day from a place he has never understood to a place he doesn't believe in.

HIPPONAX. I can't row.

MOMUS. You don't know what you can do till you try. You'll have more muscle
by Monday.

CHARON. Can you get good wine below?

MERCURY. To your boat, philosopher.

[What is a blind man to question the voice of a god? He turns to the
hated river, tapping the ground with his pole. Now comes a joke, one of
the very oldest.

MOMUS. One moment.

HIPPONAX. [As he turns back, hopeful of respite.] What is it?

MOMUS. How far would you have got if I hadn't called you back?

[Mercury hardly smiles. But Charon is abandoned to mirth. He slaps his
old knees with his hands.

CHARON. He's a funny fellow.

HIPPONAX. Dull clown!

[And he starts again. But there's another joke he must be part of, just
as old and just as silly.