XVII
Reading edition
THE SEVERER SENTENCE
He had done a great wrong to a good woman, and the congress of the gods sat upon his punishment.
"Be it decreed by us," spoke the god at the far end of the table, "that he be compelled to walk, with the pace of a tortoise, through Hell."
"Be it decreed rather by us," spoke the god at the head of the table—and all the gods, hearing him, nodded grimly their approval—"that he be compelled to race, with the pace of a hare, through Paradise."