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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 every country？
CHREMYLUS
Why； have you not got the Barathrum left？ But who are you？
Answer me quickly！
POVERTY
I am one that will punish you this very day for having wanted to
make me disappear from here。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Might it be the tavern…keeper in my neighbourhood； who is always
cheating me in measure？
POVERTY
I am Poverty； who have lived with you for so many years。
BLEPSIDEMUS
Oh！ great Apollo！ oh； ye gods！ whither shall I fly？
（He starts to run away。）
CHREMYLUS
Here！ what are you doing！ You coward！ Are going to leave me here？
BLEPSIDEMUS （still running）
Not I。
CHREMYLUS
Stop then！ Are two men to run away from one woman？
BLEPSIDEMUS
But； you wretch； it's Poverty； the most fearful monster that
ever drew breath。
CHREMYLUS
Stay where you are； I beg of you。
BLEPSIDEMUS
No no！ a thousand times； no！
CHREMYLUS
Could we do anything wors