Dion Chrysostomos (Dion von Prusa), 1. Rede über die Königsherrschaft 76-82:

Hermes führt dem Herakles zwei Frauen vor. Die erste verkörpert das gute Königtum, die zweite die Tyrannei. Dies ist die Schilderung des zweiten Weibes:

76. With all that he heard an saw Heracles was delighted, and he paid close attention, determined never to forget it. But when they had come down from the higher peak and were at the entrance to Tyranny, Hermes said, “Look this way and behold the other woman. It is with her that the majority of men are infatuated and to win her they give themselves much trouble of every kind, committing murder, wretches that they are, son often conspiring against father, father against son, and brother against brother, since they covet and count as felicity that which is the greatest evil – power conjoined with folly [ἐξουσίαν μετὰ ἀνοίας].”

77. He then began by showing Heracles the nature of the entrance, explaining that whereas only one pathway appeared to view, that being about as described above – perilous and skirting the very edge of the precipice – yet there were many unseen and hidden corridors, and that the entire region was undermined on every side and tunnelled, no doubt up to the very throne, and that all the passages and bypaths were smeared with blood and strewn with corpses. Through none, however, of these passages did Hermes lead him, but along the outside one that was less befouled, because, I think, Heracles was to be a mere observer.

78. When they entered, they discovered Tyranny seated aloft, of set purpose counterfeiting and making herself like to Royalty, but, as she imagined, on a far loftier and more splendid throne, since it was not only adorned with innumer-able carvings, but embellished besides with inlaid patterns of gold, ivory, amber, ebony, and substances of every colour. Her throne, however, was not secure upon its foundation nor firmly settled, but shook and slouched upon its legs.

79. And in general things were in disorder, everything suggesting vainglory, ostentation, and luxury – many sceptres, many tiaras and diadems for the head. Furthermore, in her zeal to imitate the character of the other woman, in-stead of the friendly smile Tyranny wore a leer of false humanity, and instead of a glance of dignity she had an ugly and forbidding scowl.

80. But in order to assume the appearance of pride, she would not glance at those who came into her presence but looked over their heads disdainfully. And so everybody hated her, and she herself ignored everybody. She was unable to sit with composure, but would cast her eyes incessantly in every direction, frequently springing up from her throne. She hugged her gold to her bosom in a disgusting manner and then in terror would fling it from her in a heap, then she would forthwith snatch at whatever any passer-by might have, were it never so little.

81. Her raiment was of many colours, purple, scarlet and saffron, with patches of white, too, showing here and there from her skirts, since her cloak was torn in many places. From her countenance glowed all manners of colours according to whether she felt terror or anguish or suspicion or anger; while at one moment she seemed prostrate with grief, at another she appeared to be in an exaltation of joy. At one time a quite wanton smile would come over her face, but at the next moment she would be in tears.

82. There was also a throng of women about her, but they resembled in no respect those whom I have described as in attendance upon Royalty. These were Cruelty, Insolence, Lawlessness, and Faction, all of whom were bent upon corrupting her and bringing her to ignoble ruin. And instead of Friendship, Flattery was there, servile and avaricious and no less ready for treachery than any of the others, nay rather, zealous above all things to destroy.

(Dio Chrysostom: Discourses 1-11. Ed. by J. W. Cohoon. Cambridge (Mass.)/London 1932, pp. 38-45)