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Line 397

εἰ δʼ ἔστιν ἕτερός τις Ποσειδῶν, τὸν ἕτερον.

The phrase ἕτερός τις Ποσειδῶν relies on a specific semantic distinction in Attic comedy: ἕτερος here functions not merely as 'another' (a different individual of the same class) but as 'a different one' in the sense of a rival or alternative deity with a distinct sphere of influence, contrasting with the standard monotheistic tendency of the play's plot to treat 'Plutus' (Wealth) as the sole true god. The ellipsis of the verb (ἐστίν) and the immediate repetition of the article + adjective (τὸν ἕτερον) create a chiasmus that emphasizes the absurdity of positing a second Poseidon when the play's logic suggests a world reorganized around a single divine figure, a syntactic structure that mirrors the logical fallacy being mocked.

Wealth. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.

Current edition Experimental

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

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (1)

Πλοῦτος Perseus (Aristophanes. Aristophanis Comoediae, Vol. 2. Hall, F. W. and Geldart, William M., editors. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1907.) — 377 focus

Βλεψίδημος

ὦ τᾶν ἐγώ τοι τοῦτʼ ἀπὸ σμικροῦ πάνυ

ἐθέλω διαπρᾶξαι πρὶν πυθέσθαι τὴν πόλιν,

τὸ στόμʼ ἐπιβύσας κέρμασιν τῶν ῥητόρων.

Χρεμύλος

καὶ μὴν φίλως γʼ ἄν μοι δοκεῖς νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς
380

τρεῖς μνᾶς ἀναλώσας λογίσασθαι δώδεκα.

Βλεψίδημος

ὁρῶ τινʼ ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος καθεδούμενον

ἱκετηρίαν ἔχοντα μετὰ τῶν παιδίων

καὶ τῆς γυναικός, κουʼ διοίσοντʼ ἄντικρυς

τῶν Ἡρακλειδῶν οὐδʼ ὁτιοῦν τῶν Παμφίλου.
385

Χρεμύλος

οὒκ ὦ κακόδαιμον, ἀλλὰ τοὺς χρηστοὺς μόνους

ἔγωγε καὶ τοὺς δεξιοὺς καὶ σώφρονας

ἀπαρτὶ πλουτῆσαι ποιήσω.

Βλεψίδημος

τί σὺ λέγεις;

οὕτω πάνυ πολλὰ κέκλοφας;

Χρεμύλος

οἴμοι τῶν κακῶν,

ἀπολεῖς.
390

Βλεψίδημος

σὺ μὲν οὖν σεαυτόν, ὥς γʼ ἐμοὶ δοκεῖς.

Χρεμύλος

ουʼ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ τὸν Πλοῦτον ὦ μόχθηρε σὺ

ἔχω.

Βλεψίδημος

σὺ Πλοῦτον; ποῖον;

Χρεμύλος

αὐτὸν τὸν θεόν.

Βλεψίδημος

καὶ ποῦ ʼστιν;

Χρεμύλος

ἔνδον.

Βλεψίδημος

ποῦ;

Χρεμύλος

παρʼ ἐμοί.

Βλεψίδημος

παρὰ σοί;

Χρεμύλος

πάνυ.

Βλεψίδημος

οὐκ ἐς κόρακας; Πλοῦτος παρὰ σοί;

Χρεμύλος

νὴ τοὺς θεούς.

Βλεψίδημος

λὲγεις ἀληθῆ;
395

Χρεμύλος

φημί.

Βλεψίδημος

πρὸς τῆς Ἑστίας;

Χρεμύλος

νὴ τὸν Ποσειδῶ.

Βλεψίδημος

τὸν θαλάττιον λέγεις;

Χρεμύλος

εἰ δʼ ἔστιν ἕτερός τις Ποσειδῶν, τὸν ἕτερον.

Βλεψίδημος

εἶτʼ οὐ διαπέμπεις καὶ πρὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς φίλους;

Χρεμύλος

οὐκ ἔστι πω τὰ πράγματʼ ἐν τούτῳ.

Βλεψίδημος

τί φῄς;

οὐ τῷ μεταδοῦναι;
400

Χρεμύλος

μὰ Δία. δεῖ γὰρ πρῶτα

Βλεψίδημος

τί;

Χρεμύλος

βλέψαι ποιῆσαι νώ—

Βλεψίδημος

τίνα βλέψαι; φράσον.

