Dikaios: You are a patriot and a good man?
Sycophant: "As if no man at all."
Dikaios: And indeed, having been asked, answer me.
Sycophant: 'What?'
Dikaios: Are you a farmer?
Sycophant: you think I'm being melancholy like this?
Dikaios: But a merchant?
Sycophant: Yes, I swear, whenever I happen to.
Dikaiopolis: What then? Have you learned some craft?
905
Sycophant: By Zeus, no.
Dikaios: So how did you live, or from where, doing nothing?
Sycophant: I am a caretaker of the affairs of the city.
Sycophant: and of all his own possessions.
Dikaios: You? Having learned what?
Sycophant: I wish.
Dikaiopolis: So how could you be good, you wall-crawler?
Dikaios: If it was fitting for you in no way, then do you hate it?
910
Sycophant: For it is not fitting that I should have my own city.
Sycophant: Shall I do good, O Kephphos, as much as I am able?
Dikaios: Is it then to be doing good to be meddling?
Sycophant: 'Well then, to assist the existing laws'
Sycophant: and not to permit if someone should make a mistake.
915
Dikaios: Does the city not then appoint judges intentionally?
Dikaios: He appoints him to rule?
Sycophant: 'And who is bringing charges?'
Just: the one who wishes.
Sycophant: "Then I am indeed that man,"
Sycophant: So things have come to this point with me concerning the city.
Dikaios: By Zeus, he surely has a villainous master.
920
Dikaios: But that he would not wish, keeping quiet.
Dikaios: to live idle?
Sycophant: but you speak of a sheep's life,
Sycophant: if a certain way of life does not become apparent.
Dikaiopolis: Not even then would you change your mind?
Sycophant: nor even if you were to give [it] to me
Sycophant: 'Plutus himself and the silphium of Battus.'
925
Dikaios: Put it away quickly, the cloak.
Carion: This man is speaking to you.
Dikaios: Then, go and release him.
Carion: He tells you all these things.
Sycophant: Indeed, let him approach me from you all here.
Sycophant: the one who wishes.
Charon: Surely I am that one.
Sycophant: Alas, wretch, I am stripping off by daylight.
930
Carion: for you, by doing other people's work, deserve to eat.
Sycophant: Do you see what you are doing? I bear witness to this.
Dikaios: but he is going away, fleeing the man whom you were leading as a witness.
Sycophant: Alas, I am completely ruined all alone.
Carion: Are you shouting now?
Sycophant: Alas, again!
935
Carion: Give me your cloak,
Chario: so that I may clothe this sycophant.
Dikaios: Not at all; for it has long been sacred to Plutus.
Carion: And then where will it be more beautifully hung up?
Carion: Or is it about a wicked man and a wall-climber?
Carion: It is fitting to dress Plutus in dignified robes.
940
Dikaiopolis: But what use will anyone have for the small steps? Tell me.
Charon: And this right on the forehead at once.
Carion: Just as I will strike this one with a cudgel.
Sycophant: I am going away, for I know that I am far inferior.
Sycophant: of you; but if I should take a wife, anyone
945
Sycophant: and fig-cake, this powerful god
Sycophant: "I will make him pay the penalty today,"
Sycophant: because he destroys openly, being alone.
Sycophant: the democracy, neither persuading the council
Sycophant: 'Neither the assembly of the citizens nor the [assembly of the] people.'
950
Dikaios: And so, since my panoply
Dikaios: Walking, you go; run to the bathhouse.
Dikaios: And then, standing there on top, he is baking.
Dikaios: For I also once had this opinion.
Carion: But the bathman will drag him out, having seized him by the door.
955
Charon: of the testicles; for having seen him, he will recognize him.
Carion: Because he is from that scoundrel's shop.
Carion: But let us go in, so that you may pray to the god.
Wealth. Aristophanes. . 2026-09-08.