THE MISER

A miser being dead, and fairly interred, came lo Ihe banks of the Slyx, desiring to be ferried over along wilh the other ghosts. Charon demands his fare, and is surprised to see the miser, ralher than pay it, throw himself into Ihe river, and swini over to the olher side, notwithslanding ail the clamour and opposition that coiild be made lo him. Ail heli was in an uproar, and each of the judges was meditating some punishmenl suilablelo a crime ofsoch dangerous conséquences to the infernal revenue. « Shall lie be chained lo the rock along with Prometheus?or tremble below ihe preci)»ice in company wilh the Danaides? or assisl Sisyphus in rolling his slone? — « No », says Minos, « none of thèse; we musl invenl some severer punishmenl. Lel him be sent back lo Ihe earlh, to see the use his heirs are making of his riches. »

(Hume.)