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Χρεμύλος

χαίρειν μὲν ὑμᾶς ἐστιν ὦνδρες δημόται

ἀρχαῖον ἤδη προσαγορεύειν καὶ σαπρόν·

ἀσπάζομαι δʼ ὁτιὴ προθύμως ἥκετε

καὶ συντεταμένως κοὐ κατεβλακευμένως.
325

ὅπως δέ μοι καὶ τἄλλα συμπαραστάται

ἔσεσθε καὶ σωτῆρες ὄντως τοῦ θεοῦ.

Χορός

θάρρει· βλέπειν γὰρ ἄντικρυς δόξεις μʼ Ἄρη.

δεινὸν γὰρ εἰ τριωβόλου μὲν οὕνεκα

ὠστιζόμεσθʼ ἑκάστοτʼ ἐν τἠκκλησίᾳ,
330

αὐτὸν δὲ τὸν Πλοῦτον παρείην τῳ λαβεῖν.

Χρεμύλος

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ καὶ Βλεψίδημον τουτονὶ

προσιόντα· δῆλος δʼ ἐστὶν ὅτι τοῦ πράγματος

ἀκήκοέν τι τῇ βαδίσει καὶ τῷ τάχει.

Βλεψίδημος

τί ἂν οὖν τὸ πρᾶγμʼ εἴη; πόθεν καὶ τίνι τρόπῳ
335

Χρεμύλος πεπλούτηκʼ ἐξαπίνης; οὐ πείθομαι.

καίτοι λόγος γʼ ἦν νὴ τὸν Ἡρακλέα πολὺς

ἐπὶ τοῖσι κουρείοισι τῶν καθημένων,

ὡς ἐξαπίνης ἀνὴρ γεγένηται πλούσιος.

ἔστιν δέ μοι τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ θαυμάσιον, ὅπως
340

χρηστόν τι πράττων τοὺς φίλους μεταπέμπεται.

οὔκουν ἐπιχώριόν γε πρᾶγμʼ ἐργάζεται.

Χρεμύλος

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν ἀποκρύψας ἐρῶ· νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς

ὦ Βλεψίδημʼ ἄμεινον ἢ χθὲς πράττομεν,

ὥστε μετέχειν ἔξεστιν· εἶ γὰρ τῶν φίλων.
345

Βλεψίδημος

γέγονας δʼ ἀληθῶς, ὡς λέγουσι, πλούσιος;

Χρεμύλος

ἔσομαι μὲν οὖν αὐτίκα μάλʼ, ἢν θεὸς θέλῃ.

ἔνι γάρ τις ἔνι κίνδυνος ἐν τῷ πράγματι.

Βλεψίδημος

ποῖός τις;

Χρεμύλος

οἷος;

Βλεψίδημος

λέγʼ ἀνύσας ὅ τι φῄς ποτε.

Χρεμύλος

ἢν μὲν κατορθώσωμεν, εὖ πράττειν ἀεί·
350

ἢν δὲ σφαλῶμεν, ἐπιτετρῖφθαι τὸ παράπαν.

Βλεψίδημος

τουτὶ πονηρὸν φαίνεται τὸ φορτίον

καί μʼ οὐκ ἀρέσκει. τό τε γὰρ ἐξαίφνης ἄγαν

οὕτως ὑπερπλουτεῖν τό τʼ αὖ δεδοικέναι

πρὸς ἀνδρὸς οὐδὲν ὑγιές ἐστʼ εἰργασμένου.
355

Χρεμύλος

πῶς οὐδὲν ὑγιές;

Βλεψίδημος

εἴ τι κεκλοφὼς νὴ Δία

ἐκεῖθεν ἥκεις ἀργύριον ἢ χρυσίον

παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, κἄπειτʼ ἴσως σοι μεταμέλει.

Χρεμύλος

Ἄπολλον ἀποτρόπαιε μὰ Δίʼ ἐγὼ μὲν οὔ.

Βλεψίδημος

παῦσαι φλυαρῶν ὦγάθʼ· οῖδα γὰρ σαφῶς.
360

Χρεμύλος

σὺ μηδὲν εἰς ἔμʼ ὑπονόει τοιουτονί.

Βλεψίδημος

φεῦ,

ὡς οὐδὲν ἀτεχνῶς ὑγιές ἐστιν οὐδενός,

ἀλλʼ εἰσὶ τοῦ κέρδους ἅπαντες ἥττονες.

Χρεμύλος

οὔ τοι μὰ τὴν Δήμητρʼ ὑγιαίνειν μοι δοκεῖς.

