But do you ever feel you ought to do something, that it’s an obligation, when your heart tells you something must be done whether you like it or not?

SLAVE

No, sir, certainly not, sir.

ACASTOS

Why certainly not?

SLAVE who thinks this is obvious

I only do what I am told.

ACASTOS

I can’t bear this!

ANTAGORAS

You see, they have no sense of duty, no idea of obligation, this is an important element in their condition, a merciful disability, like women, they simply lack the concept!

SOCRATES

Try to get back to religion.

ACASTOS

You know about rites and rituals, when people –

ANTAGORAS

He doesn’t know these words.

ACASTOS

Like the procession this afternoon.

SLAVE animated

Oh yes, sir, the procession, that’s good, when they dress up, so, and there is such music, and the tambourines, bom bom, and the flowers, it is so beautiful, and my heart goes bom bom, and my feet go, go, go, oh yes, oh yes!

He takes a few steps. Timonax and Antagoras laugh, Socrates smiles. Acastos is touched and upset, Plato frowns slightly.

ANTAGORAS

I’m afraid this isn’t getting us anywhere.

SOCRATES

Ask him about the gods.

TIMONAX

What’s the use!

ACASTOS

Do you know what the gods are – have you heard of God or the gods?

SLAVE

Gods–

TIMONAX

Never heard of them.

SLAVE

Oh yes, sir, the gods, oh yes!

ACASTOS

Tell me about the gods, do you believe in them?

SLAVE

I don’t understand, sir.

ACASTOS

So you don’t believe in the gods, you think there are no gods?

SLAVE amazed

No gods?

ACASTOS

That’s what you think?

SLAVE

How could I think that when I see them all the time?

ACASTOS

You see them? You mean their statues?

SLAVE

No, no, not statues, the gods, they are everywhere, you cannot help seeing them!

ANTAGORAS

Well, well!

ACASTOS

Where do you see them?

ANTAGORAS

Are they here?

SLAVE

No, sir, but they are in the garden and in the vineyard and in the trees and beside the river, oh so many gods!

ACASTOS fascinated

What are they like?

SLAVE

They are beautiful, oh so beautiful, the most beautiful of all!

ACASTOS

Are they good?

SLAVE puzzled

I don’t know. They are gods.

ACASTOS

Do you talk to them?

SLAVE

Oh yes, I talk to them, much, much talk.

ACASTOS

And do they answer?

SLAVE

Well, sir, sometimes they laugh, they are often laughing, oh they are so happy!

ACASTOS

Do you pray to them? I mean do you ask them to give you things?

SLAVE

No, sir. What could they give me better than just to be there with me?

TIMONAX

Don’t you ask them to make you free one day and not a slave?

SLAVE suddenly upset

I don’t know – that –

ACASTOS to Socrates

Can we let him go?

Socrates nods, Antagoras makes a dismissive gesture, the slave departs. Acastos looks accusingly at Timonax.