Cario
To Chremylus
170
Is it not he who lends the Great King all his pride?
170
Is it not he who lends the Great King all his pride?
Chremylus
Is it not he who draws the citizens to the Assembly?
Is it not he who draws the citizens to the Assembly?
Cario
And tell me, is it not you who equip the triremes?
And tell me, is it not you who equip the triremes?
Chremylus
And who feed our mercenaries at
Corinth
?
And who feed our mercenaries at
Corinth
?
Cario
Are not you the cause of Pamphilus' sufferings?
Are not you the cause of Pamphilus' sufferings?
Chremylus
175
And of the needle-seller's with Pamphilus?
175
And of the needle-seller's with Pamphilus?
Cario
It is not because of you that Agyrrhius farts so loudly?
It is not because of you that Agyrrhius farts so loudly?
Chremylus
And that Philepsius rolls off his fables? That troops are sent to succour the Egyptians? And that Lais is kept by Philonides?
And that Philepsius rolls off his fables? That troops are sent to succour the Egyptians? And that Lais is kept by Philonides?
Cario
180
That the tower of Timotheus—
180
That the tower of Timotheus—
Chremylus
To Cario May it fall upon your head!
To PlutusIn short, Plutus, it is through you that everything is done; you must realize that you are the sole cause both of good and evil.
To Cario May it fall upon your head!
To PlutusIn short, Plutus, it is through you that everything is done; you must realize that you are the sole cause both of good and evil.
Cario
In war,
185
it's the flag under which you serve that victory favours.
In war,
185
it's the flag under which you serve that victory favours.
Plutus
What! I can do so many things by myself and unaided?
What! I can do so many things by myself and unaided?
Chremylus
And many others besides; wherefore men are never tired of your gifts. They get weary of all else, —
190
of love ...
And many others besides; wherefore men are never tired of your gifts. They get weary of all else, —
190
of love ...
Cario
Bread.
Bread.
Chremylus
Music.
Music.
Cario
Sweetmeats.
Sweetmeats.
Chremylus
Honors.
Honors.
Cario
Cakes.
Cakes.
Chremylus
Battles.
Battles.
Cario
Figs.
Figs.
Chremylus
Ambition.
Ambition.
Cario
Gruel.
Gruel.
Chremylus
Military advancement.
Military advancement.
Cario
Lentil soup.
Lentil soup.
Chremylus
But of you they never tire. If a man has thirteen talents,
195
he has all the greater ardor to possess sixteen; if that wish is achieved, he will want forty or will complain that he knows not how to make both ends meet.
But of you they never tire. If a man has thirteen talents,
195
he has all the greater ardor to possess sixteen; if that wish is achieved, he will want forty or will complain that he knows not how to make both ends meet.
Plutus
All this, I suppose, is very true; there is but one point that makes me feel a bit uneasy.
All this, I suppose, is very true; there is but one point that makes me feel a bit uneasy.
Chremylus
And that is?
And that is?
Plutus
200
How could I use this power, which you say I have?
200
How could I use this power, which you say I have?
Chremylus
Ah! they were quite right who said there's nothing more timorous than Plutus.
Ah! they were quite right who said there's nothing more timorous than Plutus.
Plutus
No, no; it was a thief who calumniated me. Having broken
205
into a house, he found everything locked up and could take nothing, so he dubbed my prudence fear.
No, no; it was a thief who calumniated me. Having broken
205
into a house, he found everything locked up and could take nothing, so he dubbed my prudence fear.
Chremylus
Don't be disturbed; if you support me zealously,
210
I'll make you more sharp-sighted than Lynceus.
Don't be disturbed; if you support me zealously,
210
I'll make you more sharp-sighted than Lynceus.
Plutus
And how should you be able to do that, you, who are but a mortal?
And how should you be able to do that, you, who are but a mortal?
Chremylus
I have great hope, after the answer Apollo gave me, shaking his sacred laurels the while.
I have great hope, after the answer Apollo gave me, shaking his sacred laurels the while.
Plutus
Is he in the plot then?
Is he in the plot then?
Chremylus
Surely.
Surely.
Plutus
215
Take care what you say.
215
Take care what you say.
Chremylus
Never fear, friend; for, be well assured, that if it has to cost me my life, I will carry out what I have in my head.
Never fear, friend; for, be well assured, that if it has to cost me my life, I will carry out what I have in my head.
Cario
And I will help you, if you permit it.
And I will help you, if you permit it.
Chremylus
We shall have many other helpers as well —all the worthy folk who are wanting for bread.
We shall have many other helpers as well —all the worthy folk who are wanting for bread.
Wealth. Aristophanes. ed. Eugene O'Neill, Jr.. New York. 1938.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.