Βλεψίδημος

ὡς πολὺ μεθέστηχʼ ὧν πρότερον εἶχεν τρόπων.
365

Χρεμύλος

μελαγχολᾷς ὦνθρωπε νὴ τὸν οὐρανόν.

Βλεψίδημος

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ τὸ βλέμμʼ αὐτὸ κατὰ χώραν ἔχει,

ἀλλʼ ἐστὶν ἐπίδηλόν τι πεπανουργηκότι.

Χρεμύλος

σὺ μὲν οἶδʼ ὃ κρώζεις· ὡς ἐμοῦ τι κεκλοφότος

ζητεῖς μεταλαβεῖν.
370

Βλεψίδημος

μεταλαβεῖν ζητῶ; τίνος;

Χρεμύλος

τὸ δʼ ἐστὶν οὐ τοιοῦτον ἀλλʼ ἑτέρως ἔχον.

Βλεψίδημος

μῶν οὐ κέκλοφας ἀλλʼ ἥρπακας;

Χρεμύλος

κακοδαιμονᾷς.

Βλεψίδημος

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ μὴν ἀπεστέρηκάς γʼ οὐδένα;

Χρεμύλος

ουʼ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ.

Βλεψίδημος

ὦ Ἡράκλεις, φέρε ποῖ τις ἂν

τράποιτο; τἀληθὲς γὰρ οὐκ ἐθέλει φράσαι.
375

Χρεμύλος

κατηγορεῖς γὰρ πρὶν μαθεῖν τὸ πρᾶγμά μου.

Wealth. Aristophanes. ed. F. W. Hall, ed. William M. Geldart. Oxford. 1907.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The Annenberg CPB/Project.

Current edition Perseus

Πλοῦτος (Greek) (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 2. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.)

Translations (2)

Wealth (OCR draft) Experimental (English (Anonymous; 1938 compilation). Migrated from Perseus legacy XML; source wording and notes retained. See TEI header and migration inventory.) — 322 focus

Chremylus
coming out of his house

To say, “Hail! my dear neighbors!” is an old form of greeting and well worn with use; so therefore I embrace you, because you have not crept like tortoises, 325 but have come rushing here in all haste. Now help me to watch carefully and closely over the god.

Leader of the Chorus

Be at ease. You shall see with what martial zeal I will guard him. 330 What! we jostle each other at the Assembly for three obols, and am I going to let Plutus in person be stolen from me?

Chremylus

But I see Blepsidemus; by his bearing and his haste I can readily see he knows or suspects something.

Blepsidemus

335 What has happened then? Whence, how has Chremylus suddenly grown rich? I don't believe a word of it. Nevertheless, nothing but his sudden fortune was being talked about in the barber-shops. 340 But I am above all surprised that his good fortune has not made him forget his friends; that is not the usual way!

Chremylus

By the gods, Blepsidemus, I will hide nothing from you. To-day things are better than yesterday; 345 let us share, for are you not my friend?

Blepsidemus

Have you really grown rich as they say?

Chremylus

I shall be soon, if the god agrees to it. But there is still some risk to run.

Blepsidemus

What risk?

Chremylus

Well ...

Blepsidemus

Tell me, quick!

Chremylus

350 If we succeed, we are happy for ever, but if we fail, it is all over with us.

Blepsidemus

It's a bad business, and one that doesn't please me! To grow rich all at once and yet to be fearful! 355 ah! I suspect something that's little good.

Chremylus

What do you mean?

Blepsidemus

No doubt you have just stolen some gold and silver from some temple and are repenting.

Chremylus

Nay! heaven preserve me from that!

Blepsidemus

360 A truce to idle phrases! the thing is only too apparent, my friend.

Chremylus

Don't suspect such a thing of me.

Blepsidemus

Alas! then there is no honest man! not one, that can resist the attraction of gold!

Chremylus

By Demeter, you have no common sense.

Blepsidemus
aside

365 How he has changed!

Chremylus

But, good gods, you are mad, my dear fellow!

Blepsidemus
aside

His very look is distraught; he has done some crime!

Chremylus

Ah! I know the tune you are playing now; you think I have stolen, 370 and want your share.

Blepsidemus

My share of what, pray?

Chremylus

You are beside the mark; the thing is quite otherwise.

Blepsidemus

Perhaps it's not a theft, but some piece of knavery!

Chremylus

You are insane!

Blepsidemus

What? You have done no man an injury?

Chremylus

No! assuredly not!