Χρεμύλος

τὸν Πλοῦτον ὥσπερ πρότερον ἑνί γέ τῳ τρόπῳ.

Βλεψίδημος

τυφλὸς γὰρ ὄντως ἐστί;

Χρεμύλος

νὴ τὸν οὐρανόν.

Βλεψίδημος

οὐκ ἐτὸς ἄρʼ ὡς ἔμʼ ἦλθεν οὐδεπώποτε.

Χρεμύλος

ἀλλʼ ἢν θεοὶ θέλωσι, νῦν ἀφίξεται.
405

Βλεψίδημος

οὔκουν ἰατρὸν εἰσάγειν ἐχρῆν τινά;

Χρεμύλος

τίς δῆτʼ ἰατρός ἐστι νῦν ἐν τῇ πόλει;

οὔτε γὰρ ὁ μισθὸς οὐδὲν ἔστʼ οὔθʼ ἡ τέχνη.

Βλεψίδημος

σκοπῶμεν.

Χρεμύλος

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔστιν.

Βλεψίδημος

οὐδ ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ.

Χρεμύλος

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ὅπερ πάλαι παρεσκευαζόμην
410

ἐγώ, κατακλίνειν αὐτὸν εἰς Ἀσκληπιοῦ

κράτιστόν ἐστι.

Βλεψίδημος

πολὺ μὲν οὖν νὴ τοὺς θεούς.

μή νυν διάτριβʼ ἀλλʼ ἄνυε πράττων ἕν γέ τι.

Χρεμύλος

καὶ δὴ βαδίζω.

Βλεψίδημος

σπεῦδέ νυν.

Χρεμύλος

τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ δρῶ.

Πενία

ὦ θερμὸν ἔργον κἀνόσιον καὶ παράνομον
415

τολμῶντε δρᾶν ἀνθρωπαρίω κακοδαίμονε—

ποῖ ποῖ; τί φεύγετον; οὐ μενεῖτον;

Βλεψίδημος

Ἡράκλεις.

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.) — 377 focus

Blepsidemus

Listen, friend, no doubt the matter can yet be hushed up, before it gets noised abroad, at trifling expense; I will buy the orators' silence.

Chremylus

380 Aye, you will lay out three minae and, as my friend, you will reckon twelve against me.

Blepsidemus

I know someone who will come and seat himself at the foot of the tribunal, holding a supplicant's bough in his hand and surrounded by his wife and children, for all the world like 385 the Heraclidae of Pamphilus.

Chremylus

Not at all, poor fool! But, thanks to me, worthy folk alone shall be rich henceforth.

Blepsidemus

What are you saying? Have you then stolen so much as all that?

Chremylus

Oh! your insults 390 will be the death of me.

Blepsidemus

You're the one who is courting death.

Chremylus

Not so, you wretch, since I have Plutus.

Blepsidemus

You have Plutus? Which one?

Chremylus

The god himself.

Blepsidemus

And where is he?

Chremylus

There.

Blepsidemus

Where?

Chremylus

Indoors.

Blepsidemus

Indoors?

Chremylus

Aye, certainly.

Blepsidemus

Get you gone! Plutus in your house?

Chremylus

Yes, by the gods!

Blepsidemus

395 Are you telling the truth?

Chremylus

I am.

Blepsidemus

Swear it by Hestia.

Chremylus

I swear it by Poseidon.

Blepsidemus

The god of the sea?

Chremylus

Yes, and by all the other Poseidons, if such there be.

Blepsidemus

And you don't send him to us, to your friends?

Chremylus

We've not got to that point yet.

Blepsidemus

What do you say? 400 Is there no chance of sharing?

Chremylus

Why, no. We must first ...

Blepsidemus

Do what?

Chremylus

... restore him his sight.

Blepsidemus

Restore whom his sight? Speak!

Chremylus

Plutus. It must be done, no matter how.

Blepsidemus

Is he then really blind?

Chremylus

Yes, undoubtedly.

Blepsidemus

I am no longer surprised he never came to me.

Chremylus

405 If it please the gods, he'll come there now.

Blepsidemus

Must we not go and seek a physician?

Chremylus

Seek physicians at Athens ? Nay! there's no art where there's no fee.

Blepsidemus
running his eyes over the audience

Let's look carefully.

Chremylus
after a thorough survey

There is not one.

Blepsidemus

It's a positive fact; I don't know of one.

