very felicitous.'

In the meantime affairs went on swimmingly in Tartarus. The obstinate
Fates and the sulky Furies were unwittingly the cause of universal
satisfaction. Everyone enjoyed himself, and enjoyment when it is
unexpected is doubly satisfactory. Tantalus, Sisyphus, and Ixion, for
the first time during their punishment, had an opportunity for a little
conversation.

'Long live our reforming Queen,' said the ex-king of Lydia. 'You
cannot conceive, my dear companions, anything more delightful than this
long-coveted draught of cold water; its flavour far surpasses the memory
of my choicest wines. And as for this delicious fruit, one must live
in a hot climate, like our present one, sufficiently to appreciate
its refreshing gust. I would, my dear friends, you could only share my
banquet.'

'Your Majesty is very kind,' replied Sisyphus, 'but it seems to me that
nothing in the world will ever induce me again to move. One must have
toiled for ages to comprehend the rapturous sense of repose that now
pervades my exhausted frame. Is it possible that that damned stone can
really have disappeared?'

'You say truly,' said Ixion, 'the couches of Olympus cannot compare with
this resting wheel.'

'Noble Sisyphus,' rejoined Tantalus, 'we are both of us acquainted with
the cause of our companion's presence in those infernal regions, since
his daring exploit has had the good fortune of being celebrated by one
of the fashionable authors of this part of the world.'

'I have never had time to read his work,' interrupted Ixion. 'What sort
of a fellow is he?'

'One of the most conceited dogs that I ever met with,' replied the King.
'He thinks he is a great genius, and perhaps he has some little talent
for the extravagant.'

'Are there any critics in Hell?'

'Myriads. They abound about the marshes of Cocytus, where they croak
furiously. They are all to a man against our author.'

'That speaks more to his credit than his own self-opinion,' rejoined
Ixion.

'_A nous moutons!_' exclaimed Tantalus; 'I was about to observe that
I am curious to learn for what reason our friend Sisyphus was doomed to
his late terrible exertions.'

'For the simplest in the world,' replied the object of the inquiry;
'because I was not a hypocrite. No one ever led a pleasanter life than
myself, and no one was more popular in society. I was considered, as
they phrased it, the most long-headed prince of my time, and was in
truth a finished man o