Blepsidemus

But, great gods, what am 375 I to think? You won't tell me the truth.

Chremylus

You accuse me without really knowing anything.

English (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) Experimental (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.) — 322 focus

Chremylus: Greetings, you men of the people.

Chremylus: to call [it] already ancient and rotten;

Chremylus: I greet you, since you have come eagerly.

Chremylus: And in an orderly fashion, not in a lazy manner.

325

Chremylus: And how may he also stand by me in everything else?

Chremylus: You will indeed be saviors of the god.

Chorus: Have courage; for you will think that you see me face to face with Ares.

Chorus: for it is terrible, indeed, if for the sake of a drachma

Chorus: We are constantly being beaten in the assembly,

330

Chorus: but may I himself take Plutus.

Chremylus: And indeed, I see even this Blepsidemus.

Chremylus: He is approaching; and it is clear that he is of the affair

Chremylus: He has heard something about the slowness and the speed.

BLEPSIDEMUS: So what might the matter be? And from where and in what way?

335

Blepsidemus: Has Chremylus suddenly become rich? I do not believe it.

Blepsidemus: And yet there was a long speech, by Heracles!

Blepsidemus: at the barbers' of those sitting down,

Blepsidemus: How suddenly the man has become rich.

Blepsydemus: But this very thing is wonderful to me, how

340

Blepsidemus: he is summoning his friends when doing some good deed.

Blepsydemus: Then he is not doing a local business.

Chremylus: But I will say nothing hidden; by the gods

Chremylus: O Blepsidemus, we are doing better than yesterday.

Chremylus: So it is possible to participate; for you are one of my friends.

345

Blepsydemus: Have you really become rich, as they say?

Chremylus: I shall indeed be there immediately, if the god wills.

Chremylus: For there is some danger in the matter.

Blepsydemus: Who is it?

Chremylus: 'What kind?'

Blepsydemus: Say it, having finished what you are always saying.

Chremylus: If we succeed, [we shall] prosper forever;

350

Chremylus: But if we make a mistake, we will be utterly ruined.

Blepsydemus: This load looks wicked.

Blepsydemus: And he does not please me. For the fact that it is all at once too much

Blepsidemus: So it is to be exceedingly wealthy, and yet again to be afraid.

Blepsydemus: nothing is sound in a man who has been ruined.

355

Chremylus: How is nothing sound?

Blepsydemus: if I have somehow stolen it, by Zeus

Blepsidemus: Have you come from there with silver or gold?

Blepsidemus: from the god, and then perhaps you are sorry.

Chremylus: Apollo the averter, by Zeus, I certainly will not.

Blepsydemus: Stop talking nonsense, good man; for I know clearly.

360

Chremylus: You must not suppose anything like this of me.

Blepsydemus: Alas,

Blepsidemus: 'Indeed, nothing is truly healthy for anyone,'

Blepsidemus: But all are less than the profit.

Chremylus: No, by Demeter, you don't seem to be well.

Blepsidemus: How far he has departed from his former ways.

365

Chremylus: You are melancholy, man, by heaven.

Blepsidemus: But not even the look itself is in the right place,

Blepsidemus: But it is quite obvious to someone who has been cheated.

Chremylus: You certainly know what you are cawing about; as if I had stolen something from me.

Chremylus: You are seeking to share.

370

Blepsydemus: Do you seek to share in it? In what?

Chremylus: But that is not so, but rather it is otherwise.

Blepsidemus: Have you not stolen it, but rather seized it by force?

Chremylus: You are unlucky.

Blepsydemus: But you have not deprived anyone, have you?

Chremylus: Indeed, I certainly do.

Blepsidemus: O Heracles, bring us somewhere!

Blepsidemus: "Would that it were so? For the truth is unwilling to be revealed."

375

Chremylus: For you accuse before you have learned my affair.

Commentary

Commentary (Sanjaya, generated; selected passages) (OCR draft) (Source: pnadelofficial/aristophanes-sanjaya, commit c319590c139e5603e71f0699caa0663d823af8ad. Machine-generated source annotations retained; see Sanjaya import audit for coverage and limitations.) focus

328. mvp-tlg0019-tlg011-sanjaya-com-eng1-6

Line 328

θάρρει· βλέπειν γὰρ ἄντικρυς δόξεις μʼ Ἄρη.

The adverb Ἄντικρυς, here modifying the verb βλέπειν, literally means 'face-to-face' or 'straight on,' but in this context of the blind god being restored to sight, it carries the specific semantic weight of 'directly' or 'straight in the eyes.' This usage is distinct from the more common temporal or spatial meanings found in prose, serving here as a precise visual metaphor for the clarity of vision returning to the character, contrasting with his previous state of blindness.