Chremylus

410 But I have thought the matter well over, and the best thing is to make Plutus lie in the Temple of Asclepius.

Blepsidemus

Unquestionably that's the very best thing. Hurry and lead him away to the temple.

Chremylus

I am going there.

Blepsidemus

Then hurry up.

Chremylus

That's just what I am doing.

They are just leaving when Poverty comes running in; she is a picture of squalor and the two men recoil in horror.

Poverty

415 Unwise, perverse, unholy men! What are you daring to do, you pitiful, wretched mortals? Whither are you flying? Stop! I command it!

Blepsidemus

Oh! great gods!

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.) — 377 focus

Blepsydemus: Oh, I really mean it about this!

Blepsydemus: I want to accomplish this before learning about the city,

Blepsydemus: covering the mouth with the coins of the orators.

Chremylus: And indeed, by the gods, you seem friendly to me.

380

Chremylus: having spent three minae, count up twelve.

Blepsidemus: I see someone sitting on the platform.

Blepsidemus: having a supplication with the children

Blepsidemus: And of the wife too, and bring her straight out.

Blepsydemus: not one of the Heracleids at all of Pamphilus'.

385

Chremylus: Not so, wretched man, but only the good ones.

Chremylus: I certainly [am] both on the right and temperate.

Chremylus: I will soon make him rich.

Blepsydemus: What are you saying?

Blepsidemus: Have you stolen so very many things?

Chremylus: Alas for the evils,

Chremylus: You will be ruined.

390

Blepsydemus: Then you, at any rate, yourself, as it seems to me.

Chremylus: Well, indeed, since you, wretched man, [are] Plutus

Chremylus: I have.

Blepsydemus: You [mean] Wealth? Which one?

Chremylus: the god himself.

Blepsidemus: And where is he?

Chremylus: Inside.

Blepsydemus: Where?

Chremylus: with me.

Blepsidemus: "By you?"

Chremylus: Very much.

Blepsydemus: To the crows? Is Wealth by you?

Chremylus: By the gods.

Blepsydemus: Are you speaking the truth?

395

Chremylus: I say.

Blepsydemus: By Hestia?

Chremylus: By Poseidon.

Blepsidemus: Do you mean the one from the sea?

Chremylus: if there is another Poseidon, the other one.

Blepsidemus: Then don't you send [it] also to us, your friends?

Chremylus: The situation is not yet in this state.

Blepsidemus: What do you say?

Blepsydemus: Not to give a share?

400

Chremylus: By Zeus. For one must first

Blepsidemus: "What?"

Blepsidemus: Whom to look at? Tell me.

Chremylus: I mean to help Wealth in some way or other, just as before.

Blepsidemus: For is he truly blind?

Chremylus: By heaven!

Blepsydemus: Has he ever come to me, not even once, as expected?

Chremylus: But if the gods will it, he will arrive now.

405

Blepsydemus: Shouldn't we then bring in some doctor?

Chremylus: But who is the doctor in the city now?

Chremylus: For neither is the wage anything nor is the craft.

Blepsydemus: Let us look.

Chremylus: But it is not.

Blepsydemus: Nor does it seem so to me.

Chremylus: By Zeus, but I was preparing for this long ago.

410

Chremylus: I, to place him into [the temple] of Asclepius

Chremylus: It is best.

Blepsydemus: Indeed, by the gods, by far.

Blepsydemus: So do not linger, but set about doing some one thing.

Chremylus: And now I am going.

Blepsidemus: Hurry now.

Chremylus: I am doing just that.

Poverty: O hot deed, impious and unlawful!

415

Poverty: You, wretched man, dare to do things for a human being—

Poverty: Where, where? Why are you fleeing? Will you not stay?

Blepsidemus: By Heracles.

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

397. mvp-tlg0019-tlg011-sanjaya-com-eng1-8

Line 397

εἰ δʼ ἔστιν ἕτερός τις Ποσειδῶν, τὸν ἕτερον.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Line 397

Current edition Experimental

Βλεψίδημος ὦ τᾶν ἐγώ τοι τοῦτʼ ἀπὸ σμικροῦ πάνυ ἐθέλω διαπρᾶξαι πρὶν πυθέσθαι τὴν πόλιν, τὸ στόμʼ ἐπιβύσας κέρμασιν τῶν ῥητόρων.

