plutus-第4章
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to all kinds of hard labour； so that your life would be more
wretched even than it is now。
CHREMYLUS
May this prediction fall upon yourself！
POVERTY
You will not be able to sleep in a bed； for no more will ever be
manufactured； nor on carpets； for who would weave them； if he had
gold？ When you bring a young bride to your dwelling； you will have
no essences wherewith to perfume her； nor rich embroidered cloaks dyed
with dazzling colours in which to clothe her。 And yet what is the
use of being rich； if you are to be deprived of all these
enjoyments？ On the other hand； you have all that you need in
abundance； thanks to me； to the artisan I am like a severe mistress；
who forces him by need and poverty to seek the means of earning his
livelihood。
CHREMYLUS
And what good thing can you give us； unless it be burns in the
bath； and swarms of brats and old women who cry with hunger； and
clouds uncountable of lice； gnats and flies； which hover about the
wretch's head； trouble him； awake him and say； 〃You will be hungry；
but get up！〃 Besides； to possess a rag in place of a mantle； a
pallet of rushes swarming with bugs； that do not let you close your
eyes； for a bed； a rotten piece of matting for a coverlet； a big stone
for a pillow； on which to lay your head； to eat mallow roots instead
of bread； and leaves of withered radish instead of cake； to have
nothing but the cover of a broken jug for a stool； the stave of a
cask； and broken at that； for a kneading…trough； that is the life
you make for us！ Are these the mighty benefits with which you
pretend to load mankind？
POVERTY
It's not my life that you describe；； you are attacking the
existence beggars lead。
CHREMYLUS
Is Beggary not Poverty's sister？
POVERTY
Thrasybulus and Dionysius are one and the same according to you。
No； my life is not like that and never will be。 The beggar； whom you
have depicted to us； never possesses anything。 The poor man lives
thriftily and attentive to his work： he has not got too much； but he
does not lack what he really needs。
CHREMYLUS
Oh！ what a happy life； by Demeter！ to live sparingly； to toil
incessantly and not to leave enough to pay for a tomb！
POVERTY
That's it！ jest； jeer； and never talk seriously！ But what you
don't know is this； that men with me are worth more； both in mind
and body； than with Plutus。 With him they are gouty； big…bellied；
heavy of limb and scandalously stout； with me they are thin；
wasp…waisted； and terrible to the foe。
CHREMYLUS
No doubt it's by starving them that you give them that waspish
waist。
POVERTY
As for behaviour； I will prove to you that modesty dwells with
me and insolence with Plutus。
CHREMYLUS
Oh the sweet modesty of stealing and burglary。
POVERTY
Look at the orators in our republics； as long as they are poor；
both state and people can only praise their uprightness； but once they
are fattened on the public funds； they conceive a hatred for
justice； plan intrigues against the people and attack the democracy。
CHREMYLUS
That is absolutely true； although your tongue is very vile。 But it
matters not； so don't put on those triumphant airs； you shall not be
punished any the less for having tried to persuade me that poverty
is worth more than wealth。
POVERTY
Not being able to refute my arguments； you chatter at random and
exert yourself to no purpose。
CHREMYLUS
Then tell me this； why does all mankind flee from you？
POVERTY
Because I make them better。 Children do the very same； they flee
from the wise counsels of their fathers。 So difficult is it to see
one's true interest。
CHREMYLUS
Will you say that Zeus cannot discern what is best？ Well； he takes
Plutus to himself。。。
BLEPSIDEMUS
。。。and banishes Poverty to the earth。
POVERTY
Ah me！ how purblind you are； you old fellows of the days of
Cronus！ Why； Zeus is poor； and I will clearly prove it to you。 In
the Olympic games； which he founded； and to which he convokes the
whole of Greece every four years； why does he only crown the
victorious athletes with wild olive？ If he were rich he would give
them gold。
CHREMYLUS
That's the way he shows that he clings to his wealth； he is
sparing with it； won't part with any portion of it； only bestows
baubles on the victors and keeps his money for himself。
POVERTY
But wealth coupled to such sordid greed is yet more shameful
than poverty。
CHREMYLUS
May Zeus destroy you； both you and your chaplet of wild olive！
POVERTY
Thus you dare to maintain that Poverty is not the fount of all
blessings！
CHREMYLUS
Ask Hecate whether it is better to be rich or starving； she will
tell you that the rich send her a meal every month and that the poor
make it disappear before it is even served。 But go and hang yourself
and don't breathe another syllable。 I will not be convinced against my
will。
POVERTY
〃Oh！ citizens of Argos！ do you hear what he says？〃
CHREMYLUS
Invoke Pauson； your boon companion； rather。
POVERTY
Alas！ what is to become of me？
CHREMYLUS
Get you gone； be off quick and a pleasant journey to you。
POVERTY
But where shall I go？
CHREMYLUS
To gaol； but hurry up； let us put an end to this。
POVERTY （as she departs）
One day you will recall me。
