AEACUS (to Xanthias). D'you hear him?
XANTHIAS. Yes. 'Tis all the better reason for beating him with rods, for, if he is a god, he will not feel the blows.
DIONYSUS (to Xanthias).
But why, pray, since you also claim to be a god, should you not be beaten like myself?
XANTHIAS (to Aeacus).
That's fair. Very well then, whichever of us two you first see crying and caring for the blows, him believe not to be a god.
AEACUS. 'Tis spoken like a brave fellow; you don't refuse what is right.
Strip yourselves.
XANTHIAS. To do the thing fairly, how do you propose to act?
AEACUS. Oh! that's easy. I shall hit you one after the other.
XANTHIAS. Well thought of.