Χρεμύλος καὶ μὴν φίλως γʼ ἄν μοι δοκεῖς νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς 380 τρεῖς μνᾶς ἀναλώσας λογίσασθαι δώδεκα.

Χρεμύλος οὒκ ὦ κακόδαιμον, ἀλλὰ τοὺς χρηστοὺς μόνους ἔγωγε καὶ τοὺς δεξιοὺς καὶ σώφρονας ἀπαρτὶ πλουτῆσαι ποιήσω.

Βλεψίδημος τί σὺ λέγεις; οὕτω πάνυ πολλὰ κέκλοφας;

Χρεμύλος οἴμοι τῶν κακῶν, ἀπολεῖς. 390

Βλεψίδημος σὺ μὲν οὖν σεαυτόν, ὥς γʼ ἐμοὶ δοκεῖς.

Χρεμύλος ουʼ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ τὸν Πλοῦτον ὦ μόχθηρε σὺ ἔχω.

Βλεψίδημος σὺ Πλοῦτον; ποῖον;

Χρεμύλος αὐτὸν τὸν θεόν.

Βλεψίδημος καὶ ποῦ ʼστιν;

Χρεμύλος ἔνδον.

Βλεψίδημος ποῦ;

Χρεμύλος παρʼ ἐμοί.

Βλεψίδημος παρὰ σοί;

Χρεμύλος πάνυ.

Βλεψίδημος οὐκ ἐς κόρακας; Πλοῦτος παρὰ σοί;

Χρεμύλος νὴ τοὺς θεούς.

Βλεψίδημος λὲγεις ἀληθῆ; 395

Χρεμύλος φημί.

Βλεψίδημος πρὸς τῆς Ἑστίας;

Χρεμύλος νὴ τὸν Ποσειδῶ.

Βλεψίδημος τὸν θαλάττιον λέγεις;

Χρεμύλος εἰ δʼ ἔστιν ἕτερός τις Ποσειδῶν, τὸν ἕτερον.

Βλεψίδημος εἶτʼ οὐ διαπέμπεις καὶ πρὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς φίλους;

Χρεμύλος οὐκ ἔστι πω τὰ πράγματʼ ἐν τούτῳ.

Βλεψίδημος τί φῄς; οὐ τῷ μεταδοῦναι; 400

Χρεμύλος μὰ Δία. δεῖ γὰρ πρῶτα

Βλεψίδημος τί;

Χρεμύλος βλέψαι ποιῆσαι νώ—

Βλεψίδημος τίνα βλέψαι; φράσον.

Χρεμύλος τὸν Πλοῦτον ὥσπερ πρότερον ἑνί γέ τῳ τρόπῳ.

Βλεψίδημος τυφλὸς γὰρ ὄντως ἐστί;

Χρεμύλος νὴ τὸν οὐρανόν.

Βλεψίδημος οὐκ ἐτὸς ἄρʼ ὡς ἔμʼ ἦλθεν οὐδεπώποτε.

Χρεμύλος ἀλλʼ ἢν θεοὶ θέλωσι, νῦν ἀφίξεται. 405

Βλεψίδημος οὔκουν ἰατρὸν εἰσάγειν ἐχρῆν τινά;

Χρεμύλος τίς δῆτʼ ἰατρός ἐστι νῦν ἐν τῇ πόλει; οὔτε γὰρ ὁ μισθὸς οὐδὲν ἔστʼ οὔθʼ ἡ τέχνη.

Βλεψίδημος σκοπῶμεν.

Χρεμύλος ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔστιν.

Βλεψίδημος οὐδ ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ.

Χρεμύλος μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ὅπερ πάλαι παρεσκευαζόμην 410 ἐγώ, κατακλίνειν αὐτὸν εἰς Ἀσκληπιοῦ κράτιστόν ἐστι.

Βλεψίδημος πολὺ μὲν οὖν νὴ τοὺς θεούς. μή νυν διάτριβʼ ἀλλʼ ἄνυε πράττων ἕν γέ τι.

Χρεμύλος καὶ δὴ βαδίζω.

Βλεψίδημος σπεῦδέ νυν.

Χρεμύλος τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ δρῶ.

Πενία ὦ θερμὸν ἔργον κἀνόσιον καὶ παράνομον 415 τολμῶντε δρᾶν ἀνθρωπαρίω κακοδαίμονε— ποῖ ποῖ; τί φεύγετον; οὐ μενεῖτον;

Βλεψίδημος Ἡράκλεις.

