulfil, or less.
SATAN. By Hercules, there's no need for modesty here. It makes no difference; let each say as much as he likes and what he likes, for in my kingdom there is the greatest liberty, and it is the extreme sin to speak the truth.
PORPHYRIUS. He is the man who for a long time has taken greater booty even than Caesar the emperor from your kingdom: he is powerful in his writings, much more powerful in idle speeches, swollen with avarice, a disease pleasing to you, and in pride he takes second place to no one; he is outstanding in his impiety. He dares to resist even Christ himself or any power that opposes you and your advantages. He knows how to undermine even complete trust; he is strong enough to join by mutual hatreds all the kings, leaders and princes in the world. You should give the commission to him, if you want anything properly taken care of. To conclude, you have here a man after your own heart. He had asked me to speak so that I may commend him to you. I am not much different from him.
SATAN. By Hercules, Porphyrius, you're telling me of a masterly man, an exquisite gentleman. And my generals, my realms are in good shape; fortune is increasing my spirit and all things are succeeding. For how often I have wanted such men to be given to me. They are now here, brought into the fold, I suppose, by my kindness. If, therefore, you are so outstanding in your excellence and so powerful, may I perish if I do not now make you the leader of my whole army.
You, therefore, Chemius, Planus, Stasiades, follow this man, care for him, obey him in all things. He shall be your leader. You, Porphyrius, watch over him to whom you have given such great praise.
PORPHYRIUS. I'll do that.
SATAN. Worthy rewards await all of you.
PAMMACHIUS. We believe you.
SATAN. For this above all I want you not to enter my realm by the public roads. There is a better method in secret plots and a more efficient formula for deception.
PAMMACHIUS. We know that. And we shall pursue our business in the name of Christ.
SATAN. Cunning one. You both certainly have much of my prudence, for I also change myself into an angel of light if men seem to be searching for that species; I make myself out to be religious, kind, humble, pious, modest, patient, just and most mild. If there's anything you do not know, learn it from me!
PAMMACHIUS. Easily. But, Prince, I ask you not to take it hard if ever in our transactions we perchance shall oppose you in words. Tragedy to this point demands that such divine mysteries should be hidden from men.
SATAN. That you oppose me in your words, I take lightly, provided that your deeds always answer to me.
PAMMACHIUS. It shall be seen to, Your Majesty.
SATAN. Let someone bring the triple diadem with the signs and the formula for the swearing in.
PLANUS. Here they are.
SATAN. Approach now, Pammachius. You see these princes whom lately for their services I decorated with the brave crowns they are wearing. So that you may realize how liberal and generous I am towards all those who are willing to be united with us in friendship, although you have so far done no meritorious and outstanding deeds and I have only heard about your virtues, soon you shall be decorated with that triple crown, so that you may be most faithful to my realm and to me. Yet first you must swear the oath which all my other leaders are accustomed to swear.
PAMMACHIUS. I refuse nothing.
SATAN. Peace be to this gathering. Be silent. Listen. But also uncover your heads. You, Porphyrius, stand on the right and you, Planus, on the left. Now, Pammachius, read with two fingers erect. Good enough.
PAMMACHIUS. I swear by the sacred head of my king, Satan, and by the universal power of his realm that I will do nothing honourable, just, pure or honest, holy or pious, the things through which the law and equity of his realm is violated, but as far as it is possible I will zealously destroy his enemies and all things to do with Christ, and what I have sworn in your presence in words, I will fulfil with deeds in your absence.
SATAN. Bring the crown now. Constantly see to it that you remember these oaths. I have great hope in you.
PAMMACHIUS. By Hercules, I shall carry them out carefully.
SATAN. Take this crown of darkness and blindness. Rule over kings, dominate peoples, preside over the great gates of Hell. All shall lick the dust of your feet; you shall be the second in the realm. Applaud. Hurray.
PORPHYRIUS. This also, Prince, I think is now definitely worthy of your magnificence, that since indeed you put him at the head of peoples, kings, and all governors, by your edict you should order that he should not touch the earth with his feet, but all the primates of the realm and its most outstanding men should carry him aloft on their shoulders.
SATAN. Come. Let it be done. Lift up the throne, Planus, Stasiades, Chremius and Porphyrius. Carry him round here once, twice, three times. Then, if there is anything else you wish, speak out.
PORPHYRIUS. This also would be not at all improper, that the crowd of nobles in your kingdom should kneel as suppliants and kiss his feet. If any of them refuse, moved by some religious scruple or pride, let them be barred from your realm and your favours.
SATAN. Let that be an established and holy rule. You, first, Porphyrius. The rest of you follow him. Further, with these seals, Pammachius, stamp your deeds and your letters, that, at the sight of these, I may know immediately that they are from you, the leader.
PAMMACHIUS. Fine.
PORPHYRIUS. Surely I also need to swear the oath?
SATAN. Not to me, but to this bishop you may swear what you like.
PAMMACHIUS. We have seen that this has been an auspicious and lucky day.
SATAN. Go, lucky and most successful men, with the privileges of my realm now committed to your trust. I want you to write to me every day about your doings, that I may know what is being done.
PORPHYRIUS. Do you want these reports under the papal seal, under which the most important state letters are wont to be sold at Rome?
SATAN. Either under the papal seal or otherwise, provided it is done grandly. So act, so elevate all your business that the majesty of my realm may become known to all.
PAMMACHIUS. Prince, we have given much thought to this before now. But let Dromo go with us.
SATAN. Go and serve them, Dromo. But listen, bring back to us Caesar the apostate.
PORPHYRIUS. Nothing easier. This also shall be taken care of with your other orders.
SATAN. Wonderful! I had not hoped for these successes, gentlemen. I do not doubt that it is all over for Christians. But what do you think?
STASIADES. What! It's most certainly all over. These men, industrious for evil, are most prudent. They will be vigilant both for our interest and for their own. But in the meantime we shall in no way cease our efforts.
SATAN. Do this and go now.
PLANUS. But where do you want us to go?
SATAN. You give me good advice. They will be enough for the conquest of Europe. You go to Asia and then, if possible, to Africa. Everywhere let each of you, according to his talent, take vigorous action that no healthy doctrine may survive.
PORPHYRIUS. Up to now the things you are seeking have turned out happily, and in all of them I have been your helper.
PAMMACHIUS. Thanks. But there was one thing that troubled me.
PORPHYRIUS. Surely I have not sinned, most holy Father.
PAMMACHIUS. You should have mentioned some things differently than you did.
PORPHYRIUS. What!
PAMMACHIUS. Mention the good things, but not the bad ones. If there was any evil in me, you should have kept quiet about it.
PORPHYRIUS. O, you are wrong, Father. All qualities cannot be praised before all men. But he who is cunning will watch for persons and times, lest perchance he praises what it is disadvantageous to praise. As you know, a different realm demands different manners. In the realm of Satan scarcely any qualities are commended other than performing infamous and outstandingly depraved deeds. But I should be lying, if my praise did not profit you. So that with Satan you are counted of the highest value and have been alone appointed to be the head of all peoples.
PAMMACHIUS. You're right. Let us forget this. Soon give orders that a royal throne and my triple crown should be prepared and shining golden robes provided. Go, that as soon as possible all these things may be ready. When they are ready hasten back here to me.
PORPHYRIUS. I will see to it all. But, Dromo, come with me.
DROMO. I will follow.
PAMMACHIUS. And Caesar! Do you hear?
PORPHYRIUS. I hear. I will complete everything better than you believe, although you shall have given no orders.
PAMMACHIUS. O powerful Fortune, bring this tragedy to pass.
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