369. mvp-tlg0019-tlg011-sanjaya-com-eng1-7

Line 369

σὺ μὲν οἶδʼ ὃ κρώζεις· ὡς ἐμοῦ τι κεκλοφότος

The phrase τι κεκλοφότος is a striking example of the genitive absolute construction with the article omitted (a 'genitive of the participle' or 'genitive participle' without the article, sometimes called the 'participle in the genitive'). Here, τι κεκλοφότος functions as an independent genitive absolute, meaning 'since something has been stolen' or 'with something having been stolen'. The omission of the article is rare in this specific construction in Aristophanes, where the article is typically present to mark the participle as a noun. This construction emphasizes the cause or circumstance of the main clause, adding a layer of rhetorical force to the speaker's assertion.

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Χρεμύλος καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ καὶ Βλεψίδημον τουτονὶ προσιόντα· δῆλος δʼ ἐστὶν ὅτι τοῦ πράγματος ἀκήκοέν τι τῇ βαδίσει καὶ τῷ τάχει.

Χρεμύλος ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν ἀποκρύψας ἐρῶ· νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς ὦ Βλεψίδημʼ ἄμεινον ἢ χθὲς πράττομεν, ὥστε μετέχειν ἔξεστιν· εἶ γὰρ τῶν φίλων. 345

Βλεψίδημος γέγονας δʼ ἀληθῶς, ὡς λέγουσι, πλούσιος;

Χρεμύλος ἔσομαι μὲν οὖν αὐτίκα μάλʼ, ἢν θεὸς θέλῃ. ἔνι γάρ τις ἔνι κίνδυνος ἐν τῷ πράγματι.

Βλεψίδημος ποῖός τις;

Χρεμύλος οἷος;

Βλεψίδημος λέγʼ ἀνύσας ὅ τι φῄς ποτε.

Χρεμύλος ἢν μὲν κατορθώσωμεν, εὖ πράττειν ἀεί· 350 ἢν δὲ σφαλῶμεν, ἐπιτετρῖφθαι τὸ παράπαν.

Χρεμύλος πῶς οὐδὲν ὑγιές;

Βλεψίδημος εἴ τι κεκλοφὼς νὴ Δία ἐκεῖθεν ἥκεις ἀργύριον ἢ χρυσίον παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, κἄπειτʼ ἴσως σοι μεταμέλει.

Χρεμύλος Ἄπολλον ἀποτρόπαιε μὰ Δίʼ ἐγὼ μὲν οὔ.

Βλεψίδημος παῦσαι φλυαρῶν ὦγάθʼ· οῖδα γὰρ σαφῶς. 360

Χρεμύλος σὺ μηδὲν εἰς ἔμʼ ὑπονόει τοιουτονί.

Βλεψίδημος φεῦ, ὡς οὐδὲν ἀτεχνῶς ὑγιές ἐστιν οὐδενός, ἀλλʼ εἰσὶ τοῦ κέρδους ἅπαντες ἥττονες.

Χρεμύλος οὔ τοι μὰ τὴν Δήμητρʼ ὑγιαίνειν μοι δοκεῖς.

Βλεψίδημος ὡς πολὺ μεθέστηχʼ ὧν πρότερον εἶχεν τρόπων. 365

Χρεμύλος μελαγχολᾷς ὦνθρωπε νὴ τὸν οὐρανόν.

Βλεψίδημος ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ τὸ βλέμμʼ αὐτὸ κατὰ χώραν ἔχει, ἀλλʼ ἐστὶν ἐπίδηλόν τι πεπανουργηκότι.

Χρεμύλος σὺ μὲν οἶδʼ ὃ κρώζεις· ὡς ἐμοῦ τι κεκλοφότος ζητεῖς μεταλαβεῖν. 370

Βλεψίδημος μεταλαβεῖν ζητῶ; τίνος;

Χρεμύλος τὸ δʼ ἐστὶν οὐ τοιοῦτον ἀλλʼ ἑτέρως ἔχον.

Βλεψίδημος μῶν οὐ κέκλοφας ἀλλʼ ἥρπακας;

Χρεμύλος κακοδαιμονᾷς.

Βλεψίδημος ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ μὴν ἀπεστέρηκάς γʼ οὐδένα;

Χρεμύλος ουʼ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ.

