按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
CARIO
Money； he has so much of it。
CHREMYLUS
And who gives it to him？
CARIO （pointing to Plutus）
This fellow。
CHREMYLUS
If sacrifices are offered to him； is not Plutus their cause？
CARIO
Undoubtedly； for it's wealth that all demand and clamour most
loudly for。
CHREMYLUS
Thus it's Plutus who is the fount of all the honours rendered to
Zeus； whose worship he can wither up at the root； if it so pleases
him。
PLUTUS
And how so？
CHREMYLUS
Not an ox； nor a cake； nor indeed anything at all could be
offered； if you did not wish it。
PLUTUS
Why？
CHREMYLUS
Why？ but what means are there to buy anything if you are not there
to give the money？ Hence if Zeus should cause you any trouble； you
will destroy his power without other help。
PLUTUS
So it's because of me that sacrifices are offered to him？
CHREMYLUS
Most assuredly。 Whatever is dazzling； beautiful or charming in the
eyes of mankind； comes from you。 Does not everything depend on wealth？
CARIO
I myself was bought for a few coins； if I'm a slave； it's only
because I was not rich。
CHREMYLUS
And what of the Corinthian whores？ If a poor man offers them
proposals； they do not listen； but if it be a rich one； instantly they
turn their arses to him。
CARIO
It's the same with the lads； they care not for love； to them money
means everything。
CHREMYLUS
You speak of male whores； yet some of them are honest； and it's
not money they ask of their patrons。
CARIO
What then？
CHREMYLUS
A fine horse； a pack of hounds。
CARIO
Yes； they would blush to ask for money and cleverly disguise their
shame。
CHREMYLUS
It is in you that every art； all human inventions； have had
their origin； it is through you that one man sits cutting leather in
his shop。
CARIO
That another fashions iron or wood。
CHREMYLUS
That yet another chases the gold he has received from you。
CARIO
That one is a fuller。
CHREMYLUS
That the other washes wool。
CARIO
That this one is a tanner。
CHREMYLUS
And that other sells onions。
CARIO
And if the adulterer； caught red…handed； is depilated； it's on
account of you。
PLUTUS
Oh！ great gods！ I knew naught of all this！
CARIO （to CHREMYLUS）
Is it not he who lends the Great King all his pride？ Is it not
he who draws the citizens to the Assembly？
CHREMYLUS
And tell me； is it not you who equip the triremes？
CARIO
And who feed our mercenaries at Corinth？ Are not you the cause
of Pamphilus' sufferings？
CHREMYLUS
And of the needle…seller's with Pamphilus？
CARIO
It is not because of you that Agyrrhius farts so loudly？
CHREMYLUS
And that Philepsius rolls off his fables？ That troops are sent
to succour the Egyptians？ And that Lais is kept by Philonides？
CARIO
That the tower of Timotheus。。。
CHREMYLUS
。。。（To CARIO） May it fall upon your head！ （To PLUTUS） In short；
Plutus； it is through you that everything is done； you must realize
that you are the sole cause both of good and evil。
CARIO
In war； it's the flag under which you serve that victory favours。
PLUTUS
What！ I can do so many things by myself and unaided？
CHREMYLUS
And many others besides； wherefore men are never tired of your
gifts。 They get weary of all else；…of love。。。
CARIO
Bread。
CHREMYLUS
Music。
CARIO
Sweetmeats。
CHREMYLUS
Honours。
CARIO
Cakes。
CHREMYLUS
Battles。
CARIO
Figs。
CHREMYLUS
Ambition。
CARIO
Gruel。
CHREMYLUS
Military advancement。
CARIO
Lentil soup。
CHREMYLUS
But of you they never tire。 If a man has thirteen talents； he
has all the greater ardour to possess sixteen； if that wish is
achieved； he will want forty or will complain that he knows not how to
make both ends meet。
PLUTUS
All this； I suppose； is very true； there is but one point that
makes me feel a bit uneasy。
CHREMYLUS
And that is？
PLUTUS
How could I use this power； which you say I have？
CHREMYLUS
Ah！ they were quite right who said there's nothing more timorous
than Plutus
PLUTUS
No； no； it was a thief who calumniated me。 Having broken into a
house； he found everything locked up and could take nothing； so he
dubbed my prudence fear。
CHREMYLUS
Don't be disturbed； if you support me zealously； I'll make you
more sharp…sighted than Lynceus。
PLUTUS
