plutus-第3章
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BLEPSIDEMUS
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）
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； 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 I
BLEPSIDEMUS
But； great gods； what am I to think？ You won't tell me the truth。
CHREMYLUS
You accuse me without really knowing anything。
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
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 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 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 I
BLEPSIDEMUS
Are you telling the truth？
CHREMYLUS
I am。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Swear it by Hestia。
CHREMYLUS
I swear it by Posidon。
BLEPSIDEMUS
The god of the sea？
CHREMYLUS
Yes； and by all the other Posidons； 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？ 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
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
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
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！
POVERTY
My arm shall destroy you； you infamous beings！ Such an attempt
is not to be borne； neither man nor god has ever dared the like。 You
shall die！
CHREMYLUS
And who are you？ Oh！ what a ghastly pallor！
BLEPSIDEMUS
Perhaps it's some Erinys； some Fury； from the theatre； there's a
kind of wild tragic look in her eyes。
CHREMYLUS
But she has no torch。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Let's knock her down！
POVERTY
Who do you think I am？
CHREMYLUS
Some wine…shop keeper or egg…woman。 Otherwise you would not have
shrieked so loud at us； who have done nothing to you。
POVERTY
Indeed？ And have you not done me the most deadly injury by seeking
to banish me from every country？
CHREMYLUS
Why； have you not got the Barathrum left？ But who are you？
Answer me quickly！
POVERTY
I am one that will punish you this very day for having wanted to
make me disappear from here。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Might it be the tavern…keeper in my neighbourhood； who is always
cheating me in measure？
POVERTY
I am Poverty； who have lived with you for so many years。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Oh！ great Apollo！ oh； ye gods！ whither shall I fly？
（He starts to run away。）
CHREMYLUS
Here！ what are you doing！ You coward！ Are going to leave me here？
BLEPSIDEMUS （still running）
Not I。
CHREMYLUS
Stop then！ Are two men to run away from one woman？
BLEPSIDEMUS
But； you wretch； it's Poverty； the most fearful monster that
ever drew breath。
CHREMYLUS
Stay where you are； I beg of you。
BLEPSIDEMUS
No no！ a thousand times； no！
CHREMYLUS
Could we do anything worse than leave the god in the lurch and fly
before this woman without so much as ever offering to fight？
BLEPSIDEMUS
But what weapons have we？ Are we in a condition to show fight？
Where is the breastplate； the buckler； that this wretch has not
pawned？
CHREMYLUS
Be at ease。 Plutus will readily triumph over her threats unaided。
POVERTY
Dare you reply； you scoundrels； you who are caught red…handed at
the most horrible crime？
CHREMYLUS
As for you； you cursed jade； you pursue me with your abuse； though
I have never done you the slightest harm。
POVERTY
Do you think it is doing me no harm to restore Plutus to the use
of his eyes？
CHREMYLUS
Is this doing you harm； that we shower blessings on all men？
POVERTY
And what do you think will ensure their happiness？
CHREMYLUS
Ah！ first of all we shall drive you out of Greece。
POVERTY
Drive me out？ Could you do mankind a greater harm？
CHREMYLUS
Yes…if I gave up my intention to deliver them from you。
POVERTY
Well； let us discuss this point first。 I propose to show that I am
the sole cause of all your blessings； and that your safety depends
on me alone。 If I don't succeed； then do what you like to me。
CHREMYLUS
How dare you talk like this； you impudent hussy？
POVERTY
Agree to hear me and I think it will be very easy for me to
prove that you are entirely on the wrong road； when you want to make
the just men wealthy。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Oh！ cudgel and rope's end； come to my help！
POVERTY
Why such wrath and these shouts； before you hear my arguments？
BLEPSIDEMUS
But who could listen to such words without exclaiming？
POVERTY
Any man of sense。
CHREMYLUS
But if you lose your case； what punishment will you submit to？
POVERTY
Choose what you will。
CHREMYLUS
That's all right。
POVERTY
You shall suffer the same if you are beaten！
CHREMYLUS
Do you think twenty deaths a sufficiently large stake？
BLEPSIDEMUS
Good enough for her； but for us two would suffice。
POVERTY
You won't escape； for is there indeed a single valid argument to
oppose me with？
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
To beat her in this debate； you must call upon all your wits。 Make
no allowances and show no weakness！
CHREMYLUS
It is right that the good should be happy； that the wicked and the
impious； on the other hand； should be miserable； that is a truth； I
believe； which no one will gainsay。 To realize this condition of
things is a proposal as great as it is noble and useful in every
respect； and we have found a means of attaining the object of our
wishes。 If Plutus recovers his sight and ceases from wandering about
unseeing and at random； he will go to seek the just men and never
leave them again； he will shun the perverse and ungodly； so； thanks to
him； all men will become honest； rich and pious。 Can anything better
be conceived for the public weal？
BLEPSIDEMUS
Of a certainty； no！ I bear witness to that。 It is not even
necessary she should reply。
CHREMYLUS
Does it not seem that everything is extravagance in the world；
or rather madness； when you watch the way things go？ A crowd of rogues
enjoy blessings they have won by sheer injustice； while more honest
folks are miserable； die of hunger； and spend their whole lives with
you。 Now； if Plutus became clear…sighted again and drove out
Poverty； it would be the greatest blessing possible for the human
race。
POVERTY
Here are two old men； whose brains are easy to confuse； who assist
each other to talk rubbish and drivel to their hearts' content。 But if
your wishes were realized； your profit would be great！ Let Plutus
recover his sight and divide his favours out equally to all； and
none will ply either trade or art any longer； all toil would be done
away with。 Who would wish to hammer iron； build ships； sew； turn；
cut up leather； bake bricks； bleach linen； tan hides； or break up
the soil of the earth with the plough and garner the gifts of Demeter；
if he could live in idleness and free from all this work？
CHREMYLUS
What nonsense all this is！ All these trades which you just mention
will be plied by our slaves。
POVERTY
Your slaves！ And by what means will these slaves be got？
CHREMYLUS
We will buy them。
POVERTY
But first say； who will sell them； if everyone is rich？
CHREMYLUS
Some greedy dealer from Thessaly…the land which supplies so many。
POVERTY
But if your system is applied； there won't be a single
slave…dealer left。 What rich man would risk his life to devote himself
to this traffic？ You will have to toil； to dig and submit yourself
to all kinds of hard labour； so that your life would be more
wretched even than it is now。
CHREMY
