plutus-第3节
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hurry we have passed by lots of wild onions without even gathering
them。
CARIO
I will no longer conceal the truth from you。 Friends； it's
Plutus whom my master brings； Plutus； who will give you riches。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
What！ we shall really all become rich？
CARIO
Aye； certainly； you will then be Midases； provided you grow
ass's ears。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
What joy； what happiness！ If what you tell me is true； I long to
dance with delight。
CARIO （singing； with appropriate gestures）
And I too； threttanelo！ want to imitate the Cyclops and lead
your troop by stamping like this。 Do you； my dear little ones； cry；
aye； cry again and bleat forth the plaintive song of the sheep and
of the stinking goats； follow me like lascivious goats with their
tools out。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
（Singing； to the same tune and with similar mimicry）
As for us； threttanelo！ we will seek you； dear Cyclops；
bleating； and if we find you with your wallet full of fresh herbs； all
disgusting in your filth； sodden with wine and sleeping in the midst
of your sheep； we will seize a great flaming stake and burn out your
eye。
CARIO
I will copy that Circe of Corinth； whose potent philtres compelled
the companions of Philonides like swine to swallow balls of dung；
which she herself had kneaded with her hands； and do you too grunt
with joy and follow your mother； my little pigs。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Oh！ Circe with the potent philtress； who besmear your companions
so filthily； what pleasure I shall have in imitating the son of
Laertes！ I will hang you up by your balls； I will rub your nose with
dung like a goat； and like Aristyllus you shall say through your
half…opened lips； 〃Follow your mother； my little pigs。〃
CARIO
Enough of tomfoolery； assume a grave demeanour； unknown to my
master I am going to take bread and meat； and when I have fed well；
I shall resume my work。
（Interlude of dancing by the CHORUS。）
CHREMYLUS （coming out of his house）
To say； 〃Hail！ my dear neighbours！〃 is an old form of greeting and
well worn with use； so therefore I embrace you； because you have not
crept like tortoises； but have come rushing here in all haste。 Now
help me to watch carefully and closely over the god。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Be at ease。 You shall see with what martial zeal I will guard him。
What！ we jostle each other at the Assembly for three obols； and am I
going to let Plutus in person be stolen from me？
CHREMYLUS
But I see Blepsidemus； by his bearing and his haste I can
readily see he knows or suspects something。
BLEPSIDEMUS
What has happened then？ Whence； how has Chremylus suddenly grown
rich？ I don't believe a word of it。 Nevertheless； nothing but his
sudden fortune was being talked about in the barber…shops。 But I am
above all surprised that his good fortune has not made him forget
his friends； that is not the usual way！
CHREMYLUS
By the gods； Blepsidemus； I will hide nothing from you。 To…day
things are better than yesterday； let us share； for are you not my
friend？
BLEPSIDEMUS
Have you really grown rich as they say？
CHREMYLUS
I shall be soon； if the god agrees to it。 But there is still
some risk to run。
BLEPSIDEMUS
What risk？
CHREMYLUS
Well。。。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Tell me； quick！
CHREMYLUS
If we succeed； we are happy for ever； but if we fail； it is all
over with us。
BLEPSIDEMUS
It's a bad business； and one that doesn't please me！ To grow
rich all at once and yet to be fearful！ ah！ I suspect something that's
little good。
CHREMYLUS
What do you mean？
BLEPSIDEMUS
No doubt you have just stolen some gold and silver from some
temple and are repenting。
CHREMYLUS
Nay！ heaven preserve me from that！
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 eve
