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！
yourself before the Assembly。〃
WIFE
What a wise god and what a friend to our city
CARIO
Thereupon he came and seated himself at the head of Plutus' bed；
took a perfectly clean rag and wiped his eyelids； Panacea covered
his head and face with a purple cloth； while the god whistled； and two
enormous snakes came rushing from the sanctuary。
WIFE
Great gods！
CARIO
They slipped gently beneath the purple cloth and； as far as I
could judge； licked the patient's eyelids； for； in less time than even
you need； mistress； to drain down ten beakers of wine； Plutus rose up；
be could see。 I clapped my hands with joy and awoke my master； and the
god immediately disappeared with the serpents into the sanctuary。 As
for those who were lying near Plutus； you can imagine that they
embraced him tenderly。 Dawn broke and not one of them had closed an
eye。 As for myself； I did not cease thanking the god who had so
quickly restored to Plutus his sight and had made Neoclides blinder
than ever。
WIFE
Oh！ thou great Asclepius！ How mighty is thy power！ （To CARIO）
But tell me； where is Plutus now？
CARIO
He is approaching； escorted by an immense crowd。 The rich； whose
wealth is ill…gotten； are knitting their brows and shooting at him
looks of fierce hate； while the just folk； who led a wretched
existence； embrace him and grasp his hand in the transport of their
joy； they follow in his wake； their heads wreathed with garlands；
laughing and blessing their deliverer； the old men make the earth
resound as they walk together keeping time。 Come； all of you； all；
down to the very least； dance； leap and form yourselves into a chorus；
no longer do you risk being told； when you go home。 〃There is no
meal in the bag。〃
WIFE
And I； by Hecate！ I will string you a garland of cakes for the
good tidings you have brought me。
CARIO
Hurry； make haste then； our friends are close at hand。
WIFE
I will go indoors to fetch some gifts of welcome； to celebrate
these eyes that have just been opened。
（She goes back into the house。）
CARIO
Meantime I am going forth to meet them。
（Exit）
（Interlude of dancing by the CHORUS。）
PLUTUS
I adore thee； oh！ thou divine sun； and thee I greet； thou city；
the beloved of Pallas： be welcome； thou land of Cecrops； which hast
received me。 Alas！ what manner of men I associated with！ I blush to
think of it。 While； on the other hand； I shunned those who deserved my
friendship； I knew neither the vices of the ones nor the virtues of
the others。 A two…fold mistake； and in both cases equally fatal！ Ah！
what a misfortune was mine！ But I want to change everything； and in
the future I mean to prove to mankind that； if I gave to the wicked；
it was against my will。
CHREMYLUS （to the wings）
Get you gone！ Oh！ what a lot of friends spring into being when you
are fortunate！ They dig me with their elbows and bruise my shins to
prove their affection。 Each one wants to greet me。 What a crowd of old
fellows thronged round me on the market…place！
WIFE
Oh！ thou； who art dearest of all to me； and thou too； be
welcome！ Allow me； Plutus； to shower these gifts of welcome over you
in due accord with custom。
PLUTUS
No。 This is the first house I enter after having regained my
sight； I shall take nothing from it； for it is my place rather to
give。
WIFE
Do you refuse these gifts？
PLUTUS
I will accept them at your fireside； as custom requires。
Besides； we shall thus avoid a ridiculous scene； it is not meet that
the poet should throw dried figs and dainties to the spectators； it is
a vulgar trick to make them laugh。
WIFE
You are right。 Look！ yonder's Dexinicus； who was already getting
to his feet to catch the figs as they flew past him。
（Interlude of dancing by the CHORUS。）
CARIO
How pleasant it is； friends； to live well； especially when it
costs nothing！ What a deluge of blessings flood our household； and
that too without our having wronged a single soul！ Ah！ what a
delightful thing is wealth！ The bin is full of white flour and the
wine…jars run over with fragrant liquor； all the chests are crammed