Βλεψίδημος ὦ Ἡράκλεις, φέρε ποῖ τις ἂν τράποιτο; τἀληθὲς γὰρ οὐκ ἐθέλει φράσαι. 375

Χρεμύλος κατηγορεῖς γὰρ πρὶν μαθεῖν τὸ πρᾶγμά μου.

Current edition Perseus

Chremylus coming out of his house To say, “Hail! my dear neighbors!” is an old form of greeting and well worn with use; so therefore I embrace you, because you have not crept like tortoises, 325 but have come rushing here in all haste. Now help me to watch carefully and closely over the god.

Leader of the Chorus Be at ease. You shall see with what martial zeal I will guard him. 330 What! we jostle each other at the Assembly for three obols, and am I going to let Plutus in person be stolen from me?

Chremylus But I see Blepsidemus; by his bearing and his haste I can readily see he knows or suspects something.

Chremylus By the gods, Blepsidemus, I will hide nothing from you. To-day things are better than yesterday; 345 let us share, for are you not my friend?

Blepsidemus Have you really grown rich as they say?

Chremylus I shall be soon, if the god agrees to it. But there is still some risk to run.

Blepsidemus What risk?

Chremylus Well ...

Blepsidemus Tell me, quick!

Chremylus 350 If we succeed, we are happy for ever, but if we fail, it is all over with us.

Blepsidemus It's a bad business, and one that doesn't please me! To grow rich all at once and yet to be fearful! 355 ah! I suspect something that's little good.

Chremylus What do you mean?

Blepsidemus No doubt you have just stolen some gold and silver from some temple and are repenting.

Chremylus Nay! heaven preserve me from that!

Blepsidemus 360 A truce to idle phrases! the thing is only too apparent, my friend.

Chremylus Don't suspect such a thing of me.

Blepsidemus Alas! then there is no honest man! not one, that can resist the attraction of gold!

Chremylus By Demeter, you have no common sense.

Blepsidemus aside 365 How he has changed!

Chremylus But, good gods, you are mad, my dear fellow!

Blepsidemus aside His very look is distraught; he has done some crime!

Chremylus Ah! I know the tune you are playing now; you think I have stolen, 370 and want your share.

Blepsidemus My share of what, pray?

Chremylus You are beside the mark; the thing is quite otherwise.

Blepsidemus Perhaps it's not a theft, but some piece of knavery!

Chremylus You are insane!

Blepsidemus What? You have done no man an injury?

Chremylus No! assuredly not!

Blepsidemus But, great gods, what am 375 I to think? You won't tell me the truth.

Chremylus You accuse me without really knowing anything.

Commentary

Line 328

Line 369

Stable identifiers

Χρεμύλος

καὶ μὴν ὁρῶ καὶ Βλεψίδημον τουτονὶ

προσιόντα· δῆλος δʼ ἐστὶν ὅτι τοῦ πράγματος

ἀκήκοέν τι τῇ βαδίσει καὶ τῷ τάχει.

Χρεμύλος

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲν ἀποκρύψας ἐρῶ· νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς

ὦ Βλεψίδημʼ ἄμεινον ἢ χθὲς πράττομεν,

ὥστε μετέχειν ἔξεστιν· εἶ γὰρ τῶν φίλων.
345

Βλεψίδημος

γέγονας δʼ ἀληθῶς, ὡς λέγουσι, πλούσιος;

Χρεμύλος

ἔσομαι μὲν οὖν αὐτίκα μάλʼ, ἢν θεὸς θέλῃ.

ἔνι γάρ τις ἔνι κίνδυνος ἐν τῷ πράγματι.

Βλεψίδημος

ποῖός τις;

Χρεμύλος

οἷος;

Βλεψίδημος

λέγʼ ἀνύσας ὅ τι φῄς ποτε.

Χρεμύλος

ἢν μὲν κατορθώσωμεν, εὖ πράττειν ἀεί·
350

ἢν δὲ σφαλῶμεν, ἐπιτετρῖφθαι τὸ παράπαν.

Χρεμύλος

πῶς οὐδὲν ὑγιές;

Βλεψίδημος

εἴ τι κεκλοφὼς νὴ Δία

ἐκεῖθεν ἥκεις ἀργύριον ἢ χρυσίον

παρὰ τοῦ θεοῦ, κἄπειτʼ ἴσως σοι μεταμέλει.

Χρεμύλος

Ἄπολλον ἀποτρόπαιε μὰ Δίʼ ἐγὼ μὲν οὔ.

