Plutus [5]
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.