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380 BC
PLUTUS
by Aristophanes
anonymous translator
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
CHREMYLUS
CARIO； Servant of Chremylus
PLUTUS； God of Riches
BLEPSIDEMUS； friend of Chremylus
POVERTY
WIFE OF CHREMYLUS
A JUST MAN
AN INFORMER
AN OLD WOMAN
A YOUTH
HERMES
A PRIEST OF ZEUS
CHORUS OF RUSTICS
PLUTUS
PLUTUS
（SCENE：…The Orchestra represents a public square in Athens。
In the background is the house of CHREMYLUS。 A ragged old
blind man enters； followed by CHREMYLUS and his slave CARIO。）
CARIO
What an unhappy fate； great gods； to be the slave of a fool！ A
servant may give the best of advice； but if his master does not follow
it； the pool slave must inevitably have his share in the disaster； for
fortune does not allow him to dispose of his own body； it belongs to
his master who has bought it。 Alas！ 'tis the way of the world。 But the
god； Apollo （in tragic style）； whose oracles the Pythian priestess
on her golden tripod makes known to us； deserves my censure； for
surely he is a physician and a cunning diviner； and yet my master is
leaving his temple infected with mere madness and insists on following
a blind man。 Is this not opposed to all good sense？ It is for us；
who see clearly； to guide those who don't； whereas he clings to the
trail of a blind fellow and compels me to do the same without
answering my questions with ever a word。 （To CHREMYLUS） Aye； master；
unless you tell me why we are following this unknown fellow； I will
not be silent； but I will worry and torment you； for you cannot beat
me because of my sacred chaplet of laurel。
CHREMYLUS
No； but if you worry me I will take off your chaplets； and then
you will only get a sounder thrashing。
CARIO
That's an old song！ I am going to leave you no peace till you have
told me who this man is； and if I ask it； it's entirely because of
my interest in you。
CHREMYLUS
Well； be it so。 I will reveal it to you as being the most faithful
and the most rascally of all my servants。 I honoured the gods and
did what was right； and yet I was none the less poor and unfortunate。
CARIO
I know it but too well。
CHREMYLUS
Others amassed wealth…the sacrilegious； the demagogues； the
informers； indeed every sort of rascal。
CARIO
I believe you。
CHREMYLUS
Therefore I came to consult the oracle of the god； not on my own
account； for my unfortunate life is nearing its end； but for my only
son； I wanted to ask Apollo if it was necessary for him to become a
thorough knave and renounce his virtuous principles； since that seemed
to me to be the only way to succeed in life。
CARIO （with ironic gravity）
And with what responding tones did the sacred tripod resound？
CHREMYLUS
You shall know。 The god ordered me in plain terms to follow the
first man I should meet upon leaving the temple and to persuade him to
accompany me home。
CARIO
And who was the first one you met？
CHREMYLUS
This blind man。
CARIO
And you are stupid enough not to understand the meaning of such an
answer！ Why； the god was advising you thereby； and that in the
clearest possible way； to bring up your son according to the fashion
of your country。
CHREMYLUS
What makes you think that？
CARIO
Is it not evident to the blind； that nowadays to do nothing that
is right is the best way to get on？
CHREMYLUS
No； that is not the meaning of the oracle； there must be another
that is nobler。 If this blind man would tell us who he is and why
and with what object he has led us here； we should no doubt understand
what our oracle really does mean。
CARIO （to PLUTUS）
Come； tell us at once who you are； or I shall give effect to my
threat。 （He menaces him。） And quick too； be quick； I say。
PLUTUS
I'll thrash you。
CARIO （to CHREMYLUS）
Do you understand who he says he is？
CHREMYLUS
It's to you and not to me that he replies thus： your mode of
questioning him was ill…advised。 （To PLUTUS） Come； friend； if you
care to oblige an honest man； answer me。
PLUTUS
I'll knock you down。
CARIO （sarcastically）
Ah！ what a pleasant fellow and what a delightful prophecy the
god has given you！
CHREMYLUS （to PLUTUS）
By Demeter； you'll have no reason to laugh presently。
CARIO
If you don't speak； you wretch； I will surely do you an ill turn。
PLUTUS
Friends； take yourselves off and leave me。
CHREMYLUS
That we very certainly shan't。
CARIO
This； master； is the best thing to do。 I'll undertake to secure
him the most frightful death； I will lead him to the verge of a
precipice and then leave him there； so that he'll break his neck
when he pitches over。
CHREMYLUS
Well then； seize him right away。
（CARIO does so。）
PLUTUS
Oh； no！ Have mercy！
CHREMYLUS
Will thou speak then？
PLUTUS
But if you learn who I am； I know well that you will ill…use me
and will let me go again。
CHREMYLUS
I call the gods to witness that you have naught to fear if you
will only speak。
PLUTUS
Well then； first unhand me。
CHREMYLUS
There！ we set you free。
PLUTUS
Listen then； since I must reveal what I had intended to keep a
secret。 I am Plutus。
CARIO
Oh！ you wretched rascal！ You Plutus all the while； and you never
said so！
CHREMYLUS
You； Plutus； and in this piteous guise！ Oh； Phoebus Apollo！ oh； ye
gods of heaven and hell！ Oh； Zeus！ is it really and truly as you say？
PLUTUS
Yes。
CHREMYLUS
Plutus' very own self？
PLUTUS
His own very self and none other。
CHREMYLUS
But tell me； how come you're so squalid？
PLUTUS
I have just left Patrocles' house； who has not had a bath since
his birth。
CHREMYLUS
But your infirmity； how did that happen？ Tell me。
PLUTUS
Zeus inflicted it on me； because of his jealousy of…mankind。
When I was young； I threatened him that I would only go to the just；
the wise； the men of ordered life； to prevent my distinguishing these；
he struck me with blindness' so much does he envy the good！
CHREMYLUS
And yet； it's only the upright and just who honour him。
PLUTUS
Quite true。
CHREMYLUS
Therefore； if ever you recovered your sight； you would shun the
wicked？
PLUTUS
Undoubtedly。
CHREMYLUS
You would visit the good？
PLUTUS
Assuredly。 It is a very long time since I saw them。
CARIO （to the audience）
That's not astonishing。 I； who see clearly； don't see a single
one。
PLUTUS