Plutus
All talk like this, but as soon as they secure my favours and grow rich, their wickedness knows no bounds.
All talk like this, but as soon as they secure my favours and grow rich, their wickedness knows no bounds.
Chremylus
110
And yet all men are not wicked.
110
And yet all men are not wicked.
Plutus
All. There's no exception.
All. There's no exception.
Cario
You shall pay for that opinion.
You shall pay for that opinion.
Chremylus
Listen to what happiness there is in store for you, if you but stay with us. I have hope; aye, I have good hope with the god's help
115
to deliver you from that blindness, in fact to restore your sight.
Listen to what happiness there is in store for you, if you but stay with us. I have hope; aye, I have good hope with the god's help
115
to deliver you from that blindness, in fact to restore your sight.
Plutus
Oh! do nothing of the kind, for I don't wish to recover it.
Oh! do nothing of the kind, for I don't wish to recover it.
Chremylus
What's that you say?
What's that you say?
Cario
This fellow hugs his own misery.
This fellow hugs his own misery.
Plutus
If you were mad enough to cure me, and Zeus
120
heard of it, he would overwhelm me with his anger.
If you were mad enough to cure me, and Zeus
120
heard of it, he would overwhelm me with his anger.
Chremylus
And is he not doing this now by leaving you to grope your wandering way?
And is he not doing this now by leaving you to grope your wandering way?
Plutus
I don't know; but I'm horribly afraid of him.
I don't know; but I'm horribly afraid of him.
Chremylus
Indeed? Ah! you are the biggest poltroon of all the gods! Why, Zeus with his throne
125
and his lightnings would not be worth an obolus if you recovered your sight, were it but for a few moments.
Indeed? Ah! you are the biggest poltroon of all the gods! Why, Zeus with his throne
125
and his lightnings would not be worth an obolus if you recovered your sight, were it but for a few moments.
Plutus
Impious man, don't talk like that.
Impious man, don't talk like that.
Chremylus
Fear nothing! I will prove to you that you are far more powerful and mightier than he.
Fear nothing! I will prove to you that you are far more powerful and mightier than he.
Plutus
I mightier than he?
I mightier than he?
Chremylus
Aye, by heaven!
To Cario
130
For instance, what is the basis of the power that Zeus wields over the other gods?
Aye, by heaven!
To Cario
130
For instance, what is the basis of the power that Zeus wields over the other gods?
Cario
Money; he has so much of it.
Money; he has so much of it.
Chremylus
And who gives it to him?
And who gives it to him?
Cario
pointing to Plutus
This fellow.
This fellow.
Chremylus
If sacrifices are offered to him, is not Plutus their cause?
If sacrifices are offered to him, is not Plutus their cause?
Cario
Undoubtedly, for it's wealth that all demand and clamor most loudly for.
Undoubtedly, for it's wealth that all demand and clamor most loudly for.
Chremylus
135
Thus it's Plutus who is the fount of all the honors rendered to Zeus, whose worship he can wither up at the root, if it so pleases him.
135
Thus it's Plutus who is the fount of all the honors rendered to Zeus, whose worship he can wither up at the root, if it so pleases him.
Plutus
And how so?
And how so?
Chremylus
Not an ox, nor a cake, nor indeed anything at all could be offered, if you did not wish it.
Not an ox, nor a cake, nor indeed anything at all could be offered, if you did not wish it.
Plutus
Why?
Why?
Chremylus
Why? but what means are there
140
to buy anything if you are not there to give the money? Hence if Zeus should cause you any trouble, you will destroy his power without other help.
Why? but what means are there
140
to buy anything if you are not there to give the money? Hence if Zeus should cause you any trouble, you will destroy his power without other help.
Plutus
So it's because of me that sacrifices are offered to him?
So it's because of me that sacrifices are offered to him?
Chremylus
Most assuredly. Whatever is dazzling, beautiful
145
or charming in the eyes of mankind, comes from you. Does not everything depend on wealth?
Most assuredly. Whatever is dazzling, beautiful
145
or charming in the eyes of mankind, comes from you. Does not everything depend on wealth?
Cario
I myself was bought for a few coins; if I'm a slave, it's only because I was not rich.
I myself was bought for a few coins; if I'm a slave, it's only because I was not rich.
Chremylus
And what of the Corinthian whores?
150
If a poor man offers them proposals, they do not listen; but if it be a rich one, instantly they turn their arses to him.
And what of the Corinthian whores?
150
If a poor man offers them proposals, they do not listen; but if it be a rich one, instantly they turn their arses to him.
Cario
It's the same with the lads; they care not for love, to them money means everything.
It's the same with the lads; they care not for love, to them money means everything.
Chremylus
155
You speak of male whores; yet some of them are honest, and it's not money they ask of their patrons.
155
You speak of male whores; yet some of them are honest, and it's not money they ask of their patrons.
Cario
What then?
What then?
Chremylus
A fine horse, a pack of hounds.
A fine horse, a pack of hounds.
Cario
Yes, they would blush to ask for money and cleverly disguise their shame.
Yes, they would blush to ask for money and cleverly disguise their shame.
Chremylus
160
It is in you that every art, all human inventions, have had their origin; it is through you that one man sits cutting leather in his shop.
160
It is in you that every art, all human inventions, have had their origin; it is through you that one man sits cutting leather in his shop.
Cario
That another fashions iron or wood.
That another fashions iron or wood.
Chremylus
That yet another chases the gold he has received from you.
That yet another chases the gold he has received from you.
Cario
165
This one steals clothes, by Zeus, and that one is a housebreaker.
165
This one steals clothes, by Zeus, and that one is a housebreaker.
Chremylus
That one is a clothes-cleaner.
That one is a clothes-cleaner.
Cario
And the other washes bedding.
And the other washes bedding.
Chremylus
That this one is a tanner.
That this one is a tanner.
Cario
And that other sells onions.
And that other sells onions.
Chremylus
And if the adulterer, caught red-handed, is depilated, it's on account of you.
And if the adulterer, caught red-handed, is depilated, it's on account of you.
Plutus
Oh! great gods! I knew naught of all this!
Oh! great gods! I knew naught of all this!
Wealth. Aristophanes. ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr.. New York. 1938.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.