And how should you be able to do that； you。 who are but a mortal？
CHREMYLUS
I have great hope； after the answer Apollo gave me； shaking his
sacred laurels the while。
PLUTUS
Is he in the plot then？
CHREMYLUS
Surely。
PLUTUS
Take care what you say。
CHREMYLUS
Never fear； friend； for； be well assured； that if it has to cost
me my life； I will carry out what I have in my head。
CARIO
And I will help you； if you permit it。
CHREMYLUS
We shall have many other helpers as well…all the worthy folk who
are wanting for bread。
PLUTUS
Ah！ they'll prove sorry helpers。
CHREMYLUS
No； not so； once they've grown rich。 But you； Cario； run quick。。。
CARIO
Where？
CHREMYLUS
。。。to call my comrades； the other husbandmen （you'll probably
find the poor fellows toiling away in the fields）； that each of
them may come here to take his share of the gifts of Plutus。
CARIO
I'm off。 But let someone come from the house to take this morsel
of meat。
CHREMYLUS
I'll see to that； you run your hardest。 As for you； Plutus； the
most excellent of all the gods； come in here with me； this is the
house you must fill with riches to…day； by fair means or foul。
PLUTUS
I don't at all like going into other folks' houses in this manner；
I have never got any good from it。 If I got inside a miser's house；
straightway he would bury me deep underground； if some honest fellow
among his friends came to ask him for the smallest coin； he would deny
ever having seen me。 Then if I went to a fool's house； he would
sacrifice in dicing and wenching； and very soon I should be completely
stripped and pitched out of doors。
CHREMYLUS
That's because you have never met a man who knew how to avoid
the two extremes； moderation is the strong point in my character。 I
love saving as much as anybody； and I know how to spend； when it's
needed。 But let us go in； I want to make you known to my wife and to
my only son； whom I love most of all after yourself。
PLUTUS
I'm quite sure of that。
CHREMYLUS
Why should I hide the truth from you？
（They enter CHREMYLUS' house。）
CARIO （to the CHORUS； which has followed him in）
Come； you active workers； who； like my master； eat nothing but
garlic and the poorest food； you who are his friends and his
neighbours； hasten your steps； hurry yourselves； there's not a
moment to lose； this is the critical hour； when your presence and your
support are needed by him。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Why； don't you see we are speeding as fast as men can； who are
already enfeebled by age？ But do you deem it fitting to make us run
like this before ever telling us why your master has called us？
CARIO
I've grown hoarse with the telling； but you won't listen。 My
master is going to drag you all out of the stupid； sapless life you
are leading and ensure you； one full of all delights。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
And how is he going to manage that？
CARIO
My poor friends； he has brought with him a disgusting old
fellow； all bent and wrinkled； with a most pitiful appearance； bald
and toothless； upon my word； I even believe he is circumcised like
some vile barbarian。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
This news is worth its weight in gold！ What are you saying？ Repeat
it to me； no doubt it means he is bringing back a heap of wealth。
CARIO
No； but a heap of all the infirmities attendant on old age。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
If you are tricking us； you shall pay us for it。 Beware of our
sticks！
CARIO
Do you deem me so brazen as all that； and my words mere lies？
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
What serious airs the rascal puts on！ Look！ his legs are already
shrieking； 〃oh！ oh！〃 They are asking for the shackles and wedges。
CARIO
It's in the tomb that it's your lot to judge。 Why don't you go
there？ Charon has given you your ticket。
LEADER OF THE CHORUS
Plague take you！ you cursed rascal； who rail at us and have not
even the heart to tell us why your master has made us come。 We were
pressed for time and tired out； yet we came with all haste； and in our
hurry we have passed by lots of wild onions without even gathering
t