Βλεψίδημος

παῦσαι φλυαρῶν ὦγάθʼ· οῖδα γὰρ σαφῶς.
360

Χρεμύλος

σὺ μηδὲν εἰς ἔμʼ ὑπονόει τοιουτονί.

Βλεψίδημος

φεῦ,

ὡς οὐδὲν ἀτεχνῶς ὑγιές ἐστιν οὐδενός,

ἀλλʼ εἰσὶ τοῦ κέρδους ἅπαντες ἥττονες.

Χρεμύλος

οὔ τοι μὰ τὴν Δήμητρʼ ὑγιαίνειν μοι δοκεῖς.

Βλεψίδημος

ὡς πολὺ μεθέστηχʼ ὧν πρότερον εἶχεν τρόπων.
365

Χρεμύλος

μελαγχολᾷς ὦνθρωπε νὴ τὸν οὐρανόν.

Βλεψίδημος

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ τὸ βλέμμʼ αὐτὸ κατὰ χώραν ἔχει,

ἀλλʼ ἐστὶν ἐπίδηλόν τι πεπανουργηκότι.

Χρεμύλος

σὺ μὲν οἶδʼ ὃ κρώζεις· ὡς ἐμοῦ τι κεκλοφότος

ζητεῖς μεταλαβεῖν.
370

Βλεψίδημος

μεταλαβεῖν ζητῶ; τίνος;

Χρεμύλος

τὸ δʼ ἐστὶν οὐ τοιοῦτον ἀλλʼ ἑτέρως ἔχον.

Βλεψίδημος

μῶν οὐ κέκλοφας ἀλλʼ ἥρπακας;

Χρεμύλος

κακοδαιμονᾷς.

Βλεψίδημος

ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ μὴν ἀπεστέρηκάς γʼ οὐδένα;

Χρεμύλος

ουʼ δῆτʼ ἔγωγʼ.

Βλεψίδημος

ὦ Ἡράκλεις, φέρε ποῖ τις ἂν

τράποιτο; τἀληθὲς γὰρ οὐκ ἐθέλει φράσαι.
375

Χρεμύλος

κατηγορεῖς γὰρ πρὶν μαθεῖν τὸ πρᾶγμά μου.

Chremylus
coming out of his house

To say, “Hail! my dear neighbors!” is an old form of greeting and well worn with use; so therefore I embrace you, because you have not crept like tortoises, 325 but have come rushing here in all haste. Now help me to watch carefully and closely over the god.

Leader of the Chorus

Be at ease. You shall see with what martial zeal I will guard him. 330 What! we jostle each other at the Assembly for three obols, and am I going to let Plutus in person be stolen from me?

Chremylus

But I see Blepsidemus; by his bearing and his haste I can readily see he knows or suspects something.

Chremylus

By the gods, Blepsidemus, I will hide nothing from you. To-day things are better than yesterday; 345 let us share, for are you not my friend?

Blepsidemus

Have you really grown rich as they say?

Chremylus

I shall be soon, if the god agrees to it. But there is still some risk to run.

Blepsidemus

What risk?

Chremylus

Well ...

Blepsidemus

Tell me, quick!

Chremylus

350 If we succeed, we are happy for ever, but if we fail, it is all over with us.

Blepsidemus

It's a bad business, and one that doesn't please me! To grow rich all at once and yet to be fearful! 355 ah! I suspect something that's little good.

Chremylus

What do you mean?

Blepsidemus

No doubt you have just stolen some gold and silver from some temple and are repenting.

Chremylus

Nay! heaven preserve me from that!

Blepsidemus

360 A truce to idle phrases! the thing is only too apparent, my friend.

Chremylus

Don't suspect such a thing of me.

Blepsidemus

Alas! then there is no honest man! not one, that can resist the attraction of gold!

Chremylus

By Demeter, you have no common sense.

Blepsidemus
aside

365 How he has changed!

Chremylus

But, good gods, you are mad, my dear fellow!

Blepsidemus
aside

His very look is distraught; he has done some crime!

Chremylus

Ah! I know the tune you are playing now; you think I have stolen, 370 and want your share.

Blepsidemus

My share of what, pray?

Chremylus

You are beside the mark; the thing is quite otherwise.

Blepsidemus

Perhaps it's not a theft, but some piece of knavery!

Chremylus

You are insane!

Blepsidemus

What? You have done no man an injury?

Chremylus

No! assuredly not!

Blepsidemus

But, great gods, what am 375 I to think? You won't tell me the truth.

Chremylus

You accuse me without really knowing anything.