plutus-第7章
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。。。of having told her insolently； 〃Once upon a time the
Milesians were brave。〃
YOUTH
Oh！ I shall not dispute with you about her。
CHREMYLUS
Why not？
YOUTH
Out of respect for your age； with anyone but you I should not be
so easy； come； take the girl and be happy。
CHREMYLUS
see； I see； you don't want her any more。
OLD WOMAN
Nay this is a thing that cannot be allowed。
YOUTH
I cannot argue with a woman who has been laid by every one of
these thirteen thousand men。
（He points to the audience。）
CHREMYLUS
Yet； since you liked the wine； you should now consume the lees。
YOUTH
But these lees are quite rancid and fusty。
CHREMYLUS
Pass them through a straining…cloth； they'll clarify。
YOUTH
But I want to go in with you to offer these chaplets to the god。
OLD WOMAN
And I too have something to tell him。
YOUTH
Then I won't enter。
CHREMYLUS
Come； have no fear； she won't harm you。
YOUTH
That's true； I've been managing the old bark so long。
OLD WOMAN
Go in； Ill follow after you。
（They enter the house。）
CHREMYLUS
Good gods！ that old hag has fastened herself to her youth like a
limpet to its rock。
（He follows them in。）
（Interlude of dancing by the CHORUS。）
（HERMES enters and begins knocking on the door。）
CARIO （opening the door）
Who is knocking at the door？ Halloa！ I see no one； it was then
by chance it gave forth that plaintive tone。
HERMES （to CARIO； who is about to close the door）
Cario！ stop！
CARIO
Eh！ friend； was it you who knocked so loudly？ Tell me。
HERMES
No； I was going to knock and you forestalled me by opening。
Come； call your master quick； then his wife and his children； then his
slave and his dog； then yourself and his pig。
CARIO
And what's it all about？
HERMES
It's about this； rascal！ Zeus wants to serve you all with the same
sauce and hurl the lot of you into the Barathrum。
CARIO （aside）
Have a care for your tongue； you bearer of ill tidings！ （To
HERMES） But why does he want to treat us in that scurvy fashion？
HERMES
Because you have committed the most dreadful crime。 Since Plutus
has recovered his sight； there is nothing for us other gods； neither
incense； nor laurels； nor cakes； nor victims； nor anything in the
world。
CARIO
And you will never be offered anything more； you governed us too
ill
HERMES
I care nothing at all about the other gods； but it's myself。 I
tell you I am dying of hunger。
CARIO
That's reasoning like a wise fellow。
HERMES
Formerly； from earliest dawn； I was offered all sorts of good
things in the wine…shops；…wine…cakes； honey； dried figs； in short；
dishes worthy of Hermes。 Now； I lie the livelong day on my back；
with my legs in the air； famishing。
CARIO
And quite right too； for you often had them punished who treated
you so well。
HERMES
Ah！ the lovely cake they used to knead for me on the fourth of the
month！
CARIO
You recall it vainly； your regrets are useless！
HERMES
Ah！ the ham I was wont to devour！
CARIO
Well then！ make use of your legs and hop on one leg upon the
wine…skin； to while away the time。
HERMES
Oh！ the grilled entrails I used to swallow down！
CARIO
Your own have got the colic； I think
HERMES
Oh！ the delicious tipple； half…wine； half…water！
CARIO
Here； take this and be off。 （He farts。）
HERMES （in tragic style）
Would you render service to the friend that loves you？
CARIO
Willingly； if I can。
HERMES
Give me some well…baked bread and a big hunk of the victims they
are sacrificing in your house。
CARIO
That would be stealing。
HERMES
Do you forget； then； how I used to take care he knew nothing about
it when you were stealing something from your master？
CARIO
Because I used to share it with you； you rogue； some cake or other
always came your way；
HERMES
Which afterwards you ate up all by yourself。
CARIO
But then you did not share the blows when I was caught。
HERMES
Forget past injuries； now you have taken Phyle。 Ah！ how I should
like to live with you！ Take pity and receive me。
CARIO
You would leave the gods to stop here？
HERMES
One is much better off among you。
CARIO
What！ you would desert Do you think that is honest？
HERMES
〃Where I live well； there is my country。〃
CARIO
But how could we employ you here？
HERMES
Place me near the door； I am the watchman god and would shift of
the robbers。
CARIO
Shift off！ Ah！ but we have no love for shifts。
HERMES
Entrust me with business dealings。
CARIO
But we are rich； why should we keep a baggling Hermes？
HERMES
Let me intrigue for you。
CARIO
No； no； intrigues are forbidden； we believe in good faith。
HERMES
I will work for you as a guide。
CARIO
But the god sees clearly now； so we no longer want a guide。
HERMES
Well then； I will preside over the games。 Ah！ what can you
object to In that？ Nothing is fitter for Plutus than to give scenic
and gymnastic games。
CARIO
How useful it is to have so many names Here you have found the
means of earning your bread。 I don't wonder the jurymen so eagerly try
to get entered for many tribunals。
HERMES
So then； you admit me on these terms？
CARIO
Go and wash the entrails of the victims at the well； so that you
may show yourself serviceable at once。
（They both enter the house。 A PRIEST of ZEUS comes hurrying in。）
PRIEST
Can anyone tell me where Chremylus is？
CHREMYLUS （emerging from the house）
What would you with him； friend？
PRIEST
Much ill。 Since Plutus has recovered his sight； I am perishing
of starvation； I； the priest of Zeus the Deliverer； have nothing to
eat！
CHREMYLUS
And what is the cause of that； pray？
PRIEST
No one dreams of offering sacrifices。
CHREMYLUS
Why not？
PRIEST
Because all men are rich。 Ah！ when they had nothing； the
merchant who escaped from shipwreck； the accused who was acquitted；
all immolated victims； another would sacrifice for the success of some
wish and the priest joined in at the feast； but now there is not the
smallest victim； not one of the faithful in the temple； but
thousands who come there to take a crap。
CHREMYLUS
Why don't you take your share of those offerings？
PRIEST （ignoring this）
Hence I think I too am going to say good…bye to Zeus the Deliverer
and stop here myself。
CHREMYLUS
Be at ease； all will go well； if it so please the god。 Zeus the
Deliverer is here； he came of his own accord。
PRIEST
Ha！ that's good news。
（He moves toward the door。）
CHREMYLUS
Wait a little； we are going to install Plutus presently in the
place he formerly occupied behind the Temple of Athene； there he
will watch over our treasures for ever。 （Calling out） Let lighted
torches be brought to the priest。 Take these and walk in solemn
procession in front of the god。
PRIEST
That's magnificent！
CHREMYLUS
Let Plutus be summoned。
（PLUTUS comes out of the house； followed by the OLD WOMAN。）
OLD WOMAN
And I； what am I to do？
CHREMYLUS
Take the pots of vegetables which we are going to offer to the god
in honour of his installation and carry them on your head； you just
happen luckily to be wearing； a beautiful embroidered robe。
OLD WOMAN
And what about the object of my coming？
CHREMYLUS
Everything shall be according to your wish。 The young man will
be with you this evening。
OLD WOMAN
Oh！ if you promise me his visit； I will right willingly carry
the pots。
（She puts them on her head。）
CHREMYLUS
Those are strange pots indeed！ Generally the scum rises to the；
top of the pots； but here the pots are raised to the top of the old
woman。
（PLUTUS begins to march solemnly off the stage；
the OLD WOMAN follows him。）
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Let us withdraw without more tarrying； and follow the others；
singing as we go
（They do so。）
THE END
。