with gold and silver； it is a sight to see； the tank is full of oil；
the phials with perfumes； and the garret with dried figs。 Vinegar
flasks； plates； stew…pots and all the platters are of brass； our
rotten old wooden trenchers for the fish have to…day become dishes
of silver； even the thunder…mug is of ivory。 We others； the slaves； we
play at odd and even with gold pieces； and carry luxury so far that we
no longer wipe our arses with stones； but use garlic stalks instead。
My master； at this moment； is crowned with flowers and sacrificing a
pig； a goat and ram； it's the smoke that has driven me out； for I
could no longer endure it； it hurt my eyes so。
（A JUST MAN enters； followed by a small slave…lad who
carries a thread…bare cloak and a pair of badly worn sandals。）
JUST MAN
Come； my child； come with me。 Let us go and find the god。
CARIO
Who's this？
JUST MAN
A man who was once wretched； but now is happy。
CARIO
A just man then？
JUST MAN
That's right。
CARIO
Well！ what do you want？
JUST MAN
I come to thank the god for all the blessings he has showered on
me。 My father had left me a fairly decent fortune； and I helped
those of my friends who were in want； it was； to my thinking； the most
useful thing I could do with my fortune。
CARIO
And you were quickly ruined？
JUST MAN
Quite。
CARIO
And since then you have been living in misery？
JUST MAN
Quite； I thought I could count； in case of need； upon the
friends whose property I had helped； but they turned their backs
upon me and pretended not to see me。
CARIO
They laughed at you； that's obvious。
JUST MAN
Quite。 With my empty coffers； I had no more friends。 But my lot
has changed； and so I come to the god to make him the acts of
gratitude that are his due。
CARIO
But why are you bringing this old cloak； which your slave is
carrying！ Tell me。
JUST MAN
I wish to dedicate it to the god。
CARIO
Were you initiated into the Great Mysteries in that cloak？
JUST MAN
No； but I shivered in it for thirteen years。
CARIO
And this footwear？
JUST MAN
These also are my winter companions。
CARIO
And you wish to dedicate them too？
JUST MAN
Certainly。
CARIO
Fine presents to offer to the god！
（An INFORMER enters； followed by a witness。）
INFORMER （before he sees CARIO）
Alas！ alas！ I am a lost man。 Ah！ thrice； four； five； twelve times；
or rather ten thousand times unhappy fate！ Why； why must fortune
deal me such rough blows？
CARIO
Oh； Apollo； my tutelary！ oh！ ye favourable gods！ what has
overtaken this man？
INFORMER （to CARIO）
Ah！ am I not deserving of pity？ I have lost everything； this
cursed god has stripped me bare。 Ah！ if there be justice in heaven； he
shall be struck blind again；
JUST MAN
I think I know what's the matter。 If this man is unfortunate； it's
because he's of little account and small honesty； and indeed he
looks it too。
CARIO
Then； by Zeus！ his plight is but just。
INFORMER
He promised that if he recovered his sight； he would enrich us all
unaided； whereas he has ruined more than one。
CARIO
But whom has he thus ill…used？
INFORMER
Me。
CARIO
You were doubtless a villainous thief then。
INFORMER
No； it is rather you yourselves who were such wretches； I am
certain you have got my money。
CARIO
Ha！ by Demeter！ an informer！ What impudence！ He's ravenously
hungry； that's certain。
INFORMER
You shall follow me this very instant to the market…place； where
the torture of the wheel shall force the confession of your misdeeds
from you。
CARIO （with a threatening gesture）
Watch out； now！
JUST MAN
By Zeus the Deliverer； what gratitude all Greeks owe to Plutus； if
he destroys these vile informers！
INFORMER
You are laughing at me。 Well； then I denounce you as their
accomplice。 Where did you steal that new cloak from？ Yesterday I saw
you with one utterly worn out。
JUST MAN
I fear you not； thanks to this ring； for which I paid Eudemus a
drachma。
CARIO
Ah！ there's no ring to preserve you from the informer's bite。
INFORMER
The insolent wretches！ But； my fine jokers； you have not told me
what you are up to here。 Nothing good； I'm sure of that。
CARIO
Nothing of any good for you； be sure of that。
INFORMER