Blepsidemus Listen, friend, no doubt the matter can yet be hushed up, before it gets noised abroad, at trifling expense; I will buy the orators' silence.

Chremylus 380 Aye, you will lay out three minae and, as my friend, you will reckon twelve against me.

Blepsidemus I know someone who will come and seat himself at the foot of the tribunal, holding a supplicant's bough in his hand and surrounded by his wife and children, for all the world like 385 the Heraclidae of Pamphilus.

Chremylus Not at all, poor fool! But, thanks to me, worthy folk alone shall be rich henceforth.

Blepsidemus What are you saying? Have you then stolen so much as all that?

Chremylus Oh! your insults 390 will be the death of me.

Blepsidemus You're the one who is courting death.

Chremylus Not so, you wretch, since I have Plutus.

Blepsidemus You have Plutus? Which one?

Chremylus The god himself.

Blepsidemus And where is he?

Chremylus There.

Blepsidemus Where?

Chremylus Indoors.

Blepsidemus Indoors?

Chremylus Aye, certainly.

Blepsidemus Get you gone! Plutus in your house?

Chremylus Yes, by the gods!

Blepsidemus 395 Are you telling the truth?

Chremylus I am.

Blepsidemus Swear it by Hestia.

Chremylus I swear it by Poseidon.

Blepsidemus The god of the sea?

Chremylus Yes, and by all the other Poseidons, if such there be.

Blepsidemus And you don't send him to us, to your friends?

Chremylus We've not got to that point yet.

Blepsidemus What do you say? 400 Is there no chance of sharing?

Chremylus Why, no. We must first ...

Blepsidemus Do what?

Βλεψίδημος

ὦ τᾶν ἐγώ τοι τοῦτʼ ἀπὸ σμικροῦ πάνυ

ἐθέλω διαπρᾶξαι πρὶν πυθέσθαι τὴν πόλιν,

τὸ στόμʼ ἐπιβύσας κέρμασιν τῶν ῥητόρων.

Χρεμύλος

καὶ μὴν φίλως γʼ ἄν μοι δοκεῖς νὴ τοὺς θεοὺς
380

τρεῖς μνᾶς ἀναλώσας λογίσασθαι δώδεκα.

Χρεμύλος

οὒκ ὦ κακόδαιμον, ἀλλὰ τοὺς χρηστοὺς μόνους

ἔγωγε καὶ τοὺς δεξιοὺς καὶ σώφρονας

ἀπαρτὶ πλουτῆσαι ποιήσω.

Βλεψίδημος

τί σὺ λέγεις;

οὕτω πάνυ πολλὰ κέκλοφας;

Χρεμύλος

οἴμοι τῶν κακῶν,

ἀπολεῖς.
390

Βλεψίδημος

σὺ μὲν οὖν σεαυτόν, ὥς γʼ ἐμοὶ δοκεῖς.

Χρεμύλος

ουʼ δῆτʼ, ἐπεὶ τὸν Πλοῦτον ὦ μόχθηρε σὺ

ἔχω.

Βλεψίδημος

σὺ Πλοῦτον; ποῖον;

Χρεμύλος

αὐτὸν τὸν θεόν.

Βλεψίδημος

καὶ ποῦ ʼστιν;

Χρεμύλος

ἔνδον.

Βλεψίδημος

ποῦ;

Χρεμύλος

παρʼ ἐμοί.

Βλεψίδημος

παρὰ σοί;

Χρεμύλος

πάνυ.

Βλεψίδημος

οὐκ ἐς κόρακας; Πλοῦτος παρὰ σοί;

Χρεμύλος

νὴ τοὺς θεούς.

Βλεψίδημος

λὲγεις ἀληθῆ;
395

Χρεμύλος

φημί.

Βλεψίδημος

πρὸς τῆς Ἑστίας;

Χρεμύλος

νὴ τὸν Ποσειδῶ.

Βλεψίδημος

τὸν θαλάττιον λέγεις;

Χρεμύλος

εἰ δʼ ἔστιν ἕτερός τις Ποσειδῶν, τὸν ἕτερον.

Βλεψίδημος

εἶτʼ οὐ διαπέμπεις καὶ πρὸς ἡμᾶς τοὺς φίλους;

Χρεμύλος

οὐκ ἔστι πω τὰ πράγματʼ ἐν τούτῳ.