CHREMYLUS
Then you can return； but disappear for the present。 I prefer to be
rich； you are free to knock your head against the walls in your rage。
BLEPSIDEMUS
And I too welcome wealth。 I want； when I leave the bath all
perfumed with essences； to feast bravely with my wife and children and
to fart in the faces of toilers and Poverty。
CHREMYLUS
So that hussy has gone at last！ But let us make haste to put
Plutus to bed in the Temple of Asclepius。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Let us make haste； else some bothering fellow may again come to
interrupt us。
CREMYLUS （loudly）
Cario； bring the coverlets and all that I have got ready from
the house； let us conduct the god to the temple； taking care to
observe all the proper rites。
（CARIO comes out of the house with a
bundle under one arm and leading PLUTUS with the other。
CHREMYLUS and BLEPSIDEMUS join him and all four of them depart。）
（Interlude of dancing by the CHORUS。）
CARIO
Oh！ you old fellows； who used to dip out the broth served to the
poor at the festival of Theseus with little pieces of bread hollowed
like a spoon； how worthy of envy is your fate！ How happy you are； both
you and all just men！
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
My good fellow； what has happened to your friends？ You seem the
bearer of good tidings。
CARIO
What joy…for my master and even more for Plutus！ The god has
regained his sight； his eyes sparkle with the greatest brilliancy；
thanks to the benevolent care of Asclepius。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Oh！ what transports of joy！ oh！ what shouts of gladness！
CARIO
Aye！ one is compelled to rejoice； whether one will or not。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
I will sing to the honour of Asclepius； the son of illustrious
Zeus； with a resounding voice； he is the beneficent star which men
adore。
CHREMYLUS' WIFE （coming out of the house）
What mean these shouts？ Is there good news？ With what impatience
have I been waiting in the house； and for so long too！
CARIO
Quick！ quick； some wine； mistress。 And drink some yourself；
（aside） it's much to your taste。 I bring you all blessings in a lump。
WIFE
Where are they？
CARIO
In my words； as you are going to see。
WIFE
Have done with trifling！ come； speak。
CARIO
Listen； I am going to tell you everything from the feet to the
head。
WIFE
Oh！ don't throw anything at my head。
CARIO
Not even the happiness that has come to you？
WIFE
No； no； nothing 。。。 to annoy me。
CARIO
Having arrived near to the temple with our patient； then so
unfortunate； but now at the apex of happiness； of blessedness； we
first led him down to the sea to purify him。
WIFE
Ah！ what a singular pleasure for an old man to bathe in the cold
seawater！
CARIO （in the manner of the tragic messenger）
Then we repaired to the temple of the god。 Once the wafers and the
various offerings had been consecrated upon the altar； and the cake of
wheaten…meal had been banded over to the devouring Hephaestus； we made
Plutus lie on a couch according to the rite； and each of us prepared
himself a bed of leaves。
WIFE
Had any other folk come to beseech the deity？
CARIO
Yes。 Firstly； Neoclides； who is blind； but steals much better than
those who see clearly； then many others attacked by complaints of
all kinds。 The lights were put out and the priest enjoined us to
sleep； especially recommending us to keep silent should we hear any
noise。 There we were all lying down quite quietly。 I could not
sleep； I was thinking of a certain stew…pan full of pap placed close
to an old woman and just behind her head。 I had a furious longing to
slip towards that side。 But just as I was lifting my head； I noticed
the priest； who was sweeping off both the cakes and the figs on the
sacred table； then he made the round of the altars and sanctified
the cakes that remained； by stowing them away in a bag。 I therefore
resolved to follow such a pious example and made straight for the pap。
WIFE
You rogue！ and had you no fear of the god？
CARIO
Aye； indeed！ I feared that the god with his crown on his head
might have been near the stew…pan before me。 I said to myself； 〃Like
priest； like god。〃 On hearing the noise I made the old woman put out
her hand； but I hissed and bit it； just as a sacred serpent might have
done。 Quick she drew back her hand； slipped down into the bed with her
head beneath the coverlets and never moved again； only she let flee
a fart in her fear which stank worse than a weasel。 As for myself； I
swallowed a goodly portion of the pap and； having made a good feed；
went back to bed。
WIFE
And did not the god come？
CARIO
He did not tarry； and when he was near us； oh！ dear！ such a good
joke happened。 My belly was quite blown up； and I let a thunderous
fart！
WIFE
Doubtless the god pulled a wry face？
CARIO
No； but Iaso blushed a little and Panacea turned her head away；
holding her nose； my farts are not perfume。
WIFE
And what did the god do？
CARIO
He paid not the slightest heed。
WIFE
He must then be a pretty coarse kind of god？
CARIO
I don't say that； but he's used to tasting stools。
WIFE
Impudent knave； go on with you！
CARIO
Then I hid myself in my bed all a…tremble。 Asclepius did