Βλεψίδημος

τί φῄς;

οὐ τῷ μεταδοῦναι;
400

Χρεμύλος

μὰ Δία. δεῖ γὰρ πρῶτα

Βλεψίδημος

τί;

Χρεμύλος

βλέψαι ποιῆσαι νώ—

Βλεψίδημος

τίνα βλέψαι; φράσον.

Χρεμύλος

τὸν Πλοῦτον ὥσπερ πρότερον ἑνί γέ τῳ τρόπῳ.

Βλεψίδημος

τυφλὸς γὰρ ὄντως ἐστί;

Χρεμύλος

νὴ τὸν οὐρανόν.

Βλεψίδημος

οὐκ ἐτὸς ἄρʼ ὡς ἔμʼ ἦλθεν οὐδεπώποτε.

Χρεμύλος

ἀλλʼ ἢν θεοὶ θέλωσι, νῦν ἀφίξεται.
405

Βλεψίδημος

οὔκουν ἰατρὸν εἰσάγειν ἐχρῆν τινά;

Χρεμύλος

τίς δῆτʼ ἰατρός ἐστι νῦν ἐν τῇ πόλει;

οὔτε γὰρ ὁ μισθὸς οὐδὲν ἔστʼ οὔθʼ ἡ τέχνη.

Βλεψίδημος

σκοπῶμεν.

Χρεμύλος

ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἔστιν.

Βλεψίδημος

οὐδ ἐμοὶ δοκεῖ.

Χρεμύλος

μὰ Δίʼ ἀλλʼ ὅπερ πάλαι παρεσκευαζόμην
410

ἐγώ, κατακλίνειν αὐτὸν εἰς Ἀσκληπιοῦ

κράτιστόν ἐστι.

Βλεψίδημος

πολὺ μὲν οὖν νὴ τοὺς θεούς.

μή νυν διάτριβʼ ἀλλʼ ἄνυε πράττων ἕν γέ τι.

Χρεμύλος

καὶ δὴ βαδίζω.

Βλεψίδημος

σπεῦδέ νυν.

Χρεμύλος

τοῦτʼ αὐτὸ δρῶ.

Πενία

ὦ θερμὸν ἔργον κἀνόσιον καὶ παράνομον
415

τολμῶντε δρᾶν ἀνθρωπαρίω κακοδαίμονε—

ποῖ ποῖ; τί φεύγετον; οὐ μενεῖτον;

Βλεψίδημος

Ἡράκλεις.

Blepsidemus

Listen, friend, no doubt the matter can yet be hushed up, before it gets noised abroad, at trifling expense; I will buy the orators' silence.

Chremylus

380 Aye, you will lay out three minae and, as my friend, you will reckon twelve against me.

Blepsidemus

I know someone who will come and seat himself at the foot of the tribunal, holding a supplicant's bough in his hand and surrounded by his wife and children, for all the world like 385 the Heraclidae of Pamphilus.

Chremylus

Not at all, poor fool! But, thanks to me, worthy folk alone shall be rich henceforth.

Blepsidemus

What are you saying? Have you then stolen so much as all that?

Chremylus

Oh! your insults 390 will be the death of me.

Blepsidemus

You're the one who is courting death.

Chremylus

Not so, you wretch, since I have Plutus.

Blepsidemus

You have Plutus? Which one?

Chremylus

The god himself.

Blepsidemus

And where is he?

Chremylus

There.

Blepsidemus

Where?

Chremylus

Indoors.

Blepsidemus

Indoors?

Chremylus

Aye, certainly.

Blepsidemus

Get you gone! Plutus in your house?

Chremylus

Yes, by the gods!

Blepsidemus

395 Are you telling the truth?

Chremylus

I am.

Blepsidemus

Swear it by Hestia.

Chremylus

I swear it by Poseidon.

Blepsidemus

The god of the sea?

Chremylus

Yes, and by all the other Poseidons, if such there be.

Blepsidemus

And you don't send him to us, to your friends?

Chremylus

We've not got to that point yet.

Blepsidemus

What do you say? 400 Is there no chance of sharing?

Chremylus

Why, no. We must first ...

Blepsidemus

Do what?

Chremylus

... restore him his sight.

Blepsidemus

Restore whom his sight? Speak!

Chremylus

Plutus. It must be done, no matter how.

Blepsidemus

Is he then really blind?